WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
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THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS Volume: 62 Issue: 3
SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
unodriftwood.com
Kavanaugh on the court
Last week’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing, simply explained BY CRYSTAL MCCOY News Editor Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement from the Supreme Court this year resulted in a vacancy on the Court to be filled by a nominee chosen by President Donald Trump. This new nomination carried especially significant implications for the future political direction of Court decisions, due to former Justice Kennedy’s reputation as the “Swing Justice” on the Court. In a notable number of decisions in which the four liberal-leaning Justices put forth one opinion on a case and the four conservative-leaning Justices put forth another, Kennedy was known to have a capacity to move in either direction. President Trump’s nominee Brett Kavanaugh, in perceptible contrast, is regarded to be a much more conservative-leaning judge due to his decisions in a number of cases that he has written on. One such closely scrutinized example includes his dissent against a ruling that a detained undocumented teenager had a right to access abortion, on which he wrote, “the government has permissible interests in favoring fetal life, protecting the best interests of a minor, and refraining from facilitating abortion.” Another of his positions that has drawn much attention is his view on the extent of presidential power, or more specifically whether a sitting president has the right to pardon himself in a criminal investigation. This position is especially noteworthy due to
-Photo via WBUR.org
Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. President Trump’s proximity to the ongoing Russia probe and Trump’s prior claims that he has, as he described, the “absolute right” to pardon himself of federal crimes. Trump’s lawyers said they would challenge any subpoena (an order for a person to attend court) from Special Counsel Robert Mueller all the way to the Supreme Court. This issue has drawn debate because of Kavanaugh’s reference to criminal investigations of a sitting president as “time-consuming and distracting.” These and many more issues made for a contentious week of
Kavanaugh awaits the start of the hearing proceedings on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
confirmation hearings. The hearings extended from September 4 to September 7. Included below is an overview of key occurrences on each day. Day 1 The beginning of the confirmation is delayed by 90 minutes due to Democratic senators’ call for a postponement of the hearing. Forty-five thousand documents from Kavanaugh’s career as a staff secretary for the Bush administration were released only the night before the hearing, which Democrats argued gave them little time
-Photo via WITF.org
for review. Additionally, Democrats raised objections to the withholding of 100,000 documents by the White House due to claims of executive privilege. The Chairman refuses to grant a delay. Protests from members of the public erupt intermittently throughout the hearing. Many individuals are escorted out of the hearing room by police. TheSenate Judiciary Committee makes a protracted round of speeches. Day 2 Brett Kavanaugh speaks at the hearing. Senators raise a number of issues, one of which is the question of Kavanaugh’s position on key issues. Kavanaugh refers to what he describes as the “nominee precedent,” which is essentially that prior Supreme Court nominees have not disclosed positions that they would take in potential court cases at their confirmation hearings. He intends to rely on the actual facts of cases that come before him and refrain from answering what he regards to be hypothetical questions. Kavanaugh is additionally questioned on presidential power and Roe v. Wade. He offers similar statements in response. Due to continuous interruptions, members of the public stopped being admitted into the hearing room. Day 3 Kavanaugh is further questioned on matters of abortion and the Roe
v. Wade precedent. A reference by Kavanaugh to contraception as “abortion-inducing drugs” drew consternation from abortion rights groups and individuals. Kavanaugh has referred to Roe v. Wade as “settled law.” Kavanaugh is questioned on same-sex marriage. He expressed an alignment with the opinion written by Justice Kennedy on Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission that “our society has come to the recognition that gay persons and gay couples cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth.” Day 4 The final day of the confirmation hearing included witnesses called upon by Republicans and Democrats to testify on Kavanaugh’s character, decisions and other qualities. Witnesses for Republicans included friends and colleagues of Kavanaugh’s who verified his outstanding vocational record and his exceptional personal attributes. Witnesses for the Democrats included a student survivor of the Parkland, Florida school shooting and a legal guardian of the detained undocumented teen seeking an abortion (mentioned earlier in this article). Democratic witnesses spoke on concerns of Kavanaugh’s attitude toward the Roe v. Wade precedent, disability rights, birth control access, and presidential pardoning powers.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
NEWS
Women discuss financial literacy and how it impacts them
A group photo of Parvazi and attendees.
BY CLAIRE SARGENT Contributer
On Thursday, Sept. 6, the Diversity Engagement Center hosted an event to discuss how financial literacy impacts women throughout their college and work
-Photo by Claire Sargent
careers. The event was held in the University Center Gallery Lounge, and it was hosted by Mrs. Gay Parvazi. Parvazi currently works for the University of New Orleans Credit Union and has an undergraduate degree in marketing, so
she had experience and knowledge to share. Parvazi began by discussing how easy it is to fall behind on finances and how to start a budget. She said, “Everything we do has a result on our lives; finances are
this fall, guiding potential members through the process of joining a sorority and help wade through those possible opportunities. “Greek life in general on the university level, means being involved in a movement bigger than you. Greek organizations have a bountiful and colorful legacy with several organizations being founded as early as the late 1700s,” stated Batiste. Batiste explains, “These organizations were in place to satisfy the growing need for a haven for intellectuals to meet and converse freely. This idea is extremely important for historically black and female fraternities or sororities. The idea of a bond created to protect, educate, and foster leadership in communities that were and still are underrepresented.” With an emphasis on campus participation, sororities and fraternities are unavoidable even for non-Greek active students. Many sororities and fraternities want to reach out to non-active members of the student body. “In Greek life, we are consciously always looking for a way to engage our fellow non-Greek students,” Batiste said. “Greek organizations are what is called ‘closed social organizations,’ meaning that an invitation for membership has to be extended to become a member...This way we can engage and bring awareness to certain causes.” Another big concern connected to Greek life is the prohibitive cost. The North-American Interfraternity website states that of the money that students will pay for school, including textbook expenses,tuition,and more, only
2 percent goes toward paying their dues. Batiste, as a recruitment counselor understands the importance of money when it comes to making the commitment to go Greek. Batiste addressed the concerns of money and some of the myths that go along with making a payment to a sorority. “There is no shame in wanting to know where your or your parents’ money is going. To put it simply, you are not paying for friends. You are helping your respective chapter and national headquarters put on events for your community by allocating seemingly small amounts of money.” Furthermore she added that, “Yes, that sounds very sugar coated, but at UNO, we don’t have the same glitz and glam of chapters up at LSU on Greek Row. Our dues are significantly less than that of larger schools with larger chapters. Of course, some chapters have dues that are higher than others, but there are important factors as to why.” UNO Greek life is very different from other universities and for some students can be very affordable. Batiste’s explanation emphasizes money management and preparedness. The goal is to make sure that money does not play a major role in the decision to rush. After making the commitment to their sorority or fraternity, students can look forward to many events. They have service projects, formals, fundraisers, educational seminars, conventions and BBQs. “The list could go on, but we do a little bit of everything and we’re are always open to fresh
the same way. Budgeting works as long as we do it and stick to it. It’s important to stick to your budget because it does not take more than two months to mess up your finances. In the credit union world, we watch people walk away from their finances and get themselves into trouble.” Parvazi also opened up about hardships she has faced with her finances. She said, “I lost my husband a year ago, and he used to be the one in charge of the finances. Walking to the mailbox to get the bills after he passed away felt like Peter Pan walking his gang off the cliff.” Parvazi mentioned the greatest financial worries that women tend to have, such as saving for retirement, juggling work and family responsibilities, caring for immediate family members or an elderly parent or relative, and taking care of a family business. These financial worries can be minimized by making a budget and planning big purchases. Parvazi also gave excellent advice for people who are learning to budget their finances. She said, “Old school budgeting is best
when you are first getting started. Writing down the extra expenses in your life helps you cut them out. You must look at the little things in a budget, not just the bigger expenses such as electric and gas, but also the extra luxuries you spend money on too.” She also recommends cutting down on credit cards to help improve your finances. “Have a primary credit card that is from a bank or credit union with a low interest rate. The UNO Credit Union secure card is a safe way to start earning credit if you do not have any yet. Do not cancel your other credit cards if you already have them; just get them out of your sight so you are not tempted to use them. You should close credit cards that were opened at a store, such as a Victoria’s Secret card or a TJ Maxx card. Be sure to pay off your credit cards every month.” The Diversity Engagement Center held this event to discuss finances and help students learn about budgeting and credit cards. Parvazi is available at the UNO Credit Union on campus to discuss financial needs.
new ideas,” Batiste said. Batiste also explained how Greek organizations help prepare students for life after college. She said, “Greek life fosters the growth of lifelong relationships, leadership, service, teamwork, good citizenship, integrity and work ethics. “These qualities make Greek affiliated students stand out to employers. But more importantly, students involved in campus activities tend to have more
fruitful college experiences to carry on into the workforce.” While this year’s Rush Week is over, there is still time and opportunity for a student to join Greek life. Informal recruitment happens in the spring. Batiste concluded, “Our foundation is to give back to our community, and we gladly invite those that want to take part in the challenge of becoming a part of the tapestry that is the Greek legacy at UNO.”
To go Greek or not to go Greek? BY CASSANDRA JASKIEWICZ Entertainment Editor Greek life is a huge commitment to students, between the planned events, the maintenance of the required GPA, and the financial aspect of making payments to the chapter. The necessary commitment to ‘go Greek’ comes on top of the stresses that come with earning a higher education and work. Furthermore, there are terrifying statistics, such as those on hazing and binge drinking, that can make Greek life appear out of reach or unlikable to many students. The notion that Greek life perpetuates elitism or gives students the possibility of ‘buying friends’ adds to student wariness in joining a sorority or a fraternity. However, the presence of and participation in sororities and fraternities can be beneficial to students, campus life and the local community. On the North-American Interfraternity website, statistics showed that fraternity undergraduates served 3.8 million hours in their local communities, while fraternity chapters have raised $20.3 million for philanthropic causes. Fraternity participants on average also graduate with a higher GPA. Organizations such as the National Panhellenic Council have given over $5.8 million in scholarships for their members and have dedicated over 2.4 million hours for philanthropic causes. The University of New Orleans (UNO) is loaded with Greek life opportunities. Amina J. Batiste is a graduate student earning her Masters in Chemistry with a concentration on Materials Science. She was the recruitment counselor for
-Photo provided by UNO
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
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The search for the new dean of engineering continues The University of New Orleans (UNO) has been on the search for a new dean for the College of Engineering. In a series of public lectures from Friday, Aug. 24 to Thursday Sept. 6, each candidate made a short presentation titled “What is your vision for the College of Engineering in the 21st century?” Listed below are some facts about the six candidates. The search committee requests that those who attended any of the open forums or meetings visit bit.ly/2x50Jax to provide feedback by Monday, Sept. 17. Dr. Alexander Domijan He has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington
Dr. Norma Jean Mattei She was formerly the interim dean of engineering at UNO from Jan. 2018 to the present.
He was a founding dean of engineering and computer science at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a doctoral research university with about 30,000 students. According to his CV, he is highly experienced in academic affairs and strategic execution.
In 2007, she served as a member of the Louisiana Licensing Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors under Governor Kathleen Blanco. She is currently working on her first term as Commissioner of the Mississippi River Commission.
Dr. Vahid Motevalli He was born in a small lake town in Iran. He said, “I’ve never [run] any of my budgets into [the] red.” Amongst other funding, his research once enjoyed a $4.2 million donation from the National Science Foundation. He aims to increase international student enrollment and engage in “intentional diversity and inclusiveness.”
-Photo by Hope Brusstar Lin, originally from China, spoke to a room of about two dozen on Wednesday, Aug. 29.
Dr. Yueh-Jaw Lin He’s interested in adding a biomechanics concentration. He wants to expand by networking internationally and developing new engineering degree programs with international partner institutions. -Photo by Cassandra Jaskiewicz Kocak gave his presentation on Thursday, Aug. 30 on the library’s recently renovated fourth floor.
Dr. Taskin Kocak He plans to expand programs with more research openings. He wants to make UNO more attractive to international and out-of-state students, as well as make the campus more diverse. He also promises to ensure faculty development and create more ties to the industries that surround UNO.
His short-term goal for UNO’s engineering department, in order to make it “a leader in academic research,” is to “find a sweet spot where no one else is.” Dr. Spyros Tragoudas His master’s degree and Ph.D. are actually in computer science. His research interests include electronic design in emerging technologies. Currently, he is a professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Education an investment, says Higher Education Commissioner
-Photo by Hope Brusstar
On Thursday, Aug. 30, Louisiana’s Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed visited the University of New Orleans at a faculty breakfast to discuss issues in higher education and take questions from the UNO community. Dozens of faculty arrived to fill the tables, and dozens more arrived to stand in the overcrowded room.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
FEATURES
Spotlight: Getting involved in honors BY HOPE BRUSSTAR Managing Editor
participate in all public activities, including talks in the Honors Program lecture series.
The Driftwood interviewed new Honors Program director to discuss his vision for the program and for UNO students at large. H: Hope Brusstar C: Chris Surprenant, professor of philosophy and new director of the Honors Program.
H: What do honors students currently have to do to graduate with honors? C: [Visit] http://www.uno.edu/ honors/faq.aspx See #3. That’s still accurate. Some of the others on the FAQ aren’t.
H: What is the Honors Program for? C: The Honors Program provides an opportunity for high-achieving students to participate in unique academic, intellectual and cultural experiences as a way of enhancing their undergraduate education. H: What can students do to be a part of the Honors Program? C: All students with a GPA of 3.3 and above qualify to participate in honors program activities, which include special courses and course sections, weekend seminars and other academic opportunities, as well as have access to scholarship funding available only to honors students to their coursework at UNO, academic travel and research. There is no application process — students qualify automatically based on their academic performance. […] Graduating with honors requires a bit more, including completing a senior honors thesis. The requirements for graduating with honors are currently being reviewed and changes may be made at the end of this year. H: If students aren’t honors students, can they still join in the organization activities? C: Non-honors students can
H: What events does the Honors Program have in store for the fall (and spring) semesters? C: This fall: [the] opening reception and dinner for first-year honors students, [the] honors lecture series — seven lectures from visiting academics [or] public intellectuals on the theme “The Virtues of a Free Society” and at least one weekend[-long], colloquium-style seminar on an interdisciplinary topic to be determined in the next week. [...] In the spring, there will be basically the same as above, except there will be a reception and dinner in April for the seniors in the program and other active participants. Right now we’re talking with students about what types of opportunities they would take advantage of. We’re open to any ideas — movie nights, reading groups, workshops or informational seminars, or anything else that students in the program would find valuable. H: Over your time at UNO, what have you done to bring guest lecturers, and why? (Why do you feel doing so is important?) C: Over the past seven years I’ve brought over 100 guest lectures,
panel discussions and debates to UNO. Bringing these speakers in has been possible only because of the generous support of national foundations, local donors and the UNO Student Government Association. When I first went to the UNO SGA for support, one of the senators gave a passionate defense of how important such activities were for increasing the profile of the university. In his words, having these opportunities available to students and community members is one thing that separates the best universities from other universities. If we’re serious about education at UNO — and I believe we are — [we should provide] students, faculty and community members the opportunity to listen to and interact with top scholars and public intellectuals from around the country. Bringing these people to campus stimulates discourses and increases the diversity of ideas in our community. I’m very happy to do what I can to contribute to this important goal. H: What are your responsibilities as the new director of the Honors Program, and why did you accept the position? C: When I was asked to direct the Honors Program, I thought it was a great opportunity to expand the opportunities and support to the rest of our outstanding undergraduate students that I had been providing over the past six years for students interested in philosophy and political economy through my Alexis de Tocqueville Project. We have outstanding academic programs here at UNO and outstanding students, and I see this
as an opportunity to provide our best students with opportunities they wouldn’t have had otherwise and develop programs that can attract other top students to our university. The motto of the Honors Program is “fortes fortuna iuvat,” which is Latin for “fortune favors the bold.” One of the things we want to encourage our students to do is be bold and to think about how they can best take advantages of the opportunities available to them. College is a wonderful time to take intelligent risks when it comes to exploring your interests and seeking out opportunities that you might not otherwise have thought of. H: What steps are you taking to change the nature of the Honors Program? Of what it means to be an honors student? C: The Honors Program provide[s] unique academic opportunities and to enhance the existing opportunities on campus. For example, many of our best students are interested in interdisciplinary topics and projects, and I view the Honors Program as the outlet to encourage interdisciplinary activities, whether those are honors courses, extracurricular academic opportunities, or a even a degree-program or similar academic track. My No. 1 goal is to try to create a program that not only serves existing students, but will attract students to UNO who wouldn’t have otherwise thought about attending UNO. Over the next few months I’ll be talking with faculty and students--both current and perspective--to try to get a better understanding of
where the opportunities are. Any students or faculty who want to participate in this process or talk with me about how they think the Honors Program can attract more outstanding students to UNO should reach out to me directly. H: Before you came to UNO, what did you do for a living? C: I was a faculty member in philosophy at Tulane University, where I also taught courses in their honors program and helped with the design of the first-year curriculum. H: What do you feel honors students must do to set themselves apart from other students? C: Honors students have already distinguished themselves from other students on campus based on their outstanding academic achievements. [...] One of the hardest things about being an undergraduate student is that your competition for spots in graduate school, law school, medical school or for jobs once you graduate are not the students in class around you — they usually have different post-graduation goals than you do — but students at other universities [whom] you do not know and do not interact with on a regular basis. The challenge is to learn what the students who you are competing against are doing, and make sure that you can distinguish yourself from those students. Helping you figure this out is one thing we [do in the Honors Program.] If you know what you want to do but don’t know what you should be doing, come and talk with us.
FEATURES
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
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Event planning with the Director of Campus Traditions
-Photos via SAC facebook Victoria Ostrowski as the University of New Orleans Director of Campus Traditions.
BY CASSANDRA JASKIEWICZ Entertainment Editor The Student Activities Council ensures that the campus of University of New Orleans (UNO) is always filled with things to do for students, whether they commute or live on campus. Victoria Ostrowski is a sophomore at UNO and a computer science major, as well as the Director of Campus Traditions for Student Activities Council. She is one of many peo-
ple on the Council that helps plan events on campus. Planning successful events with while avoiding obstacles should always be at the front of the planner’s mind. Time management and preparation are key factors in planning successful events. There are many things to consider when planning for a big event meant to to engage the students. Clubs need to be able to showcase their talent and work to garner attention from prospective
students. SAC is often organizing and planning events for students to participate in and entertain the student body. “Typically we start planning our events six weeks in advance. However, depending on the size of the event some may start sooner or later,” Ostrowski said. “With Fresh Fest, I believe it is a bit easier as the organizations do most of the entertaining at the event.” Securing a space, some equipment and entertainment are the three things that clubs and organizations should focus on when they are making an event for the students to attend. Without these three things, students can get confused on what they should look for to recognize the event. They will see that it is well planned with proper equipment and the entertainment will ensure that they will stay. However, the Council does a lot to make the sure that the events are ready and functional for the students to participate in,“Our job was just to make sure that the space was ready for an afternoon of fun in the heat by providing tables, chairs, food and a learning opportunity for the freshmen that participated,” Ostrowski said. The proper amount of preparation and time management can make or break an event. In the case of Fresh Fest Ostrowski said, “I think the event was absolutely successful! There is always things that can be improved, but overall I
think everyone who attended had a bit of fun and the turn out for the event was great!” Continued success depends on the ability to self reflect, critique and change.This is most important to have in event planning. One good success can often lead to a great success and ensure better publicity for the club or organization. “As I said, there is almost always something we can improve on,” Ostrowski stated, “Following the recent general meeting for SAC, we asked our members their opinions. Everyone agreed
that for next year the tables should be a bit farther apart, which I agree with.” Communication among members is also very important for event success. Any person within the club could have the game changing idea that will help innovate that club. Ostrowski added, “Other than that, the only thing I’d change if I could would be the heat. Gotta love that New Orleans weather!” For future events on campus, make sure to check the UNO Social app and attend the events that seem the most interesting.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
Graduate Chemical Society offers liquid nitrogen ice cream
Photos by Terry Shields On Thursday, Sept. 6, students were invited to taste of ice cream cooled by liquid nitrogen. Most nitrogen exists as a gas; to be a liquid, it must be stored below its boiling point of −320 degrees Fahrenheit.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
Career Fair Careers, Internships, & Part-Time Employment Tuesday: October 2, 2018 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. UNO CAMPUS University Center–UC Senator Ted Hickey Ballroom
100 plus employers hiring for from all majors! Open to all current UNO Students and Alumni Open to all Majors & Class Levels Over 100 Gifts & Giveaways throughout the event!
Register today to reserve your space for this event & others, please follow the steps below:
Hosted by
Current students, go to myapps.uno.edu, click the “Handshake” icon, then select “Fairs” or “Events” to register
IMMIGRATION BALANCING COMPASSION, SECURITY, AND JOBS
SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 NEW ORLEANS BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
7 PM - LEAVELL CHAPEL
Early Bird Registration to Qualify for Book Give-away Ends Sept. 17
www.faith-publicsquare.org
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
ENTERTAINMENT
UNO Comedy Club: open mic night
BY CASSANDRA JASKIEWICZ Entertainment Editor On Aug. 31 from 8 to 10 p.m., the University of New Orleans Comedy Club had an open night mic. The friendly event welcomed students to either refine their skills in comedy or start investing in them. This event was held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC), instead of the usual event location of The Cove. However, the change of location did nothing to inhibit the event or accessibility for the students who attended. Seven students signed up to preform and each spoke, telling everything from funny stories to simple jokes. The audience was just as active as the performers. At the end of each session by the students who signed up for the performance the floor opened to the audience.
Many gladly stepped up to the mic. The president of the University Comedy Club is junior Daniel Guillory. The Vice-president, Daniel Lamplugh is a senior. These two student are the leaders of the Comedy Club and spent a lot of time creating and cultivating it into what they have today. “Danny and I both founded the UNO Comedy Club at the very end of last Spring’s semester. It was an idea that we had both been flirting with for a while. We both love comedy and really appreciate the ability to lend the kids here a voice and an outlet,” Guillory said. Guillory and Lamplugh have worked hard to make the atmosphere of these events welcoming. “This is a space where you can be surrounded by your friends and other kids who are also per-
forming for the first time,” said Guillory, “Everyone is rooting for each other and also you.” “You can get zero laughs all night but the fact that you have what it takes to get up on stage and try is what we’re all about. Practice makes perfect and we’re here to learn together as a UNO community,” he continued. For many students it is very hard to get up on stage and perform. “Getting up on a stage anywhere is always gonna be intimidating for people,”Guillory said,”the reality is that it’s extremely nerve-racking, but in terms of open mics, this is quite possibly the best crowd you can ask for. Most comedy open
mics are spaced out among bars downtown.” Guillory takes very seriously the atmosphere they’ve created for open mic night. The atmosphere between the two locations was different, but the leaders of the Comedy Club are interested in finding out why. Guillory asked, “Was this because The Cove had more distractions in it? Were the seats too spaced out? Was everyone worried about when their burger was coming out? Was it that the audience was different? Maybe the performers weren’t as funny? “ “These are the questions we have to ask in order to create the perfect conditions for
UNO Comedy club has a great night filled with laughs and fun!
students who want to perform comedy for the first time and those who want to simply enjoy a good comedy show,” he continued. “Maybe, next time we’ll perform in the galley, who knows? We are willing to experiment and listen to the feedback we get from the student body because we’re all in fact on this wild ride together.” The Comedy Club and its hard working leaders are always eager for more members to come or to attend their events. No open mic night is exactly the same and each time provides a unique experience. The next one is Sept. 14 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Cove.
-Photo by Cassandra Jaskiewicz
“Falling Rain”: an anonymous poem submission BY ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTOR
Drop by drop the rain falls, slow as a whole, fast as individuals. Drizzling softly and abruptly onto the hard, dry cement. Puddles form, ripple, grow, form bigger puddles; but always end flowing away. Thunder growls far away, the real storm exists, but only the ominous clouds are seen. The light shower isn’t discouraged, small drops crash into roofs and windows, and create their own persistent, soft thunder. They make sure their company is known. Gradually the earth itself starts to smell like rain, seeping into the roots of existence. The rain goes on and on and on, for what seems like too much time. Yet, only an afternoon it stays. Then it vanishes. The fragrance, the stench of mud becomes. The once dancing puddles, stagnant and cloudy turn. But all this, prevails not. The sun rises, and the rainbow crowns it. The beasts trample the ground, and they prey and hunt freely again. They know the rain has ended.
-Photo by William Roberto Nickols.
ENTERTAINMENT
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
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Question of the Week with Claire Sargent
What do you think UNO should improve? “I like everything for the most part right now. The new improvements that have been made on campus recently look great. However, I’d like to see more shady areas around campus where students can hang out and walk to class.”
“I’d like to see more food options on campus. Eating at the same few places all the time gets boring.”
Travis Warren Junior, Medical Administration major
Ari Clues Freshman, Pre-Nursing
“I’d like to see the classrooms on campus get spruced up. A lot of improvements have been done to the outside of campus, but it seems like not a lot of improvements have been made inside the classrooms. Our projectors are literally falling off the walls in the classrooms inside the Education Building.”
“I’d like to see more recycling on campus. It’s saddening to see a lot of trash that could be recycled here at school.”
Emilie Triche Junior, Pre-Dental
Francesca Sacco Junior, Pre-Dental
“I wish there was more gardening on campus. I think having more plants and flowers around would make the campus look nicer and more appealing.”
“There needs to be more vegan food options on campus. There also needs to be more women in leadership positions and more inclusivity!” Kaley Poche Freshman, Finance
Nicky Cao Junior, Sociology
“This is my first year teaching here, so it’s hard to tell what needs to be improved just yet. However, I hate the way the rooms are numbered in the Liberal Arts Building. They could definitely change that.”
“They’ve improved a lot on campus already! I’d like to see more affordable and vegetarian food options on campus though, since there aren’t many of these options on campus.” Shaina Patil Graduate, Chemistry
Zach Hester English Instructor
“I’d like to see better transparency between the students and the administration on campus. Sometimes important information is not effectively communicated between students and administrators here.”
“The outside of the campus looks nice, but I’m sure there are functional aspects of the university that could be improved. No campus is perfect. I’d like to see more childcare options on campus, such as a daycare. When schools were closed for the tropical storm and UNO was still open, I had to bring my child to class.”
Jalin Wells Senior, Accounting
What do YOU think UNO should improve? Let us know on our Facebook page: @UNODriftwood
Trevor Nathan Senior, Jazz Studies
“There need to be more covered walkways on campus. I really hate getting soaked when walking to class whenever it rains.” Emelie Lasseigne Freshman, Theater
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
PUZZLES & COMICS
COMICS
The Driftwood is looking for contributers! We are seeking writers, artists and photographers. We also offer internships that can provide class credit for both undergraduate and graduate students. If you think you can bring something to the newspaper, we’ll find a place to put you. If interested, email driftwood@uno.edu.
SUDOKU
WORD SEARCH
Comedy Birds Engineering Hurricanes Preparation Financial Literacy
Follow Improvements Rain Events Student Loans Dean
Honors Program Supreme Court Drop Falling
Editorial
OPINION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
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Hurricane preparation: Driftwood urges students to be ready With Tropical Storm
Gordon behind the city of New Orleans, her residents give a sigh of relief as they add another hurricane to the list of those who swung for the Louisiana border and missed. The residents of New Orleans are always on their toes when it comes to hurricanes. Every hurricane, even every tropical storm, is noteworthy to the public officials of Louisiana. After Hurricane Katrina 13 years ago, natural disasters are not a laughing matter. Whenever there is any threat of a hurricane, the same process happens in New Orleans: the people begin watching the news to keep track of the storm, students hope classes are canceled, and parents wonder if they are going to lose hours from work due to the
storm. However, while all of this is happening, nobody is actually preparing for the storm. Within 24 hours before a storm is supposed to hit the city, every person goes to the grocery store and buys the supplies they think they need to get through the storm. By the time a student may get to the grocery store, there may be nothing but empty shelves, disappointment, and anxiety. In order to be properly prepared for a hurricane, hurricanesafety. org and fema.gov recommend that you obtain supplies the warning of a storm even happens and to check and restock supplies when an area is placed under a hurricane watch or warning. Every person should have a hurricane kit. This kit can
Column
What Bird are You? Identifying Birds on Campus: Part 1
-Photo of White Ibis by Hameltion White Ibis like this one have been spotted by the library.
BY ERINN BETH LANGILLE Copy Editor In the rush from class to class, a student may not notice the pulse of avian life all around campus. But look around and quickly one will see birds- everywhere. In the trees, in the bushes, on the grass, wading in puddles, up on the roofs or in the eves of our buildings. The University of New Orleans campus is a unique place to encounter bird life for many reasons. The variety of the
landscape, from tall pines to lakefront, invite a plethora of species. Lake Pontchartrain, just over the levee, draws shore birds of all types to our campus, especially after a heavy rain and the grass is like an extension of the lake. You’ll see ibises, gulls and egrets. The mouth of Bayou Saint John to the left of campus attracts many types of heron, geese and ducks. The trees hide songbirds and insectivores. Take time to become aware of the various birds around campus, and how we share our environment
-Photo of Killdeer by Alan D. Wilson. “Killdeer have been seen by students between the Fine Arts and LA buildings.”
with them. Dr. Peter Yaukey, author of Birding Made Easy: New Orleans, taught classes on the biogeography of birds for many years in the Geology department at the University of New Orleans. One of the class assignments for students was to track the birds around campus. He has tips for students eager to learn more. “The best birding spot by far is the woodlot next to the Fine Arts building,” he said. “This is used by migrating songbirds in spring and fall, sometimes with dozens of individual migrants being present at once. Warblers, vireos, thrushes, buntings, flycatchers, tanagers, etc. It takes some patience to find them though--watching the foliage for movement. Occasionally these include unexpected species which have included Olive-sided Flycatcher, Gray Kingbird, and Swainson’s Warbler. The Great Horned Owl and Barn Owl have also been found roosting there by day, though that is not a regular occurrence. A Pine Warbler nested in this woodlot one year, a rare event for the South Shore (they nest regularly across the lake where there are more pines).” He continued, “Regular nesting species on the main campus include Northern Mockingbird (a dozen or more territories- my students found and followed their nests for years), Loggerhead Shrike (a few), Killdeer (a few, especially on gravelly parking lots), Eastern Kingbird, Mississippi Kite, American and Fish Crows, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, and the Downy Woodpecker.” The whole city of New Orleans, and thus the University, is situated on part of a migratory bird path that moves birds from North to South and back again. Known as the Mississippi flyway, more than 325 bird species use it to commute from their breeding grounds in Canada
be stored in a variety of ways, but a packing tub from Rubbermaid, Hefty, or any other similar container is recommended and is easy to store. Hurricanesafety.org has a useful checklist that student can download and use to make sure they have the necessities to survive a storm. In general, it is important to have a three-day supply of non-perishable and easily-preparable food and water. For food, make sure the meals are balanced and healthy, not junk food and snacks. For water, it is recommended that each person has a minimum of one gallon per day and that the water be stored in a safe and durable plastic container to prevent any resource losses
due to dropped containers. Aside from the consumables, there are other supplies that students may consider getting to add to their hurricane kit just to cover their bases and ensure safety and survivability. Some of these items is a first aid kit, tools and clothing. For a first aid kit, the basics will do: bandages, wraps, gauze, antibacterial cream, non-latex gloves, alcohol wipes and medical tape. For tools, a student should be prepared to not have power. So, a crank or battery operated radio is recommended. Like the radio, a crank or battery operated radio is recommended for a hurricane kit. For the simpler items, a
DRIFTWOOD Staff
2000 Lakeshore Drive, UC 252 New Orleans, LA 70148 (504)280-6377 Hope Brusstar........................................................Editor-in-Chief Cassandra Jaskiewicz.........................................Managing Editor Crystal McKay.............................................................News Editor Erinn Langille.................................................................Copy Editor Kimberly Williams.................................................Visuals Director Nate Nguyen..............................................................Layout Editor Matt Stennis........................................................Business Manager Missy Wilkinson...................................................................Adviser
Driftwood is produced solely by students of the University of New Orleans. Driftwood publishes every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters, with the exception of holiday breaks and midterms/finals week. Letters to the Editor and columns are the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinion of the Driftwood editorial board. All letters to the Editor are subject to editing for length, style and grammar. Editorials are the opinions of the Driftwood editorial staff and do not reflect the opinions of the University of New Orleans, its administration or staff. Please limit letters to 500 words. Submissions can be emailed to driftwoodeditor@uno.edu and must be sent no later than 5 p.m. on the Monday before publication. and the Northern US, to their wintering spots along the Gulf of Mexico, as well as Central and South America. Some birds fly from the Arctic Ocean to Patagonia and back each year. Erosion of the wetlands of the Gulf of Mexico, pollution like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and damage from hurricane storms all contribute to threatened bird populations and habitats. On our own campus, birds often fly into the glass windows of the buildings and can occasionally be found stunned or injured in the underbrush. Wondering what those longlegged, long-beaked birds are
pecking at the wet campus lawn? Probably a White Ibis. Ever notice the song of the Northern Mockingbird around the Cove? They dart around the palm and pine trees, and bob on wires with their long buff tails. Blue Jays call and swoop around the bushes on campus, and get into squabbles with the big American Crows. Large flocks of European Starlings settle into the trees inside the courtyards of the LA building, or congregate on the tall light towers that illuminate the parking lots. Take a moment to appreciate the birds with which we share space.