Loyola faces backlash after SGA denies TPUSA charter
By Eloise Pickering and Alana Frank
anfrank@my.loyno.edu
ewpicker@my.loyno.edu
What started as a campus decision quickly turned into a statewide debate and gained local and national news attention after Loyola con rmed that its Student Government Association denied Turning Point USA’s application to become a chartered student organization.
Shortly after Fox News covered the story, the university said SGA “leads a peer-to-peer process for recognizing new student organizations” and conrmed that Turning Point USA’s application “was not approved.” Loyola added that student leaders of the group were
informed of their right to appeal the decision.
e story gained wider attention after Fox News cited reporting from e Maroon, which rst reported the denial following the Oct. 15 SGA Senate meeting. Fox News later published its own story about the decision, prompting responses from state o cials, including Louisiana governor Je Landry.
Landry posted on social media Tuesday, criticizing the university’s handling of the application. Sharing a highlighted portion of Loyola’s mission statement that reads, “Loyola University New Orleans… welcomes students of diverse backgrounds,” Landry wrote in the caption:
Both SGA and Loyola’s administra-
tion didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
“Hmmm… so much for welcoming students with diverse backgrounds, @ loyola_nola. I’ll be taking a look at this to ensure all voices are heard on campuses across Louisiana!”
e governor’s comments came less than 24 hours after national coverage surfaced.
TPUSA at Loyola responded to the denial in a lengthy Instagram post, sharing details from its SGA presentation and emphasizing its alignment with Jesuit values of “faith and justice.”
“Here is the long-overdue debrief of what really happened in the room before SGA,” the post said. “We began the meeting by presenting who we are, what
we stand for, and why we are pursuing a charter on campus.”
According to the post, senators asked how the group would “assimilate into campus life, given Loyola’s diverse environment of students and faculty from all backgrounds.”
e chapter stated that its goal is to “o er a space where our faith can be shared and where students are welcomed to engage in open and sometimes polarizing conversations without fear of being ‘cancelled.’”
TPUSA also claimed that another student organization protested during the SGA deliberations on Oct. 15.
“Members of this opposing group had the opportunity to speak against us, sharing their concerns about TPUSA as
an organization and our request to be chartered,” the group wrote.
e post concluded that the chapter plans to move forward with an appeal.
“Our work doesn’t stop here,” they said. “We will continue to advocate for the approval of this organization and stand rm in our commitment to free expression and student representation.” is is a developing story. Follow e Maroon for continued coverage.
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Take Back The Night: A night Loyola stood with domestic survivors
By Alyssa Jones aejones@my.loyno.edu
Loyola hosted Take Back the Night, an annual event put on to stand in solidarity with domestic abuse survivors and women who were abused or trafficked. It took place in front of the Marquette Theater, right in the horseshoe. The gender resource center put on the event, and the event is put on to support people in abusive situations and who are trafficked. The night was also meant for all universities in the New Orleans area to come together and support people who were affected by domestic abuse.
Mariana Johnson-Andres, an employee of gender research, explains what Take Back the Night is “Abused people tell their story and spread awareness, and for everyone just to come out and support and have a moment of silence
Loyola celebrates Iggy’s 534th birthday
By Eloise Pickering ewpicker@my.loyno.edu
Standing in the center of Loyola’s campus is a statue of St. Ignatius de Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, and whom this university is named after. This year would be Loyola’s namesakes’ 534th birthday.
On Oct. 23, Loyola’s Student Life and Ministry and Student Government Association tabled in the Peace Quad to celebrate Iggy’s birthday. It’s an annual tradition for SGA to provide cupcakes and brochures to students. The brochures provide information
about St. Ignatius’ teachings, and Loyola continues to honor and apply the Jesuit values.
SGA President Nicholas Keen highlighted how Iggy’s birthday falls at a great time during the fall semester.
“It’s right before these big moments. Especially since midterms just passed, it’s time to celebrate. It’s time to show up, show out,” Keen said.
With Iggy’s birthday falling right before Halloween, the birthday celebration occurs in tandem with other campus events such as the Theater Arts Department’s Bootique Sale and other sorority tablings.
for them, listen to them, and stand in solidarity.”
However, it means that to and more to the workers. This event gives a voice to the voiceless and meaning to the people who were forgotten in the case of domestic abuse.
Aneesa Abdur-Rasheed explained what the event means to her as an employee, saying, “To be able to help out, like those that don’t have a voice and can’t speak out for themselves, and give everyone a chance to have the voice.”
"Many women still live in fear of speaking out against their abusers."
Chelsea Bandela, pre-law history major and Latin American studies minor
also for many organizations on campus and off to come together and educate people on the topic of domestic abuse. It was also to stand with people abused in many minority groups. Chelsea Bandela, a pre-law history major and Latin American studies minor, explained how the event is particularly meaningful to her community.
the event, the people who work at the center felt that the night was positive, empowering, exciting, and inspiring. The night was that way, as there were so many people coming together for the same purpose: to support the victims and listen.
Take Back the Night was an event where people gathered in support of domestic violence victims, but it was
“I like to say it’s very important within the Hispanic community to me because I’m a Hispanic person. To talk about this, because many women still live in fear of speaking out against their abusers or speaking out and sharing their story with other people,” Bandela said.
With so many people coming out for
Take Back the Night was filled with numerous opportunities to help people and provide support to survivors within the community. People shared their stories, and community leaders were there to share information but also encouraging words to send to people who were victims of domestic abuse. The night was a place for all people to come together and reflect on how domestic violence in this country is a problem and how we can stop it and improve resources for the survivors.
Loyola's TRIO granted 1.3 million
By Finian Jones ffjones@my.loyno.edu
The Department of Education granted Loyola $1.3 million through the federal TRIO programs, the branch of the department that specializes in student services and outreach. This money is meant to help low-income, first-generation, and disabled students’ retention and graduation rates.
The services associated with TRIO are varied but center widely around financial aid and scholarship assistance and advice, as well as tutoring and mentoring. This is all in an effort to help disadvantaged students get the education they deserve, according to Monica Curtis, Loyola’s TRIO director.
Psych major and First in the Pack member Felix Urrutia spoke on this grant. He remarked on how the funding
could help greatly with staffing, observing how hard Curtis works and how the extra staff could lighten the load. In turn, this could translate to even more support for TRIO scholars.
“Ms. Monica does her hardest and has definitely done good work even though she has her limits it hasn’t shown in the amount of events and support we receive as TRIO scholars,” Urrutia said.
For Urrutia, TRIO has been a great opportunity to connect with peers and various programs–helping with time management, planning, and providing many other things that aid in navigating college life. With a program so positive and important in the lives of so many students, the weight of the grant is felt, and the significance of the money cannot be stressed enough.
“I feel great knowing that TRIO has more funding specifically not only be-
cause it helps fund events, but most importantly, this should help obtain some more staff for TRIO,” Urrutia said.
The main worry regarding the funds is that they are used judiciously. Viewing other TRIO grants across the nation, Urrutia remarked on how sometimes funds are used up too quickly, frivolously and without moderation. Ultimately, he puts his trust in Loyola’s ability to manage the money properly and put it towards the right places–increasing staffing and providing more and better opportunities for TRIO students.
“I trust TRIO will properly manage this grant and give the proper resources the funding in need,” Urrutia said.
Side Hustle Expo brings light to Loyola student endeavors
The Side Hustle Expo is a chance for students to compete to earn scholarship money with their side hustles by displaying their qualities to students and judges alike. First place was the Streamline app by Justus Rippert.
Students hold candles in honor of domestic abuse victims at Take Back The Night. Courtesy of Samantha Guillotte for the Maroon.
Karyse Gocoul campaigns her vegan holistic beauty brand, Yes, It's My Real Hair, at her table. Ashlyn Bobb Collins/The Maroon
Zyrea King campaigns her brand of baked treats called Zee's sweets Ashlyn Bobb Collins/The Maroon
Justus Rippert campaigns his app, Streamline, an app that helps small and medium sixed businesses optimize their process. Ashlyn Bobb Collins/The Maroon
Student shows her AMAnagement Roadmap at the Side Hustle Expo. Ashlyn Bobb Collins/The Maroon
Kat Lee holding a gecko in front of her Katamaran Reptile Ranch table, aiming to promote low-maintenance pets. Ashlyn Bobb Collins/The Maroon
ACROSS
1. New Orleans Football Team
6. Giants, Seahawks, and the Bills are a part of what league?
8. When you step on a branch, it makes this noise
12. e Forest of ____, the setting of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”
15. British Film Institute, abbr.
16. A god or goddess
17. University of Oklahoma, abbr.
19. Opposed to stop
20. Atlanta for short
21. Eren Jaeger is the main character of this anime series, abbr.
22. What month are we in?
25. __ Taco Loco on Carrollton has Taco Tuesday deals!
27. Initials for “Life of a Showgirl” artist
28. Country code for Romania
29. Advanced classes in high school were either AP or __
31. Not real
36. Famous New Orleans rap name, abbr.
37. Actress that played Nicky Nicholas in Orange is the New Black, abbr.
38. Not long enough to be an album so it’s just an __
39. Superstition that these types of cats can bring bad luck
40. Lighter brand
43. Do-re-mi-__-so
44. Amazed reaction
47. e O in IOU
49. Hello to Hola; EN to __
50. __-re-mi-fa-so
52. Positive term in drag to mean something is amazing or awesome
56. First letter of the alphabet
57. American telehealth company
59. __. Charles
PUZZLES
61. Country code for Luxembourg is?
62. Liberty University, abbr.
64. Initials for “Shape of You” singer
65. Selenium on the periodic table
66. Opposed to o
67. Teacher’s Assistant, abbr.
68. Initials for the French president
69. Vice president, J.D. _____
73. “_____ on a Leash” by Korn
74. Labels on shirts for extra small
75. Also known as, abbr.
76. ___ to Joy
DOWN
1. Opposed to happy
2. Piece of land
3. “ e _____” by Fyodor Dostoevsky
4. “We not like you” by 18 year old rapper from Richmond, Virginia
5. Brazilian band, e Not Yet, abbr.
7. Fe-__-fo-fum
9. is sport association’s season starts this month
10. Some people say you go here after you die
11. You can use these for your bed or to collect candy on Halloween
13. ___ McStu ns
14. Poet, Edger Allen ___
18. Utah on the mail
19. Great Britain, abbr.
22. Roblox hurt noise
23. Online Film & Television Association, abbr.
24. Narrow beam of light
26. Opposite of losing
30. It ows through your veins
32. _ _ C D E
33. Netherlands on the mail
34. Some dorms in Francis don’t have this
35. Initials for the author of IT
53. “Living on the ____” by Aero-
45. Original Character, abbr.
46. Week, abbr.
47. Opposed to o
48. Wisconsin, abbr.
51. Hurt noise
52. ere’s one of these in the gym bathrooms
STAFF LIST
Editorial Board
Editor in Chief - Eloise Pickering
Managing Editor for Print - Mary Ella
Hastings
Managing Editor for Digital - Callie
Honeycutt
News Editor - Lily Bordelon
Asst. News Editor - Stella Perdue
Worldview Editor - Pablo PiñeiroRamy
Life & Times Editors - Elise Beck
Comics Editor - Zach Cesarini
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Asst. Sports Editor - Keri Smith
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Siddiqui
Breaking News Editor - Alana Frank
Asst. Breaking News Editor - Natalie omas
Copy Editors - Kloe Witt, Morgan Matteson, Mark Michel
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Campbell
News Consultant - Mark Michel
e Wolf Directors - Olivia Sanyal, Laura Welles
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Renzi
Senior Sta Videographer - Chris
For weekly puzzle answers, download
54. is political activist was recently detained in international waters
55. What part of England is Charli XCX from?
59. Popular city in Japan
61. “____ or War” by Kodak Black
62. ____ n Roll!
Nesbit
Photo Editor - Ashlyn Bobb Collins
Asst. Photo Editor - Pharrell Every
Social Coordinator - Eleanor Boucher-Ferry
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Student Media Adviser: Michael Giusti
Assistant Student Media Adviser: Gabriella Killett Vargas
63. “Um actually” people are often referred to as this
70. Opposed to ya
71. is company was recently sold to Saudi Arabia’s Investment Fund
72. Fe- -__-fum
73. Eazy-E, abbr.
CONTACT US
Main O ce - (504) 865 - 3535
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41. Training Within Industry, abbr.
42. Peace
smith
Crossword by Max Schweikarth and Kira Phillips
CAMPUS
Reschella turns up the volume on campus
Loyola’s Reschella, brought students together for a night of music, food, and fun. The event, held on Oct. 24, 2025, in the Res Quad, featured student performers, tablings to promote self-owned businesses, and RAs managing the different activities. With a great turnout and food trucks serving tacos and crepes, the atmosphere was lively and full of Wolfpack spirit.
The Annual Peace Fest introduces this year's theme: Survival
By Lily Bordelon lmbordel@my.loyno.edu
The Student Peace Initiative held the 18th annual Peace Festival, celebrating this year’s theme: Survival. The event, held on October 22nd, was a prelude to the upcoming 18th Annual Peace Conference held in the Spring, and the Call for Papers for the upcoming conference
was also announced during this event.
This year, the event had multiple activities for students who attended, including henna, tie-dye, and birdhouse painting, since the Student Peace Initiative’s logo is a bird, according to Sophomore Mallory Phillips, who helped with this year’s Peace Festival.
“I only came for a little bit last year, but I think that we have a lot more activities this year,” Phillips said.
Alongside these activities, The Peace Festival invited Loyola music students and bands to perform, as is usually done each year, and there was also a grill provided for food.
“It exploded from just this fun event where you could watch live music to being a bigger thing with all kinds of activities, and it's been so cool to watch it grow and be part of that,” said Phillips.
Additionally, all of the activities in the Festival were thought out regarding Loyola’s ethics, including thrifting all of the t-shirts for tie-dye and ensuring all of the meat served was halal.
“I think it serves as this really visual
reminder of what our values are as a university because not only is this a space where you can gather together, eat, and have fun, but it's a place to do so within the ethics of our university,” Phillips said. Phillips expressed her excitement regarding the spring Peace Conference, especially with this year’s theme focusing on survival.
"Peace Con is like my Coachella."
“Peace Con is like my Coachella,” Phillips said. “I had such a good experience last year, but the theme last year was unraveling political polarization, which obviously was an interesting theme, but it wasn't something that grabbed my attention the way that this year's theme does. I just feel like that's such a great theme to explore; it's so relevant, and I
think the Peace Initiative does a really good job of picking things that are really relevant.”
Junior Student Peace Initiative Operations Officer Sally Mannix also elaborated on how important these themes are to Loyola’s community, especially regarding the current state of the world and how Loyola’s students perceive it.
“A lot of our themes have to do with, like, our theme last year was polarization in peace and conflict, so that's kind of showing both sides of the spectrum, not creating more divide, but showing both sides to bring people together, and I feel like that's really important, especially for students to see,” Mannix said.
Junior and President Isabelle McCoy shares these sentiments, addressing this year’s theme and how it’s relevant to all audiences.
“I think that this theme really speaks to everyone, whether it's politically, socially, or historically. I think everyone has something related to survival, and not just conflict, but also peace. All of our themes revolve around peace and con-
flict,” McCoy said.
The Peace Conference in the spring provides an outlet for students to express their thoughts and feelings through abstracts relating to the theme, which include creative media like poems, dances, music, art, and more. The conference will consist of these performances alongside debates and speakers.
“I'm really curious to see the kinds of topics people will relate back to survival and peace and conflict, what they're passionate about, what they've been researching, and if they've been doing anything relating to that,” McCoy said. “I am really looking forward to it and just learning more about what different people at this school have been doing to work towards peace in our everyday lives.”
Submissions opened the day of the Peace Conference and will close January 31.
Mallory Phillips, Sophomore History and Spanish double major Student Peace Initiative logo courtesy of Isabelle McCoy for the Maroon.
Students wait in line for crepes at food truck brought for the Reschella event. Qemyne Barnes/ The Maroon
Students stand with beverages while watching Reschella performance. Qemyne Barnes/The Maroon
Aaron Johnson, Associate Director of Housing Operations, receives a henna tattoo from an RA at Reschella. Qemyne Barnes/The Maroon
Students watch as Azure Skyz and Jafearce perform at Reschella. Qemyne Barnes/The Maroon
Ian Spreitzer and Curtis Starks promote their Dungeons and Dragons group at Reschella. Qemyne Barnes/The Maroon
Loyola students engage in conversation and laugh at Reschella, enjoying the festivities. Qemyne Barnes/The Maroon
THE WORKS
By Zach Cesarini zmcesari@my.loyno.edu
The Works is back with a capital W! I want to turn this into a regular installment showcasing the fantastic art of our community here on campus. Treat this as a way to advertise your personal brand or business, wherever you're at or whatever your goal. This section is here to celebrate everyone. You can reach out to me personally at my email listed above. We do accept anonymous submissions as well! Any visual or written media is accepted! If you'd like your work featured, please submit it 3-5 days before you'd want it out. We want you!
LIFE AND TIMES
A deep dive into the New Orleans film festival with two alumni filmmakers
By Elise Beck erbeck@my.loyno.edu
Earlier this month, Loyola film school alum Jonathan Presson sent me a message about his film being selected for the New Orleans Film Festival. He explained that his film “Last of the Shrimpers” and alum Oliver Parker’s film “In the Light of a Miracle” were the only films accepted into the festival in Loyola student history.
We posted a short brief encouraging students to attend the festival in last week's issue, but Parker and Presson couldn’t get rid of me that easily.
I’ve done a deep dive into their experiences with their films before, during, and after the festival. If you couldn’t get a ticket, where’s what you missed.
Presson made a short documentary about the shrimping industry in Louisiana.
As a Minnesotan who knew nothing about shrimping a few years ago, Presson explained that his process of looking for local videography work led him to the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
From there, Presson was connected to the Louisiana shrimp museum, which is a shrimp processing plant that is currently fundraising to add a museum space.
The museum commissioned Presson to make the film, which also served as his senior capstone project.
When he saw that the museum was trying to maintain a piece of fading history, Presson began to brainstorm with the museum’s owners as to how he could use video media to capture the struggles of the industry.
“I pitched this idea of a short documentary that they could play inside of the museum,” Presson explained.
This would serve two purposes—to market the museum and to educate viewers. The museum agreed to the project in December 2023, and Presson worked on the documentary for another year and half.
“I think we kinda manifested getting into the New Orleans Film Festival from the get-go—I pitched that to the museum before they even approved the project,” Presson said.
Presson’s work was selected to be shown in the category “Louisiana shorts: Profile.” Presson explained why his work was synonymous with the values of the festival—he’s a first-time filmmaker highlighting a Louisiana story. “I think the local community values those stories so much,” Presson noted.
Presson’s passion for documentary filmmaking began during his junior year of high school. He watched a documentary called “Last Chance U”, a documentary series about a JuCo college football team.
“It’s all these players that are talented enough to be at the D1 level, but for whatever reason, they’re shipped off to these schools. It’s their last chance, essentially, to make it big and prove themselves and make it into D1 schools or the NFL,” he said.
“Last Chance U” inspired Presson to make a documentary about his high school soccer team.
I noticed this “last chance” theme is also prevalent in Presson’s film, as a documentary urging the audience to notice and help save a dying industry.
By the time he began at Loyola, however, documentary filmmaking wasn’t high on his priority list.
“Coming into the program, I was pret-
ty dead set on being a cinematographer,” he explained, noting that making "Last of the Shrimpers" led to him falling in love with making work that resonates with and impacts people.
Presson said he was nervous to go to the New Orleans Film Festival as a student. He felt that because he wasn’t a big name in the industry, he wasn’t sure if he would be welcome.
Now, he urges students to attend the festival, saying the filmmakers are down to earth, and discounted or free tickets are easy to come by.
“I went to the film festival for the first time last year, and I was able to watch a bunch of short documentaries,” he said.
This was around the time Presson was editing his film, and he explained that this was a great time for him to find inspiration and build connections.
“To be able to get your film in as a student is a big deal,” Presson said, noting that students selected for the fest are going up against industry professionals. The event isn’t just a one-off event to showcase local work.
Presson added that winning an award at the festival makes the filmmaker eligible for Oscar nomination.
Loyola is a small school, and the film program is even smaller. Presson spoke about working with Oliver Parker on various projects during their time in the Loyola film program.
They both speak so highly of each other, I see the two of them as pageant competitors holding hands onstage before the winner’s name is announced.
stone project, and he started writing the screenplay in the spring of his junior year. It was selected by the festival for the “Late Night Queer Shorts” block.
Parker explained the three main inspirations for the film, the first being a gay road trip movie.
“I wanted to make something about serial killers, like the Bonnie and Clyde type of thing, but like, sorta gay and genderfucked.”
Parker credited other road trip films such as “Badlands” and “My Own Private Idaho”.
“A lot of times they tell you not to do a road movie because it’s difficult and it’s dangerous and sometimes illegal, but I was like ‘I’m gonna do it anyway,’” Parker explained with a laugh.
Parker also cited the works of novelist Dennis Cooper as inspiration, saying his books were thematically similar to the film. Parker’s third and final point of inspiration was religious iconography, specifically through images of Catholic sainthood.
Parker recruited his friend Turner for the film, explaining that Turner had the air of a movie star, looked just like Martin Sheen in “Badlands”, and drove a 1985 blue Chevy. It’s clear from our conversation that Parker is inspired by visual themes, but he also mentioned how his personal history contributed to the story he wanted to tell.
Parker is from Baton Rouge, an area heavily inundated by Exxon plants.
“I wanted the landscape of south Louisiana to be very central, because it does
Although in this situation, they both win.
A few days later, I met Parker via Zoom. “It’s so awesome because I love Jonathan,” he said.
Parker noted how both filmmakers received similar accolades for their works in their time at Loyola, and he worked on projects together.
Parker’s film In the Light of a Miracle was also made for his senior cap-
have its own oppressive mechanism. The economy is so contingent upon the oil plants, and it’s so environmentally disastrous.”
Parker noted that driving from Baton Rouge to New Orleans inspired him to incorporate the imagery of Cancer Alley into the film.
“The main character is this guy named Andre, who’s 17, and he’s kind of
maybe a girl, and he gets picked up by this older gay guy, and they’re trying to evacuate from a hurricane,” Parker explained, before detailing that he wanted to illustrate all the power structures (the landscape, the economy, the hurricane) pressing down on Andre.
Parker had been feeling some pressure himself, working in an industry that can be inaccessible for young directors.
“I feel like people think that the mov-
ies are dead,” Parker noted. “I’m sometimes scared that the movies are dead.”
When I asked him what he wants audiences to gain from his film, he explained, “I hope people seeing my movie think, ‘Here is a young person with a voice and a perspective and a style.’”
After mentioning that goal, Parker noted, “I don’t think movies are dea
See YET page 13
Parker and his crew on the fist day of filming in Norco. Photo by Robin De'Sousa.
Presson speaks during the question and answer session after the showing at the Contemporary Arts Center on Saturday, Oct. 25th. Photo courtesy of Emily Schaefer.
YET: Loyola alumni reflect on their experience at the New Orleans film festival
Continued from page 11
yet. I think there’s still time.”
Parker explained that he’s worked at the festival for three years, first as an intern.
After a few seasons, Parker worked in ticketing credentials and contributed to the website.
He noted it felt really weird to not work at the festival this year, but he felt excited to be on the other side.
“It’s an awesome festival because they are so hyper-focused on amplifying voices from the South, which is not something that anywhere else in the country has done.” Parker laughed, before explaining that it was his main goal while goal while making the film to make it into the fest.
On Saturday night, I arrived at the Contemporary Arts Center and got a seat in the packed warehouse theatre to watch Presson’s film.
Presson’s film was first up, which was followed by an hour and 15 minutes of documentaries, and then a short Q&A with the filmmakers. Other shorts focused on local artists, a tour guide, and a kid who loved to dance.
I felt that Presson’s film was unique, as it focused on one blue-collar man. Oftentimes in artistic spaces like film festivals, rural and industrial narratives can easily be underrepresented.
However, “Last of the Shrimpers” highlighted a very real local economic issue.
My favorite shot of the short was the view on the deck of the shrimping boat, set to a hopeful instrumental by Pablo Amat.
It comes after some pretty crushing scenes about the industry suffering, so seeing birds against a bright blue sky set a more hopeful tone.
Presson stood next to his main character during the Q&A, an older shrimp-
er named Acy Cooper. It’s an emotional topic, and Cooper tears up at one point in the film. During the Q&A, Cooper emphasized to the audience the importance of eating locally caught seafood. You can tell that the two have bonded through time on the boat and interviews.
Something I noticed about Presson during our initial interview was his use of the term “we” through his play-by-play of how the film came to be.
It's clear Presson’s community has been a large part of this project, and it showed in his crowd of groupies on the film’s debut at film fest.
Presson’s girlfriend Emily Schaefer attended the festival by Presson’s side.
“She was the consulting producer on the project after many late nights of watching the film with me and giving feedback,” he explained.
Parker’s showing was the next night, at 8:30 p.m. on a Sunday. Definitely a sleepy time, but the crowd in line for the small black box theatre was anything but that.
I approached Parker and was instantly hugged by his mother—it was clear there was an air of celebration for the whole evening.
During the screening, audience members chimed in and quipped about the films, shouting out jokes that elicited laughter from the rest of the audience. Sad “awws,” snaps, and “I know that’s right!”s continued through every film.
Parker mentioned Presson during the Q&A section, noting that Presson loaned him his drone so he could shoot more complex shots.
Presson was in the audience for Parker’s showing, and if it wasn’t an extremely small theatre where everyone could see everyone, I’m sure I would’ve turned around to see Presson smiling.
Parker answered my questions on
our final Zoom with the same easygoing laughter as last week.
He noted that he was more nervous at this showing than previous ones. “In the Light of a Miracle” was shown to audiences at Parker’s senior showcase, a Zotz movie night, a private showcase, and the Scumdance Film Festival.
“The day before, I was so nervous, I sat in my house all day and just watched ‘The Real Housewives of New York’ ,” Parker explained. One margarita later, Parker was ready for the festival.
Parker mentioned that a reason for his nerves could’ve been the Q&A following the showing.
“It was my first time being Q&A’ed by somebody I don’t know, and so I guess it was like ahh, this is frightening,” he added.
I noted that Parker’s film was shown last in the group for the evening, which likely wasn’t a coincidence.
“A lot of the shorts that played before mine were like ha-ha funny, while mine is not necessarily,” Parker said with a laugh.
Parker explained that the film got more laughs at previous events, where the audience had a higher concentration of people who had worked on the film. He acknowledged the film has a very surreal sense of humor, which, he explained, not everybody thinks is funny.
A message from Scumdance Film Festival director George Sukara detailed another time that the film quieted the audience.
“The director of the festival emailed me, and was like, ‘Your movie really bummed out a whole lot of people, like it really sucked the air out of the room. I love it!’” Parker recounted with a laugh.
Bumming out a room clearly has perks—Parker received the Lola Jett Award for Best Cinematography at that
festival.
Parker found it interesting to see how different audiences receive the film, and he feels a sense of release knowing that it’s being shown to more and more audiences.
“This has nothing to do with me. I kinda have to give it to other people now,” Parker noted. “I’m going to New York this
“This has nothing to do with me. I hinda have to give it to other people now.”
— Oliver Parker Loyola alumni and filmmaker
weekend for another festival, so I’m excited to see how it’s received.”
There was one low point for Parker, as the film was played at a quieter volume than the director would’ve preferred.
I personally couldn’t tell the sound was off, as my focus was mostly on the visuals of the film.
There’s a strong use of red throughout the film, and the Catholic iconography and local landscape are consistent throughout.
The final shot, a classic religious image, was the most memorable part for me. Sonically, the film consisted of icy dialogue between the two main characters as well as a voiceover.
The credits then rolled to “Ian Curtis Wishlist,” an alternative synth song by Xiu Xiu.
Of the other shorts shown in Parker’s group, his favorite was “Capitanes”, a surreal film about a homoerotic soccer team, directed by Kevin Castellano and Edu Hirschfeld.
Parker noted that he was compli-
mented on making his project work without a lot of funding. “You can definitely tell mine has a small budget—not in a bad way,” he noted.
Parker was also honored to receive a compliment from an audience member who said he could see Dennis Cooper’s influence on Parker.
Parker had a list of influences at the end of the credits, an idea he got from watching his professor Nathan Tape’s short film.
I can give you proof that Presson made the most of his time at the festival; he was feeling too unwell to call and talk about it.
His text message stated, “During the fest I was going to everything that I could from when the day started at 12 PM to when the parties were finishing at 2 AM. After the fest, I’m recovering after doing so much. (Maybe a little too much lol).”
Of the other documentaries shown in Presson’s group, his favorite was “Anywhere I Lie in My Head”, directed by Fernando Macfarlane.
The short observed people living in abandoned power plants before they were eventually kicked out.
Presson detailed the differences in this year’s fest as compared to last year.
“The biggest difference was doing way more and having more access to panels, screenings, and VIP events that I didn’t go to the year before.
I was able to interact and meet many more people and watch many more films,” he said.
Rest assured that Parker and Presson attended many afterparties together, and you can view both of their films online through the festival’s virtual cinema from now until Nov. 2.
Parker's mom watches him speak at the question and answer session after his showing. Photo by Elise Beck for The Maroon.
Presson shoots a scene for the documentary on a shrimping boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo courtesy of Rory Doyle.
Loyola “Pursuit of Excellence” spotlight: Cole Haase
By Angelica Pineda acpineda@my.loyno.edu
Cole Haase, a sophomore on the Loyola men’s golf program, has been selected for Loyola’s Pursuit of Excellence spotlight due to his persistence and support while on the team.
Although Haase has been unable to play due to a past surgery, it didn’t stop him from being a part of the team. If anything, it only pushed him to better him-
self and the team.
“I’m healthier since my surgery. I can have the chance to get back up there or even be better than I was last year, that's partially what's motivating me,” Haase said.
Haase’s drive to improve himself has played a role in what excellence is to him and how he can push the limit of what being excellent is.
“It's the pursuit of being better than what you were yesterday, or being better
than you were last year, and just showing that you want to keep getting better and better and better in yourself,” Haase said.
The pursuit of excellence is not exclusive to Haase, as other members on the team have felt his impact. One member, Jude Leboeuf, noticed the positive impact Haase has had.
“Cole is great for boosting morale and always setting an example of what it looks like to be a good teammate and person,” Leboef said.
Leboeuf also attests to the major support Cole has given to the team regardless of the challenges he has faced following surgery.
“He leads by example and is one of the hardest working on the team. While he was still in recovery from his surgery, he was still at team workouts and practice even if he couldn't participate.” Leboeuf said.
While Haase has enjoyed the golf program stating, “I really like, especially this
year, how close the golf team is. We’re all, I don’t want to say best friends but we’re all like brothers,” his impact has been felt across the athletic department, being an example of excellence for all student athletes.
“He is really well known and has a positive impression across the athletic department,” Leboef said.
Inside the Action: A look back at this week in sports
By Keri Smith klsmith1@my.loyno.edu
Loyola Wolf Pack sports have seen a mix of on-court action and off-field developments, here’s some things you probably missed:
Women’s Basketball
On Oct. 24, Loyola’s women’s team opened their 2025–26 season on the
road against No. 11 Langston University, falling 69–64. Just a day later, on Oct. 25, they notched their first win of the season, defeating Haskell Indian Nations University 94–90 in a tightly contested game.
Standout performances included Deniya Thornton, who led with 30 points, seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal, and Alissa O’Dell, who recorded a double-double with 18 points and
12 rebounds. Caitlin Travis also played well, grabbing 10 boards and scoring 15, while freshman Tiarra McPipe and SeQuoia Carroll made significant contributions off the bench.
Men’s Basketball Oct. 28 the Loyola men’s team played against the Dillard blue devils falling 5469.
Volleyball
Oct. 24, the Wolf Pack volleyball squad swept Tennessee Southern in a 3-set win at home, but fell short in a 2-3 versus Blue Mountain Christian the following day, Oct. 25.
Athletic Facilities & Development
Loyola announced a major fundraising campaign to renovate its University Sports Complex, with a $1 million dona-
tion already received to kick things off. Planned upgrades include new locker rooms, upgraded athletic training and medicine facilities, expanded weight rooms, and improved coach offices.
This expansion aligns with Loyola’s growth: they currently field over 330 student-athletes in 20 sports, soon to increase to 22 with the addition of men’s and women’s rugby.
Cole Haase competes in a golf tournament, showcasing his foucs and precision on the course. Courtsey of Cole Haase
U.S. Supreme Court takes up Louisiana case on race and redistricting
By Angelica Pineda acpineda@my.loyno.edu
e U.S. Supreme Court is hearing the Louisiana v. Callais case for an alleged violation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act regarding the constitutionality of considering race in redistricting.
is case rea rms the constitutional right of all citizens to vote. It also established processes by which federal authorities could review how states and localities enacted policies or legislative maps that may disenfranchise voters. It emphasized the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in protecting the rights of marginalized communities within America.
While the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was fundamental in ghting against discriminatory voting practices, Section 2 of the act is being challenged for the second time with this case.
“Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or membership in one of the language minority groups identi ed in Section 4(f)(2) of the Act,” is how the Civil Rights Division from the U.S. Department of Justice de nes section 2 of the act.
Prior to the current alleged violation of Section 2, in 2022 there was another alleged violation of Section 2 regarding the misrepresentation of black voters within Louisiana's congressional districts. Due to one third of Louisiana’s population being black, black voters and protestors argued the congressional districts should accurately represent the black population. Since Louisiana is carved into six congressional districts, the map was redrawn with two of the districts being majority black as a way to account for Louisiana's black population.
Despite this e ort to solve the dispute over racial dilution amongst black voters by redrawing the map, a group of white voters argued taking race into consideration when redistricting is un-
constitutional regardless of intention. Redistricting brings about the potential issue of gerrymandering, speci cally in this case where congressional districts were drawn to represent a certain group of people.
A nationwide concern is the constitutionality of this ruling and how it will continue to shape future rulings debating whether or not race should be considered even without the intent of discrimination.
Sean Cain, a political science professor at Loyola, expressed his concerns with the ruling.
“If the supreme court may have a major ruling on the voting rights act or a minor ruling on the voting rights act, but either way their basis for doing so, in my opinion, will likely undermine, continue to undermine, the very wording of the constitution which says congress shall make the appropriate legislation to protect the voting rights for for racial minorities or just to prevent discrimination in voting based on race or previous condition of servitude,” said Cain.
A part of this concern is the issue of recent gerrymandering, the manipulation of congressional districts to put a certain party or group of people at an advantage or disadvantage. e party in this case, black voters, will be put at a disadvantage if districts are redrawn.
Nicholas Oliver, a political science major at Loyola, expresses his personal concern about the possibility of political leaders gerrymandering districts and undermining the Voting Rights Act.
“Section 2 being removed is bad because it's going to remove the minority voting power in the United States, like all of it, because when this is passed its going to start a free for all for Republicans to just start eating up little areas, cutting up all areas and just making this kind of Republican heavy congressional map,” Oliver said.
e Associated Press contributed to this report
Man deported to Laos despite court order blocking his removal, attorneys say
By e Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Immigration o cials have deported a father living in Alabama to Laos despite a federal court order blocking his removal from the U.S. on the grounds he has a claim to citizenship, the man's attorneys said Tuesday.
e ACLU of Louisiana, which is representing Souvannarath, called the deportation a “stunning violation of a federal court order.” Before his deportation, Souvannarath had been detained at a newly opened ICE facility at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick last week ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to keep Chanthila “Shawn” Souvannarath, 44, in the United States while he presented what the judge called his “substantial claim of U.S. citizenship," court records show. He was born in a refugee camp in ailand but was granted lawful permanent residence in the U.S. before his rst birthday, according to court lings.
But Souvannarath on Sunday mes-
saged his wife on WhatsApp and told her he was in Dongmakkhai, Laos, according to a screenshot she shared with e Associated Press. e message ends with “love y'all.”
“It is very unfortunate, especially for the children that we have together,” Beatrice Souvannarath told AP.
Emails, phone calls and text messages sent to ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were not immediately returned.
“ICE just ignored a federal court order and tore yet another family apart,” said Alanah Odoms, executive director for the ACLU of Louisiana, in a statement.
“ is administration has shown it will ignore the courts, ignore the Constitution and ignore the law to pursue its mass deportation agenda, even if it means destroying the lives of American citizens.”
e deportation comes as Trump administration o cials have repeatedly clashed with the courts over their attempts to deport large numbers of immigrants. ere have been previous cases of U.S. citizens being deported, including
U.S.-born children.
Chanthila Souvannarath was taken into ICE custody in June following an annual check-in with immigration authorities in Alabama, where he had been living, his wife said.
“When he went to check in, they detained him. And our two younger kids were with him," Beatrice Souvannarath told AP. "It was the hardest two months of my life.”
He spent much of his childhood living with one or both of his parents in Hawaii, Washington state and California. His father, a native of Laos, is a naturalized U.S. citizen, and Souvannarath claims his citizenship derives from that status.
“I continuously lived in the United States since infancy,” Souvannarath wrote in a letter from immigration detention, “and I have always considered myself an American citizen.”
Souvannarath led an emergency motion seeking to delay his deportation. Dick, the federal judge based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, issued a temporary restraining order ursday, citing the “ir-
reparable harm that would be caused by immediate deportation.”
" ough the government has an interest in the enforcement of its immigration laws, the potential removal of a U.S. citizen weighs heavily against the public interest," wrote Dick, who was appointed to the federal bench by President Barack Obama. Souvannarath would be “unable to e ectively litigate his case from Laos," she added.
e court docket shows no changes in Souvannarath’s case since the judge issued the temporary restraining order, which was set to expire Nov. 6. Dick declined to through her o ce to comment.
Mustian reported from New York.
Louisiana's congressional map. Graph by Makayla Parker
Loyola men’s basketball dominates first win
By Dessadra Tezeno dltezeno@my.loyno.edu
The Loyola men’s basketball team opened the 2025–26 season with a statement, defeating Texas A&M University–San Antonio 94–61 in the Den — marking the first win of the Trey Lindsey era.
The Wolf Pack wasted no time setting the tone. Sophomore forward Kosta Bjelicic scored the team’s first six points, helping spark a 17–0 run in the opening minutes. Junior guard Kameron Johnson led the way with 15 points, five assists, and five steals, directing the offense with confidence and control.
“Offensively, I just looked to be aggressive early, get my teammates involved, and let my defense pick up my offense,” Johnson said. “The 17–0 run out the gate gave us great confidence and momentum for the rest of the game and it showed fans and the other team
we weren’t messing around.”
Loyola’s offense caught fire from deep, hitting 14 three-pointers — their most in a game since the 2023–24 season — and maintaining control throughout the night.
Johnson said this game set the tone for what’s to come.
“A win like this shows us that we can be really good, and it’s now the standard - we don’t expect anything less,” he said.
With the 1–0 start, the Wolf Pack aims to build momentum under new leadership as they prepare for the next stretch of games in the early season.
Upcoming matches and games
Tuesday, Nov 4 vs. Xavier University The Den at 7:00 pm
Thursday, Nov 6 vs. Missouri Live on twitch at 7:30 pm
Friday, Nov. 7 SSAC Championship Oakville, Ala. at 8:30 am
Friday, Oct 31 The Den vs. Life Univerisity (Ga) at 1:00 pm
Nov.
Kameron Johnson dribbling the ball in the middle of a play. The team recently played Texas A&M San Antonio. Courtesy of Abigail Smith / Loyola New Orleans Athletics .
Reese Seicshnaydre slam dunking a basketball game. The men's team won their first game of the season in the den. Courtesy of Abigail Smith / Loyola New Orleans Athletics
OPINION
What’s next? Career planning through Loyola Online
By Lonniesha Carroll llcarrol@my.loyno.edu
I’m a senior communications student and as graduation approaches, my career goals are coming into sharper focus. My plan is to continue building my business and portfolio during the year following graduation to strengthen my skills so I’m prepared to pursue a Master of Science in Marketing.
I know why I’m taking this route: I want to step into grad school ready, with con dence, clear direction, and momentum from what I’ve learned.
Career planning isn’t something I left for the last minute; it has grown alongside me with every experience I’ve had at Loyola. At rst, I wondered if online learning could really prepare me for bold plans after graduation. But it turns out, Loyola’s digital platforms have been invaluable: Handshake allowed me to browse a wide range of internship opportunities and explore career resources
I might not have found otherwise. When it comes to resume building and cover letter writing, I learned most of these skills through my Online Adult Learning, Professional Writing, and Communication Writing courses, where instructors broke down the essentials and gave practical, actionable advice.
ese experiences gave me the foundation I needed to start preparing career documents with con dence. Afterward, platforms like LinkedIn opened doors to new professional connections and expanded my sense of what’s possible beyond my coursework.
It’s easy to underestimate how online classes can spark real growth. e opportunity to network with classmates, sharing ideas, challenges, and victories helped me learn how to build connections across both the classroom and the world.
Loyola’s approach has shown me that e ective communication doesn’t
depend on physical proximity; it thrives in spaces built on respect, curiosity, and shared purpose. Some of the most in uential coursework showed me how my skills translate beyond just grades and assignments.
Professional Writing taught me to craft proposals that persuade with both facts and feeling which is a skill I’ll use whether I’m marketing a new idea, pitching myself to potential clients, or advocating for a cause.
Layout and Design sharpened my visual communication skills, showing me how color, composition, and clarity can make a message truly resonate.
Mentorship and encouragement from Loyola’s professors and advisors have made a lasting impact as well.
Many are active in the eld as writers, strategists, and creatives whose lived experience inspired me to imagine new possibilities for myself. Even when I faced challenges completing most
courses online, the support was always there. ey emphasized adaptability and self-advocacy, showing that staying connected, asking for help, and being proactive can turn virtual struggles into meaningful growth.
e Jesuit value of cura personalis, care for the whole person which reminds me that personal development matters just as much as professional advancement.
Re ecting on my journey, I realize every article I write for e Maroon, each class project, and career workshop has brought me closer to my goals both personally and professionally. I’ve learned that online learning calls for self-motivation, strong time management, and embracing feedback.
ese skills translate directly to the workplace and to life after Loyola, making me feel more prepared for future challenges.
For fellow online students wondering
about the future, my advice is simple: use every resource, seek out mentors, and embrace the chance to grow, even from a distance.
Career planning doesn’t happen all at once. It’s step-by-step, built from experiences, mistakes, and small wins. Make a habit of re ecting on progress, not just results, and trust that your story is unfolding in its own right time.
Loyola Online isn’t just a setting but it’s the supportive community that made my future possible. I’ve learned to keep showing up for myself, keep re ning my skills, and keep connecting with people who care.
at’s how I know I’m ready for what’s next, ready for grad school, ready for my business, and ready to use communication as my calling wherever it can make a di erence.
If you love this city, vote in it: students need to show up locally
By Morgan Parker maparke2@my.loyno.edu
Loyola students are known for speaking up and protesting when we see something wrong.. We protest for climate justice, advocate for equality, and rally for human rights. But for some reason when it comes to the politics in the neighborhoods we live, study, celebrate, and exist in, far too many of us remain uneducated. National elections
draw masses of attention on college campuses while local elections - the ones that decide what we pay for rent, public safety, and even the transportation pass by without a glance from most college students. If we all care about the community of New Orleans it is our civic duty to protect our city. Local politics often can seem like background noise, when in reality the decisions made by local govern-
ments a ect our lives. e city council and mayor are constantly making choices that directly a ect student experiences including housing a ordability, transit, nightlife regulations, public safety, and ood policies. When younger voices stay silent, local decisions fail to re ect student priorities, like a ordable rent or reliable transit.
For example, think about o campus housing in the areas surrounding Loyola. In the past year the amount of vacant lots has skyrocketed because of the rule put into place that students must stay on campus for three years. is has caused rent to go up, which makes it harder for students to nd housing for senior year. ese issues are all determined by city government - by people that we could help elect. Consider transportation: have you ever waited 30 minutes for a streetcar that never came? Well that is a local decision. Even policies that a ect the nightlife we love so much, from music permits to the nonexistent bar curfews, come on down to voting.
Despite how much we are a ected by local laws, student participation in New Orleans still remains low. Far too many
students aren't even registered to vote locally. Some of the most common arguments include: the fact that they didn't know they could register outside of their hometown or some even assume that it isn't their place since they don't live here full time. Others are unsure of when the elections are and who is even on the ballot. It is really easy to feel disconnected from local politics when you will only live here for four years. at mindset overlooks something crucial, which is the fact that we are shaping the city based on our presence whether we vote or not. As students, we rent houses and apartments, take public transportation, and contribute to the overall economy and culture of New Orleans.
So, my question is, why can't we take the time out of our day to become educated on local issues so that we can vote for something that a ects our lives and the lives of the people around us? Something that people don't often realize is that choosing to not vote is an inherently political choice - it is a choice that leaves others in charge of what happens to the city we love and call home. Getting involved isn't hard. You can simply register
to vote in New Orleans by using your local address. is is possible even if you live in a dorm room or if your family is from a di erent state or city. Student led groups could partner with organizations to host registration drives and ballot information sessions. is would help students become more educated on what's going on around them so that they feel more comfortable to vote on these issues.
Now take a second and just imagine if even half of Loyola's student body voted in our next city election. We could potentially in uence policies like transit, housing, funding, and sustainability. Most importantly we would be doing our duty as residents of New Orleans (even if just temporarily) to positively a ect our home. New Orleans is more than just where we will spend our college years. It is a city that we are inhabiting and a ecting every single day. If we love our city’s music, culture, and community we also owe it our protection and participation. Change doesn't have to happen in Washington - it can start with your name on a local ballot.
e erasure of human connection because of AI
By Angelica Pineda acpineda@my.loyno.edu
Arti cial intelligence is not only a contributor to the loneliness epidemic but also an advocate for it, as it is often marketed as a “friend”. e push for AI’s integration into everyday life and relationships is building a human-robot relationship while erasing the human relationships and conversations AI tries to mimic.
AI should be a tool used by humans as a way to enhance and speed up technological developments as a means for humans to have more time to enjoy ourselves as well as others.
However, the current trend of AI dependence seems to do the opposite as people are enjoying AI’s inferior fabrications of human interactions much more.
Regardless of how “human” AI strives to be, the fact is it isn’t human. AI is a computer which ultimately takes user
input as a command and responds to it in compliance as well as in favor of whatever the user’s input may be.
One of the more popular categories of input is conversational.
e compliant nature of AI has only catapulted its newfound use in conversation, because it caters to the user. e AI has no original thought of its own but rather a command that puts the user at the center of the interaction.
Using this command, the AI is bent into whatever the user may want it to be.
Ranging from a therapist to even a dead relative, AI creates an unrealistic replica of “human” interaction and what it's like to talk to something seemingly “sentient”.
In regards to AI, the replication of human exchange is enough to satisfy people when it shouldn’t, because it isn’t an interaction.
ere isn’t a conversation happening if there aren't any disputes in ideas or
any con icts. If someone is constantly agreeing with you there is no exchange in ideas and there is no interaction, instead there is a false validation in only your ideas, without any challenge.
Obviously, no real human interaction has only consisted of agreement. People argue and challenge each other’s ways of thinking, it's the only way to continue thinking of anything. Listening to other views than yours is what allows a progression of ideas. is is not the case for everyone, because as much as humans crave social interaction we also crave validation to a certain extent.
When validation is readily available and packaged in the form of whatever you want it to be it's hard not to at least try it. e problem lies in the occasional validation turning into a relationship with a machine programmed to please. Sycophancy, the over-praising often
for an advantage, has been programmed into most AI chatbots.
Essentially, the need for validation has been exploited by AI-powered chat bot companies in order to foster a more personal relationship with the user. is approach does seem to work as robot-human relations seem to get more intimate by the day.
Constant validation has allowed AI to in ltrate personal human connections. which acts as its advantage in sycophancy.
Sadly, the deeper involvement of AI chatbots has caused excessive attachments to a relationship of subservience which is unattainable in any human relationship. In turn glorifying robot-human relationships while devaluing the con icting thoughts that make our relationships human.
Helena Moreno is introduced during a forum at Capulet in New Orleans. (Brett Duke/ The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
Makayla Parker/ The Maroon
2025
New Orleans City Council member Oliver Thomas talks with members of the press after submitting his qualifying paperwork to run for mayor on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Brett Duke/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
HOWLS & GROWLS
HOWL to Halloween
GROWL to SNAP cuts
HOWL to hells gala
GROWL to arti cial intelligence
HOWL to skeleton house
GROWL to ballrooms
HOWL to creative costumes
GROWL to watery matcha
HOWL to Zohran Mamdani
GROWL to the cold
Moreno’s win and what it will mean for Loyola students
Helena Moreno’s victory in the New Orleans mayoral race marks more than a routine political shift; it represents a turning point for the city’s priorities and values.
Winning with 55% of the vote, Moreno ran a campaign focused on improving public safety, revitalizing city infrastructure, promoting economic development, and rejecting the controversial use of federal troops to police local streets. Her win signals that New Orleanians are ready for a new era of local accountability, one grounded in service, transparency, and equity.
For Loyola students, Moreno’s victory isn’t just a headline, it's a direct investment in their daily lives.
e policies she outlined throughout her campaign have the potential to transform the neighborhoods where students live, study, and work. A stronger focus on public safety means safer commutes after late-night classes, more secure neighborhoods around campus, and renewed trust between residents
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and local law enforcement. Her commitment to improving city services could address persistent frustrations, broken streetlights, unreliable transit, and pothole-ridden roads that shape how students navigate their lives in the city.
Moreno’s emphasis on economic development also o ers new opportunities for Loyola students looking to connect their education to real-world experience. at could mean more internships, job placements, and civic engagement partnerships between the city and universities.
Loyola students already play a major role in New Orleans’ service economy, non-pro t sector, and creative industries. A mayor who values youth innovation and local collaboration can help ensure those contributions are recognized and supported.
Yet, Moreno’s win should not be treated as the end of the conversation, it should be the beginning of one. With the election behind her, the focus must now shift from promises to action. Moreno’s
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rst 100 days in o ce will reveal how committed she truly is to her platform. Students should monitor these early decisions closely: Will the administration prioritize neighborhood safety reforms? Will transit reliability improve? Will the city deliver on infrastructure repairs and youth-centered initiatives? e answers to these questions will determine whether her campaign vision evolves into lasting change.
is is also an opportunity for Loyola students to rede ne what civic engagement looks like on campus. Local politics is often overlooked by college students, who tend to focus more on national or global issues.
But as residents of New Orleans whether temporary or permanent students have a stake in how the city is governed. ey rely on local bus routes, neighborhood security, a ordable housing options, and clean public spaces. Engaging in local government is not just a civic duty; it’s a way to ensure that the needs of students are not ignored.
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Loyola students should step up and stay informed about municipal decisions. ey should attend city council meetings, follow Moreno’s policy announcements, and push for student representation in city planning discussions.
Loyola’s campus has long been a hub for activism and civic awareness, and this moment is a chance to extend that in uence beyond university walls. Whether it’s through community service, volunteering with local advocacy groups, or even writing to elected o cials, students can help shape the direction of Moreno’s administration.
Moreno has spoken passionately about making New Orleans a city that retains its young people as a place where graduates choose to stay because it’s safe, a ordable, and full of opportunity. at vision aligns with what many Loyola students already hope for: a city where their education can lead to meaningful, sustainable careers without having to move away.
But that vision depends on both lead-
ership and participation.
As Moreno takes o ce, Loyola students should not only celebrate her victory but also claim their place in the conversation about the city’s future. Her success o ers the possibility of real progress on education, infrastructure, and public welfare but it will take active citizen involvement to turn that promise into policy.
Moreno’s win is a chance to rede ne how New Orleans serves its people. For Loyola students, it’s also a reminder that democracy doesn’t end at the ballot box; it begins right here on campus.
“For Loyola students, Monreno's victory isn't just a headline, it's a direct investment in their daily lives.”
— Editorial board
The Maroon
EDITORIAL POLICY
The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and does not necessarily re ect the opinions of Loyola University. Letters and columns re ect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of The Maroon’s editorial board.
The Maroon does not represent the opinion of administration, sta 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.
