Black history program awards faculty, staff P 8
5 popular Mardi Gras traditions to participate in P 11
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
VOLUME 101 ISSUE 6
www.ulmhawkeyeonline.com
February 21, 2022
Opinion: Louisiana prison system must be reformed
Students stun audience in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ Softball wins 2 games, loses 1 at invitational
P 14
Resource fair displays campus services P 6
P 10
P 4
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February 21, 2022
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
BRIEFS CALENDAR Monday, February 21 Ask the Pastor Panel, 7 p.m., Zoom
Tuesday, February 22 Keep Calm and Condom On, 11 a.m., the quad
Wednesday, February 23 Mardi Gras Ball, 8 p.m., Bayou Pointe
Thursday, February 24 Let’s Talk Warhawks, 11 a.m., Schulze
Friday, February
25
Baseball tailgate, 5 p.m., Warhawk Field
Saturday, February 26 Baseball tailgate, 5 p.m., Warhawk Field
Sunday, February
27
No events planned
New York
US
St. Francis battles staff shortage due to COVID
NYC mayor to remove Cop sentenced to 2 years Floods, landslides leave hundreds missing, dead homeless from subway for killing Daunte Wright
News Star- The nationwide lack of healthcare workers during the COVID pandemic is being felt right here in Monroe. Critical staffing shortages are becoming more prevalent as hospital personnel are either forced to stay at home because they themselves are infected, or because the effects of the pandemic have become too much to handle on a personal level. The stress on the medical system has contributed to a shortage at St. Francis Medical Center, according to the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Thomas Gullatt. Gullatt said the problem is most acute in nursing, respiratory therapy and support services.
MCT- Mayor Eric Adams vowed to tackle homelessness on New York City’s subway system on Friday with an ambitious new plan that will rely, in part, on more funding from the state for shelter and medical treatment. Standing next to Gov. Kathy Hochul at the Fulton Street station in Lower Manhattan, Adams announced the plan will involve sending teams of cops, mental health workers and homeless services specialists throughout the transit system to engage—and, in some cases, remove—people in need of help. “You can’t put a Band-Aid on a cancerous sore,” Adams said.
MCT- Former Brooklyn Center police Officer Kimberly Potter was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for fatally shooting Daunte Wright. The sentence is about 3 1/2 times lower than the presumptive prison term—a little over seven years— recommended by state sentencing guidelines for a defendant like Potter. She was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and has no criminal history. Hennepin County District Court Judge Regina Chu said the lower term was appropriate because Potter was unlikely to reoffend, was not a threat to society and because she meant to use her Taser when she fired her handgun.
MCT- The death toll after landslides and flooding in Petrópolis in Brazil has risen to at least 130, according to the fire brigade on Friday. At least 21 minors were among the dead, local news outlet G1 reported. Meanwhile 218 people are missing, according to the police. After four days of searching, firefighters still believe it might be possible to rescue some of the victims alive. On Friday morning, several warning alarms were again activated at the Morro da Oficina, one of the regions most affected by strong rainfall. On Tuesday, the city saw more rain in six hours than had been broadcast for all of February, according Climatempo. d
QUOTE
Brazil
Louisiana
NECK-AND-NECK
“You can’t legislate good will—that comes through education.”
February 21 1925: The first issue of New Yorker magazine is published.
Malcolm X, human rights activist
1931:
Alka Seltzer is
introduced.
1965: Malcolm X is assassinated at Audobon Ballroom in New York City.
Front page credits:
1970: The Jackson 5 make their TV debut on “American bandstand.”
Main photo: Calli Sinclair Top left photo: Calli Sinclair Top sidebar photo: ULM Athletics Bottom sidebar photo: Calli Sinclair
TODAY IN HISTORY
photo by Niraj Shrestha
Men’s basketball lost two close games last week, both against the Ragin’ Cajuns.
1972: Richard Nixon becomes the first U.S. president to visit China.
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
BRIEFS
Academics
2 students selected for conservation program Nautica Jones and Thomas Showers, two senior biology majors, were recently selected for the Louisiana Wildlife Federation Conservation Leadership Corps program. Only 22 students were chosen from 10 Louisiana universities for the program. The program’s purpose is to train future conservation leaders. Showers is looking forward to working with experts in the field. “I think this program will be a great opportunity for me to learn more about habitat conservation from experts in the field,” Showers said. “It will also be a great way for me to collaborate with and learn from students across the state.” Jones is excited to learn more about the preservation of ecosystems. “During the course of the program, I hope to mature as an environmentalist and advocate and learn to evaluate more com-
plex problems regarding conservation,” Jones said. “I hope my involvement in the Conservation Leadership Corps will be the beginning of a long relationship with the state and eventually federal-level conservation initiatives.” After graduation, Showers plans to work in wildlife rehabilitation, while Jones plans to move to Santa Cruz, California and study the impact of climate change on timber forests. Kim Tolson, a biology professor and director of the ULM Museum of Natural History, said Jones and Showers are both exceptional students. “Thomas and Nautica will be excellent ambassadors for ULM in this leadership development program,” Tolson said. “They will be able to showcase the knowledge and skills they have acquired at ULM as biology majors, and then build upon those while participating in the CLC.”
photo courtesy ULM Photo Services
SCIENTIFIC SCHOLARS: Nautica Jones and Thomas Showers, both senior biology students, were accepted into the Louisiana Wildlife Federation Conservation Leadership Corps program. The program teaches students who are future conservation leaders.
Volunteer Work
TRIO, Ouachita Green pick up neighborhood
photo courtesy Ouachita Green
TIDYING THE TOWN : Students in the TRIO Program helped Ouachita Green pick up litter in a local neighborhood on Feb. 5. The cleanup was hosted by Juanita Woods, the councilwoman for District 3 in Monroe.
ULM’s TRIO Programs Student Support Services and Ouachita Green partnered this month to clean up the community. Ouachita Green is a nonprofit based in West Monroe that aims to preserve and protect the environment. The TRIO-SSS students helped with Ouachita Green’s Neal Shelling Elementary community cleanup hosted by Juanita Woods, the councilwoman representing District 3 in Monroe.
The group picked up litter around the neighborhood.Mystee Burrell, the co-associate director of the TRIO Programs, said that community clean-ups are essential to the preservation of the environment. “Events such as this teach students not only leadership skills but also the importance of doing their part to make meaningful change in their community,” Burrell said.
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February 21, 2022
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
OPINION
Campus
Longer library hours are better for students
Swikrit Bhattarai At the start of this semester, the library reduced its operating hours and closed on Saturdays. The library used to be the hub for students to study late at night. Many students used
to study in the library until closing time. Several students and SGA raised these concerns to ULM administration, and they have finally made the decision to change the hours at the library. The library will now be open until midnight Monday-Thursday. This is a great decision for all students on campus because they will be able to study longer and have a secure place to turn in assignments. Almost all assignments are due by midnight. Many students do their projects in the library because the environment is peaceful and they can do their tasks properly without any disturbance. According to Brainscape, a quiet
HAWKEYE P.O.V.
The Battalion has a right to stay in print No law will abridge free speech or the right of the press. This is a right established in the U.S. Constitution. This right has been extended by universities to students so they can engage in publications like newspapers and yearbooks and can work freely and print without the say of a school official. Last week, Texas A&M told their student-run newspaper, The Battalion, to cease printing weekly editions and move to an online format. In addition, The Batt now has to gain approval from a university official on what they print. While Texas A&M has allowed The Batt to stay in print for the rest of the semester, there has been no final word on what will happen after that. Students at all universities should have the right to print and speak about what they feel necessary. If Texas A&M continues along this path, what is to stop other universities from doing the same thing? In an interview with The Batt, school officials made the comment that keeping the newspaper in an online format would still allow students to have access to The Batt. But they would be taking away a pillar of Texas A&M’s campus that has stood for 129 years. It is time we ask ourselves what we value at our universities. Having a newspaper moderated by school officials hinders the students’ right to speak their minds. The Hawkeye stands with The Batt. Texas A&M should stop interfering and keep The Batt in print.
environment allows people to focus and recall information better. Although these changes were made regarding students and staff health during the pandemic, there are other ways to make the library a safe place to study. Taking health precautions and installing screening devices would have been a better option than reducing library hours. As long as everyone practice social distancing and gets tested when they are exposed or show symptoms then keeping the library open late should not affect COVID numbers. People go during the day. groups of students staying late are not a threat to anyone.
This is the best move for the university. Many students value that extra time to study and have the ability to stay in the library until assignments are due. COVID is a fear for everyone. But with the mask mandate still in place on campus, ULM is doing everything they can to keep staff and students safe. I am glad they chose to prioritize students in this matter and allow us to continue to stay at the library longer. Students can return to the way things were last semester when study groups would stay out late and feel safe that they can study for as long as their brains can handle. contact Swikrit Bhattarai at bhattaraisw@warhawks.ulm.edu
Politics
Prison system is corrupt Lochan Acharya The U.S. incarceration rate has skyrocketed since the 1970s. America has approximately 4% of the world’s people and about 25% of the world’s incarcerated people, according to CNN. Louisiana is the worst in the nation. According to USNEWS, Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate of 1,094 per 100,000 people. According to Prison Policy Initiative, the imprisonment rates have grown dramatically in the past 40 years, which is about 400%. In addition, 41% of American juveniles and young adults are arrested by the time they turn 23.
The reason for such a high rate is bad policy. Once you’ve gone to prison, it’s hard to get a job in America. Convicts are ineligible for welfare, student loans, public housing, food stamps and are often socially disconnected from community and family, according to the Equal Justice Initiative. There are three levels of the criminal justice system in the U.S: the police, the courts and the corrections system. The corrections system in the U.S. violates international standards as it is a devastating form of punishment. Solitary confinement increases instability and violence in inmates and is considered by international law to be torture, according to the American Friends Service Committee. Still, it’s not regulated by anyone except the prison officials in America. Solitary confinement leads to high re-incarceration rates and high rates of homelessness and suicide, according to Pyschology
Today. During COVID, Louisiana state prisons have only reduced their population by 10%, according to The Advocate. They also halted inprison visitation for the whole first year of the pandemic. Mass imprisonment is deeply rooted in our society. However, the incarceration rate can be reduced by making changes to remove mandatory minimums that require courts to issue long sentences for certain crimes. And the district attorneys should stop charging people for low-level offenses. The government should invest in communities and services instead of jails and prisons to make communities safer, healthier, and more resilient. Our government focuses on the wrong things. We need to invest money into helping people not become criminals, instead of keeping them locked up over one mistake.
contact Lochan Acharya at acharyal@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
OPINION
Olympics
Drug testing needs to be equal for all
Carley Nail For all Olympic events, every competitor is required to pass a drug test. But the Olympics changed their rules on drug tests for one person during the Winter Olympics. This should have never been allowed. Sha’Carri Richardson is an American track and field sprinter. Richardson was set to compete in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, but
was disqualified soon after making the cut. According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Richardson’s drug test results were obtained on June 19 and she tested positive for THC, which is found in marijuana. Richardson was then put on a one month suspension. This suspension lasted through the summer Olympics, so she was not allowed to compete. The same situation just occurred at the winter Olympics, but with a different outcome. Kamila Valieva is a 15-year-old Russian figure skater. While Valieva was at the Winter Olympics this year in Beijing, her drug test results came back positive. Even though she had drugs in her system, she was still allowed to compete. Valieva should not have been
allowed to compete. The IOC should not punish one athlete for failing a drug test but let another athlete continue. In a press briefing released by IOC Media, the International Olympic Committee spokesperson, Mark Adams, said that the two situations are not comparable because they received Richardson’s test results before she was at the Olympic event. The drug tests should be given to the athletes at the same time. Their results should be received by the committee at the same time— before they’re at the event ready to compete. Valieva should have received the same treatment as Richardson and been given a one month suspension. contact Carley Nail at nailcn@warhawks.ulm.edu
Social Issues
Marriage should be valued
Maggie Eubanks Marriage is a scary concept for most college kids. The thought of moving from dorm rooms and latenight studying to spending the rest of your life with someone is enough for many to avoid the subject altogether. But marriage is something that needs to be more valued in our generation. Don’t misunderstand me. I am definitely not rushing anyone into anything. Marriage is a heavy commitment that should
only be done after it has been fully thought through. But marriage is something that everyone in a relationship should strive for. According to Harvard University, marriage not only provides several financial and mental benefits, but it also benefits your overall physical health. Many religions value marriage, but it should be valued throughout all aspects of culture. According to NPR, marriage causes relationships to be more stable and allows kids to grow up in a more stable home. I know what people say. Marriage isn’t necessary and most of them end in divorce anyway. But why not try? Marriage can be a beautiful thing when done right. Even in failed marriages, many people report holding happy memories of the time they were together and fell
in love, according to Psychology Today. Legally binding your life to one person for the rest of your life can seem like an unnecessary commitment, but it is a ceremony and agreement to love that has been lost in our generation. I know that college students have enough on their plate and do not have time to think about marriage. And that’s okay. But when the time comes, with the right person, consider marriage. Think about the effects that it can have on your life and your possible children. Even if you don’t have kids, marriage can provide stability throughout the rest of your life that may not be there without it. Marriage is an amazing thing, and its values need to be more appreciated. contact Maggie Eubanks at eubanksml@warhawks.ulm.edu
photo courtesy MCT Campus
Stubbs 131 700 University Avenue Monroe, LA 71209 Editor-in-Chief - Loryn Kykendall Co-managing Editor News Chloe Chapel Opinion Editor - Maggie Eubanks Arts & Entertainment EditorCarley Nail Sports Editor - Cameron Jett Multimedia Editor - Niraj Shrestha Co-managing Editor Art - Sunil Bishwokarma Photo Editor - Calli Sinclair
The opinions expressed in personal columns are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinions of the editors, staff, adviser or the university. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The Hawkeye’s editorial board, but not necessarily the opinions of the adviser or the university. The Hawkeye (USPS #440-700) is published weekly except vacation, exam & holiday periods by The University of Louisiana at Monroe, 700 University Avenue, Monroe, LA 71209. Annual subscription price is $15.00. Periodicals Postage Paid at Monroe, LA 71203. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Hawkeye, 700 University Ave., Stubbs 131, Monroe, LA 712098832.
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Don’t agree? Let us know! Contact the writers or the editor at eubanksml@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
NEWS
Campus Resources
photos by Calli Sinclair
SPREAD YOUR WINGS: The Foster the Flock Resource Fair had 45 different resources for students. Many RSOs such as Catebury ULM and College Republicans participated.
Foster the Flock Resource Fair helps students soar by Chloe Chapel
When many students first come to college, they feel lost and alone. Some students need support and resources but struggle to find them. The pandemic has made getting help hard for many students. But what if all the resources you needed were all in one place? The Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability had their first-ever Foster the Flock Resource Fair to help solve this problem. OSAA partnered with RSOs and organizations in the community to Rollins provide students with a variety of services such as food stamp registration, volunteer opportunities, information about vaping and much more. Alicia Rollins, the student employment coordinator, said resource fairs are important because many students come
to college and no longer have “parental guidance to help about elections and the constitution. them,” so they need help being on their own. “There are even a large number of college students that The resource fair also served as a reminder for students to aren’t registered to vote or have not partaken in the election get help with services they might not have known existed. process,” Estis said. “We are here to promote that because Michael Crenshaw, a sophomore the most politically involved students are, the more of a finance major, said he learned about a lot voice they have.” of new resources that he hopes to use in Not only was the resource fair benefithe future. cial to students, it was also beneficial to “I’ve been proven that there’s a lot of organizations that joined because they resources on this campus and in the were able to meet potential members. community that I don’t know a lot about Estis said the resource fair is useful Crenshaw such as mental health, social services because you’re able to form relationand a lot of great things that I feel can ships with other students that you can’t Estis better me and other students,” Crenshaw said. form online. One of the social services that was provided at the resource “When you have that one on one [interaction] with them fair was voter registration. rather than over an email or in a social media post, I think Many students do not know how to register to vote or forget you really tend to have more of a connection,” Estis said. about it until elections come up, and by then it’s too late to register. Ethan Estis, the campus coordinator for Turning Point USA, contact Chloe Chapel at helped students register to vote and gave them information chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
NEWS
Relationships
Love doesn’t age or discriminate: seminar addresses romance myths by Loryn Kykendall
graphic by Sunil Bishwokarma
Misconceptions about people with disabilities are common and widespread, especially when it comes to sex and aging. Some popular misconceptions include the idea that people with disabilities are uninterested in sex and relationships, sexual activity is dangerous for people who have disabilities and people who live in facilities shouldn’t engage in sexual relationships. To address these misconceptions and debunk some myths, the gerontology program hosted an event to share a clear message—Cupid doesn’t discriminate. The event was hosted by Anita Sharma, an associate professor and the gerontology program co- Delvisco ordinator, and included Sharon Delvisco as a speaker. Delvisco, a project director at Team Dynamics LLC, has worked in human services for more than 30 years. She shared a list of myths about sexual relationships involving people who are disabled and explained why each one is incorrect. According to Delvisco, the idea that people who are disabled don’t want to have sexual relationships is inaccurate. “Just because you’re disabled doesn’t mean you’re asexual,” Delvisco said. One strong point of her presen- Thameling tation was that sex is for everyone and it looks different for everyone. There is no “real” or “correct” type of sexual activity. Stereotypes about sexual activity among people
who are disabled can be especially heightened about those who are elderly. Delvisco said that a common misconception is that sex is damaging to the health of older people. But Delvisco said that sexual activity is good for the health of older people and reduces stress and anxiety. “Sexual activity is cardiovascular exercise,” Delvisco said. “So there’s actually health benefits to engaging in sexual activity as we age.” According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, 76% of adults between the ages of 65 and 80 believe sex is an important part of a romantic relationship. Carl Thameling, a communication professor and one of the attendees, brought up the issue of sexual relationships being discouraged in living facilities. “It seems that they could have some sort of alternative options for them to at least acknowledge that they’re human beings and Cole that they have feelings,” Thameling said. Kelli Cole, the assistant director of assessment and evaluation at the College of Business and Social Sciences, also spoke at the event. Cole’s husband became paraplegic after a car accident in 2011. She said that while counselors told her husband that it’s common for partners to leave their spouse in situations like this, that thought never entered her mind. “Just because your spouse or significant other has a disability, it doesn’t change the way that you see that person or feel about that person,” Cole said. contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
NEWS
Culture
“I can tell you all about Black history, but if I’m not healthy, I can’t make history.”
Kim Jackson, Louisiana Senator
photos by Calli Sinclair
A CHARGE TO KEEP: President Ronald Berry spoke about his “charge to keep” and the battle that he is determined to fight for unity and equality at ULM.
Black History event highlights student talents, awards faculty by Chloe Chapel “Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,” echoed through the room as everyone sang in unison at this year’s Black History Month event. The Cultural Diversity Council and Office of International and Multicultural Affairs presented the Black History Month program to honor Black champions at ULM, highlight the talent of students and youth in Monroe and educate attendees on the importance of Black history. This year’s keynote speaker was Senator Katrina Jackson. Jackson’s speech was about the
importance of mental and physical health, to embrace this year’s Black History Month theme of Black health and wellness. “Black history is American history, and so what we are celebrating today, we celebrate every month,” Jackson said. “But it’s not enough that we celebrate history, we have to celebrate ourselves now. Celebrating yourself means taking care of yourself.” Kiauna Rollins, a sophomore marketing major, shared her poetry with the audience. Rollins’ poem, ‘Collage,’ addressed the mental and physical struggles that come with her brown skin. “I deserve to feel free. We deserve to have love, to have peace, to have pride in ourselves and our skin,”
Rollins said. “The hurt of taking out organs to a place to help others among their race, but a black market doesn’t leave us much space.” Other students, faculty and community members’ talents and hard work were honored at the ceremony. Preston Anderson, a junior music major, sang at the program and the Dazzle Dance Company danced. Sarah McCoy Abakwue, the first Black student at ULM, received the first annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Spotlight award for her historic strides as a pioneer and lasting impact on ULM and the community. A new award was created and named after Pamela Saulsberry, the
executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion—The Dr. Pamela H. Saulsberry Trailblazer award. Gina White, the director of International Student Programs and Services, established the award with the support of President Ronald Berry and Vice President Valerie Fields without informing Saulsberry. “[The award] will be presented annually to an individual who is an advocate for the University of Louisiana Monroe as well as the community, a pioneer in their field that has given back to the community and creates an inclusive environment,” White said. The first-ever Dr. Pamela H. Saulsberry Trailblazer award went to Mystee Burrell, the co-associate
director of TRIO programs, because of her unparalleled dedication to making ULM more diverse and inclusive. Berry said that with the help of trailblazers like Saulsberry, White, Fields, Burrell, Abakwue and many others, ULM has made major advances, but there are many steps to go. “We do have miles to go before we sleep, but it’s going to be an exciting trip,” Berry said. “Let’s rejoice in what has been done but more importantly, let’s look forward to what is being done and what will be done to bring true opportunity to all.” contact Chloe Chapel at chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
NEWS
Black History Month
photo courtesy ULM Photo Services
photo courtesy Terri Coates, Glenda Starr
photo courtesy ULM Photo Services
photo courtesy ULM Photo Services
Black leaders that shaped, impacted ULM by Chloe Chapel
Sarah McCoy Abakwue Sarah Louise McCoy was the first Black student to attend ULM, then known as Northeast Louisiana University. In 1960 McCoy applied to NLU but was denied admission based on race. From 1960 until 1964 she made several attempts to gain admission but was denied. In 1964 she filed a class-action lawsuit that resulted in her admission. The university was all-white for over 30 years after it was founded. After the ruling, the president of NLU at the time, George T. Walker, claimed the university would comply with it but he disagreed with the decision. One of the buildings on campus is named after Walker. Many students have expressed discomfort with this. ULM now is focusing more on diversifying campus. However, during his time as president, Walker expressed his discontent with the first attempts at diversifying NLU. Even though the name of Walker hall has not been changed, McCoy’s courage drastically changed ULM. In the 58 years since McCoy started at ULM, the percentage of Black students has increased to 24%, according to College Factual.
Don Smith Don Smith was the first Black student to graduate from NLU. Smith was recruited by a group in the Monroe community. This group was looking for a Black man who had a passion for education and could handle the pressures of what was then a racially discriminatory environment at NLU. Smith was chosen because he had a passion for learning and was levelheaded. He gladly accepted. Smith wanted a spot on the basketball team, but once he arrived, he knew there was no chance he could ever get a spot. His degrees did not come easily. Smith had to overcome many racist acts and obstacles before he graduated. When Smith was first accepted to NLU, crosses were burned in his front yard because people were so angry that a Black man would start school at NLU. Smith stayed calm and persevered. The racist acts didn’t stop once he started school. Racist notes were left on his desk, but he’d knock them off and move to another desk. Despite all of his obstacles, Smith received a Bachelor of Science from NLU in 1967. He then went on to receive both his master’s in 1972 and his education specialist degree in 1978 from NLU.
Alex John Jr. Alex John Jr. was the first Black man to hold an executive position at ULM. John earned his Doctor of Education from NLU. In 1971 he started working at NLU as a psychology instructor and later became a tenured professor. He then was appointed assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs in 1974. In 1980, John became the first Black man to hold an executive position when he was named dean of the Office of University Relations. During his roles as a faculty and administration member, he was one of the first people to promote diversity and inclusion. He also encouraged and advocated for Black students to pursue higher education when there were few to no resources for Black students. In 1982, John left NLU and went on to become successful in several business ventures. He died in 2018. However, his legacy is remembered at ULM. The BULM Club of the ULM Alumni Association decided to honor him by naming a scholarship after him—the Dr. Alex John, Jr. Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students, with special consideration for marginalized and/ or first-generation students.
Valerie Fields Valerie Fields is the first female vice president at ULM. Fields worked at ULM from 1996-2003 as the director of Student Development, then became assistant dean for Student Life and Leadership. She served in that position for two years. She came back to ULM in 2020 when she was appointed interim vice president upon the retirement of the former vice president Camile Currier. When searching for a new vice president, there is a national search to fill the position. However, President Ronald Berry requested the board waive the required search in light of Fields’ expertise and accomplishments. She earned two degrees from ULM—a Master of Education, Administration and Supervision and an Education Specialist, Administration and Supervision in 1992 and 1997. From 2006 until 2012, Fields was the associate, interim and vice president for Student Affairs at South Carolina State University. From 2014 until 2016, she was the chief academic officer and vice president of Academic Affairs, and chief Student Affairs officer at Denmark Technical College. contact Chloe Chapel at chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21 , 2022
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
VAPA
photos by Calli Sinclair
BACK AT MAYCOMB: The cast protrayed great emotion throughout the play acting as townspeople of Maycomb.
‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ exceeds expectations by Carley Nail
Last weekend, VAPA brought ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ to the stage of Spyker Theatre. ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which is inspired by Lee’s childhood and growing up in Alabama. ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ tells the story of Scout, a young girl living in a small town, and the heartache caused by an unlawful trial. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who has decided to defend Tom Robinson, a Black man. Set in the early 1930s, white folks defending African Americans was not common. Many in the town frowned upon Atticus and his family because of this. Talented acting students at ULM and four students from the Strauss Academy for the Arts were chosen to act in the play. According to James Wright, a sophomore vocal performance major who played Tom Robinson, the show went well. “Everyone was extremely into their characters [...] and they were in touch with the emotions of the character they were portray-
ing.” Wright gave a heart-wrenching performance as Tom Robinson on trial. You could see the tears on his face as he told the judge why he was innocent of the crime he was being convicted of. “Participating in the play allowed me to depict a really meaningful individual, and being able to portray Tom Robinson, who was a symbol, was incredible,” Wright said. The actors brought this important story to life. The cast seemed to be made for the roles they were playing. Anubhav Regmi, a sophomore computer science major, said that the performance exceeded his expectations. “The cast members did a fantastic job with their roles and worked well together,” Anubhav stated. “I’m looking forward to seeing more plays like this from VAPA in the coming semesters.” ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is by far the best play I’ve seen VAPA put on. The set, the timing, the dialogue—everything was perfect. The play gave justice to the incredible story of Scout, her father and the trial. The play’s director, Mark Clark, thought the
STANDING OVATION: The cast members of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ came out on stage to bow after their great performance.
students gave it their all. “The students practiced for five weeks, beginning the first day of the semester and practicing for two hours every night,” Clark said. Clark hinted that another play might be performed next semester. “The response that we have received from
tonight’s audience was brilliant. We hope to have the same response from our audiences in the coming plays,” Clark said. “Tonight’s audience was great. Simply tell your friends and relatives if you enjoyed today’s show. That’s one way you can help us.” contact Carley Nail at nailcn@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Holidays
Mardi Gras traditions to let the good times roll
King Cake King cakes are a staple in Louisiana during the Mardi Gras season. Originally created by the French as a gallete de rois, which translates to “kings’ cake”, the North American version puts a Louisiana twist on the cake. The typical New Orleans style king cake is an oval-shaped cake covered with green, purple and gold icing with cream cheese in the middle. There is also a plastic baby in the cake. The tradition is that whoever finds the baby must bring the cake to Mardi Gras next year.
Colors Like Christmas’ iconic red and green, Mardi Gras has three colors that are synonymous with the holiday—green, purple and gold. They each have their own special meaning as well. Green represents faith, purple represents justice and gold represents power. These colors were first displayed in 1872 when the Russian Grand Duke visited New Orleans, and they’ve been the official colors of the celebration ever since. Many of the beads that are thrown during parades are these three colors and king cakes are decorated with these colors.
Parades You can’t have Mardi Gras without parades. In New Orleans, where Mardi Gras is king, it is not unusual for over 70 parades to roll through the streets. These parades are done to symbolize Fat Tuesday, the last day before Lent occurs in the Catholic faith. The debauchery and disorderliness that occurs during the parades gives everyone a last chance to throw a party before moving into the more somber time before Easter. The parades are done by Krewes that throw beads and build elaborate floats.
Throwing Beads During a Mardi Gras parade Krewe members will throw out beads and other items from their float. The throwing of beads is a time-honored tradition that can be traced back to the original Mardi Gras parades in the 1800s. In the past these beads were made of glass. But today these beads are highly elaborate and made of plastic. Many krewes will throw out other items besides beads such as cups, stuffed animals, doubloons (plastic coins) and other peculiar items like coconuts.
Krewes Without Krewes, Mardi Gras is just another day on the calendar. Krewes are like Mardi Gras specific clubs. They hold balls, parades and other events to celebrate Mardi Gras. Some clubs have open membership, but some in New Orleans are more secretive. These Krewes will also pick royalty members for the season. Traditionally, the Mardi Gras Queen will begin the parade and the king will end it. This is why ULM holds Mardi Gras elections to participate with the Krewe of Janus during their parade in Monroe.
graphic by Sunil Bishwokarma
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Recommendations
African American content creators to watch
Donye Taylor Taylor is the CEO and co-founder of The Digital Footprint, a Blackowned and operated creative marketing agency. She helps her clients’ success by creating strategies that help them market their brands. Taylor uses her Instagram and Twitter accounts as a way to connect with her audience and offer advice. She is also the director of creator initiatives at Fohr—an influencer and ambassador marketing company.
Bomani Jones Jones has written on sports, music, culture and politics for over 15 years. Jones was listed #17 of The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans list in 2016 and won a Sports Emmy Award for a sports documentary he took part in. Currently he is the host for the ESPN podcast, “The Right Time” with Bomani Jones, where he discusses sports and other relative topics to the world today with frequent guest appearances.
Colah B. Tawkin Colah Twakin is a mother, comedian, podcaster and nature-lover. Tawkin is the creator, producer and voice for her podcasts, ‘Black in the Garden’ and ‘The Plant Kiki.’ She sees herself as an advocate for Black people trying to reconnect with the land. She uses her life experiences and extensive knowledge of horticulture—the art of cultivating plants and gardens—along with her endless love of Black people to create a space where they can freely talk about plants as well.
Alonzo Lerone Lerone is best known for his YouTube channel where he does comedic reactions and tries bizarre food combinations. His videos offer humorous takes on absurd content all over the internet. Usually this content makes no sense and uses bad grammar. Thanks to the popularity of his YouTube channel, Lerone was able to dedicate himself to YouTube full time after losing his previous job.
Super Bowl
Ebony Bomani Bomani is a licensed cosmetologist and beauty brand educator that specializes in holistic beauty and wellness. She often shows hairstyling tutorials for natural hair on her Instagram and YouTube accounts. She stated that what keeps her going and sharing what she loves is knowing it could help heal someone else. She embraces her natural hair and self-care, and much of her content inspires others to do the same.
Halftime show welcomes hip-hop, rap by Simanta Ghimire
The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sports events of the year with millions of people watching. It’s no surprise that there are millions of dollars put into the halftime show. And everyone has opinions on the performers. But this year’s halftime time show really stood out. With the biggest stars in hip-hop like Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent the halftime show was a spectacle. For the first time in Super Bowl history, the halftime show offered nothing else but rap and hip-hop, with a slight emphasis on West Coast
rap. This was the first time these superstars lined up to perform on the same stage. The halftime show was centered on hip hop legend Dr. Dre. All five of the other artists have worked with Dr. Dre, with three of them appearing on his album “2001.” According to Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, the NFL was late in embracing hip hop, and they vowed that their Super Bowl halftime show would create more opportunities for the genre. “In the future, we’re going to open more doors for hip-hop artists and make sure that the NFL understands
that this is what it should have been a long time ago,” Dr. Dre said at a press conference. The performers sang a variety of songs, while still giving us more than 30 seconds of each song. Some halftime shows in the past have transitioned quickly from song to song, but this year’s show had a good balance. It would have been great to see each artist perform more from their discography, but given the time constraints they did an excellent job of showcasing each of the performers. contact Simanta Ghimire at ghimiresi@warhawks.ulm.edu
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February 21, 2022
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Crossword
Horoscope Aries Attend to shared finances. Delays or misunderstandings could slow the action. An unexpected expense requires budget adjustment. Collaboration can get lucrative. Pull together.
Taurus You and your partner may not agree on everything. A challenge requires diplomacy and tact. Share the load for what you both love.
Gemini Nurture your physical well-being. Delays, misunderstandings or mistakes could affect your work, healthy and energy levels. Recharge with exercise, good food and rest. Across 1 Skin growth 5 Learns via word of mouth 10 Riot spray 14 Camera or eye part 15 Bates __: “Psycho” setting 16 Muslim holy man 17 How a boat may rock 19 Busting agent 20 Ziti or rigatoni 21 How boxers square off 23 Generous slice 26 Macho 27 How Fred and Ginger sometimes danced 32 “The guy over there” 33 Stadium attendance counter 34 Sports show rundown 38 Not fer 40 Assumed name 42 Lotus position discipline 43 Pulsate
45 Furnish with a fund 47 Fond du __, Wisconsin 48 How BFFs converse 51 Division in a church 54 Black gemstone 55 How people may agreeably see 58 Use elbow grease on 62 Take __ the waist: alter 63 1984 De Palma film, and a hint to five puzzle answers 66 “__ Talkin’”: Bee Gees #1 hit 67 Birch relative 68 Cosecant’s reciprocal 69 Cake decorator 70 Video chat choice 71 Abbr. at the end of a list
Down 1 Thin trail of smoke 2 Mozart’s “Il mio tesoro,” e.g. 3 Frees (of) 4 Scary African fly 5 Managed care gp. 6 Camera named for a Greek goddess 7 Going __: bickering 8 Second effort 9 Place to hide a metaphorical ace 10 Beethoven’s Ninth is written in one 11 Stradivari’s tutor 12 Christmas song 13 Roast host 18 Conversations 22 Bleacher feature 24 “__ boy!” 25 Water heater 27 Chew the fat 28 Tipsy from wine, say 29 Kuwaiti ruler 30 “Cry Macho” (2021) star Eastwood 31 Set out for, as a destination 35 Pepsi, for one
36 Food thickener 37 Agreement 39 One of Nolan Ryan’s seven 41 “Any day now” 44 Kiss from Consuela 46 “And your reason?” 49 One-celled pond dwellers 50 “The dog ate my homework” is a sad one 51 Conductor Ozawa 52 Pessimist 53 Throw with effort 56 Egg yellow 57 Drain swirl 59 Passing words? 60 Arm bone 61 Fishing rod attachment 64 “You betcha” 65 Dr. of hip-hop
Cancer Focus on what you love. Avoid distractions or controversy. Don’t listen to negativity. Adapt a creative project around unexpected changes for new possibilities.
Leo Domestic projects face a challenge. Reinforce structural elements. Clarify misunderstandings in the moment. Don’t try to force anything. Make repairs and enjoy the results.
Virgo Patiently navigate a creative project around delays or breakdowns. Edit and revise for new circumstances. Let go of preconceptions. Clarify miscommunications. Discuss possibilities.
Courtesy of MCT Campus
Libra Maintain positive cash flow around a challenge. Compute expenses and scratch out anything unnecessary. Fortune favors initiative and effort. Find new resources in unexpected places.
Scorpio You’re gaining confidence. Adjust with personal changes or transitions. Draw upon hidden resources. Strengthen foundations. Keep your word. Hold yourself to high standards.
Sagittarius Concentrate on cleanup and reorganization. Avoid distracting chatter or gossip. Get creative behind closed doors. Enjoy private rituals and practices. Revise plans. Imagine the possibilities.
Capricorn Support your team with a shared endeavor. Strengthen foundational elements of your plan. Ignore gossip, assumptions or rumors and stick with basic facts.
Aquarius Resolve a professional challenge by clarifying communications and reinforcing foundations. Don’t push an authority figure. Polish your marketing materials to reflect current directions.
Pisces Traffic, delays or breakdowns could frustrate explorations. Ensure that structures for support are stable and reliable. Wait for better conditions to launch. Plan and prepare.
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
SPORTS
Softball
Warhawks pick up 2, take 1st loss of season by Maggie Eubanks
The Warhawks traveled last weekend to the Golden Eagle Invitational in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. They played one game Friday against Houston Baptist University and two games Saturday against Jacksonville State. ULM won the game Friday 11-7 but split the doubleheader Saturday dropping the first game 3-2 and winning the second 5-2. The game against Houston Baptist on Friday was a back-and-forth matchup. Houston Baptist took an early 2-0 lead after a Warhawks error in the bottom of the first. ULM responded in the top of the second after sophomore Kelsey Giddens singled to center field to score a run. Houston Baptist added another run in the bottom of the second to make it 3-1. The Warhawks scored three runs in the top of the third after a pair of singles from sophomores Madelyn Fletcher and Andie Edwards and an error
allowed the Hawks to go up 4-3. But Houston Baptist responded in the bottom of the third scoring four to take the lead 7-4. The fifth inning is when ULM broke it open. After several walks to load the bases, Houston Baptist walked three consecutive Warhawks to tie the score at 7-7. Back-to-back singles from freshman Gabby Davila and Fletcher plated four more runs allowing the Hawks to take the win 11-7. Head coach Molly Fichtner said she was impressed with her team and the fight they showed in the fifth inning. “We have this saying, called ‘pass the bat’ and you just pass the bat to the next person,” Fichtner said. “Whatever you have to do to get on base, we need runners. They did a really good job passing the bat, especially with two outs.” Saturday took a different swing for ULM. In an extra-inning pitcher’s duel, neither side was able to get much going
until the seventh inning. Jacksonville State took the lead early on an RBI walk in the fourth, but nothing could get going offensively. In the top of the seventh, Fletcher doubled to left center for an RBI and scored on the next play after an error by Jacksonville State. After the gamecocks tied the game in the bottom of the inning, neither team could mount an assault until Jacksonville State took the victory on a walk off single in the bottom of the 11th inning. The Warhawks avenged themselves in the second game of the evening. Jacksonville State got on the board first in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. But the Warhawks scored three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to take the win 5-2. ULM will be back in action at Grambling this Tuesday at 2 p.m.
contact Maggie Eubanks at eubanksml@warhawks.ulm.edu
MINOR SETBACK: The Warhawks were on pace to match the best start in school history before their loss to Jacksonville State.
photos courtesy ULM Athletics
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
SPORTS
Men’s Basketball
graphic by Sunil Bishwokarma
Ragin’ Cajuns spoil senior night with season sweep by Beau Benoit
SENIOR SENDOFF: ULM hosted its final home game of the season against the Ragin’ Cajuns. There was no love lost in the hottest in-state rivalry in Louisiana.
photos by Niraj Shrestha
The Warhawks played their archrival, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, twice in a row, first hosting the Ragin’ Cajuns in Fant Ewing Coliseum, then making a trip to Lafayette to duke it out in the Cajun Dome. Both matches ended in a ULL victory. Last Thursday’s match began with the Warhawks drawing first blood thanks to Russell Harrison’s layup. The two teams were ready trade blows, including a quick flash 14 minutes into the game when both teams racked up four points each in the span of just 48 seconds. Shortly after, the Warhawks made a sprint for the lead, going from down 18-15 to up 25-18. This was made possible by four Warhawks—Andre Jones, Nika Metskhvarishvili, Elijah Gonzalez and Harrison. After a dunk by Jones, the Warhawks went into a drought that lasted six minutes and gave ULL a brutal 41-31 lead at the end of the half. Jones, Gonzalez and Harrison dominated the first half, together scoring 23 of the team’s 31 points. Jones got ULM’s offense back on track with five points in the first 30 seconds of play. With only two and a half minutes being played, the Warhawks trailed 4641 and set the pace for the rest of the game. Both teams continued to fight, with ULM always chasing ULL. Tensions rose toward the end of the game and overtime was a strong possibility. Costly fouls gave Lafayette the perfect opportunity to pull ahead. A foul on Thomas Howell allowed the Ragin’ Cajuns to tie the game 77-77. Another foul on Gonzalez was all ULL needed to take the small yet invaluable lead of 78-77 with two seconds left to play. Unfortunately, the 28-point outing by Jones
was not enough for a final win in Fant-Ewing. The desperation heave fell right off the rim and allowed ULL to escape victorious. ULM had its rematch in Cajun country two days later. The matchup was one where the Warhawks would steal the lead from the Ragin’ Cajuns just for the momentum to swing in the closing moments. A jumper from Gonzalez brought the game to a tie at 20-20 for the first time in the contest at the midway point of the first half. Both teams scored sparingly for the next four minutes. They met each other on the scoring column again at 24-24 with five and a half minutes left in the first half. A dish from Harrison to Jones for a 3-pointer sparked the offense to finish out the half. The Warhawks entered the locker room up by nine. Out of the gate, Jones pushed the lead to 41-30 mere seconds after the start of the second half. It only took a few minutes for the Cajuns to cut the ULM lead down to one score. The Warhawks maintained their lead and even pushed ahead by nine with 13 and a half left to play. With a little over seven minutes left, a dunk by ULL’s Jalen Dalcourt tied the Ragin’ Cajuns with the Warhawks 58-58. From this point, ULL never had a deficit larger than four points. As the clock ticked with just three and a half minutes to go, ULL snatched the lead 68-66. At just two short minutes before the end, the two teams tied for the last time and the Warhawks never led again, falling short and losing 79-74. contact Beau Benoit at benoitbb@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 21, 2022
SPORTS
Baseball
Offense stalls as Warhawks split with Southern Illinois Henry sends Warhawks to win column by Jonah Bostick
The ULM baseball team kicked off their 2022 season last weekend in a home series against Southern Illinois and hoped to start off strong with a series win. The series was the first played on the newly renovated Warhawk Field, which now features FieldTurf instead of natural grass and signifies a new era for the stadium. Former NLU head coach Lou St. Amant was honored before the game for his contributions toward the renovations. “We have a good product,” said current head coach Michael Federico. “We have a nice facility that has gotten better every year since I’ve been here.” The first game was last Friday night. The Warhawks started Cam Barlow,
the ace pitcher for ULM last season. The game started slow with both teams going scoreless in the first inning and the Warhawks leaving two runners on base. Barlow started the game with five strikeouts through the first three innings. He allowed a lead off hit in both the fourth and fifth innings but then shut down the Southern Illinois offense for the rest of the inning. As dominant as Barlow was, the Warhawk offensive provided him no support as they were equally shut down by SIU pitcher Ben Chapman who pitched seven innings while allowing two hits and producing six strikeouts with no runs allowed. In the bottom of the eighth inning the Warhawks finally struck as Trace Henry produced an RBI single to right field scoring William Perkins to give the Warhawks a 1-0 lead. The RBI single was all the Warhawks needed as closing pitcher Lucas Wepf (1-0) completed the shutout with zero hits allowed and two strikeouts. Barlow’s final stat line consisted of seven innings pitched with four
hits allowed, 11 strikeouts and zero batters walked. Trace Henry produced the only run for the Warhawks. His final stat line for the game included 1-4 at the plate with an RBI. “I can’t say enough about Cam. He just keeps shoving it in there with strikes,” Federico said. “When you limit your walks and limit the errors, that makes for a quick game.” The second game featured more offensive production for both teams. The game started off close with a 4-2 advantage for Southern Illinois through seven innings. However, the Salukis would break it open in the eighth with five runs scored off four hits with 10 total at bats in the inning. Southern Illinois would also score two more runs in the ninth inning to secure the win 11-3. ULM threw seven wild pitches throughout the game. Starting pitcher Tylor Jans (0-1) would end up with the loss.
photos courtesy ULM Athletics
contact Jonah Bostick at bostickjm@warhawks.ulm.edu
ALL OF THE LIGHTS: ULM took a 1-0 vitory on opening night by defeating the Salukis.