February 22, 2017

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS Volume: 60 Issue: 16

FEBRUARY 22, 2017

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See more Mardi Gras pictures on 6 &7

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InnovateUNO valuable for students

BY ANJANAE CRUMP Managing Editor The purpose of InnovateUNO is to improve undergraduate student success through engagement in research, scholarships and creativity.

Each year, students have presentations in the categories of oral, visual art, poster and performance.

This year, one key thing was noticeably different: there were fewer students participating.

Visual artist and film major Dorian Danos said, “I always hear about putting up pieces in UNO shows, but I’ve never really had anything until this year, and now I’ve got the urge to finally put up some of my pieces at school. Mainly, my teachers inspired me to do this. They pushed that.”

One of those inspiring teachers is marketing professor and InnovateUNO judge Suman Pokherel explains his research to a spectator.

Kyeong Sam Min. “I keep encouraging them to come in general, has dropped.” admitted that along with the actual and present their ideas.” He said “In terms of the oral presentation research aspect, participating in he wasn’t sure why the participacategory, about 25 people entered InnovateUNO “was also very tion had dropped. last year. This year, we had only difficult with all my classes and “I don’t know why, but it 15. There were 21 posters last year, schoolwork, too.” definitely is smaller than last year and we have only 17 this year.”

Visual artist and second-time … the number has dropped a little He attributed the low turn-out to participant Jessica Talbert pointed bit. This is my fourth or fifth year, students’ possible loss of interest, out another possible reason for and every year I send about three change of priorities, exams and/or nonparticipation. to five students to this event; but work.

“I wish you didn’t need to have at the last minute, a few teams Poster presenter and senior a mentor. Not that it’s a bad thing, cancelled their presentations. And biology major Lyndsey Nuebel but it’s hard if you’re somebody I’ve also noticed that the number,

However, despite the hardships, both students went on to explain the intrinsic benefits of InnovateUNO. Nuebel, who won third place for her research presented in a poster titled, “The Question of Authenticity: Transforming Consumption in Mid-City New Orleans,” said, “I would do it again … I wouldn’t have better research experience if it wasn’t for InnovateUNO. It’s definitely a good opportunity because it gives you initiative to do something outside of your classes, and if you want to pursue higher education, this is a great experience to have.”

Talbert, who won first place with her visual art piece, “Polaris,” said, “It’s definitely a big motivation.

If you’re just making art for yourself and no one’s going to see it, you might not be pushed to crank out paintings and stuff like that. So -Photo by Brennan Probst when you have a goal and a who wants to participate in an area motivation and some incenand you don’t have a teacher. I’m tive, it definitely helps push you a physics major, and I wanted to to make something - and not only submit art. Well, we only have make it, but also [to] make it the to take one art class, technically, best you can do.” so it’s hard to get an art teacher Though there were less people and then a mentor. If I wanted to participating this year, those who do performance art, I wouldn’t did still gained research and/or even know a teacher for that, even presentation experience and were though I played piano and that rewarded for their work. would be fun, but I don’t have any teachers here.”

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Administration confident students will benefit from earlier commencement

BY ANNA GOWIN Features & Entertainment Editor In an email sent out on Jan. 27, Provost Amouzegar reminded students that this spring’s commencement date has been moved to Saturday, May 13. This is a change from the way the university has traditionally conducted graduation, with the ceremony taking place a only a day after final exams have ended.

While the change in date has been reflected in the university’s academic calendar from last fall semester, many students were unaware of the change prior to the provost’s email.

The move means that final grades will not be submitted until after commencement takes place, which the provost declared will now be a “ceremonial commencement.”

The provost also included the

change had been approved by the faculty senate and President Nicklow himself.

Cherie Trumbach, faculty senate president, mentioned the president came to the faculty senate to gauge interest in the change of date. Although the faculty senate did not take a formal vote at the time, the senate members were not in agreement over what to do.

“However, no one felt a strong opposition to the idea, which I passed along to the president [of the university]. We knew this was a change that they were going to move forward with,” Trumbach said. Without anyone who felt strongly in favor of keeping the commencement at a later date, the faculty senate saw no reason to veto the change.

“A lot of universities do commencement this way,” Trumbach said. “This is how my graduation was at Stanford.”

“The president is always look-

ing for new ways to help students and faculty.” Trumbach said that earlier graduation is a way of doing this while also resolving problems that have been presented in the past.

In his email, the provost said, “Many of you will be eager to move on to your new jobs, your summer plans or the next chapter in your life, and we see no reason why you should have to wait an entire week for that to happen.”

“In the past, students have been left on campus for an entire week without anything to do, maybe wanting to move on to a job but having to wait.”

Senior English major Anna Young expressed that this is the reason why she is happy about the change in commencement date. “I actually plan on moving after graduation, so the earlier date is beneficial for me,” she said.

James Mokhiber, an associate

professor in the history department and current secretary of the faculty senate brought up another reason why an earlier commencement could be beneficial to students.

“Because so many students find themselves in the position of inviting family and making costly decisions at graduation, I can see the appeal of a ‘walk-through policy’ that delays the conferring of a formal diploma.”

A ‘walk-though’ is another name for a ceremonial commencement, in which students do not technically receive their diploma until after graduation.

Trumbach shared the sentiment that an earlier date removes the issue of students making plans around graduation and then finding out too late that they wouldn’t be allowed to walk.

“A lot of people run into the issue of inviting family to come in, and then find out at the last

minute they didn’t graduate.” She said that this way students can do what they have traditionally done; take a few additional classes over the summer or the following fall to complete degree requirements, while still being able to celebrate with family and walk during commencement.

Joy Ballard, a political science graduate student, felt this way.

“I’m in favor of anything that helps more students celebrate their graduation with as many friends and family as possible,” she said. “My mom was unable to attend my master’s graduation because she couldn’t take off that day. I think this is a great move for the university.”

However, students like Lauren Burgess, a senior English major who hopes to attend graduate school, brought up how this may impact students negatively.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

NEWS

Waffle House exec teaches art of getting ahead

Pat Warner, Vice President for Culture of the Waffle House corporation, outlines the keys to getting ahead in the world of business.

-Photo by Brennan Probst

BY JAMIE LLOYD News Editor On Feb. 16, the University of New Orleans College of Business Administration presented “Getting Ahead, Staying Ahead: Challenges For the 21st Century Workforce,” hosted by Vice President for Culture of Waffle House Corporation Pat Warner. Warner outlined how to get ahead in the business world and imparted some advice to prospective managers and leaders going into the workforce.

The event was put on in an effort to establish one of many senior executive talks on campus in hopes to further expose business students to leaders with real-world experience not typically found readily available in a classroom.

Warner provided some background on the restaurant chain and the guiding principles that have kept it around for decades as a staple in American dining.

“There are no participation trophies in business. There’s winners,

and there’s losers,” Warner said.

He added that there is more to just winning and losing in order to create a sustainable competitive advantage. “You have to win, but you have to do it the right way.”

Warner said that doing things “the right way” for Waffle House includes a number of pursuits— whether it be engaging with customers or giving associates and employees a stake in the restaurant chain’s success. “We want to provide an experience for folks … we try to run each restaurant like its own mom-and-pop small business.”

Warner said he learned through experience that showing up and showing initiative as a leader goes a long way. He referenced this guiding principle to last year’s flooding in Baton Rouge as an example of Waffle House seeing an affected community in peril and taking action, giving away “800 meals a day—for a week” to displaced families who lost everything in the record-setting flood.

Warner addressed the fact that, as a company, Waffle House does not invest in advertising, instead relying on word-of-mouth to reach customers, something founders Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner strongly believed in.

“My job is to stay true to our culture as a company. I make sure we stay true to our company and [say] what we’re going to do.”

“For us, the challenge is to get people into the culture.”

However, in a world where Waffle House gets millions of hits on social media, it may be easier than ever to indoctrinate consumers into the restaurant’s culture.

Waad Alshehri, accounting major at UNO, initially attended the talk for class credit, but stayed after for the Q&A session.

“I liked learning about how [the company] began and their leadership strategy,” Alshehri said. She noted that she could apply this to her career goal of working in banking as an accountant.

UNO student Greer M. Downs, a senior in business administration, said she can relate to the culture Warner is championing, which she said she sees as an opportunity for development, especially with her interest in business and management.

“Being involved in human resources and management, I wanted to see what Waffle House had to offer.”

Downs admitted she did not know what to expect from the talk, with her perception of Waffle House solely being from the memories she had of dining there as a child, but she was able to view the franchise as “an opportunity for employment.”

She said that attending these lectures her senior year helped pique her interest and think critically about prospective careers in business administration and human resources management.

“You want to keep your options open,” Downs said. “If it’s not in my direct path, at least I’ve given myself the opportunity to know about it.”

Downs echoed a few key reasons why business students at the university attend these talks hosted by the college of business administration.

“I’m flexible to opportunities.

That’s why I’m here.”

QUESTION OF THE WEEK What advice would you give to the first-time parade goer?

Bring a flask. Drinks are expensive and the booze that you put into a flask is a lot lighter than trying to carry beer or wine. It lightens your load, keeps you happy, and you don’t want to get too drunk at a parade. My friend doesn’t like to go to parades because she has social anxiety and I told her ‘that’s why everyone’s drinking.’

ANNA DESORMEAUX Graduate Student, Masters of Art in Teaching If you’ve never been to a parade before and this is your first one, bring some water or something to drink to stay hydrated. You’ll be standing for a while and the weather around here is strange, so check the weather. Also, don’t be surprised if you see some people acting strange because it’s Mardi Gras. Other people are probably intoxicated on some sort of substance, so they may act a little differently than normal.

STEPHAN GUICHARD Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering First-time parade goers: you need a small backpack. It needs to include: toilet paper, wet wipes, water, snacks, an extra pair of socks, maybe even an extra pair of clothes, Germ-X, and room for your catches.

Also, be aware of your surroundings because you will get hit in the face with packs of beads. The extra pair of clothes and socks are for when you get things spilled on you or if you get rained on. Being wet all day is extremely uncomfortable.

SHELBEY LECO Junior, Education in Urban Society Make sure you go with a group of people. Remember where you parked. Don’t drink too much, because then you won’t remember where you parked. Make sure you stay with the people you’re with; they will leave you.

Sigma Kappa hosts annual SKetti dinner today

BY JESSICA JENNINGS Contributor The third annual Sigma Kappa SKetti Dinner will be held Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 7-9 p.m. at the Chapel of the Holy Comforter at 2200 Lakeshore Drive.

The proceeds from the dinner will go toward Sigma Kappa’s foundation, as well as one of their five philanthropies.

“By holding this event, we are branching out to make connections, raise money, and bring awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease research,” said Sigma Kappa Vice President of Philanthropic Services Camille Whalen.

For $7, plates will include spaghetti from Augie’s Restaurant

as well as Olive Garden’s famed salad and breadsticks. Although the goal of the dinner is to raise $1,200, Sigma Kappa is also striving to build a sense of community among the UNO student body.

“At the end of the day, this is the reason Sigma Kappa is here. We want to strive every day to be better women. Service and personal growth are two of Sigma Kappa’s values. We want to exemplify our mission and be useful to our school community,” said Wheelen.

Alexandria Bitterman, a junior member of Sigma Kappa explained planning an event that will yield great impacts is no easy feat.

“The biggest obstacle in making this event happen was deciding whether or not we wanted to keep

the event in the same place we always have or to switch that up.

We ended up keeping it at the same place as always.”

Members of the sorority said that the Chapel of the Holy Comforter has served as a great resource for them. In addition to the research and awareness this dinner will bring, the impact it will have on the UNO community is high priority for Sigma Kappa. Freshman member Taylor Clasi said, “It’s so exciting to see how all our hard work pays off and how our school community comes together to support our cause!”

Tickets can be obtained from any member of Sigma Kappa, or by email: cdwhalen@uno.edu.

KAYLA FLETCHER Senior, English Bring an umbrella incase it’s raining and bring water, because the vendors hike up the prices more than usual. The water and soft drinks costed 4 dollars and up.

My friend and I had to combine our money to be able to afford a can of Sprite. We then had to share that Sprite. So bring something to drink.

SYDNIE AUSTIN Sophomore, Physics

Photos by Nathan Nguyen

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

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History prof sheds new light on civil rights in America

BY JAMIE LLOYD News Editor On Feb. 15, the University of New Orleans Women’s Center Coffee Talk Lecture Series presented a lecture about Norman Rockwell’s famous painting, “The Problem We All Live With,” which depicts six-year-old Ruby Bridges being escorted to William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans during the effort to desegregate public schools.

This was the first lecture of the Coffee Talk series this year, chosen in light of Black History Month and the ongoing campus-wide UNO Diversity Celebration.

The talk was led by Nikki Brown, associate professor of history at UNO and author of “Private Politics and Public Voices: Black Women’s Activism from World War I to the New Deal.”

Brown’s particular focus concerned the civil rights movement and the various incarnations it has evolved into, from the late nineteenth century all the way to the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the African-American community in New Orleans.

She outlined the waves of the movement on the African-Ameri-

The original Norman Rockwell painting, “The problem we all live with” featuring Ruby Bridges was parodied by Glen McCoy. His art featured Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, and garnered criticism on social media. can community, from the Harlem Renaissance to the Great Depression and the desegregation movement, to the socio-economic impact of World War I and World War II. Brown’s work has taken her many places (including a fiveyear photography project revolving around African-American men in New Orleans), but she said one question remains on her mind throughout the learning process: “How are people thinking about civil rights now?”

She shared a quote from civil rights activist Diane Nash. “We tend to think about the civil rights movement as singular actors— Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Ruby Bridges, Malcolm X, when it was a collective movement, a

Club preps latest robot

BY MATTHEW RAMOS Staff Writer The Robotics Club is an interdepartmental organization comprised of computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering students. Members build robots for competition.

The biggest competition, according to club President Cory Landeta, is sponsored annually by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and is scheduled for April 1. Students build robots in teams according to rules outlined by organizers. Teams are judged by their ability to complete tasks within a certain time frame.

Competitors are presented with a problem, and they have to figure out how to solve it. “There are no kits. Everything we make is 3-D printed,” Landeta said.

Landeta said his team is specifically focused on electrical engineering. The obstacle his team has to solve for the competition involves a square base with many individual tiles that make up the inside.

“The robot determines what the inside [of the square] looks like and shows it [to the team]; and once we map all the squares, you come over to [a tile], lift the lid off, and there’s going to be a little cup with a die in it and we have to say how many numbers are showing on the die.”

Landeta explained that the IEEE competition is very time-consuming. “We do one a year. It’s a big competition … it could take

as long a year [to build a robot].

There’s never enough time; there’s always something you could change or make better.”

UNO has placed several times and won twice in the past six years.

“Last year … we had seven people, and the highest place was fifth. But we’re looking pretty good this year,” said Landeta. “We have five teams working on robots right now.”

The club receives prize money for winning the competitions. “In addition to $1,300 for first place, the team gets bragging rights, and the school looks good.”

The club also offers an option for engineering majors’ senior projects. According to Landeta, every senior majoring in engineering must go through a capstone and is expected to complete a senior project determined by his or her major and in accordance with a faculty advisor.

To join the robotics club, there is a $30 fee and a requirement to attend meetings. Landeta said, “People just start off knowing absolutely nothing about putting together a robot. [We cover] everything from code, to solid work, to wiring, to programming … In class, everything’s ideal, we assume this, assume that … none of that holds … it’s mostly just perseverance.”

To help the Robotics Club reach its goals, visit its gofundme page at https://www.gofundme.com/ uno-robotics-going-to-competition.

people’s movement.”

“The point of these articles was to say there is a civil rights movement in New Orleans in the

“You have to keep your eye on the prize—that you’re talking about all Americans, that [we’re all] a unique gumbo contributing to America.”

-Dr. Nikki Brown shadow of Katrina that doesn’t focus on obtaining civil rights—it focuses on the quality of the civil rights,” Brown said, using articles used to illustrate the “white backlash” and opposition to the movement in the media throughout history.

Brown even showed a striking image of a recent parody to Rockwell’s painting that portrayed controversial Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in the place of Ruby Bridges, which set off a firestorm of criticism on social media.

Chelsey Shannon, graduate student in the MFA program for fiction writing, remarked that she has not been to a Coffee Talk lecture before and generally limits her on-campus involvement.

However, Shannon said seeing the poster for the lecture put her “on the spot” and inspired her to attend the talk where she had a few thoughts of her own to bring to the table. “I saw the poster and I saw the Ruby Bridges image of Betsy DeVos and I thought

that was sort of pointed,” said Shannon, adding that she wanted “to find some connection and the face of all this nonsense that’s going on.”

Brown said she thinks that as time goes on, the phrasing of “African-American history” will lose its stigma in popular culture and academia to eventually graduate into the collective conscience of American history.

“You have to keep your eye on the prize—that you’re talking about all Americans, that [we’re all] a unique gumbo contributing to America.”

The next Coffee Talk lecture will focus on small businesses established by women locally. As always, light refreshments will be provided.

Campus fondly remembers Jerah Johnson

Johnson, shown smoking his ever-present cigarette outside the Liberal Arts building.

-Photo courtesy of Al Kennedy

Courtesy of UNO Public Relations Historian Jerah Johnson, one of the University of New Orleans’ founding faculty members, died Feb. 12 at the age of 85. He had been retired from UNO since 2003.

Professor Johnson was born in south Georgia in 1931. His parents relocated the family to Venezuela and then to France during the late 1930s. He spent much of World War II in London and returned to Georgia to finish high school at the age of 16.

Johnson earned his undergraduate degree at Emory University in

Atlanta, Ga. and his doctorate at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He majored in history at UNC with minors in both linguistics and comparative literature.

In 1956-58 he spent time in France on a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Paris. He later confessed that most of his time there was spent in cafés drinking coffee and cognac.

He joined the faculty of what was then Louisiana State University at New Orleans (LSUNO) in 1959, a year after the University opened, and helped form the character and culture of the history department.

His field was Renaissance Europe, but he taught Louisiana history, world history and the introductory graduate course in research and writing.

Taking a job at a new branch of LSU might have seemed an odd choice for some at the time. Johnson recalled telling his grandmother, “I’m going to risk it,” when he accepted a UNO position. In fact, the decision came easily. Teaching posts were scarce in 1959, and his other offers were from Northwestern State in Natchitoches and a small Maryland college.

New Orleans seemed a far more enticing place to live, and Johnson embraced the city and its history. He wrote pioneering articles on African-American culture in Congo Square and the French influence in early New Orleans.

A UNO Driftwood article at the time of his 2003 retirement quoted Johnson’s opinion of his adopted

city. “Why on earth live anywhere else, unless it is smack dab in the middle of lower Manhattan or the Left Bank of Paris, and both would require far too much money.”

Johnson served as department chair from 1968 to 1980.

“A department meeting where Jerah held forth was an event to be looked forward to,” said Gerry Bodet, a professor and longtime colleague of Johnson’s. “True, the mundane matters of policy were on the agenda, but inevitably these would morph into questions of philosophical truth, or the lack thereof, with a wry humor peppering the discussion.”

Johnson contributed to numerous university committees, advised students, and helped to build a vibrant history program. He was especially proud of his efforts to diversify the history faculty.

During his tenure as chair, he promoted the international mission of the University by approving the study abroad program in Munich—the forerunner of the immensely successful UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School.

Even after retirement, Johnson’s home in the Marigny was open to UNO students seeking research advice on some aspect of New Orleans history.

His interests always remained wide, however. Because of his extraordinary erudition, and his aesthetic appreciation of the arts, architecture and design, colleagues fittingly referred to him as the department’s “Renaissance Man.”

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

SPORTS

Track and field heads to Southland Conference indoor championships

Courtesy of UNO Athletics The University of New Orleans men’s and women’s track teams will compete in the 2017 Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 22-23, at the Birmingham Crossplex.

The Privateers are familiar with the Birmingham facility as this is their fourth trip to “The Magic City” during the indoor season.

This is the fourth straight year Birmingham has hosted the Southland Conference Indoor Championships.

“We tell the kids all you have to do is the same you’ve done before, nothing different,” said head track and field coach Benjamin Dalton.

“Relax, focus, do exactly what

-Photo courtesy of UNO Athetics you’ve done every week before, and we’ll be good. The occasion, the championship is what does it.”

When sophomore high hurdler Michael Nicholls dashed to the 60 meter hurdles title at last year’s championships he became the first UNO athlete to win an individual title in the Southland Conference (SLC). Nicholls’ winning time was 7.97. Dalton feels his recent performances at the LSU Twilight and the Dunamis Meets in Frisco, Texas are an indication he’s ready to defend his conference crown.

He enters the conference meet with the fastest time in the conference at 7.90.

“Michael is in a really good position. We’ve seen bits and pieces in separate races and so we’re still looking for it to come together. If he can execute a couple of really

good races I think it will be a good day for Michael.”

Nicholls is looking to become the first repeat winner in the event since Matt Viverette of Sam Houston State who won back-to-back hurdles titles at the Southland in 2013-14. Nicholls will also compete in the 200 meters.

Hurdler Alexia Fortenberry was voted Southland Conference Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after her win at the LSU Twilight Meet in Baton Rouge. However, she will miss the conference championships with a concussion. The senior from Harvey, Louisiana was clocked in 8.26, outrunning a trio of LSU hurdlers for her third consecutive win of the indoor season.

Throwers Alireza Rafiei and Nicholas Mitchell are also out with hand and wrists injuries Farydah Inoussa should be in strong contention in the pentathlon. The junior from Stockholm, Sweden has turned in good performances in the hurdles during recent meets including a fourth place finish in the 60 meter hurdles at the Dunamis 1 Meet in Frisco, Texas with a time of 8.87.

Freshman Lilli Richter could score in Birmingham. She finished fourth at the Dunamis Meet in the 400 meter run at 57.61.

“As a team we want everybody to go to Birmingham and compete on the day to the best of their ability,” said Dalton

UNO CALENDAR Wednesday, Feb. 22, 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m.: Ochsner Blood Drive. BloodMobile, University Center Monday, Feb. 27-Tuesday, Feb. 28: University closed for Lundi Gras & Mardi Gras holidays.

Wednesday, March 1, noon: SGA Senate meeting. Room 208, University Center Thursday, March 2, 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Eating disorder and wellness Q&A. Room 206, University Center Monday, March 6, 9-11 a.m.: Free doughnuts and scantrons to provide midterm stress relief.

Earl K. Long Library Atrium Tuesday, March 7, 12:30-2 p.m.: Center Austria presents “Austria and Migration: The Current Refugee Crisis in Historical Perspective” by Stanford University Professor Dirk Rupnow. International Center Tuesday, March 7, 7-9 p.m.: Musical Excursions Concert Series presents Ariel String Quartet. Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

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AAUW president welcomes all to gender-rights discussion

BY ANNA GOWIN Features & Entertainment Editor When Daisy Gaeta first started attending meetings of the American Association of University Women at the University of New Orleans last November, she said she never expected that she’d eventually become president of the organization.

As a transgender woman, she said she was initially wary to attend the organization, which focuses on gender issues and the empowerment of women. “I was welcomed with open arms,” Gaeta said.

AAUW-UNO, which only became a partner to the national organization AAUW last fall, was started by Joy Ballard, a political science graduate student and former SGA president. It was Ballard who approached Gaeta about taking over as president of the organization, which Gaeta said wasn’t even on her radar.

“But overall I was the choice that made the most sense … I was really flattered.”

While Gaeta ran unopposed, she was elected unanimously, with no opposition from the other AAUW-UNO members, which she described as “empowering.”

“I felt really validated [from being elected],” Gaeta said, “because it proved that not only was I seen as a woman, like I had

expected from the beginning, but I was seen as a woman that could be the face of this organization.”

Gaeta said that as president, her goal is to further that dialogue and message of acceptance with students on campus. “I think it sends a message to this campus that not only are trans women, women, they are just as much of women as cis women are.”

AAUW-UNO sets out to advocate for women’s right on campus, promote conversation about gender issue, and generate awareness for larger federal issues that affect women. This includes events like the organization’s Equal Pay Bake Sale, where men were asked to pay one dollar for baked goods while women were only asked to pay 79 cents and women of color 59 cents, as a representation of the current wage gap.

The organization also recently partnered with SAC’s award-winning Cultural Conversations series for further discussion and examination of January’s women’s march, “as a way to continue conversation about why we marched, as well as other aspects of the march like intersectionality,” Gaeta said. In addition, Daisy Gaeta, recently elected president of American Association of AAUW-UNO is the driving force University Women.

-Photo by Brennan Probst behind the university’s annual goals of her own. “Our biggest While male-identified individWomen’s Retreat. goal is for UNO to know that uals cannot hold national AAUW Gaeta said she hopes to further AAUW exists and that we’re here memberships, Gaeta made sure those organization goals with for anyone who wants to join.” to say that people are welcome at

New EPA director may bring federallevel policy changes with local effects

BY MICHAEL HABERMANN Contributor There has been much speculation over whether or not Scott Pruitt, Trump’s highly controversial choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, is a good fit.

There has been considerable debate from both sides of the political aisle regarding the decision since his nomination. Pruitt has political experience, but his viewpoints on climate change and environmental protection have led some to question his ability to lead an organization dedicated to protecting natural resources.

Every new administration brings concern of how policies will change at the state level.

Louisiana has a long history of political interests clashing with environmental protection, and whether the University of New Orleans will be affected is up for debate.

Vice President for Research and Economic Development at UNO Matthew Tarr noted, “We have a long history in this country of debate between federal

and state jurisdiction. If there’s a river that’s flowing through Mississippi and then coming into Louisiana and Mississippi or Arkansas, or another state farther upstream is polluting that river, it affects Louisiana. Louisiana has

both responsible protection of the environment and freedom for American businesses.”

One of the initiatives of the EPA is to provide funding for scientific research, and it is unclear cuts will be enacted in the future.

Tarr stated that “at the moment, UNO has a grant from the EPA. The real protection afforded by the agency is protection of people … the reason that we are concerned about the environment is because that’s part of the quality of life we have, it’s part of our health and it’s part of our ability to sustain our society.”

Tarr said he feels strongly about environmental debate: “Scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind.

That debate should be encouraged — in classrooms, public forums, and the halls of Congress. It should not be silenced with threats of prosecution.

Dissent is not a crime.”

“The reason that we are concerned about the environment is because that’s port of the quality of life we have ...”

-Dr. Matthew Tarr no capability of controlling that issue, and this is a perfect example of why we have the federal government.”

It is unclear if the balance between businesses’ freedom and environmental protection will be satisfactory for many Americans under Pruitt’s term. Pruitt has a history of challenging and suing the EPA on the grounds that they are violating the constitution.

Pruitt said, “The American people are tired of seeing billions of dollars drained from our economy due to unnecessary EPA regulations, and I intend to run this agency in a way that fosters

InnovateUNO

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After reviewing all presentations, the winners were announced in the UC Ballroom. In first place for oral presentations was chemistry major Kaylin Kilgore with “Halloysite as a Catalyst for Esterification.” In first place for performance presentations was the UNO Nepalese Student Association of New Orleans club including members Prerak Chapagain, Shisir Acharya, Eliz Parajuli, Abhisekh Sapkota, and Nishant Dhungel with “Scent of a Woman Reenactment.”

In first place for poster presentations was chemistry major Nam Ly with “Synthesis of 3,3-Diarylazetidines.” And as mentioned

Commencement

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“I basically know my grades long before when final grades are due, so it’s not a big deal for me … However, there are people who may be on thin ice or don’t know their grades. It’s really hectic to finish finals, then wake up the next day with no break and walk across a stage thinking it might be in vain.” In fact, she added the situation would be hectic for anyone regardless of their grades.

Trumbach said that because of what faculty has seen in years past, she is generally not worried about students who are unsure of their graduation status when they walk.

“We would much rather benefit a majority of students, then later

AAUW-UNO regardless of how they identify. She even added that she would love for male- or non-binary-identified people to take part in AAUW-UNO meetings and events.

“Gender issues affect everyone, no matter how you identify,” Gaeta said.

Other goals Gaeta said she hopes to accomplish as president include increasing attendance at meetings and events, establishing and furthering dialogue about women’s rights, and continuing AAUW-UNO’s successful programming as a way of empowering women.

Gaeta admitted that no organization is perfect in terms of diversity and inclusion, no matter who the president is. “We can always be more inclusive and work harder to be more inclusive. It falls on the individual [members], and if an individual doesn’t uphold the standards of the organization, it’s easy for that organization to become mixed. Our mission is an inclusive one.” One that Gaeta said she hopes other students notice and identify with on campus.

Any student who joins AAUWUNO gets a free membership to the larger national organization through the university’s partnership with AAUW. Meetings are held Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. in the Women’s Center on the second floor of the library.

before, in first place for visual art was Physics/Fine Arts major Jessica Talbert with “Polaris.”

All of the winners will be invited to the UL Academic Summit held at Southeastern University in Hammond, Louisiana on March 30 and 31.

Coordinator of Undergraduate Research Elizabeth Sigler said, “I want to thank you all for coming, and even if you didn’t win a prize today, you all are winners …

Again, I know it’s a very tough thing to do - to stand in front of your peers and present - but once you get that first one out of the way, the next becomes a little bit easier and you can always have this on your resume forever.”

deal with the exceptions,” Trumbach said.

Burgess was not the only student who expressed concern about the lack of time between finals and graduation.

Jared Buck, a graduating jazz studies major, said “with it being in the middle of finals week and the move-out day for students living in the dorms, I’m worried I won’t be able to get the chance to relax and celebrate, and instead it will just feel in the way of other things.”

However, both Mokhiber and Trumbach felt confident that a majority of students will gain from the change. Mokhiber said, “I think that the administration has the best interests of students at heart on this matter.”

6

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The Mystic Krewe of Chewbacchus rolled last Saturday, with this year’s theme being “The Revel Alliance.”

-Photos by Brennan Probst

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

Latest Keanu offering is Wick-ed fun

BY BRANDON MELERINE Staff Writer

“John Wick: Chapter 2” is the exciting continuation of the “John Wick” series. John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is an expert marksman and fighter who is fighting for vengeance. Reeves, a man of very few lines, is an absolute star in the movie, delivering his few lines with such anger and passion at every turn. There are moments when he looks directly into the eyes of his victims, and his words deliver chills down your spine.

Wick is not a man you’d want to come face-to-face with in a dark alley.

Throughout the movie, Reeves shows very little emotion, maintaining a straight face, which is perfect for the scenario surrounding the movie. He’s mad and angry and just wants to retire from the murder business. Wick is fueled by vengeance for the death of his wife and the last reminder of her: their dog. In this story, Wick is forced back into action.

Most of the other actors in their respective roles put on a decent

show, but Reeves is the man this movie deserves.

Action, action and more action is what the movie promised, and it is pleasantly delivered. Wick is a jack-of-all-trades: he can take you down with an assault rifle, his left hand or even a pencil. The fight choreography throughout this movie is ingenious: silent gun battles in crowded museums, car fights with no airbags deployed, and a hall of mirrors are all beautifully pieced together.

Every shotto-chest shows a clear explosion.

The camera remains steady for perfect visuals during times of intense action

making the film such a treat. The movie entertains, purely, through action and dry humor in moments of tense action. “John Wick: Chapter 2” is wildly fun with dazzling choreography.

BY CARLY ZIMMERMAN Contributor The Trump administration recently announced it is considering elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. This revelation, as well as those concerning major funding cuts for many other government entities, is in an apparent effort to reduce overall spending.

Considering that New Orleans is such an important cultural city, and the University of New Orleans is such an asset to it, how will these cuts affect us?

First, what do the NEA and NEH actually do? Although each operates a bit differently, the federal government essentially grants money to these groups to dole out amongst national and local organizations in the arts and humanities (a discipline which includes history, philosophy, literature, foreign languages and ethics). The NEA and NEH never support an organization entirely; this allows them to fund thousands of relevant groups while keeping them responsible for raising other needed capital.

Next, the numbers: the NEA and NEH each receive less than $150 million per year, respectively. This is a proverbial drop in the bucket considering the multi-trillion dollar United States budget. It is also negligible when compared to the U.S. military budget, which is 3,980 times either of these organization’s allotment.

Finally, why are these organizations important locally? According to the 2015 New Orleans Cultural

in the movie, making it easy for anyone to follow. Wick is back fighting in the best action movie this year.Reeves fights his way to the finish to put on a spectacle of a film.

-Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment

VIEWPOINT Federal-level arts cuts may affect NOLA Economy Snapshot, published by the city’s Office of Cultural Economy, the cultural sector is one of the largest and fastest-growing in New Orleans.

It counts for billions of dollars in local economic impact. Many of the local businesses that make up this landscape are nonprofits eligible for grants from established funders like the Arts Council of New Orleans, which receives almost half of its income from the government, including from the NEA. The Arts Council is responsible for half a million dollars in funding being distributed in the city, according to its website.

These programs range from assistance for local musicians to handson educational opportunities for children and much more.

The NEH funds local chapters across the country, including the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, which is based in New Orleans. The LEH offers reading programs for local and regional children and their families, professional development for teachers and adult literacy initiatives.

About 32 percent of its funding comes from government sources.

Still, many argue, the local economy would not suffer too greatly, and arts organizations might still be able to get by. What really matters, however, is that the market will now completely control the arts and humanities in the U.S. It is quite possible that, unless money suddenly arises from another source to fund the NEA and NEH, the valuable programs that teach local children to read, provide health resources for musicians and represent untold benefits to a large portion New Orleans’ population

Reeves has a new franchise under his belt with plenty of lore to play with. The mood of the movie remains consistent with a solid straight forward revenge plot. There are very few twists

will disappear.

Furthermore, the “NEA and NEH have a lot of structure set up having to do with equity and fairness that no other institution has in the country”, said UNO Adjunct Professor Mat Schwarzman, referring to the measure of accountability that comes with funding from a government entity. “[Elimination] will mean that the notion of a national culture will go even more deeply underground… the process will become more invisible and class-oriented.”

Although UNO is not directly subsidized by any of these funding bodies, its students have benefitted from programs that are, and many go on to employment in organizations that will be threatened in the event of NEA and NEH elimination. Students in the university’s arts administration graduate program, for instance, which has a 100 percent post-graduation placement rate, mostly become employed in local arts nonprofits partially funded by the government. Many UNO musicians, creative writers, actors and others have been involved in events made possible in part by the NEA and NEH. The NEA and NEH do not only benefit the arts and artists; benefits are spread out among millions of people around the nation in various careers. Who these groups fund is determined based on who will have a lasting positive impact in communities and in our nation.

If these bodies are eliminated, these impacts disappear, as do countless opportunities for growth and productivity in America.

To learn more, visit www.arts. gov and www.neh.gov.

STAFF PICKS Favorite Mardi Gras parades

BY CHRIS WALKER, Editor-in-Chief The best parade of the season, hands down, is Endymion.

Not because the floats are the prettiest or because the parade is inherently better, but simply because of the date it happens to fall on. Many people have work on Sunday, so drinking heavily for Bacchus is out for some people. However, just about anyone can drink to their heart’s content Saturday night, and have all of Sunday to recover.

BY ANNA GOWIN, Features and Entertainment Editor I’d have to say Nyx. It’s all of the female empowerment of Muses without the elitism that I’ve seen in how Muses makes throws.

(I’m not bitter about my lack of shoe. Why do you ask?) Getting to see my favorite marching krewes, like the Bearded Oysters, shout about sexual explicitness and sisterhood, is always a highlight of my Mardi Gras season.

BY JAMMIE LLOYD, News Editor For all of the closeted and self-proclaimed nerds out there, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is the parade of choice. Here is the only parade in the city where you can witness an entire krewe dedicated to the cult movie Sharknado sandwiched between an army of Sith lords and Sailor Moon characters. The ever-creative outfits and signs in the parade are always fun to watch, whether you’re dressed for the occasion in costume or not. Regardless, it’s ridiculous and wonderful to see Muggles, Trekkies, Whovians, gamers, hobbits, and other members of the Intergalactic Senate second-lining behind a Wookie down St. Claude, which is exactly how I like my New Orleans on a typical Saturday night.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

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59th Grammys more platform than performance sarily worth the awkward moments in her stage time. She went on to take home two awards for Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Music Video.

This year’s Grammys seemed like every artist trying to make some form of statement or steal a few seconds away for themselves, with even the smaller moments feeling over the top.

When Chance the Rapper won his first award (out of three awards he would take home that night), he refused to end his acceptance speech, even when the music started.

The music started playing while the rapper thanked God, the city of Chicago and his family. He said “Y’all can play the music, but I’m gonna talk.”

Twenty One Pilots proceeded to remove their pants to accept their award for Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance, and then told their explanation of childhood dreams coming true.

Considering both Twenty One Pilots and Chance the Rapper were there for their first awards,

the moments could easily come off as bloated, despite their good intentions.

There were great performances and artists who deserved exposure, like Maren Morris, not to mention other performances from mainstream artists.

Lady Gaga’s duet with Metallica was absolutely alluring for anyone being a fan of neither.

Considering the technical difficulties that seemed to pervade the show, the performance that could have come off as clashing was incredibly successful.

Katy Perry’s performance of “We the People” might have been political for an awards show, but it was riveting.

Ultimately, this year seemed to lack alternative artists. Recognizable alternative performers like Lana Del Rey, Sam Smith or Lorde would have been nice to see.

There were heartfelt memories and great performances, but it seemed as though the academy wasn’t afraid to be rude with how the ultimate winners unfolded.

host. He’s debatably irrelevant, having only performed music in the realm of musical theater and his own talk show, but did quite well, despite being over the top at times. He brought cheesy jokes and a good flow to his hosting of the show.

Most of the presenters were fresh sights, and the performers were universal. It was refreshing to see new faces in music. Although it still seems like having actors present is questionably Beyoncé performs at the 59th Annual relevant.

Grammys. -Photo courtesy of TIME Adele opened the

BY MATTHEW RAMOS show with her hit, “Hello,” which spoke volumes for Staff Writer Adele’s talent on- and off-record.

She also did a tribute to George The 59th Annual Grammys Michael. She apparently messed got a lot of hype this year up, but anyone who wasn’t Adele because of big names like wouldn’t have noticed. She evenAdele, Twenty One Pilots and tually restarted her performance Beyonce attending. in order to properly pay tribute James Corden was this year’s to the late pop star. Her tribute

stood above the rest but was bland, perhaps due to the song choice of Michael’s “Fastlove.”

Adele went on to win Song of the Year with “Hello,” as well as four other awards, and it seemed as though the song’s co-writer wasn’t given an opportunity to speak, which is a shame.

Adele also won for her album “25,” which beat out Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” album. Adele’s victory over Beyoncé was one of the night’s biggest surprises, even to Adele herself. When she gave her acceptance speech, it soon turned into a speech celebrating Beyonce.

Adele declared how Beyoncé’s album, “Lemonade,” affected her and her friends. “It makes my black friends feel is empowering.” In spite of not really being about her own win, Adele’s speech was rather emotional, deserved and spot-on.

Beyoncé’s extended performance was self-indulgent, with repeated appearances by her daughter and mother. Beyoncé is an amazing artist but not neces-

Oscar noms don’t fall short

Book sheds light on African vs.

African-American experience

BY EMILY MACK Contributor An often overlooked and underseen category of the Academy Awards is animated short films.

The local public was given a peek into art rarely seen when Prytania Theatre screened the films nominated in this category.

Typically, Pixar has the most memorable animated short films, but this year, there are five films from around the world all vying for the gold statue. Pixar’s animated short film, “Piper,” was directed by Alan Barillaro. The adorable film tells the story of a baby bird learning to find food on a beach filled with gnarly waves.

Its stunningly realistic animation was featured before “Finding Dory” in theaters across America.

“Borrowed Time,” has an Old-Western mise-en-scene (all of the components that make up a movie’s setting), and centers on a sheriff’s son who receives a pocket watch from his father as a child and grows up to be a sheriff, just like his father. The animation is beautifully done, with stellar details and professional-looking animation. The story is quite graphic for an animated short, including guns and themes of suicide.

“Pear, Cider, and Cigarettes” is 35 minutes long, which is four times greater than the length of any other nominee, and it has the most adult themes of the nominations, especially for an animated film. The film is so inappropriate that a warning precedes the film explaining its explicit themes to viewers.

Writer-director Robert Valley has an interesting style and has worked on projects with the band, Gorillaz. This short film is apparently drawn from Valley’s life, revolving around his friend, Techno, and his daring lifestyle that

includes drinking, car accidents, rock-and-roll and women.

The comic book-like animation pairs well with the low-volume, deep-tone voiceover that is reminiscent of a crime drama. The film contrasted significantly from “Piper,” but it still stands a chance to win the award.

Other notable short films include “Pearl,” Patrick Osborne’s story about a young girl growing up with a father who loves to play guitar and sing to her in the car.

She learns the way of the music world and also grows up to own the family car herself. She then becomes a professional musician and has her music played on the radio, and she leaves her father behind.

At the end of the film, Pearl is grown and shows up at her father’s doorstep and takes him to the music awards with her. The animation in “Pearl” is not great, especially when comparing it to some of the other styles of animation like in “Borrowed Time” or “Piper.” “Pearl” just didn’t cut it.

It was sloppy and the time did not sync. The touching story definitely distracted from the subpar animation, though.

“Blind Vaysha” is a Canadian film that also had a bizarre style of animation. The film is a folk tale about a girl born with one eye that can see the future and one eye that can see the past. She cannot see the present, though; therefore, everyone in her village says that she is blind.

The style of animation is inspired by German expressionist woodcuts, so it is very fast-moving and choppy. It looks handdrawn, rather than the stunning computer animation of the other films.“Blind Vaysha” was both original and intriguing, but the style of animation was a bit too avant-garde for mainstream taste.

to which his unusual upbringing deviated from the average American childhood.

Noah comes across as funny, personable, genuine and intelligent hosting “The Daily Show,” and this personality translates easily to the prose in his book.

Noah paints a beautiful picture with dim -Photo courtesy of Spiegel & Grau colors; legal racial discrimination, an abusive

BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER stepfather and an extremely reliEditor-in-Chief gious and strict mother are major, defining aspects of his childhood.

Those familiar with Comedy Noah’s formative years could Central’s “The Daily Show” need have easily lead to the life of no introduction to the program’s a common criminal; it seemed current host, South African-born almost destined.

Trevor Noah. Replacing John Noah not only grew up in a Stewart in 2015, Noah instantly third world section of South Africemented himself as one of comeca, where he and his mother were dy’s rising stars overnight. dirt poor, but he grew up under His recent book, “Born a apartheid, which was the official Crime: Stories From a South South African policy of racial African Childhood,” is a lightsegregation. Noah is of mixed hearted, funny and surprisingly race, illegal under apartheid rule, thrilling memoir chronicling his and almost never got to see his highly unusual upbringing in his white father. home country. While most of His mother often had to hide Noah’s fans are aware of his herNoah in her home during the day itage, few would guess the extent

because of his racially-mixed existence under apartheid rule; hence the title “Born a Crime.”

Trevor tells anecdotes about stealing food, pirating CDs, becoming a locally successfully DJ, falling in love, burning a house down and getting his heart broken among other things.

Primarily, though, “Born a Crime” concerns Noah’s relationship with his mother, a stern and highly devout woman. Noah clearly believes he owes his mother everything; he insists her strict upbringing is what let him become the man he is today.

Despite the tales of extreme poverty, not once does Trevor ever come across as anything but grateful for his bizarre upbringing, and it is clear he believes he owes his religious mother a huge debt of gratitude. Noah’s clear love for his mother permeates the entire work, and his optimistic view of his childhood is inspiring.

The novel does not chronicle Noah’s eventual rise to international fame; none of what happened in his life could be written off as a consequence of success.

His childhood, insane compared to most Americans, is one thousands of children share.

Noah’s unflinching optimism in the face of extraordinary circumstances makes this book worth reading alone. Fortunately, there are many other reasons to read the book.

Like Amy Schumer’s “The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo,” if you have the chance, listen to the author-narrated audiobook. To have Noah’s expressive and clear voice emphasizing subtleties often missed or left open to interpretation is a unique and extremely

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

COMICS & PUZZLES

“Privateer Poop” by Barrington Hebert

CELEBRATION OF LOVE

KateLynn Gordon buys a cookie from members of Unity, the campus’s LGBT+ organization, at their Valentine’s Day event celebrating marriage equality. In addition to a bake sale, the club performed mock wedding ceremonies for anyone interested.

-Photo by Brennan Probst

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU

ARTS BASEBALL BREAKUP BROADWAY COUPLES GORILLA

LOVE RELATIONSHIPS ROBOTICS STORYTELLING TORNADO VALENTINES

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

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EDITORIAL

Black History Month: still a necessity Every February since 1976, Black History Month has been nationally celebrated. But in what some people now consider a “post-racial” world, many question why we still need Black History Month.

The election of Barack Obama nine years ago created a false sense of unity and acceptance that the recent election of Donald Trump and his campaign have blatantly shattered.

But when it isn’t our president inspiring fights at rallies, it’s the police killing unarmed black men and women. And when it isn’t the police, it’s celebrities making ignorant comments. And when it isn’t celebrities, it’s the common man driving down the street with a Confederate flag on his truck. All

of these people remind us why we still need Black History Month.

The answer is simple: black lives matter.

Representation matters.

Education matters. Celebration matters. Bringing awareness to the black youth and those all around us matters. Yes, the more than 300 years of slavery still matter.

Some people argue that Black History Month perpetuates racial division.

Others believe black history is American history, and there is no need for separation.

In a perfect world, it would be great if both histories were intertwined as one; however, black

history is often treated separate.

Black people are often seen as others, their accomplishments deemed less significant, their con-

tribution to this country less important.

For too many years to count, African Americans have been overlooked and underappreciated. The only black leaders in our textbooks are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. In schools, black children learn mainly about their record of enslavement, rather than their true roots and their ancestors’ accomplishments.

Black History Month is an opportunity to learn true black history. And knowing one’s history is a key component in shaping one’s

future. For African Americans, it instills a sense of healthy pride and self-concept and for their white counterparts, vital insight and understanding.

It is an opportunity to embrace the people, culture and achievements often forgotten about or dimmed by the shine given to Americans of European descent.

The short, 28 days of Black History Month are a small consolation for centuries of exclusion, and they are necessary in redefining the ingrained negativity surrounding African Americans.

The fact that people who live in the same world where African Americans are still marginalized believe there is no need for Black History Month is the biggest reason we still need it.

COLUMN

Which is film better: “Moonlight” or “La La Land?” Picture to “La La Land,” cinema

BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER Editor-in-Chief The Academy Awards do not matter. History has proven, time and time again, the academy neither understands what is culturally relevant at the moment, nor what will go down in history as significant or worthy of remembrance.

For this year’s Academy Awards, there are only two films with any chance of taking home the Best-Picture statue: “Moonlight,” a film about a young, black gay man in the projects of Miami, and “La La Land,” a musical about love and heartbreak in Los Angeles.

Although this has certainly been the time for upsets (Trump winning the presidency and Atlanta losing the Superbowl), my money is on “La La Land” to take home the prize.

A sure-fire crowd pleaser, especially for female audiences, the movie is the epitome of cinema as entertainment. Undeniably wellmade, intelligent and emotionally cathartic, audiences fell in love with the film and have treated it extremely well at the box office.

However, “Moonlight” is sweeping the smaller award circuits, circuits which award artistic merit over commerciality. The movie is far more similar to contemporary European cinema; films are often sponsored by the government’s arts endowment, where cinema is seen more akin to art than entertainment.

The academy really is in a loselose situation. If they award Best

geeks (one of the last consistent box-office-goer demographics) will complain loudly the academy cares neither for art nor diversity.

If they give “Moonlight” the award, mainstream movie-goers will lament the academy is out of touch with the average American, and Hollywood clearly does not want to save itself.

My personal solution to the problem would be to hand “Moonlight” the Best Director award, and “La La Land” Best Picture, the two most revered prizes at the show. Historically, the two have gone virtually every year hand in hand, a mistake the academy should remedy.

The truth is, it’s hard to be mad at the academy for likely going with the safe choice of “La La Land.”

“La La Land” grossed nearly $300 million, while “Moonlight” is sitting at a comparatively weak $22 million.

However, Best Picture Award aside, there is still a debate worthy of consideration: which film is better?

Those who favor “Moonlight” say it’s an “important” film. A piece of art centered around a character neither the mainstream media nor Hollywood almost ever pays attention to: a film dealing with gay identity in an otherwise hypermasculine black American culture.

Those who favor “La La Land” point to the timelessness of the film; the movies “La La Land” pays homage to are unquestionably some of the most revered, remembered and rewatched staples Hollywood has ever produced.

Once again, the mainstream and the counterculture are locked in a fight over what will go down as relevant in the halls of history.

There is no right answer; the truth completely depends on what you believe cinema really is. Art or entertainment?

You choose. They’re both excellent films.

Christopher Walker, Editor-in-Chief....................driftwoodeditor@uno.edu Anjanae Crump, Managing Editor.................................driftwood@uno.edu Mindy Jarrett...............................................................................Copy Editor Jamie Lloyd..................................................................................News Editor Anna Gowin.................................................Features & Entertainment Editor Sanjiv Pradhanang.................................................................Visual Director Nathan Nguyen..........................................................Assistant Layout Editor Brennan Probst.................................................................Head Photographer Matthew Ramos............................................................................Staff Writer Kimberly Williams..............Business Manager, driftwoodbusiness@uno.edu Angelle Cleneay...........................................................Social Media Manager Matthew Stennis............................................................Distribution Manager Milan Holman........................................................Driftwood Video Producer Vickie Kennedy....................................................................................Adviser

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

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