THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
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THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS Volume: 62 Issue: 1
AUGUST 23, 2018
unodriftwood.com
WHILE YOU WERE GONE Junior Football Team found Trapped in Tham Luang Caves On June 23, a junior football team entered Thailand’s Tham Luang Cave and was trapped there after heavy rainfall caused it to flood. The group was found alive on July 2 by two British divers. They discovered the team two and half miles from the start of the cave. The organizers of their rescue, which included international and domestic help, attempted to pump water out of the caves to make it easier for children to escape. However, rescuers soon aborted these tactics so as to evacuate everyone before the next monsoon. Between July 8 to 10, the coach and the boys were delivered to safety from the caves with only minor injuries.
LeBron James’ I Promise School Opens
Louisiana is ranked with second worst public school system in the United States
Heat waves, Wildfires accross North Ameriaca & Europe Throughout the summer, heat waves pummeled North America and Europe, with breaking temperatures recorded in Nova Scotia, California, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Portugal, among many others. In Spain, nine people died from the heat, while as of July 10, 74 people had suffered heat-related deaths in Quebec. Dry conditions and depleted water sources contributed to rampant wildfires, breaking out all along the west coast in California and British Columbia, as well as in Sweden and the United Kingdom. The heatwaves are also responsible for several large algae blooms worldwide, destruction of agricultural crop or low yields, and electricity grid crashes.
On Monday, July 30, LeBron James’ “I Promise” school opened. The school was built in response to the poor academic performance of underprivileged students in James’ hometown of Akron, Ohio. Among many other benefits, the school will offer each student a free bicycle, school supplies and free college education. A food pantry is available to all students’ families, all students and faculty have access to a fitness trainer, and job placement assistance and GED classes are open to parents. I Promise School is a public school, not a private or charter school, intended specifically for the local Akron children. Currently, 240 third and fourth graders are enrolled.
President Donald Trump Nominates Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court
The United Nations Investigates Extreme Poverty in the United States
Gamer pilots commercial jet before crashing on Ketron Island
On Friday, Aug. 10, an employee of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport commandeered a Horizon Air commercial jet with no previous piloting experience — aside from what he learned from video games, he admitted during his radio communications with the air traffic control tower, which can be found on YouTube. He managed to complete a loop-de-loop and a barrel roll with the empty aircraft before two fighter jets were tasked with pursuing him, soon after which he crashed on Ketron Island, in the Puget Sound.
In a nationwide study by WalletHub published on July 30, states were ranked on a list from best to worst public school systems. According to WalletHub, Massachusetts has the best public schools in the country, and New Mexico has the worst, at number 51. Louisiana’s schools ranked at number 50. WalletHub studied various properties of the schools, including two categories: quality and safety. The organization took into consideration aspects such as dropout rates, high school graduation rates among low-income students, and portions of threatened or injured students. Louisiana fell into categories such as “Lowest Reading Test Scores” and “Highest Percentage of Threatened or Injured High School Students.” However, it also tied for fifth in “Lowest Pupil-Teacher Ratio,” a feature which is often an indicator of a good school.
Philip Alston, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, led efforts to further understand extreme poverty in the United States. Many regarded the investigation to be unexpected, especially for a country that is as wealthy as the United States. The studies draw attention to the emergence of certain disease and pathogen outbreaks in poverty-stricken U.S. communities that have otherwise been essentially eradicated in the developed world and now only persist in developing nations, as well as other challenges typical of only the developing world that maintain a brooding presence in the Unite d S t a t e s t o d a y. T h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s h e d light on issues like economic inequality in America.
Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement from the Supreme Court resulted in a vacancy to be filled by a nominee of President Donald Trump. The President’s list of finalists included four contenders for the seat: Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Judge Raymond Kethledge, and Judge Amul Thapar. Brett Kavanaugh emerged as Trump’s final pick. The confirmation process is anticipated to be highly contentious, especially with the political landscape of the court shifting with Trump’s nomination. As of late summer 2018, a confirmation date has not yet been announced.
Aretha Franklin Dies at Age 76 Known by many as “The Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin died on Aug. 16. Franklin’s anthem, “Respect,” was on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart for 12 weeks and peaked on June 3, 1967. Franklin was 76 years old when she passed in her hometown of Detroit.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
NEWS
Our new dean, the student advocate
Campus Happenings Time Management Skills Aug. 29, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM University Center 206 A free workshop that helps identify and rectif time management problems. Introduction to Sexual Assault Prevention Everfi Program Sept. 11, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM University Center Lobby Table Event hosted by Student Accountability & Disability Services.
BY HOPE BRUSSTAR Managing Editor New Dean of Students Dr. Carolyn Golz has arrived at The University of New Orleans with a mission and the experience to help her execute it. She wears floral tattoos, short brown hair and business attire, but she says, “I’m not a business person. I’m a student affairs person.” Having occupied her office for several weeks, she’s still getting used to her job and to the campus. “My goal for the first semester is to meet as many students as I can ... and find out what they want and need.” To that end, she attended the Pontchartrain Hall move-in operations on Aug. 16, and has already been getting in touch with and meeting student organizations. “My job is to advocate for students ... to remove barriers for students,” said Golz. She desires that students see the Student Affairs office as “the place to come when they don’t know where else to go.” She mentioned that a common issue for the university students is being redirected through several different departments before finally getting the assistance they seek. “Even if we don’t know the right office, we’re gonna find the right office before we send them back into the UNO community to bang their heads against a wall. We are going to take that wall away.” At home, Golz has two dogs. “They are the cutest things ever.” Aside from taking care of them, she said, “I read a lot ... when I would walk home from high school after softball practice, I would stop at the library and pick up a stack of books.” Books, she declared, are her form of entertainment, second not even to television. And relatively new to New Orleans, she’s still busy “exploring all the restaurants,” she
said. During a vacation, and when the weather is cooler, “I like to camp,” said Golz. Golz has a Master’s in Experiential Education and another in Criminal Justice Administration, while her Doctorate is in Organizational Leadership. She began her college career as an RA in her dorms at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and finished it with a focus still in the affairs of students, at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. The dissertation she wrote for her PhD is entitled “The Impact of Student Engagement on Alumni Giving.” Her primary argument within is that “student satisfaction is a great predictor of alumni giving,” she says in her blog at http://www. carolyngolz.com/. The dissertation includes many facts and figures describing just what experiences and conditions correlate with a student being likely to succeed and to donate to a university. With this knowledge in hand, Golz’ aims include “creating a more vibrant student life that makes campus seem like a place where people want to hang out,” she said — not just during the day, when commuter students are around, but during the evenings and weekends, when resident students are still looking for activities. “How do we meet both populations?” she remarked. “Sustainability is a goal,” said Golz, in addition. Newly appointed to the University’s Sustainability Circle, Golz is interested in making the university more environmentally friendly and aware. She described an event for which Aramark decided against large lemonade and water dispensers and opted for hundreds of cans of lemonade and bottles of water instead, and expressed a frustration with sending garbage to the landfill. “It’s something I want
to fix,” she said. “We can educate people.” “The biggest obstacle we have right now is financial,” said Golz. “Every university has financial constraints ... ours are a little harder. We just have to be a little more creative and intentional in [spending] our money.” For example, when leaders of student organizations, different university departments, or her Student Affairs staff members approach Golz with ideas for events or changes to the university, she suggests that they pick just one of their ideas to work with first, or asks if they can bring in more help to make the idea come to fruition. On a regular basis, Golz is working with Student Affairs to set the tone for the UNO student experience. “The team plans a lot of large-scale events for UNO,” she said — including convocation, homecoming and the Mardi Gras parade on campus. “I’ll have a lot of meetings,” she said, seeing students and faculty across campus for a variety of initiatives. So to see her, a student may need to make an appointment. However, she was encouraging about this. “I’m thinking about having office hours,” she remarked. “[A student can] contact the office to schedule an appointment, invite me to visit a student organization or event, send me an email ... or contact me via social media,” she said. To that point, she can be found on Twitter under the name @carolyngolz, emailed at cmgolz@uno. edu, and reached via phone at 504-280-6620. For general information, students can visit studentaffairs.uno.edu. “We want students to be proud of UNO,” said Golz. “How do we help you be successful here?”
Opioid 101 Presentation Sept. 19 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM University Center 208 Monica Taylor, Louisiana Department of Justice, hosted by Student Accountability & Disability Services will provide a presentation that will cover the history of opioids, how they work, common prescriptions and the effects of opioids. Healthy Behaviors Sept. 20, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM University Center Lobby Healthy Behaviors hosted by Student Accountability & Disability Services and Student Health Services This tabling event will allow students to access info on healthy behaviors around drug and alcohol use. Bystander Intervention Workshop Sept. 26, 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM University Center 206 Attend this event and you will learn what being an active bystander looks like for sexual violence and strategies that can be employed. Swampball Sept. 29, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Quad (In front of Library) Teams compete in mud to play a volleyball in the Quad.
Golz shares about her two dogs on Twitter. Photo courtesy of @caroltyngolz.
NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
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Life on a plastic island: what it’s like to live near a landfill eration is actually so massive that it would be rather difficult, especially in the eastern half of the United States, for you to distance yourself very far from a landfill, no matter where you went.
Landfills near New Orleans: closer than you think
BY CRYSTAL MCCAY News Editor Here at The University of New Orleans, our recycling program is poised to make strides in making a difference in staying environmentally friendly, “We . . . plan on overhauling the recycling program and implementing more environmentally friendly practices on campus in general,” explains UNO Service Coalition vice president Michael Sinegar. “It’s an exciting time to be involved in the program.” As campus recycling resources expand, intuitively, participation will become more convenient. Increased participation would demonstrate a more
prevalent desire at The University of New Orleans to divert waste from local landfills. Now the scenery is a collection site for the contents of our trash bins. One might imagine the air to be infiltrated with an ever-intensifying tang of decay as the bacterial breeding ground seeps a hostile stench into the atmosphere and leaks a toxic concoction into the ground. One might envision gusts of wind sweeping these fatal fumes into nearby neighborhoods and schoolyards, where they linger insidiously in the undertone of every breath drawn in. Certainly swarms of scavengers and crawling things should be infesting the landfill and turning up in the homes
of nearby residents, whose windows reveal the image of a grim and rotting landscape. You might presume that life near a landfill must bear some semblance to this depiction, right? You would be wrong. There is one community not too far from a landfill that I know very well. Near its border with the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain lies its student apartments on the west side, and on the east a towering smoke-stack. Indeed, our very own University of New Orleans campus lies in a surprising vicinity to not one, but multiple landfills. You may be startled to learn this, but our country’s overall waste gen-
When a piece of garbage leaves our fingertips, we often tend to behave as though it were swept from existence at the moment of disposal. In reality, disposal of waste only initiates a journey that requires the use of technology, labor, time, and a destination for that waste. For us here at University of New Orleans, there are a total of seven landfills within a mere 14-mile radius of campus (Save on Energy via the Environmental Protection Agency, 2018; New Orleans Department of Sanitation, 2018). Of those seven landfills, three of them are open and actively receiving garbage: Gentilly Landfill, River Birch Landfill, and Jefferson Parish Sanitary Landfill (the other four are retired). Together, these seven local landfills contain over an astonishing 37 million tons of waste. And according to Zero Waste America, there are over 3000 active landfills and 10,000 more retired landfills in America.
The Abyss at the Bottom of Your Trash Bin
Placing an item in a garbage bin can be compared to dropping a coin down the Kola Superdeep Borehole. Drilled by Russian scientists intermittently from 1970 to 1994, the hole now extends 7.5 miles into the Earth’s crust, deeper than the Mariana Trench. The hole may seem bottomless to a viewer from the top, and it has been
calculated to take staggering 50 seconds for a dropped item to reach the bottom, but nevertheless even the lengthiest of freefalls results in an eventual collision with the earth below. In a similar manner, because smaller private trash cans get dumped into increasingly larger and more public garbage cans, then are collected by even more massive garbage trucks which finally deliver the garbage to landfills, you can imagine each of the smaller trash cans as bottomless tubes that lead straight to a landfill near you. The odds are that if you have placed garbage in a bin at any time near New Orleans or a number of the surrounding parishes, that piece of garbage has made its way down the New Orleans ‘Superdeep Trash Chute’ to one of the seven landfills mentioned above.
The Net Worth of a Recycling Bin
In recent years, as both the economic and environmental cost of waste management have continued to climb, as well as a growing awareness of the alternative measures, recycling has become an increasingly available option. While waste management and recycling management both require the input of technology, labor, and time, recycling yields resources with value, such as materials to preserve food or manufacture clothes and bedding, among many other purposes. In contrast, waste disposal entails the setting aside of potentially valuable materials to sit unconverted in their valueless form, to pollute rivers and streams, to choke and maim wildlife, and to degrade landscapes. As greater quantities of people grasp this, recycling resources become more abundant and accessible.
Perspectives on Immigration during Trump’s Admin.
BY CRYSTAL MCCAY News Editor The summer of 2018 has been marked by a series of significant events surrounding the issue of immigration to the United States, especially from Central America
and Mexico. Much of the discussion has surrounded the Trump Administration’s “Zero Tolerance Policy,” which involves prosecuting migrants detained by the United States for attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. In the process of enforcing this
policy, adult migrants were often separated from child migrants. This separation was not a direct feature of the policy, but they did often occur in the process of adults being detained and referred for prosecution. This caused a controversy in the United States, as many Americans were split over the issue. Some viewed the enforcement of the policy as essential for honoring laws passed in the United States governing immigration, while others viewed it as contrary to values regarding the preservation of family units. Minors who were separated from adult counterparts were housed in facilities in the United States. A significant amount of political pressure was applied on the Trump administration to modify its policy on illegal immigration. On June 20, 2018, the President reversed the Zero Tolerance policy and announced that families would be detained together. “So we’re going to have strong, very strong borders, but we’re going to keep
the families together,” Trump stated in reference to his decision. The government worked to reunite families over the ensuing weeks. As of August 16, 2018, 565 children had still not been reunited with their families and 2,089 had been reunited. While many Americans’ attitudes toward the subject has been influenced by a range of political perspectives, another perspective exists from the position of the immigrant. Many migrants from Central America cited reasons such as gang violence, extreme poverty, and lack of economic opportunity as reasons for seeking solace in another country. This view is expressed commonly by migrants from other parts of the world as well. Pat Smith, a migrant from West Africa, cited in her description of her journey to America, “I was very fortunate to come to America because I received opportunities that I would not have received in Africa. I was able to afford my home; I did not
have to worry about the outbreak of war or a coup d’etat, or an overthrow of the government, or not being able to complete high school; healthcare was accessible through my employment, which helped me because I had many health issues. I was able to enjoy the stability that the U.S. provides and get involved in my community.” The range of perspectives that exist on the issue make immigration policy a much more challenging issue to navigate than many might presume. Moving forward, the subject is anticipated by some to play a role in voter behavior for the November elections. In the words of the President, “I think we’re going to have much more of a red wave than what you’re going to see as a phony blue wave. Blue wave means crime, it means open borders.” The Pew survey revealed that immigration issues were marked by 79 percent of Trump supporters to be “very important.”
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
FEATRURES
University of New Orleans Feted New Students during Convocation at UNO Lakefront Arena
Students at the lakefront arena!
UNO PUBLIC RELATIONS While Monday marked the start of the fall semester for thousands of students at the University of New Orleans, on Friday the Class of 2022 got a welcome to campus party in its honor. As a precursor to the first day of class, first-year students were feted during convocation at the UNO Lakefront Arena. The University’s tradition, which included faculty marching into the arena in full academic regalia while Pomp and Circumstance played, commemorates the start of the academic journey for new students with a formal opening ceremony followed by free food and games. It is in this same venue that these students will don their own gown and mortar board to conclude their undergraduate
-Photo ptovided by UNO PR journey to a college degree. University President John Nicklow told the students that they should be proud of their academic accomplishments thus far, and that they have taken “a leap toward enrichment,” by enrolling at the University of New Orleans. However, he told them much work lies ahead. “I expect there to be sacrifice and even some struggle in your future. Your intellect will be challenged,” Nicklow said. “Make no mistake; our expectations of you are high. But that is not something to fear. Embrace it and focus on your ability to persist; it is all part of higher learning, and you would not be here today if we weren’t confident in your ability to succeed.” Nicklow told students that they were on a “shared journey” with the University’s faculty and staff who would be there to support
and guide. “Our singular goal is to support you, whenever and however you need it, in meeting those expectations,” he said. Nicklow told students that college is a “transformative experience,” but that they must be open to growing, learning and getting involved on campus. That “get involved” theme was echoed by Carolyn Golz, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, and Kenady Hills, Student Government Association president. Golz, who arrived on campus in mid-July to take her new job, shared with students her fears as she drove from Santa Cruz, Calif. to New Orleans. “Although I was excited to be your dean, it was a long trip and I had a lot of time to worry,” Golz said. She worried over whether she
would fit in, like her new surroundings or make new friends, Golz said. Golz said she “talked herself down from the anxiety” by focusing on what she could do to be successful in her new job. She gave students three tips for transitioning: Step outside your comfort zone Don’t be afraid to ask for help Get involved in campus activities “I want you to know, you are embarking on an exciting step in your life,” Golz said. “You are well-prepared, you belong here and this is your opportunity to create the future about which you have dreamed.” Hills told students how being involved in campus life instead of secluding herself in her dorm room helped galvanize her evolution from being a homesick
student ready to call it quits to becoming a student leader. “Be open to transformation. Be ready for change,” Hills said. “Be excited for your new journey of self-exploration. Be willing to join organizations, and if the first club doesn’t fit you, be willing to join a new one that does.” Hills concluded her remarks by inviting students to take part in their first chant as a Privateer. “When I say, “Swords, you say ‘up!’’’ Hills directed. As the students stood and chanted, twin cannons filled with confetti exploded and inflated, multicolored beach balls drifted from the ceiling. The festive ending carried over to the dinner and games that awaited students following the convocation. Tiera Gaines of Chalmette was draped in silver and blue streamers as she headed for the food line. Having already made runs to Walmart and the financial aid office, Gaines said she was ready to explore campus life. “I’m looking forward to clubs – Greek I think it’s called,” Gaines said with a laugh. “In high school it’s called clubs, here it’s Greek life.” In another food line, a giggling Jocee Dixon of New Orleans proclaimed she had already found her college BFF, fellow STEM major Michelle Huang of Metairie. The two met at freshman orientation, Dixon said. “Michelle can’t leave me, she’s stuck with me now,” Dixon said nudging Huang, who smiled. “She knows that!”
SPORTS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
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2018 Volleyball Team Preview Middle Blockers and Defensive Specialist
Volleyball team hard at work.
BY UNO ATHLETICS With the start of the 2018 University of New Orleans volleyball season days away, let’s take a look at the middle blockers and liberos on head coach Millicent Van Norden’s squad. Recently named to the presea-
-Photo provided by UNO Privateers.
son Southland Conference first team, Kaitlyn Grice returns for her senior season after leading the conference in hitting percentage (.339) and finishing second in blocks per set (1.23) in 2017. For her efforts, Grice received conference honorable mention accolades.
Joining Grice in the middle is redshirt sophomore Rhyan Rand. Rand concluded the 2017 season with nine service aces, 89 kills, and 106.5 total points scored. Depth describes the defensive specialist position as New Orleans has five liberos on the roster. Andrea Nava and Saman-
tha Uline are the veterans with Nava collecting 297 digs. Uline added 61 digs and is joined by Breanna Crain, a transfer from North Central Texas College, and freshmen Alexa Spartz and Reagan Rozas. Check back in tomorrow as we will highlight the outside
hitters and the opposite positions getting you ready for the start of the 2018 season. Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersVB on Twitter, @ PrivateersVB on Instagram, like /PrivateersVB on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
MEET THE DRIFTWOOD STAFF
Hope Brusstar - MANAGING EDITOR Nate Nguyen - EDITORINCHIEF Nate majors in Mechanical Engineering and NAME. He is a contracted AFROTC cadet and absolutely loves to eat any food. After college, he wants to get an assignment working with Space and Missle Systems and has a career goal to create the longest distance ICBM. For fun, you can find him shooting, sailing, or practicing Tae Kwon Do. His favorite TV shows are The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and How I Met Your Mother.
A lifelong lover of dogs, cats and nonfiction, Hope has an avid curiosity for the world around her. She’s probably a teacher’s pet, she really likes keeping things organized and tidy, and will do anything to procrastinate. But she has a passion for adventure and just recently finished a month-and-a-half-long trip to Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Norway and Germany. Hiking in beautiful natural landscapes soothes her, while trying to pick a career does not. Relatedly, writing is her favorite hobby, and math is her course of study. She is also trying to learn to play piano, paint and speak a couple languages, even if only a little bit. Hope can also read upside-down at a steady pace.
WELCOME BACK Erinn Beth Langille - COPY EDITOR
Originally from Nova Scotia, Erinn Beth Langille is an award-winning writer who has published in national magazines, newspapers and journals. She has degrees from Dalhousie University, the University of Essex, and two from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and is currently a fiction candidate in the MFA program at the University of New Orleans. A former organic farmer, film costumer and restaurant manager, when she isn’t writing stories or working on her novel, she works with the Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival and organizes the creative program at The Lemon Tree House Residency in Tuscany, Italy.
Second Chance Second Line Join SGA in celebrating the new semester with brass band music, snowballs, and have an opportunity to connect with the learning resource center! When: Thursday, August 23, 2018 @ 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Where: The Mardi Gras Tree in the quad
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Crystal McCay - NEWS EDITOR Crystal McCay is a second-year student at University of New Orleans double majoring in political science and business administration. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee to Liberian immigrants. She would like to achieve a master’s degree in agricultural economics, agricultural policy or a similar area upon graduation from UNO. She is still considering a range of possible vocational options, which include sustainable entrepreneurship, journalism or other writing or nonprofit administration in agriculture, environment or another field. She maintains interests in political philosophy, environmental protection, plant-based living, and rail transit. Her hobbies include yoga, nonfiction reading, longboarding, hiking and sailing. She also enjoys horror movies and experimental music. Her prior writing experiences stem from her participation as an Oxford style debater, a delegate at Model United Nations, a lawyer in Mock Trial, a student of classical Latin and a member of the Lott Leadership Institute for policy and public speaking.
Cassandra Jaskiewicz - ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Cassandra Jaskiewicz is a senior at the University of New Orleans majoring in English. Originally, she is from Michigan, but without fail, makes the 16hour drive to Louisiana in order to further her education. She works hard in all her courses, and many teachers has described her as a pleasure to have in class. In the Buzzfeed quiz, “What Fruit are You,” she got labeled as a banana, which meant she was “goofy” and “loved to make other people laugh.” Jaskiewicz loves traveling and over the past summer completed a study abroad in Cork, Ireland. She learned many things about the culture, herself, and how fast she could work in a five-week program. Jaskiewicz dreams of working with IGN or Polygon, but is not picky about her career after college and is open to any and all future job offers.
FROM THE
Claire Sargent - CONTRIBUTOR
Claire is a senior at UNO, and she’s super excited to be interning at the Driftwood this semester! She hopes to be writing professionally in the near future. In her free time, she enjoys singing, reading, and hanging out with her cat. She stays pretty involved on campus, so one can spot her with her Delta Zeta sisters, at an Intersectional Feminism Club meeting or stressing out about schoolwork in the library by mid-semester. Oh, the joys of being a college student!
D R I F T W O O D
STAFF
Lauren Loisel, - SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Lauren Loisel is a third year Marketing and HRT Administration student. She works full time as a baker. She loves her family, friends and going to the beach as much as possible. Lauren hopes to spend her life traveling around the world while working hard and advocating for positive change.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
ENTERTAINMENT
“To All the Boys I Loved Before” BY CASSANDRA JASKIEWICZ Entertainment Editor
Romantic comedies often seem to be pouring out of Hollywood in repetitive and predictable ways. It is hard to find new movies that manage to spice up the rom-com recipe. In an attempt to captivate the rom-com audience, Netflix released a new original movie on Aug. 17 titled “To All the Boys I Loved Before”. The film follows Lara Jean Covey, played by Lana Condor, who is a young girl entering her junior year of high school as her older sister leaves to start her college education abroad. Lara Jean’s sister breaks up with her boyfriend of two years, and this breakup reminds Lara Jean that she has been in love with her sister’s boyfriend for the duration of their relationship. Her problems begin when Lara Jean’s younger sister mails out the love letters Lara Jean had privately written as a way to cope with her feelings. Drama and high school hijinks ensue, including fake dating, self reflection and cafeteria throw downs. The theme of movie-- that love is scary and unpredictable, but it is always worth taking the plunge--was appar-
ent from the start of the film and was punctuated at the end with a dramatic kiss from the two teens. While this topic is often the center of romantic comedies, it also focuses on more than just romantic love. Lara Jean and her sisters are at the center stage as they try to navigate their relationships with each other, warped in recent years from the death of their mother. Their father works hard to ensure the sisters’ connection with their mother and their Korean heritage is never forgotten. Finally, the revolving friendships between Lara Jean, her middle school friends, and her current friends are always examined, emphasizing that even if you don’t know that someone is watching, you are still being examined by the outside world. The cast is filled with many new actors, unknown by any big titles or for involvement with franchises.The film features a fun soundtrack that includes a mix ranging from 80s hits to modern-day alternative music, which adds a lot to each scene. The movie is directed by Susan Johnson, and while it is only the second feature-length film that she has completed in her career, it displays the skill and talent she has in her field. There
very many unknown variables connected with this movie’s creation, which allowed for the actors and film crew to make the movie their own. This film was based on a 2014 novel by Jenny Han and pays a lot of respect to the source material. While “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is the first book out of a trilogy, it did a good job at tying the movie up, but still left the possibility of another movie. Fans of the book series may notice some differences. The book leaves the question of how Lara Jean’s letters got out a mystery for nearly the whole book, while the movie lets you know right away. However, details such as Lara Jean’s love for vintage clothes, her fear of driving, and the details of her and her best friend’s relationship remained adorable snippets in the movie. While “To All the Boys I Loved Before” did not get a theatrical release, it definitely deserves attention. It has earned its place in the romantic comedy genre, perfect for a Valentine’s day marathon, a girls’ night and on the list of possibilities for a relaxing Friday night with a loved one.
Things every University of New Orleans student should know
Students on campus!
BY CLAIRE SARGENT Reporter Getting used to a new school can be overwhelming for some students. Going to college is very different than going to high school. It can be challenging, but that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult. To help out, here are a few tips every University of New Orleans student should know.
-Photo provided by Terry Shields It’s August in New Orleans, meaning torrential downpours most days, even if the sky looks sunny without a cloud in sight. Don’t let the sky mislead you; it will still probably rain. Downpours in New Orleans almost guarantee there will be some flooding and strong winds. To combat the elements, keep a rain jacket and rain boots nearby at all times during this monsoon season. These two items are
necessities down here. The University of New Orleans campus is prone to flooding, just like the rest of the city. Don’t be the one who is soaked and running across campus holding their shoes in their hands. It’s not fun. If living in Pontchartrain Halls or Privateer Place, it would be wise to invest in one of those handy portable washing machines on the market. The washers in the dorms are
almost always full unless it’s 3 a.m. No one wants to stay up all night doing laundry when class is at 9 a.m. The same goes for the washers at Privateer Place, except it’s even worse because those washers cost money to use. To avoid all of these obstacles, it would be easier to just have a mini washer to use in a dorm or apartment that doesn’t have a regular washer in it. The only downside is that these mini
washers only come with a spinner to dry clothes, so it’s best to hang dry clothes after using a mini washer. It’s still better than using those Pontchartrain Halls and Privateer Place washers. One of the most important pieces of advice for all new students is to get University of New Orleans emails forwarded to a primary email address. Let’s be real, no one checks the university email like they check their primary email account, which can lead to missing assignments, showing up to class when it was cancelled and other embarrassing things that students typically wish to avoid. To avoid missing out on important information from professors, faculty and staff, make sure to forward your university emails to a primary email account that’s checked regularly. To forward all emails to a primary email account, one should log on to their university email address and click on the question mark at the top by their name in the upper right hand corner of the screen. This will prompt the Help section. In the text box that appears, type “how to forward”. The screen will then prompt a “start forwarding” option. Click on “start forwarding” and type in the email address you’d wish to use instead. Congrats, all of those emails will now be forwarded until graduation!
ENTERTAINMENT
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
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Textbooks and You: Finding Cheaper Ways to Further Your Academic Life BY CASSANDRA JASKIEWICZ Entertainment Editor The start of the semester means a lot of shopping to ensure academic success. Students need paper, folders and books, but there is no need to make an already expensive semester even worse. The number one thing on a students to-do list should be obtaining the required books for their courses, but at a more affordable price. All of the older students have already learned the tips and tricks on at meeting this task, but the new ones might be out of the loop. Mikayla Sarro,a second-year graduate student at The University of New Orleans and studying English with a concentration in British literature, has some ideas on approaching such an important task. When asked about her routine for buying books, Sarro said, “I used to buy books directly through the UNO bookstore, but because I am
required upwards of five books or more per course, it can get pretty expensive. Now I usually go through Amazon, either purchasing an e-book or the text for much cheaper.” There still many steps to take in securing cheap books and still getting the best experience. For a what-not-to-do when buying books, Sarro explained,“I don’t like to buy books that I know I probably wont ever look at again.So I rent big anthologies rather than paying the full price for them.” Another of Sarro’s suggestions: “I also have to purchase several small books, and for those I like to find online versions. It can be tricky, as the e-books don’t follow the same pages or line numbers as the actual text, but it’s better than having to carry four books to every class.” However, if Sarro struggled to find her books for her courses, she concluded that, “UNO’s bookstore would be my last
resort, since that’s where the instructors post the course texts. If the bookstore doesn’t have it then I’d ask my professor directly; many of my past instructors have been happy to let me borrow their books. I’m always extra careful with those.” Sarro mentioned the more well-known options of finding cheaper textbooks through Amazon, or finding a free online version, but there are still more resources to be used. Chegg is a website that lets its users type in the ISBN or title of the textbook that a student could be looking for, and it will show how much it costs to buy, how much the e-book version is to buy, and how much it is to rent it. It lets students compare these prices and find the most affordable option that is out there. It also has new and used copies of the textbooks for students to buy, as well as, an option for students to sell back what they bought at a later date.
Another option is going to local new or used bookstores, as many teachers to do not always require students to have the most recent version of the text. In the case of novels and short stories, a used copy is often available and for much cheaper. There is both the University library, the
interconnected library system across Louisiana, and the New Orleans Public Library to consider. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask friends if they have a copy of the text from when they took it, or to see if they know someone who can loan a copy.
Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings at The Civic Theater
Great night of music with Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings.
BY ERINN BETH LANGILLE Copy Editor Before Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings began to play Sunday night August 19, the stage of the Civic Theater was bare, save for a worn out Persian rug and an old kitchen table. The lack of flashy lights or hip set design didn’t seem to bother the audience. Instead, it suited the show as they’d come for the songs. For the last 25 years, Welch has been building her audience on sparse and melancholic Americana music, with roots in folk, bluegrass, country and rock ‘n’ roll. Some call it Appalachian, though Welch herself grew up in New York City and California. The location may be adopted, but the music is just as affecting as if
she’d grown up in a hollow. When the two arrived on stage they were decked out the cowboy boots and Western wear and hit the crowd with “Scarlet Town,” off of the 2011 album “The Harrow and the Harvest.” They then moved into the classic “Rock of Ages” from Welch’s second album “Hell Among The Yearlings” (1998). The set was composed of songs from all their albums, and they hopped around stylistically from slower mournful tunes to the more raucous and upbeat, like “Midnight Train,” a song off the 2017 David Rawlings solo record “Poor David’s Almanack.” As both a musical and romantic partnership, Welch and Rawlings play to their strengths. His vocals stayed in the background to let her lead, and
-Photo courtesy of Erinn Beth Langille. served to highlight her unique range, which is both sweet and yodely. Her rhythm guitar, banjo and boot stomping provided the perfect beat and melody for Rawlings’ continuous guitar solos, this rhythm that circles her melodic cords the entire time. The pair is still having a lot of fun after all these years, and it was a joy to watch. The complex picking and guitar styles of Dave Rawlings was magical, and at times through the night he astonished the audience with slides and turns in the melodies that was nearly virtuosic. He stands in one place, his feet close together and barely tapping, holding a remarkably small archtop guitar that he plays with a fever. As he plays, the rhythm of each song moves up into his body, getting looser and
more animated until it reaches his head, rolling and bobbing on his neck, reminiscent of a tightly wound tornado, or spinning top. A highlight was the amazing finger work on “Down Long the Dixie Line,” where a turn of notes elicited gasps from the crowd. It was an elongated and sped up interpretation from the studio version off the album, and the pace brought a fresh energy and meaning to the song. Welch’s body language was more contained; that is, until the spirit moved her, and then, as she did during a guitar solo during the song “Six White Horses”, she moved to the front of the stage and did a little white lightning dance (a clogging step). She shyly smiled and crooned her way through the most heartbreaking of songs, like the title
track from “Time (The Revelator)” of 2001 and “One Little Song” off the 2003 album “Soul Journey.” Those unfamiliar with Gillian Welch may remember her through her musical contributions to the 2000 Coen Brothers film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” She sang the soundtrack hit “I’ll Fly Away” as part of this show’s encore, as well as her own songs “Look at Miss Ohio” and the sorrowful “Everything is Free.” Those who have followed Gillian Welch’s career and made it out on Sunday got a great show, full of old gems and reinterpretations. By the end of the night the crowd was singing along and clapping in time to the music, as if treated to porch songs in an Appalachia hollow.
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PUZZLES
CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
WORD SEARCH
Landfill Textbooks Clubs Fires Franklin Garbage Death
Staff Semester Goltz History Welcome Academic Nguyen
Brusstar McCay Jaskiewicz Sargent Langille
Editorial
OPINION
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
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The University is What You Make it When we go to a party, the fancier we dress, the better the party is. The more we’ve prepared ourselves for the occasion, the more we’ve thought about our presentation upon entering the host’s venue, the more important the party is to us. In the same way, the more we think about and care for our university, the more important it is to us and the better it becomes overall. No organization thrives unless its constituents are ready, willing and genuinely interested in taking part. For the United States, that meant the originating thirteen colonies only stitched themselves together because they wanted to. In general, it means a group of people got together to start something because they thought
it was a good idea. And for a university, this means that students and faculty are ready and willing to work to make the university what it has the potential to be. So for UNO, that means helping the campus beautification along by picking up stray pieces of trash we happen to pass by, and at the very least taking care to dispose of our own properly. In the same vein, leaving classrooms and restrooms behind us looking either the same as we found them or better is a great way to show respect for our university. We can make a big impact just by treating our surroundings better! Having a good university is not as simple as having students who make good grades. As students, we have
to communicate with each other. Making friends with other students and finding out more about what happens on campus is a great way to become more interested in our university and to understand what makes it tick. After all, some frustrations can be eased when we know why a problem is occurring. And when we know how our university works and communicates amongst its departments, we can begin to be a part of the solution. Word of mouth - or communication via the UNO Social app - can be a great way to prevent a lot of others from going through the same trouble a single student had, or to help other students experience the same success or fun opportunity that one lucky student had.
Column
Find the club that’s perfect for you!
BY CASSANDRA JASKIEWICZ Entertainment Editor Making friends on campus may seem like a daunting task. For many, having the confidence to talk to other students in class, to approach strangers in the library, or to sit down with someone new while eating on campus is far too intimidating. However, The University of New Orleans does not leave students to struggle on their own and has plenty of clubs that allow new students to connect with others and get a jump start to their new lives. The University of New Orleans has many different clubs ranging from political, cultural and religious to recreational, special interests and volunteer. Some clubs have already made an appearance on campus, in order to welcome students to the new semester. Chi Alpha Christian
Fellowship hosted the “Chicken and Waffles Welcome Party” on Friday, August 17. The purpose for their club is stated on their website and is “to aid in students’ growth in their spiritual, mental, and academic lives.” They have no member requirements and welcome all students to join! They meet on Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. in Milneburg Hall, Room 179. Their major events include the Burger Bash, Swing Dancing and Action service projects. UNITY UNO has one purpose expressed on their website and it is “to create a community of LGBTQIQAP+ identified individuals as well as their allies in order to establish dialogue, form a safe space for exploration and expression, educate about and discuss issues relevant to the community, and work to initiate change.” They are open to all people on campus and have no membership requirement! This club meets on Fridays at 4 p.m. in the Math building, Room 102. Their major events include the Big Gay Talent Show and Second Chance Prom. Progressive Black Student Union is another club on campus and their purpose is expressed on their
website to be “to promote cultural, academic, social and political growth as well as to raise awareness of issues relative to the black community.” Membership is open to all students. They meet on Tuesdays from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Student Success Center and they host the Heritage Ball and the PBSU Homecoming Week! A student of University of New Orleans, Sofía Gilmore-Montero, a senior who is double majoring in English and foreign languages with a concentration in Spanish, said “I do have time for clubs...some clubs! I am the leader of the Spanish conversation group that meets twice a week a month on Tuesdays and also I sometimes get the chance to go to the philosophy club when their meeting time syncs up with my schedule.” Many clubs are willing to work with student schedules and are happy to see their club positively affecting the community. Clubs can also help building resumes for life after college, as well as providing connection and experience. Don’t be afraid to shop around before committing to a club!
If students are letting each other know where to find what they need on campus because they already went through the same situation, or giving each other headsups about certain classes and teachers, the student experience at this university might run a lot more smoothly. This semester, let’s begin a tradition of working together. It doesn’t matter how well-funded a school is; if no one cares about it not the students and not the faculty - then then who will make sure it operates well? Who will tend to its needs? When you walk around campus, think about why you’re there. What brought you to the University of New Orleans? What keeps you coming every day? Do you feel that you’re only
there because you have to be, or because you want to be? To summon the wording of president John F. Kennedy, ask not what your university can do for you, but what you can do for your university. What can you do to help it be more of what it needs to be? Even if you’re not the one who needs to make those things happen, can you tell people whose job it is to make those things happen? Not to sound corny, but every step we take to improve where we are is a step to a better future. If every student every year does a small favor for the university to make it better a place, the university will thrive, and in years be something every student can be proud of.
DRIFTWOOD Staff
2000 Lakeshore Drive, UC 252, New Orleans, LA 70148 (504)280-6377 Nate Nguyen, Editor-in-Chief..............driftwoodeditor@uno.edu Hope Brusstar, Managing Editor...................driftwood@uno.edu Crystal Mccay...............................................................News Editor Erinn Langille...............................................................Copy Editor Kimberly Williams.................................................Visuals Director Cassandra Jaskiewicz..................................Entertainment Editor Matthew Stennis.................................................Business Manager Brennan Probst................................................Head Photographer Dustin Foret............................................................Media Producer Missy Wilkinson...................................................................Advisor
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.
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