27 March 2019 by Driftwood

e: 62 m u l Vo : 20 Issue

DRIFTWOOD The Community Newspaper of the University of New Orleans

@unodriftwood

March 27, 2019

unodriftwood.com

AN INTERNATIONAL NIGHT

TO REMEMBER

BY NICOLE GUILLEN Managing Editor The colorful flags of countries from around the world hang proudly in the atrium of the UC. Students and faculty see this as mere decoration, but events like International Night expose UNO’s intentional emphasis and encouragement of diversity. On March 23, students, faculty and the greater New Orleans community gathered at the Human Performance Center for a night filled with food, entertainment, and most importantly, culture. Past the ticket booth, the atmosphere transformed into a mecca for conversation. The gym swelled with the voices of various cultures. Event-goers were directed to a section dedicated to cultural exhibits. Each exhibit displayed traditional clothing and an assortment of relics associated with a certain country. For example, the booth dedicated to Chinese culture had carefully placed clay teapots and beautifully draped guohua — traditional Chinese handscroll paintings. Some of the objects that represented the countries were recognizable, while others were pleasant surprises. “Knowledge of other cultures outside of one’s own will lead to respect,” said Mohammad Khairul Habib Pulok, Vice President of the International Student Organization. Pulok was in charge of the entertainment

of the event, including group dance performances, solo singing acts, and live instrumental gigs. As a member of the organization since last year, Pulok noticed a significant amount of positive differences in the putting together of this year’s International Night. “In previous years, there were no performances to represent America,” said Pulok. While showcasing the multiple cultures within UNO is the goal, he thinks it is just as import-

.-Photos by Brennan Probst People of all ages and backgrounds dedicated their Saturday night to immerse themselves in cultures outside of their own.

ant to represent the culture of UNO’s unique community. Pulok was able to host a professional singer from New Orleans with American backup dancers. Beyond the bleachers of the HPC, people found themselves following the aroma of falafel, fried plantains, and chow mein. A total of six countries were represented in the multicultural buffet, with foods

bought from local restaurants. A few feet away, a rotating assembly of families and friends from various ethnic backgrounds sat to eat together at three long communal dining tables. People made new connections and conversation, and judging by Pulok’s remarks, it was all part of the plan. “People are learning experientially about many cultures by watching performances, eating food, and taking part in activities like getting a henna tattoo,” Pulok said. The minute people walk into the HPC, they’re immersed into the melting pot that is UNO. The international fashion show awed the audience with intricate designs exclusive to certain cultures. The elaborately embroidered accents of traditional sarees shined under the spotlights. A line of men and women walked proudly down the catwalk as they wore the clothing of their countries. “We hope those who came to the event realized the beauty of their culture and other cultures. We provided the opportunity for people to choose love over hate, tolerance over resistance to ... the diverse cultures reflected in the students of UNO,” said Pulok. With more than 200 people in attendance, it is evident that people were led by their open minds and had a night that potentially changed their perspectives on unfamiliar cultures.

MARCH 27, 2019

NEWS

Writing nonstop for 24 hours to raise money for UNO BY JACK WAGUESPACK News Editor On Wednesday, March 20, UNO Press kicked off their first Write-a-Thon — a full 24 hours of workshops and writing-related events. Professors, alumni and organizations came together to host panels with various concentrations on different fields of writing. These events were held throughout campus, including the Cove, library, UC and lakefront area. Campus clubs and organizations made fundraising teams, which competed to raise money for student scholarships and their own departments. While being a fundraiser event, it also brought writers from all backgrounds and departments together to encourage each other to work on their craft. The 24 hours started at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning in the quad, with a toast of coffee to celebrate writers coming together. Participants took turns explaining what they were going to write, which included homework, essays, novels and paper grading. Writers sat in the morning sun and wrote until it was time for the first workshop with Bryan Camp, the author of “The City of Lost Fortunes” and a graduate of the UNO MFA program. “Where do we get our ideas?” is the “dreaded question” for writers, according to Camp. He led a workshop based off “what ifs,” where participants created stories with ideas they gave each other. “Reimagining Classic Poems” with Dr. Pat Austin followed Camp’s workshop. Austin brought multiple kinds of storybooks and poetry for workshoppers to deconstruct and make their own. She walked everyone through how to construct their own versions of classic poetry, prose, and even children’s books. She took “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” by Wallace Stevens and “How Do I Love Thee” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and turned them into her own by adding personal touches. The crew then moved to the UC, where a poetry slam work-

-Photo by Jack Waguespack Writers gathered together to start the event by writing on the quad.

shop took place along with a poetry reading and a pizza happy hour sponsored by Homegrown Pizza. Poets were able to put their skills to the test by workshopping their pieces together and learning how make a slam poem easily flow. At the Cove, the late-night writers wrote to the sound of jazz music and enjoyed Write-a-Thon specials from the Sandbar. For the really dedicated ones, camping took place in the courtyard. Write-a-Thon leaders provided s’mores and hammocks while UNO playwrights hosted a playwriting workshop. Finally, a Viking funeral took place on the lake early Thursday morning. Writers strapped their least favorite pieces of writing to a Viking boat and watched them sail off while the sun rose.

Closing ceremonies took place at the amphitheatre while writers enjoyed breakfast tacos from Pagoda Cafe. As the 24 hours came to a close, writers celebrated their fundraising efforts and the fact that UNO makes it possible for them to continue their writing goals. Raffle winners were announced and participants won prizes from local businesses. UNO Press ended the fundraiser with over $8,000 raised. Other leading teams included the UNO Press Office with $3,727, UNO Creative Writing Workshop with $1,365, and the department of management and marketing with $560. Full disclosure: Jack Waguespack participated and fundraised for Driftwood.

Newman Center Lenten Schedule

Weekly Events:

Confessions:

Sunday, Tuesday, & Thursday hour before and after each Mass. Everyday by Appointment

CATHOLIC PRIVATEERS

Catholic Campus Ministry at UNO

University Center Alumni Drive International Center

Newman Center

Elysian Fields

Sunday: Night Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours) at 6:50-7:00 PM Monday: Rosary at 12:30 PM Wednesday: Mass and Munch at 12:00-1:30 PM Thursday: Holy Hour with Adoration 12:20-1:20 PM Friday: Stations of the Cross at 3:00-3:30 PM

Weekly Mass Schedule: Sundays at 6:00 PM Mondays-Thursdays 12:00 Noon

NEWS

MARCH 27, 2019

UNO’s Prof. Christine Day gives her 2020 presidential election predictions

.-Photo courtesy of UNO

BY JACK WAGUESPACK News Editor The 2020 presidential race is heating up, bringing both new and familiar faces. Politicians are announcing their candidacies, working on their campaigns and developing their support and endorsements.

Many candidates are voicing concerns about some of the major policies that the Trump administration has focused on, including climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and gun control. While voting is important, voters need to know who and what they are actually voting for. With a record number of women and people of color running, Democrats are going to see the party’s most diverse candidates in 2020. Some bigger names include Kamala Harris, Corey Booker, Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard, Beto O’Rourke and Elizabeth Warren, along with newer names like Pete Buttigieg, Julian Castro and John Delaney. California senator and former attorney general Harris focuses her campaign on middle-class tax cuts and a liberal civil rights agenda in the Senate, as does self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist Sanders. O’Rourke, former congressman from Texas, recently lost to Ted Cruz in the midterm elections for Senator. O’Rourke gained a large following after midterms due to his views on immigration reform and LGBTQ+ Professor Christine Day. inclusivity. Congresswoman Gabbard, from Hawaii, recently apologized for her past anti-gay remarks and her work for an anti-LGBTQ+ advocacy group. She has strong opposition to American military intervention in other countries. A former Harvard professor and senator from Massachusetts, Warren believes strongly in the new wave of feminism and plans on using that as her basis for bringing the first wom-

an to office. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has been involved in politics since 2008, when he worked on Obama’s campaign, and has been a leader in the Senate on criminal justice reform. So far, the Republican party has only two candidates who have committed to running: President Donald Trump and federal prosecutor William Weld. Trump has focused on strict immigration control, climate change and renegotiating deals on trade in his first two years of office, which are similar to Weld’s views. Weld ran with the Libertarian party for vice president in 2016 and has openly opposed President Trump. While they share similar political beliefs, Weld believes in moderate immigration reform, as opposed to the acts of the Trump administration. UNO political scientist Christine Day remembers that when the majority of presidential candidates came from the Republican party four years ago, it was hard to predict the forerunners. “Even after the televised debates started, the public and media spotlights kept shifting from one candidate to another,” said Day. “There’s a similar difficulty in making predictions about the large Democratic field this time around. President Trump himself will certainly be a top issue, as the election will be at least partly a referendum on the person and his presidency in the midst of ongoing investigations into his campaign, his business and finances, his inaugural committee, and the Trump Foundation continued in Congress and in at least two states, including Washington D.C.” With such a variety of candidates, there will be many opinions and policies shared once the televised debates begin. “Health care and immigration have continued to be salient issues and are likely to remain so throughout the campaign,” Day said. “Financial issues that some candidates have raised include increasing minimum wage, and the expanding federal and national deficit.”

MARCH 27, 2019

FEATURES

Women’s History Month luncheon DEMI GUILLORY Reporter Each of the five panelists introduced herself by sharing her path to higher education, which as Dr. Nancy Easterlin observed, “has not traveled in a straight line.” Easterlin, professor of English and foreign languages, said her start in higher education was not clear-cut, even though she was raised by a longtime professor. English was always her passion, and she began her career as a business writer after completing her master’s in creative writing. But she grew bored after a couple of years even though she acknowledged she was good at her job. “That’s a lot of time in your life to spend bored,” Easterlin said. She decided to try different things and ended up becoming a college professor. Kenady Hills, an anthropology major and SGA president, initially did not have her sights set on college. She admitted that her journey to higher education was a “rocky one” that started in high school. “I was very expressive to administration, and maybe the expression was exaggerated because I was a woman or because I was a black woman in a very small, predominately white town,” she said. She was not encouraged to continue her education, and as a result, her grades suffered. Hills made the impulsive decision to move to New Orleans after graduation, intending to “party” until a push by her mom led her to apply to Delgado and then UNO, where she surprised herself by getting accepted. Dr. Caroline Noyes, Dr. Fallon Aidoo and Ms. Rajni Sohan rounded out the group of panelists. Their experiences in getting into careers in higher education were similar; however, Noyes, associate provost for academic programs, said she has always been involved in higher education in some capacity. She originally worked for the University of Pennsylvania leading their newspaper team. After some time, she decided she was ready to try something else after interviewing several people who worked in student affairs. Eventually, she ended up in New Orleans, landing a job as a faculty member at UNO.

-Photo courtesy of Peggy Gaffney. Panelists engaged in an empowering discussion at a luncheon held last week. The event was sponsored by the Diversity Engagement Center, Student Involvement and Leadership, the Intersectional Feminism Club, the Women’s Center and the Women of Color Group

“When I was presented with opportunities, more times than not I said yes, even if I didn’t know for a fact that this would work,” Noyes said. She encouraged people to follow their curiosity. “(I) built a career of saying ‘that looks like it could be an interesting thing, let’s go have an adventure in that area.’” The panelists also discussed obstacles they faced as both women and working mothers and the importance of mentors. Sohan, UNO’s registrar, pointed out how maternity leave is often viewed in the workplace as a “vacation.” Though she felt ready to return to work after six weeks, she wished women had the choice to decide for themselves when it was time to go back. Aidoo is an associate professor of planning and urban studies and said her mentors were “moms of the neighborhood.” She would not be here without them. “I think my mom organized a caravan, literally, and brought

people to my PhD graduation,” she said. That caravan included her family, church and anyone who had prayed over her through her journey. “It was a lot,” she said, “because it took a lot to get there and it reminded me how many people supported me, even if they didn’t understand what a dissertation was.” They all agreed that mentors were a vital part of their success, but ultimately, as Sohan reminded the audience, “you tell yourself how much you’re worth.” The panel included lunchtime refreshments and was moderated by LaTesha Charbonnet Gonzales of the IELP Program and freshman Nadia Jackson, a sociology major and member of the UNO Intersectional Feminism Club, who co-sponsored the event.

Player spotlight: Ezekiel Charles BY STEFAN MURO Reporter After the nail-biting 95-89 overtime loss to Texas Southern in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, the Privateer men’s basketball team reflects on a successful and productive 2018 - 2019 season. The team played through the final stretch of the regular season and postseason without senior guard and leader Ezekiel Charles, due to his torn Achilles tendon. In the remainder of the season — and his UNO career — he maintained a high leadership role from the sideline. For that reason and more, he deserves recognition. Charles was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, which carries the reputation as a “basketball mecca” to many. He developed his passion for basketball while growing up. “I used to play in my neighborhood a lot, and I fell in love with the game,” Charles said. This passion led him to play basketball at Lincoln High School, which has a highly regarded basketball program. He was a two-year letterman for the Railsplitters, averaging 12.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He also led Lincoln to two PSAL Brooklyn AA titles and backto-back trips to the state playoffs, while earning second team All-Brooklyn honors by the New York Daily News and a spot in the 2014 New York Top 100. “A lot of greats … came out of Abraham Lincoln High School,” Charles said. “I went there for the challenge, and because I love basketball, I wanted to play with the best competition.” Some of the players he mentioned were NBA players such as Lance Stephenson, Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair. Before arriving at UNO, Charles played his first two years of collegiate ball at Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. He averaged 12.3 points, 6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals for the Cougars while leading them to back-to-back trips to the NJCAA Region IV Tournament. He also put up two double-doubles and first team All-KJCCC honors in his 52 starts. After his time in Great Bend, he decided to take his talents to UNO rather than Albany University or the University of North Texas. “I got an offer from Coach Sless ... I’m blessed everyday

that I accepted that offer,” Charles said. “I came out here to visit, and my family loved it. I loved it. It was a great and warm feeling to come to New Orleans. I love the school and the people, so it was easy to make the decision to come here.” After getting his first Privateer start in his home state of New York, Charles started in 18 games out of 31 starts. He averaged 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1 assist while shooting an impressive 46.8 percent from threepoint range. He also managed to register 11 double digit games, including a five-game streak of doing so to end his junior season. His scoring ability certainly established him as a leader and a vital piece to the Privateers going into his senior year. When asked about his biggest accomplishments as a Privateer, what came to mind was “actually, practice,” Charles said. “Even though we practiced a lot, I definitely miss it now and playing with the guys. It’s the connection I have with them and the coaches. It’s the unbreakable bond I have with them. When I came down here, I grew my family even more. Anyone I came across became my family. Down to the president, the A.D. and everyone that’s helped me. That’s what I’m most proud of.” As a senior, Charles lead the Privateers, averaging 12.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. The Privateers had a 13-10 -Photo by Stefan Muro After an injury to his heel, Ezekiel Charles reflects on his journey to UNO and his time with his teammates as his record before Charles went down with the senior year comes to a close. Achilles tendon injury. “I was devastated because I put in a lot of said. “I learned from my coaches that even though I’m not work,” he said. “I knew it was my last year, and I wanted to make a statement. Team-wise, I went to war playing, … I can help them with my voice.” Now that his UNO career has concluded, he says, “I want with my guys every single day. Just watching them play and to give all the glory and thanks to my coaches, teammates and knowing I’m not out there leading them, it hurt me.” anyone at UNO that helped me. I really love this place; I’ll Neither Charles nor the team thought he had lost his leaderalways come back, and it’ll always have a place in my heart.” ship role since the injury. He was on the sideline every night Charles graduates this year with a degree in psychology, cheering and leading the Privateers to nearly winning the and he plans to have a career in basketball. Southland Conference Tournament. “I’m going to get better and I will be back.” “I actually feel they even got better since I got hurt,” Charles

FEATURES

MARCH 27, 2019

Study abroad: daily life, studying and roommates

-Photo courtesy of UNO-Japan on Facebook. “I met amazing people [whom] I would have never met just being on campus,” UNO student Bond Ruggles said of meeting other students studying abroad. Pictured above are two students enjoying some free time in Japan.

DEMI GUILLORY Reporter A group of UNO students shared their firsthand experiences studying abroad, giving insight into the study-life balance and life with new, unfamiliar people. For undecided students who may be interested in studying abroad but have apprehensions about the challenges of balancing studies with free time for exploration, their collective experiences may inspire them. Classes in UNO’s study abroad programs run four days a week from Monday to Thursday, allowing students three full days to themselves. UNO student Carolyn Suarez said this was extremely helpful for mastering the balance between studies and free time. Saurez limited herself to just two classes and scheduled them early in the day. Her classes were finished by noon, which allotted her the rest of the day to explore. And while she per-

sonally had no difficulty balancing the two, she realizes the prospect can seem overwhelming and offered some simple, straightforward advice — “know how to manage your time and don’t stress.” Annemarie Picolo had a similar schedule and offered some of her own encouragement. “I’m a big procrastinator at times, but I really pushed to get my work done early on this trip, and that ended up being one of the biggest things I did to improve my experience,” she said. Effective time management was something she learned studying abroad in Japan, allowing her to get “so much” more from the experience. Picolo added that since classes end “really early” in the day, and once the “minimal” homework assigned is completed, “you literally have all afternoon, night and through to the next class period to explore.” For Gabrielle Bonck, who studied in both Austria and Japan, finding the balance was not a challenge. “I’m a biology

student getting a minor in history and have always been organized and on top of school,” she explained. Planning ahead and using time productively by reading on trains or buses is key, Bonck said. She understands that some may find it more difficult, however, and suggests preparing ahead of time while reminding students that they are earning credit for these classes, so it’s “important to take them seriously.” New roommate assignments can also cause misgivings, but Harihar Ojha says she genuinely enjoyed getting to meet new people. He lived with roommates in both Costa Rica and Innsbruck. Ojha, who didn’t know anyone before going to both countries, said he “really enjoyed the company” and keeps in close contact with all his former roommates. “These people are part of my life. I will never forget them,” he said. An international student originally from Nepal, Ojha now feels like he can call UNO his home because of the lifelong friends made through these programs. Dylana Evans and Bond Ruggles did not have roommates, but they share the same sentiments. Ruggles, who studied in Innsbruck, paid extra money for his own room and joked that it was the best money he’s ever spent. “However, my neighbors were amazing,” he said, referring to his two next-door neighbors from the University of Georgia. He also has kept in touch with them. “One of them was just in New Orleans, and we went to eat lunch to catch up,” he said. In France, Evans lived in her own apartment within a student complex. She didn’t know anyone before the trip either, but bonded with many people she still talks to today. “There were many nights that we would have get-togethers outside the apartments or at the park, drinking wine and eating baguettes,” she said. Ruggles had some parting encouragement for those left with no choice but to get a roommate. “Living with anyone has its challenges, but with so much to do, I do not think there was enough time for anyone to get on each other’s nerves,” he said. “It was just too easy to leave and find something to do alone or with a different person or group.”

EIGHTH BUKU M

MUSIC FESTIVAL

-Photos by Terry Shields The eighth annual BUKU festival at Mardi Gras World was a springtime gathering of neon fashion, bass-heavy music and local artists.

MARCH 27, 2019 ENTERTAINMENT The return of Jordan Peele and the pathos of American life 8

Peele, best known for his previous film “Get Out,” received critical acclaim as writer and director of a film that found itself so embedded in modern pop culture and the sphere of racial tension that surrounds America. This was his first attempt at writing and directing a feature seeking to break boundaries, terrify the viewer and place the classic horror genre in modern-day America. One of my personal favorite films, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” released in 1974 and directed by Tobe Hooper, had a similar technique of twisting the genre’s concept and creating a deeper element. The film focuses on several teens in rural Texas escaping from a town of crazed people and a chainsaw-wielding maniac, but the film was crafted as an allegory for the industrialization of rural America — more specifically, the meat-processing industry. Jordan Peele found himself among the ranks of the great horror directors when he released “Get Out.” To follow up a film of that magnitude was likely an uphill battle that any great artist would be able to describe, but he did it with the cunning of a veteran director. “Us” revolves around an upper-class black family, the Wilsons, on an adventure to a beach house. The mother, Adelaide, played spectacularly by Lupita Nyong’o, had visited this beach in 1986 with her parents and found herself in an incredibly traumatizing situation. The trauma she experienced as a child haunted her as an adult. Her PTSD can be seen early in the film through her interactions with family and friends, depicted when her son strays from the family at the beach. The classic American family vacation finds itself in essential horror trope form. A family of doppelgängers shows up at their house, -Photo courtesy of Peabody Awards Jordan Peele, writer and director of “Us” and “Get Out.” seeking to instill immense fear and inflict violence upon the Wilson family. It gets pretty BY DYLAN MININGER intense. Combined with some perfectly used songs, the horror goes deep to the gut. Entertainment Editor After the release of “Get Out,” many people compared Peele and his work to Stanley Kubrick and his use of incredi“Hands Across America” was a 1986 charitable effort that bly small details to amount to bigger, unspoken themes within sought to end hunger in our country by creating a chain of the work. “Us” is no different: it doubles down on the micropeople locking hands from coast to coast in America. This huscopic visual and auditory elements within the film to repreman rights effort plays into the underlying Kubrickian tones sent larger themes. These elements take a different approach found within Jordan Peele’s sophomore film “Us,” which saw than Kubrick’s, in the sense that they spend a lot of screen a widespread theatrical release this past Thursday.

time reflecting modern pop culture trends. In 2019, a lot of these pop culture trends provide insight into the deeper meanings of our current political and social climate. One of the stand-out features of the film is the stellar cinematography, with an overall approach to lighting that features not only skin tones — an important factor in a film by Peele — but also adds contrast to his daytime and nighttime shots. Geremiah Edness, a digital utility specialist who worked on the film, praised not only the crew on the film, but Peele as a director and as a leader. “He’s a really good director, great at working with kids, and really knows how to tap into a scene, knowing what to say to keep the cast and crew really pumped up and excited,” said Edness, who has worked on a slew of great films. In addition to seeing the premiere of the film, I was lucky enough to see a screening of “Get Out” recently at the famed Prytania Theater, which often screens many films that have already been released in relation to special events or current releases. Although this screening and the screening I saw of “Us” weren’t as crowded as many other opening nights I’ve been to, the crowd was ecstatic. When I had originally seen “Get Out” in theaters, the house was packed with mostly African American people, likely representing the target audience. Sure, the film is scary to the average viewer, but through a perfectly nuanced tone, both “Get Out” and “Us” are films designed to play into the fears that people of color currently face. As time goes on, theaters are getting less and less support. Their prices are jumping to ridiculous numbers, and streaming services are making it easier to screen movies in privacy, especially since companies like Netflix have been making their own films without theater releases. Seeing a film with a live audience of strangers is important. I saw how the film impacted its anticipated audience of predominantly black people, which allowed me to read the film in a totally different way than if I had screened it privately in my own home. To view “Us,” I advise hitting up a local movie theater, preferably a small local theater like Prytania. Pick a prime night like Thursday or Friday, and go to a late-night showing. Go in blind: as little promotional material as possible. Peele takes painstaking efforts to guide viewers through the film. Let him take you through the themes and meanings within the film itself. Don’t expect this to be “Get Out” part 2; treat it as a completely different film and a true genre-bender. Fully embrace the horror and hilarity of the film itself, see how the audience reacts and think about how the film makes you want to react; it’s important. There are two sides to every human being, and there are surely two sides to every scene within this film.

-Photo by Claudette Barius A truly terrifying family vacation.

MARCH 27, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

TRAX ONLY and Dounia bring diversity and depth to BUKU festival

-Photo by Terry Shields LaBauve and Louque of TRAX ONLY brought the house down.

DJing sex parties. He quickly found himself craving a more nuanced, subtle electronic sound that Bourbon Street was unable to provide. He branched out and started his own parties in underground venues. “Gimme a Reason” is a monthly queer dance party that brings various national DJs to perform. -Photo by Terry Shields “I can’t afford their regular rate, Dounia, a Moroccan-raised Queens singer-songwriter provided female empowerment and personal lyrics in her music. but I’m lucky they come to town for a conference or a wedding and they just wanna play in New Orleans,” BY MILENA MARTINOVIC LaBauve said. LaBauve goes above and beyond to make a comfortable, Staﬀ Writer stylish atmosphere at the party venue by bringing large exotic For the seventh year in a row, BUKU festival has grown plants, colorful lights and a fog machine. This brings a retro bigger than ever, adding another stage and selling out over Miami feel to the visual aspect of the party, which mixes in the weekend of March 22 and 23 at Mardi Gras World in New with a variety of partygoers including local trans and queer Orleans. The festival, mainly attracting EDM and hip-hop artists, bohemians, members of the community and gay visispring breakers from around the country, had two alternative tors looking for options beyond Bourbon Street. TRAX ONLY’s BUKU performance is a large stepping performers this year whose sets are worth revisiting. TRAX ONLY is a local queer, 30-something DJ duo con- stone for the DJs, not just in terms of their career — as they sisting of Brett LaBauve and Mark Louque. LaBauve hails have played many significant venues and festivals — but befrom Port Sulphur, “a dirt road Cajun county town,” and he cause they are the only local queer DJs to perform at BUKU. moved to New Orleans to study art after high school. His love LaBauve has been actively pushing for this on social media for graphic design and visual arts is still strong, but his true for a few years, and whether it’s because the programmers took notice or because TRAX ONLY became more of a name passion is DJing. When he first moved to the city, he established himself as for themselves, proper representation was given this year. Speaking of representation, another performer who stood a DJ around the mainstream Bourbon street gay clubs, even out was 21-year-old R&B singer-songwriter Dounia. Dounia

performed for an audience of no more than 30 people, but she completely stole the show with her stage presence and captivatingly strong voice. Dounia is a Moroccan raised in Queens, an ex-model and an Instagram personality, but now she is primarily focused on her music career. Dounia is a huge advocate for body positivity and intersectionality, and she writes, performs, directs and edits her music videos. She is street, strong and independent, as well as sweet and feminine. In a sea of mostly young and skinny half-naked girls, Dounia’s audience was racially diverse, with regular- and plus-sized girls singing all her lyrics and seeming empowered instead of just high on too many drugs. “You are the best fans I ever had,” she kept saying in between her songs. Rocking an oversized flannel shirt, jeans and luscious, curly red hair, she exhibited a relaxing yet dynamic presence. She sang about specific social media-bred desires like guys thinking they want “a low-key girl” while actually being attracted to bigger personalities with more followers (like herself). This sense of inflated ego long used in hip-hop lyrics and personalities furnishes the Generation Z conception of female empowerment, providing a broader understanding of life in the age of social media and online dating. At only 20 years old, Dounia balances the confidence with plenty of confusion, chaos and failure that reflect her emotional state at times. “When I talk talk talk I just f*ck f*ck f*ck it up,” she sang in “East Coast Hiding.” Seeing such an organic, unique and inspiring up-and-coming artist on stage was an unexpected treat. But that’s the beauty of music festivals: there is always a pleasant discovery.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK What is the best April Fools’ Day prank? With Stefan Muro

“Put mayonnaise in a doughnut.”

“I told my mom I was pregnant once. She believed me for a second, but she knew I was lying when she realized I’m dating a girl.”

“I put glue on my hand, shook my mom’s hand and told her it was lotion.”

Brianna Anderson senior, biology

Ryan Frazier freshman, accounting

“Put a bouillon cube in the shower head.” Oscar Martinez sophomore, biology

Maelee Springer sophomore, psychology

“Saran-wrap a toilet seat, car door or columns in front of someone’s house.” Abagail Loupe junior, chemistry

““I zip-tied heavy nuts on his drive shaft. When he would speed up, it would throw the rotational balance out. It made him think his car [was] falling apart!” Gregory Lindley sophomore, mechanical engineering

MARCH 27, 2019

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MARCH 27, 2019

International Mother Language Day -Photos courtesy of Mohammad Khairul Habib Pulok On March 20, Bangladesh Student Association at UNO celebrated International Mother Language Day in collaboration with the Diversity Engagement Center. The event promoted multicultural and multilinguistic diversity as well as the preservation of heritage.

DRIFTWOOD STAFF Hope Brusstar, driftwood@uno.edu....................Editor-in-Chief Nicole Guillen........................................................Managing Editor Jack Waguespack.........................................................News Editor Dylan Mininger............................................Entertainment Editor Stefan Muro.........................................................................Reporter Demi Guillory.....................................................................Reporter Milena Martinovic.............................................................Reporter Christine Bourgeois.................................Distribution Manager Kimberly Williams..................................................Visuals Director Nate Nguyen...............................................................Layout Editor Brennan Probst.........................................................Photographer Matt Stennis......................................................Business Manager Missy Wilkinson...................................................................Adviser

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