23 Jan 2019

THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS Volume: 62 Issue: 13

unodriftwood.com

JANUARY 23, 2019

SAINTS’ MARCH TO THE SUPER BOWL STOPPED BY REFS

BY JOSEPH BELLOTT Contributor

MORE INSIDE

One play can’t make the difference in winning or losing — says anyone who didn’t make the effort to investigate the situation.

John Breech of CBS Sports shared the same frustration all of New Orleans felt.

“The Saints got hosed by one of the worst no-calls in NFL history,” he stated.

Rams players Nickell Robey-Coleman and Saints player Tommy Lee Lewis were involved in the play. It happened with one minute and 45 seconds left in the game, with a tied score of 20 - 20, and with only one Rams timeout remaining. The two were flying in the air, one tracking the ball and the other tracking Lewis. The hit occurred right above the five-yard line, with momentum exerted on Lewis that would have carried him to about the two-anda-half-yard line. With the first down marker at the three-yard line, this would have given the Saints a first down. Each time a team runs the ball, they have 40 seconds to snap the ball. Remember, the Rams had only one timeout remaining.

If Lewis had made the catch, the sequence of events would have been the following: Saints first-down run or kneel at the two-and-a-half yard line, with the Rams taking their final timeout, but a highly likely potential touchdown, if they ran the ball!

Then, a Saints second-down run or kneel with about one minute and 40 seconds left, but a highly likely potential touchdown!

Then, the Saints third-down run or kneel with about 58 seconds left, and again — a highly likely potential touchdown. After that,

-Photos courtesy of Getty Images / Chris Graythen (top) and Streeter Lecka (bottom) Sunday night’s game ended the Saint’s winning streak to the top. Even some Rams fans have agreed that the circumstances were completely unfair.

the Saints would have a fourthdown run or field goal attempt with about 18 seconds left on the clock, and one more time — another potential touchdown.

What then? Saints are either up 27 or 26 to 20, or 23 to 20 with only 18 seconds left. While the Rams were without timeouts and with very little time remaining, it’s likely that the Saints would “squib kick” it — perform a kick that lands with subsequent bounces just past the opponent’s 35-yard line or so. Scoring on the kickoff is highly unlikely, and scoring on the drive with only 18 seconds remaining is similarly unlikely. And if the Rams’ offense came out for the final drive of the game, the chance of scoring would be even smaller. All this considered, the Saints’ chance of victory was major. Yet nothing

PAGE 2 Meditate at UNO

could be done.

PAGE 5 #SHIP PROTECTED

The team didn’t have their

best game.

Mark Ingram finished with 38 yards, while Kamara finished with only 15 yards rushing, but an above-par receiving game at 98 yards. The Rams had a well-designed game plan for Michael Thomas, as he finished with his second-worst receiving game on the season at 38 yards.

The poor running game wasn’t as much as the offensive line’s fault as it was the great defensive line of the Rams, which ranked third-best in the league on the season.

For the Saints, it’s time to take a step back and find the right pieces to properly fit in this almost-finished puzzle. This off-season may be the most strenuous off-season on record for the brain of the organization, with Mickey Loomis leading the way. Hopefully Drew Brees is given the best possible team for what might be his last season.

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PAGE 9

An interview with Maurice Ruffin

Academy Award picks

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

NEWS

Catching the horse

BY NICOLE GUILLEN Managing Editor

I see nothing. My eyes have fallen into a dark void of shapes that want to be built, but can’t. I am able to hear everything around me, from the noise a light makes when it has been turned on too long, to the gentle tapping of a student’s foot as they nervously look through the requirements of a new class. I am awake, but I feel tired. My worries, my pain and my thoughts seem to flow out of my body with every exhale.

What is this feeling? According to Hari Sharma, who wrote “Meditation: Process and Effects” from An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda, I’m feeling the effects of “an increase in the regional cerebral blood flow in the frontal and anterior cingulate regions of the brain.”

Meditation instructor Elaine Agamy says, “You’re catching the lead horse.”

On Jan. 17, Agamy held a meditation session on the third floor of the Earl K. Long Library. I had no idea what to expect since my relationship with meditation was rocky at best. I arrived at a relaxed tableau of students and faculty members seated in a circle. We each shared our previous experiences with meditation: many had never tried it, while others, like me, just couldn’t get into the routine of self-meditating.

Agamy sought to highlight just how easy the concept of meditating was with a simple exercise of moving one’s big toe back and forth.

With our eyes closed, we were instructed to only focus on the movement of our big toe. I found this to be simple yet oddly calming. Due to the fact that our attention was solely focused on the movement of our big toe, there was no room for

-Photo courtesy of yogajournal.com Long-time certified advanced meditation instructor and yoga therapist Elaine Agamy led a meditation session on the third floor of the library on Jan. 17. other thoughts to creep in. That intense focus is what guides the capturing of the lead horse in a herd of thoughts and ultimately forces you to think clearly.

As we sat in the history-rich New Orleans Athletic Club where she teaches, Agamy makes it clear that “a creative and stable mind coupled with a sound body makes for an excellent foundation in yoga.”

Agamy has had almost five decades of experience as a yoga instructor and therapist. She was inspired by the community feeling brought on by the hippie movement at her alma mater, UNO.

Though her early experiences as a student learning yoga were more “monkey see, monkey do”, she was amazed by the self-acceptance and calm nature she gained from engaging in yoga. Just to get the record straight, meditation is very much intertwined with yoga. As Agamy states, “50 percent is meditation and the other 50 percent is ethics or the things you should and shouldn’t do in hatha yoga (the physical practice of yoga)”.

The reason yoga exercises are done is so that your body is comfortable enough to sit still for long periods of time when meditating.

As a teacher here at UNO’s very

own Recreational Center, she has the student in mind: she designed her class around the strengthening of the back, which she feels has “a lot to do with our culture of constant sitting and standing in our everyday lives”.

For those who are considering to take a yoga class, Agamy encourages it but urges that you first evaluate what kind of mind you have for physical activity. Do you like engaging in physical activity for the pure reason of strengthening muscles and moving your body or do you like using physical activity as a means to connect with more people?

“Yoga is more of a solitary practice,” Agamy confirms. As long as you’re comfortable with silence and have the desire for self-growth, this is the activity for you. To get started with meditation, Agamy suggests reading John Kabat-Zinn’s Full Catastrophe Living, which gives an indepth explanation of the concept of mindfulness and how one can incorporate it into their life. Additionally, for those who have a busy schedule or simply don’t care for reading, Agamy highly recommends downloading the Mindspace app, which helps guide self-meditation.

Driftwood welcomes you back!

-Photo by Brennan Probst The Driftwood staff has had some changes! Your new spring 2019 Driftwood team welcomes you! From left to right, back to front: Visuals Director Kimberly Williams, Adviser Missy Wilkinson, News Editor Jack Waguespack, Entertainment Editor Dylan Mininger, Business Manager Matt Stennis, Business Assistant Ryou Morishita, Managing Editor Nicole Guillen, Head Photographer Brennan Probst and Editor-in-Chief Hope Brusstar.

Not pictured: Distribution Manager Christine Bourgeois, Design Editor Nate Nguyen and Writing Intern Stefan Muro.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

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Students redirected to #ProtectTheShip basketball game to get their dinners

-Image courtesy of Privateer Athletics On Wednesday, Jan. 16, some UNO students found their dining option closed for dinner. “We all certainly apologize for any inconvenience caused,” said Interim Athletics Director Vincent Granito.

BY HOPE BRUSSTAR Editor-in-Chief On the first day of school, campus residents came to the University Center to find the Galley closed for dinnertime. Said sophomore Emily Sammartino, “I don’t think it’s fair to the students who live on campus who rely on the Galley for all their meals … Don’t close the Galley! Don’t close the only option for food!”

At 1:06 p.m. on that day, Student Affairs sent out an email telling student about the basketball game that night. “Cheer on your Privateers TONIGHT while enjoying free food from Moe’s. No meal plan required just bring your UNO student ID. The galley will not open for dinner so that you can enjoy

the game and free food!” said the email. Meanwhile, the @UofNO Twitter account and the @uno_eats Instagram page did not post about these changes.

“I just think it’s annoying. I think it’s rude and inconvenient,” Sammartino said.

Regular shuttles were available to students throughout the evening to help students get between campus and the Lakefront Arena, and free food from Moe’s was offered to encourage all UNO students to attend. However, some students weren’t interested in attending the game. Those with meal plans who remained on campus spent their declining balances at the on-campus Chick-fil-A, which provides six different menu options: fried chicken nuggets, fried chicken sandwiches, French fries, pre-made salads,

chicken wraps and cookies. Because traffic for the Galley was redirected to Chick-fil-A, the line was backed up with a minimum wait of 20 minutes.

Said one student in the line, Megan Miller, “I’m not interested in going to the game just to eat. I understand that they want students to go to the game … but getting them to go by taking away their meal plan like that ... is unfair. It doesn’t sound like it was planned that well.”

As it turns out, the decisions behind these efforts by Privateers Athletics and Dining Services were “made as part of a committee led by Student Affairs,” according to food service director Daniel Mezzanares.

Students were being encouraged to go the basketball game

with offers of free food.

Said Interim Athletics Director Vincent Granito, “...it was promoted that food service would be provided for all students attending the basketball game on January 16, not just plan holders ... we believe this benefitted the larger student community. Meal plan holders were able to use their meal plans that evening at Chick-Fil- A and the Cove.”

According to Granito, It was intended “to provide the “main meal” that night at Lakefront Arena while other dining options for

those not wanting to attend were still available.” This happened during the “Loak the Lakefront” event on Nov. 28 of last semester.

“Consistent with some other University events, these events occasionally happen on campus when the service of large numbers of students are anticipated,” said Granito.

“Please understand that the student’s needs were considered, and consistent with past practices. We all certainly apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

Walt Handelsman: comic artist visits UNO -Photos by Hope Brusstar On Dec. 13, 2018, Walt Handelsman visited the Earl K. Long Library to talk about his experiences as a famous comic artist and introduce his new cartoon collection “I’m Drawing as Fast as I Can!” About 50 members of the Learning Before Lunch club attended this midday talk, one of a series the club hosts to regularly bring in distinguished guests and their life’s experience. Previous speakers include FBI Special Agent Brett Hair and Sybil Morial, the wife of first African-American mayor of New Orleans Dutch Morial, and mother of past New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

FEATURE

“We Cast a Shadow” with Maurice Carlos Ruffin JACK WAGUESPACK Managung Editor

Local author and UNO alumnus, Maurice Carlos Ruffins, is preparing for his debut novel, “We Cast a Shadow”, to hit the stands the 29th of this month. Prior to “We Cast a Shadow”, Ruffins has been keeping busy as a book critique for the Virginia Quarterly Review, a contributing editor for 64 Parishes, and attending multiple workshops around the city. As a recipient of an Iowa Review Award in fiction and a winner of Novel-in-Progress from the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, Ruffins has gained a large fan base; waiting for his biggest piece of work yet. ] “We Cast a Shadow” is set in a futuristic time that doesn’t seem too far from the current days. It follows a biracial boy, Nigel, whos father worries about the growing birthmark Nigel has that makes his skin darker and darker. Surrounded by police brutality and poverty, everyone including Nigel’s father, is looking for the newest procedures to hide all of his black attributes.

The catch is that only the wealthiest can even think about getting put on the list for Dr. Nzinga’s clinic. Ruffins pulls pieces from modern times where black lives are still treated as lesser and gives insight on what it is like growing up in a black body.

Ruffins opened up about his inspiration and some of the challenges he has faced in the process of writing, “We Cast a Shadow”.

You can pre-order his novel now through Amazon and Barnes and Nobles and you can find it locally at Garden District Books.

(J-Jack, M-Maurice)

J: When did you start the writing process for We Cast a Shadow?

M: I began writing the book in the summer of 2012, but earlier versions of the character appeared in vignettes I wrote well before that.

J: What was your inspiration drawn from?

M: The themes, tone, and structure were drawn from books I love like Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, Sula by Toni Morrison, and Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. But the subject matter comes from America’s perpetual struggle with racism, including the killings of Michael Brown, Rekia Boyd, Tamir Rice and many others.

J: What advice do you have for writers starting there first major pieces of work?

M: Work on your writing as much as possible first. Trying to publish work is important, but not as important as good craft. Also,

it’s a good idea to show your work to people who aren’t biased in your favor so that you will receive honest opinions. Incorporate the opinions that make sense and ignore the ones that don’t. Rejection is a part of writing.

J: What has been the hardest part of the writing process for this novel?

M: There’s a lot of guesswork that goes into a novel. Will I like it when I’m done? Can I actually finish it? Will someone like it enough to publish it? Will people buy it? Fortunately, the answers to those questions were yes. But it’s very rewarding because the process required constant thinking on my feet, innovation, and blind faith.

J: What has been the most exciting part of the process?

M: The breakthroughs that happen when you’re several drafts in and realize what it the story is really about. Also, working with industry professionals like my agent, editor, and cover designer have been a dream. They all helped make the final version of the book better than I could have on my own.

J: How have you been handling all of the press and recognition from big platforms; such as the New York Times?

M: I generally keep low expectations so that I don’t feel bad when things don’t come together. This also stops me from becoming arrogant. But it gives me tremendous

joy to think that people I’ve never met are responding so enthusiasti-

cally to this story I dreamed up!

-Photo by via Maurice Carlos Ruff Ruffins’ Debut Novel, “We Cast a Shadow”

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

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The Privateers succeed in keeping their #ShipProtected

BY STEFAN MURO Reporter

#ProtectTheShip night at the Lakefront Arena wound up being the perfect theme for the important conference game. Fans were not only rewarded with hash tagged T-shirts, but also a big Privateer victory against defending Southland Conference champions, Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA).

The pregame warmups spoke just as loud as “the tale of the tape.”

The Privateers came in with a (7-1) home record as well as a three-game winning streak; their confidence showed as almost every shot went in. On the other hand, the Lumberjacks came into New Orleans with a (1-3) road record and a two-game losing streak; their warm up seemed stressful and quite the opposite.

The game started shockingly fast for the Lumberjacks after a slam dunk from junior guard Kevon Harris. The Privateers’ first field goal by sophomore guard Troy Green didn’t come until nine minutes into the game. Shortly after, the Privateers found themselves down by 17 points, and head coach Mark Slessinger called a timeout that would change the momentum of the game. The Privateers made five three-pointers in a run that gave them a onepoint lead at halftime.

The Lakefront Arena grew

much louder as tensions rose toward the end of the game. Even though the Privateers never lost their lead, the Lumberjacks managed to tie the game four times in the second half. SFA’s senior guard, Shannon Bogues, led the game in scoring with 20 points and gave the crowd quite a scare.

In the end, the Privateers created enough separation to win the game, with a pass and dunk from junior guard Bryson Robinson to freshman forward Gerrale Gates.

The final score was 61-68 in the Privateers’ fourth consecutive victory. This is the first four-win streak for UNO since January 2031 of last season.

Troy Green lead the Privateers with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block and 4 steals off the bench.

He made both of his three-point attempts, which contributed to the team’s total of eight three-pointers. Green said that, “community ... the fans” as well as the efforts of coaches and teammates contribute greatly to the team’s success at home. After the game, freshman guard Damion Rosser said, “More and more students are coming out and giving us all the support we need.”

The Privateers resume conference play on a three game road trip and come home on January 30 to face Northwestern State.

The Privateers take home a win against Stephen F. Austin State University.

-Photo by UNO Athletics

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

PRIVATEERS GAME #SHIP PROTECTED

-Photos courtesy of UNO Athletics On Wednesday, Jan. 16, students were invited to the Lakefront Arena to cheer on the men’s basketball team to watch them #ProtectTheShip. Even though the Privateers never lost their lead, the Lumberjacks managed to tie the game four times in the second half.

The final score was 61-68 in the Privateers’ fourth consecutive victory. This was the first four-win streak for UNO since Jan. 20 - Jan. 31 of the last season.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

Fahrenheit 11/9: Michael Moore’s Left-Hook

Moore dousing ex-governor Rick Snyder’s lawn with the tainted water from Flint, MI

BY DYLAN MININGER Entertainment Editor There’s nothing better than a documentary that makes you absolutely enraged. No one is better at achieving that from their audience than Michael Moore, a filmmaker who has been making some serious documentaries designed to shed light on issues in America and the world that people may have missed. In his newest film “Fahrenheit 11/9”, he covers a wide range of recent events in America, his topic receiving the most focus be-

ing Donald Trump and how in the world he actually got elected as president.

The film has a runtime of about two hours, covering topics such as the election, the rigging of the DNC, the Flint water crisis and the Parkland school shooting, as well as a few others mixed in.

The film is a tad bit starker from previous Moore films, often mixing his tough topics with tinges of humor, sadly where we are in this nation right now is not too funny.

Although the films feels like it jumps around fairly quick-

ly, bopping from topic to topic, it makes you feel a bit confused, and it should. After two viewings of this film, I had a wide range of reactions to every scene and reveal of information, the first viewing drove me to immense anger.

Upon my second viewing, I was overcome with a deep and unrelenting sadness that only comes from realizing the lack of democracy that actually occurs in this country.

Moore’s often criticized as being more of a propaganda machine rather than a filmmaker. HIs views are often

-Photo courtesy of State Run Films and Briarcliff Entertainment thought of as incredibly reactionary, and his arguments are accused of spinning the story to favor his narrative.

Great documentaries always have some level of spin within their films, through usage of music, release of info, visuals and sometimes just straight up narration trying to spin the story.

Moore’s past films such as, “Roger & Me” and “Bowling for Columbine” are what I believe to be some of the finest documentaries shedding light on the lack of true democracy and freedom in

America. This documentary is no different, yes there are moments where I feel Moore might have been pulling on a thread. Overall, the facts of this film are true, and they are absolutely terrifying.

In most of Moore’s previous work, it tends to lean towards a staunch democratic opinion, which has turned off a lot of viewers.

This film is different, this film is Moore’s angriest yet, and he’s angry at everything within the system, but more importantly, he’s mad at himself and all of us for letting a lot of it happen before our eyes and convince ourselves everything will be okay. Moore is at his most explosive when discussing the Flint water crisis, Flint being his home and birthplace. This film is worth it based strictly on his analysis of the crisis and his belief that it’s ethnic cleansing.

This documentary like most of Michael Moore’s previous work will receive heavy criticism, due to the fact that this film isn’t designed to convince the gleefully ignorant, it’s trying to push the onlookers to step up to the ongoing revolution. This film needs to be watched, disregard a lot of partisan politics while viewing and just appreciate the incredibly obvious and simple message; get up, get mad and get busy doing something.

ENTERTAINMENT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

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The Guide to the 91st Academy Awards

BY DYLAN MININGER Entertainment Editor As 2018 comes to a close, Oscar season takes helm, with the awards show broadcasting on Feb. 24, the world will see what the Academy has chosen as the years best films.

Over the past couple years, the Oscars have been gathering more attention, as women and minorities seek to have a more prevalent role within the film industry and also seeking to break the Academy status quo to get the recognition they deserve. Early Tuesday morning, the Academy unveiled their list of nominations for each category, with films such as “The Favourite” and “Roma” leading the boards with a 10 nominations for each film. Below is a list of all the categories

and films nominated. Films such as “Black Panther” also making a big splash as a Best Picture nominee. The biggest interest of this year though is the massive breakthrough for Netflix. “Roma” is a Netflix original film, and is seeing over 10 nominations, which is unheard of for a film produced by a streaming service. However this is going to play out, receiving and Oscar nomination is an incredibly huge deal for a film and the people involved in it. As always there will be much debate about this list of nominations, but one thing for sure, all the effort that went into these films will be greatly appreciated by the audience and the Academy. For the rest of the nomination categories, please view online.

Best Picture: BlacKkKlansman Black Panther Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Green Book Roma A Star Is Born Vice Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron (Roma) Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite) Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) Adam McKay (Vice) Pawel Pawlikowski (Cold War) Best Actress: Yalitza Aparicio (Roma) Glenn Close (The Wife) Olivia Colman (The Favourite) Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born) Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) Best Actor: Christian Bale (Vice) Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born) Willem Dafoe (At Eternity’s Gate) Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) Viggo Mortensen (Green Book) Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams (Vice) Marina de Tavira (Roma) Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) Emma Stone (The Favourite) Rachel Weisz (The Favourite) Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali (Green Book) Adam Driver (BlacKkKlansman) Sam Elliott (A Star Is Born)

Best picture nominated film “Roma”.

-Photo courtesy of Netflix

Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyric by Scott Me?) Wittman and Marc Shaiman Sam Rockwell (Vice) “Shallow” (A Star Is Born) Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga, Mark Best Original Screenplay: Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and The Favourite (Deborah Davis and Tony Andrew Wyatt McNamara) “When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for First Reformed (Paul Schrader) Wings” (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs) Green Book (Nick Vallelonga, Brian Music and Lyric by David Rawlings and Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly) Gillian Welch Roma (Alfonso Cuaron) Vice (Adam McKay) Best Original Score: Black Panther (Ludwig Goransson) Best Adapted Screenplay: BlacKkKlansman (Terence Blanchard) A Star Is Born (Eric Roth, Will Fetters If Beale Street Could Talk (Nicholas & Bradley Cooper) Britell) The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Joel Coen Isle of Dogs (Alexandre Desplat) & Ethan Coen) Mary Poppins Returns (Marc Shaiman) BlacKkKlansman (Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott Best Documentary Feature: & Spike Lee) Free Solo (Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry JenJimmy Chin, Evan Hayes and Shannon kins) Dill) Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Nicole Ho- Hale County This Morning, This Evelofcener and Jeff Whitty) ning (RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes and Su Kim) Best Cinematography: Minding the Gap (Bing Liu and Diane The Favourite (Robbie Ryan) Quon) Never Look Away (Caleb Deschanel) Of Fathers and Sons (Talal Derki, AnsRoma (Alfonso Cuaron) gar Frerich, Eva Kemme and Tobias N. A Star Is Born (Matty Libatique) Cold War (Lukasz Zal) Best Original Song: “All the Stars” (Black Panther) Music by Mark Spears, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth and Anthony Tiffith) Lyric by Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, Anthony Tiffith and Solana Rowe “I’ll Fight” (RBG) Music and Lyric by Diane Warren “The Place Where Lost Things Go” (Mary Poppins Returns)

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

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COLUMN

MAGA Hats at an Indigenous People’s March

BY DYLAN MININGER Entertainment Editor During this MLK weekend, a great march was held in Washington D.C., the Indigenous Peoples march. I wish it was as simple as that, but of course, in the America we live in, nothing is that simple. A viral video had surfaced on Twitter and other social media platforms depicting a group of white male students from a Catholic school in Covington, KY seemingly berating a native american man, and Vietnam veteran by the name of Nathan Phillips.

The video was brief, but showed Phillips beating a drum while the group of Covington children stood, smirking, and making tomahawk chopping motions all while sporting their little red and white “Make America Great Again” hats. Per usual, Twitter and other social media users took to the internet and feverishly sought to teach these kids a lesson by doxxing them, as well as seeking to get them expelled. I can’t say I disagree with their sentiments on this, upon my initial viewing of the video, I was enraged, I thought about all the preppy, white kids donning MAGA hats I see on a daily basis insulting and racially discriminating.

As the story progressed, we started to see a much fuller picture of the incident through extended videos and various interviews with people involved.

Upon seeing the interviews and videos, it became clear the children were in an argumentative stand-off with a group of Hebrew Israelites. Apparently, Nathan Phillips had stepped in between the Convington students and the Hebrew Israelites, trying to dif-

fuse the situation. Sandmann, one of the students shown in the video can be seen smirking and smiling as Philips speaks, all of this culminating into one seriously offensive looking picture.

Many people have come to the defense of the students as well, saying they did nothing wrong and avoided violent conflict, including President Donald Trump, who will no doubt be using this to continue his fake news narrative. Regardless of how many people defend these kids, or how much these kids deny trying to coax reactions out of this man, or how they made racist remarks and gestures, there is something very interesting at play here.

In the fulcrum of this situation we are seeing three groups, privileged white children, A Native American veteran, and a group of marginalized black men, known as the Black Israelites. This situation can honestly be seen as a representation of American History and where we are currently at. Yes, there were people calling for the immediate defense of Phillips, but as footage came out, and the conflict grew wider, support for these kids grew larger and larger, that’s America in a nutshell.

America historically values white Catholic males above all.

These kids may have not gotten violent, and may have not even said what we think they said, but the hats and the expressions say it all. For you, a group of privileged white kids to attend a march for Indigenous people, while wearing a MAGA hat, a hat that we all know represents a person and a party that seeks the oppression of minorities in

America. I wonder if these kids took a tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture while wearing those hats.

I’m not blaming these kids, I’m blaming the parents and the president. Where were the chaperones of this trip? Most likely joining in with the children, the same chaperones who are probably representative of many of these kids parents, who all most likely taught them to believe these things and to act this way.

There is a lack of respect for the struggles of minorities and indigenous people in this country and it comes from a serious lack of education and understanding of American history, and I’m not gonna make a blanket statement about Kentucky, but I have a good feeling they aren’t teaching too much about the the history of Indigenous people or the history of civil rights.

“The only solution to pollution is a people’s humane revolution!” - Bobby Seale

DRIFTWOOD Staff

2000 Lakeshore Drive, UC 252 New Orleans, LA 70148 (504)-280-6377 Hope Brusstar, driftwood@uno.edu......................Editor-in-Chief Nicole Guillen........................................................Managing Editor Jack Waguespack........................................................News Editor Erinn Langille................................................................Copy Editor Dylan Mininger............................................Entertainment Editor Stefan Muro.......................................................................Reporter Christine Bourgeois.....................................Distribution Manager Kimberly Williams..................................................Visuals Director Nate Nguyen................................................................Layout Editor Brennan Probst...........................................................Photographer 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.

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Top: Photo Courtesy of Lakota People’s Law Project Bottom: KC Noland via Youtube