Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2016
Volume: 101 Issue 21
The God siren spoke,
historic flooding affects Natchitoches and NSU students KIMBERLY MOSIER Staff Writer
A
pril showers decided to come in March this year, causing record-breaking flooding throughout southern parts of the United States. Some Northwestern students are still recovering. Within 72 hours, the Northwestern Louisiana region accumulated more rain than it had seen in the past 50 years. Within the four-day time period between March 8-12, the city of Natchitoches alone received over 16 in. of water, according to the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La. Flash floods occurred in almost all areas near bodies of water in what was nicknamed a “Historic Flooding Event” for the state. Rainfall amounts totaled four times as much as any of the heavy, prolonged 2015 summer rainfalls, according to the 2015 U.S. Climate Data of Natchitoches. Meteorologists Quincy Vagell, Chris Dolce and Jon Erdman from the Weather Channel, said the reason behind the flooding was a massive, slow-moving, southward dip in the region’s jet stream. The wind inched east across Mexico, then near the Gulf Coast and finally, the wind funneled deep, tropical moisture into parts of the South and Mississippi Valley. This was a rather “unusual pattern” for early March, they write in their online report. In fact, atmospheric moisture values (known to meteorologists as “precipitable water”) topped the March record, and the record of any winter month, in Lake
Charles, La., on March 10. Up a Cane River without a paddle: What happened to college students. Throughout the time period of the flood, the NSU campuses throughout the state closed and classes cancelled. Some students were left stranded in their homes without electricity and with a surplus of free time. “The moment that first Purple Alert went out, I imagined everyone popping open a bottle of beer and relaxing in a recliner,” senior communications major Dylan Danos said. “I know that’s what I did.” For junior music education major Luis Alejandro Gallo and his fellow Colombian roommates, the flood period was far from relaxing. Water breached their house on Caspari Street and seeped into his bedroom. He said he had to move his bed to the kitchen in order to stay dry. Pearlie Jones, a junior communications major and a campus commuter, said the flooding near her residential area in Natchez, La. is still “very bad.” Since she lives on higher ground, however, she only accumulated “ankle-length” water. “My house is finally dry, but now all the rest of the water is moving to lower-ground residential areas,” Jones said. “Water is up to my neighbors’ car windows and all the roads to the city are flooded except for one.” It is because of that one road that she is able to still commute to her classes. She said she counts herself “lucky” because some people are still stranded.
Student clarifies the lyrics use in Rihanna’s new hit “Work” A& E | pg 4
Another excuse for NOLA to get down and dirty to sick beats for a weekend Music festival review of Buku Music+Art Project 2016 JOSH FONTENOT Social Media Coordinator Although promises of inclement weather threatened to rock the city of New Orleans March 11 and 12, organizers of the 2016 Buku Music + Art Project had other plans in mind, promising that the festival would take place, rain or shine. Regardless, the music and arts festival sold out at maximum capacity for both days, drawing thousands from local and out-ofstate locations willing to brave the weather for a weekend of epic proportion. As fest goers trekked through the muddy lots through a sea of ponchos and over the train tracks into Mardi Gras World, it was clear that all 15,000 attendees were holding onto a glimmer of hope. The festival grounds saw light sprinkles during the first sets on Friday afternoon, but the weather quickly subsided revealing attendees in banana suits, thongs, leotards and crop tops. Needless to say, festival season in NOLA had officially begun. Only 5-years-old, Buku is still making a name for itself in the festival world, but has grown by
Interview with a student Trump supporter LIFE | pg 6
leaps and bounds. An Electronic Dance Music, EDM, and hiphop festival, Buku has done well at drawing in a plethora of artists and attendees. Since its 2012 premiere with headliners included Skrillex and Whiz Khalifa, the fest has continued to attract big names in both scenes. Among this years line-up was Kid Cudi, Future, Crystal Castles, Purity Ring and Cashmere Cat. As the rain subsided, attendees were finally able to admire the truly artistic side of Buku, as artists covered the blank wall in graffiti and local street performers gave it their all. The crowd echoed “Saucin’ on you” as up-and-coming rapper Post Malone performed his hit single “White Iverson,” followed by a slew of songs from his SoundCloud. The evening continued inside the ballroom, one of two indoor stages, as Crystal Castles packed the building. A frantic light show and distorted vocals made audience members remember why Crystal Castles has been going strong since 2003, even with the loss of original vocalist Alice Glass. On the other side of the festival grounds, in the Float Den (rightfully named due to the fact
Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the greatest NSU athletic event SPORTS | pg 9
it holds numerous tricked out Mardi gras floats), Fetty Wap could be heard beckoning girls to come his way as he asked the audience, “Where are my trap queens?” Friday night closed out with Above and Beyond, leaving the audience feeling more like family than strangers. “If you’re patient, life comes through for you,” the EDM group typed on the big screen as they pulled an audience member onto the Power Plant stage to hit the button, starting the final song. Other notable performances of the day included Griz, Chvrches and BAAUER. With millennials in flower crowns, vote for Bernie shirts, tutu’s and shirtless frat bro’s entered the festival grounds on Saturday, the atmosphere was like no other. The first notable attraction Saturday was Future, drawing possibly the largest crowd of the entire weekend. He drove the crowd “codeine crazy” as he performed songs from all of his albums, including his mixtape...
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Student explains how nationalism will destroy our nation OPINIONS | pg 10