Volume 58 Issue 11 by Driftwood

Hondurans embrace UNO, local culture See Global Perspectives, Page 4

DRIFTWOOD The community newspaper of the University of New Orleans

Volume: 58 Issue: 11 University of New Orleans President Peter Fos is an unelected politician and the biggest cheerleader for his alma mater. Driftwood Managing Editor Kristi Martin sat down with Fos to talk about the issues affecting the university today that have an effect on its future. The interview was conducted in a question-and-answer format, and due to space limitations, answers were condensed and will be continued in Issue 12.

DW: You said during the founders’ luncheon, you anticipate enrollment to stabilize after this year. What led to the decrease, and what is the university doing to increase those numbers? Fos: “The day Katrina hit, it was 17,408. We dropped down to about 6,600. The highest we ever were (after) was 11,741 (in 2009). Then we lost almost 1,200 students to, I think, the BP spill. “I started in January 2012, and at this point in time, we took anyone with a 21 ACT whether or not they needed remedial. New admission standards raised it to 23. We no longer could (offer) remedial (courses), which is math score of 18 and English score of 19. That was 700plus freshmen per year… “The second year, started Privateer Bound, which said that if we rejected you because of your ACT scores or needed remedial, but wanted to come to UNO, you would get accepted into Privateer Bound, which is a joint program between us and Delgado… “My thinking is we might go down a little more next year because the students who are going to graduate this year were admitted six years ago (before the drop). We’re graduating more students than we can replace. That’s the last year of the big group of students that came. Even though we’re 94 down, we’re not 788 down. I think the free fall has leveled off. I think we’ll over around 9,000. I’m hoping in 2020 we have 12,000.”

DW: As a transfer student, I’ve noticed UNO seems to really roll out the red carpet for us. What is so important to cater to transfer students? Fos: “Because of increased admission standards, those kids aren’t coming. The physical plant holds 17,000. We need to reach out to community colleges and bring those kids here. I’ve signed four or five agreements with Delgado to make it seamless when they come here.

Q A driftwood.uno.edu

with University of New Orleans President Peter Fos

November 12, 2014 “In 2007-08, 72 percent of our money came from state this year; this year it’s 28 percent so the money is coming from students while less students are coming. So we don’t have any money. We actually are trying to reduce staff. We laid off 28 people last February, which saved $3 million - nobody in academics, just everything else. Somebody has to make sure the lights work, the UC is open, the bookstore is open. We’re running out of those people. You can’t cut out of a crisis, you’ve got to grow. “It’s tough (to retain). We’re being reactionary because we don’t have any money. If they have an offer to go somewhere else, we counter offer. I have to worry that everybody gets a check at the end of the month, much less a raise. It would take $1.4 million to give everybody a four-percent raise. “I would like to maybe give a bonus or something to everybody this year. Other UL schools are later this year. Faculty are here because they want to be here. They would love to have more resources, but I just can’t give it to them.

DW: Who what or how determines cuts statewide and how do you determine which cuts to make once those cuts trickle down to the university?

Willie Marsalis/Driftwood Staff University of New Orleans President Peter Fos sits with Driftwood Managing Editor Kristi Martin during an q-and-a interview Monday. “This university was established dred and seventy-five people live on that we hand-picked because of Kafor those people in New Orleans campus full-time. You know how trina and the oil industry. “We tell them we are not a comwho couldn’t afford to go anywhere many are at Northwestern State (in else, as well as those people who Natchitoches)? Sixteen hundred. Is muter campus. We are a destination campus.” went somewhere else and needed it called a commuter college? No. a second chance. I didn’t start here “Pontchartrain Hall is 95 percent as a freshman. I went to ULL and occupied. Lafitte Village is 98 perDW: In preparing for this came here at the end of my sopho- cent occupied and Privateer Place, interview, I chatted with more year.” which the university doesn’t own, they’ve told us is 92 percent occu- faculty members, and it seems that morale is a little DW: UNO has a reputa- pied. That’s pretty full. “We’ve hired someone to recruit low. What is the university tion as a commuter school. Is that considered a nega- in Houston. She lives there and is doing to retain instructors? tive connotation? And what originally from Lafayette. She will is the university doing to never come here except for meetFos: “There’s a big reason (for recruit more than local stu- ings. Harris County (Texas) is big- low morale) – the last time anyone ger than Louisiana. She will also got a raise on campus was July dents? recruit once a month in Dallas for 2007. We’re trying to get fiscally Fos: “One thousand, three hun- two days at high schools, schools stable.

Fos: “In June, when House Bill 1 (the budget) is approved, it goes to the Board of Regents, then it goes to the system and the system determines how much we get based upon students and other things. “We’ve also had two mid-year cuts since I’ve been here. We didn’t have one last year and no one is talking about this year. “The UL system decides how much we get cut. We’re third largest budget (in the system). The larger the budget, the larger the cut. “What I did both times was tell the deans you’ve got to make cuts. I go through my VP areas and tell them to talk to their directors and supervisors and come up with a list of cuts. They bring them to me, and I decided last year when we cut 28, they gave me a list of 60. “After not sleeping for a week, they were people doing essential things. I couldn’t cut them. So I personally cut the list down to 28. We needed to cut the 60 budget-wise, but we need the university to run. “ *Editor’s Note: One cut included a buyout plan in which certain employees were offered early retirements in exchange for a portion of their salaries.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

NEWS

Local universities unite UNO Press puts regional books against sexual violence in the national spotlight Lia Alexander

Contributing Writer

“It doesn’t matter how I dress, NO MEANS NO, AND YES MEANS YES.” These were the words chanted by hundreds of attendees at the Crescent City Take Back the Night Event, which took place October 27-29, between Loyola and Tulane’s campuses. Through a partnership among Loyola, Dillard, and Tulane Universities, the event gives people “the opportunity to stand up against gender-based violence and bring awareness of sexual assault to the community,” said Amy King, director and representative of the Take Back the Night campaign. The event opened with a Kick Off Concert featuring the UNO Jazz Allstars at the UNO Amphitheater on October 27. Victims of violence and sexual assault were encouraged to share their stories at a spoken word event at Dillard University on the 29th. The march began at the Loyola University Marquette Horseshoe and ended with a candlelit vigil at the Tulane Lavin-Bernick Center- Qatar Ballroom. Katie Harold is a biology major at Tulane University. Harold attended several of the Take Back the Night events. “I really appreciate the awareness that the walk brings to these issues,” said Harold, “As a past victim of rape and abuse by men in my life, I believe that these walks are absolutely necessary in raising awareness and bringing about the end of sexual assault.”

Loyola student James Morrill, a women’s studies major, participated in the spoken word event this year. His piece addressed the ways in which the patriarchy is responsible for the lack of safety women feel while out alone at night. TBTN is a non-profit organization that hosts and plans hundreds of events each year including marches, rallies and vigils. This year, the Crescent City Take Back the Night was sponsored by local equal rights groups. Many of the earlier marches were gender specific and began to protest the violence that women were subjected to when going out alone at night. Only women were allowed to attend. The gender specific rule supported the idea that women could unite together against the violence directed towards them. Controversy arose when male survivors of sexual assault wanted to walk in support of both male and female survivors. The current purpose and goal of the marches now emphasizes raising community awareness in support of the right for everyone to feel safe from any form of sexual violence and recognizes men can be potential victims. Take Back the Night holds hundreds of events each year around the world. Most of the events take place on college campuses and in major metropolitan areas in an effort to reach a majority of the population. For more information on events, visit takebackthenight.org

Christy Lorio

Editor-in-chief The University of New Orleans Press publishes six to ten books a year, with a focus on regional works that have a national interest. Abram Himelstein, Editor-in-Chief, said “We think about what things aren’t in print in New Orleans and should be.” Himelstein decided to take over UNO Press in 2013 after the position was empty for a significant amount of time. “There were a group of grad students that were keeping it going and I really wanted our university to have a press. I felt like we could represent the university well. It was an interesting and new set of ideas for me to have the mechanisms to be able to create these conversations that I’m interested in,” he said. The press currently employs several graduate students as graduate assistants and interns and one fulltime employee, George Darby, who serves as the Managing Editor. The press coordinates publishing Ellipsis and Bayou Magazine, literary magazines that are published by the University of New Orleans English department. UNO Press recently partnered with the Ogden Museum on Clementine Hunter: A Sketchbook, a collection of the prolific folk artist’s paintings.

Hunter holds the distinction of being the first African American painter to have her work displayed at Delgado Museum, now known as the New Orleans Museum of Art. A release party is tentatively scheduled at the Ogden later this month. UNO Press recently switched distributors to John Hopkins. “We’re really excited about being in the same league as these other great universities…we’re very excited to be in this high caliber league.” As a result, UNO Press enjoys national distribution, including Amazon. Book lovers that prefer to browse a brick and mortar store can also request books locally. “Because we have really strong distribution, any bookstore that doesn’t have them can get them in two days,” Himelstein said, “We’ve had great relationships with all the local bookstores, there’s a reading for Bouki Fait Gumbo on December 3rd ; that’s part of the National Museum of American Slavery that’s opening. The Whitney Plantation is being converted into the museum. Himelstein explained the book is about the slaves that inhabited the Whitney Plantation. “It’s Whitney Plantation from the workers’ narratives. It’s a book we’re really proud to do.” Himelstein recognizes that the role of books in society has

changed with the advent of the internet. There are other options, besides books, to get information to the masses. “The internet has changed the way we consume, but there is still a place for the printed word. The call of the book is something which an audience can gather around in this physical manifestation so we’re talking about things that are very image heavy and oftentimes make for important books, things around which a community conversation can grow, but other than that I think you could be a website.” Himelstein received his MFA in creative writing from UNO in 2005. In 2004 he co-founded the Neighborhood Story Project- a book-making project that features New Orleans neighborhoodswith Rachel Breunlin, ethnographer-in-residence in the UNO anthropology department, while he was finishing up his MFA. Himelstein started working at UNO in 2007 as a professor and came on as Editor-in-Chief of UNO Press February 2013. He currently splits his time between teaching education classes, running UNO Press and the Neighborhood Story Project. For more information about UNO Press, including their catalog, visit unopress.org.

OPINION

Think Before You Ink ers to focus on what I was saying, not the conversation starter on my Editor-in-Chief arm. The same goes for anytime I The stigma of getting tattooed is waning, but that doesn’t mean you start a new job; even if other emshould assume your ink will be ac- ployees have tattoos, I like to keep cepted in the workplace. Accord- mine hidden until the staff gets to ing to a 2010 Pew Research poll, know me better. Corporate settings are tradition23 percent of ally more conAmericans have servative than a tattoo; nearly creative fields, a quarter of the but don’t assume population is blue jeans in the inked, but tattoos office gives you aren’t exactly a carte blanche to resume builder. show off your It’s best to err permanent art on the side of gallery. It’s alcaution when ways better to dressing for a ask about the tatjob interview by too policy than covering up your to just show up art. Tattoos aren’t with your ink on for everyone; display. you never know Some tattoos how a future Amy Soileau, English major boss might react to Lucky cat, tattoo by Flashy are more socially acceptable than yours. Ken at Tattoo A Go-Go others; an innocI got my first tatuous star on your too when I was 24. A rattlesnake wrist might not be an issue, but slithers down my shoulder and getting 666 behind an ear lobe will stops just above my elbow. She’s most likely limit your options. easy enough to hide; I just need to A tattoo is the ultimate committhrow on a long sleeve shirt and it’s ment; if you decide to get inked do bye bye crotalus viridis abyssus. When I interviewed for the Drift- it because it’s something you want; wood Editor-in-Chief position, I don’t cave to passing fads or what wanted to present myself as pol- your friends say is cool. And alished and professional. I covered ways remember the phrase “good up even though it probably wasn’t tattoos aren’t cheap and cheap tatnecessary. I wanted my interview- toos aren’t good.”

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Christy Lorio

Lights & Sirens

Compiled by Charles Nicholson

Hannah Mohr, Behavior Studies major Tattoo by Justin McCarty at No Regrets

Campus Calendar NOVEMBER 12 Fall Fest Student Activity Council will host Fall Fest from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at The University Center. For more information visit SAC’s Facebook page. Palestinian Sovereignty: The Possibility of a Democratic Secular State Ambassador Clovis Maksoud presents from 12-12:50 p.m. in Kirschman Hall room 129. For more information contact Dr. John Hazlett at jhazlett@uno.edu or Michael Jacobs at mdjacob1@ uno.edu The Arab Spring: Unintended Consequences & Current Mideast Conﬂict Ambassador Clovis Maksoud presents from 7-8:30 p.m. at The University Center room 211-B. For more information contact Dr. John Hazlett at jhazlett@uno.edu or Michael Jacobs at mdjacob1@ uno.edu. Jazz at the Sandbar with Adonis Rose The Jazz at the Sandbar fall series performs from 7-10 p.m. at The Cove. For more information call 504-280-6381 or visit music. uno.edu. NOVEMBER 13 Study Abroad Information Table The Division of International Ed-

ucation will have a table outside The Earl K. Long Library from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with information about study abroad. The Tocqueville Project Seminar Series Presents The Tocqueville Project presents “Aristotle and Kant on Altruism” from 5-6 p.m. in Kirschman Hall room 401. NOVEMBER 14 Dine Like a Professional Luncheon Seniors, juniors, and grad students are invited to join UNO Alumni to learn proper dining etiquette and networking tips from 12-2 p.m.. Complimentary lunch. For more information, visit and RSVP at www.UNOAlumni. com/dine. Assoc Computing Machinery Social A Student Mixer with Field Professionals will be held from 4-6 p.m. at The Sandbar at the Cove. Junior Recital: Elayssandria Kasongo, voice Elayssandria Kasongo will perform her junior recital from 4-4:30 p.m. in The Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. Honors International Potluck The Honors Program International Potluck is open to all UNO students from 4:30-7 p.m. in LA 197.

● A person reported sitting in the first floor of the Education building on November 5 at 10:50 a.m. and forgot to take her iPhone 5 before leaving. Upon returning, the phone was gone. ● A person reported last seeing his vehicle on November 7 at

10:00 p.m. and returned on November 8 at 1 p.m. to find it broken into. ● An officer responded to a call at 9 a.m. on November 8 that a glass door at the PAC had been broken. Upon arrival, the officer did note that a door had been broken. No witness were located.

THE DRIFTWOOD

NOVEMBER 15 Service Day at Second Harvest Food Bank The Service Coalition will host a volunteer event at Second Harvest Food Bank from 10:30 a.m.3 p.m. Register in SIL Office (UC 222). NOVEMBER 17 Study Abroad Information Table The Division of International Education has a table outside The Earl K. Long Library from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with information about study abroad. Kappa Sigma American Warriors’ Week The weeklong fundraiser for the American Heroes Campaign hosted by Kappa Sigma Fraternity will begin from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Every day will be a different event. Grupo De Conversacion Spanish conversation group holds weekly meeting at 3 p.m. at The Cove. For more information contact the Foreign Languages department at 504-280-6965. Student Activities Council Meeting The Student Activities Council holds weekly meetings from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in UC room 208.

UNODriftwood UNODriftwood UNODriftwood

The Driftwood is the student run official publication for the University of New Orleans. It is published weekly and distributed at 24 newsstands on and off campus on Wednesdays. The newspaper does not publish editions the week of midterms, finals, Thanksgiving and fall break. All submissions are subject to editing by Driftwood Staff. The driftwood office is located in room 252 of the University Center, 2500 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 www.driftwood.uno. edu. Ad sales inquiries should be directed to driftwoodads@ uno.edu

Staff Christy Lorio Editor in chief Kristi Martin Managing Editor Abraham Thacker Business Manager Pawan Aryal Layout Editor Ashley deBaroncelli Visuals Editor Aviayna Thomas Copy Editor Kerry Leigh Pittenger Oﬃce Manager Willie Marsalis Distribution Manager Vickie Kennedy Faculty Adviser

FEATURES

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Global Perspectives

Far From Home: Hondurans embrace American diversity and choice Sidhant Mahat

Contributing Writer The University of New Orleans has more than 20 international students from Honduras. Some of them sat down with us to speak about culture shock and their experiences in the United States and at UNO. “People wait for you to cross the road here. In Honduras you would get run over,” said freshman engineering major Susie Diaz Ferrera. f you can drive in Honduras, you can drive anywhere in the world.” Apparently, Honduras does not have very good drivers. Like many of her fellow national students, Ferrara did not really feel any major culture shock. “I kind of knew what to expect,” Christian José Monroy Hernández

said,“But of course there are some things that are new to us.” Hernández referred to the boisterous nature of American people. “I guess people are pretty loud and friendly here. They stop to talk to strangers and joke with them. They are very expressive. I like that here,” said Hernández. The Honduran students also talked about the freedom of choice in the United States. “There are more people who are open with their sexualities…you can even find clubs specifically for them. This is quite different,” freshman engineering major Nelson Fernandez said. Allan Vijil, also an engineering major, agreed with this. “Our society is very religious, and homosexuality is not something that is encouraged. There is a choice of your identity here,” he said.

Monroy takes an extracurricular swing dancing lesson.

Vijil also noticed that everyone here seems to have a tattoo. “[A] tattoo is not perceived well,” he explained. “Having a tattoo makes it difficult to get a job back home.” In regards to the food on campus, there were conflicted opinions. Vijil seemed to like the food here in New Orleans. Hernández felt neutral, although he exclaimed that he “really, really misses beans.” Jose Rene Berlioz, a freshman engineering major, however found the food to be missing its edge. “The food here seems artificial. It looks good but tastes okay,” he said. “It’s really bad,” Ferrera mouthed conspiratorially. “I mean it’s like Jose said. The flavor is not as strong as I am used to.” Food is not the only thing disappointing Jose Rene Berlioz. He is also disappointed that UNO is a commuting university. “Not many students live here, and thus students are not so much immersed in college life, despite the fact, that it has a large student body of eight thousand students. It is really disappointing that every weekend students race back home,” explained Berlioz. Many international students, including myself, have felt the boredom in the air during Saturdays and Sundays. “But,” Berlioz added “UNO makes up for it with its diversity in its student body. I am meeting difSidhant Mahat ferent people. In the cafeteria I hear people speak Portuguese, French

Sidhant Mahat

Vigil (left) and Diaz (bottom right) snap selfies with new friends at the SIL Blackout Party. and Nepalese. It is pretty fun.” All of them are pretty excited by the possibilities after college. Hernández wants to be a doctor and also plans to minor in English. “I want to be a doctor, but writing is something I like, and would like to get better at,” said Hernández. Ferrera has ambitious plans too. After getting her mechanical engineering degree from UNO, she plans to get a masters degree in product design from Australia or London. Ferrera said, “More likely Australia... I plan to design cars or toys…Yes, toys! They need a mechanical engineer for that.”

Cynthia Shrestha Monroy (right) enjoying diversity at NSANO Dashain Program.

Global Perspectives features the experiences of international students adjusting to life on campus. If you would like to participate in an interview and share your uniqye culturalk perspective, please contact Sidhant Mahat at smahat1@uno.edu

DINE LIKE A PROFESSIONAL UNO Seniors, Juniors, and Grad Students are invited to join us to learn proper dining etiquette and networking tips, all while conversing with UNO Alumni in a relaxed environment.

THE UNIVERSITY of NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

TIP #14 Commit to a firm handshake, eye contact, and a smile!

Professional Etiquette Luncheon Friday, November 14 12:00 p.m. - 2 p.m. Homer L. Hitt Alumni and Visitors Center

TIP #22 Prepare for conversation with a few casual non-business topics.

Lunch is complimentary. Please dress in business attire.

RSVP by Nov. 7 For disability accommodations, contact 504-280-6225.

alumni@uno.edu 504.280.2586 www.UNOAlumni.com/Dine

For career, job seeking, and resume help, visit UNO Career Services in UC 250.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

SPORTS

The road to redemption: Privateer women’s basketball season set to start this Friday Charles Nicholson Driftwood Staff

“This is a new year, and we have a new mindset. We have some new faces and we’re about to go new places,” said Keeshawn Davenport, head coach of the women’s basketball team. The University of New Orleans Women’s basketball season begins this Friday, November 14 at 5 p.m. when the Privateers take on West Alabama’s Tigers in UNO’s Human Performance Center. The Privateers will be try to turn things around this fall after their second winless season in three years. “As many people know, we had a tough year last year. We’re so excited about this year. Just expect to see these young ladies playing much harder than they did last year, with a greater energy, greater excitement and ready to do great things this year,” said Davenport. Two guards, both of whom made high marks in their first season last year, are returning to the team. Octavia Wilson, sophomore, led with 9.3 points per game with 44 three-pointers. She had the ninth highest season total of any Privateer

Privateers land 71 on spring commissioner’s honor roll and achieved her highest point total The other returning guard is against North Carolina, the Priva- Danielle Davis, who averaged 8.4 teers’ highest ranked opponent. points per game, scored double fig-

UNO Athletics/Clem Barbazon

ures nine times and led the team in assists. Davis, a junior and transfer student from Central Connecticut

State, sat out the 2012-13 season due to transfer rules, but debuted the following year.

LAGNIAPPE

My sex life is like a Ferrari, I don’t have a Ferrari. I wish some food trucks would park on Elysian Fields. It would be nice to have more options than just fast food around here.

Tony Collado Education, Junior “Find some money to fund our programs without increasing student fees.”

Jordan Fontenot FTCA, Senior “I feel like I would try to find more teachers with experience in the field.”

Maddie Kenny Environmental Science, Freshman “I would implement more recycling programs.”

Vantonio Hall Computer Engineering, Junior “I was actually thinking about this on the way to school. I would redo the UNIV classes and divide them by major to make them more field specific. Maybe have guest speakers come and talk, and have shadowing field trips to show that field.”

Justin Rogers Business Manager, Sophomore “If I were president, attendance would not be mandatory. We would have casual Fridays. The third and final thing, and I’m serious about this, parking would not be so expensive.”

Yak Attack

If I were president of UNO for a week, I would...

DeVonte Spencer Business Management, Senior “Let’s start from the top, I would change the cafeteria, better food, way better food, eatable food, identifiable food. Faster elevators and pest control in the dorms, and also better water heating. I would be around.”

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Is there a scholarship for trying?

Just spotted squirrelina vanderwoodsen sitting alone in the quad. Last I heard she was dating nut archibald. Why so lonely, S? Xoxo Gossip squirrel I’m not crying.. There’s just overpriced college education in my eye I told my mom I could be worse things in life than an average student, like a serial killer. She said at least serial killers have ambition….Fml Cigarettes are like friends: it’s a bad idea to light them on fire and put them in your mouth

Why can’t UNO have better food? I mean New Orleans is known for its food; it makes us look bad to all those international students. Campus dining is no better than airport food. Some woman screamed at me for holding the door for her saying that I was oppressing her or something. She then called me a privileged cis $%^!. Is holding the door for people bad now? I wish that I could be like the cool kids aka the UNO squirrels. When you steal toilet paper from the university #TuitionRecompensation I wonder how many of our pro-

fessors have Yik Yak and check it periodically just to validate their cynicism That moment when you stare at a test for 50 minutes and realize you should have pursued your dream to become the best barista ever So there has been a homeless lady sleeping in the greenroom (vending machine room) in the PAC for a straight week. What in the actual $%^! UNO? That moment when you thought you did amazing on a test and then you get it back with a 50%. So we’re reviewing animals in bio and there’s a question about nematodes, and the guy behind me goes, with a strong country twang, “MAN, now I wanna go FISHIN!” Can someone make a wrong answer buzzer noise every time question guy says something? <insert something that resonates with college kids>

Wednesday, November 12, 2014