Volume: 60 Issue: 6

THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS Volume: 60 Issue: 6

SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

unodriftwood.com

MARS CURIOSITY ROVER SPOTLIGHTS STEM FIELDS AT UNO

UNO Teaching Fellow Professor C. Gregory Seab explains features of the Mars Curiosity Rover.

BY CLAY MISTICH Driftwood Contributor When University of New Orleans WISE-STEM Recruiter Stephanie Moore-Kreamer found out that a half-scale replica of the Curiosity Rover currently stationed on Mars would be visiting campus, she went to work immediately, planning a three-day event, featur-

ing exhibits related to the STEM (sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.

“When we received word that we were going to have the replica of the Mars Rover, we decided that it would also be great to have other exhibitors so that the UNO community and students visiting campus would have a variety of things to do during the event,” said Moore-Kreamer.

Photo by Nathan Nguyen

The event, open to both the public and UNO students, saw its biggest crowds from middle and high school tour groups. Over 1,000 students from 25 different schools visited the exhibit.

UNO Teaching Fellow Professor C. Gregory Seab explained the importance in getting students interested in STEM fields at a young age. “If you ask any scientists why they are in their field, it usually

stems from some wonder, an inherent, basic curiosity of our universe, excitement and enthusiasm.

In every single science field, it’s not so much the topic itself, as it is the idea behind it. This [rover] is a mockup, but a mockup of a rover currently running around Mars looking for signs of life. It’s a fantastic thing. Events like this, they fire the imagination. More than anything, that’s what we need.”

The $75,000 model was built by Siemens, a German engineering company that had a hand in designing parts of the actual rover.

Curiosity, the seventh rover sent to Mars, and the fourth sent by the United States, arrived on the surface of the rocky planet with the goal of investigating the surface, as well as looking for signs that might indicate the possibility to sustain life on the planet.

Seab said that scientists and engineers work on a project like the rover from several different angles: “You can go from an engineering point of view, or from a science point of view. Most of what NASA does is the engineering sort of thing, and that’s the robotics that are also at this event. This [rover] is a robot. Parts of it were designed by students and then incorporated in the working design of the robot.

The purpose, of course, of the robot is doing the science part. That’s

the geology, the chemistry, the astronomy and the physics of it.”

Other exhibitors from several different STEM fields, included big-name companies, such as the drug research company Albany Molecular Research Inc., as well as representatives from NASA’s Stennis Space Center and its neighboring Michoud Assembly Facility. High school robotics teams represented by the nonprofit organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), demonstrated their creations. Several university departments and clubs put on showcases as well. The astronomy department held an open telescope viewing Friday night in front of the University Center.

Moore-Kreamer said she was thrilled with the outcome of the program. “This was a collaboration across campus to not only bring the exhibitors but to also invite local schools to see what UNO has to offer. Through this, students in middle school and high school get an opportunity to see what you can do with science and engineering as well as get a taste of the university itself.”

Though the model was not built to be part of a traveling exhibit, it will be displayed at an engineering conference in Louisiana next week.

University administration explains current fee increases

BY MINDY JARRETT Copy Editor Despite recent budget cuts to higher education, University of New Orleans students have not seen an increase in tuition prices. An undergraduate taking the minimum 12 credits required for full-time status has paid exactly $3,045.19 in tuition since the beginning of the fall 2015 semester.

“There will be no tuition increase,” said Adam Norris, the university’s chief communication officer.

Rather than increase tuition, the university tacked on two other mandatory university fees: the Privateers Spirit fee and the Student Retention Initiative fee. “The dedicated fees were taken to the Student Government and a separate open forum was held in May to discuss the proposed fees. The

rationale for these fees was shared at that forum, as we wanted student input and feedback,” said Norris.

“In fact, one of the key reasons we decided against a tuition increase is because of the feedback we received from students.”

The new fees were passed by the University of Louisiana System in July. The university joined the UL System at the end of 2011; it is the largest higher education system in the state, enrolling 90,000 students in nine different universities across the state. It was also the system most affected by the recent state budget cuts. Of the $8.1 million cut, $5.5 million – 68 percent - came from the UL System alone.

“While other Louisiana universities, including some in the UL System, increased fees by a greater amount and some increased tuition, we chose to pursue a modest increase in dedicated fees,” said

student success,” said Norris.

The Privateers Spirit fee, Norris explained, “will be dedicated to enhancement of the student experience at events and further engage students in campus and student life activities.”

The Student Retention Initiative fee “will be dedicated to professional student advising, to include the development of a professional advisement model in each college, based upon best practices for student completion, which will streamline time to graduation.”

Since joining the UL System, a full-time UNO undergraduate has seen tuition increases of over $700 and an additional $1,000 increase

“One of the key reasons we decided against a tuition increase is because of the feedback we received from students.”

-Adam Norris, CCO Norris.

That same full-time undergraduate will now pay an extra $240 per semester in fees rather than tuition.

“All of the new fees are focused on

in student fees. In just four years, the overall cost of attending the university has increased by 40 percent.

According to information posted by the Louisiana Board of Regents, which oversees the UL System, UNO is the third most expensive of the nine schools in its system, costing a 12-credit, in-state undergraduate student $8,644.37 for the 2016-17 school year. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the most expensive at $9,450.

McNeese State University is the cheapest in the system, costing that same student $7,225.

The two fees introduced this school year show the second-largest increase to the student fees, up almost $250.

Norris added, “It should be noted that these are mandatory fees, and financial aid and scholarships can be used to cover their cost.”

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

NEWS

UNO President delivers State of the University address

BY LEO CASTELL Driftwood Staff University of New Orleans President John Nicklow gave his semesterly State of the University address on Thursday, Sept. 22.

He began the address with what he considered to be the best news: UNO matters.

“We found that during the 201415 fiscal year, UNO generated an economic impact of $470 million for an eight-parish region,” said Nicklow. “And last year, the university received about $28 million from the state of Louisiana, which means that for every dollar that UNO gets from the state, we generate another $17.”

Nicklow’s next topic was enrollment, which is down approximately 4.5 percent from last fall.

“We experienced a 2 percent drop in undergraduate students and a 12 percent drop in graduate students.”

In three of the last four years, however, UNO’s total decline in

enrollment was less than 8 percent.

Despite these numbers, transfer students and dual enrollment are up 7 percent and 26 percent, respectively, along with new freshmen students.

“As part of these increases, it’s important to emphasize that the academic quality of our freshman class has not changed,” Nicklow said. “The average ACT and average high school GPA are essentially unchanged from a year ago, so I’m happy to say that we increased new students without sacrificing quality.”

Nicklow went on to discuss the three legislative sessions. “Higher education, as a whole, was fully funded when compared to last year, but the devil’s in the details.”

University funds are now allocated based on 15 percent outcomes, 15 percent cost space and 70 percent based on last year’s funds, which means that UNO sustained a $1 million cut in funding, along with every other four-year institution in Louisiana. UNO’s

budget for the current fiscal year is $100,228,110, 28 percent of which is provided by the state, 75 percent of which is dedicated to faculty and staff. This excludes the $10.5 million set aside for scholarships.

“Clearly the vast majority of our budget is invested in people,” said Nicklow.

On the subject of philanthropy, Nicklow stated that the current value of the UNO foundation endowment is $68.4 million, which is up 1.3 percent from last year.

Nicklow went on to praise UNO’s athletics. “UNO student athletes performed more than 2,000 hours of community service during the [20]15-16 academic year, working with organizations like Special Olympics, Second Harvest Food Bank, and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure,” said Nicklow.

“When devastating floods struck south Louisiana last month, several of our teams, like other student groups, volunteered to help people clean out their homes.”

Nicklow also noted accolades

Students choose unhealthy foods despite available options

The Galley in the UC offers salads and vegetarian options for students, but many say the options are not good enough.

Photo by Christopher Walker

BY ANJANAE CRUMP Managing Editor On any given weekday around noon, a line filled with hungry students can be seen spilling out the door at Chick-fil-A as they wait for chicken nuggets, sandwiches and waffle fries. Others may choose the Galley or Subway, or maybe even travel to The Cove for Popeyes and Sushi.

However, an overwhelming majority of students satisfy their hunger with less-than-healthy food choices.

“My typical lunch on campus is Chick-fil-A, and that’s only because the Subway line is too long,” said junior Damian Junius.

“My favorite lunch would be a nice salad and grilled fish. [Instead,] I eat a burger, like everybody else, with some ketchup on my fries and a coke from The Galley,” said sophomore Moustapha Bouna.

Though Bouna may not have found the lunch he wishes he had on campus, Aramark Food Service Director Daniel Mezzanares said

there are many other healthier food options available in The Galley.

“We design dining menus to provide a diverse assortment of food options that easily allow community members to select a healthy and well-balanced diet. In general, our menus feature lower calorie choices; vegan, vegetarian and wholegrain options; seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables; and a variety of whole foods that are raised, grown, harvested and produced locally and in a sustainable manner.”

“This semester,” added Mezzanares, “we launched a brand-new healthier vegetarian station in The Galley, added more healthy side items to our convenience stores, and also, healthier sides, such as soup, side salads and fresh fruit cups to our menu in The Galley.”

Despite these improvements, many students still feel that the choices provided on campus make eating healthy a challenge.

“Except the P.O.D. [Market’s] food, it’s not very healthy,” said freshman Mohammad Mohammad.

“I do think that the options make

it difficult to eat healthy,” Junius said. “A pho restaurant would be great. It’s [known for] being really healthy soup.”

“I would like to see more organic food. [If necessary,] increase the price a little bit. And add more baked chicken and grilled fish because that’s healthy,” said Bouna.

“I think the salad bar [in The Galley] is healthy, but I think having a lot of butter for breakfast is not good; and the coffee tastes nasty, and the hamburgers are not real beef.”

For students who are unsatisfied and looking for healthier options, Mezzanares said, “Our Healthy for Life program empowers diners to make healthier lifestyle choices through a comprehensive and integrated approach to health and wellness. Colorful point-of-service menu identifiers make it easy to find selections that are lower in fat, lower in calories, and lower in carbohydrates, as well as foods that are organic, vegetarian, locally grown, or are a good source of whole grains and calcium.”

Nutritional information is posted online at uno.campusdish.com; students may also download the My Campus Dish app. There is also a dietician provided by Aramark on campus available to discuss healthy dining options available.

“We welcome feedback and have several ways that community members can communicate with us,” said Mezzanares. “Our Your Voice Counts program allows all diners to provide us with in-the-moment feedback online or via their mobile device. We also survey the community every year and incorporate the feedback we receive into our operations.”

in regard to UNO’s national reputation. “In the past several months, we’ve been named a top college

by Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, and U.S. News & World Report,” said Nicklow. “We were named one of the top 1,000 universities in the world by the Center for World University Rankings, and just last week UNO made the U.S. News & World Report’s least-debtless for the sixth straight year. We were the only Louisiana university in this category to make that list.”

Nicklow ended his address by announcing the winners of UNO’s three annual university awards.

The Cooper R. Mackin Medallion was awarded to Biology Professor Kevin Graves; the Presidential Staff Medallion was awarded to Liane Carboni, Assistant to the Dean in the College of Business Administration; and the Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller International Leadership Medallion was awarded to Robert “Bobby” Dupont, associate professor and chair of history.

“I can honestly say that there

UNO President John Nicklow

Photo by Brennan Probst

may not be an institution in this country with more opportunity ahead of it than the University of New Orleans,” said Nicklow. “But the only way for us to capitalize on that opportunity is through a collective spirit, purpose and resolve, so I can’t wait to see what’s in store for all of us.”

ΣK participates in Beach Sweep

BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER Editor-in-Chief The University of New Orleans’ Sigma Kappa sorority participated in the annual Beach Sweep that takes place across the country’s coasts. The event was hosted on Saturday, Sept. 17 by the Lake Pontchartrain Beach Foundation, and it brought together hundreds of locals to clean up Lake Pontchartrain.

Ariana Longoria, head of Sigma Kappa’s philanthropy services, said, “Sigma Kappa has three philanthropies that we support. One is Inherit the Earth, which is about cleaning and caring for our environment. The Beach Sweep sounded like a great event to participate in because of its environmental aspect.”

Beach Sweep is a national event sponsored by the Ocean Conservatory. From 9-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, people all over America picked up trash along their local coasts.

Sophomore Hayley Herbert said, “We heard about [the event]

and thought it would be a good thing to do. So we grabbed all our girls, and went down to help clean up.”

UNO participants checked in at a tent near Landry’s restaurant and were told to go to a designated location. Sigma Kappa was assigned to clean up around Pontchartrain Beach, which is near the university and has been closed to the public for some time.

The gates were opened specifically for this event, and participants were let in to clean up the trash not just on the beach, but along the gravel and rocks near the shoreline as well. Sigma Kappa was greeted with a year’s supply of bottle caps, straws, plastic containers and other miscellaneous trash items along the coast.

Following the event, a free picnic was thrown for all those who participated.

Hebert said, “It was a lot more fun than we thought it was going to be. We enjoyed it a lot, we think we’re going to make this into an annual thing.”

Correction to last week’s article on

“Studying Abroad: Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance” : The costs listed in this article are for a semester exchange program.

Costs for UNO’s summer programs all include tuition, room, some meals, insurance, and other items, depending on the program. For details on all study abroad programs, classes, costs, etc., please visit inst.uno.edu or visit the International Center.

NEWS

Unity debuts LGBT pride parade

Unity members and other proud UNO students showed their true colors at Unity’s first annual Pride Parade.

Photo by Brennan Probst

BY KELLEY DAVIS Driftwood Staff The University of New Orleans Unity organization held a parade on campus to celebrate the culture of gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transexual students on Sept. 21. The parade included 30 students, all from different backgrounds, united in celebrating the acceptance of homosexuality at UNO. Unity’s president, Ana Gowin,

said the event “came from a place of trying to promote visibility.

With everything going on, we just wanted to let people know we’re out here.” “[Unity] establishes a safe space for those who have come out. You get offered the chance to come out without any kind of judgment,” Gowin said.

The parade goers toted handmade posters, flags, a rainbow umbrella and marching batons as they

strolled through campus. The parade began at the Friendship Circle between the Liberal Arts Building and the Mathematics Building and proceeded toward the library, then into the University Center. As the students made their way back to the Friendship Circle, The Cove was their final destination.

There was chanting among the Unity members, “We’re here, we’re queer, and we have nothing to fear.” Music played alongside the parade, with songs like “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga accompanying the march, as members talked and laughed wearing rainbow clothing and accessories.

Unity member and freshman Claire Melancon was in attendance at the parade. She said, “I’m proud to be accepted and not have to hide who I am.”

Melancon added, “It’s so nice; I’m a freshman, but they all know my name. They really care about you.”

Unity is a part of the sexual orientation acceptance movement, and meets every Friday at 4 p.m. in mathematics room 102.

Pulitzer Prize winner Sonia Nazario discusses immigration issues in UNO address

BY TAYLOR ORDOYNE Driftwood Contributor Sonia Nazario, the national bestseller and Pulitzer Prize award-winning author of “Enrique’s Journey,” visited the University of New Orleans on Sept. 20 to discuss her novel and the journey that came along with writing it.

Originally written as a six-part series published in the Los Angeles Times in 2002, “Enrique’s Journey” was released in book form in 2006 and was chosen as UNO’s Common Read selection for the 2016-17 school year.

Nazario opened by mentioning that a discussion of the book was particularly topical with the current immigration debates taking place.

She noted that on the day of her presentation, President Obama had addressed the United Nations on the subject.

Nazario focused on the misconceptions about undocumented immigrants and spoke about the hardships that many face in Central American countries, such as Honduras and Guatemala, and the reasons why so many migrate to America. She listed unsafe cities, poor educational opportunities and high crime rates as major factors for people seeking new opportunities in the United States. She emphasized the plight of children whose mothers left to find work with the intention of eventually bringing them to live in the U.S. Like the book’s main character, Enrique, thousands of Central American children are left behind believing that one day they too will be reunited with their families. Be-

cause adults are often undocumented and must work for low wages, they can never save enough to finance their children’s journeys, so the children decide to take the perilous journey on their own. Some of the children are as young as 11 years old, and according to the author, 40 percent are girls.

Many of these children travel with little money and are often victimized on the journey. Nazario said it is common for them to be robbed, raped and deported. Many never give up, making the attempt to reach their families with only Sonia Nazario discusses pressing ima scrap with the phone number of migration issues on Sept. 20. a relative. It took Enrique eight Photo courtesy of Rebecca Catalanello/UNO attempts to reach his mother. He traveled for 122 days and covered Nazario, conditions in these cenover 12,000 miles, often riding ters are grim. But Nazario is passionate about children having seatop trains.

Nazario herself eventually trav- curity and a safe haven. “7 in 10 elled 1,600 miles for a period of kids can’t afford a lawyer. 9 in 10 three months to replicate Enrique’s kids lose their cases without a lawjourney from Honduras to the yer.” However, “7 in 10 kids win United States. She visited many asylum with a lawyer.” Nazario places and observed the harsh con- said that most undocumented childitions and treatments the children dren would be granted asylum if they were properly represented. endured.

Nazario continues her work by “It crushed my faith in human beings,” Nazario said. However, advocating for children who are as she met more people, she was seeking asylum. She said there are touched by those who met the a variety of ways to help countries trains with food, tortillas and wa- that could stem the flow of immiter. She came into contact with one grants, such as granting microwoman named Maria who said, “If loans, adapting trade policies and I have one tortilla, I will give half educating girls. More information away. I know God will bring me is listed on her website: enriquesjourney.com. more.”

Nazario said that Latinos have Nazario was inspired by the faith and the good-spirit of this woman a positive impact on the American economy. “Migrants do jobs and countless others she ran into.

Upon reaching the U.S., many Americans seriously don’t want to children are immediately put in do.” and the fact is, “Migrants help detention centers. According to drive our economy

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

QUESTION OF THE WEEK What’s your favorite place to eat on campus?

“I go to Chick-fil-A. I go for the great food and really enjoy the hospitality of the workers there.”

BRAD GUIDRY Freshman, N.A.M.E

“I love Subway; it’s like my favorite place on Earth. Ms. Yolanda over there is really nice and reminds me of my grandma. I get a buffalo foot long with chicken on flatbread.”

SAM CARCAMO Freshman, Mechanical Engineering

“I would go to Chick-fil-A. It’s amazing! I get French fries, the nuggets and the sandwich with Chick-fil-A sauce.”

REBECCA BEHRHORST Junior, Psychology

“My favorite place to eat on campus is Popeye’s. There is a good environment and it’s not like The Galley where the food is terrible. A get two-piece tender combo and it’s over with.”

TREVOR NATHAN Sophomore, Jazz Studies

“I don’t really eat on campus, but when I do, I go to The Cove. I go there because they have good fries and it’s easy and fast; you can just go there, get food, and get out. I usually just get some fries.”

FRANZISKA CROENIGER Grad Student, Hospitality and Tourism Management Compiled by Nathan Nguyen

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

SPORTS

UNO men’s, women’s tennis recognized for academic successes

The Privateers’ fall seasons begin on Sept. 30. Both teams will be at home from Oct. 28-29 when the Privateers host the Big Easy Classic.

Photo coutesy of UNO Athletics

BY UNO ATHLETICS The University of New Orleans men’s and women’s tennis programs’ academic accomplishments being recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association has become the norm at the Lakefront, as the teams received ITA Academic honors for the fifth-consecutive year. To go with the team accolades, eight total Privateers received ITA Scholar-Athlete distinction for their hard work in the classroom.

In the five-year span, The Privateers have had student-athletes receive ITA Scholar-Athlete honors 49 times between the two programs.

“Academics are huge for us,” head coach Burzis Kanga said. “Athletics are great, they have been blessed with a great talent and it has afforded them a great opportunity that I want them to run with, and they have.

When all is said and done what they do in the classroom is far more important than what they will do on the courts. The University of New Orle-

ans is an excellent academic school, and the way our student-athletes are able to put so much time practicing and competing and still having time to not only get their school work done, but excel at it, speaks tremendously to the student-athletes here at UNO.” Anna Segarra Rius enters her senior year with three-consecutive nods from the ITA. Anja Luethi claimed her second honor while Hafsa Laraibi leaves the Lakefront as a two-time recipient.

“We are truly fortunate to have a coach like Burzis,” said Luethi. “He understands how important academics are and makes sure we all take advantage of this opportunity. As much as we would all love to play in a grand slam, most of us will end up working outside of tennis after graduation and Burzis is trying to make sure we are prepared and ready to excel in whatever we choose to pursue.

On the men’s side, Luis Albuquerque earned his third-straight honor, putting him in position to receive

ITA Scholar-Athlete accolades all four years. Gonzalo Garcia, who graduated in the spring, received the honor for the second time while Nicolas Kramer began the journey of going 4-4 with the award after his freshman season. Rounding out the men’s honoree was Giacomo Adoncecchi, who claimed his first honor.

The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any ITA program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale). All varsity letter winners should be factored into the cumulative team GPA for the current academic year (including fall 2015 and spring 2016).

In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status a player must meet the following criteria: 1.) be a varsity letter winner, 2.) have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year, and 3.) have been enrolled at their present school for at least 2 semesters (including freshman through senior year).

Freshman Jordan Yauch shines in UNO Volleyball home opener

BY UNO ATHLETICS The University of New Orleans volleyball team opened up the home schedule on Thursday afternoon, hosting Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-17) setback at the HPC. The Privateers (3-11, 0-1 Southland Conference) saw steady improvements throughout the match, increasing the team’s hitting percentage in each set. As a unit, the Privateers posted 7.0 total blocks, besting Houston Baptist’s (9-7, 1-0 Southland Conference) 5.0 blocks.

“It was very exciting to be playing back on our home court,” head coach Millicent Van Norden explained. “Our fans got into the match from the beginning and it helped us start each set strong.”

Freshman outside hitter Jordan Yauch (Biological Science) led the Privateers on offense and defense with 13 digs and seven kills, both team highs.

Sarah Thomas (Accounting & Finance) dished out the ball for the royal blue and silver with a team-best 22 assists in the contest while Cara Sanders (Marketing) scored three points from the service line.

Middle Blocker Rondolyn Bryant (Exercise Physiology) posted multiple blocks for the

second-consecutive matches with four, tied with Thomas for the team-high, while posting six kills. Takierra Boughton (Interdisciplinary Studies) and Kaitlyn Grice (Biology) both chipped in a pair of blocks.

UNO’s best set came in the finale, where the Privateers posted a game-high 12 kills off a .194 hitting percentage. The Privateers held tight against the Huskies, until a costly 4-0 spurt by the visitors made it a six-point frame at 16-10. The Privateers brought the deficit to within three at 17-14, but an 8-4 run by HBU ended the contest.

New Orleans managed to take its first lead of the match in the opening frame, after a kill from Yauch sparked a 3-0 spree to put the Privateers ahead 5-4. UNO held onto the advantage until a 5-1 run

by Houston Baptist made it 11-8 in their favor. Back-toback points for UNO made it a two-point contest at 12-10, but five-consecutive points by HBU make it 17-10. In similar fashion to the opener, HBU used an early 5-0 run to take the advantage. UNO fought back from an early deficit to knot up the score 8-all before the rally put the visitors up 13-8. In the final plays of the second stanza HBU had another run, this one for six, to push their advantage to nine at 24-15.

FEATURES

Japan: Where dreams become reality

2016 UNO-Japan participants at Tōei Uzumasa Eigamura movie park in Kyoto, Japan.

Photo coutesy of Amanda Palladino

BY JAMIE LLOYD Driftwood Staff There are places in this world where nature imitates art. There are places where lifelong dreams come true. There are even places you visit as a stranger and leave as a member of an unspoken family.

And then there’s Japan.

For many University of New Orleans students, Japan has all the perks of an ideal cultural experience: a rich blending of nature, modernization and traditional aspects, with a touch of exoticism.

This past summer, over the course of five weeks, 25 students from across the country had the opportunity to experience the enchanting beauty of Japan through studying abroad with UNO. Whether it was making international friends through the Tomodachi Program, exploring the many diverse and ancient landscapes of Japan, or even earning college credit, it is clear the UNO-Japan program has something to offer everyone.

For Nigel Copeland, a junior majoring in film and also a recent

UNO-Japan program ambassador, the trip could not have come at a more perfect time. “Since I was younger—third grade—I’ve been really curious and fascinated with Asian cultures. Japan is one of the Asian cultures I’ve been really fascinated with for a long time.”

Copeland did some soul-searching during the spring semester before figuring out that studying abroad was a good fit. “I wanted something that really cemented my college experience as something that was valuable,” he said.

“I wanted to take something more than just a degree from UNO.” After being inspired to study abroad by friends who had recently traveled to Europe, Copeland began doing some research when he saw signs around UNO advertising the many study abroad programs the university offers.

“When I saw Japan listed as the only Asian country you could travel to, I instantly gravitated to that choice because I’ve been fascinated [for] so long with Asian cultures.”

“It seemed like the natural choice for me. I had never even left the

country before. Sometimes you’ve got to run before you can walk!”

Copeland said. “I decided to go as far as I could to a place that I’ve always dreamed of going. I didn’t look back.”

Copeland said his trip would not have been as fulfilling if it weren’t for the Ambassador Award he received from UNO, a scholarship which assists students financially to study abroad and represent their chosen program.

“The Ambassador Award not only gave me a really big break in resources, but it was also a chance to represent the program, which is something I was actually really interested in doing,” Copeland said.

“Without that award, I do not think it would have been possible for me to actually go to Japan.”

Copeland pointed out that it was the connections he made on this program that made his journey a life-changing experience. “The opportunity to have a lifelong friendship in another country is extremely rewarding. Today, even, I am still talking to my Tomodachi partner. It’s crazy to think that just a few months ago I didn’t know anyone in Japan, and now every day I talk to the people that I’ve met, that I am honored to call my friends,” Copeland said. “I will never forget this program because I’ll never forget the people.”

Copeland has since created a short promotional video featuring the UNO-Japan program, which will make its debut on the University of New Orleans’ international website in the beginning of October. To watch his journey, or to find out more information about studying abroad in Japan, as well as other exciting destinations, don’t hesitate to check out inst.uno.edu or stop by UNO’s international center on campus.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

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FINANCING YOUR FUTURE TODAY

How to form a mutual relationship

BY FERNANDO J. SABALLOS Driftwood Contibutor The reality of investing as a college student is that it can be incredibly difficult to accomplish. The how is less about how to invest and more about how to afford it. With limited funds, looking into the market can seem more like window shopping.

Some stocks are cheap, but in terms of affordability, cost is relative.

Most of the well-known companies are also some of the most expensive. Unless you have a couple hundred bucks for a measly handful of shares, good luck trying to get a slice of Apple. Pun intended. Rest assured that your free Google search for Google stock price will also yield costly results.

Thankfully, there is a way for you to have your cake - or apple - and eat it, for only a portion of the price, in the form of a mutual fund.

A mutual fund is an investment company funded by shareholders that uses these proceeds to invest in securities. Mutual funds allow investors with limited funds, limited time and limited knowledge

to earn a rate of return. The key distinguishing feature of a mutual fund is that these securities come in various options.

There are thousands of mutual funds in the market and it goes beyond funds that hold just stocks or bonds. If you want a mutual fund that holds market kings such as Amazon, Facebook, and Netflix, there’s a largesize fund for you. If you want to diversify beyond the already diverse nature of the fund, you can choose from a selection of large, small, tax-free bond, international, high-yield bond, long-term, and countless more.

To choose wisely from these vast options, simply review the ratings. Morningstar is a rating firm that uses a five star system – five stars being the highest and one star being the lowest. Due to the diverse range of investment objectives that each mutual fund has, these ratings are based off the performance within the confines of its categorical investment objective.

Another unique feature of mutual funds is the availability of no-load funds or $0 sales charge.

Not all offer this special deal, which might make you question why anyone in their right mind would pay a sales charge. For instance, I’d rather pay a $10 commission on a fund that’ll perform to my expectations than pay $0 for a dud.

Be warned: the greatest pitfall of mutual funds lies in the hidden expenses that could potentially eat into your returns. With stocks, the typical expenses come in the form of commissions and taxes on gains.

Japan traveler observes similarities between New Orleans and Tokyo

BY WILLIAM ARCHAMBEAULT Driftwood Contributor Despite being separated by oceans and a day-long plane ride, Japan and New Orleans share a number of similarities. The world is smaller than I thought.

This past summer, I experienced Japan first-hand through the University of New Orleans summer study abroad program. Over the course of five weeks, I was surprised whenever I found new ways the two cultures coincided.

The only Cafe Du Monde locations outside of Louisiana are, you guessed it, in Japan. The country actually hosts 52 Cafe Du Monde stands. Unlike their New Orleans relatives, these are not 24-hour locations, leaving 2 a.m. beignet trips out of the question. But on a sunny morning in Osaka, I experienced a little piece of home.

While the cafe’s Japanese menu closely resembles the original in New Orleans, it does have its fair share of oddities. In addition to

beignets, a customer can also find hot dogs on the menu. A special evening menu features jambalaya and even Jack Daniels. I decided to stick with the tried-and-true beignets; though I found them smaller and lighter than their New Orleans counterparts, with considerably less powdered sugar. On the bright side, though, reduced quantities of powdered sugar kept me from looking like I rolled around in baby powder.

While the Osaka location embraces the more modern elements of design, the Cafe Du Monde in Tokyo does its best to imitate the French Quarter location. Carriage lanterns and arched windows adorn the walls. Outside, the all-too-familiar green and white awnings welcome visitors. The shop even sells New-Orleans-themed merchandise, including tote bags featuring landmarks like Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral and of course, the original French Quarter location of Cafe Du Monde. I changed up my order at this location, deciding to go with beignets with a sweet combination of caramel and chocolate.

Further trips around Tokyo revealed more unexpected similarities to New Orleans. A journey through Tsukiji fish market, an internationally known wholesale seafood market, made me homesick.

The market’s crowded sidewalks and open-air feel brought me back to a busy Saturday morning at the French Market. A street barker, not unlike those on Bourbon Street, convinced my friend and me to step into a restaurant for a breakfast of fresh tuna and miso soup.

But it was my encounter with Kentaro, a Tokyo funk musician, that truly pushed the boundaries of the city. When he hopped out of his taxi, he immediately rushed me across the street to buy himself a beer. He explained that Tokyo is not too different from New Orleans.

Drinking in the street is typically frowned upon but completely legal.

Armed with his beer, we made it through the hectic subway system to a restaurant. There, he shoved plate after plate in front of my face but refused to disclose the identities of anything. Midway through, he

revealed that I was eating a trio of whale, raw horse, and chicken intestines. Although these are not frequent staples of a typical Japanese person’s diet, Kentaro enjoyed seeing a Westerner’s’ reaction. He was not surprised by my unfazed reaction once I reminded him I’m from New Orleans. He commented that New Orleanians eat lots of strange foods like crawfish and oysters.

One of the most noticeable connections between New Orleans and Japan is music. Walking down the aisles of Tower Records in Kyoto, I spied signs paying tribute to music legends like Prince, David Bowie, and New Orleans’ own Allen Toussaint. Below the Toussaint sign was a section dedicated to New Orleans music, something that appeared in most of the record stores I visited across Japan. Even the record stores without such sections stocked a wide variety of New Orleans releases, ranging from ‘60s R&B superstar Ernie K-Doe to sludge metal lords Eyehategod.

Encounters with different Japanese people also revealed an eclec-

tic interest in New Orleans music, ranging from jazz to hardcore punk.

During our stay in Kyoto, a university choir put on a performance featuring “When the Saints Come Marching In.” At Stormy Dudes Punk Festa in Osaka, discussions with punk musicians typically led to New Orleans music. When I mentioned New Orleans to Razors Edge guitarist Taka, he professed a love of Louis Armstrong without missing a beat. During his set, Melt-Banana guitarist Agata sported a shirt for New Orleans hardcore punk group PEARS. A discussion afterwards focused on our mutual love of the band and his recollection of a Baton Rouge show with the group.

The world really is smaller than you think.

Assistance from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship was vital to my participation in the UNO-Japan program. For more information about the UNO-Japan program and potential scholarship options, check out http://inst.uno. edu/japan/.

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FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

EpiPen price causes furor among allergy sufferers

BY BRITTANY KARNO Driftwood Staff On Wednesday, Sept. 21, Heather Bresch, CEO of the pharmaceutical company Mylan, gave her testimony to the United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Recently, Mylan has faced controversy concerning the cost of its EpiPens. “You don’t have to talk to somebody very long to figure out that they have to have [an] EpiPen.

It’s not optional,” said U.S. Congressman and Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz. “The price of this has gone from roughly $99 for one to more than $600 for two in a very short amount of time.”

“I think many people incorrectly assume that we make $600 off each pen. It’s simply not true,” said Bresch. “In the complicated world of pharmaceutical pricing there is something known as the Wholesale Acquisition Cost.”

According to Bresch, the WAC for two EpiPens has increased by

51 percent since 2014. However, the net revenue Mylan receives after rebates and fees has increased from $235 to $274. The annual increase to Mylan for the past two years has been approximately 8 percent per year. After the subtraction of cost of goods and EpiPen costs, Mylan profit is approximately $100, $50 per pen.

Michelle Karno, mother of five who resides in Jefferson Parish, has personally experienced the EpiPen price increase; she purchased an EpiPen for her 9-year-old daughter

six months ago. Her daughter’s pediatrician, who recommended Karno keep an EpiPen on hand in the case of an allergic reaction, gave her a $100 voucher for the injector.

However, even with the voucher, Karno found herself spending $500 on a single EpiPen at Target’s pharmacy.

“The EpiPen price increase is emblematic of what’s going on in the world today,” said Karno, who will not buy another EpiPen in the future, as her daughter’s allergic reactions are not extreme enough

to require one. Karno said she felt scammed after learning cheaper epinephrine injectors were available.

University of New Orleans senior Mei Ellis faced a situation similar to Karno’s when a doctor urged her to purchase an EpiPen as a worst-case-scenario injection tool. “My doctor strongly urged me to get the name brand EpiPen as opposed to a more reasonably priced generic,” said Ellis. “Looking back, I’m now pretty skeptical of my doctor’s insistence.”

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followed by a panel discussion about whether the American Dream is still alive.

Panelists include Benjamin Berger from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, and columnist Jarvis DeBerry from The Times-Picayune/NOLA.com.

Tuesday, October 4th at 7PM in the Liberal Arts Building, room 236 on UNO’s campus.

An epic road trip in search of the vanishing American Dream editors PASCAL AKESSON & SANDRA CHRISTIE composer RICHARD FIOCCA • graphic design BILL BERGERON-MIRSKY field producer JEFF SEELBACH • production manager SUZANNE BEFFA cinematography SANDRA CHANDLER & JOHN HAZARD • sound ALAN BARKER a production of PUBLIC POLICY PRODUCTIONS in association with WNET executive in charge for WNET STEPHEN SEGALLER written by JOHN FUGELSANG & ROGER WEISBERG produced and directed by ROGER WEISBERG © 2015 PUBLIC POLICY PRODUCTIONS, INC.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT

Education and entertainment combine forces for children

Ryder Maxie enjoys an episode of Netflix’s “Ask the StoryBots.”

Photo courtesy of Lindsay Maxie

BY LINDSAY MAXIE Driftwood Staff It isn’t too often that parents and children agree on the same things, and television shows are no exception. As society has changed over the years, so have the television shows that children are exposed to.

Due to technology, video streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu have become a main source of entertainment for children. However, these sources are loaded with a variety of options.

Children tend to choose television programs that are created purely for entertainment purposes and lack any educational value. While these shows, such as “Sponge Bob Square Pants,” “Oggy and the Cockroaches,” and many others, are acceptable in moderation, it is not

all that parents want their children to watch. There are shows available to children that can be viewed as a compromise, as they provide children with the entertainment they desire and the educational value that parents seek.

“Ask the Story Bots” is new to television; it was first broadcast in 2016. Story bots are tiny robots that take children on an adventure. The bots answer some of the biggest questions that the children might have: How does night happen?

Why do I have to brush my teeth?

Where does rain come from? This television series is a multi-learning platform for children, particularly addressing ages three through eight. “Ask the Story Bots” has also been transformed into educational-book form, along with classroom tools that align with common core.

“Ask the Story Bots” is one of the television shows that parents and children can both agree on.

According to five year old Ryder Maxie, “It is really awesome because it’s a bunch of little bots living inside computer parts and answering questions to kids.”

“Super Why” began appearing on Sprout and PBS Kids in 2012.

The show introduces children to four friends who live in Storyville.

The gang answers phone calls from their “super-duper computer” that present problems that need to be solved. The characters then turn to their books to find the answer, while engaging its viewers in letter recognition, reading and summarizing skills.

Maxie said, “It has very cool characters, and tells you about a lot of big words.”

Disney’s “Little Einsteins” began airing in 2005; since then, it has become a favorite show of many children and parents. “Little Einsteins” features four friends who are constantly going on adventures in their ever-changing rocket ship. This series particularly catches the interest of preschoolers. It introduces nature and a variety of cultures and art pieces from around the world. Each Einstein uses his or her own special talents to work together as a team to solve problems, while incorporating one piece of famous classical music and renowned work of art.

Maxie said, “The characters are awesome and have a cool ship. I like learning about the music notes at the end of the show, and watching all of the ways they explore.”

Nick Cave: Music for the abyss

BY LEO CASTELL Driftwood Staff Nick Cave fans who follow the singer-songwriter’s personal life may know that last year, he lost his teenage son, Arthur, in a tragic accident during the recording sessions for his latest album, “Skeleton Tree.”

Cave’s nearly 40-year-long music career is hardly a stranger to dark or morbid subject matter; so it’s a reasonable expectation that this traumatic event would have an effect on his latest album. “Skeleton Tree” is downright harrowing, but it also compels the listener to take in and absorb every lyric.

Don’t approach “Skeleton Tree” expecting an artist to capitalize on a tragedy. Cave is far too talented for that. Most, if not all, of the songs don’t seem to be explicitly about Arthur as much as they are existential explorations of death.

Cave’s vocal delivery steals the show on “Skeleton Tree.” The listener gets the impression that Cave is completely broken down and his foot is over the edge. It is not so much depressing as it is haunting in a way that makes you feel trapped in a musical abyss. Cave does a lot of introspection on this album, and

STAFF PICKS DISNEY ORIGINAL MOVIES ANJANAE CRUMP “THE COLOR OF FRIENDSHIP” Every February as a child I would constantly check Disney Channel in anticipation of the movie “The Color of Friendship” being played in honor of Black History month. I was always interested in my culture and as a little black girl, especially in a time and neighborhood where encounters with white people were still few and out of the ordinary, it was always interesting to watch such a close interaction between the two on TV. It featured two little girls, one black (Piper) and the other white (Mahree). Mahree travels from South Africa to live with Piper and her family in the U.S. through a student exchange program and they both get more from it than expected. In spite of their differences, together they discover the true meaning of friendship. Many Disney movies tend to have a lesson learned at the end and this lesson always warmed my heart.

JAMIE LLOYD “THE EVEN STEVENS MOVIE” This wacky and often irreverent movie, much like the rest of Shia LaBeouf’s acting career, has always been grounds for comedic discussion and laughter in my household. My siblings and I had logged in so many hours of watching it, we even convinced our parents to join in on all of the fun and watch it with us a few times. The corny one-liners and inside jokes my sister and coined while watching the movie still crack us up to this day (more than we’d like to admit, nowadays).

The plot of the Stevens family taking a dream vacation that goes terribly wrong made it a staple to watch on our own family vacations, perhaps secretly wishing we could partake in all of the shenanigans and delirious plot holes the Stevens family were forced to endure.

“The Even Stevens Movie” is a memento of my childhood worth revisiting from time to time, if only for the campy acting and nostalgia.

CHRISTOPHER WALKER “LUCK OF THE IRISH”

you’ll probably find yourself doing the same in the middle of every song.

“Skeleton Tree” consists of a eight brief tracks, none of them exceeding six minutes, and they’re easy on the ears. I would consider this album a great place to start if you’re looking to get into Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

The instrumentation is low-key, quiet and spacey, comprised of pianos, synthesizers and guitars, but Cave’s voice is at the forefront. The music is extremely atmospheric.

My only real complaint with the entire album is that the production is so low-key, it can be hard to differentiate the tracks from one an-

Photo courtesy of Sonic PR

other, and they all end up bleeding together.

“Skeleton Tree” is one of those albums where even my least favorite song, “Distant Sky,” is still pretty good. When it comes to highlights, “Girl in Amber” and “I Need You” are fighting to be my top favorites.

The album closes on its title track, which is, perhaps, the only truly bright spot the record has; as if to say that despite everything you and Cave just went through in the last seven tracks, there’s still hope.

As dark as this album gets (and it gets very dark), your life is only going to be made brighter by listening to it.

Like so many treasured childhood memories involving movies, the quality of the content was not what’s important. “Luck of the Irish” is a subpar film, but watching the movie as a kid is an event that has stuck with me all these years. My parents were away for the weekend, which meant my grandparents were in town watching me and my two sisters. Needless to say, we felt a fantastic surge of freedom as soon as they left.

Also, that weekend happened to have a huge storm system passing over, which meant that outside there was rain and lightning and thunder. But we were warm inside as we ordered pizza, and watched “Luck of the Irish” as the storm raged outside. To this day, it’s one of the memories I default to when people ask about favorite childhood memories.

ENTERTAINMENT

Canine narrator adds heart to “The Art of Racing in the Rain”

Cover courtesy of HarperCollins

BY MINDY JARRETT Copy Editor I was hesitant to read Garth Stein’s 2008 novel because I knew it would tug at my heartstrings.

Life is sad enough; I didn’t need a book adding to the drama. But

I went ahead and read it anyway.

“The Art of Racing in the Rain” did not tug at my heartstrings - it tore my whole heart open.

Upon opening the book, I quickly read the first 100 pages, and by the following night, I had finished it. I couldn’t put it down. It’s an easy read, almost too easy, until the reader takes into consideration that these are, after all, supposed to be the thoughts of a dog.

“Sometimes I hate what I am so much,” states Enzo the dog, who wants nothing more than to be human. He truly is man’s best friend; he worships Denny, his racecar-driving owner.

Stein fills the book with philosophical racing statements that also serve as metaphors for life.

“That which we manifest is before us.” It almost reads like a self-help book crossed within its fictional frame.

When Denny’s love interest, Eve, moves into Denny’s home, Enzo tries his hardest to be accepting. “We were both satellites

orbiting Denny’s sun, struggling for gravitational supremacy.”

Not long after Eve’s arrival, the couple marries; shortly after, their family of three becomes a family of four with the birth of their daughter, Zoë. Enzo takes his job as Zoë’s protector seriously, and despite Zoë’s hesitations (“I made faces at her that were too expressive and defied what she’d learned from the adult-driven World Order that denies animals the process of thought.”), the brother-sister relationship between the two is strong.

I won’t give away the rest of the book, but be warned that it doesn’t follow with butterflies and rainbows. The heavy subject of death is a major theme of the book. But with Enzo serving as the book’s narrator, death becomes more than a tear-jerking subject. Stein uses Enzo to explain the process of understanding death as a part of life.

“To live everyday as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live.” Isn’t that how everyone should live?

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

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“Deepwater Horizon:” a perfect mindless disaster movie

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While the film does does take creative liberties with the real-life events, Berg is genuinely respectful to the victims of the tragedy without

crossing into pedantic territory. He seems to truly appreciate the human lives that were lost in the accident, and he is aware of the potential capitalization of the tragedy and avoids it.

“Deepwater Horizon” is a major Hollywood film that isn’t a sequel and isn’t a superhero movie. These

days, it’s rare to find a studio willing to sink $150 million into something that isn’t part of an already established franchise. It’s refreshing to have something with this big of budget be a stand-alone film.

In fact, “Deepwater Horizon” is one of the better blockbusters in recent memory.

Mark Wahlberg plays Mike Williams, real-life survivor of the Deepwater Horizon oil explosion that took place April 20, 2010. Courtesy of Summit Entertainment

BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER Editor-in-Chief The real-life events of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill could have been made into 20 different movies, each approaching the story from different angles. The subject matter is ripe for creative interpretation.

Unfortunately, the first film to come out about the events of that fateful day is a paint-by-number disaster film directed by Peter Berg, a director likely to fill the void Michael Bay leaves when he retires.

Berg (“Hancock,” “Battleship”) is not known for his delicate sensibilities. However, an essential part of mature film criticism is judging a movie not by what we wish it was, but by what it’s trying to be. And “Deepwater Horizon” hits most of the marks it attempts to.

The vast majority of negative criticism goes to the movie’s first act.

The heroes and the villains are too black-and-white; there is little in the way of character development, and the dialogue is hollow and robotic.

The entire first half could have used a different director - one with

a finer touch - one with a deeper understanding of people and their relationships. However, as soon as disaster hits, Berg earns his paycheck: the film floors the gas pedal and doesn’t let off until the credits roll.

For a good 50 minutes, it’s explosion and disaster and mayhem, one after another. The real talent, perhaps genius, of Berg’s direction is that somehow the audience is entertained by each and every explosion and mishap. Somehow, miraculously, the senses are not numbed by this onslaught of images and sounds.

The film’s running length is short for a budget this size, clocking in at just over an hourand-a-half, but it ends exactly when it needs to. Berg knows what you’re here for. After he’s done with the action sequences, he doesn’t see a need to keep you any longer than he needs to.

Do you fault a theme park for kicking you off the rollercoaster immediately after the ride comes to a halt? Maybe Hollywood has finally realized that most people

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

11

EDITORIAL

Living a healthy lifestyle as a college student isn’t easy Getting through college isn’t easy. Ask any college student who has been in school for more than a year, and he or she can probably tell you a crazy story regarding some heroic, academic demonstration of willpower - some tall tale that proves just how far our bodies can be pushed.

Maybe you’ll hear of a threeday-in-a-row all-nighter; or how a student memorized an entire textbook a week before the exam;

POINT/ COUNTERPOINT

BY ANJANAE CRUMP Managing Editor In genetic engineering, DNA is specifically altered to produce organisms with desirable traits, such as bigger size, herbicide resistance and increased aesthetic qualities. Over 85 percent of all corn and soy crops are made from genetically modified seeds. The majority of cows and other domesticated animals used for food are fed this corn and soy, and over 80 percent of all processed food contains GMOs. While some like to claim that genetic modification has been going on for ages, in today’s society, technology is much more advanced and has allowed for a much greater degree of artificial change than past farmers’ simple selective breeding methods.

The first successful genetically

or someone who studied for 36 straight hours on nothing but water and coffee.

For a young adult trying to get a degree, the most important thing in life is schoolwork. Personal health takes a back seat.

The two do not, however, have to be mutually exclusive. Living healthy makes academic life easier. Adequate sleep and good nutrition ensure high energy levels, making the ability to focus that

much easier.

Students who sacrifice their bodies for their schoolwork are doing themselves a disservice.

Numerous studies have shown that sleep deprivation is equivalent to intoxication. How many students think that studying while drunk is an effective way to absorb information? Virtually none - most would consider it a waste of time.

So, why is it that studying with

little-to-no sleep has become a go-to method?

If you’re tired and you have already gone over your textbook and notes dozens of times, and you feel that the information is not really sinking in, chances are that you’ll be better served by taking a nap and looking at the notes when you wake up.

Same goes for nutrition: your body functions well on real food, not on caffeine and candy bars.

Editor-in-Chief GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are an essential part of our everyday life. GMOs are the only feasible way that our exploding global population has enough to eat, and trying to avoid them creates a serious financial and logical headache.

Time and time again, numerous studies have proven that GMOs are completely safe for consumption.

is going through constant energy peaks and valleys. A steady level of energy and focus is immensely helpful for studies.

Your mind functions best when your body gets what it needs. Students who care about their bodies will find their minds and grades greatly improved.

Say no to GMO’s engineered organism was created in 1973: an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria by scientists Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen.

Since then, scientists have been tampering with our food’s molecules.

One of the most popular GMO crops is Roundup Ready crops, which are resistant to the herbicide, Roundup.

Because of this resistance, farmers are able to spray their crops as often as they would like and far more liberally than what is safe for both humans and the environment.

Because the FDA doesn’t require companies to disclose whether or not their products include GMOs, many companies don’t bother to label them. Little is known publicly about these genetically modified organisms.

This causes great concern. When companies choose not to label what is in their product, it seems as if there is something to hide. It is even worse when the government doesn’t set better standards for it.

Because of this freedom, there have not been any long-term studies using humans to determine possible GMO side effects. Due to this deficiency, their risks are still largely uncertain. However, there have been a few long-term studies using animal testing. In the most-detailed GMO study to date, led by Professor

Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen in France, rats were used to test a Monsanto GM Roundup-tolerant maize crop. After two years, it was found that the rats suffered severe organ damage, hormonal disruption, palpable tumors and premature death.

It would take years, possibly decades, to properly link GMO effects in humans. Since the government and big companies who support GMOs are the main ones benefiting from it, it’s no surprise that they seem to be in no rush. Over 64 countries have mandatory laws requiring the labeling of GMOs. In places like Norway, GMOs are allowed only if the product is proven to have no health or environmental risks, it contributes to sustainable long-term development and is ethical. Here in the United States, there are no such regulations.

This is a free country, and farmers can grow whatever they want, but ultimately, I should have the same freedom to choose what it is I eat, and I can’t do that properly if I have no knowledge of what is even in my food and which possible risks might be associated with eating it.

Though it is true that genetically modified crops produce higher yields, which can feed more people in our ever-growing population, quantity does not always beat quality.

GMO’s are healthy and safe

BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER

It’s hard to study when your body

Virtually no evidence exists to support the theory that hormones transfer from animals and plants to the humans who consume them.

GMOs, which are much cheaper than their organic counterparts, have gotten a bad reputation in today’s society, for no reason other than the name “genetically modified” sounds bad. I cannot stress this enough: virtually no research conducted by a bipartisan organization shows GMO’s are less healthy than their counterparts.

The people who promote GMO-abstaining are the same people who swear by abstaining from gluten, the protein found in processed wheat. Though this small, vocal portion of the population chooses to be gluten-free, gluten has been proven to be fine for the vast majority of the population to consume.

Often, when people try to eat healthier, they get caught up in a plethora of information. No-carb diet, high-carb diet, high-fat, low-fat,

only-eat-protein, paleo, keto, intermittent fasting: the list goes on and on. They strive for absolute perfection when “good enough” will do.

Someone eating a balanced diet of healthy, genetically modified organisms, such as grilled chicken breasts, broccoli, etc., is going to live a far-healthier life than someone who eats an unbalanced diet full of exclusively non-GMO produce.

Non-GMO products are also wildly expensive and can turn many people off from eating healthy if they believe it’s going to cost them so much more than eating fast food every day.

Eating healthy food the right way is far cheaper than the unhealthy alternative.

It’s the same concept as vegans who claim to eat healthy but look sickly because they only eat peanut butter and vegetables. A balanced diet is what’s important. The details, for 99 percent of the population, are irrelevant.

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

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