THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS Volume: 60 Issue: 5
SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
unodriftwood.com
STUDYING ABROAD: Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance
Cork participants Joe Kelly, Amy Soileau, and Jarred Marlatt enjoy the view of the Wild Atlantic Way from the Dingle Peninsula.
BY ANJANAE CRUMP Managing Editor The University of New Orleans offers study abroad options in over 11 different countries for summer, single-semester and full-year programs. “The mission of the study abroad programs within the Division of International Education is to provide international educational opportunities to the students and faculty of the University of New Orleans,” said International Education Program Director Irene Ziegler. Over 15,000 students have participated, and each year efforts are made to increase this number. Emails are distributed, posters are
it hours and a $180 study abroad hung and representatives are sent able to afford it.” to classrooms. But are students Though students admit that the health insurance fee. Not included actually convinced to take the leap study abroad program is a wor- in this payment to the university is airfare, room and board, around the world? and other miscellaneous Junior Terrell Jones expenses. Desaid, “I would like to “Studying abroad with UNO, either personal pending on where the study abroad because it would give me a chance for a summer or a semester, is an af- student goes, the total to get out in the world of the trip could infordable and achievable way to explore cost and see a different place crease greatly. and have a new experiZiegler said, “Stuthe world, add additional value to your ence. But I cannot afford dents should carefully UNO degree, and invest in your future.” analyze cost and exit.” Sophomore Dylana - Irene Ziegler penses, but they should Program Director of International Education not rule out studying Evans shared similar abroad before looking sentiments. “I would into the multitude of [study abroad] just to be able to go to a new place and ex- thy investment, cost is definite- financial assistance opportunities perience new things and a different ly a concern for many. Up-front available for it. In 2015-16, UNO culture; but probably not because price includes a $200 application awarded about $70,000 in institu- actually - I know I wouldn’t be fee, tuition and fees for 6-12 cred- tional awards and scholarships to
Photo by Heidi McKinley more than 50 UNO students studying abroad.” “In addition, federal financial aid and loans can often be used to fund study abroad. All Pell Grant recipients, for example, are eligible for the very prestigious and generous Gilman scholarships, through which a number of UNO students received over $12,000 for study abroad programs last year. And there are many other sources for financial assistance, including UNO’s SGA, certain departments, and outside sources. So, just start asking questions, and you may find that you can afford to study abroad and reap the benefits of this experience.” Continued on page 2
University administrators consider implementing shuttle system BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER Editor-in-Chief For University of New Orleans students living on campus without a car, the task of getting essential, everyday items can create a real headache many students with access to transportation are unfamiliar with. A five-minute car ride to Rouses, something many students take without second thought, can create a serious inconvenience to these students. UNO has a dense population of foreign students without access to transportation, and more often than
not, these foreign students form friendships with other foreign students, none of whom have access to transportation. This turns buying groceries, laundry items, and other essential everyday items into a hassle. That is why the university administration is seriously considering implementing a shuttle system that will take students from campus and bring them to neighboring grocery and general-needs stores. Tulane University, Louisiana State University, and Loyola University currently have similar systems that bring students to nearby commercial stores. Tulane has
multiple shuttle lines that take students from campus, to the neighboring Walmart, Fresh Market, and even Elmwood and Clearview shopping centers. Dean of Students Brett Kemker is working to get the shuttle system in place. The project has been in development for some time, but university administration has been making headway recently. “We are always looking to meet the needs of our student body, and this is certainly one that has been brought to our attention.” Kemker said the shuttle will be completely free for university students and will focus on the imme-
diate, pressing needs of students without cars. Although many students are hoping for a shuttle that will also bring students to local nightlife hotspots, Kemker said that the immediate goal of the program is to bring students to essential locations. “I am not currently aware of any plans for our shuttle program to take students to nightlife areas, but I do know that many students have an immediate need for access to groceries and dried goods, like those at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. And this will be a very valuable program for that subpopulation.” The program, if implemented,
will certainly be an appealing draw for students who know a personal transportation vehicle is out of the question for their college years. In regard to when students could realistically expect the program to be in place, Dr. Kemker said “We are looking into how much it would cost at this point, the university has not purchased a vehicle just yet. But looking at costs, and weighing the pros and cons of such a system, we are acutely aware of the value and the need for it. And if the numbers add up, I don’t think it’s going to be too far down the road. It looks to be a solid return on investment.”
2
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Aramark maintains long-term relationship with UNO else on campus, students are free to use who they want,” said Student Involvement and Leadership Assistant Director LeeAnne Sipe. Aramark makes exceptions to their contract, allowing organizations to have a variety of food options for certain events. “We host Fresh Fest every fall, and we have restaurants there that cater and serve food side-by-side with Aramark,” said Sipe. As an added bonus, the company is willing to try and create new foods that are in demand for certain events. “Aramark has been really accommodating; when we do cultural events, students can bring recipes to Aramark and they will make food according to the recipe,” said Sipe. Students looking for a wider
range of food services have stated their desire to have a food truck on campus. However, if a food truck request is denied, it is often mistakenly believed that it is because of the university’s contract with Aramark. “There have been requests in the past to have a food truck come out on campus, but that’s a whole set of other issues unrelated to the Aramark contract. That is more of a liability issue in the instance a student gets burned or chips a tooth on something they are eating. Most of these food truck vendors aren’t insured,” said Linn. One of the main reasons student organizations say they look for other food outlets is because they are dissatisfied with the prices and are unable to afford Aramark catering. However, this complaint has been
Career Services an underutilized tool
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
BY LINDSAY MAXIE Driftwood Staff Aramark’s 10-year contract has been renewed twice by the university, allowing for a 20-year partnership. Many University of New Orleans students have mixed feelings with food supplier, but UNO administration has nothing but good things to say. For the past 17 years, Aramark has stuck with the university through its good and bad times. “When the second renewal came about, the other companies were reluctant to bid because there was a lot of uncertainty as to where the university was going, and [there were] concerns of how quickly it may or may not grow back after
BY LEO CASTELL Driftwood Staff The University of New Orleans Career Services is a campus resource designed to help students find jobs. While they’ve had four times as many freshman utilizing their services now than in the past, Career Services Director Celyn Boykin still doesn’t think enough students utilize the resources offered. “You must come now; career development is a process, and finding [a career] can take anywhere from six months to a year,” she said. By visiting their website at www.career.uno.edu, UNO students and alumni can upload their résumés and apply for job postings in the Career Compass jobs database. Students without résumés, or students who want their résumés reviewed, can attend one of Career Services’ many workshops or can set up an appointment. Boykin believes that the feedback they can provide on a student’s résumé is the most useful resource they offer. “I’ve had students walk
Katrina,” said Director of Auxiliary Services, Patrick Linn. The university believes Aramark’s interest in renewing their contract after such a catastrophic event demonstrates their dedication to the university. “Aramark could have pulled out after Katrina because we were nowhere meeting our end of the deal, but they didn’t. They even rebid with us because they believe in this [university], even though there have been many years where they have lost money,” said Linn. One common misconception about Aramark is the belief that students are only allowed to use Aramark for catering services on campus. “Anywhere Aramark is located, students have to use Aramark catering, but if it’s anywhere
in with résumés two or three pages long that only need to be one page. Employers typically only look at a résumé for no more than six to ten seconds, so you need to make sure you only have the necessary information on it,” she said. Career Services will be holding their biannual job fair on Sept. 29 in the Human Performance Center on campus from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students must register in order to attend, and the first 100 to do so will receive a free gift on arrival. “We have 126 employers and counting attending this job fair,” said Boykin. This is a dramatic increase from the job fair held in spring, which had 86 employers. The job fair held last fall only had 35 in attendance. “We actually beat the Superdome’s Career Expo which only had 80 employers,” said Boykin. The jobs available at this event range from part-time to full-time and even internships. Companies like the Audubon Nature Institute, the FBI, IBM, Royal Honda and many more will be attending. “At least 25 of the companies are hiring engineering students and grad-
uates,” said Boykin. “We have all the companies organized so that if you’re only looking for a job in a particular field, then you only have to stay in one area.” Career Services also offers, by appointment, mock interviews. A Career Services team member will conduct a mock interview with a student, even requiring the student to dress as if he or she were going to a real interview. “Mock interviews are so critical to the real thing,” said Boykin. “We’re here to help you present yourself as best you can to potential employers, and if you’ve never been interviewed before, it can be intimidating. You don’t want to lose a job you’re qualified for over a bad interview.” “You need to be very aggressive in finding a job the first semester of your senior year,” said Boykin. “The job market fluctuates, and we’re here to help you navigate it.” For more information or help with Career Services call 504280-6225, or visit their office on the second floor of the University Center, room 250 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
“I did not know about scholarships,” Jones said. “Of the many funding opportunities, the Ambassador Award program through the Division of International Education is the most extensive. We received over 70 applications last year, and about 75 percent received an Ambassador Award,” said Ziegler. But aside from cost, some students are concerned with language and time requirements. Ziegler said, “I would like to add that none of our summer abroad programs require students to speak a foreign language. All classes are taught in English, but students can, of course, choose to learn or improve a foreign language while abroad.” “If students want to advance in a foreign language, or just gain a deeper international experience, they can also study abroad for a semester or academic year. UNO partners with universities all over the world for our semester exchange programs. In addition, the UNO-Innsbruck Academic
heard and addressed by Aramark. “One of the complaints we did get from student organizations was that the catering menu was priced too high. However, our new representative, Daniel Mezzanares, retooled a new organization menu with simple items and he has drastically reduced the prices,” said Linn. If prices still seem high, the university has provided additional resources for students. Sipe said, “The Student Government Association has funding set aside specifically to help student organizations with events; so if an organization receives a price from Aramark that they cannot handle on their own, they can always go through the bill process and get help from the Student Government Association.”
Year Abroad program is a great option for studies, internships, and language learning in the beautiful Austrian Alps.” “I would recommend studying abroad to any UNO student. We offer elective and core courses for all majors and our class offerings range from freshman to graduate level. Why study abroad? In addition to the obvious reasons, i.e., earning UNO credits while exploring the world, study abroad has been linked to higher fouryear graduation rates, as well as higher retention rates.” “Finally, the international experience will boost a student’s résumé and improve employability. Less than two percent of all U.S. undergraduates study abroad, and being able to put that on a résumé and use it in job interviews will set students apart in the ever-tightening job market,” Ziegler added. “Thus, studying abroad with UNO, either for a summer or a semester, is an affordable and achievable way to explore the world, add additional value to your UNO degree, and invest in your future.”
secure your spot! Live here and meet the University of Louisiana System on-campus residency requirement!
avoid disappointment and secure your room at Privateer Place today!
make yourself at home!
stop searching, start living!
free parking
no meal plan required
housing scholarships accepted
fully furnished units
2000 Lakeshore Drive | Located near the Cove lease online privateerplaceUNO.com call 504.270.1979
swimming pool
*Terms & Conditions apply.
NEWS
Midday Musings: English Department’s new literary hours
Leo Castell, Patrice Jones and Garle Bryant after discussing books that changed their lives. Photo by Katie Chosa
BY LINDSAY MAXIE Driftwood Staff The department of English at the University of New Orleans hosted its first “Midday Musings” this past Thursday in the Liberal Arts Building. Undergraduate student Leo Castell, graduate student Patrice Jones, and English Professor Earle Bryant formed a panel to discuss books that have impacted and changed their lives. The English department began this event in 2011; back then it was called “Third Wednesday Talks.” Although the name and time of the event has changed, it still serves its original purpose: to continue to provide a safe environment for students to obtain knowledge in an informal setting, outside of the classroom.
“The English department started the Third Wednesday Talks in the fall of 2011 to provide an opportunity for English majors to hear and participate more informally outside the classroom in discussions about literature, writing, jobs, internships, and other topics of interest to them. This year, we are changing the format a bit, having the talks at midday on Wednesdays and Thursdays instead of at 2 o’clock on Wednesdays,” said Undergraduate Coordinator and English Professor Patricia Roger. Midday Musings is not simply filled with facts about famous literary works; the trio also discuss common struggles that English majors face as writers. When referring to Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Leo Castell said, “For a while, I struggled with my voice as a writer...I’m kind of
childish, and that comes across in my writing. For a while, I was really insecure about that.” Castell went on to say that Harper Lee’s childish prose gave him renewed confidence in his own voice. The panel members also discussed their personal responses to certain books and how their lives have been forever impacted by their readings. When discussing Richard Wright’s “Native Son,” Jones said, “This book changed my life because it made me realize that racism was more than someone treating you different because of the way you look. I learned that it is part of a system and that it is ingrained into the infrastructure of our country. It was after reading this book that I made my life mission to break down the institution”. Midday Musings offers a place for students to gather and learn from each other while sharing their passion for literature. “It gave me a new insight to what I want to read,” said liberal arts major Janai Lange. Patricia Roger said, “I encourage English majors and other students interested in literature and writing to come to the talks, which are interesting and offer students a variety of perspectives on a variety of topics, as well as the opportunity to ask questions and participate in the discussion. In addition, students can visit with other English majors, graduate students, and faculty.”
Engineering grant to be used for lab equipment, scholarships BY BRITTANY KARNO Driftwood Staff The University of New Orleans Department of Engineering will use the $100,000 donation from the Louisiana Associated General Contractors to purchase lab equipment and sponsor scholarships. LAGC established the Contractors’ Educational Trust Fund through the state, and the engineering department will spend $60,000 from the donation to purchase a new wind tunnel that will support hurricane research for civil, mechanical and marine engineering, as well as naval architecture. The engineering department is currently looking at company bids in order to purchase the new wind tunnel that will be installed in the ground floor of the Engineering Building. The old wind tunnel will be repurposed to support drone research under Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Uttam
Kumar Chakravarty. $40,000 from the donation will support undergraduate scholarships awarded around December 2016. Since TOPS will now only fund about 36 percent of what it used to, juniors and seniors will receive more scholarship money to help keep them in school ($25,000 will support senior and junior scholarships/$15,000 will support freshmen and sophomore scholarships). Engineering students may apply for scholarships online. The engineering department asks that students file for FAFSA prior to applying for the engineering scholarships so that no federal scholarship funding will be supplemented. Awarded scholarships will range from $2,000 to $15,000. The last donation UNO’s Engineering Department received from the CETF was a $100,000 donation in 2014. “This is a time for UNO to partner closer with the Louisiana Con-
Bomb explodes in New Jersey, no injuries reported
U.S. signs $38 billion deal to support Israel’s military
QUESTION OF THE WEEK Where would you like to visit? “I would like to visit India. There, I would like to go to Bengaluru. I was very close to that place, but never had the chance to be in that place. I heard a lot about there and it is a pretty cool place. It has nice scenic beauty and the climate is good.”
ANUSHA K. Senior, Computer Science
“I would visit an island like Saint Lucia. I know people from there and it sound really interesting. I would probably go with them, so that I could get into their culture, eat what they eat and see how they do things there.”
KAYLA L. Freshman, Business Administration
“The one city I would visit would be Paris. I have always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower. I think it’s one of the most interesting structures in the world, just looking at how it’s built and how people thought that it would ruin the skyline, but then became one of the most iconic skylines in the world.”
RACHEL MORRIS Junior, Theatre and Marketing
Photo by Grant Campbell
tractors’ Educational Trust Fund, learn more about their needs and see if we can increase the donation we receive next year,” said UNO Engineering Dean Emir Jose Macari (pictured above). This year, the LAGC approached UNO President, John Nicklow. In 2017, UNO engineering department administrators will report how the donation was spent to the CETF in the hopes of increasing the next donation.
“Game of Thrones” wins most Emmys ever in a single night
“I would probably go to Hong Kong. I’m an international studies major and I feel like it’s a really diverse city since it hasn’t been under China for that long. I think it would be really fun to visit there.”
EMILY HOTARD Sophomore, Internation Studies
“I would go visit Lima, Peru. I have a bunch of family up there. It’s really nice, pretty, and traveling there isn’t as expensive in the United States.”
CHRISTOPHER DIAZ Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering
FOR BETTER OR WORSE Bomb explodes in New York, injuring 29
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
LSU beats Mississippi State 23-20
Compiled by Nathan Nguyen
3
4
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
SPORTS
UNO Volleyball sets season-high in blocks against Chicago State
The Privateers’ first home match is slated for Thursday, Sept. 22 in the HPC.
BY UNO ATHLETICS The University of New Orleans volleyball team began competition in the Omni Invitational on Friday afternoon with a strong opening set against Chicago State and but couldn’t hold up in a 3-1 loss (13-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-22) at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colorado. In the contest, the Privateers (3-8) posted a season-high 10.0 blocks, with a season-best average of 2.5 blocks per set. Sophomore
Kaitlyn Grice (biology) led the Privateers with seven rejections in the match, tying her career-high. Freshman Jordan Yauch (biological science) chipped in four while senior Keke Richards (business management) and junior Rondolyn Bryant (exercise physiology) both finished with three. “I thought we started the match in the right way,” Head Coach Millicent Van Norden explained. “We were able to break their serve quickly and keep them on the defense early. As the match went on, we started to make some mistakes
Photo coutesy of UNO Athletics
on offense, which allowed Chicago State to go on lengthy runs and hold on to the momentum.” Yauch paced the attack with 15 kills, matching her career-best, with Bryant ending the contest with nine tallies on a .300 clip. Freshman Sarah Thomas (accounting and finance) finished with a match-high 41 assists while also contributing five digs, two kills and a service ace. Defensively, sophomores Samantha Uline (exercise physiology) and Blessing Dunn (business management) both finished with
double-digit digs with 18 and 15 respectively. UNO dominated the opening set, hitting .435 with a match-best 15 kills while holding Chicago State (2-9) to a -.036 clip for a 25-13 victory. The two sides exchanged the opening 10 points to keep the score tied before a 4-0 run by the Privateers put them up 9-5. New Orleans produced another four-point spree later in the set, extending the separation and giving the Privateers a 16-8 advantage. The royal blue and silver continued to increase upon the lead, creating a double-digit cushion after a pair of kills from Yauch and one from Richards highlighted a 4-0 run to make it 23-12. Chicago State ended the streak with a point before back-to-back kills from Bryant and Yauch ended the frame. Down 2-1 overall after dropping the second set 25-20 and the third 25-16, the Privateers fought to force a fifth set, but couldn’t hold on to the early lead in a competitive 2522 finale. UNO scored the first two points in the frame, with Yauch and Grice teaming up for an assisted block on the second play and created a 6-3 advantage. The Privateers continued to fend off the Cougars, until a 3-0 rally by Chicago State put them ahead 11-10. Yauch knotted up the score at 11-all before a 4-0 response secured the lead for Chicago State at 15-11.
Chicago State took an early 3-2 lead in the second set and maintained the advantage throughout the frame. The Privateers were able to keep the stanza within reach until four-straight points by CSU gave them the 12-8 lead. New Orleans managed to bring it back to within two after a kill from Grice followed by an assisted block from Grice and Yauch, but another four-point spree by the Cougars extended the deficit to six at 19-13. Chicago State led the entire third set, scoring the first four points to create separation. UNO was held without back-to-back points until a kill from Yauch and an assisted block from Yauch and Grice created a 3-0 run that cut the lead to three at 11-8. Chicago State pushed the lead to eight at 19-11 after a 3-0 run but failed to ever make it a double-digit lead as the Privateers ended the run with back-to-back points. “The bottom line is that they worked harder than we did for every point,” Van Norden concluded. “They were making plays on the floor to give them a chance and made adjustments after the first that gave us problems defensively.” The Privateers’ first home match is slated for Thursday, Sept. 22, when the Privateers play host to Houston Baptist in the Human Performance Center. First serve for the contest is slated for 7 p.m. and admission is free.
FEATURES
Disney College Program:
a magical experience for students
Lane Balch, a recent UNO graduate poses with Donald Duck and Goofy on the Disney College Program. Photo coutesy of Lane Balch
BY JAMIE LLOYD Driftwood Staff The Disney College Program is a paid internship program unlike any other. College undergraduates can experience the magic of Disney while working in various roles and environments at Disney parks, earning college credit at their university from either online classes or various classes offered on-site. “It’s very exciting, it’s a very unique program, the students are always excited about it. That’s what makes it so amazing,” said University of New Orleans Director of Career Services Celyn Boykin, who has been affiliated with the Disney College Program since her beginning at the university. “We generally have a pretty strong number of students. On average, we get between 15-18 students at any given time attending the college program … most universities don’t have as many students as we generally will have in the program.” UNO first became affiliated with the Disney program in the early 2000s; since then, 271 students
have participated in Disney internships. Once accepted to the program, students can choose to intern at either Disneyland in Anaheim, California or Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. “Most will choose Orlando,” said Boykin. Prospective students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0, as well as a program GPA of 2.0, in addition to a minimum of 12 credit hours before the start of the program. Incoming freshman are still encouraged to apply. “From engineering, to computer science, to liberal arts, to interdisciplinary studies, to education, any major is eligible to apply... Many applicants are Disney buffs who have grown up with the franchise.” For recent UNO graduate and Disney buff, Lane Balch, it all started at a young age. “My dream has always been to be an Imagineer,” Balch said. The term refers to the job title given to Disney professionals who work closely with creating new and exciting innovations in the franchise. Through word-of-mouth, Balch discovered the Disney College Program, re-
alizing that it was the first step toward achieving his childhood dream. “I’ve kind of always known that Disney and I would be a pretty good fit,” Balch said. “When I started my first program [in September of 2014], I was terrified. Then, I realized how well my personality fit in.” Not even one month into his first program, Balch decided to extend his stay. Since then, he has stemmed countless friendships from people all over the world, beat personal goals, and added valuable experience to his résumé. It isn’t hard for him to find the real reason why he keeps coming back to Disney. “It’s an amazing experience to get off work and see fireworks.” While fireworks might please Balch aesthetically, nothing gives him more pleasure than knowing he had a part in a child’s Disney experience. “When you go on stage and you walk up to a child and kneel down for the first time and you talk to them and they smile because of something you said, it’s an entirely different feeling,” Balch explained, “because all of a sudden, you realize that you’re part of this magic.” For Balch, the decision is a no-brainer. “I tell everyone I come across that I recommend the program. It’s a program where you have to be all in. If you love it, there’s really no sacrifice.” “I firmly believe that if you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life. I haven’t worked a day in my life since I’ve been here.” Disney also offers professional and management internship programs for graduate students. For more information about application deadlines and academic requirements, students can visit disneycollegeprogram.com, or contact UNO Career Services Director Celyn Boykin.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
FINANCING YOUR FUTURE TODAY
Sometimes, being short isn’t so bad
BY FERNANDO J. SABALLOS Driftwood Contibutor This year’s Oscar winner for best adapted screenplay, “The Big Short,” chronicles the multiple causes of the 2008 financial crisis. While millions of Americans lost money, there were a select few who actually made money off of the loss. The anti-heroes of “The Big Short” utilized a relativity less-discussed investment strategy: the short. When you purchase a stock, you want the value to increase so that when it comes time to sell, you make a profit. But what if you wanted the exact opposite to happen? What if you wanted to invest in Blockbuster during its swan-song in order to profit from its downfall? The beauty of investment is that numerous options exist for the investor to find a way to make a gain. That’s right: you can essentially bet against any stock by selling it short. To begin, you must have a margin account with your brokerage. Margin is just another way to say borrowing. When you short-sell a stock, your broker will lend the stock to you. The stock will come from the brokerage’s own inventory, from another one of the firm’s customers, or from another brokerage firm. This might sound confusing, so let’s put it into context. Company XYZ is currently
valued at $100, but you’ve read up on it and believe this price is inflated. By shorting XYZ, your broker will lend you the stock on the margin account. The shares are sold out to the market and the proceeds are credited to your account. You are hosting $100 shares of XYZ. Now it’s a waiting game until you end the party to capitalize on your short. Your projections were correct and it has plummeted to $75. To close out your position, known as covering, you buy back those shares that were sold to the market, and you return them to your broker. Now you only have to return $75 worth of the $100 that your broker lent you, so there is a $25 profit per share. A short can be held for any amount of time, though it can be costly and counterproductive because interest is charged on margin accounts. On occasion, the broker will need the stock back due to a low supply and will call away the shares from the shareholder. In addition, because you do not own the stock you’re short-selling, you must pay your lender any dividends declared during the period. As always, there is risk. If the price continues to rise, you’re at a loss when you buy back the stock. So, the question might be: when do you short? Just like with stock purchases, stock shorting should have the same considerations, just from the opposite side of the spectrum. Short selling can be an effective investment strategy to weed out the weak in our ever-evolving society of needs and wants. How many people are lining up to go to Barnes and Noble to buy their books when Amazon is readily available? How do retail sales compare during a slow season as opposed to the holidays? Just ask the guys from “The Big Short” how they felt about the opportunity to utilize this type of investment.
UNO students experience the glories of France
Liyao Mao, Gretchen Mueller, Kayla Dufrene, Elizabeth Jarvie and Brittany Karno (left to right) watching Tour du France in Montpellier. Photo by Brittany Karno
BY BRITTANY KARNO Driftwood Staff French culture inspired and mo-
tivated students to study abroad in France with the University of New Orleans’ Glories of France program. “As a person from Louisiana
of French heritage, I was immediately hooked,” student Betty Varnado said. Junior Brianna McManus, a New Orleans native, also aspired to study in France to learn more about French influences on her hometown. McManus received the Gilman scholarship, which paid her summer abroad tuition in full. “The trip wasn’t what I expected, and that was a great thing! It shattered my commercialized version of France. I experienced a complex culture that can’t be summed up with just a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower,” McManus said. “It made me realize just how ethnocentric and how trapped in a bubble I was. Traveling allowed me to break that bubble, to understand things like culture and our differences and similarities on a global scale.” Graduate student Aryelle Straf-
5
ford, daughter of UNO Study Abroad Program Director Marie Kaposchyn, has traveled with the program for many years now. Strafford said a realization of one’s own ethnocentricity has been a common adjustment experienced among students over the years. “Every year, I meet forty new people and make forty new friends,” Strafford said. “I knew on our last day in France when we were giving our farewell hugs that I made lifelong friendships with such amazing people,” UNO senior Kayla Dufrene said. Dufrene’s favorite excursion during the trip was the weekend in Paris, which began the morning after the terror attack in Nice. “We were all a little wary of traveling, but our program leaders reassured us about our safety. Once I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time, I knew that this moment could never
be taken away from me and nothing would stop me from enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Dufrene said. Strafford said this was the first year in which a terrorist attack happened in France during the Glories of France trip. Program staff only had to cancel one group tour because of security reasons: a trip to Sacré-Coeur. Junior Ausinikka Hunter was one of the many students who did not allow fear to spoil her experience in France. Hunter said, “I learned to have more confidence in myself. I would get scared of messing up my French when speaking to French natives, but it really brought me out of my comfort zone. I learned that I cannot and will not live without traveling!”
6
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
FEATURES
UNO-Innsbruck: go for the classes, stay for the culture
AYA Students Liz O’Malley (left) and Amanda McGilvray (right) at the traditional Krampuslauf near Innsbruck, Austria. Photo coutesy of Dante Cannatella
BY ANJANAE CRUMP Managing Editor The UNO-Innsbruck Academic Year Abroad program is one of the most popular programs within the
study abroad service. It takes place in the scenic Austrian Alps and can be scheduled for just a semester or the entire school year. “I was attracted to the Innsbruck program because it offered many business classes, since I am an Ac-
counting major, and also because it is the heart of Europe. I expected to love traveling to the countries surrounding Austria, but I loved staying in Innsbruck the most,” said Tina Huynh, a junior in Accounting.
“I chose the Innsbruck program because I had already started to learn German, wanted to study abroad, and had been spending time with numerous Austrian students with them living nearby in the Privateer Place apartments. With this multitude of reasons it really just fell into place,” said Dillon Whitehead, a recent Interdisciplinary Studies graduate from UNO. Though these students were initially attracted to the program for different reasons, once they embarked on the journey, they shared similar experiences. “It was an experience that really brought different ideas and concepts to light that I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. There are so many wonderful things to learn about not only local Austrian culture, but also the cultures of the other exchange students you’re bound to meet,” said Whitehead. “It definitely changed my life,” said Amanda McGilvray, who now holds a Master in Public Administration from UNO. “The amount of time that I was able to spend in Innsbruck with the price of the program was definitely a worthy investment. It really
was a once in a lifetime chance to invest in such a life-changing experience while working towards my education. I was also able to receive an Ambassador award and SGA award that helped with the cost,” said Huynh. Whitehead and McGilvray loved Austria so much that they are currently still living there! To sign up for the program, McGilvray said, “ask, ask, ask. The Academic Year Abroad Program and the Division of International Education have some of the best staff members at the University of New Orleans. Meet with Dr. Ziegler, Mrs. Martinez or even the student workers! They all know Innsbruck well and will sit down with you as many times as you need to figure out how you can accomplish something like this. Whether it’s translating a document or figuring financial aid, they are there to help and love to do it. Don’t give up, be stubborn and ask for help every step along the way!” “Neither words nor dollar signs can put a value on this investment. It is the best decision I’ve ever made, and it was only possible by being a UNO student.”
8
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
FEATURES/ENTERTAINMENT
Costa Rica:
home away from home
STAFF PICKS CITIES LEO CASTELL - NEW YORK CITY It’s a bit cliché, but New York City really does have it all. Events, stores, novelties, people; it’s a hard place to be bored in. The city has a certain attitude, and it can be intimidating, but New York is where your inner firebrand is vindicated. People often refer to the United States as a melting pot, and if you want to see that on a massive scale, then make an effort to visit New York City at least once. It’s the kind of place you’ll be glad you experienced, even if you don’t particularly like it.
ANJANAE CRUMP - MIAMI One of the unique aspects of the Costa Rica study abroad program is students live with host families versus the typical dorm or apartment. Photo courtesy of Adam Poyner
BY ADAM POYNER Driftwood Contributor To be unique means to be unlike anything else in existence. Though this powerful word can sometimes be overused, it is a perfect way to describe the University of New Orleans Costa Rica study abroad program. On the surface, it may look similar to many of the other outstanding summer abroad programs that the university offers; however, its many interesting details show that a trip to this beautiful country is unlike any other. The Costa Rica program is usually the first to start; this year, it began on May 22, with 20 UNO students and one UNO alumnus arriving in San Ramon, Alajuela, Costa Rica. Participants live with host families in the community, not in dorms or apartments. For Melina Hamezopoulos, this was one of the highlights. “I loved the fact that we lived with a host family, and it was an excellent way to sharpen my Spanish. I learned that the best way to truly learn a language is to be in the environment.” The start of the program saw many lively conversations between students and families in varying levels of fractured Spanish or English. While every Costa Rican program varies from year to year, this year, in particular, had a number of aspects that set it apart from past summers in San Ramon. In addition to this being the summer of an election year in the U.S., it was also a summer of violence. On the morning of June 15, as UNO students were gathering on the bus to return to San Ramon
from a weekend at Manuel Antonio National Park, I first heard the news of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting. Just three short days after the event, news of the tragedy had spread across the world. Not long after this act of hatred, I heard the news of another tragedy. In the Mexican state, Oaxaca, teachers protesting for increased education spending clashed with authorities. Eight people were killed, and many more were injured. But on Facebook, we saw little to no footage of screaming people fleeing from fires and explosions. Many will often be quick to describe the positive impacts of traveling to another country, but it is also important to understand how the negative experiences can affect your world view. The imbalance between the emphasis placed on these two terrible, violent attacks helped me to realize just how easy it is to become focussed on your own country’s, state’s, or community’s problems. In reality, everyone in the world is facing similar problems. We’re all feeling the same grief. In addition to providing one with a fresh perspective on social and/ or political events, a trip to Costa Rica is one of the best ways to learn about nature while also experiencing an incredible amount of biodiversity. Trees, flowers, monkeys, sloths, birds, reptiles, waterfalls, mountains, beaches, coffee, sugar farms - one can hardly take in the scope of all that Costa Rica has to offer. Rachel Billiot-Bruleigh took a trip to Tirimbina, a research center in northern Costa Rica. “During our time there, we took part in the bat program, a night walk through their forest trail, and a chocolate tour....
During the night tour, we saw fireflies... and a cicada coming out of its shell; the colors were something I didn’t expect to see in an insect. Many of us take for granted a bright sky blue and a light sea green.” Costa Rica is well known for its biodiversity and conservation efforts, something Billiot-Bruleigh particularly appreciated about the country. She was also impressed by the respect given to indigenous groups. “There were several museums that exhibited indigenous history within Costa Rica and an art gallery that promoted and sold indigenous art from reservations all over the country. In parks like Manuel Antonio or Tirimbina, the vendors and gift shops were specifically aimed at selling pieces by native artists. This kind of support and visibility isn’t often seen within the U.S., where people... often forget that native people are still a very real part of society, with stories, art, issues, and everyday livelihoods.” This unique and celebrated piece of Costa Rican culture was thoughtfully woven into a somewhat-overlooked portion of the program: the classes. Students in Lisa Verner’s class, Magical Realism in Latin American Literature, welcomed a local card reader who shared a great deal about life in an indigenous Costa Rican tribe, far from modern technology and influence. With many new things to see, do and learn, the 2016 Costa Rican program gave its participants many exciting opportunities to experience a unique country and its culture. Further information about the Costa Rica program and other unique UNO summer abroad programs can be found at http://inst. uno.edu/summer.cfm
Miami, Florida is one of my favorite cities. Though I’ve only been once so far, my experience there was wonderful. I went during the famous festival, Art Basel, in which artists from all over display their work. The atmosphere and culture reminded me much of downtown right here in New Orleans. There were so many outlandish characters and festivities. The food was great, the breeze was always blowing and the beach was beautiful. I loved the artistic and chilled vibe. There was also a definite display of wealth, especially from all the luxury cars parked along the streets. Despite this, however, I encountered very few stuckup people. Miami is definitely a place I wouldn’t mind vacationing in again.
MINDY JARRETT - KEY WEST The palm trees, turquoise water and island weather signature to Key West might fool you into thinking you’ve left the country, but you’re actually at the southernmost point in the United States. Though it’s only three hours away from Miami, its vacation atmosphere, lax drinking rules and architecture are more similar to New Orleans than the South Beach scene. Bed and breakfasts are the most popular form of hotel for visitors, and its friendly residents are always willing to explain the island’s historical significance. It’s a great place for anyone looking to experience tropical paradise without having to leave the country.
CHRISTOPHER WALKER - AUSTIN Austin, Texas is the only city in Texas that is actually worth visiting. Although it’s still hot like the rest of Texas, the culture in Austin is far removed from its hyper-conservative sister cities. Austin has often been described as a cleaner New Orleans, and there’s truth to it. Austin’s Sixth Street is like a cleaner Bourbon Street, and the laid-back atmosphere is reminiscent of the Big Easy. With quality bars found on every block, Austin is a fantastic travel destination.
For more on UNO Study Abroad featuring Japan, make sure to pick up our next issue out Sept. 28.
ENTERTAINMENT
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
9
NOLA Horror Film Fest returns to celebrate the grotesque BY ROXANNE ARDEKANI Driftwood Staff NOLA Horror Film Fest, an annual film festival that gives opportunities to both students and professionals to share their love for horror movies, is taking place this weekend. The festival begins Thursday, Sept. 22 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 25. Each day of the festival offers screenings of brand new feature-length horror films, as well as blocks of short films and original screenplays. NOLA Horror Film Fest is hosted every year at Castillo Blanc Art Studios in the Bywater area. The founders and directors of the festival, TJ Seaton and Charles Lucia, brought New Orleans the NOLA Horror Film Fest starting in 2010. Every year, the festival takes place and succeeds in scaring locals. Many University of New Orleans film students are excited about the event.
“I think that this festival is a great opportunity for passionate filmmakers to share their work with like-minded people who will appreciate it. I am expecting to see some new and creative work from the future of filmmaking and possibly meet them and learn what draws them to the genre,” said freshman Destiny Macnish. “I am most excited to see the student shorts. I enjoy watching student films because it gives a glimpse of what the future generation of film will look like.” Taylor Ordoyne, also a freshman film major, said, “I think putting students [to] work in a festival shows great appreciation for students’ work. It is an amazing opportunity for students to be able to showcase their talents and interests to the public. I really want to create and structure films, and being able to test future films that I create with the public is a great way to grow liente, a business major, said, “I and expand my horizons in film- really like horror movies. They almaking.” ways scare me. I like ‘Saw’ and I Some students outside of the film like getting that adrenaline feeling. school are excited as well. Rob Va- I’m glad there’s something [in New
OWN’s Queen Sugar: one of the best new shows on television
Photo courtesy of OWN
BY REGINE MERIDY Driftwood Staff Oprah Winfrey is back at it again with a fantastic new TV show. For those who don’t know, Winfrey has her own channel, OWN, which has a strong lineup. OWN is the home to quality TV shows “The Haves and Have Nots,” “Iyanla, Fix My Life,” and “Greenleaf.” However, “Queen Sugar” is the standout show that people should be looking
for. Ava Duvernay, creator and director of “Queen Sugar,” has directed powerful films, including 2014’s critical hit “Selma.” She is also the first woman of color to direct a blockbuster film with a budget of at least $100 million for the remake of Disney’s film “A Wrinkle in Time.” What makes “Queen Sugar” different than the plethora of mediocre shows on cable is its extremely unique casting process, its Louisiana setting, and its gripping plot.
“Queen Sugar” is based on the novel by Natalie Baszile. The series takes place in the fictional St. Josephine, Louisiana, a small town where everybody knows everybody. The scene of Aunt Violet’s sugarcane farm was beautiful; Duvernay did a great job with the setting. It made me want to visit the rural areas of Louisiana. The story revolves around three estranged siblings trying to come together as a family in order to deal with their dad’s passing; for the time being, they must figure out how to deal with the sugarcane farm he left behind. Duvernay does a great job exploring the dynamics of a family who have just lost a family member. The character portrayal in the show is incredible. The casting is on point. Nova, Charley and Ralph Angel are played by actors Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner and Kofi Siriboe. Nova is a New Orleans journalist, herbalist and activist. Charley is a business manager and a basketball wife whose husband got caught up in a scandal. Ralph Angel is a father who just got out of prison and is looking for redemption. Everyone should be watching this show.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Voter registration ends on Oct. 11 Early voting is Oct. 25 - Nov. 1 from 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., excluding Sundays Election day is Nov. 8 from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Nov. 4 is the last day to request an absentee ballot.
Photo courtesy of NOLA Horror Film Fest
Orleans] that lets local people show off what they’ve been making. I’m excited to see the unique work of these films.” Films can be submitted by click-
ing on a submission button on the NOLA Horror Film Fest website at nolahorrorfilmfest.com
Amy Schumer’s first book is an honest look inside her mind BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER Editor-in-Chief Amy Schumer has, within the last two years, gone from a relatively unknown standup comic to a Hollywood A-list actress. Her first movie, “Trainwreck,” cemented her spot in Hollywood by being the rare comedic film that not only does well at the box office, but pleases the critics as well. Her first book, “The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo,” is part memoir, part collection of humorous essays. “The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo” is easily readable, intelligent and quite funny. The reader is treated to Schumer’s reflections and musings on her life, from her luxurious start in Manhattan as a child born to extremely wealthy parents, to her parents’ subsequent financial woes and divorce. We see her rise from a struggling standup comic in New York to writing and starring in the lead role in a wide-release comedy film. The book is lighthearted, full of heart, and above all, honest. Written largely as a love letter to New York, Amy Schumer gives the reader a peek inside the mind of a woman who has made it to the top of the entertainment business without losing a certain sense of appeal that ties her to the common person. She flaunts her flaws, and an unmistakable sense of confidence permeates from her words. Schumer gives us funny anecdotes about wine, pasta and the absurd situations she’s found herself in as a female comic, along with musings on gun violence and sexual abuse. Schumer is able to
Cover courtesy of Gallery Books
turn between the serious and the absurd on a dime, and it keeps the book interesting without ever becoming too silly. “The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo” is one of the few books currently out with an audiobook sure to please the average person more than the hardcopy. Schumer narrates the book herself, and her prose is unquestionably complemented by her voice. The reader, rather, the listener, is easily able to decipher which parts of the book are more serious than others. Schumer can pull at the reader’s heart or make them laugh with one sentence. Schumer does not write the book like it’s a treat for the reader to get a peek inside her life; it’s not written from the vantage point of the clouds, looking down on all the rest. It reads like it is an extended, interesting conversation with a good friend that can be gotten through in one day. It is an absolute delight from start to finish.
10
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
COMICS & PUZZLES
Word Search Puzzle
Medium Sudoku Puzzles 1 www.printablesudoku99.com
Fo
sudoku 4 9 8
5 7 1 6
1 7 8 3 6 5 6 2
Solutions for Distric
word search 9 4 2 1 8 3
1 3 3 5 2 4 8 9 5 4 1 7
F H T U F I E C P I H U P J B
T G O R K L N R N F U H U N R
A Q Y R T K K N G U S A A Z S
ABROAD ABROAD ARAMARK ARAMARK DISNEY DISNEY FRANCE GYM FRANCE
G E D T R X M K S A K P H A P
HORROR INNSBRUCK JAPAN MUSINGS QUEEN
K A U T I O W R K B A L M P B
N H O P B G R A B J R G Y M L
S Z Z B S H O M G J R U G W H
W S R O P O Z A W J O Q C Z F
M U S I N G S R M Q T F R K R
GYM HORROR INNSBRUCK JAPAN
L Z Y K C D L A J O D Q I F A
Y N K V I T L E B T W M O P N
U W R S V J F R V M X M H E C
What We Offer J H N G Q U E E N A L D E J E
E E Z O H I A D A O R B A L R
MUSINGS QUEEN SHUTTLE TRAVEL
Y Z Y S N O E I J S N T W T S
OPINION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
11
EDITORIAL
Living as a local in a tourist city can be challenging Living in New Orleans is a unique experience. Multiple celebrities, including Amy Schumer and Brad Pitt, claim New Orleans as their favorite city. At any given time, however, these tourists make up a huge portion of the city. New Orleans, perhaps, more than any other city in America, has a higher ratio of tourists than locals. This means
that most of these tourists will interact with other tourists; upon returning home, they’ll only have met with a handful of true locals. Tourists often classify the Big Easy as “lost in time,” “charming” and “authentic.” If these tourists only interact with each other, can they classify the city as authentic? If the majority of visitors meet
only a handful of natives, and instead spend their time in French Quarter tourist traps, how can they know the city well enough to say that they love it? It’s naive to think that, after a few days, one can judge a city well enough to declare his or her love for it. Only once you have stayed in the city long enough to acknowledge its flaws are you qualified enough to
declare your feelings. Any other tourism-focused city faces the same problem, but New Orleans has such a relatively small local population that it’s frustrating to hear so many people across the nation list it as the best city in America, when they rarely have a true understanding of the city. Eating beignets, drinking hur-
ricanes, and spending a night on Bourbon Street are experiences we’ve all had, but until you’ve dodged potholes, dealt with the short-term rental crisis, or experienced the bipolar, local politics, you haven’t even begun to have a true New Orleans experience. Perhaps tourists should just stick with, “I enjoyed visiting the city.”
COLUMNS
Matt Lauer can’t stand up to a world-class bully
BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER Editor-in-Chief On Wednesday, Sept. 14, NBC hosted a presidential forum where
television journalist Matt Lauer interviewed the two presidential candidates, each getting thirty minutes of screen time. The event itself was not advertised heavily by either political party, and it might not have made national news had it not been for the gross mishandling of the event by Matt Lauer. When Hillary Clinton was up, Lauer tore into her email leaks, ruthlessly pursuing every answer he could get, not letting up for the entirety of the half hour. Even though her email scandal has been combed over again and again by the federal courts and the media,
he pressed on. If the same journalistic diligence is given to both sides, then all is fair. That, however, did not happen. When Donald Trump’s turn came, Lauer not only lobbed him softballs, but he did not follow up or grill Trump on any of his answers. Trump has been inconsistent on the campaign trail, often saying one thing, then turning around and saying another. On his campaign trail, Trump claimed, multiple times, that he opposed the war in Iraq, though there are interviews he gave where he clearly supported the invasion. Matt Lauer did not ask Trump fol-
low-ups about this. Trump blasted Clinton at the forum on her support to remove Muammar Gaddafi, even though Trump supported the move when it was discussed on a national scale. Lauer did not question Trump about it. Throughout the entire forum, Trump talked over Lauer, and the conversation went in the direction Trump wanted it to go. Most of these on-screen journalists bend to Trump’s will, afraid to be attacked or made to look weak by Trump. Even though the media likes to portray Trump as a clown, a coward and an idiot, it’s clear that journalists are scared of being on camera
with him. Trump is a natural-born schoolyard bully, one whom journalists are scared to stand up to. They might not like Trump; they might disagree with nearly everything he says; but when Trump is in a room, he commands it. Trump has an undeniable appeal to most people; it’s the reason he starred in an extremely successful reality television show. Clinton’s campaign has found itself struggling to regain its momentum following her off-the-wall “deplorable” comment, her pneumonia diagnosis, and now, this. Although print journalism is on her side, Trump owns television.
Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship travels to spread message BY HILTON JOHNS Driftwood Contributor Every year, Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, one of our student organizations on campus, leads students from universities across New Orleans on service- and outreach-based trips beyond their normal, local sphere of influence. These trips are designed for students to encounter and engage people and cultures from around the world because we seek to be a community that authentically shows love to those both near us and on the other side of the planet.
Thus the reason for the name Global Encounters. Spring Break is a time that finds many Chi Alpha students sacrificing the options of beach parties and vacations to serve the needs of cities like Atlanta and Minneapolis. In Atlanta, we worked to rescue people caught up in sex trafficking, and we reached out to children and families living in poverty. In Minneapolis, we worked with Somali refugees, and we assisted in teaching English so that the refugees can adjust to the new culture they find themselves in. But the United States is not the only place we share the love of God.
Over the past few summers, we have led teams on multiple trips to Guatemala, Haiti and Kenya. In Guatemala, students have seized the opportunity to help the country’s local Christian ministries gain influence and build churches in areas that have never been reached. Students have spent days crossing mountains and rivers on horses, sleeping on wooden and dirt floors, all to actively engage a culture completely foreign to them. In Haiti, we helped build and repair schools, churches and homes. In Kenya, we partnered with missionaries to teach English in hopes of building relationships with people
of other religious views. We are now preparing for our next Global Encounters, and spring and summer of 2017 will be an exciting time for the Chi Alpha community. We are preparing teams for state-side trips, as well as an expeditionary trip to Kenya. We will team up with missionaries and indigenous people in order to bring the word of Jesus to people who have never heard it before. We will live in tents, away from American convenience for one simple reason: we love people and we believe every person deserves a chance to hear the good news. If one of our global encounters
sounds like something you would like to participate in, then don’t wait to show your interest. We have an application and interview process followed by months of training before we depart, to ensure we are bringing the best possible team to serve the needs of the people we are trying to help. If you would like more information, you can find us on Facebook, at our weekly contact table every Wednesday from 11-1, or at our weekly worship service in Milneburg 179 on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you on campus.
PERSPECTIVE 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
Christopher Walker Editor-in-Chief driftwoodeditor@uno.edu Anjanae Crump Managing Editor driftwood@uno.edu Visuals Director | Grant Campbell • • • • • • • • • • • • driftwoodart@uno.edu Copy Editor | Mindy Jarrett • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • mjarrett@uno.edu Adviser | Vickie Kennedy • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • vkennedy@uno.edu Reporters: Leo Castell, Lones Gagnard, Brittany Karno, Jamie Lloyd, Lindsay Maxie, Regine Meridy & Nathan Nguyen Contributors: Roxanne Ardekani, Kelley Davis, Milan Holman & Fernando J. Saballos Illustrators: April Curran & Delvonte Smith