The Maroon 09_18_2015

WE DIDN’T MEAN TO CHASE YOU AWAY...

jgmolina@loyno.edu @jmolina217

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knstewar@loyno.edu @Kstewart818

Robert Reed, assistant vice president for student affairs, said that Chase informed him that they were going to remove the ATM. “They contacted me and said they were pulling them because there wasn’t enough business. The Chase representative told me there were a couple thousand units across the country in colleges and universities because there wasn’t enough business and most of the students use their phones and weren’t using ATMs anymore,” Reed said, “So they chose to leave. We didn’t want them to leave, we didn’t ask them to leave, but they had the right to take their unit out and give us notice to leave,

and that’s what they did.”

According to Reed, he has been approached with comments about students and faculty switching banks because of the removal of the Chase ATM. “I’ve had one parent during orientation say that he was moving his account to another bank, either Whitney or Capital One because we had an ATM,” Reed said.

The closest Chase ATM to Loyola now is in Tulane’s Lavin-Bernick Center. Even though it is a further walk, for Josh Jones III, environmental science senior, it is not a reason for him to switch banks altogether.

“It’s slightly inconvenient to have to go all the way to Tulane to use the ATM, but not enough to change banks. Mostly, I used Tulane’s ATM

SEPT. 25, 2015

By Jessica Molina

The Chase ATM that previously served Loyola students, faculty and staff is gone from its usual spot among the other ATMs.

By Kristen Stewart

THE MAROON

SGA initiates new first-year positions

If you notice a certain hole when walking through the Danna Center that makes you do a double take, you are not alone in your confusion.

Though it was not Loyola’s decision to remove the ATM, the lack of business is why it was pulled.

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anyway because it also allowed me charges me an ATM fee, so if I want to deposit money. Though I can to withdraw money without a fee I definitely see how it can be a has- have to go to the teller in the lower sle for other students who need- level of the Student Center, which is ed to get cash quickly and had to more time consuming and has limrun all the way to Tulane to do so,” ited business hours, as opposed to 24-hour ATM Jones said. access,” HatDavina Hatton said. ton, administra- “We didn’t want them to Reed said tive assistant for leave, we didn’t ask them to that he doubts Loyola UniverChase will resity admissions, leave, but they had the turn to Loyola banks with the right to.” in the future.

Tulane Loyola “We did not Federal Credit — Robert Reed want them Union in addi- Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs to leave.

I tion with Chase. don’t think While she still has access with an ATM at Loyola, they’ll be coming back with an she will have to do her banking a lit- ATM. I’ll be surprised if they did,” Reed said. tle differently.

“The Tulane Loyola FCC ATM

LOYOLAMAROON.COM • FB.COM/THELOYOLAMAROON • @LOYOLA_MAROON

This fall, the Student Government Association decided to welcome freshman into their organization in a different way: through First-Year Council.

Previously, freshmen students could run for a senate seat, a position in the Legislative Branch, their first semester, no experience needed. However, in an attempt to create a more qualified Senate, the SGA executive branch has decided to exclude freshman senate positions from the elections in the fall semester.

The new program is designed to be more of a learning experience, introducing students to SGA as a whole without the responsibility of being a senator. In the spring, freshman will have the opportunity to run for Senate.

Natalie Paul, SGA vice president, said she is ecstatic to get the FirstYear Council up and running this year.

Paul will head the council along with assistance from Edwin Unzalu, director of spirituality and social justice, Brian Cutter, director of programming, and Courtney Williams, SGA adviser.

Fallon Chiasson, new First-Year Council member and mass communication freshman, said that she felt that the first week of school was full of decisions and confusion.

“First-Year Council is an incredible idea to show freshman the different branches of SGA without the freshmen having to make a rash, uninformed decision,” Chiasson said.

First-Year Council students will meet each week during the fall to build leadership skills and learn how to transition skills learned in high school to a college setting. In addition to weekly meetings, they will be able to sit in on other SGA meetings to determine which area they feel is a better fit for them personally.

“I believe strongly on taking the time to build our future campus leaders because someone took the time on me,” Paul said.

Abigail Justice, SGA communication liaison, said that this year, 49 new students applied for various positions throughout SGA. Due to the large number of students, they decided to spend the time that would normally be an election period to work with the students in order to build a more equipped Senate.

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September 25, 2015

THE MAROON

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COME MEET THE MAROON STAFF OCT 27 PEACE QUAD 12:30-2:00

Theft/Larceny 6300 block of St. Charles Ave.

Sept. 17

2:50 p.m.

Theft Monroe Library

Sept. 17

5:31 p.m.

Theft/Larceny 7100 Block of St. Charles Ave.

Sept. 17

5:54 p.m.

Vandalism 100 Block of Millaudon St.

Sept. 18

9:40 a.m.

Vandalism 6400 block of Freret St.

Sept. 19

1:54 a.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft Hillary Street / Pearl St.

Sept. 20

9:19 a.m.

Burglary 6400 block of Freret

Sept. 20

11:29 p.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft 7600 Block of Pearl St.

Sept. 20

12:14 p.m.

Vehicle Break-in/Theft 7600 Block of Freret St.

Sept. 21

5:19 a.m.

Sex Crimes 1100 Block of Calhoun St.

Sept. 22

2:29 p.m.

Assault 400 Block of Burdette St.

Sept. 22

3:15 p.m.

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news

September 25, 2015 The Maroon

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Not a baaad day

New WRC director brings program ideas

By Tia Teamer tateame@loyno.edu @atime_4tea

Patricia Boyett, the new director of the Women’s Resource Center at Loyola University, is bringing a variety of new programs and opportunities to the center.

Boyett plans to create a Feminist Festival, a mentoring program and a reading club. She will collaborate with other campus groups like the Black Student Union to promote feminism and gender empowerment.

Boyett began working at Loyola in 2012. Before her role as the director of the WRC, Boyett was a visiting assistant professor of history. She has taught courses in Global History and Oppression and Resistance.

Boyett plans to continue teaching one class a semester in her new position. Her PATRICIA BOYETT class will use WRC Director case studies and writing seminars to discuss gender equity.

Melissa Alba, political science sophomore, is a former student in Boyett’s Global History I class.

“I remember her stating that people would criticize her or say that she wasn’t a feminist because she enjoyed wearing heels, but in reality you define what feminism means to you and you do not have to fit into the stereotype in order to recognize that you deserve equal rights,” Alba said.

With a background in higher education, Boyett also plans to revitalize the reading club. Professors from the women’s studies program will meet with students once a month to discuss a reading and examine feminist issues.

Other programs, like the Feminist Festival, will include academic discussions and creative presentations about feminist issues. In an effort to increase the university’s student retention, Boyett’s mentoring program will allow Loyola women to mentor female freshmen.

Outside of the Women’s Resource Center and women’s studies, Boyett plans to collaborate with many organizations around campus, like the Black Student Union, Mission and Ministry, and Career Services.

The office of Mission and Ministry will hold prayer vigils for communities faced with violence.

The WRC will collaborate with Career Services to hold a women’s career day and mock interviews to foster successful women in Loyola’s community.

Boyett values these organizations and will continue to work with them to improve the WRC. “I aim to have a deeply collaborative relationship with students, faculty and staff in which the Women’s Resource Center serves as both a resource and partner in advancing women,” Boyett said.

KRISTEN STEWART / The Maroon

Lydia Kolda, music business senior, pets a goat in the Peace Quad at Alpha Kappa Psi’s petting zoo event. Alpha Kappa Psi, a Loyola business fraternity, hosted a petting zoo to raise awareness of their organization during the window on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The petting zoo featured goats, horses, an alpaca, a duck and a chicken.

University Senate announces enrollment rates

By Akilah Morris ammorri2@loyno.edu @aka_merp

At the most recent University Senate meeting it was announced that Loyola welcomed 661 first-year students this semester and what these numbers mean for the university.

Made up of faculty representatives from all departments and colleges on campus, University Senate members listen and communicate on behalf of their departments to see what’s best for the students and Loyola community. Each month, the council meets to receive crucial updates on the status of Loyola and find ways to improve it.

Roberta Kaskel, vice president of enrollment management, announced that this year’s freshman class is presently 12 percent ahead of last year’s class.

“This is the solid foundation that we need for a turnaround,” Kaskel said.

Students with diverse backgrounds make up 53 percent of Loyola’s freshman class. Loyola also welcomed 40 re-admits that left and chose to come back. There are 14 Ignatian scholars from eight different states. Of these 14 scholars, five are legacies and one is from Belgium.

There are 95 transfer students. Of the freshman student body, 33 percent are Pell Grant recipients.

The senate expressed their concern about the amount of transfers that applied. The staff and budget expected more transfers, but the school fell short of this goal.

Kaskel reported that in order to fix the problem and attract transfers, the admissions office has made agreements with five different community colleges to help students with associate degrees come to Loyola and further their education.

Through this program, students with the right amount of credits can finish with a Bachelor’s degree in their specified major.

Kaskel reassured the senate that in order for Loyola to compete on the level of other major universities, the admissions office has sent out recruiters all over the country and overseas to find students that can help Loyola succeed and excel on the scoreboard.

With the spring semester in mind, the faculty is concerned with certain core programs that are at risk of being cut. Ten programs are currently under review for reconsideration by the Strategic Committee for Academic Planning as part of the Financial Equilibrium Plan.

In the report from Marc Manganaro, provost and vice president for academic affairs, it was stressed that new enrolled students will not be affected by the program cuts. Once

the program is cut, students will still have a chance to complete their degree.

Joelle Underwood, associate professor of chemistry, said that even with modifications made to the way students can complete their degree, it still will not suffice.

“It will not be a true Loyola education,” Underwood said in the meeting.

Jon Altschul, associate professor of philosophy and university senate chair, said that deliberation is the most important goal to keep in mind when the senate meets.

Through this, Loyola is able to compete and stand as a university.

“Preserving academic freedoms are fundamental. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to call ourselves a university. We have to find a compromise to draft policies while keeping academic freedoms,” Altschul said.

Loyola offers free Blackboard mobile app to students

By Jamal Melancon jmmelanc@loyno.edu @Jam_M_Mel

The mobile app now featured in Loyola’s Blackboard package is a free download for students that gives quick access, but not the full benefits of Blackboard.

Blackboard offers students interaction with daily course activities and media, and with free access to the Blackboard Mobile Learn app, students can also use Blackboard on their phones.

Jim Dugan, learning technologies developer for Loyola, said that there are some limitations to the app, though.

“Because of limitations of browser compatibility and communication bandwidth, some of the heavier-duty features of Blackboard may

not be available through the mobile app,” Dugan said.

Although accessing Blackboard through the computer features full benefits, Eric Wiltz, Loyola’s online instructional support technologist, said the mobile app could come in handy as a last resort or backup tool for an emergency.

“It is not in my, or anyone on the online learning team’s, opinion a worthy substitute to an old fashioned computer,” Wiltz said.

Institutions that do not include licensing for the Blackboard app cause students to pay a fee of $2 to connect with their school on Blackboard Mobile Learn.

“Blackboard has made certain of its functions available where they weren’t before with Loyola’s bundle because they are competing with other learning management sys-

tems who offer things like mobile apps free in their bundle,” Wiltz said. “Blackboard is incentivizing its customers to stay with Blackboard.”

Marisa Clogher, English writing sophomore, said she uses the Blackboard Mobile Learn app for class readings or to check syllabi that she hasn’t printed.

“I also use it to check my grades, and I do that very often,” Clogher said. “If I had to pay, however, I probably would have bought it. I think it’s pretty cool that we have it for free because I do use it all the time.”

Peyton Burgess, learning technologies developer for Loyola, said learning management systems like Blackboard may be expanding their services for the larger market coming soon.

“In part because of online classes

becoming more popular and social media being a standard method of communication, learning management systems will probably see a much bigger market and will do what it takes to compete with each other for these new and bigger markets,” Burgess said.

Even though their app features less learning management capabilities, Blackboard has another base covered with customers by providing free access.

“Apps are pretty standard companions to social media and usually free, and I think Blackboard and other learning management systems know this and know it’d be foolish to not offer apps as part of their service,” Burgess said.

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WORLDVIEW

September 25, 2015 The Maroon

WORLDVIEW briefs Changes to airline travel for Louisiana residents

RACHAEL ESPAILLAT / The Maroon

Taxi cab drivers are required to complete two defensive driving classes, pay for both a background check and for a drug test before being able to drive. In order to drive for Uber, a driver must have a car no older than 5 years old and proof of personal insurance.

Uber adds drivers to New Orleans

By Rachael Espaillat rmespail@loyno.edu

For college students without cars, there are three options for transportation around the city: public transportation, a cab or the new ride sharing service called Uber.

Nationwide, Uber’s launch has been causing a stir as they have become the biggest competition for cab drivers.

With its recent take off in New Orleans, Uber is struggling to rise to the top and beat out cab companies.

Graham McQueen, a former New Orleans Uber driver, drove for the company from the last week of June through mid-August. He said that the hiring process is fairly simple, although it differs by city.

“You must have a car no more than 5 years old. They want some-

thing that will not break down, is attractive and spacious, fitting about four to five people. You need proof of personal insurance, but they provide liability insurance for when there is a passenger,” McQueen said.

Graham said upon passing the background check and getting his vehicle approved, Uber sent him papers and was certified to be an Uber driver.

“There is a background check but that’s it. You don’t talk to anyone.

There is no interview,” Graham said.

Wendy James, a Yellow Cab driver, said she does think the hiring process and minimal requirements are unfair.

“For me to get on the streets and start driving, I had to go to two defensive driving classes. I had to pay for permits. I had to pay for a drug test. I had to pay for a background

check,” James said. “It’s really not fair that they can roam the same streets and make the same money that I can make, but they had to go through absolutely nothing.”

Camila Aramburú, mass communication senior, said she enjoys the convenience of Uber over having to rely on taxi cab companies.

“They always show up on time, the cars are clean and nice. The people driving are interesting and really nice. Plus it’s loads cheaper than a taxi,” Aramburú said. “I love Uber and will continue to use it.”

Kelly Gaines, digital filmmaking junior, used Uber frequently during the summer in Los Angeles but was shocked by its prices when returning to New Orleans.

“I took it a lot in L.A. because it was super cheap and easy to use. I just assumed it would be the same

price or cheaper than getting a cab,” Gaines said.

Regular cab fare from the airport to Loyola’s campus is about $33.

Gaines mistakenly did not check the Uber price and paid double the amount.

Uber has had several offices in New Orleans since coming to the city. They used to share space with 4.0 Schools on Magazine Street but are now located on Sarah Wright Place.

James said she does not have an issue with Uber coming into New Orleans.

“As long as the playing field is leveled, everybody needs to eat, everybody should have an opportunity to work and make some money,” James said.

Glass Recycling is coming to French Quarter

By Andrew Callaghan atcallag@loyno.edu @andrewfromusa

After two decades, New Orleans citizen will finaly be able to recycle glass in the city.

On Sept. 24, the city will begin recycling glass in New Orleans’ French Quarter and Downtown Development District. This comes as a result of a $3.9 million deal which City Hall signed last December with an independent Metairie sanitation company, Empire Janitorial Sales & Services.

Collection of glass will begin on Thursday of each week from properties eligible to receive sanitation services from the city.

Cynthia Sylvain-Lear, director of the City of New Orleans Sanitation Department, said in a press release that the city is pleased that Empire can now recycle glass in downtown New Orleans.

“We heard residents’ requests for glass recycling and are proud to deliver this service. Recycling benefits the environment and the City’s bottom line. The glass processor selected intends to recycle the product into highway and road aggregate

material. The more residents recycle, the less we will have to pay in landfill costs,” Sylvain-Lear said in a press release.

Molly Ray, Office Depot sustainability director and national environmental activist, has done work with the city of New Orleans to reduce its carbon footprint and teach environmental sustainability to businesses in the French Quarter and CBD. “Throwing a glass bottle into a trash can dooms a bottle into a millennium of existence. Glass bottles have a material life expectancy of 1,000 years,” Ray said.

Businesses in the French Quarter are looking forward to this new eco-friendly opportunity. Among those who are enthusiastic about this is Lydon Yerro, front desk manager at hotel La Marais in the French Quarter, who said that she is open to the opportunity for the hotel to start recycling.

“I think this is a positive measure to prompt recycling, being that the French Quarter scene uses a lot of glassware. It’s an opportunity for us as a hotel and bar to do our part for the environment and recycle,” Yerro said.

Robert Thomas, Loyola professor and chair of environmental communication, said he attributes higher levels of glass waste in the French Quarter to its alcohol intake.

“Glass in the French Quarter is burdensome, since so much bottled beer and wine is consumed in bars and restaurants,” Thomas said.

According to the 2010 census, the French Quarter and CBD’s residential population only makes up two percent of New Orleans’ population.

Many tourists will get the opportunity to recycle glass and contribute to the new recycling program.

In 2012, a University of New Orleans study showed that New Orleans was visited by nine million tourists, nearly half of which were first-time visitors.

Thomas sees this recycling measure as an important step forward for New Orleans.

“Recycling glass is a significant step for the city. Since Owens-Illinois Glass Company left the city 25 years ago, there has not been any significant glass recycling. The result is that a large, undocumented space has been filled in our precious landfill capacity at tax-payer expense,” Thomas said.

Starting Jan. 1, 2016, Louisiana residents will be required to carry their passport when traveling by flight.

This comes from a change implemented by the Transportation Security Administration in 2005 when they signed into law the 2005 Real ID Act. The act requires travelers to have an enhanced security government-issued ID. Louisiana, New York, Minnesota, and New Hampshire are the only states that do not have enhanced security implemented into their drivers licenses. In order to receive a license in these four states, a person is not required to show proof of residency or citizenship.

Acceptable forms of identification will include passports, passport cards, permanent resident cards, U.S. military IDs or Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards.

Judge denies Tulane’s attempt to seal lawsuit documents On Sept. 17, an Orleans Parish judge denied Tulane University’s attempt to seal all public documents from a lawsuit involving a rape.

The lawsuit stems from an April 2014 case in which a woman said she was raped by Tulane football players Niguel Veal and Raul Diaz Jr. while on a basketball recruiting trip.

The woman said says she was illegally served alcohol with other players who were a part of the women’s basketball recruits while student chaperones were assigned to watch the high school visitors.

Veal was booked by New Orleans police with simple rape, but the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office refused the charge soon after.

Diaz was not arrested or charged with a crime.

According to NOLA.com, Debra Fischman, the lawyer representing Tulane, argued that allowing the case to be available to the public could discourage witnesses from coming forward in the future.

National sea otter week is a week like no otter National Sea Otter Awareness week began Sept. 20 and will run through Sept. 26.

According to Friends of the Sea Otter, an organization advocating for the protection of sea otters, this week focuses on recognizing the role sea otters play in the nearshore ecosystem and how they can be removed from the threatened species list.

This week, zoos, museums, researchers, educators, and the public participate in activities that surround issues sea otters face in their ecosystem.

National Sea Otter Awareness week always falls on the last week of September.

East bank of New Orleans issued boil water advisory ANDREW CALLAGHAN / The Maroon

Glass recycling will begin on Sept. 24 in the French Quarter and Downtown Development District. This will be a weekly service that will collect every Thursday.

On Sept. 23 at 8:40 p.m., a precautionary boil water advisory was issued to the east bank of New Orleans.

The advisory was caused due to a power surge at the Carrollton Water Plant.

THE MAROON

September 25, 2015

ACROSS 1. Having been cut, as grass 5. Stage showoffs 9. “The Prince and the Pauper” author Mark 14. The “E” in Q.E.D. 15. Parisian gal pal 16. Salon dye 17. In a precarious situation 19. Fats Domino genre, briefly 20. Tales of __: misfortunes 21. Market shelves filler: Abbr.

22. Ambles 23. Pabst brand 25. Swimmer’s path 26. Like a lake during a dead calm 32. Dessert with icing 34. Mr. Rogers 35. __ Beta Kappa 36. Really mess up 37. Dude 39. Resting atop 40. State south of Wash.

41. Jury member 42. Struggle (through), as mud 43. Permanent 48. Exiled Roman poet 49. “Right away!”

52. Added financial burden for drivers 55. Bag for a picnic race 57. Massage reaction 58. Pretended to be 59. Art form in which the ends of 17-, 26- and 43-Across may be used 61. Glisten 62. Mr. Peanut’s stick 63. Pac-12 member 64. “The Great” king of Judea 65. Rec room centerpiece 66. Number one DOWN 1. Cat conversation 2. “To be, __ to be ...”

3. One being pulled behind a boat 4. High degree, in math 5. “Don’t touch that!”

6. “London Fields” author Martin 7. “Three Blind __” 8. “Get my point?”

9. Big crowd 10. “Pop goes” critter 11. Novelist Brontë 12. “500” race, familiarly 13. Hauls off to jail 18. Texter’s “I think ...”

22. Live __: Taco Bell slogan 24. Black cat, to some 25. Soup servers 27. Fearful 28. Her face launched a thousand ships 29. Puréed fruit served with pork 30.“Scram!”

SUDOKU

31. Perform a ballad 32. Gator’s kin 33. Ghostly emanation 38. Section describing the United States Constitution’s amendment process 39. Annapolis inst.

44. Cast a negative ballot 45. Dodged 46. New Jersey fort 47. Like a GI scraping plates 50. Viscounts’ superiors 51. Glance sideways during a test, maybe 52. Serious cut 53. Throbbing pain 54. Mix in a glass 55. Large amount 56. Marie, to Donny’s sons 59. 63-Across, for one: Abbr.

60. Place for a soak

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Life &Times

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September 25, 2015 The Maroon

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

BSU promotes black culture through mentorship program

By Janae Torrence jatorren@loyno.edu @TorrJanae

The Black Student Union has brought back their mentor/mentee program this year to create mutually beneficial relationships between upperclassmen and freshmen.

Autumn Moore, vice president of member relations and leader of this initiative, said that the program is rejuvenated this time around with the core goal to help first-year students transition into college life at a predominantly white institution.

“Their priorities are to do their best, to provide a positive atmosphere and to be cautious of how they portray themselves on social media and on campus because the first-year students are looking up to them,” Moore said.

Deja Jones, a sophomore, who signed up to be a mentor, said she hopes the freshmen gain guidance and find comfort in their new home at Loyola.

“I’m ready to meet my mentee,” Jones said. “I’m excited for all the activities, they sound like a lot of fun.”

Shawn Kelly, BSU co-president, said that the potential for this program is great and that freshmen students have a lot to gain from their older mentors.

“It is a really great way to connect our newest members to our oldest members and help our new members stay involved and stay active,” Kelly said.

ZACH BRIEN / The Maroon

Sandra Nguyen, a biology junior (left), eats a waffle from the Ironsides Waffles food truck in the Peace Quad. Connor Webre, an English film and digital mediac sophomore (right), orders a waffle from the Ironsides Waffles food truck using Wolfbucks. The truck will come to Loyola every Wednesday during the window.

Welcome to Waffle Wednesdays Students are enjoying a new type of sandwich as Loyola brings in the food truck, Ironsides Waffles

By Anastasia Sabga aasabga@loyno.edu

LIFE AND TIMES briefs Families reunite for Family Weekend Students will brace themselves for hugs and free dinner from parents flooding to Loyola for the the annual Family Weekend.

From Sept. 25-27, families from all over will be pouring into the Big Easy to participate in the planned activities. The families are allowed to shadow their students in their classes starting on Friday leading a dessert tasting tour in the city or a student showcase hosted by the Residential Hall Association.

Saturday, families will have education sessions on New Orleans culture and a vigil mass. The weekend will end in the Orleans Room with a Jazz brunch and a family send off.

For the event schedule, families can visit studentaffairs.loyno.edu/ residential-life/family-weekend.

The Hurricane festival storms into town The annual Hurricane Festival will whirl through New Orleans from Sept. 25-27.

Held during hurricane season, the event will feature live music, carnival rides, games, arts and an auction for locals and tourists alike.

The festival hours will run Friday, from 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be held at the Cut Off Youth Center and is free and open to the public.

With traditional breakfast food, Loyola is redefining lunch with their new waffle-based food truck.

Created by Sodexo Campus Services, Ironsides Waffles will give students the opportunity to dine on a unique menu on Wednesdays. Students can pay with cash, credit card or Wolfbucks.

Travis Johnson, Sodexo’s district executive chef, said the food truck got its name after the Sodexo team brainstormed with the concept of waffles

already in mind.

“We knew waffles would be a hot concept because you could do so many fun things with it, from sweet to savory,” Johnson said.

Students who eat at the food truck, such as Meghan Cart, English writing sophomore, said they enjoy the new option.

“It’s a great way to shake up what we already have because you can never go wrong with waffles. I can order Subway everyday, but there’s only so much you can do with sandwiches,” Cart said.

According to Johnson, since it’s creation, Ironsides Waffles was awarded

the “Best Menu” by Food Management Best Concept Awards in 2015 and is one of the top ten food trucks in New Orleans.

“The culinary team on Tulane’s campus put together the menu and did taste tests, infusing local products as well as local menu concepts to create new innovations, such as chicken and waffles with a southern-style slaw and chicken breast dipped in maple syrup,” Johnson said.

Troyneshi Mason, an employee at Ironsides, said that the customers keep her and her staff on their toes on Wednesdays.

“The lines are long and busy from open to close, but we move pretty fast so it doesn’t take too long to serve everyone what they ordered,” Mason said.

Johnson said that Sodexo’s staff is working hard to bring creative and fresh ideas to the students and their dining options.

“This is an example of the talent that we have in Sodexo in this area and our partnership between both schools, and how we share resources and are innovative in the new concepts that we bring to the students,” Johnson said.

Students promote awareness about sexual assault

By Gabrielle Johnson gljohnso@loyno.edu @GJ_cherries

Loyola students are encouraging others to take a stand to address and eliminate the stigma surrounding sexual assault with the new club Students Against Sexual Assault.

With their mission to advocate, educate and serve, the organization will be focusing on recruiting and action this semester.

Kourtney Baker, vice president of Students Against Sexual Assault, said she hopes her organization can make a real difference on campus.

“Loyola has had several sexual assaults in the past, so we are trying to create an environment where that doesn’t happen anymore and that people can feel safe,” Baker said.

On Monday, Sept. 14, the organization hosted a photo campaign, or “Photos of Change,” to make people more aware how sexual assault is viewed in media.

“We want to erase the stigma that goes along with being assaulted or being a victim,” Baker said.

Pierce Nordone, president of Students Against Sexual Assaults, said not only does he have friends that have been affected, he has also been a victim himself.

Nordone said it is important to raise awareness of sexual assault because it is a taboo subject.

“Until we do start the conversation and shine light on sexual assault, we can’t start changing the norms,” Nordone said.

The Students Against Sexual Assault has found allies from other organizations as well as support from the Women’s Resource Center.

Created to help empower and support women at Loyola, the center has worked with Students Against Sexual Assault during the Worldwide Suicide Prevention Week and is currently working with the group for Take Back the Night.

Patricia Boyett, director of the Women’s Resource Center, said that she is impressed with the organization and the fact that a male has both created and now presides over the organization.

“A male student formed the or-

ganization and a man, Pierce Nordone, leads it now. It is moving and inspiring to me to see men take up the torch of this struggle. I think it is extremely important that men speak out against sexual assault and fight against peer pressure that some men put on other men in regards to sexual aggressiveness,” Boyett said.

Boyett also said that many sexual assault victims choose not to report their assaults because of the emotional turmoil they experience in the wake of an assault and because of the rape shame culture that still exists.

“It is also important to understand that though reporting an assault can be difficult, it is also ultimately often helpful because it allows victims to take back their power and to become survivors, and it helps prevent other people from becoming victims,” Boyett said.

Baker said that she hopes in the future, clubs like Students Against Sexual Assault will not be needed because the awareness will be widespread.

“With sexual assault, it is interest-

ing because you want everyone to be aware of it, so actually it would be nice if there wasn’t a need for a club like this because that would mean that no sexual assault was happening,” Baker said.

GABRIELLE JOHNSON/ The Maroon

Students Against Sexual Assault hosted a photo campaign on Sept. 14 about ending sexual assualt in the Danna Center.

Members advocate against sexual assault throughout the year and ecourage students to take a stand against it.

THE W RKS

September 25, 2015 THE MAROON

7

The Maroon's section of student art. Contribute at letter@loyno.edu

POETRY Original work written by Loyola students

“Rest Stop”

“Fez Alligator”

It could be coffee or blood stained against these old tiled floors.

In a women’s restroom, no can tell.

Nihilism, virtuosically, advent, regime – these are the words that I like.

These are the words that I think, as I wait for the woman who is pretending to wash her hands in the sporadic sink to leave.

The water is spilled creating a bog beneath the paper towel dispenser.

A microcosm of cold, wasted, dirty water whose kin lives angrily on the restroom door as I listen to her exit clankily against the heavy wood that heaves.

She wet this door for me.

What a saint to have “washed” her hands.

My presence forced her fat fingers past the soap and under the faucet as if I were a force.

Without my being, this wood would live dry.

Dry and disgusting, its splintered grooves foaming out the face with pathogen and disease.

Its rustic metal panel gleaming beneath smudges of crude identity.

I am the cause of its wetness.

A bored and warped metal hinge of an abandoned tampon dispenser clips the upper flesh of my arm.

3 red droplets escape my torn sweater.

Another stain that creeps towards the old tiled floor.

“Rest Stop” Skyllarr Trusty, English writing senior

“Fez Alligator” Jonathan Lopez, graphic design senior

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RELIGION

8

September 25, 2015 The Maroon

Religion briefs Caribbean culture will be celebrated during Mass The University Ministry will be organizing a celebratory Mass called the Caribbean Mass on Sept. 29.

According to Ken Weber, university minister for liturgy and music, the Mass is celebrated in recognition of the people of the Caribbean.

“Especially those living in poverty in Jamaica and Belize, where our Ignacio Volunteers have been visiting to volunteer each winter and summer for years,” Weber said.

Weber added that the Mass will feature Caribbean music, including Bob Marley’s songs that express messages consistent with the Gospel of Jesus.

It will also have Jamaican food from Boswell’s Jamaican Restaurant located on Tulane Ave. and a prayer in Garifuna, a native language spoken in Belize.

It will take place at the Ignatius Chapel on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m.

Awakening Retreat will be held in October for all Loyola students The annual Awakening Retreat, sponsored by the university’s ministry, will take place from Oct. 23-25.

The retreat will be held at the Fountainbleau State Park and all undergraduate students can attend.

According to the Office of Mission and Ministry, the Awakening Retreat encourages students to experience the love of God through the embrace of an accepting community.

It’s a way to connect with other students and explore one’s personal spirituality.

The cost to attend the retreat is $40. Financial assistance is available through the Office of Mission and Ministry. The deadline to register for the retreat is Oct. 16.

Pope Francis credits bishops with acting to heal sex abuse victims WASHINGTON (AP) — Pope Francis has praised U.S. bishops for their response to the clergy sex abuse crisis.

Speaking before the bishops Wednesday at a worship service in Washington, Francis lauded them for what he called their “generous commitment to bring healing to victims.”

He praised them for having courage and acting, as he saw it, “without fear of self-criticism.”

The clergy sex abuse scandal erupted in the U.S. in 2002 and turned into the biggest crisis in the history of the American church.

Under enormous public pressure, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops pledged to oust any guilty clergy from church work and enact safeguards for children.

However, the scandal persists, and victims say the bishops still haven’t fully accounted for sheltering abusers.

This year, three bishops resigned in crises over their failures to protect children.

JAMAL MELANCON / The Maroon

Savon Jackson, Nathaniel Williams, Diondre Thomas and Lester Tony (right) attended the Wilderness Camp this year. The Rev. Emanuel Smith Jr. at the Israelite Baptist Church organizes the camp.

Pastor sets up camp for local children

By Jamal Melancon jmmelanc@loyno.edu @Jam_M_Mel

The Rev. Emanuel Smith Jr., pastor at the Israelite Baptist Church, annually sets up a Wilderness camp for boys from disadvantaged backgrounds.

According to Rev. Smith, these young boys, because of where and how they grew up, did not have the opportunity to partake in recreational activities and thus missed out on great learning experiences.

He said most of them have never even been outside of the city.

“All they ever do is walk from their house to going around the neighborhood and see men hanging out on the local corner, drinking beer

and doing other things. I thought it’d be an excellent opportunity to get them out of an environment that they’d never been out of, and by doing that, do something more than recreational,” Rev. Smith said.

Rev. Smith joined Larry Williams and founded The Wilderness Camp for Boys 11 years ago.

According to Williams, 25 kids from ages 8-17 take part in the camp, which takes place between June and July every year.

“Over 250 kids have now participated since its founding. As we go along each year, it gets better and better,” Williams said.

Recreational activities at camp include fishing, swimming, and paddle boating. During this year’s summer camp trip, Williams

brought a movie projector for the boys.

He added that a value that the camp emphasizes on is the importance of basic survival. In the early days of the camp, they brought portable showers and some boys tried bathing in the pond.

“The first time it was really a wilderness camp,” Williams said.

Emanuel Smith, who attended the camp this year, said he had a great experience.

“I knew a lot of the boys, but I made a lot of new friends and am looking forward to meeting more people the next time I go camping,” Smith said.

He further added that the camp had a positive impact on him.

“It basically taught me how to

avoid trouble and not to hang with the wrong gangs that’ll really get you in trouble,” Smith said.

Rev. Smith said the kids come from inner-city, poverty-ridden neighborhoods and because of that, he viewed the camp as a crime fighting organization that instills christian values into the boys and shows them that there’s more out there in the world.

“Let them know that there are no boundaries established for them, that they can always make a difference,” Rev. Smith said.

Both Rev. Smith and Williams finance the camp out of their own pockets and are looking for sponsors willing to partner with The Wilderness Camp so that they can host trips year-round.

Pope stirs excitement in the capital, calls for climate action

ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Barack Obama talks with Pope Francis during a state arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23. The Pope will depart for Rome on Sept. 27.

By Nicole Winfield Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Cheered by jubilant crowds across the nation’s capital, Pope Francis forged common cause Wednesday with President Barack Obama on climate change, immigration and inequality, as the popular pontiff signaled he would not sidestep issues that have deeply divided Americans.

On his first full day in the United States, the pope also reached out to America’s 450 bishops, many of whom have struggled to come to terms with his new social justice-minded direction for the Catholic Church. He gently prodded the bishops to forgo “harsh and divisive language,” while commending their “courage” in the face of the church’s sexual abuse scandal — rhetoric that angered victims he may meet with later in his trip.

Francis, the first pope from the Americas, canonized Junipero Serra, the famous 18th century Spanish friar who brought the Catholic faith to California.

The pontiff’s whirlwind day in Washington enlivened the often stoic, politically polarized city. Excited crowds lined streets near the White House to catch a glimpse of the smiling and waving Francis as he passed by in his open-air “popemobile.”

He seemed to draw energy from the cheering spectators, particularly the children his security detail brought to him for a papal kiss and blessing.

In keeping with his reputation as the “people’s pope,” Francis kept Obama and other dignitaries at the White House waiting so he could spend time greeting schoolchildren gathered outside the Vatican’s diplomatic mission where he spent the night.

With flags snapping, color guard at attention and a military band playing, Francis stepped from his modest Fiat onto the South Lawn on a crisp fall morning that felt as optimistic as his own persona. Pope and president stood on a red-carpeted platform bedecked with red, white and blue bunting for the national anthems of the Holy See and the United States.

Speaking in soft, halting English, Francis said that as the son of an immigrant family, he was “happy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families.”

The Argentinian pope was born to Italian parents who left their home country before he was born, and he has been a forceful advocate for humane treatment of migrants.

Francis was enthusiastic in his embrace of Obama’s climate change agenda, specifically praising the president for taking steps to reduce air pollution. In a firm message to those who doubt the science of climate change, he said the warming planet “demands on our part a serious and responsible recognition” of the world that will be left to today’s children.

“Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation,” said Francis, who has been pressing his environmental message ahead of climate change, talks in Paris later this year.

The pope and president were also aligned in their call for addressing global poverty and inequality, with Obama praising Francis’ call to put “the least of these at the center of our concern.”

SPORTS

September 25, 2015 The Maroon

9

Sports briefs Loyola Volleyball gets first conference-road victory

The volleyball team beat Brewton-Parker College in three straight sets on Sept. 19 with 25-19, 25-19, 25-18, to collect their first conference road win of the season.

Eva Allen, senior player, contributed both offensively and defensively, recording eight kills and 11 digs. Freshman Maddie Huekels led the Pack with 16 assists and four aces. Freshman Destinee Benton also steadied the offense with five kills.

With this victory, the team went 1-1 in Georgia and improved to 6-8, 2-2 SSAC. The Wolf Pack will take on Brenau College in the Den on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Loyola Cross Country team has strong showing at the LSU invitational The men’s team finished in fifth with a score of 131 points while the women’s team took seventh with a total of 181 points. Host school, LSU, took the men’s crown with 18 points with Southern Mississippi University taking the women’s crown with 18 points as well.

Loyola freshman Anthony Rizzi ran the sixth fastest 5k in Wolf Pack history with a finish of 16:43.15 to take 16th. Freshman Brian Davis finished 34th overall, recording a time of 18:18.65. Freshman Patrick Driscoll finished 38th for the men, with a time of 19:15.41. Seniors Jonathan Marlbrue and Brendan Dodd finished 40th and 42nd respectively.

Rounding out the Pack at 44th was freshman Hernan Espinal, with a finishing time of 22:54.41.

On the women’s side, freshman Jordan Elissa, finished in 44th with a time of 22:56.50. Freshman Kendall Lane finished right behind her with a time of 23:04.13, good for 46th overall. Ten seconds behind Lane was freshman Shannon Hester, who recorded a time of 23:14.50.

Hester rounded out the trio of top50 finishers at Saturday’s meet.

The Wolf Pack will have a week of rest before traveling to Lake Charles, Louisiana to participate in the McNeese State Cowboy Stampede on Oct. 3.

Students embrace a new kind of yoga

By Teddy McDermott eamcderm@loyno.edu @tedddym

The University Sports Complex has introduced Yoga PiYo, a class that combines elements of yoga and plyometric exercises.

Though the class has a limited focus on stretching and body positions, the class still concentrates on traditional elements of yoga, such as breathing and meditation.

Jae Sung Shrader, Yoga PiYo instructor, sees the class as an escape from her daily routine.

“It forced me out of the library, makes you expand your practice and mind,” Shrader said.

According to Shrader, the class isn’t too strict and it helps to gain muscle. For many students, the most challenging aspect of the class is adjusting to the calm environment.

Megan Byas, the athletic coordinator at Loyola, is a business administration senior and also a physical trainer. She said that since the class started, the attendance of how

many people show up weekly has greatly increased.

“It is safe to say that the students are pretty engaged with the class,” Byas said.

Byas also said that the reason behind Yoga PiYo was to incorporate PiYo and Yoga into one, while making a more complex spin off of Yoga.

She said it is different from other classes offered because it tailors to students that want to get involved and gives them a little taste of something new.

While other classes are often discontinued due to a lack of student participation, Yoga Piyo is thriving because of its popularity among the student body, according to Byas.

This is the case for Trichelle Lee, economics sophomore.

“The class is open and more relatable because its modern. I really enjoyed myself. Its a nice class,” Lee said.

Students and members of the University Sports Complex can take part in the class on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

Struggling Saints fall to Tampa Bay in the Dome ZACH BRIEN / The Maroon

Jae Sung Shrader, environmental law junior at Tulane University (above), instructs the class in a warmup routine. Trichelle Lee (bottom) strikes a pose during Tuesday night’s class. Yoga Piyo is a class that is geared toward incorporating elements of yoga and plyometric exercises, while still focusing on traditional forms of yoga, such as mediataion and relaxation.

Tennis team takes to the court with new recruits

By Nick Ducote naducote@loyno.edu @naducote89

The Loyola tennis team is looking to bounce back from last season after being short a few players on the roster.

This season, Kyle Russell, head coach, and the team are looking to build on recruiting and building a brand. The coach isn’t looking for a “quick fix” for the team’s issues, he’s looking to make them better for seasons to come.

“The goal this season is to become a cohesive unit so that we

are a successful team not just this year, but in three or four seasons. I like the kind of kids we’re also getting through recruiting. I overall just want us to grow and get better, and we have been,” Russell said.

The coach has been traveling all over the country recruiting and attracting students to Loyola for the past couple of months while going to tournaments and talking to athletes and coaches.

His past recruiting trail brought in six players. However, Russell feels confident about the opportunity they have to bring in more student athletes.

He said that he’s fortunate that the team is in New Orleans, which means it is easy to sell to perspective recruits because the city is so unique.

Recruits such as Chris Fourmaux, accounting freshman, were drawn to the team because he felt it was a good fit. Being in Louisiana wasn’t just something he felt was important to his college decision, but also which school had a good tennis team.

“I looked at other colleges, but I came to Loyola simply because I felt it was the best school in Louisiana to play tennis for,” Formaux said.

Veteran players such as Alexa Mancuso, design junior, set up mental goals for themselves and the teams and look to cash in on their preparation in the sweltering heat of their afternoon practices at the City Park tennis courts.

“I really want to make it to the conference championship this year.

We weren’t able to accomplish that last year. We have three recruits this season since the numbers were down last year, and they all look good. I feel like as a team this season, we can do a lot better than what we’ve been accustomed to,” Mancuso said.

For the second straight week, the Saints fail to put up more than 20 points.

While the defense seemingly played better than it did last week, it was the offense that continues to remain a cause for concern. A shaky offensive line and penalties put a huge damper on an already troubled Saint’s offense.

Two fourth-quarter touchdowns gave fans reason for hope as the Saints trailed by four with a 16 yard touchdown pass to Saints receiver, Willie Snead.

The team did, however, manage to score on the second fumble with the late touchdown pass to Snead.

The Saints would go on to lose their first home game 26-19. Their record now falls to 0-2.

The Saints hit the road to take on the 2-0 Carolina Panthers in another NFC South Divisional matchup on Sunday, Sept. 27.

EDITORIAL

10 OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

POPE FRANCIS IS OUR FAVORITE POPE HOWLS & GROWLS GROWL to sprinklers in the green space getting people wet HOWL to students taking advantage of the green space GROWL to Drew Brees being injured HOWL to Greek life GROWL to boil water advisories HOWL to Pope Francis hugging babies GROWL to sleep deprivation HOWL to the beginning of Fall

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief

Emily Branan

Managing Editor

Rebeca Trejo

Managing Editor

for Print for Electronic Properties Naasha Dotlwala Zach Brien Kristen Stewart Lauren Saizan Gabe Garza Starlight Williams

Design Chief Photo Editor Senior Staff Writer News Editor Worldview Editor Wolf Editor Life and Times Editor The Works Editor

Zayn Abidin

Religion Editor

Mark Robinson

Sports Editor

Gage Counts

Opinion and Editorial Editor

Raymond Price

Maroon Minute Executive Producer

Lawson Box

Copy Editor

EDITORIAL POLICY The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and do 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.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Don’t encourage student loans Editor:

HOWL to Sea Otter Awareness week

Mary Graci

September 25, 2015 THE MAROON

Since Pope Francis is visiting the U.S. for the first time, it’s approproate to reflect on the impact that he has had on the Catholic Church and our culture.

The Church has the image of being an institution which is focused only on belief and dogma. Pope Francis reversed this, and is letting the world know that the Church is meant to be one in service of the poor.

Since the election of Jorge Bergoglio as pope, the world has taken another glance at the Catholic Church.

The Church had been floundering in terms of membership and credibility, but Pope Francis has put Rome on a different, better trajectory.

Choosing the name “Francis,” after Francis of Assisi, a saint known for serving the poor, turned out to be indicative of his entire papacy thus far: one that prioritizes the poor and marginalized.

The best symbol to represent that is his shoe preference. Recent popes have been famous for wearing bright red, designer (read: outrageously expensive) shoes. The bane of humility of poverty, Pope Francis discarded the tradtition and donnes plain, black loafers to represent living a life of humility.

Pope Francis has made a large impact on the United States, despite him only now visiting for the first time.

American media — and as a result, the Church in the U.S. — has a habit of focusing on sexual issues: contraception, pornography, pre-

marital sex, and abortion. There is Church doctrine on these issues, so it’s unfair to criticize the Church speaking on them.

However, the way that the Church has been talking about and prioritizing those issues gives the impression that the primary goal of the Church is not to help the poor, but to control people’s lives.

Pope Francis has done well in discarding those issues as the main priorities, while still keeping them as important issues. When he’s asked about sexual issues, he redirects the conversation to war, economics and ecology, and shows how those issues impact the underprivileged.

When someone hears about the pope kissing a man with a bulbous head, it seems genuine When the press reports that he washed a woman’s feet, when the practice was to only wash the feet of men, it doesn’t seem artificial.

When the leader of the Catholic Church, one of the largest faiths in the world, visits countries that aren’t the seats of power, it shows that Pope Francis is more concerned about those in need of help than those in need of attention.

Pope John Paul II was a vocal critic of the oppression from communist regimes. Pope Benedict XVI was a thoughtful theologian. These are great qualities. However, neither came as near to creating the image of a poor church as Pope Francis has.

Pope Francis is a great figure. Yet, he has problems that he

should overcome.

First, in order to make meaningful changes that outlasts his papacy, he needs to change the structure of the Church. He has been even-handed with his appointments of bishops as well as representatives for the upcoming Synod on the Family. If he means to make a lasting change, it won’t come from continuing to appoint moderate decision makers.

Papal elections, like presidential elections, are cyclical. Once a conservative leader vacates the position, a liberal one takes his place.

The attitudes and priorities Pope Francis has adopted could easily change if he’s replaced by a more conservative pope.

Second, Pope Francis comes off as having a tin ear when dealing with the plight of women. There are a few reasons for this. For example, regarding the ordination of women as priests and having women play a larger role in the Church, there is little he can do aside from making vague comments about how the theological role of women should be reexamined. While a positive comment, many women feel as though their concerns aren’t being prioritized.

Pope Francis has breathed life anew into the Church. Since Loyola is a Catholic, Jesuit university, we should be excited about this, even if many of us aren’t religious.

His message should be taken to everyone, regardless of their faith: serve the poor. Help the marginalized.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Michael Giusti so completely miss the point.

The concerns raised by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others have raised about the loan program and student debt load are not about the existence of the program or students’ use of it, but rather the combination of increasing tuition, decimation and cancellation of other financial aid programs and increasing interest rates on the loans.

It’s not that students take the loans, but that they have become the vast majority of students’ financial aid packages while both the cost of college and the cost of borrowing rise at astounding rates.

Mike mentioned Pell Grants and hinted at the G.I. Bill; along with work study, the latter was my financial aid package when I snuck in Loyola’s back door in 1996, because student loans were and should be the last resort. I think I remember scraping under the Pell Grant line one year, even, and getting a whopping $500. I took loans in my final few semesters so that I could not work (outside of The Maroon, that is) and concentrate on my studies.

All of these were in play, along with private scholarships (I had, thanks to my service in the Marines, aged out of eligibility for most of those) and a few other sources.

Nowadays, the bulk is student loans, guaranteed by the federal government but “serviced” by a private lender if you’re lucky, wholly private if you’re not (ask me about my disastrous attempt to get MCSA certified and how much that’s cost me).

Am I saying students shouldn’t sign their notes? They should think carefully and make sure that it makes financial sense to do so. Mike is and has been very lucky that he’s moved from job to job with few breaks in an industry that’s one of the toughest right now, and I think that may be skewing his views.

I don’t begrudge him the luck or the work — he is one of the best journalists I’ve ever worked with — but the views ... a little. But you can see why he might think that any debt load would be a slam dunk in his eyes; after all, you can grow your way out of it when you get the job, or the next. Maybe.

Education remains the best, surest and most adaptable way into the middle class or better, but if graduates start off with too great a debt load, they’re going to be hamstrung from the start and may never reach anything near their potential, especially if they get a slow start. Is this a limitation we want to place on the future?

Pierce Presley A’99

OPINION

September 25, 2015 The Maroon

11

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ZOE HEIMBROCK / The Maroon

In My Opinion Students sharing their opinions on topics

Cuba should be your next foreign visit Alliciyia George mass communication junior atgeorge@loyno.edu

Previous United States policies’ that restricted American travel to Cuba have contributed to the isolation of Cubans from their families in the states. The U.S. government has made great strides recently to correct this wrong. Americans should serve as ambassadors of U.S. values and culture.

We can dispel 50 years of Cuban government propaganda aimed at vilifying the United States and its values, when we travel to Cuba.

Therefore, all U.S. citizens should be allowed to travel, not just Cu-

ban-Americans.

Americans should be allowed to travel to Cuba as it as fundamental right. It is ironic that Cubans are now free to travel where they please, while U.S. citizens are still restricted. Americans should be able to travel wherever they want. Our government shouldn’t be able to tell us we can’t travel to Cuba because of their goals in international politics.

Americans have the potential to help Cubans, like we did after the Spanish-American War in 1898, with their pro-democracy movement.

The United States is known for trying to prevent communism governments for developing like we did in Western Europe.

Also, American travel would benefit both economies, especially Cuba’s. With more money coming into Cuba’s economy, the government could provide better lives for its people, and there might even be

a shift towards a free society where consumers have the control over the economy, especially with a stronger American influence.

Surely, America’s past strategy has not succeeded in making Cuba move towards a democratic form of government. Our government’s steps towards normalizing relations shows the U.S. government is ready to take a new approach with Cuba.

It is a very necessary step that will finally end the freeze on both countries’ ties to each other.

According to a fact sheet from the Department of State, President Obama announced the decision to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba on July 1, and this went into effect on July 20, when the embassies in each country reopened.

The U.S. has already started bringing back some of the necessary services for Americans consider with their safety in Cuba. Soon

American credit cards and phones will work in Cuba which adds another layer of security and comfort for travelers.

As a vital part of their economy, the government is willing to invest in hotels and popular tourists destinations to attract tourists. Meanwhile, vacationing in Cuba remains relatively cheap to stay competitive.

Tourism to Cuba will only grow in the upcoming years as travel companies and cruise lines invest more in tours there. It is going to change their economy by leading to more infrastructure which will improve their economy and standard of living. The next few years will be the perfect time for Americans to travel to Cuba.

Now is time for Americans to see for themselves what Cuba is like and leave their influence on the country much like volunteers in Haiti or Nepal have. U.S./Cuban economic, po-

litical and cultural ties will become stronger in the future.

The Louis Armstrong International Airport was one of eight airports first authorized for flights there. Should New Orleans’ ports open back up trade with Cuba, they would get a lot more business. There will be a profound impact in the New Orleans community with normalization of U.S./Cuban relations as the presence of Cuban culture in New Orleans grows through cultural exchange.

I encourage Loyola students to study or volunteer as Cuba and universities across the US create the necessary services for Americans.

It will improve your cultural awareness and make Cuba’s government reassess its priorities.

Loyola services are good, but need more work Nick Ducote mass communcation junior naducote@loyno.edu

Transferring to Loyola has been one of the best choices that I’ve made with my “adult life.” I consider myself a lucky individual from New Orleans who has the opportunity to make it to this school. I see Loyola as a niche that some potential students overlook. The same caliber of student usually go to larger colleges and becomes lost in the masses. We definitely pass the eyeball test when it comes down to the architecture and academics, so where are we lacking?

What separates us from becoming an

even better school?

I sadly have never lived on campus; I regret that now. I always lived at home or had an apartment that I paid for through a part-time job. I still am part of the student body, but not to the extent as some freshmen or students who are campus residents. I occasionally go and play soccer across the street at Tulane with friends and always notice the “beacon” that is Tulane’s Lavin-Bernick Center.

When you walk into the LBC there’s always music playing, exotic smells, daily chats on the television with members of the Hullabaloo and local news. I’ve become a little jealous. The Danna Center at Loyola obviously isn’t as glamorous to that extent, but still gets the job done for most of us.

I can definitely grin and say that Tulane doesn’t have Starbucks, be-

cause anyone who was at Loyola two years ago can also say that “hey, we miss Community Coffee.” At least a local company such as CC’s gave free refills and not charge a $7 latte to the broke college students. Because of this debacle, I sadly backtrack to Tulane to get $3 P.J’s coffee instead.

We definitely need to add another food choice to the Danna Center.

We have an incredible group of chefs that have come to Loyola and the food here has taken a step up to the point that Tulane students now come over here for the food and, yes, Starbucks. I went and tried the Gumbo, and as a local even I had to ask “how did the okra melt in my mouth?”

They have definitely stepped up the quality of cooking, but I feel like we need to build more on that and maybe get those chefs, and set something up where Satchmo’s use to be.

That has become a little of an

eyesore. I feel like we can build on what success we’re having with the new chefs, and maybe put another restaurant or hot plate room downstairs. We need to bring more to the Danna Center on all levels. Tulane has the Ratskeller which is open till 2 a.m., has WOW Wingery and a pool table with games on television all day. We can have that here, but it will understandably take time. I’m sure Cane’s and Jimmy John’s would love for us to give them a call, though.

The TULU card has also become a necessity for upperclassmen at Loyola. If you have any upper level history or writing courses, you will need to get a Tulane University/ Loyola University reciprocal borrowing card and venture off to Tulane’s Library. Tulane really just has more books than we do because of the majors at that school. They also have more money than Loyola does,

which is understandable, but this has always been the case even prior to us having a huge deficit fall on us.

The library also has had too many communication errors on their part that it’s hard to trust them sometimes. Book requests get cancelled and putting in a deadline for a book or documents has become harder because of the computer or someone messing up a date for when you need the book by. This is a tedious problem, but it needs to be addressed.

I like that we’re going in the right direction with some aspects of Loyola, but we need to continue getting better. We need to communicate more and address the two essential needs to a growing college student body and that’s the food and knowledge at this campus and this campus alone.

12

September 25, 2015

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