Volume: 59 Issue: 12 by Driftwood

Volume: 59 Issue: 12

DECEMBER 2, 2015

driftwood.uno.edu

PERSPECTIVES ON INCARCERATION

UNO students collaborate on National Public History Project BY ANDREW LABORDE Driftwood Staff “Global Dialogues on Incarceration”, this year’s National Public History Project coordinated by the New School for Social Research, is a collaborative effort between universities and institutions around the country—including UNO. Ben Weber, a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard and current adjunct professor at UNO who specializes in the history of incarceration, along with his students, worked to contribute to the traveling national exhibit through their work with Angola inmates. His class “Policing and Prisons in Local and Global Perspectives” teaches the history of mass incarceration in Louisiana and around the country. By using the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola as the case study, the class aims to study prisoner work, organizing, writing and art as well as examine the beginnings of mass incarceration through time.

“The students in the class are producing UNO’s piece of the national traveling exhibit, and that is supposed to give the public across the country a look at the history of incarceration in Louisiana,” Weber said. “[The students] are basically creating windows into the prison’s past, and those are different aspects of the history of the Louisiana State Penitentiary. They’re 3-5 minute video says that are going to be a part of the national traveling exhibit.” Hannah Mohr, an Interdisciplinary Studies major, chose her topic, along with a partner, to focus on death and dying in Angola. “At first we planned on talking about the death penalty and the electric chair and execution because it was something we both had strong opinions on, but then we ended up making it more about dying in Angola because it has its own cemetery and the funerals are all run by the inmates,” Mohr said. The class took a tour of the prison on Oct. 1 to see the

fields, buildings, museum, have lunch, and see a tier of death row. “When I went into college I thought I wanted to do behavioral analysis, but in this class I’ve reconsidered what I want to do,” Mohr said. “I am considering studying law for my graduate degree, and do appeals for the wrongly convicted.” Weber’s class also has a “windows into the present” component, which is a postcard exchange with currently incarcerated prisoners at Angola. This part of the class is called “Stories from Prison: Honoring Ancestors. “I was volunteering at the prison this summer and got them to approve this exchange with my class. So it’s guys who are doing life at Angola who are from New Orleans wrote stories about loved ones who passed away while they were incarcerated,” said Weber. Weber collected these stories and gave them to his students and the class did commemora-

tions for these prisoners’ loved ones that included releasing balloons for a girlfriend who died of brain cancer, placing a dozen pink roses on a mother’s grave site, and placing a bouquet of flowers and a bingo chip on the rocks at Lafreniere Park for a prisoner’s grandmother who loved bingo. They took pictures of the commemoration and are mailing them back to the prison. The students’ projects on honoring these prisoners’ loved ones were on display at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center on Nov. 14. There is an online forum that all the universities partake in who are involved with the National History Project. Weber’s class posted entries detailing their visit to the prison and they received feedback from their partner school, the New School in New York City, about how their projects are going, and Weber’s class provided feedback as well. Weber also wanted to involve local area high schools. “The original idea was to

get them to create art that’s responding to Richard Ross’s photo exhibit called Juvenile Injustice,” Weber said. “A lot of his photos are pictures of shackling and handcuffing and people in locked cells. We wanted to have the high schoolers in New Orleans to have a chance to respond artistically to the idea of what a world without prisons would look like.” The event was called “Picturing a World Without Prisons” which took place on Oct. 29, and the schools that participated were NOCCA, Bard Early College, KIPP School for the Performing Arts, and Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge. Included in the high schools’ art show was a discussion panel with local artists talking about the connection between art and activism. Weber said, “The goal of the [National Public History Project] is to create conversations nationally about the past, but also about the future of criminal justice reform.” See page 4 for photo

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

OPINION

EDITORIAL

Driftwood recruits talent for spring, Could you be the missing piece? It has been our Driftwood pleasure this past semester, and the semesters prior, to serve the UNO Community in our quest to provide important, relevant and entertaining content. From campus crime to the retirement of our university president, we have been working to maintain our relationship with you, the student body, just as we have for the past 56 years. But these are the kind of things that don’t happen on their own. It is the team behind Driftwood that keeps it running and able to provide this content, and that is the team we want you to be a part of. We need talented students like you, reader, to make this newspaper a reality. Working with Driftwood offers many opportunities to hone

in on your skills, build resume material, get involved on campus and build great relationships with fellow students. While we’re always looking for writers, photographers, cartoonists and office managers, everyone has a unique talent to offer to the interesting flow of content Driftwood staffers are working to provide. Writers interested in joining Driftwood are not required to have previous experience. Reporters will be able to cover a myriad of events on and off campus including news, features, sports and entertainment while learning the basics of journalism. Whatever your interests may be—politics, campus events, student profiles or even music and video games—Driftwood has a place for you if you’re willing

to work for it. We’ll even work around your class or work schedule to make sure we’re fostering the most productive relationship between us and you, as a writer. Maybe you have a great eye and your own camera. Driftwood photographers take photos of events around campus for publication each week and will be able to build their portfolio with many opportunities only the Driftwood can offer. Assignments can vary from events on and off campus, pictures and quotes from fellow students in our Man on the Street series and sporting events. We allow creative freedom, but may ask for a specific shots to run for a certain story. Your pictures are what brings our newspaper to life every week. Do you have a passion for

drawing but not sure where to get the most out of your skills? Or maybe you think you have a perspective and sense of humor that only you can offer. Being a cartoonist allows you to share your art and have some fun while doing it. Our weekly comics page features art from our very own UNO students each and every week. Cartoonists will have complete artistic freedom in their art as long as they are tasteful and respectful. As a cartoonist, you may even have the opportunity to contribute to current events in our weekly editorial cartoon. Those of you interested in ad sales and management could be a great fit as office or sales manager for Driftwood. Earn real-world experience by reach-

ing out to potential customers and selling advertisements to our print and web. Because the Driftwood depends on ad sales to achieve a higher quality newspaper, members of the ads team are some of the most important members of the staff. Driftwood works to serve the students, and it’s hard-working students who make that happen. We are looking for dedicated staffers with a great attitude. We will be having recruitment meetings in the weeks leading up to the beginning of the 2016 Spring semester for all students interested in joining our great team. Follow us on Twitter (@ unodriftwood) and on Facebook to receive more information on dates and times.

COLUMN EDITORIAL BOARD Nigel Washington Editor-in-Chief driftwoodeditor@uno.edu

‘Tis the season for Christmas w(h)ine BY CHARLES NICHOLSON Managing Editor The holiday season is in full swing and the hustle and bustle of shopping and travelling has consumed the nation. Yet somehow through all of the good cheer and merry wishes, people still find a reason to bitch about the most petty things. Let’s start with the biggie: the difference between Christmas and Christmas. “What the hell is he talking about” you ask? Well Christmas is originally the celebration of the birth of the Christian figure, Jesus Christ. I think most of us know this much. And as someone not of the religion, I believe that the Christmas holiday should be respected even by those who don’t practice it. However, Christmas as a holiday has become so widely celebrated that it has transcended the Christian religion. With characters like Santa Claus and Frosty, the tales of Tiny Tim or the Grinch, and stocking stuffing and the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” Christmas has long since found a new meaning separate of its true founding. Its meaning spans from being giving and grateful to happy and

hopeful. So if we can stop growling and grumping about red cups from Starbucks or saying “Happy Holidays” over “Merry Christmas,” that’d be great. And to the later point, let’s not forget that Ha-

nukkah and Kwanzaa are celebrated in the same month. On to other things. When I wake up on Christmas morning to my one or two gifts, I will be hugging my mother in gratefulness for taking the time and effort to pick out and buy me something. I would hope that everyone else does the same, but I know that’s not true.

If children (and man-children) aren’t throwing a fit about not getting what they asked for, then everyone else is running to the customer service line at Walmart to return their gift. If you get a gift that you don’t like or use, set it on a counter or hide in a closet, something to let the other person know you’re thankful enough to not throw it in the trash or sell it to a friend for half the cost. Now on the other side of this river is people being so thoughtful in their gift buying that they’re literal Scrooges to everyone else. I work in retail, so I have to endure the brunt of people’s rage shopping as they scream and shout for what they “need right now.” Yes, you need things. I need things too, like to get through this eight-hour shift which is going to barely pay for the handful of gifts I’ll be giving to family members. We’re all more or less in the same position this holiday season, so let’s think about the other people we’re getting mad at before we get mad. In all, let’s try to stay calm and reasonable this Christmas. It’s a small world and we all just want to get along. Thanksgiving may have passed but that doesn’t mean we should stop being thankful for all of the good we already have.

Charles Nicholson Managing Editor driftwood@uno.edu Visuals Director | Grant Campbell • • • • • • • driftwoodart@uno.edu News Editor | Chloe Gagnon • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • cprange@uno.edu Features/Ent.Editor|AnnaGowin•••••••••• driftwoodent@uno.edu Photo Editor | Traven Stout • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • tstout@uno.edu Web Editor | Ave Maria Bordenave • • • • • • • • • abordena@uno.edu Reporter | Andrew LaBorde • • • • • • • • • • • • • • atlabord@uno.edu Reporter | Mia Lett • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • mlett@uno.edu Reporter | Tishawn Mitchell • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • tratcliff@uno.edu Illustrator | Lindsay Alexander • • • • • • • • • • • • • • lralexa1@uno.edu Illustrator | Barrington Hebert • • • • • • • • • • • • bkhebert@uno.edu Advertising Manager | Lili Harrison • • • • • driftwoodads@uno.edu Marketing Manager | Zachary C. Guntner • • driftwoodpr@uno.edu Business Manager | Matt Stennis • • driftwoodbusiness@uno.edu Faculty Adviser | Vickie Kennedy • • • • • • • • • • • vkennedy@uno.edu

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. Editorials are the opinions of the Driftwood editorial staff and do not reflect the opinions of the University of New Orleans, its administration or staff. 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. Please limit letters to 500 words. Submissions can be emailed to driftwoodeditor@uno.edu and must be sent no later than 5p.m. on the Monday before publication. 2000 Lakeshore Drive, UC 252, New Orleans, LA 70148 | (504) 280-6377

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

Food trucks could steer campus dining in new direction BY MIA LETT Driftwood Staff In accordance with UNO’s contract with Aramark, UNO is allowed to have food trucks on campus. UNO student clubs and organizations can now contact Student Involvement and Leadership if they would like to have a food truck come to their next event. The last time a food truck was on campus was a few years ago, hosted by the Student Activities Council during NOLA Fest. This wasn’t the first time UNO has had a food truck on campus, but it is rare. Dr. Brett Kemker, vice president for student affairs, seems optimistic about having food trucks on cam-

pus, as does LeeAnne Sipe, assistant director of student involvement and leadership. “I say go for it. More food options are what students want and food trucks are a great way to do that,” said Sipe. But Sipe and Kemker understand the legalities behind the endeavor and want to ensure that students and faculty understand that there may be some restrictions, the main one being UNO’s contract with Aramark, the company responsible for food services on campus. UNO has partnered with Aramark and there are agreements in place that must be respected before just any food truck can come on campus. “It’s not just a matter of inform-

ing them,” said Kemker. “They are our partners and it’s more of an agreement between both parties.” One restriction is that the University Center is off limits as a location for food trucks, likely The Cove as well. Permission from UNO’s president and Aramark are required before a food truck can set up shop on campus. And if a campus club or organization would like a food truck at their next event, it’s important that a strong show of support from patrons is seen. “From the food truck owner’s perspective, it has to be worth their while to come here and set up. I think you would be surprised at how many patrons need to be served for that to happen,” said Kemker.

Sipe agrees: “We haven’t had food trucks at other events on campus because it wasn’t lucrative for the trucks. They need a lot of foot traffic to make it worthwhile!” Sipe doesn’t say this to be negative: “[foot traffic] is just something to keep in mind. Maybe fewer trucks would work better? Maybe a better location?” Recently, the UNO farmers’ market has set up outside on the Human Performance Center’s parking lot. Anthony Cipolone, assistant dean of liberal arts and coordinator of the market, hopes the market will generate enough student and public interest so that food trucks can set up shop. Kemker is also involved in the farmers market: “Yes, we have dis-

cussed food trucks at the farmers’ market, but in my opinion, [we] need to grow the market a bit for it to be a successful trip for the food truck owners.” Since the market is only in its beginning stages and there have only been two events thus far, it may take a couple of months before that can happen. But organizers seem hopeful about the possibility. “The farmers’ market is probably the best opportunity at this point— certainly the easiest!” said Sipe. For now, if any student organization is interested in having a food truck at their event they need to contact LeeAnne Sipe at Student Involvement and Leadership. She will be able to walk students through the necessary procedures.

MAN ON THE STREET

What your favorite Christmas movie and/or song, why?

VICTORIA ROPER Junior, Biology

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”... Why: three scenes: the lights, cousin Eddie and the cat.

ARIELL REED Sophomore, English

JAKE BRUMFIELD Freshman, Pre-Clinical Lab Sciences

CAROLINA WHEELER Sophomore, HRT

VICTORIA FUENTES Junior, Biology

“Home Alone.” It’s a classic and watching it gets me in the holiday spirit.

“A Christmas Story.” There are so many memorable quotes in that movie, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

My favorite Christmas song is “Last Christmas” by Wham! It’s so catchy and I love the music video.

My favorite Christmas movie is “Elf” because I think it’s really funny, and my favorite Christmas song is the “Carol of the Bells.” Photos by Grant Campbell

CRIME SCENE DO NOT

CROSS CRIME SCENE

• On Nov. 10, criminal mischief was reported by a faculty member who has repeatedly found disturbing messages written on her classroom chalkboard in the math building. • On Nov. 12, a non-UNO affiliate was arrested for criminal trespassing after violating a UNO Ban Letter. • On Nov. 13, an individual was found by the Chemistry building violating Louisiana’s Prohibition of smoking at secondary education institutions. • On Nov. 14, someone pried open a vending machine display window in the Education building’s first floor lobby and stole snacks. • On Nov. 16, two male UNO students at the University Center broke out into a fight. One student was given a summons for simple battery and the other student was given a summons for disturbing the peace with threats. • On Nov. 16, two males got into a fight at Privateer Place where one hit the other with a metal object and received injuries to his face and back.The subject is wanted for simple domestic battery. • On Nov. 17, a resident of Pontchartrain Hall reported a Playstation 4, two controllers, and two games were stolen while he was off campus. There were no signs of forced entry. • On Nov. 20, a disturbance was caused at the Recreation and Fitness Center by a UNO alumnus who got into a tiff with the director which sprouted an outburst of profanity. • On Nov. 24, a student at Pontchartrain Hall was found in possession of marijuana residue, marijuana paraphernalia and cocaine. UNOPD are looking any information regarding four different motor vehicle thefts that have spanned the last three weeks. The most recent was on Nov. 24 when a dark-colored SUV drove into Lafitte Village and two suspects were seen walking a motorcycle out of the parking lot then driving it and the SUV off campus. If you have any information regarding this or any other vehicle thefts, contact 504-280-6666.

CAMPUS CALENDAR WED., DEC. 2

THURS., DEC. 3

FRI., DEC. 4

SAT., DEC. 5

MON., DEC. 7

PHree Scantrons - Free scantrons (two per person) will be given out in the library breezeway from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in preparation for finals week.

TocRumba Party Ticket Sales - Tickets are going on sale for the Rumba Party. Hosted by the Latin American Student Association to promote Latin American culture on campus, tickets will cost $6 and the event is on Dec. 10 in the Cove.

Powderpuff Football - A flag football tournament featuring members of different Panhellenic sororities while Theta Xi members have a cheer off. The game is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the field by the Human Performance Center.

Beast Feast - UNO Sportsman’s Club will be hosting a fundraiser where they will be frying fish in the Amphitheatre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Civic Symphony Concert - The community orchestra will be performing the works of Richard Strauss as well as some holiday-themed pieces.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

NEWS

Old-school paper evaluations replaced with new electronic ones BY TISHAWN MITCHELL Driftwood Staff As the fall semester comes to an end, students may have noticed that the scantron-based way of evaluating their instructors at UNO has changed. “We are pleased to announce the old paper evaluations are being replaced with real-time electronic evaluations,” Dr. Matt Moore, assistant provost, university registrar and director of institutional research, wrote in an email that was sent out to students last month. The updated system, which launched on Nov. 6, allows all students currently enrolled in classes at UNO for the Fall 2015 semester

to access evaluation forms via their WebSTAR accounts. Each class evaluation is made up of 20 mandatory questions, along with two fields for student suggestions. One of the advantages of the new electronic evaluation system, Moore said, is its convenience. “[The new form is] available for you for an entire month. You can respond at your discretion online. Now, I think that some faculty are going to try to work with you to try to do it on your phone or your tablet while you’re in class, and you can certainly do that, but you can do it from home, you can do it from across the world; it’s available online 24/7.” The evaluations should be completed as soon as possible if stu-

dents haven’t done so already. While instructor evaluation feedback is voluntary at this time, Moore said that if enough students fail to submit the forms, that could change. “We’ve worked very closely with the Academic Program and Standards committee, and that was a very strong debate,” Moore said. “Now, it’s not that we couldn’t make it mandatory; we do have that capability. But we’re hoping that students would really embrace the concept and understand that their reviews make a difference at the institution.” Moore said that one dilemma with the old paper evaluations is that they were issued and filled out at a static point in time. “Meaning,

if you were a student who actually missed class that day for any given reason, your evaluation was never included,” Moore explained. “You might have had something very, very important to say.” Moore said that filling out instructor evaluations is a sure fire way for a student to have his or her voice heard. “Honestly, in my personal opinion, I never did like the fact that there were so many points in which [the old evaluations] could be corrupted by external influences. I would prefer this to be a student function that’s captured through a student’s own personal access point.” Moore said that despite the fact that each evaluation is now linked

to a student’s UNO WebSTAR account, confidentiality was the first and foremost thing considered at every step of the new evaluation process. “This does not work if people do not trust that it’s confidential. We recognize that. It is as safe or safer than any of our grading processes and/or credit card transactions that occur at this institution. It is encrypted, and I dare you to try to break into it,” Moore said. “There are people who can see the responses, but there’s only two of us that can. We’re in institutional research, and we’re not telling. We will never give it out. Period, the end.”

FROM PAGE 1

PERSPECTIVES ON INCARCERATION

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT BACK ROW: Reyna Del Arca, Ayah Saleh, Jordan Crockett, Jessica Dauterive, Sarah Hartje, Theo Hilton, Hannah Galloway and Tiffany Campo. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT FRONT ROW: Dylan Cannatella and Zak Moses The students above enrolled in History instructor Ben Weber’s “Policing and Prisons in Local and Global Perspectives” course for the fall semester, their work with Angola inmates will be part of the National Public History Project. UNO is one of several universities around the country to participate in the project. Photo by Connie Atkinson

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

Prof. David Hoover defends Department of Film and Theatre’s national reputation BY TISHAWN MITCHELL Driftwood Staff The Public Affairs Research (PAR) council released a report about Louisiana’s popular film tax credit incentive program, and the reviews were less than stellar. The Baton Rouge-based independent group panned the incentive program, according to a New Orleans Advocate article published shortly after the report’s release. Based on its findings, the council recommended that Louisiana officials either reboot or cancel the program altogether because it “has consistently cost the state far more than it brings in,” adding to a steadily growing $1.6 million budget deficit. The report also noted that Louisiana is not up to par with other A-list states, like California, when it comes to resources and profitability. It blamed “Hollywood South’s”

lack of local accommodations like top-notch film schools, among other things, for its over-budget status. In an open letter penned to the New Orleans Advocate, Professor David Hoover, chair of the department of Film and Theatre at UNO, noted that, while the report presented valid points, he wondered what, exactly, the council considered a “top-notch” school to be. “I would humbly suggest that a top-notch program exists and has existed for many years at UNO,” Hoover wrote. “We are the only university in the country to have an ongoing relationship with the American Film Institute, an accomplished faculty whose members have worked in the industry, our own film studio, state-of-the-art film equipment, internships with every major industry project in the New Orleans area and the only 2014 Student Academy Award nominee in the region.”

“Of course, we’re as interested in ‘direct investment’ as anyone,” Hoover continued. “But we pride ourselves on having managed to maintain a program of distinction even during excessive budgetary challenges.” Not long after his letter was published, Professor Hoover got the opportunity to network with the head of the PAR council of Louisiana. “It was an absolutely joyous phone call,” Hoover said. “I said, ‘I hope you weren’t offended. It was my goal to kind of put a spotlight on what we are, what we have and what we do, not really take the research council to task.’ [the council head] said, ‘Absolutely. It was a great letter,’ and we had a great discussion about where resources go.” Hoover’s department, in addition to the Music, Fine Arts/Visual Arts and Arts Administration departments, have collectively joined forces to make up what is now

known as the School of the Arts at UNO. Enrollment in programs within the School of the Arts currently accounts for about 15 percent of the student population at the university, according to Hoover, and in New Orleans, Arts related/cultural industry jobs are about 60 percent more prevalent than anywhere else in the United States. “We’re thinking that the Arts should be the flagship for the University of New Orleans,” Hoover said. “LSU can have athletics. [Athletics is] not us; it’s not going to be us. So, I think that if we’re looking for a flagship, it’s about as good a one as we’re going to have.” Hoover listed limited funding and lack of staff as the major plot twists in the department’s quest for franchise status. “Primarily, our faculty that we’ve lost, either through retirement or, you know, taking other jobs, that

sort of thing. Losing faculty and not having them immediately replaced is what’s been a real hardship.” The School of the Arts is going to be very beneficial for the university and just may deconstruct the stereotypical role that UNO often gets cast in, according to Hoover. “We’re constantly fighting the stigma of ‘little old UNO...can’t go somewhere else, so I’ll go to UNO,’ rather than people thinking of us as the first choice because of the excellence of the programs. Students look elsewhere, and that’s a frustration we always fight.” As for when the new School of the Arts will become official, it’s a done deal. The proposal was approved by the Board of Regents this spring. “There will be a launch, it’s not a secret. I think it’s going to be huge for all of the Arts programs. We’re going to be able to brand ourselves in a bigger, more global way.”

Newman Center offers Thanksgiving feast for campus residents BY NIGEL WASHINGTON Editor-in-Chief Thanks to the annual Mass of Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by the Newman Center and the Transfiguration of the Lord Catholic Church, some UNO residents who couldn’t get home were still able to feel the holiday spirit. On Wednesday, students were able to enjoy a Mass service and a plate filled with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing and all the fixings free of charge. James Behan, the campus minister for the UNO Newman Center, lead the charge in putting together this event that has become an annual tradition for more than 20 years. Behan stressed that the main mission of this mass and dinner is to bring UNO any and all students,

family and friends together who wouldn’t be able otherwise, given the circumstances. “Ministry is reaching out to everyone,” Behan said. “Sometimes reaching out to those who don’t have anybody. It’s making sure that everybody is noticed, invited, and welcome, and everyone has an opportunity to be together.” UNO President Peter Fos and the president’s office donated six turkeys in addition to the many donations from the Transfiguration of the Lord church members and other volunteers. Volunteers also helped prepare and serve the food to UNO students who came into the Newman Center event. They arrived early to set up the tables and stayed late to clean afterwards. “By them being here and volunteering, they are welcoming all of you, who are UNO students, to their home,” Behan said. “Especially for

people who won’t be able to gather around a traditional Thanksgiving table tomorrow, this is that table here at their home.” Behan has been involved in campus ministry at various institutions for over a decade, but this is his first year setting up the annual event at UNO. More than making sure the turkey is carved properly or the macaroni is extra cheesy, Behan hopes to spread the word and have more students come to the Newman Center to enjoy this event in the future. “The most important thing is making sure that people know that this event is happening and taking place,” Behan said. “With seeing so many people who we don’t normally see in the Newman Center, it gives us an opportunity for us to invite people to come back and take part in the ministry that we offer.”

Nearly 100 students visited the Newman Center for the annual Thanksgiving dinner Photos by Nigel Washington

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

FEATURES

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE XMAS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

Photos by Grant Campbell

Residents of St. Charles Avenue display holiday spirit.

Student Legal Services

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• Give legal advice • Write letters and negotiate on your behalf • Assist withdrafting of wills, living wills, and powers of attorney

We cannot: • Represent you in court • Advise you on any dispute you have with the UNO administration, a UNO faculty or staﬀ member, or another student

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CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY!

Michael Tusa, JD (504) 280-6229 Wednesday 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM Thursday 1 PM - 6 PM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

Album review: R&B artist Ty Dolla $ign proves his musical prowess on “Free TC” BY NIGEL WASHINGTON Editor-in-Chief Ty Dolla $ign is far from your typical R&B singer. With a raspy voice, ripped jeans, a love for weed and possibly the longest dreads in the business, he is concocting a new style of R&B artistry in his hometown of Los Angeles. Gone are the days of yesteryear when a young Chris Brown was channeling Michael Jackson on “Gimme That,” or a corn-rowed Trey Songz serenaded on “Just Gotta Make It” back in 2005. “Free TC” is the new, the now and the manifestation of multiple sounds and genres coming together to make a strong album in a genre that’s finally starting to make the transition. The rollercoaster that is “Free TC” kicks off with a homage to Ty’s birthplace with “L.A.,” featuring current Los Angeles king Kendrick Lamar, Brandy and James Fauntleroy, which could easily slide in as a middle track of Dr. Dre’s “Compton” album (released earlier this year). This inspirational ballad of Los Angeles culture and lifestyle oozes palm trees, cookouts and gangbanging as Brandy and Fauntleroy deliver a graceful chorus that pairs to Dolla $ign’s crooning like fresh gouda and a good merlot. From this moment on the album

takes a variety of twists and turns. And while some of the turns lead to strong tracks that make this album solid, the latter half of “Free TC” is what keeps this album from being truly great. “Solid” and “Credit” show a vocal-heavy side of the album. Babyface contributes to the former with a simple yet pleasant acoustic instrumental, and Ty Dolla $ign showcases his singing ability that’s sometimes overshadowed on his more trap influenced songs like “Blasé” and “Only Right.” On “Credit,” we start to see the Taylor Gang singer/songwriter show a more compassionate side as he asks for some appreciation from his girl who just keeps nagging him about his past, even though it may be warranted. Sevyn Streeter’s small bit elevates the song in a big way, and the piano chords and horns to finish off this track give the song an old-school 90s R&B feel that makes it one of the high points on the album. The negatives begin to roll in at “Guards Down,” which features Kanye West screeching without auto-tune and Diddy offering some words of wisdom. Both of these features are disappointing, but especially Kanye where his name on the title does more good than his actual musical contribution. The song itself has substance, great production and the most uplifting concept

of the entire album that could have made for a great track sans the features. After that, the majority of the second half is filled with radio smashes and singles like “Blasé”, “Only Right” and “Sitting Pretty.” Ty has made his name on songs like this, and they got to be somewhere, right? Those three songs are lumped together in the span of four tracks, so it seems to pass rather quickly, but the lack of substance and creativity is surely missed from the initial eight songs. The absolute highest point of this 16-track project comes right in the middle with “Miracle”/“Wherever” which features Ty’s younger brother TC who is currently facing a life sentence in jail for a crime that his big brother doesn’t believe he committed. TC’s verse and hook was originally recorded from prison and ripped from a YouTube video, and even with the drop in sound quality, TC boasts one of the best voices on the album. “Wherever” is an eerie proclamation of spontaneous public intercourse that sounds like an intimate night at Jason Voorhees’ house. Ty and his female of the night can barely get out of her mom’s neighborhood before she’s all over him and on his lap, and of course the sex is crazy. Dolla $ign trills along in this dark and ghostly ballad and offers one of the most unique R&B songs

of the year to finish one of the most unique albums of this year. In a recent vlog episode of Ty Dolla $ign’s life on tour, Ty is seen kicking over chairs and a table with beverages that were prepared for him in a clean room with maroon drapes and decorated carpeting. What’s left is a mess, but one that he and his friends enjoy, laughing as they exit the room. “Free TC” is that beautiful mess on the floor. It

Photo courtesy of Atlantic Records

can be raunchy and downright dirty like hot sex in the backseat of a car or gangbanging on the block. And it can pleasant like guitar strings plucked by Babyface or the wide range of notes Ty hits on each track. Despite some lackluster features and a second half that falters after track eight, the distinct sound and variety that’s on “Free TC” solidifies Ty Dolla $ign as one of the most rounded artists in the game.

Hometown heroes ‘revive’ New Orleans rock BY LONES GAGNARD Driftwood Contributor On Friday, Nov. 20, culture-soaked Tipitina’s had a full menu of rock on deck. The lines went all the way down Napoleon Ave., filled with people ecstatic about The Revivalists’ homecoming, doubleheader sold-out shows. The venue was quickly packed from barricade to back door and the opening act took the stage. First to play was The Mike Dillon band, a local jam band led by Mike Dillon that isn’t particularly well known. Dillon was a mix of Tom Waits’ voice and Iggy Pop’s energy. He got on stage enclosed in a circle made of a xylophone, congas, bongos and a steel drum. Behind him were two full drum kits and to his right were the guitarist and keyboardist/upright bassist. Dillon wasted no time getting into the thick of the music and showing off his percussive chops. He was pedal to the metal until the last note of the last song. The two drummers, struggling to keep up with his pace, didn’t even have time to take sips of water between songs. He switched from soft, ambient lullabies to screaming punk gibberish and jumping from the xylophone stand. The entire drum section was

infectious, demanding all listeners to move their feet to the beat. The band transitioned from full punk energy into a mesmerizing cover of “Summertime Rolls” by Jane’s Addiction, which had everyone swaying under xylophonic hypnotism. With a flurry of thrown sticks and carnal energy, Mike Dillon ended his act with a bang, preparing the audience for what was about to come. The rock n’ rolling seven piece walked on stage to a roaring ovation from the crowd. With a word from David Shaw, talking about how glad they all were to be back, The Revivalists first notes began to play. Setting the mood a bit slower than Mike Dillon, The Revivalists eased the crowd into a trance and were in control of every single concertgoer. The smooth serenade of the saxophone with the sliding of the steel guitar all mixed perfectly with the steady beating of the drums leaving no other words for listeners than screaming in awe. The band began to pick up the pace as Shaw jumped from the stage and began to walk into the audience letting thrilled fans have a chance at glory on the mic or just to simply touch his hair. Shaw then called Dillon back on stage to play the tambourine and other assorted

The Revivalists’ sold out double-header show at Tipitina’s was the only multi-night show on their “Men Amongst Mountains” tour. Photo by Travis Shinn

percussion. An imaginary line was drawn by the band, straight down the middle of the venue, splitting the audience in two. A shouting contest was held between both sides to see who could make more noises with their “Na Na Na’s.” The band continued to jam into the late hours

of the night for the first round of their double-headed homecoming shows. The concerts were recorded live on the spot to be made into a live album and if you are a fan of either band you should definitely check them out when they are released.

Both bands really brought the house down and sounded pristine doing it. These soul-playing monoliths are bringing the true music of New Orleans back into the light; reviving that age-old groove that keeps us rebuilding and hitting back harder than we ever hit before.

ENTERTAINMENT

Réveillon revisited: New Year’s Eve eats for college students BY ANNA GOWIN Features Editor The Réveillon menu is a long-standing New Orleans tradition. The luxurious, multi-course menus offered solely on New Year’s Eve are available for a fixed price at many of the city’s most landmark restaurants (think Arnaud’s, August and Galatoire’s). Unfortunately, for many college students operating on a budget, spending $45 or more per head is exactly the kind of thing we resolve against come the first of the year. So, while the student pocket book may not allow for a more classical approach on the dining splurge, don’t think you are without any options.

IN THE CENTER OF THE ACTION

Yuki Izakaya 525 Frenchmen St.

A hole-in-the wall Japanese restaurant on Frenchmen offers the most in terms of experience and edibles. Their unique offerings, like the famous kimchi ramen, will please a variety of patrons with realistic budgets. Not to mention, its location in the middle of the music venue laden Frenchman Street will give you and your fellow revelers plenty of opportunity for entertainment, with the option to walk into the French Quarter in time for midnight. Space is tight, and service isn’t always the fastest, but in terms of celebratory atmosphere it has got a lot to offer.

AWAY FROM THE CROWDS

Pizza Delicious 617 Piety St.

Having just won the title of Best Pizza in New Orleans (as appointed by The Times-Picayune), this Marigny pizza joint is almost always full

A Privateer’s guide to holiday television BY CHARLES NICHOLSON Managing Editor

to capacity, especially towards the end of the night. So here’s a pro-tip: call in your pizza in plenty of time, and when you stride past the masses to pick up your to-go order carry it straight over to Crescent Park. The newly opened lakefront space stays open on New Year’s Eve, and offers a great place to eat your pizza in peace and watch the Quarter’s fireworks display from a more than safe distance.

Winding down to the last few days of the semester, there’s a lot to think about: exams, terms papers, what you’re getting grandma for Christmas. But after the semester is done and you’ve gone from stressing about grades to stressing about gifts, you may find yourself wanting to settle down and enjoy some good ol’ television programming. There are plenty of shows that will also be taking a break, so let’s take a look at what’s airing over the next month and what’s to follow.

FOR THE LOVEBIRDS

La Crêpe Nanou 1410 Robert St.

While certainly not the most affordable restaurant on the list, the French bistro is undeniably intimate. The small plate hors d’oeuvres offer an opportunity for sharing (if you’re that kind of couple, that is) and by opting to go for crêpes rather than full-sized entrees you can keep this date night pretty affordable. But trust me when I say your significant other will be more than impressed by the atmosphere at the small Garden District bistro. You might want to look into making reservations though, small isn’t an exaggeration.

DRAMATIZATION

AMC’s acclaimed zombie thriller “The Walking Dead” just finished up its mid-season finale this Sunday with a big cliffhanger, but will return in the thick of it Feb. 14. In the meantime, their new kung-fu action drama “Into the Badlands” has another three weeks left of its first season. There’s still time to squeeze the last bit of fear out of “American Horror Story: Hotel” with three episodes left for the year. Other big name dramas such as “Empire” and “The Good Wife” have one episode left for the year while “Scandal” and “How To Get Away With Murder” will both return Feb. 11.

THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE

The Gumbo Shop 630 St. Peter St.

At only $34 per person, The Gumbo Shop’s traditional multicourse Reveillon is one of the most affordable in the city. It includes a soup, salad, and choice of entrée in addition to dessert. With options like roasted half-duck or crab cakes in crawfish sauce, it certainly feels as luxurious as some of the most expensive on the list. This is something you’ll definitely want to lock down ASAP though, the restaurant’s budget-friendly menu and location on St. Peters make it a holiday hot spot.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

Photo courtesy of FOX

series is Aziz Ansari’s “Master of None,” which follows an actor’s attempt to make it New York City, while also touching upon relatable social issues.

THE LAUGHINGSTOCK

In the new FOX comedy lineup, “Grandfathered” and “The Grinder” have seen to their fall finales while “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “The Last Man on Earth” will wrap up this Sunday. ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Modern Family” will top off the year with their Christmas episodes next week. “The Mindy Project”’s fall finale airs Dec. 8 and “Jane the Virgin”’s is Dec. 14.

MERRY CHRISTMAS YA FILTHY ANIMAL

What better way to celebrate the holidays than staying home to watch classic Christmas movies? And what better way to catch them than ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas. The month-long event will have everyone’s favorite Christmas special, from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Elf” to “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Although, they are criminally lacking the first two “Home Alone” movies, which are the only ones that matter.

SUPERHERO SHOW-DOWN

Kara Zor-El’s crime fighting doesn’t stop and neither is “Supergirl” as the new superhero series will still be airing weekly through Jan 18. Meanwhile “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” will be continuing their war against Hydra for one more week but won’t be returning until March 8. After “Arrow” and “The Flash” finish up their crossover episodes this week, they’ll have one more week before returning late January.

SPRING IS COMING

While many shows will be picking back up in the new year, let’s take a look at all-new seasons that’ll be starting. HBO’s hit fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” returns late April, directly followed by the tech-industry based comedy “Silicon Valley.” The “Breaking Bad” pseudo-prequel “Better Call Saul” is following up its phenomenal first season Feb. 15. Lastly, BBC’s clone drama, “Orphan Black” returns to screens in May.

BINGE WATCH-ABLE

For those who like to dedicate hours to viewing, their is some good stuff out there. Netflix recently dropped “Jessica Jones,” the adaptation of the Marvel superhero. The 13-episode season has been well-received by fans and critics alike and there is still time to catch up without being spoiled. Another newly released Netflix

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Photo courtesy of HBO

LAGNIAPPE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

Illustrated by Barrington Hebert

ink blots

Illustrated by Jared Buck 11/30/2015

Solutions for Distr

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Tue Dec 1 00:41:25 2015 GMT. Enjoy! Answers will be published online on Friday via our Instagram account:

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LORDS MAIDS MILKING UNODriftwood PARTRIDGE PEARTREE PIPERS

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PEARTREE PIPERS RINGS SWANS TURTLEDOVES

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

Photos courtesy of UNO Athletics

UNO men, women’s basketball fall in weekend games BY ZACHARY GUNTNER Driftwood Staff The Privateer men’s (2-3) and women’s (1-3) basketball teams enter the week with a sub .500 record, hopeful to end their losing streaks. On Saturday the men’s basketball team traveled to Evanston, Illinois only to have their two game winning streak snapped by the Northwestern Wildcats (5-1) in a 90-63 loss. Prior to the game, UNO had won two straight games against Pensacola Christian College (3-7) and Bradley (1-5). Through the first six minutes of the game, New Orleans kept the score close as they only trailed the Wildcats 14-12. But Northwestern eventually broke away by scoring 13 unanswered points to pull away from the Privateers with a 27-12 lead with ten minutes left in the first half. By the time the first half came to an end the Wildcats held a 23 point

advantage. In acknowledging the first half’s poor performance New Orleans’ head coach Mark Slessinger said, “We came out very poor defensively in the first half, missed a lot of assignments, didn’t do a lot of the things and carry over a lot of the momentum from Wednesday night’s game [at Bradley].” The second half adjustments did not go as planned for New Orleans as Northwestern stayed in control and expanded their lead to 33 points with only 6:13 left in the second half. UNO fought back with a 14-4 run but the home team kept UNO down as they ending the game by scoring eight of the final 12 points. Northwestern dominated the game in every aspect as they ended up shooting .552 percent from the field to the Privateers’ .375 and outrebounded UNO 40-24. The Privateers also had trouble at the free throw line, shooting only 70 percent out of 33 attempts. The tandem of freshman Cameron Reed and junior Nate Frye

were the only Privateers to reach double digits in points during Saturday’s loss to Northwestern. Reed totaled 13 points during 21 minutes of playing time while Frye played for 30 minutes, finishing with 14 points. On Wednesday UNO will travel to their cross-town rival to play at Tulane with tip off scheduled for 7 p.m. WOMENS BASKETBALL The women’s basketball team (13) spent the weekend playing in the KSU Thanksgiving Classic but left with a two game losing streak after falling to Florida A&M (71-60) and Kennesaw State (60-53). In the Lady Privateers’ first game against the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers (3-3), UNO started out slow as A&M jumped out to an early 11-2 lead. The Lady Privateers rattled Florida A&M enough to cause 19 turnovers in the first half. Both teams would exchange leads after New Orleans stormed back with a 14-2 stretch to end the first quarter

with a 28-23 lead. and went into the locker room leading 28-23. Coming out of halftime Florida A&M settled down and began to pick apart UNO’s defense. The Lady Rattlers eventually ended the game with four players registering double-digit points and even outperforming the Privateers in steals (12), rebounds(45) and field goal percentage (43.5) . Senior guard Danielle Davis finished Saturday’s loss with 15 points in 36 minutes while fellow guard sophomore Randi Brown scored 16 points in 32 minutes on the court. Senior forward Yasmin Taylor came off the bench to shoot for 67 percent and eight points. On Sunday, the Privateers faced off against the host-team Kennesaw State Owls (3-4) eventually losing the contest 60-53. The game opened with the Owls scoring the first seven points and the Privateers would struggle throughout the quarter to make a comeback . With two minutes to go in the first

quarter, UNO fought back to gain the lead before halftime, but Kennesaw would end the quarter on a seven to zero run and give the Owls a 23-13 lead. During the second and third quarters the Privateer’s defense stood strong as Kennesaw could only muster nine points in the second quarter and seven points in the third. Going into the final quarter the Privateers led 43-39. New Orleans could not hold down the home team in the final quarter as they displayed dominance by outscoring UNO 21-10 and handing the Privateers their second straight loss. Brown was the only Privateer to notch double-digit points in Sunday’s loss with 21 points and four rebounds. Junior forward Raven Coleman led the team in rebounds with seven. As a team, the Privateers forced 21 turnovers and outrebounded KSU with 40. The Lady Privateers’ next game will be at home on Saturday, December 5 at 2 p.m.

SGA MEETINGS 2015

Every other Friday, 2:00pm Starting September 18

Room 208, 2nd Floor of the UC Come visit us and see what the Student Government Association is all about! /UNOSGA

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