Driftwood Volume 58 Issue 16 by Driftwood

Plan your Mardi Gras festivities Parade schedule, transportation tips and more, Page 4

DRIFTWOOD The community newspaper of the University of New Orleans

Volume: 58 Issue: 16

BIG BUCK BIG CUT

UNO closing its doors. “That is really difficult to envision [UNO closing],” said Payne. “I more likely expect there to be some transformations among school systems. Several years ago there was

Charles Nicholson Driftwood Staff Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration recently announced that Louisiana colleges and universities should expect $200 to $300 million in budget cuts for the 2015-2016 school year. These cuts are due to the $1.5 billion gap in the state budget. “This is not the fault of the University of New Orleans,” said Dr. Dinah Payne, an instructor in the Department of Management and Marketing here at UNO. “Our stu-

February 4, 2014

driftwood.uno.edu

dents and professors did not do anything wrong. Our [university] administration did not create the budget propos- al. We did not cause this The University of New Orleans has seen a long history of budget cuts. Just recently President Peter Fos recommended the closure of seven degree programs, including Geography and Master’s of Romance Languages, due to budget issues. There have also been discussions regarding the possibility of

t a l k a b o u t S U N O , UNO, and Delgado combining. I would see more now the likelihood of UNO and Delgado coming together.” With the new fiscal year beginning on July 1, it won’t be too long until we see the results of these proposals.

Payne said she wants people to be more effective and efficient in how services are offered, so that if UNO does take a big hit from cuts the students would still come first. She believes her colleagues value their jobs, not just in being employed, but in what they do as well. “What keeps me positive is when I walk into a classroom of UNO students. There’s no better set of students and I’ve taught all over the place. [The students] are worth our best efforts,” said Payne. The university has seen quite a few changes over the years due to budget constraints. Besides the steadily increasing tuition, hours have been cut at certain on-campus facilities, and there are fewer class sessions available to students. The university also been trying to increase revenue through renovations, like the Sushic sushi restaurant in the Cove and the new coffee shop in the library. “Education was valued in my home,” said Dr. Dorothy Scholl, instructor and Pre-Veterinary Sciences Advisor.

“I am a product of the public education system. I believe very strongly that the people of this city have the right to a quality education. That was one of the reasons why I wanted to work for UNO.” “The budget cuts we’ve already suffered have put us on a shoestring budget,” said Scholl. “ Because of those cuts, we’re undergoing all of this academic restructuring and reorganization and cutting programs. Let’s put it this way: we can’t survive any more cuts to higher education.” Though she can’t foresee the outcome, Scholl doesn’t see UNO remaining the same as it is now if these budget proposals go through. She also commented that the mood of the faculty on the situation is a little grim. “Morale has been low since the budget cuts have started,” said Scholl. “We want our students to succeed. We want to see the economy of the city and the state grow. All of us, as educators, believe that the way to do that is to invest in students and education.” “I really feel sorry for President Fos, because he was put into a very dire situation. When he was appointed as president, we were already in bad financial state because of the budget cuts,” said Scholl. “It’s not the administration’s fault, per se. The responsibility lies with the gross fiscal mismanagement by Bobby Jindal. By refusing to address the deficit problem in a rational, logical manner, he’s moved continued on page 3

How do you think the statewide budget cuts will affect students? Marley Gee Senior, Sociology

“I believe it’ll be detrimental to students who truly want to get a higher education. Reason being, I don’t see the actual reason for the budget cuts nor has a logical explanation been given for them.”

Kentrella Reed Junior, Biology

“I’m extremely concerned about the budget cuts. I’m more concerned about the future. What are our children supposed to do if they had dreams of attending our universities? Will they experience the pain of budget cuts, too?”

Yesid Ducon Senior, Naval Architecture “I think the success of a country is driven by the education of its people. We’re being driven in the wrong direction.”

Mackenzie Renner Freshman, Sociology

“Due to the budget cuts, the on campus ‘doctor’ couldn’t tend to my needs. I was suffering with the flu Friday and the doctor told me he couldn’t see me until Tuesday. The budget cuts will result in nothing but harm to the students.”

EDITORIAL

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Our view Cutting class: the future of higher ed Staff and faculty cuts, budget cuts, program cuts- these are not foreign concepts to the UNO community as we’ve unfortunately been suffering through them for the past few years. Now Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed $300 million budget cut to higher education across the state of Louisiana in the 2015-2016 school year will only rub salt into a still very raw wound. If it wasn’t obvious before, Jindal has made it crystal clear that higher education (education in general, really) is not a priority in this state even though it is a necessity in the current job market. A minimum wage job is hardly enough to support oneself yet alone a family. The decrease in available jobs and increase in competition makes having an education beyond high school just that much more precious when it comes to job applications. It won’t only be UNO students who are affected by this proposition; almost every college student in Louisiana will see some kind of change in his or her college experience next year. Whether it be fewer classes offered, loss of faculty and staff, higher room and board or a heart-stopping rise in tuition, if this slash in the budget does take place, there’s no avoiding these unfortunate occurrences from becoming more and more frequent. It’s not only hard for college students to remain positive in their quest for higher education, but high school students who planned on at-

tending college now have to reevaluate their plans and finances to see if college is still an option. In fact, the college they dreamed of attending one day, might not even be open once they graduate. That’s right. There’s been talk of merging universities or possibly even shutting a few down. Some might say that a merge is better than doing away with a school altogether, but a merge is just as detrimental. Let’s say Delgado and UNO are merged together. Delgado’s tuition is one of the lowest in the New Orleans area and there are several campuses conveniently located throughout the city. Students who planned on attending Delgado may not be able to attend college at all since the merged university would have higher tuition and one location that may or may not be convenient. A student who lives in Slidell would now have to spend extra gas money traveling across the Twin Span bridge to the lakeside campus (assuming UNO becomes the main campus during the merge) instead of making the shorter drive to Delgado’s Slidell campus. In essence, the lack of monetary support from the state is most detrimental to average, middle class students. With this statewide budget cut, tuition will rise and government grants and funding will decrease making it quite difficult, if not impossible, for students who do not have a wealthy background or scholarship to advance their education.

Lights & Sirens Jan. 24 at 12 p.m. $1,300 was stolen from a dorm room in Ponchartrain Hall North. The money has not yet been recovered.

Jan. 30 at 2.pm. A man was witnessed urinating on a tree outside the Administration building. He was detained and issued a municipal summons.

THE DRIFTWOOD UNODriftwood

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

Staff

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

My love/hate relationship with college Charles Nicholson Driftwood Staff When I started my career at the University of New Orleans, I wasn’t sure what to think of college. My idea of the traditional campus life experience didn’t go as I originally planned. I cut out the image of attending parties and campus activities. After being a student for nearly three years, my feelings about school are totally different from what I thought they would be and still evolving. I’m haunted by the reminder that I will be paying off loans for many years after graduation. Seeing that fee bill each semester nearly brings me to tears. It doesn’t help that the school likes to put a fee on everything but oxygen. I understand that the university needs to make a profit, especially with the current financial situation, but I need to support myself as well. I’ve stopped buying food on campus for the most part. I refuse to buy my books from the bookstore, because I know I can

February 4

rent books elsewhere for so much cheaper. Even then, it can be difficult to find certain books for reasonable prices. College isn’t the most economically friendly place. It isn’t just the expense of college weighing us down, but also the workload that can bring on headaches. It might be different if I didn’t have to work a part-time job or had plenty of free time on my hands, but sadly, that is not the case. Knocking out two essays and three readings, while working eight-hour shifts, makes a two-day weekend feel more like an hour. It’s a tough balance and I feel like I’m constantly compromising on what work I will and won’t complete on time. All of the negativity aside, I appreciate a lot of the small things in college, as with many things in my life. As an English major, I find my classes far more enjoyable than biology or math courses and I have some freedom in my class selection. They feel less like classes and more like a group of similarly-minded people having a discussion about

whatever is on topic for the day. It’s even more fun when we get off topic and end up with a totally different conversation for 20 minutes. The university is also a great place for meeting new and interesting people. New Orleans already prides itself on being a truly diversified city, but UNO brings another element of diversity to the city with its international programs. I like meeting international students from places like Nepal and Austria. I don’t want to discredit the locals though as many different cultures and traditions are found in the city. It’s exciting to be around the people of Greater New Orleans who are into the same activities and have the same issues, yet are all so different. Getting involved on campus with activities or organizations helps build friendships and I highly recommend making new friends in college. Even though college drives me insane at times, I have to admit, it’s still an enjoyable, and maybe even a necessary experience.

Campus Calendar

Piano Master Class with Sean Chen All are welcome to attend this masterclass with Van Cliburn medalist Sean Chen, who will guide four UNO students in performing their works in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall from 12-2 p.m. Lunch Talk with Ute von Maurnböck- Mosser Austrian Radio journalist Ute von Maurnböck-Mosser discussing her upcoming e-book New Orleans- A Creole Kaleidoscope: 10 Years After Katrina during a luncheon talk at 12:30 p.m. in the Liberal Arts Building, LA 197. SAC Movie Night SAC will be showing the film “Big Hero 6” in the Cove parking lot at 7 p.m.

February 5

Lunch Lecture with Dr. Shane Courtland Dr. Shane Courtland discusses “Political Absolutism in the United States” from 12:30-1:45 p.m. in the Liberal Arts Building, LA 234. Lunch provided.

Improv Auditions Imaginary Friends, UNO’s Improv troupe will host auditions for new members in the Math Bldg, room 121, at 8 p.m.

UNO Socialist Alternative Club- Solidarity of the Radical Left Info Table The UNO Socialist Alternative Club will host an information table to promote the formation of a student alliance among the broad spectrum of radical leftists on campus Earl K. Long Library from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Unity’s Marriage Equality Day A day in which Unity officiates faux weddings for anyone who wants to get fake married to spread awareness of marriage equality from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Quad.

SAC: Survey Says A Family Feud-style game night featuring special Black History Month themed questions. Hosted by SAC in the UC at 7 p.m.

February 11

NEWS

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Coming to campus: New club aims to unite commuting students the event someone finds themselves without transportation. Driftwood Staff While there is a long term discussion about obtaining a shuttle bus, Commuters United is a brand new club to the University of New Orle- the emergency list will suffice in ans campus this semester. Dedicated providing a helpful solution for stuto addressing the needs of commut- dents to find a ride to school. In the future, the club would also ing students and providing a reliable carpooling network, Commuters like to establish a website to post United was founded last fall as a stu- public transportation schedules, aldent-led opportunity to voice travel ternate travel routes, and provide a forum for members to discuss issues concerns both on and off campus. As a new club, Commuters Unit- and post traffic updates and road ed will be focusing on expanding its closures. This semester, the members will network around campus and buildbe proactive on campus with fun ing community among its members. and informative activities. Aimed at The club’s speaker, UNO student spreading group awareness, the acEbone Canty, described Commuter tivities will serve as a way to gather United’s main goal as “a forum for input from students in determining commuters on campus who have to how to offer better services. drive everyday.” Commuters United will host its Canty continued to explain first of many bake sales on Feb. 12, the club’s purpose: “We want to offering an assortment of treats and have everyone know each other, baked goods outside the dining hall be friends with each other, in case at the University Center (UC) from something comes up, you’re having car troubles etcetera. You want to be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Another event will focus on ofable to call someone to come pick fering de-stressing opportunities you up.” Reaching out to its members, before finals. “Commuter AppreciaCommuters United intends to gen- tion Week” will include such incenerate an emergency contact sheet in tives as free water and coffee, free

Rebekah Bell

Commuters United offers resources to students who travel to and from campus.

Photo by Traven Stout

scantrons, games, raffles, etc. An activity the group would like to get off the ground this semester is to host an Assertive Drivers workshop during one of their group meetings. As a way to promote safe driving, this workshop’s goal is to refresh students on basic road rules

and ways to avoid accidents. For those interested, the group meets every other Monday at noon in UC 206. Drop in on their next meeting on Feb. 9 or come take advantage of their bake sale on Feb.12. You can also follow them on their

Facebook page “UNO Commuters United” to keep updated with the latest club news and events. For any questions, email Chris Heroman at: commuters@uno.edu

a true liberal arts education- to become well-rounded, well-informed citizens,” said Scholl. “These people will know something about history. They’ll appreciate the arts and the culture in numerous places in

the world. It fosters tolerance when you learn about how other people live and what their values and beliefs are. Unfortunately, because they don’t bring in a lot of the grant money, they’re the first to go.”

“UNO has the best students,” said Payne. “They deserve the best educational opportunities. We need to fight to make that happen.”

Big Bucks... money around to plug budget holes. He’s not investing in Louisiana.” Even though she is a professor in the biology department, Scholl-

sees a lot of value in the liberal arts. “I know that part of the academic restructuring involved pretty much gutting the liberal arts. The reason students go to a university as opposed to a technical school is to get

Illustration by Delvonte Smith

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

FEATURES

Getting to the parades: don’t let them roll past you

Photo by Christy Lorio Krrewe du Vieux marched through the Marigny , French Quarter, and CBD on Saturday, Jan 31.

Asia-Vinae Palmer Driftwood Staff

Mardi Gras season is here, and the parades are coming faster than you can write down the schedules.

Transportation Tips *Bus Line 55, Elysian Fields – bus will end at North Bienville and Decatur streets instead of stopping on Canal Street. *Bus Lines 51, 52, St Bernard – buses will end at North Basin and Iberville streets. For a detailed bus schedule go to norta. com *Michael’s Bicycle – 622 Frenchmen St | 504.945.9505 *American Bicycle Rental Company – 325 Burgundy St 504.324.8257

The streets of New Orleans are not only flooded with masked and feathered folks, but the roads are also paved with cars. Although Mardi Gras brings a care-free spirit, it also comes with some of the worst traffic and parking. Every year the metal barricades magically appear on nearly every street corner. Cars upon cars will wait on the parade floats to pass like unwarranted, never-ending train cars. Do yourself a favor and don’t end up being one of them. When you know where and when the parades pass, you can plan new routes to work and you’ll know exactly where to find the party when you get off. With bikes filling up all the racks around campus (although some happen to be without tires), students should

TALK TO A RECRUITER

At the CAREER FAIR on the 27th

feel confident in their abilities to beat the traffic on their way downtown. For students relying on public transportation, the bus stop on campus located between the UC and the Performing Arts Center has three buses daily that transfer passengers from UNO to Canal St*. The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) charges $1.25 per fare and also offers a $3 day pass, which you can purchase upon boarding (RTA includes buses and streetcars). The bus is an easy and safe way to get to the heart of the city. Although the buses run alternate routes during Mardi Gras, they are still a great alternative to taking taxis. Cabs can be difficult to get and the fare might run you $15-$25, depending on traffic and whether the driver decides to stop at every single light. For the students with bicycles that have tires, the buses are bike-friendly and require no extra charge for attaching them. Don’t have a bicycle? No problem. Take the 55-Elysian Fields bus to Decatur St. and rent one from Michael’s Bicycle*. They offer bicycles at $25/half-day, $35/full-day, and $60 for two days. Feeling fancy and want a stylish, laid back cruiser? American Bicycle Rental Company* offers cruiser rentals at $10/hour and $36/ full-day. After you figure out

Photo byChristy Loriol Revelers march in Krewe du Vieux, the first parade of the season.

place you like the best, don’t forget to ask about discounts. Keep in mind that you’re a student and most places know that students have student money and may need student deals. Take advantage of what you’ve learned in those business classes, bargain them down with charm and a

The parades end and blend with the parties that last all night, but the buses do not. Even when it is not the season of styrofoam. cups and muddy beads, the latest bus back to campus runs around 10:30 p.m. Try to plan ahead by seeing who else is going to what parade, which party, so you don’t end up paying that outrageous cab fare alone.

large group.

Parade Schedule FRIDAY | Feb 6 French Quarter Krewe of Cork 3 p.m. Uptown New Orleans Krewe of Oshun 6 p.m. Krewe of Cleopatra 6:30p.m. SATURDAY | Feb 7 Uptown New Orleans Krewe of Pontchatrain 1 p.m. Krewe of Choctaw follows Krewe of Freret follows Knights of Sparta 6 p.m. the Krewe of Pygmalion 6:15p.m. Marigny ‘tit RƏx 5 p.m. Krewe of Chewbacchus 6 p.m. SUNDAY | Feb 8 Uptown New Orleans Krewe of Carrollton noon Krewe of King Arthur and Merlin follows Krewe of Alla follows Krewe of Femme Fatale follows French Quarter Krewe of Barkus 2 p.m. WEDNESDAY | Feb 11 Uptown New Orleans Krewe of Druids 6 p.m. Krewe of Nyx 7 p.m. THURSDAY | Feb 12 Uptown New Orleans Knights of Babylon 5:45 p.m. Knights of Chaos 6:15 p.m. Krewe of Muses 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY | Feb 13 Uptown New Orleans Krewe of Hermes Krewe d’Etat Krewe of Morpheus SATURDAY | Feb 14 Uptown New Orleans Krewe of Iris Krewe of Tucks Mid-City Krewe of Endymion SUNDAY | Feb 15 Uptown New Orleans Krewe of Okeanos Krewe of Mid-City Krewe of Thoth Krewe of Bacchus MONDAY | Feb 16 Uptown New Orleans Krewe of Proteus Krewe of Orpheus TUESDAY | Feb 17 Uptown New Orleans Krewe of Zulu Krewe of Rex Krewe of Elks Orleans Krewe of Crescent City

6 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 11 a.m. noon 4:15 p.m. 11 a.m. 11:45 a.m. noon. 5:15 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 a.m. 10 a.m. follows follows

FEATURES

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Free and fun ﬁtness for all students at the UNO Recreation and Fitness Center Krystal Dumas Driftwood Staff

Finding the time to work out between school, work and life can be difficult, but the University of New Orleans makes exercise accessible and convenient for all current students at the UNO-Recreation and Fitness Center. The UNO-Recreation and Fitness Center, commonly referred to as the Rec Center, offers 87,000 square feet of space for cardio, lifting, swimming, sports and all things fitness. The center is conveniently located on campus across from the University Center (UC). The center has an entire floor dedicated to cardio and lifting. Treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, weight machines, and free weights

are just a few of the resources on the second floor of the center. The facility also offers unique classes for members. Indoor Cycling, Pilates, SPLASH, BOKWA, Spin Sanity, ZUMBA and Yoga are just some of the classes available. “We have fabulous instructors, all types of different instructors that fit your lifestyle and who can find out how you work out and discover what motivates you,” said Rec Center employee Leah Vickmen, “I love ZUMBA and all those types of classes, because if I do anything at the gym I would go do their classes because I need that extra motivation.” Jenny Leigh teaches multiple BOKWA classes at different facilities in the New Orleans area. BOKWA is a cardio workout that involves participants drawing let-

ters and numbers with their feet. One of the largest and most popular classes she teaches is at the center. Leigh’s BOKWA class is “blowing up” at UNO. Even though the exercise classes are extremely popular, one resource stands out among the others. “The basketball court is our biggest attraction,” said Vickmen. The Rec Center has three full-sized courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton. The center also has two racquetball courts. Rec Center member Chelsea Davis said, “I visit the gym generally three times a week... in which I may exercise on machines or sprint on the track... but I always go to the basketball court,” said member Chelsea Davis. Community members with

Photo byWillie Marsalis

A variety of equipment is available for use at the recreation center.

Photo by Willie Marsalis Get pumped at the recreation center with free weights and other strnegth -training equipment..

proof of residency are welcome to join the Rec Center. Prices vary depending on whether the potential member is a UNO student, faculty or staff, retiree, active alumni, senior citizen, or a community member. UNO students can use the facility for no additional cost with their student ID, as the Rec Center membership is included under the mandatory student fees each semester. Faculty, staff, senior citizens, and UNO retirees can join the Rec Center at a discounted price. Community members pay the full price of $50/ month, $175/ three months, or $700/year. Nine month memberships are only available to the UNO faculty, staff and retirees. Any UNO student not taking summer courses may purchase a summer gym pass for only $29. There is a $10 day pass for non-members that would like to attend the Rec Center at any time for an entire day. The locker rooms are spacious and packed with amenities like a dry sauna, showers, and swimsuit dryer for those who partake in the lap pool. General locker rental is free. The facility offers reserved

lockers, towel service, and personal trainers at additional costs. Personal training is offered to all Rec Center members. Anyone interested must first pay for a required non-negotiable initial consultation. The initial consultation is a fitness assessment performed by the trainer. The initial consultation is $50 for UNO students, faculty and staff, and $55 for all other Rec Center members. There are one, five, or ten session options to chose from with prices that range from $45-$390. Every summer the Rec Center hosts a Summer Day Camp for the community children. The camp offers two four-week sessions from June 1-June 26 and July 6-July 31. Parents have the option of paying for both sessions or choosing to only pay for one. Rec Center Assistant Director Judy Duvernay said, “The Summer Day Camp is an annual event and not the only one; the athletic department also usually has their own annual summer camp.” For more information on the facility, check out the Rec Center’s website http://ris.uno.edu, or the Facebook page.

Jeri Nims Scholarship helps graduate student Jade Hewitt complete thesis film Chloe Gagnon

Driftwood Contributor Jade Hewitt, a third year graduate student at the University of New Orleans, is a recipient of the annual Jeri Nims Graduate Thesis Scholarship and now has $10,000 more to improve her promising thesis film, Just Like Pete. The Jeri Nims Scholarship is awarded each fall semester. Hewitt was pleasantly surprised to discover that she would be the recipient. “I was very fortunate to be awarded the Jeri Nims Foundation Scholarship,” she said, “Mrs. Nims and her family are extremely generous to the city and to the university in helping students grow in their learning of filmmaking.” Hewitt’s fun-loving film, Just Like Pete, is about a family with two children, one girl and one boy. Hewitt played softball throughout high school and college, so while creating her thesis film, she knew the importance of sports in her life would play a role. The daughter in

the movies is a track runner that goes blind after suffering a concussion from a fall. Her younger brother tries to connect with her through re-teaching her how to run without eyesight. “I wanted to make something that was wholesome and a feel good story for everybody. Something that anyone and everyone could watch,” said Hewitt. Hewitt wrote and directed the film and is currently in the process of editing. Just Like Pete features Hayden Guthrie, a current UNO freshman studying theater, along with an eleven-year-old boy named Jayden Norris. Hewitt toured the Nims Center Studios after winning the scholarship, where she was able to meet Jeri Nims. “Mrs. Nims is so passionate about New Orleans and films being made in New Orleans. Her soul is here, her passion and her fire is here. She is so generous in everything that she does for the city.” The scholarship enhanced the

making of her movie as it helped with rental equipment cost, such as a chapman dolly, sound gear, and a camera lens. “Because of the award, I was able to really polish and enhance all the areas of filmmaking that I wouldn’t have been able to without the award.” She also used part of the scholarship for catering and craft services for her crew. “It’s extremely expensive. Because of the Nims scholarship, I was able to up the game and make sure the crew was well-fed, so they can work. It seems like a small thing, but when you are on set for thirteen hours and only have a onehour break, you look forward to the break. It improves the morale of your crew,” said Hewitt. When Just Like Pete is completed, Hewitt plans to enter her work in as many film festivals as possible. There will also be an on-campus screening of the film. Hewitt has known for quite a while that she wanted to be involved in the film industry. Born and raised in Mandeville, Louisiana, Hewitt

knew from the age of 12 that she wanted to become a filmmaker. Her parents gifted her a camera at twelve-years-old, when she wanted to film videos of herself and her friends goofing off at the beach. In middle and high school, she was on the broadcast team where she started to really enjoy filmmaking. “I had a lot of freedom in high school to experiment, play around, and have a lot of fun with it,” Hewitt said. Graduating from high school in 2008, she went on to study Studio Arts with a concentration in digital arts and a minor in art history at Millsaps College in Jackson, MI. After graduating in 2012 from Millsaps, she came to UNO to pursue film production. “At Millsaps it was studio art. I wasn’t able to do narrative, traditional movies,” Hewitt said, “I knew I was tired of making this stuff for galleries. I want to make this stuff for a movie theater. I want to tell a story. I want to do more traditional filmmaking, and that is what led me here.”

In 2008, Hewitt started her own video business making recruitment videos for high school athletes. She continues today to make recruiting videos for athletes all across the south. When asked what she wants to do with filmmaking after she graduates Hewitt said, “While I do love directing, I’m more naturally suited for the production side of film, so first assistant director/producer . . . I would love to work at some type of sports or fitness company or business and handle their promotional videos and interviews . . . living the set life is a difficult life and I’m not quite sure I’m fit for that. Something in the sports world definitely.” Hewitt also offered some advice for aspiring or current film students: “Get on set, find a set and get on it. No matter what role it is, get yourself on a set and you will see how it works. It is just as important to find out what you don’t like as much as it is what you do.”

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

SPORTS

Gill,Weisbrod and Brown shine in UNO’s matchup against McNeese Nigel Washington Driftwood Staff

Turnovers held back the University of New Orleans Men’s Basketball team late in the second-half, as they couldn’t finish the comeback against the McNeese State Cowboys in a 68-58 loss at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. “Frustrating” and “Disappointing” were the words UNO head coach Mark Slessinger used to describe his team’s finish to the game as the Privateers (611, 2-6 SLC) had 12 turnovers in the second half with two in the final 30 seconds of the game. A poor shooting performance by the Privateers in the first half had them playing catch-up the entire game. The team shot a poor 28.6 percent from the field and made one 3-pointer out of ten attempts. Freshman guard Christavious Gill led the team in points at the end of the first half with seven and ended the night with 16-points, while the freshman guard/forward Colt Weisbrod made some nice contributions off the bench dropping in six points at the break and finished with 12-points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting night. Coach Slessinger credited the 2-3-zone defense McNeese State played as a reason for the offensive struggles in the first half. He said, “We were slow

getting started, we didn’t execute. Our game plan offensively against the zone, we had a real good idea they were going to zone us. We talked about it. We talked about some simple keys that we needed to do … we got away from that right in the first 48 minutes.” While the McNeese State Cowboys (8-11, 2-6 SLC) had their own troubles on offense as well, shooting only 38 percent from the field in the first half, they were still more efficient than the Privateers with good ball movement and capitalizing from their opportunities at the free throw line. McNeese State senior forward Desharick Guidry had a efficient night, putting up a double-double in the stat sheet with rebounds (11) and points (15) on a 6-for-8 shooting night. Defense kept the Privateers in it, as they went into halftime with a manageable 9-point deficit. The beginning of the second-half was tough for the Privateers offense as the turnovers began to pile up. The team began the first three possessions with two offensive turnovers, both by Gill, which led to an alley-oop dunk by McNeese State guard Kevin Hardy and a transition layup by the other Cowboy guard Keelan Garret to give them a 10-point lead. Carelessness with the ball continued as the Cowboys used

those opportunities to run transition and score easy buckets. McNeese State would eventually end the game with 21-points off turnovers and 12 fastbreak points. The Privateers kept fighting and managed to eat away at the 19-point deficit as the Cowboys offense stalled in the middle of the second half. Senior guard Kevin Brown made some clutch plays in the final two minutes as he got to the line and made three of his four free throws. On his second attempt of his first two free throws, he grabbed the miss and got a foul call to return to the line and make it a one-possession game. McNeese State free throws gave them a 5-point cushion with 30 left in the game. Two consecutive turnovers by Brown and senior forward Terrance Syon led to a dunk and shots at the free throw line that sealed the victory for the Cowboys. “We feel like we left one on the table tonight,” said coach Slessinger. “We feel like we didn’t execute and finish the way we were supposed to. Disappointing-very, Very frustrating and disappointing.” Christavious Gill was the player of the game for the Privateers as this was his ninth consecutive game with 10 or more in the scoring column.

Photo provided by UNO Athletics Christavious Gill was the player of the game for the Privateers at Lake Charles.

From the Sideline

Women’s tennis and basketball teams look for a win Nigel Washington Driftwood Staff

Women’s Tennis

The UNO tennis team faced Tulane on Saturday at the City Park Pepsi Center. The Privateers weren’t able to come away with a win in eitheir singles or doubles competition that day and finished with a 4-0 score against Tulane. Three singles matches ended in twoset losses for the Privateers and the remaining three went unfinished. Yasmine Rashad was defeated 6-0 and 6-1. Marta Sans finished with a final score of 6-0 and 6-2, and Anja Luethi lost to a score of 6-4 and 6-1. Luck didn’t change for the doubles squad as Anja Luethi and Anna Segarra Rius lost 6-2. Y a s m i n e Rashad a n d Hafsa

Laraibi also lost their doubles match to a score of 6-2. The Privateers will look for better results when they play at home on Tuesday at the University Tennis Center against the Loyola Wolfpack at 2 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

The UNO’s women basketball team remains winless in conference play as they lost to the McNeese State Cowgirls 8258 at the Burton Coliseum on Saturday and are now on a nine game losing streak. The Privateers (2-16, 0-9 SLC) struggled early on both sides of the ball and were facing a 10-point deficit within the first s i x minutes of the game. Offensive inefficiency hurt the Privateers as they shot only 32% from the field and started with a 0-for-6 shooting effort within the first few minutes. The Privateers were able to cut the lead

to six at one point in the game, but three straight 3-pointers by the Cowgirls brought back a double-digit lead they would keep for the remainder of the game. UNO freshman guard Halie Matthews was the team’s leader in points at the half with eight points; she would finish the night with a career-high 14. The Privateers struggled de-

fending the 3-point line as Cowgirls shot 60 percent from deep on 9-for-15 shooting in the first half. Cowgirls guard Alison Bagget had a productive night, scoring 25- points while shooting 7-for-10 from deep. The McNeese State Girls (12-8, 6-3 SLC) also moved the ball well racking up 19 assists to the Privateers 7.

The Privateers had a strong defensive start to the second half but couldn’t get anything going offensively to make a final push. Halie Mathews was the team’s leader in every category except steals as she racked up 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Pictured: Yashmine Rashid

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

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

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

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

LAGNIAPPE

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

STAFF PICKS

By Charles Nicholson

CORRECTIONS: Homecoming Queen April Gremillion and her sisters are members of the Delta Zeta sorority. “Bengal Tiger” is going to a Texas theater festival, not a film festival. Veronica Mansell chose last week’s staff picks.

I had sex with not one, not two, but zero girls last night.

My face is so oily I’m afraid the US is gonna invade it.

Instead of leaking all these celebrity nudes someone should leak the pdf version of the textbooks. Just a thought.

I remember when you could take nail clippers on a plane.

I want my teeth to be as straight and white as the Congress. I named a sim MyMathLab, put him in a pool, then took out the ladder. The people at Tulane act like they’re the only one’s with campus cats. #unocampuscatpride

There is the budget cut in education...Is there any probability that our university gonna shut down???? Well a cat just fell out the ceiling in the library. #nobigdeal Every day I play the game of how late can I leave the westbank and still make it to class on time.

TV show - True Detective is without a doubt a top show on TV last year. Within 8 episodes, I have been frightened, saddened, and generally hypnotized by the first season. Set mostly in rural Louisiana, two very different detectives have to solve a string of murders that involve occult practices and political corruption while dealing with their own personal dramas. The writing from the first season alone has me excited to see what’s in store for season two. Video game - Dragon Age: Inquisition was an amazing game to cap off 2014. As a third installment, it introduced the new feature of being in control of Just because one student answered a question right doesn’t mean a class of 100+ students understand too

your own army, giving you a lot of power in the game’s world. The combat has been refined and includes new specialization skills as well as introducing the tactical camera to console gamers. An array of interesting characters bring their own interesting stories into what is already a great plot. App - Flipboard is a cool news app that allows you to see the news you care about. Just select the topics you like, such as business, photography, food etc... and the app will compile articles from different news sources. Then you just flip through the articles and you can read, like, comment, and share info. while standing in line at ChicFil-A

People needa chill with the bathroom stall writing, that’s what yik yak is for

To the girl standing in front of me in the subway line making vomiting noises: I don’t care why you’re doing it but don’t do it in a food line it makes people want to punch you

Dr. Fos and Dr. Kemker should do a surprise pop up at dinner in The Galley one night so they can experience the #&@! they serve us when everybody else leaves.

If Dr. Dew’s fiance didn’t say “I do the Dew” at their wedding vows I would be kinda disappointed at the missed opportunity

“My mind’s telling me nooooo... but my BODY! My BODY’s telling me YESS”- thoughts

Pretty sad that students drive better cars than the faculty.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015