Driftwood Volume 58 Issue 17 by Driftwood

DRIFTWOOD Volume: 58 Issue: 17

The community newspaper of the University of New Orleans

driftwood.uno.edu

February 11, 2015

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD

Unity to raise marriage equality awareness with annual event Coreyiel Ellis Driftwood Staff

With Supreme Court rulings about same-sex marriage right around the corner, marriage equality has never been more important. Unity, the campus organization will use their annual Marriage Equality event to bring attention to the cause. The event takes place in the quad on Feb. 11, 2015 from 11 - 3 p.m. “It’s our 4th year doing it. We always do it on or around Valentine’s Day,” said Unity’s President, Ally Daily. “We hold the event as a protest against marriage inequality in Louisiana.” The event is used as a fun way to educate people in the issues of marriage inequality in the state. “It’s a time for people to dress up and have fun and take pictures under the arch,” said Daily. “We get a lot of positive feedback.” “People get a kick out getting to marry their best friend for the day,” said Daily. “At the Unity event, we allow them to marry multiple people; like marry all of their friends. They can get married more than once. It’s really just a fun way to come out and dress up and get silly.” Though the Marriage Equality Day event is fun, there is a bigger message within it.“I’d love for people to come and realize that marriage equality is still an issue in the state of Louisiana and that it’s one of our biggest goals if not our only one,” said Daily. The Unity Marriage Equality Day event attracts many students across campus using it’s central location. “The good thing about having it in the quad is that we get a lot of traffic when classes let out. So people who haven’t heard of Unity before can come over and see our big arch and check it out, ” said Daily. This year, Unity is selling rainbow ribbons that show the student’s support at the Marriage Equality event. “Any money we make selling our ribbons at the event goes into the Unity funds to fund our projects like this,” said Daily. Unity members help out with putting the event together and partaking in the fun. “Of course we get our members to come out and help with the event and participate in it,” said Daily Unity is working towards gaining support from the general public and UNO students to fight marriage inequality within the state. “For marriage equality to be accomplished in this state, we’re going to need everybody’s

support,” said Daily. “We can’t just have people in the queer community working towards it. We need allies; we need straight people to realize what we’re working towards. We need help.” To help fight marriage inequality in the state, everyone must educate themselves on what’s happening around them. “The biggest way that everyone can help is to just get educated about the situations that are happening around Louisiana and around the country as well,” said Unity’s Vice President, Moe Labbe. “Education is the first step to helping change a problem.” Unity has been promoting equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, questioning and asexual community around campus for five years. “Unity is the LGBTQIQA+ organization on campus so our biggest goal is, number one, to offer a safe place for people who identify

within the queer community to come and be a part of a little family and to know that they’re not alone on UNO’s campus,” said Daily. “Our second goal is to educate the general population around UNO and in the city of New Orleans about what we stand for, what we’re trying to accomplish and how we’re not any different from our allies or anybody else on campus.” In a relatively short amount of time, Unity has reached a lot of students across the campus and gained a lot of support.. “We’ve been active on this campus for five years. We just had two of our members on the Homecoming court,” said Daily. “We’ve got nothing but acceptance and support in that endeavor and we haven’t had any problems on campus. I think that we’re definitely promoting acceptance and tolerance and I think that our message is getting

across.” Unity welcomes all students to join the group’s weekly meetings and learn more about issues and happenings in the queer community. “We have general meetings on Mondays at 3 p.m. in Milneburg Hall, room 319,” said Daily. “We do welcome all people to our general meetings, not just people who identify within the queer community but also our allies and people who want to get more informed and educated about things in the queer community,” said Labbe. “We accept all people.” As for the Marriage Equality Day event, Unity invites everyone to come out and have fun. Daily said“We hope that people come out to the event... and have a great time.” Illustration by Delvonte Smith

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

NEWS

Train your brain: Utilize UNO’s Writing Center as a preparation resource Carlee Lauve Driftwood Staff

Established in the early 1980s, the Writing Center is focused on improving student writing. Last semester the Writing Center logged over 1,600 tutoring sessions helping UNO students succeed in their writing assignments. Throughout its history, the Writing Center has been staffed and financed through the English department, which pays the director’s salary as well as the graduate assistants who work as writing coaches. The mission of the Writing Center is to “make students better writers and to help them succeed in their college classes in order to graduate on time,” said Writing Center Director Inge Fink. Fink has been the center’s director for the last ten years. She earned a Masters in German and American Studies from the University of Innsbruck in Austria and a Masters in English from UNO. Fink is also an instructor and has

Writing Center Liberal Arts Building, 334 For appointments: 504-280-7054 Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

been teaching in the English Department since 1988. The Writing Center is staffed with writing “coaches” as Fink calls them. The coaches work with students to improve and strengthen their writing skills just as athletic coaches help athletes improve their playing skills. “Our boss likes to think of herself as the head coach. She considers this more of a workout regimen than tutoring. She thinks tutoring has a bad ring to it,” said Maria Dominguez, a writing coach at the center. Tutoring is sometimes seen negatively because it is often needed when a student is doing poorly in a subject. “We try to show them [the students] that even athletes train everyday, all year round, not just the day before a competition, and the more an athlete trains the better he or she is going to get,” Fink said. At the Writing Center, this same training attitude applies to students’ writing. “Don’t try to come to us the day before an assignment is due for some ‘last-minute fix’ because it’s not going to do much. Come to us the day a paper is assigned and we can help you with all the phases of the assignment,” Fink said. One-on-one tutoring sessions with a writing coach are usually a half hour and offer services for all steps of the writing process including generating ideas, conducting research, revising drafts, as well as correcting any grammatical or me-

Writing coach Brock Thibodaux works with students during a writing session.

chanical errors. The Writing Center also offers several workshops taught by the writing coaches that focus on the different steps of the writing process. All of these workshops are free and open to any UNO student. To make sure space is available, call and make a reservation to whichever workshop you wish to take part in. The complete schedule

of grammar and writing workshops are available on the Writing Center webpage along with several printable handouts. The Writing Center also offers online tutoring. To submit a paper online, send an email to ifink@uno. edu from your UNO email. Include instructions for the assignment, the name of the class, the professor and a draft of your paper. Your request

Photo by Traven Stout

will be forwarded to one of the tutors. If a student is interested in a one-on-one tutoring session, he or she should call (504) 280-7054 to make an appointment and check out www.uno/lrc/writingcenter to explore more information about everything the Writing Center has to offer.

OPINION

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Our view

Why not love love? Anna Gowin News Editor I love Valentine’s Day, and not because of the many suitors that come bearing me gifts or anything like that. To be honest, I’ve never been in a relationship on Valentine’s Day. Nineteen years worth of being single while people around you celebrate love (or lust, or whatever it is college students celebrate) should embitter a person. Yet here I am, in all my Valentine’s Day loving glory. You will never catch me glaring at couples exchanging gifts or bitterly knocking over teddy bears at the CVS. Do we overvalue love, romantic love specifically? Probably. But, to me Valentine’s Day has always been a celebration of all kinds of love, not just romantic, and I’ve always treated it that way. It is an opportunity to let the people in my life know how much I care about them, in a very specific way that often involves pun-ny cards and excessive amounts of chocolate. Even more importantly, I use Valentine’s Day as a reminder to love myself in whatever form

that takes. Specifically, that means not using February 14th as an excuse to feel sorry for myself. Valentine’s Day is typically reserved for people in romantic relationships, true, but I reject the idea that that is the exclusive definition. Why waste so much energy feeling sad, annoyed, or even sickened on a day that’s meant to be happy? There is beauty in celebrating all the kinds of love (romantic, friendly, familial, intimate, or even self), and especially beauty in devoting a whole day to that celebration. Every time I see a heart-shaped box of chocolates or a gratuitously-written greeting card, when the initial queasiness subsides, I think about the way someone is going to feel when they receive those things. I think about how loved they’ll feel, and how I want everyone I know to feel that way too, relationship or not. Call me a hopeless romantic, or a bleeding heart sap if you want, I’ll take it in stride. I’d much rather take advantage of the holiday and join in on the fun. Find me on Valentine’s Day (I’ll be the one in red) and I’ll give you a card.

Campus Calendar February 12 College of Engineering Icebreaker Meet and greet luncheon at the College of Engineering (COE) courtyard from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. All are welcome to join. $5 suggested donation. King Cake Competition Come judge UNO’s king cake competition in the lobby of the Privateer Enrollment Center on the first ﬂoor of the Earl K. Long Library. There are three categories: Homemade, filled and plain. 3-4 p.m. For more information, contact Susan Dandridge at sdandrid@uno.edu.

February 13 Alpha Lambda Delta Valentine’s Card Making Station Alpha Lambda Delta will table and card making supplies for students, faculty and staff to make Valentine’s Cards for friends, family and members of the community. Some cards will be donated to Meals on Wheels. The event will take place from 12:001:30 p.m. in the UC. February 18 Ash Wednesday Mass The season of Lent in the Catholic Church begins on Ash Wednesday. Ashes will only be distributed at the noon Mass in the Newman Center.

V-Day makes me see red Christy Lorio Editor-in-chief I’ve been married for 10 years (cue the “awwws” now) and while I hardly consider myself to be a relationship expert I will say this: if you wait until Valentine’s Day to express your feelings, you’re doing it wrong. Flowers on the kitchen table and a pint of my favorite ice cream in the freezer on a random Wednesday means more to me than an obligatory saccharine sweet card and a box of drugstore candy on a Hallmark holiday. A relationship won’t work if you wait to gift your partner with a Be Mine coffee mug one day out of the year- you have to remind your special person every day that they are

THE DRIFTWOOD UNODriftwood The Driftwood is the student run newspaper of the University of New Orleans. We publish every Wednesday with the exception of mid-term and finals weeks and official holiday breaks. All submissions are subject to editing by Driftwood Staff. The Driftwood office is located in room 252 of the University Center, 2000 Lakeshore Drive University Center 252 New Orleans, LA 70148 Staff may be reached by phone at 504-280-6377 or email driftwoodeditor@uno.edu or online at.driftwood.uno.edu. Ad sales inquiries should be directed to driftwoodads@uno.edu

Staff

Christy Lorio Editor in chief Aviayna Thomas Managing Editor Veronica Mansell Features Editor Anna Gowin News Editor Willie Marsalis Photography Editor Kerry Leigh Pittenger Business Manager Pawan Aryal Layout Editor Ashley deBaroncelli Cartoonist Willie Marsalis Distribution Manager Vickie Kennedy Faculty Adviser

well, special. What makes me feel all squishy inside are unexpected tokens of appreciation that don’t cost a dime. My husband surprising me at the dog park for an impromptu date means more to me than a box of candy. Make no mistake- I love love. I get teary eyed when I see old couples holding hands or when I find out friends just got engaged, but Cupid’s arrow missed me when it came to falling for his holiday. Nothing makes me want to gag more than seeing oversized teddy bears and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates in my neighborhood drugstore. Valentine’s Day, at least in its modern incarnation, feels more like an economic boost to the greeting card industry instead of an excuse for couples to spend a little

time together. I’ve also worked as a waitress off and on for eight years, which has made me loathe the holiday even more. Service industry type folks call Valentine’s Day amateur night; for many couples, it’s the one night of the year people go out to a fancy pants dinner. Couples sit in awkward silence for two hours while trying to salvage what’s left of their broken relationship. Or, you get the lovebirds whose filet mignon gets cold while they’re busy locking lips. Get a room already. Hey, I’m not a cold, heartless curmudgeon; my heart is as bright as the cellophane wrappers those damn heart candies with the meaningless messages are wrapped in. I just prefer to celebrate on the off days.

rants and book a reservation for Valentine’s Day. And sell them when the day comes.

vice since...well, since like last year.

The measles outbreak really has me stunned. Like, yo- this is one of the ones we pretty much got rid of in the US. And it’s back. Vaccinate your kids, yall. Two people walking in liberal arts building just crashed right into each other…Texting and walking.

Yik Yak is a social media app that allows college students to share anonymous messages. I’m so poor, I eat cereal with a fork so I can reuse milk the next day. Want to make some money? Go call all the expensive restau-

Update: cold/no water in your dorms? That means the squirrels master plan is working. A sacrifice must be brought to the amp to appease their chief’s unholy appetite for Cheetos. (only mild) Plot twist: squirrels are secretly behind budget cuts to shut UNO down because Dr. Fos didn’t honor the old bonds and come to their aid in the great squirrel-pigeon war of 2008. Yik yak...Providing ﬂirting ad-

Eating ice cream with a nice cause Bae don’t want to spoon. Being able to open a can of biscuits without ﬂinching is one of my lifetime goals. I eat and drink on the 3rd ﬂoor of the library. #rebel I don’t know how to set the time on my microwave so I just plugged it in at noon. Someone smells like they’re fresh off the parade route in PHYS. Yik Yak: tangled clumps of neurons firing blankly into tar pits. Getting tired of the hipster #$%&! in my Finance class. Go back to your sad, little Driftwood desk instead of being so nasty to the professor.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

FEATURES

I’m with the band: The honor of marching in Mardi Gras Parades Christy Lorio Editor-in-chief

I’ve always looked back on my experiences as a high school marching band member as some of the funnest times of my life. I’m from the New Orleans area, which means marching band didn’t end with football season; we also performed in three Mardi Gras parades each year. As an adult, nostalgia washes over me every time I watch the bands perform, especially if it’s Archbishop Shaw High School, my musical alma mater. (Shaw is an all-boys school on the Westbank, but girls attending Shaw’s sister school perform with the band.) This carnival season I got the chance to relive my old glory days when I discovered Gris Gris Strut, an adult marching group replete with a dance team, band and ﬂag core. I graduated high school 17 years ago, so naturally I was a little nervous about dusting off my ﬂute and putting a band uniform on after being out of practice for so many years. I also wanted to march with a professional group. I came up in a strict band program, and didn’t want to parade with a group that gets drunk and looks sloppy on the parade route; my former band officer self dies a little every time I see marchers out of sync or worse, out of tune. I’ve definitely had to make some sacrifices to be a part of the Gris Gris Strut. I get out of class at 6:45 p.m. on practice nights and rush straight to band practice, often doing Wednesday’s homework until the wee hours and trying to memorize songs on top of a full course load, a part-time job and my Driftwood responsibilities. I probably won’t get a chance to attend a parade as a spectator this carnival

season and haven’t had much of a social life as every spare moment is devoted to schoolwork in order to accommodate my extracurricular activities. Still, the hard work and sleep deprivation have been worth it; I marched in my first parade this past Saturday in the Knights of Sparta. It was an incredible feeling to be back on ground level, connecting with the crowd surrounding me. The crowd’s energy permeates the air, which sent my adrenaline pumping long enough to get through the entire parade route. It’s a great responsibility to keep the masses entertained. I’m doing this for fun, but can’t help but think I’m serving as a sort of ambassador to the city. Tourists from across the globe come here to experience our culture, and for many of them Mardi Gras is a once in a lifetime experience. I can’t help but feel as if I’m playing a small role in carrying on a rich, deep New Orleans tradition, that I am a part of something bigger than myself. I remembered seeing a woman on the parade route holding a sign that said “Thank you for playing” every year that I marched in high school. As if by kismet there she was, out on Saint Charles Avenue last Saturday night, holding that same sign 17 years later. I would be lying if I said I didn’t shed a tear while trying to hit the high A flat in “Dark Horse” when I saw her. It solidified that through everything that New Orleans has been through recently: Katrina, the BP oil spill, that the people of this city are still out there, actively exercising their right to laissez les bon temps rouler. Gris Gris Strut is marching in Druids behind float 11, Krewe D’Etat behind float 9 and Thoth behind float 18. Come out and say hi.

Photo by Aviayna Thomas Krewe members on float 14, “The Masked Ball,” of the Krewe of Carrollton greet the crowds on Canal Street.

Photo by Traven Stout “Throw me something, mister!” Catching various throws is just one of the many excitements of the Mardi Gras season.

Parade goers line Bourbon Street before and after parades for refreshing drinks and carnival fun.

Photo by Aviayna Thomas

FEATURES

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Student Spotlight

Student views adversity as a challenge not an obstacle Carlee Lauve Driftwood Staff

Junior Joey Sanders Falgout is an interdisciplinary studies major at the University of New Orleans. He is a member of the UNO Sportsman’s Club, a former writer for the Driftwood, and has over twenty years of experience working in radio broadcasting. Joey Sanders Falgout also has two prosthetic feet. Falgout has had a love for radio since a young age. “I use to fake being sick if the morning DJ was on a roll,” Falgout said, “so that I could listen to the rest of the show instead of going to school.” When he was about eight or nine, Falgout debuted on air by continuously calling the morning DJ to read him joke after joke from a book he had borrowed from a local library. The DJ recorded one of these phone calls and put it on the air one morning. “After that, I was hooked,” Falgout said. Falgout’s first professional opportunity in radio came when he was 15 years old, not long after getting his driver’s license. After calling every day for almost three months, begging for a chance, Falgout got an audition with the local radio station. “He made me read a collection of current news stories,” Flagout said, “ I swear every story had an impossible to pronounce name or city, just to trip me up. Took me an hour

to read them all completely without making a mistake.” Not long after the audition, Falgout started working weekends at the station. During his first official time being allowed to “open the mic” as a DJ, he completely froze and could not speak a word. “It was the first and last time that ever happened,” said Falgout. For the next 20 years, Falgout continued working in radio broadcasting. As a disc jockey and a program director, he has worked throughout the state and country from Oregon to the Florida Keys. In August of 2011, Falgout was diagnosed with Charcot Foot, a condition that weakens the bones in the foot due to long-term uncontrolled diabetes. Falgout was admitted to LSUIMC (University Hospital) after stepping on a sharp object and feeling no pain due to neuropathy (significant nerve damage) in both feet. In October 201l, he was told that he would lose his right foot. After the loss of his right foot, the Orthopedic Department worked with Falgout for months in an attempt to save his left foot. Unfortunately, the infection had set in, and his left foot was amputated in January 2012, just one day after his 42nd birthday. Two years after the amputations, Falgout got his first full set of prosthetic feet. While learning to walk all over again, he had to retrain the muscles in his legs to take steps and adjust to not feeling his feet land.

“The most difficult part was not freaking my wife, Brunella, out when I decided it was time to push the envelope,” said Falgout, “I walked all the way from the UCC to the handicap parking lot in front of the Liberal Arts Building one evening. She is my biggest supporter and tries hard not to show she is freaking out, when I decide it is time to go further.” Falgout was unable to work after the loss of his feet, so he decided to fulfill his dream of completing a degree, which he could never find the time to do before. He registered for classes at UNO in fall 2012. On his decision to major in interdisciplinary studies, Falgout said, “it allows me to bolster my previous experience, while also allowing me to expand and grow my knowledge base. My ILP in Interdisciplinary Studies is focused on Management of Information Systems and Computer Science.” Falgout began this spring semester with the goal of walking on campus as much as possible and he has only used his wheelchair once so far. Falgout has kept a positive mindset through all his adversity, even after the initial shock of learning he would lose both of his feet. “I decided if I survived the surgery I would make the best of whatever I was given. I started looking for options to allow me to walk again when I could get to a computer. I could not allow myself to get de-

photo courtesy of Joey Falgout Joey registered at UNO less than a year after a bilateral below knee amputation surgery.

pressed and freaked out. I was still alive. I needed to adapt and overcome.” Falgout offers great advice for anyone going through or struggling with someone else in a similar adversity. “Never give up! Even when it all

seems to be crashing in around you, remember you’re still breathing. As long as you are here, you might as well kick ass and live. Instead of dwelling on what has been lost, set some goals, no matter how small. Make a plan to get to those goals and follow that plan.”

SG made simple: Breakdown of the three government branches Liz Trahan

Contributing Reporter

A sign advertising “free scantrons” outside of the Student Government (SG) offices is one of many services that SG provides. For many students, this is the icon most commonly associated with the Student Government of the University of New Orleans and the only thing they’re known for. Yet the student organization, backed with state protection, might just be the most complex and misunderstood entity on campus. The common mistake is to roll its branches together without recognizing the specialized functions of each. SG is divided into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial, and mirrors the state and federal government. The SG Senate (legislative branch) is most visible to the student population and has the largest membership. Senate meetings are held every Tuesday, where senators gather to represent his or her college. One role of the Senate is to allocate funds to enhance the university. The Senate operating account had $17,649.49 that could be used before the 2014 fall semester ended. Senators write bills to fund projects and programs on behalf of the needs and intentions of each college. Senators will often proposition a bill to support the event of other student organizations. For example, in a recent Sen-

ate session, the Senate passed bill B.F14K019 Garden Community Bill, which will fund a garden on UNO’s campus. The senate has helped many student organizations fund their events. For example, they have aided the Vietnamese American Student Association’s (VASA) yearly cultural celebrations as well as Unity’s Big Gay Talent Show.

For the executive branch, it’s all about following the rules to the letter. Secretary of State Kristin Trahan is responsible for the much scrutinized office elections, something she does not take lightly. “It’s a lot of stress,” said Trahan. “I was elected in the beginning of the [2014 fall] semester, so I didn’t get all of the training through the summer. I’m working hard to catch up,” she added. “SG acts as the agent of the student body,” said former Vice President Fernando Dominic Reyes Jr. (The current VP is Jessica Willis.)

Reyes, a political science major , had served as a senator representing the College of Liberal Arts before holding the position of Vice President of the Executive branch. He cited the Smoking Ban last August as an example. “The students wanted to keep electronic cigarettes, so we explained that to the administration,” said Reyes. The vice president must ensure the Senate preserves decorum. “As VP I [was] the conduit between the Senate and the executive branch,” said Reyes. Reyes explained remaining neutral and without an opinion was important. The focus is on procedure: “The senators are passionate about the issues they are fighting for, so the biggest job is making sure the meetings are run to code.” The executive branch stretches to lengths no other organization does. President David Teagle has represented the student body of UNO as part of a committee sanctioned by the White House to campaign against sexual violence on university campuses. With the use of executive funds, the executives have supplied financial assis-

tance to help support events for the chemistry department and the English Honors Club. The judicial branch is as quiet as the Senate is loud. The judicial branch handles internal affairs and serves as a moderator between senators or between senators and executive members. “If there’s a problem, it comes to us,” said Chief Justice Darius Miner. The judicial branch will asses the situation and make a ruling based on the Student Government Constitution. “Most of the time, we handle the

conduct of the Senate,” said Miner. An example of a time the judicial branch had to step in occurred last fall when Reyes, a Senator at the time, was accused of disorderly conduct at an off-campus event. “The decision was not difficult to make, but it was hard to interpret,” said Miner. “The constitution is very vague, so it’s currently under revision.” For more information about SG, visit the main office in the University Center, Room 236 or email sg@uno.edu.

TALK TO A RECRUITER

At the CAREER FAIR on the 27th

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

FEATURES

UNO set to offer unique degree leading to lucrative career Lyndsey Anderson Driftwood Staff

The Masters of Science and Transportation degree, set to launch in the fall semester of 2015, is among the first in the United States to train students in both freight and transportation systems. Originally intended to be a bachelors’ program, the Masters of Science in Transportation is fully underway here at the University of New Orleans. The new addition

to degrees at UNO is distinctive in that it’s one of the only programs of its kind offered in Louisiana, while transportation continues to be a growing career field. “Transportation doesn’t sound sexy,” Carol Short, Associate Director and Administrator of Transportation studies programs said, “but there’s walking, biking, trains and other forms of transit. Once you delve in, it’s a very lucrative career.” According to Short, “one of ev-

ery five jobs is transportation related and the retirement rate within that workforce is over percent which will give our Privateers in the program an advantage.” This program is designed for both traditional students and working professionals, which makes it rather ﬂexible. “So many students work.” Short said. This program offers online and on-campus courses to better accommodate each student’s schedule. The Masters of Science and

Photo by Traven Stout UNO’s transportation program includes the study of all modes of transportation- streets, rail, maritime and air.

Transportation degree at UNO focuses on both transit and freight, setting the program apart from others. “Most degree programs don’t have both,” Short said, “I’ve gotten numerous emails and phone calls about the program from interested students.” The new degree option has been in the works for a few years, but it is not quite ready for kick-off. Short projected that the new program will have much success at UNO. “I’ve been getting calls to meet with students, as well as people already working who want to pursue a Masters.” According to Short, the transportation industry is experiencing a shortage in the workforce. This program will provide that next level knowledge that students can utilize to make a difference in the industry. This program will be a total of 33 credit hours and students will also complete a six-credit capstone or thesis option. Students will have the option to choose from three specific areas of study including transportation planning, transportation administration, or a self-directed concentration. After graduating, career choices can range from freight forwarding to international trade. There are a large number of different opportunities in the transportation field. Interested students may contact Carol Short at cshort2@uno.edu or visit transportation@uno.edu for further information.

Meet the Homecoming King and Queen Lyndsey Anderson Driftwood Staff

The 2015 Homecoming Queen and King are enjoying student life post victory. King Jordan Fontenot, senior film major, was nominated for court by the sorority Zeta Tau Alpha. “I figured I did enough student involvement, about a week later I got an email saying I was on the court,” Fontenot said, “once I saw that, I got excited about it and figured I’d put time into a campaign.” Fontenot is active on campus, as an Orientation Leader and Privateer Camp Krewe Leader for the past three years. Upon nomination, he started campaigning. “I made ﬂyers and went to every homecoming event and rooted for my team.” Queen April Gremillion is also involved on campus. “I see UNO as my home,” Gremillion said, “and I wanted to represent it as best as possible.” Gremillion, a senior psychology major, was nominated by the Orientation Leaders. “Once the court was announced, I campaigned really hard to get votes,” said Gremillion. As both reign, they continue to be involved on campus and have plans for post graduation. Fontenot said, “I want to own my own film production company and be able to work for myself.” Gremillion plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to study higher education.

SPORTS

UNO Baseball gears up for new season Nigel Washington Driftwood Staff

The heavy hangover mornings are soon approaching now that Mardi Gras is in full swing, we don’t judge you if it’s already here for some of you, but it’ll be the UNO baseball team trying to get the headache of last season out of its memory as a new season approaches. A disappointing season has Head Coach Ron Maestri and his staff hop-

Samuel Capielano had a great season as well, starting every season at shortstop for the Privateers his freshman year. Capielano led the team in hits (70) and runs scored (28). His batting average of .341 was also the best on the team and eighth best among Southland Conference players. His efforts earned a spot on the Freshman All-American list as well as a Third-Team All-Southland player. Head coach Ron Maestri expects more of the same from his returning All-American players, saying “We’re looking for another great year from them.” He attributed their fresh-

stri Field for New Orleans. Before retirement, coach Maestri lead the UNO baseball team to multiple NCAA tournament appearances and conference championships n his career. He has since come out of retirement and is leading a staff that looks to further develop the team in his second season back. Former Zephyrs pitcher A.J. Battisto returns, hoping to improve the pitching rotation and bullpen. Blake Dean, former LSU World Series champion, is back for his second season working on the teams batting and fielding. Six new pitchers were signed to the team hoping to bring more

Photo provided by UNO Athletics

UNO Baseball team looks forward to next season with new and returning players.

ing to right the ship and get back to the winning ways they are accustomed to. In their first year in the Southland Conference the Privateers ended on a 12-game losing streak last season and was only able to muster an 11-38 record with only two wins against conference opponents. Batting-wise the team had a low average of .247 and finished last in the Southland Conference in many batting stats across the board. But some freshmen came in and made big contributions in spite of these low rankings. With 44 starts out of 48 games, Baton Rouge native outfielder Hezekial Randolph led the team in RBI’s with 31 and at one point had a 16-game hitting streak. His efforts landed him a spot on the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American list.

man All-American selections to their ability, and things should only improve from them both with a year of experience under their belt. The Southland conference thinks so as well. Both Randolph and Capielano earned a spot on the preseason All-Southland team with Capielano on the first team and Randolph on the second team The senior to watch on the mound this season is Darron McKigney. In 63 inning of play his 3.57 era last season led the team as well as his 49 strikeouts. First Baseman Jonathan Coco is the senior to watch in the field and at bat. His batting average (.272.), hits (31), and on-base percentage (.344) were top 5 numbers for New Orleans last season. Coach Maestri is one of the most decorated coaches in Privateer history, proven by the naming of Mae-

depth and ability to the team. Bryan Warzek and John King are the two lefties that should bring some versatility, as the squad didn’t have any on the roster last season. The Privateers will see a bevy of in-state rivals this season with talented teams like LSU and Tulane, whom they will face twice this season. “We have a very ambitious schedule,” coach Maestri said. But when it comes to non-conference play, he says he like to use the opportunity to build and prepare for conference games. Coach Maestri stated: “Good play in non-conference can make in-conference play better, but conference is our main goal.” The UNO baseball team kicks off its season with a three game series on Friday against South Alabama. in Mobile. The game is scheduled

FREE LUNCH ON THURSDAYS Served from 11:00 until 1:30

The Chapel of the Holy Comforter (Episcopal Ministry to SUNO and UNO)

2220 LAKESHORE DRIVE, RIGHT ACROSS ELYSIAN FIELDS FROM UNO’S MAIN CAMPUS

No sermon, just good company VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS DON’T GO AWAY HUNGRY!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

From the Sidelines Nigel Washington Driftwood Staff

Mens Basketball: Privateers on 3-game losing streak

The Privateers diminished two double-digit deficits, but the late sparks were not enough as they lost to Nicholls and Central Arkansas. New Orleans (6-13, 2-8 SLC) couldn’t pull out a victory in their 3-game road trip and now have a losing streak of three heading into their home matchup against McNeese State. The Privateers second loss came at Nicholls to a score of 67-55. After Nicholls (7-13, 4-6 SLC) took a 10-point lead in the second half. Sophomore guard Christavious Gill led the late push for the Privateers as he continued to hit shots and keep the Privateers in it. New Orleans was able to bring the game to one possession, but a small run by the Colonels ended any chance for the Privateers to take the lead. The final road game was a matchup against a Central Arkansas team that had yet to win a game up to that point. An 18-point lead for the Bears eventually became a tie game after an offensive surge by the Privateers late in the second half. New Orleans dominated the offensive glass recording 12 offensive rebounds in the first half. They were not able to capitalize on the opportunities, however, with only 2 second-chance points. The Privateers couldn’t convert the game tying shot and they walked away with yet another road loss in disappointing fashion. The Central Arkansas Bears (119, 1-8 SLC) faced a full-court press the majority of the night, but it didn’t affect the outcome the same way it did when these teams last faced each other. Even with 22 turnovers, the Bears shot 50 percent from the ﬂoor and used dribble penetration to get to the basket and create opportunities for themselves. The losing streak now puts New Orleans in 12th place in the conference standings in front Central Arkansas. Gill led the offensive charge for the team during the road trip as he put up 39 total points. Senior forward Terrance Syon led the team in rebounds for the three away games with 21. Junior forward Kevin Hill now has 5 straight games with at least 10-points.

Women’s basketball: Lady Privateers win ﬁrst game

It was an up-and-down two games for the Lady Privateers. A triple overtime revenge victory against McNeese State was followed by a tough 6-point loss to Central Arkansas. New Orleans (3-17, 1-10 SLC) decided to pick up their first conference win in spectacular fashion. The Privateers ended the first half with a 7-point lead, but allowed McNeese State (12-10, 6-5 SLC) to come back in the second. A fast break lay up was the game-tying basket for McNeese, which sent the game into overtime. Two overtime periods weren’t enough to decide a winner. In the third overtime period New Orleans scored 2 consecutive baskets and kept the lead all the way to the final buzzer.

Junior guard Danielle Davis set a new career-high in the win as she scored 26-points on 8-for-15 shooting. The low point was a disappointing loss to Central Arkansas after the Privateers trailed by 12-points. Central Arkansas (13-9, 6-4) couldn’t hold on to the lead they had at the end of the first half. Freshman forward Halie Matthews and freshman guard Randi Brown led the Privateers back and brought the game to only one possession in the middle of the second half. A seven-minute scoring drought by both teams ate away time that the Privateers could have used to potentially take the lead. Instead a 3-pointer for the Cowgirls brought the game to 6-points, and the margin would be the same win the final buzzer sounded. Matthews and Brown led the team with 13 points. Matthews also recorded two blocks.

Men’s Tennis: Team faces ranked opponent.

After a sweep of Loyola at home, the UNO men’s tennis team had a tough test against Mississippi State in Starkville, MS. The Privateers (2-3) had no problem against Loyola in singles play as they won every match. In doubles play New Orleans won two matches. Mississippi State was ranked 28th in the nation leading up to their matchup against New Orleans. The Privateers went 0-4 in both singles and doubles matches.

Women’s Tennis: Team loses second match of season

The Privateer women’s tennis team had a great day against Loyola, but took their second loss of the season against Louisiana-Monroe. New Orleans bounced back from their last loss against Tulane in a big way. Hosting Loyola, the Privateers had a clean sweep and earned their third win of the year. The Privateers earned every win in singles and doubles and looked to Louisiana-Monroe next with some momentum. It was a close day for the Privateers as they traveled to Heard Stadium to face ULM. New Orleans won the doubles matchup, but couldn’t close the deal as they lost 2 out of the 6 singles matches and finished the day with a 4-3 loss.

Track and Field: Inoussa shines in Houston

At the University of Houston, the New Orleans track and field team competed in the Howie Ryan Invitational. Sophomore Farydah Inoussa had a great meet in Houston for her performance for the women’s indoor penthalon. She scored 3,560 points and placed first in the 60m hurdles as well as the long jump. Inoussa also placed ninth in the high jump, third in shot put, and seventh in the 800m run. Sophomore Fadeke Adola finished ninth in the women’s high jump and tied a school record with 1.65 meters. Junior Constant Pretorius finished men’s in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.08. Next up for the track and field team is the three-day Southland Conference meet that begins on Feb. 15th in Birmingham, AL.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015