Driftwood The community newspaper of the University of New Orleans
Volume: 58 Issue: 19
driftwood.uno.edu
YOU ARE NOT ALONE 1 in 4 college students suffers from mental illness
March 11, 2015 ON CAMPUS HELP UNO’s counseling services are available to all students. Access the counseling services website at http://uno.edu/counseling-services. Advice from UNO’s Director of Counseling Services Adrian C. Péré 1. Be on the lookout for behavioral patterns: “Sometimes students don’t realize that a pattern had been present for a long time or that certain beliefs and behaviors that weren’t even ‘on the radar’ are contributing to their current concerns.” 2. Isolated events can cause temporary distress: “Sometimes we find that the student’s concerns are purely situational... current concerns are part of larger or more complex patterns which may need to be addressed in greater depth for full, long-term resolution.”
Photo Illustration by Christy Lorio
UNO Director of Counseling Services Adrian C. Péré and other mental health professionals provide confidential help to all UNO students.
Christy Lorio & Lyndsey Anderson Driftwood Staff According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in every four college students suffers from some form of mental illness. Bess Hart, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Deputy Director at Sinfonia Family Services, said “Early adulthood is the most common time that mental health issues would arise...for some students, it’s their first time away from family and their support systems.” NAMI’s 2012 survey “College Students Speak: A Survey Report on Mental Health,” reported that over 45 percent of students surveyed who dropped out of college did so because of mental health reasons and did not receive accommodations. Fifty percent of those students did not access mental health services at all. Stress per se isn’t necessarily a negative force; it’s when stress is an experienced continuum that it becomes a problem. Adrian C. Péré, LCSW, Board Approved Clinical Supervisor (BACS) and Director of Counseling Services, said “It’s actually a normal response to our environment and can even help us in particular situations. Stress can initiate growth and spur us on to make changes in our lives...It becomes a problem when the resources we have to manage or respond to the stress are inadequate.” UNO’s counseling services take
an assessment of each student that seeks help and tries to identify the root of his or her problem. Péré said,“When students come to see us, the first session is always an assessment session. It’s an opportunity for us to learn about the student’s reason for seeking counseling now, that is, their present concerns, but it’s also an opportunity to learn about the student’s background including any personal history that might contribute to or help explain andaccount for their symptoms and concerns.” Paisley Balthazar, a junior psychology student at LSU, realizes the importance of being proactive when it comes to a student’s own mental health. Balthazar said, “We really need to keep track of our own mental health. We can’t allow ourselves to fall so deep into a funk to where we can’t function properly...It’s so easy to get stressed out. And what some people tend to do is look for other coping mechanisms that might not necessarily be the best thing for them, like getting drunk after every quiz or test... it makes you feel good, and before you know it, you’re an alcoholic.” Depression and anxiety can create big problems if left untreated. Mikal Matton, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with her own private practice, said, “If you start to build patterns of depression and anxiety, that can affect the choices you make. You may become more susceptible to drinking, and the use of substances. It’s important to seek
help.” It is also important to be on the lookout for early stages of depression. Hart pointed out these signs vary from person to person. “Eating patterns,” she said, “eating more or less. Sleeping more or less. Procrastination and isolation are also things to look for.” It’s not uncommon for students to go through periods of moodiness in their life, but chronic depression warrants professional help. According to Hart, it is important to get the recommended treatments and not to ignore symptoms, especially for depression. “It won’t just go away,” Hart said. Physical health can also factor into student’s mental well-being. Hart said, “Taking good care of your body is important. Exercising, getting sleep and eating well matter.” Alesia Taylor, an English major at Louisiana State University, has had her share of anxiety throughout her college career yet has managed to better regulate it through diet and exercise. “I changed up my diet a bit,” she said, “I really try to only drink water and eat more greens. I also walk or jog three to four times a week.” Another factor that can affect mental health is the desire to be perfect and have it all together. “How critical you are on yourself and about work, school, etc. plays a pretty big role,” Hart said. “Our culture has changed a lot. There’s a lot more need in peoples’ lives.” Matton said, “We’re living in a
high-paced world right now...people are under a lot of pressure...It’s helpful to be forgiving of ourselves and our expectations. It’s okay to explore the pressure we put on ourselves.” Being able to pinpoint what causes anxiety and its effects is an important part of the treatment process. Matton said, “It differs from person to person. Talking to people, reaching out and seeing what’s normal and acceptable is something to take into consideration.” Many students may feel ashamed for seeking counseling, but identifying stress early on, instead of being in denial about it, can help. “There’s a lot of stigma about mental health,” Hart said, “Like we’re all suppose to deal with it like it’s normal.” A key to mental illness prevention is student’s knowing what their “normal” is. “One of the first things we [she and her student clients] work on is self talk and cognition,” said Hart. Péré said, “Assess your stress level on a daily basis so you’re aware when you may be approaching your threshold of tolerance.” Therapy can make a huge difference in the long run. Matton pointed out that “the earlier we can start to take care of ourselves, the better off we’d be. Our mental health can have an impact on the world.” Matton said, “A lot of people are in therapy. You don’t have to talk about it [with others]. The most important thing is that you take something from it.”
3.Treatment plans are key: “If based on the assessment, it seems the student may benefit from the short-term treatment we offer, we’ll develop a targeted treatment plan with specific, measurable goals to address those concerns. If a student’s counseling needs and goals are beyond the scope of the shortterm services we offer, or when a student desires longer-term counseling, we’ll provide referrals to other resources in the area.” WARNING SIGNS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR: Physical: Fatigue, muscle tension, backaches, headaches, weight fluctuation, changes in appetite, illness Emotional and psychological signs: Significant (problematic) changes in mood and behavior, anxiety, forgetfulness, poor judgement, problems with concentration, depression, critical attitude and negativity, irritability, restlessness, increase in anger, hopelessness Unhealthy responses: Negative self-talk, physical acting out, increased substance use, compulsive eating, social isolation HOW TO INCREASE SELF AWARENESS: -Know your personality, what causes stress, your risk factors, and how to access your support system. -Know your triggers and your limits. -Pay attention to your patterns throughout the semester and take note of the times that your stress level is high. -Know what helps manage your stress and use that.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2015
NEWS
Students wonder about refund checks: Direct Deposit is key to relieving stress Asia-Vinae Palmer Driftwood Staff
The beginning of each semester is refund check season. Checking WebStar becomes a repetitive part of students’ daily routines. While some checks come just in the nick of time, others seem to linger in cyber space. Adam Norris, Director of Public Relations at the University of New Orleans, said, “the Bursar’s office receives anywhere from 50100 inquiries a day from students asking about refunds.” This figure includes emails, phone calls and in-person inquires. Norris stated that excessive inquires can slow down the process because the questions take staff members away from their work. Ty Paul, a freshman biology major, said that she would appreciate better directions. She, like many first year students, isn’t familiar with the process. Although the check eventually comes in, she doesn’t understand why the office staff seems so frustrated when a student isn’t familiar with the process. When asked about the possibility of better directions for students, Norris said, “most students are sent two emails about their refunds. Before the semester starts or during the first week of the semester. Any student that is expecting a refund is sent an email.” Norris explained the financial
aid process. “The university begins processing refunds during the third week of each semester. This gives the university time to review student withdrawal/drop activity and adjust the financial aid as necessary. Students that have direct deposit are issued refunds first. Students that do not have direct deposit are issued refunds last. After this first batch of refunds, the Bursar’s office processes refunds every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the semester,” said Norris. While swamped with classes, it can be difficult for a student to deconstruct the responsibilities behind the counter of the departments on campus. But the Bursar’s office has been making a strong effort to inform the students of when to expect their checks and how to get them as quickly as possible.
“Students that do not have direct deposit are sent an email asking that they consider setting up direct deposit because it is quicker, easier and saves the university time and money. This email also states that the refund process will begin during the third week of the semester. The second email is sent to students as a refund is processed for the student. The email to students t h a t have direct deposit states
that the refund has been sent to our bank and that the student should receive the refund within 48 business hours,” said Norris. Norris said, “The email to students that do not have direct deposit states that the check can be picked up in a certain location, usually in room 1006 of the Administration Building. This information is in bold and red of the email. The email
states that the student must have a photo ID to pick up the refund check and that the check would be mailed if it is not picked up within 14 days. The email also encourages students to set up direct deposit for their next refund.” Allison Rucks, a senior history major, said that whenever she’s gotten money back, she’s always gotten an email. “My problem was when I was trying to get financial aid money and what was available to me, they kept asking me to verify certain information, and I did. I found out that my identity had been stolen. Even with an affidavit and documents from the IRS confirming this, my financial aid counselor said there was nothing I could do.” Rucks had to go over her counselor’s head in order for the university to move forward. “My problem is that they act like it’s their money they’re giving to you. You’re on your own if you encounter a problem. But as far as the process, I’ve never had a problem because I had direct deposit,” said Rucks. Students have an expectation for assistance when seeking refunds . At the same time, it’s the student’s job to be responsible with checking their emails. An amount of respect and understanding from both parties is necessary as both ends are dependent on each other. Students need to be patient with the process and the same patience should be instilled in the staff. Illustration by Delvonte Smith
NEWS
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 3
City council enacts city wide smoking ban to affect restaurants, bars and casinos in April Asia-Vinae Palmer Driftwood Staff
On Jan. 22 the New Orleans City Council voted 7-0 for a citywide smoking ban to take effect in April. The ban will extend the Louisiana Smoke Free Air Act from 2007. In addition to banning smoking in workplaces, the measure makes it illegal to smoke in all enclosed public spaces including restaurants, bars, correctional facilities, school buildings and private clubs. The city released its plan to enforce these new limitations, leaving residents skeptical of how effective this will be. Individuals who violate the ban for a first offense will carry a $100 fine, up to $200 for a second offense and up to $500 for a third offense if they commit the second and third within a year of the first violation. The ban doesn’t reveal how police officers plan to apply reinforcement but any owner or manager of a bar that does not enforce the ban can have their operating permits or licenses suspended or revoked. Ruthie Morgan, a senior English major, works at Gene’s Daiquiris on Elysian Fields. She said her boss has already started to enforce the ban. “He makes the smokers go outside so that they can begin to get used to the change,” she said.
Although smokers are frustrated and non-smokers are relieved, both groups are wondering how this ban will be reinforced. If college campuses reflect their cities on a micro scale, the city of New Orleans will have plenty of people sneaking to the side of buildings for illegal smoke breaks. In August 2014, UNO students, faculty and staff had to adjust to the statewide smoking ban. The ban requires all public colleges and universities to maintain a smokefree campus. This has been no easy transition. While most people make trips to the Elysian Fields neutral ground or walk to their cars, there are quite a few individuals who refuse to have their rights compromised. Fresh Campus, a student-led organization working to educate and empower students through campus non-smoking policies, argues that smokers don’t have the right to smoke. The Fresh Campus website says, “College campuses need to implement tobacco-free policies to counteract the industry’s marketing impact amongst young adults.” As of Jan. 1, 2015, there are at least 1,514 100 percent smokefree campuses. Of these, 1,014 are 100 percent tobacco-free, and 587 prohibit the use of e-cigarettes anywhere on campus, according to
Photo Illustration By Veronica Mansell
Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR). Maria Dominguez, an English graduate student, said that the ban
is good in theory but “there will always be rule breakers.” Regardless of potential deviants, the city-wide smoking ban only
needs Mitch Landrieu’s signature in April in order for it to go into effect. The law is the law, but the city of New Orleans may not be ready.
Deaf education falls victim to budget cuts, M.A.T endures Driftwood is publishing this article as a clarification on the closure of UNO’s Deaf Education Program.
Anna Gowin & Carlee Lauve Driftwood Staff
As of Jan. 2015, the University of New Orleans is no longer accepting students into programs in the field of Deaf Education. For over 35 years, UNO has offered graduate degrees and coursework that prepares students to teach children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The Deaf Education program at UNO, nationally recognized, was one of the first in the country to offer courses using video conferencing techniques that allow students to interact face-to-face from their homes. Unfortunately, UNO’s programs in Deaf Education have fallen victim to the budget cuts affecting the university. The Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T) is a master’s degree offered to students who have already obtained a b a c h e l o r ’s degree (not in education) and want to become a certified teacher. This degree provides an
opportunity for students to complete a specialization in programs such as early intervention, integrate-merged mild and moderate disabilities. However, the specialization in Deaf Education, along with the program for significant disabilities, is no longer available to students. In addition to the closure of the M.A.T program in Deaf Education comes the loss of specialization in Deaf Education for students enrolled in the M.Ed. program, as well as teachers looking for addon certification in Deaf Education. All current degree candidates focusing on Deaf Education will be able to complete their degree programs. UNO will not be
accepting any new Deaf Education degree candidates, but certified teachers looking to “add-on” Louisiana teacher’s endorsement to their certificates will be allowed to enroll in the final course offering during the next year or two since the certification does not require enrollment in an official UNO program. The decision for the closure of this program came after the recommendation of the closure of the Bachelor of Science in early childhood education, the masters and doctorate in special education, and the doctorate in curriculum and instruction in the College of Education and Human Development. According to Dr. Kate Reynolds, program coordinator of Deaf Education since 1990, this was a decision made at the College level, and therefore has not been re-
flected in notifications of program closures disseminated by the university administration. Reynolds also said that she would like potential graduate students looking to specialize in Deaf Education to know about the situation, since currently available information from the university does not reflect the loss of the option to focus on teaching deaf and hard of hearing children. There are only ten Deaf Education programs in the south (Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida). The only Deaf Education program available in Mississippi is at the University of Southern Mississippi, but the program does not offer an online degree program. Wi t h o u t Deaf
Education teacher preparation programs in Louisiana, the options for students in the South to gain certification in Deaf Education are limited. Before the closure of the program, UNO was the only university in the state to offer a Deaf Education specialization. Courses still available in Sign Language and taught by Dr. Reynolds include three levels of sign language (EDSP 1001, EDSP 1002 and EDSP 2001) and EDSP 4420/5420, a summer 1-week long 3-credit course offered June 1st-8th this year that examines the many aspects of deafness, including language and cultural aspects of the Deaf community. According to Dr. Reynolds, Sign Language students to know that EDSP 1001, Basic Sign Language 1, usually closes early due to capped enrollment currently set at 40 students. “In the past, it was a 4000 level course, but we changed it to a 1000 level course,” said Reynolds. Because of this change, more students are able to take the course. The American Sign Language (ASL) course sequence can be used to meet foreign language requirements for most undergraduate students at UNO. Reynolds still recommends that students check with their advisors to make sure their department accepts ASL as a foreign language. EDSP 1001 can also be used to fulfill the university’s humanities core curriculum requirement. Illustration by Delvonte Smith
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OPINIONS
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Writer urges caution when using social media Christy Lorio Editor in Chief
As much as I’d like to let ‘er rip every time I find something to complain about, doing it on the internet is typically a bad idea. I started a freelance writing career a few years ago thanks to the connections I made online. It’s pretty gratifying when the editor of a major local magazine contacts you to write for them just because she liked what she saw on Twitter. That’s why I try to keep my social media accounts (somewhat) squeaky clean; you never know who’s checking them out. That’s not to say my timeline is always G-rated and the epitome of perfect grammar; I’m not afraid to speak my mind on the Internet, and sometimes I’ll forget a comma here, or accidentally misspell something there, but I do know that how I present myself online may be a factor in which employers want to hire me. It’s no surprise that many unfortunate decisions have been made on social media, even by supposed professionals. Just Google “Justine Sacco Twitter” and you’ll see what I mean. Go on, I’ll wait...well, for those of you not toggling between the Driftwood and your Facebook feed, let me explain: Justine Sacco is a Public Relations Manager that tweeted out a racist joke that she claims was misconstrued. That one mistake not only resulted in her losing her job, it also brought shame to her family (she comes from a South African fam-
ily that are longtime activists for racial equality) and it tarnished her reputation to the point that she had a difficult time finding a new job. Sacco also only had 175 Twitter followers; a Gawker editor, with 15,000 followers, caught wind of the tweet and retweeted it, sending Twitter users into a Sacco shaming tizzy. Not everyone uses social media for professional reasons, but everything you put out there is building your personal brand, whether you like it or not. (Pro tip #1: even locked Instagram accounts can be viewed if the link is sent out via Twitter.) I’m not saying everyone should edit their social media accounts with the attention they give research papers, but thought needs to be put into how the world may perceive you. Using a little common sense goes a long way when trying to figure out if you might regret something you said down the road. (Pro tip #2: Don’t complain about your boss on the Internet. Ever. Even if they deserve to be put on blast.) If you’re on the fence about whether a tweet or photo might come back to haunt you, save it as a draft and think about it, or ask a friend for their opinion before you post it. If you’re still feeling solid about the message, go ahead and hit send. (Pro tip #3: Just because you delete your Internet faux pas doesn’t mean it will go away. People may take screenshots for posterity’s sake. Always err on the side of caution.)
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, 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.driftwood.uno.edu. Ad sales inquiries should be directed to driftwoodads@uno.edu
Staff Christy Lorio Editor in chief Aviayna Thomas Managing Editor Veronica Mansell Features Editor Anna Gowin News Editor Nigel Washington Sports Editor Willie Marsalis Photography Editor Distribution Manager Traven Stout Photographer Kerry Leigh Pittenger Business Manager Pawan Aryal Layout Editor Ashley deBaroncelli Cartoonist Delvonte Smith Illustrator Vickie Kennedy Faculty Adviser
Are conventional etiquette and correct grammar necessary when using social media? Ave Maria Bordenave Driftwood Staff
Those who use social media are not expecting to be graded on their grammar or manners. Social media outlets are used to express feelings, relieve stress and share a laugh among other things. In my opinion, users of social media need to adjust their expectations. Often, people post things based on what they’re feeling, and there are times when correct English is not used. In many situations, those who use social media may get ridiculed, bullied, embarrassed, or frustrated when correct grammar is not used. Many people purposely misspell words, don’t use correct capitalization, or just have bad grammar all together. This is called Internet Slang. There are some who read Internet Slang and immediately racially profile the poster, and call him or her stupid. There are many people who have fallen victim to racial profiling, myself included. While in class listening to the professor try to explain a concept but not knowing exactly how, I posted on Yik Yak, “How you don’t know what your
- Feb 18. at 1:06 p.m. A victim reported parking her vehicle in the Pontchartrain Hall South Parking Lot on Feb. 13 and going out of town. Upon her return on Feb.18, she found damage to the left side of her vehicle. No witnesses and no video of the incident were available. - Feb. 19. at 3:30 p.m. A UNO student was transported by UNOPD at his/her request to LSU Interim Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. - Feb 20. at 12:40 p.m. A complainant reportedly parked his car at the Administration Lot on Feb. 19 with no damage. He left campus and upon returning noticed a scuff mark on the left rear panel of his
doing???!!!?? You’re the one with the doctors degree.” Immediately the post received 10 up votes, then came the first comment: “You must be black cause your English sucks.” Regardless of my race, I was extremely offended by the racial stereotype and could not wrap my head around what made this person post that. Yes, the English I used was incorrect, but for someone to judge me based on my grammar hurt. Many phrases are also used incorrectly. For example, “you’re welcome” is typically used incorrectly as “your welcome.” There are also situations when people purposely use dialect and say things like, “I luv yew” or “Wut ya doin” and are bashed because of this wrong use of spelling. Other phrases that use words incorrectly include “You is cool” or “I’m on my sale boat.” These simple mistakes or purposeful misuses make some social media users overreact. As for respecting others, I for one do not have any huge expectations of anyone respecting me. It would be nice, but rarely happens in life, so why would it be any different online?
Lights & Sirens
car. - Feb. 20 at 8:39 a.m. An unknown driver struck the iron fence at Lafitte Village parking lot knocking down a section of the fence. - Feb 23. at 2:35 p.m. The reporting person fell while walking in the area of the Biology Building. He complained of ankle pain, was escorted to Student Health Services and then returned to class. - Feb 23 at 11:27 p.m. Officers responded to a suspicious person call regarding an unknown subject by Privateer Place apartment complex. The subject was located and related that he was visiting with a resident and had become lost. His account
The Internet is a virtual world, and most people do things on the Internet that they wouldn’t do in real life. So if you tell a random person on the Internet a secret and expect them to keep it or make a promise, it’s almost like getting married online. Good idea? I don’t think so. Another frustrating thing in social media is spam. Everyone hates it, but just like in real life, there is always that annoying person who repeatedly does things for no reason. Online messages like chain letters and advertisements blowing up your inbox are unavoidable. Posts stating, “If you love Jesus, repost; keep scrolling if you love the devil” or things like if you don’t repost by a certain time, something bad/good will happen to you lead to an abundance of junk mail. This is very rude, but we simply know to mark it spam, and it’ll all be gone. I mean who cares really, no big deal. We should all understand that the Internet is a virtual world where people think nothing they do matters. People unrealistically expect perfect grammar and behavior on social media when it doesn’t even exist in real life. So don’t get upset when you come across it.
was verified, and he was released without incident. - Feb. 26 at 1:25 p.m. A female student who was the subject of an unrelated investigation appeared at police headquarters in UCC #234 per request of police personnel. Upon arrival, she was found to be in possession of a fully loaded and charged firearm in a Firearm Free Zone. The incident was cleared by arrest. - Feb. 27 at 3:40 p.m. A student in the Math Building experienced a panic attack but refused medical assistance. compiled by Aviayana Thomas
FEATURES
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 5
NSF grant helps support computer narration technologies at UNO Chloe Gagnon Driftwood Staff
Newcomer to campus Assistant Professor Stephen Ware has just received his first research grant from the National Science Foundation to study artificial intelligence. Ware started teaching at UNO in the 2014 fall semester. “I’ve never been the principal investigator on a grant before because grants are almost always awarded to faculty, and this is my first faculty position,” said Ware. According to Ware, the area of artificial intelligence has only been around for about 10 years. “It’s a little bit new and strange in the sense that computers have traditionally been used mainly for calculation. In this branch, we are not using the computer as a calculator, we are using it as a storytelling medium.” His research involves teaching a computer “that can write stories or can adapt existing stories. . . I’m working on computational models of narrative which is basically computer storytelling where we figure out how to represent stories on a computer and how to teach a computer how to understand stories and write stories and adapt existing stories.” He went on to say, “My specific approach involves a set of tools called ‘planning systems’ and a plan is a way of representing a sequence of goal directed events.
The planner finds a set of steps to achieve that goal.” He compared it to writing a screenplay; a screenwriter has a protagonist who has a goal. The screenwriter must write plot points and a series of obstacles that provide a challenge for the protagonist to reach that goal. The computer planning system will do what the screenwriter does. Ware will program a protagonist and a goal and the computer will generate all of the in between elements.
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I’m working on computational models of narrative . . . where we figure out how to represent stories on a computer and how to teach a computer how to understand stories and write stories and adapt existing stories.” His actual experiments involve humans as test subjects. “We very often validate our work with human subject experiments which usually involve a person coming in to read a story and fill out a survey about it or play a video game and fill out a survey or we pay attention to which choices they make,” Ware said. His research will be useful “anytime we need storytelling capabilities and we can’t have a human
overseeing that process.” For example computer games that have really interesting, in-depth plots, military training simulators where a specific skill is taught and intelligent tutoring systems. Ware was both excited and surprised to receive the grant “because the National Science Foundation has a lot of people applying for National Science money right now and it’s funding at a very low rate so a very low percentage of proposals are successful and often proposals have to be workshopped a little,” Ware said. “This process of applying for grants is something that all research professors do all across the world.” It involves a proposal with a 10 page narrative describing his research, background work, schedule and budget. He went on to say the National Science Foundation will read an applicant’s proposal, give feedback, and the process is repeated a few times before the proposal is normally accepted. “This one was accepted the first time around which is very exciting.” The funding of the grant also allows Ware to fund students to help with his research. He will have two PhD students, one master’s student and two undergraduates. “UNO did a lot to make the process easier. The people in the office of Research and Sponsor programs were super helpful in helping me write the budget for
University of New Orleans Computer Science Professor Stephen Ware received a two-year grant from the National Science Foundation to study artificial intelligence systems that interact more realistically with people.
the grant. The people who oversee human subject’s research, the Institutional Review Board, were very quick to respond with feedback,” Ware said. He also stated that “The National Science Foundation is one of the best sources to get grants from
because they fund basic science which is exploring new things and doing brand new work that has never been explored.” Professor Ware teaches game development and artificial intelligence, which are both branches of computer science.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2015
FEATURES
Jazz at the Sandbar provides nearly 25 years of musical excellence Charles Nicholson Driftwood Staff
Though there are few pastimes available on campus besides studying and naps, there is one that truly captures the essence of our university as well as the city of New Orleans: Jazz at the Sandbar. Jazz at the Sandbar is a short concert series, staged on our campus, that features a unique array of talented jazz artists. Each series is several weeks long and takes place during the fall and spring semesters. The first Jazz at the Sandbar series took place back in spring of 1991, which means the concert series is nearing its 25th anniversary. Charles Taylor, Chair of the Music Department, explained how Jazz at the Sandbar acquires its guest artists. “We work with Jason Patterson who is also responsible for the talent at Snug Harbor out in the Marigny. He brings in several of the artists who are also performing in the week at Snug Harbor. So he gets them for an extra performance here,” said Taylor. Musicians from all across the world play at Jazz at the Sandbar, but it wouldn’t feel like a jazz show without local New Orleans artists. Taylor said, “For those weeks when we don’t have a national guest [Patterson] brings in great local musicians.” Jazz at the Sandbar usually has a healthy turnout. “I’d say the average attendance is about 100 to 120
[people]. A little bit more, a little bit less depending on who the artist is,” said Taylor. Attendance did take a bit of a hit after Hurricane Katrina due to physical damage to the Cove. “For a few years the Sandbar took place over in the UC. But we’ve been back in the Cove now for three years,” said Taylor. UNO students not only get a chance to interact with renowned guest artists, but also get to perform with them. “There are students who are performing. We have guest artists but they’re playing with our student combos [a music class for credit]. So for our students it’s a great benefit,” said Taylor. “They get to work with highly esteemed, professional musicians in a real world type of situation. Their performance is a major part of their education.” “An important part of this is that it’s a direct benefit to our students. Most of the guest artists we’ve had at the Sandbar, if they’re performing on Wednesday night will do a clinic for our students Thursday afternoon, usually, because that’s when our combos rehearsal time is,” said Taylor. “Or they’ll come in a day early on Tuesday. So on Tuesday or Thursday afternoon there’s a master class clinic provided by the guest artist.” “For the other students on campus, Jazz at the Sandbar provides an opportunity to hear some of the great jazz musicians of our time right here instead of having to go
Jazz at the Sandbar concert series kicked off March 4 through April 29.
down to Snug Harbor or one of the other places in town,” said Taylor. This week’s performance is by Aurora Nealand, a saxophonist,
clarinetist and California native whose instrumental and vocal talents have been heard extensively in New Orleans as well as various
Willie Marsalis
countries. Jazz at the Sandbar is free to all UNO students, faculty and staff with an I.D. and $5 for general admission.
Local live-escape game challenges visitors to beat the clock in two themed rooms Krystal Dumas Driftwood Staff
New Orleans’ first live escape game, Clue Carré, dares tourists and locals to solve clues that will help them escape from a room in 60 minutes or less. Clue Carré was created by special events planner Megan Mouton after a family vacation to London. According to Mouton, who manages Clue Carré, escape games top the list of unique activities to try while in London. While London is full of places where escape games are popular. Mouton said, “There were under five live escape games in the U.S [before I created Clue Carré].” One of the reasons Mouton created Clue Carré was because she wanted the people of New Orleans to have a fun activity that was not centered around drinking. Clue Carré is about working together and thinking outside the box. Live escape games are team-building exercises that can be used by families and friends for get-togethers and corporate retreats. Team building exercises allow friends, family or co-workers the opportunity to work together and communicate to achieve the common goal of successfully escaping the room. Mouton and her husband Rhett are very surprised at how fast Clue Carré has taken off. Social media and word of mouth have played a big role in Clue Carré’s success. Trip Advisor has ranked Clue Carré 27 among 247 activities to try in New Orleans. According to Mouton, Clue Carré’s clientele has been made up of half locals and half tour-
ists since the very beginning. Mouton said, “Our attraction rating is climbing on Trip Advisor which I believe will be integral in getting more tourists to come try it out. Since the escape game concept
is growing in popularity, we have had tourists who seek this type of activity out in all the cities they visit.” Mouton also said she is not surprised about, “how much people are loving the live escape game and
wanting to return again and again to play.” Currently, Clue Carré has two rooms, The Mardi Gras Den and The Voodoo Room. The Mardi Gras Den has a successful escape
Krystal Dumas Megan Mouton, creator of Louisiana’s first live escape game, poses with with her husband and daughter in the lobby of Clue Carré.
rate of 56 percent, while The Voodoo Room has a successful escape rate of 68 percent. So far 80 groups have tried to escape from one of the rooms with an average escape time of 54 minutes and 51 seconds. Mouton created a unique back story for each of her themed rooms. In The Mardi Gras Den, the jester has hidden the King’s court masks on Fat Tuesday an hour before the parade is about to start, and it is the groups’ job to solve all of the jester’s clues to find the masks before the parade starts. In The Voodoo Room, Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau has hidden her last surviving bottle of love potion. The group follows all of the clues Laveau has left behind, and has to escape before her voodoo curse comes to life. Mouton said she chose these themes because “Mardi Gras is so iconic and identifiable to New Orleans, and we saw a huge opportunity to create unique puzzles and tricks for a Voodoo themed room.” While Mouton is currently trying to keep up with the demand of her current two rooms, she and her husband are working on creating a third live escape room. The third room will be centered around music. Mouton said, “It will focus on jazz, bounce, festivals, and the rich musical history that lives here in NOLA.” At the moment, a date has not been set for when the third room will be opened to the public, but according to Mouton, “it is currently in the conceptual and blue print phase.”
FEATURES
Festival of Colors
UNO’s Student Activities Council, Chakra Indian Student Organization, and International Student Organization sponsored Holi, the spring Festival of Colors on Sunday, March 8. Photos by Pawan Aryal and Willie Marsalis
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Wednesday, March 11, 2015
FEATURES
Students ‘checking out’ more than just books at the library Amy Soileau
Driftwood Contributor Some students, both past and current, have found different recreational uses for the Earl K. Long library at the University of New Orleans. Along with the traditional functions of the building, sexual activity occurs within its walls on a regular basis. The majority of sexual activity takes place within the study carrels located on the second and third floors. The rooms have windows and are not soundproof, but that doesn’t seem to deter students. Learning Commons Coordinator Faith Simmons said, “I’m always surprised with the individual study rooms because there are giant windows.” Simmons has caught one couple but said it’s usually the student workers she supervises who discover the students in action. Simmons has received at least one or more reports of sex in the building per semester. The student workers who are hired in the learning commons area of the library are forewarned of pos-
sible sexual incidences in the study rooms. They are not required to intervene but are asked to immediately report the activity to the nearest available staff member. The procedure for staff depends on the situation and personal comfort level. If the staff member feels comfortable enough, they will knock and try to interrupt. Beyond that it is up to the library administration and the UNO Police Department on what happens next. The study rooms aren’t the only hot spots in the building. In the past, the library’s bathrooms have drawn attention as well. “A couple years ago we got a lot of phone calls,” Simmons said. An anonymous Craigslist ad offered sexual availability in the second floor men’s restroom. Several concerned citizens placed calls to alert the library staff about the posting. It was unclear if the person who posted the ad was a student or someone not affiliated with UNO. Simmons shared her own thoughts as to why she thinks these incidents happens. Libraries are generally places with a code of conduct, so it plays into the taboo of
public sex and the thrill of getting caught. Convenience is also a factor to be taken into consideration as for both high school and college students alike. Benjamin Franklin High School sits right at the edge of UNO’s campus. Earl K. Long is just a short walk away for the high school students. There have been accounts of Benjamin Franklin students getting caught having sex in the study rooms. The faculty members can usually identify the students based on their clothes which bear the school’s name or emblem. UNOPD’s most recent online crime log on sexual activity in the library, which can be found on the UNOPD website, is from August 2014. It states officers investigated a complaint involving a male and female engaging in sexual intercourse in a study carrel. There were no arrests documented, and the case remains open. There is also a policy on viewing online pornography in the library. Because Earl K. Long is an academic library adhering to academic freedom, they do not censor
their information. This includes using the internet to watch pornography. The student workers and staff regularly patrol the building.
Sex, including sex with oneself, is not permitted anywhere in the library.
Loss of dead hour gets mixed reactions Charles Nicholson Driftwood Staff
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It has been about a year since The University of New Orleans discontinued its dead hour, the hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays when no classes took place on campus, and the reactions have been mixed. “We used the dead hour tremendously,” said Kevin Graves, the Interim Dean of College of Liberal Arts. Graves said the dead hour was an easy way to get the faculty together for a meeting as well as a time for student organizations to meet. Graves has been a proponent for the return of the dead hour but sadly hasn’t had much support. Graves said “[The dead hour] was also a terrific time for community bonding.” Matt Moore, the Registrar and Director of Institutional Research, explained why the university discontinued the dead hour. “About two years ago, representatives from Student Government Association (SGA) came to see me and they were asking to change the times for the short terms, the A and B mini-sessions. But I can’t because I’m mandated by the University of Louisiana System (ULS),” said Moore. “I think they wanted to change them because when you have the A and B sessions, you still have to have the same amount of contact between students and faculty, so you have to double class times.” Students were feeling stressed when taking mini-sessions because they had to be in class all day. Moore took the time to negotiate with the SGA to see how they could get around the issue. “Another thing we talked about
was the complaints I used to get from students saying ‘I need to go to work. Why can’t I get my classes at a particular day and time? I have this dead time in between.’ I said, ‘Well y’all might want to take up that.’” Getting rid of the dead hour proved to be not as simple a task because Moore had to go through the deans of the colleges first. “I went and talked with the deans at the next . . . meeting and the deans said, ‘Yeah, we’d like to give it up because that’d give us more time to have classes.’ So I got the . . . approval and I went back to SGA and told them the deans would be willing to do it.” In order to finalize the change, the SGA took the issue to the faculty senate. When the question came up as to how this would affect student groups the senate made it clear they were there for academics, not student groups. Moore feels the change has been for the better. “We started scheduling classes this way a year ago. I have never received a complaint from a single student,” said Moore. “As a matter of fact, I’ve seen some very positive results such as how we’ve scheduled 162 sessions with over 2700 students enrolled. Other positive impacts would be students are more evenly distributed from about 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. so the [food service] lines don’t ever get more than 15 or 20 deep.” Moore said he’s always willing to adapt to the changing needs of the students. Moore and “If the students want to bring it back up to the SGA and pass a bill to create a dead hour somewhere else, I’m all for it. Let’s work together and figure what’s best for the students and their interests.”
FEATURES
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 9
Student balances family, career and school while promoting positive body image Rebekah Bell Driftwood Staff
Senior Kristen Crain, a psychology major at the University of New Orleans, is also a plus-size model, dancer and owner of a nanny agency, but most importantly, she is a mother. In a society with certain beauty standards, young women are vulnerable to developing fragmented perceptions of themselves. Crain’s goal is to teach others how to accept that a woman’s worth and beauty are not found in how small her waist is. Native to Louisiana, Crain spent most of her childhood in Belle Chasse. She started college in the fall of 2006 at Louisiana State University (LSU), where she attended for two years. Since then, Crain has endured two cross-country relocations, two business startups and the births of three children. Her first relocation to Los Angeles with her boyfriend, who was an aspiring writer and actor, led to her discovery of modeling. “We lived in a house with five other roommates who were also trying to break into the industry,” Crain said, “I was a professional nanny, so I was happy with what I was doing for a living, but I saw them all doing their creative things and got curious. I wanted to do something
creative too.” Crain started her plus size portfolio and worked with photographers for fun, eventually catching an agent’s eye. She worked exclusively on creative photo shoots until she relocated back to New Orleans when her priorities turned to starting a family. She recently returned to modeling after giving birth to her third child. In December, she resumed her collaborative photo shoots. Since then, she has had a humbling response on social media. “I think that’s what brought me the recent opportunities I’ve had,” s a i d
Crain, “I was recently the first plus size model to be featured for the Lower Bottoms Clothing Co. line.” While motherhood is Crain’s top priority, her life between work, home and school is never dull. Maintaining an emotional balance is key to getting through her week, but she also relies on support from her partner and family. Owning her business allows Crain to schedule her responsibilities around family needs. There are times, however, when Crain has to pull herself back. In school, she normally averages a 3.5 or 4.0 GPA, but there have been times she hasn’t been able to balance things. “You just have to take a deep breath, remind yourself you’re worth the forgiveness, and give yourself that grace,” Crain said. As an outlet for fun and exercise, Crain has been dancing since she was a child, but it did not always come easy. She started out as the
awkward child in the class and suspects the teachers let her mistakes go because of her body type; Crain didn’t let that stop her determination. She eventually joined her middle school dance team followed by her high school dance team, but the discouragement from family members angered her. “I remember during break at tryouts for the high school team my mom saying to me, as sweetly as she could, ‘Kristen, I just don’t think this is your thing,’” said Crain, “I went back in there and danced my heart out, and I got it.” Crain attended dance camp later that summer, where she performed three dances for her competition, earning two first-place ribbons and one second-place ribbon. More recently, after giving birth to her first daughter, Crain found her niche in Zumba. She received her certification and taught classes for several years, but now she prefers to take her friends’ classes. Crain has had her share of discouraging moments and wishes to set the subject of body image straight with her peers. Without doubt, she is completely comfortable in her skin. Some of her fitness acquaintances make assumptions that she is looking to lose weight. “I hear even my favorite instructors talk about burning calories like that is the goal of fitness; it’s certainly not my main goal, as someone who understands my body’s composition and where I feel the healthiest,” Crain said. She has
been down the path from self-hatred to self-love so many times. Crain realizes that she, her body included, deserves love and respect and knows very intimately all the reasons she has to be confident. Crain is comfortable in her body that has rocked high intensity dance classes, ran eight miles, performed a backbend while nine months pregnant, gave birth to a baby unassisted by drugs or IV fluids and is now on its third breastfeeding journey. With personal inspirations such as Tess Munster, Ashley Graham, Elly Mayday, Liris Cross and Denise Bidot, Crain hopes to be a personal inspiration to others, especially to her daughters. She refuses to let her girls grow up as victims of a society that degrades “imperfections,” so she surrounds them with the same praise that she received in hopes they will build their own positive self-images. Crain pointed out that anyone who is in the plus size industry or has influence over media is going to reach the ears and hearts of the next generation. “We have a responsibility to love ourselves louder than the hate we get,” Crain said, “We deserve that. They deserve that.” After graduation, Crain plans to keep her family a priority while still running her nanny business and building her modeling career. Crain’s personal goals include the success of her nanny agency and continuing to be a positive role model to women of all sizes. Photo by Juice Photography
Campus Dining observes Lent Carlee Lauve Driftwood Staff
Students in need of meatless options while observing Lent have several choices on campus. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Sunday, Lent is a religious observance that lasts six weeks. Christians who participate in Lent are encouraged to focus on living more simply in order to grow closer to God. Most participants do this by abstaining from something, for example not eating chocolate for the duration of Lent. Many Catholics also use Lent to try to improve their lives, much like New Year’s Resolutions. Praying more often or volunteering once a week throughout the 40 days of Lent are common activities. During the celebration of Lent, participants are also encouraged to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. This is not a requirement from the Bible yet a rule set by the Catholic Church to strengthen one’s faith and communication with God through self-denial. On campus there are a few places available for students who refrain from eating meat during Lent. The Galley and The Sandbar offer several different meals for lunch and
dinner on Fridays that cater to those students who participate in Lent. Sushi inc. is also a viable option since the Catholic Church does not consider seafood a meat product. Hannah Marcotte, a senior English major, enjoys eating at The Galley on Lenten Fridays. “The Galley has catfish Fridays year round. They offer fried catfish and macaroni and it is really yummy. This year I’ve noticed they have seafood gumbo on Fridays and it is delicious,” said Marcotte. Some meal options at The Galley include peanut butter and jelly granola wraps, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese pizza, tossed salad and macaroni and cheese. The Sandbar offers grilled and fried shrimp or catfish sandwiches with a salad. It also serves mozzarella sticks, jalapeno peppers and funnel cake fries. If these options don’t fulfill your needs on the Fridays during Lent, there’s always the option of cooking your own meat-free meals at home, but UNO Dining does provide non-meat meal options for lent participants on Fridays. “I’m actually satisfied with everything they have. If I could change anything, I would have The Sandbar bring back the poboys and seafood platters,” said Marcotte.
Campus Calendar March 11 Jazz at the Sandbar continues with saxophonist and vocalist Aurora Nealand performing with UNO Jazz Studies students in the Sandbar at the Cove, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. March 12 Lunch Lecture: “Understanding the Affordable Care Act and Its Alternatives” by Dr. James Bailey in LA 234, 12:30-1:45 p.m. The lecture addresses how the affordable care act works and what are the problems it was intended to solve.
March 13 The UNO Creative Writing Workshop will host a reading by poets Megan Burns, Jonathan Penton, and Bernd Sauermann. The reading will involve refreshments, dolls, and books in LA 197, 3:00- 4:30 p.m. UNO Music students present their work in a public performance in the PAC Recital Hall from 2-3 p.m.. All are welcome to attend. March 15 The New Orleans Concert Band presents their spring concert at 3 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. All are welcome. For more information contact 504-2806381.
March 16 Student Activities Council would like to invite all students to attend its meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the University Center, Room 208. March 17 The Grad Fair Celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the University Center Gallery Lounge. Graduating seniors can purchase caps and gowns, order UNO rings and take cap and gown pictures. Complimentary breakfast, lunch or snacks will be provided.
10 Wednesday, March 11, 2015
SPORTS
Privateers head to Katy, Texas for Southland Conference Tournament Nigel Washington Sports Editor
Even with the last game of the regular season being a 10-point loss, the New Orleans men’s basketball team got their ticket to Texas to participate in the Southland Conference Tournament. The Privateers (10-17, 6-12 SLC) played their final game of the season on Saturday against Northwestern State (18-11, 13-5 SLC), a game that had the potential to change their seeding for this week’s season finale. It was back-and-forth between the two teams at the beginning of the game as the lead was never more than five points for either team for the first eight minutes of play. The Demons offense shot lights out in the first half and used the three ball to pull away. Northwestern State shot over 50 percent from deep and 55 percent from the field. The Privateers couldn’t match the Demons offensive efficiency and shot 40 percent from the floor and only made one three pointer out of five attempts. There was improvement for the Privateers in the second half and they rallied back to cut the lead to less than five in the final five minutes of the game. However, four turnovers late in the game closed any chance of a comeback as Northwestern State won 88-78. Senior guard Kevin Brown led New Orleans in scoring with 19-points. It was a bittersweet loss for head coach Mark Slessinger and his team as they received their seeding for the tournament the day after. The Privateers will be the seventh seed and play Nicholls State, the sixth seed, this Wednesday in Katy, Texas. This is the first post-season ap-
pearance in the Privateers new conference, and it will be against an instate rival that they have yet to win against this season. Nicholls is currently a top five team among the Southland Conference in both blocks and defensive field goal percentage. Sophomore forward Liam Thomas, sophomore guard Richie Lewis and junior guard T.J. Carpenter will be the players to watch for the Colonels. Thomas is currently seventh in
the conference in blocked shots, with an average of 1.6 a game, and will certainly be patrolling the paint to try and stop New Orleans’ ability to score points in the paint. Lewis is currently fifth in steals among the Southland
Sports Wrap-up Nigel Washington
Conference, while the Privateers have the worst assist to turnover ratio in the league with 0.61. Carpenter is the Colonels offen-
Sports Editor Baseball The Privateers had their first conference test against Sam Houston State last weekend. New Orleans was swept in the three game series and now has a 6-10 record heading into midweek play. Women’s Tennis The Lady Privateers had a great weekend in their matchups against Lamar and Sam Houston State. Sophomore Yasmine Rashad returned from injury in a big way and helped New Orleans beat Lamar 5-2 on Saturday. In their match against Sam Houston State the Lady Privateers were perfect and won 7-0. The women’s tennis team is now 8-5 and 2-2 in conference play.
sive threat. He is their leading scorer with an average of 11 points a game. The most recent match against the Privateers had against Nicholls State saw Carpenter set a new career high with 28-points and led them to the season sweep. New Orleans will need their scorers to make their shots and simply outscore the weak offense of Nicholls State. The Colonels only average 64.7 points per game while the Privateers have an average of 71. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tonight and will be broadcasted on the Southland Conference Digital Network for free. Photo by Stephen Lew
Men’s Tennis The Privateer men’s tennis team beat Southern Illinois 4-3 in Hattiesburg, MS. After losing the doubles point, the team rallied and won four singles matches to take the close win. The Privateers are now 6-4 and 2-0 in the Southland Conference. Track and Field The New Orleans track team started the outdoor season as they competed in the Jaguar Opener. The team had a great outing as multiple Privateers finished with top 10 performances. Sophomore’s Fadeke Adeola and Alexia Fortenberry both finished first in their respective events. Adeola placed first in the women’s high jump and Fortenberry placed first in the women’s 100m hurdles. Fortenberry also finished third in the women’s 100m dash. Adeola wasn’t alone in the women’s high jump as junior Lakayla LaFrance finished in second place in the high jump. Five other Lady Privateers would finish with top 10 places for the competition. The Privateer men’s 1600 sprint medley team finished in first place for the competition as runners Darius Lipps, Tredarius Thomas Dario Scantlebury and Constant Pretrius had a time of 3:28.26. Three other Privateers finished with top 10 places in the meet.
Lady Privateers miss chance for conference tournament Nigel Washington Sports Editor
The New Orleans women’s basketball team ended their season on a 72-70 comeback victory against Northwestern State. It was an inspiring effort by the Lady Privateers in their final game of the season as they turned a 10-point second half deficit into a two-point win by the end of the game. New Orleans (8-19, 6-12 SLC) had already been eliminated from Southland Conference tournament but that didn’t stop them from fighting hard to the last buzzer. Northwestern State (15-14, 10-8 SLC) were shooting the lights out in the first half as they made 57 percent of their shots from the field and 60 percent of their attempts from three-point range. The Lady Privateers only shot 44 percent from the field but still man-
aged to keep it to a five-point deficit at the end of the first half. The lead would eventually grow to 10-points at the 13:47 mark in the second half. New Orleans roared back with junior guard Danielle Davis and freshman guard Randi Brown leading the way. Brown would score 15-points in the second half while Davis scored 13-points. After a jump shot by freshman guard Halie Matthews gave the Lady Privateers their first lead in the second half, it was layup by Davis that gave them a late lead with less than two minutes to go in the game. The Demons would miss the potential game-tying jump shot and the Lady Privateers end their season on a high note. Brown ended the night with 23-points and earned Southland Conference Women’s player of the week for the second consecutive week.
Lady Privateers ended their season on a four game win streak.
Brown also ended the season as the teams scoring leader with an average of 12.7 points per game, a mark that was also in the top 15 of
the Southland Conference. Junior Forward Yazmin Taylor ended the season as the team leader in rebounds (186) and steals (59)
Courtesy of UNO Athletics/ Ron O’ Rourke
which was sixth best among steal leaders in the Southland conference.
LAGNIAPPE
Yik Yak is a social media app that allows college students to share anonymous messages. People who use the long couch in the library 3rd floor for anything other than sleep, I hope you rot in hell. I want to transfer out of UNO but most other universities in this area are unaffordable. “Family size!” the label on the bag of chips reads. I smile. I am my family now. New Orleans: the only place you can have all 4 seasons in a week.
Can’t make it to class, the wind is pushing the doors closed. *reads 1st exam question* I’ll go to the second one. *reads second one* I’ll try this first one again. Just now getting my refund check. Annoyed yet happy. Ya know, I can put up with the cold and these gusting lake winds, BUT WHEN I COME HOME AFTER A LONG COLD DAY AND CAN’T EVEN TAKE A WARM SHOWER THEN I’M PISSED. Thanks UNO for your great dorm service!
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 11
I will never be as fresh as the prince of Bel Air and it haunts me. New studies have shown the library breezeway to be, as of now, the coldest place on earth. Stuff I stole from my parents at 14: alcohol Stuff I steal from my parents freshman year of college at 19: toilet paper, snacks, tissues, etc… I haven’t even graduated yet and UNO is asking me for alumni donations.
Coincidence that international women’s day was a 23 hour day? When I get bored I like to color in my tattoos with highlighters. Test in 7 hours. Calculating what’s the lowest test grade I can get and still end up with at least a B in the class. I have wasted my entire day making virtual dress up dolls and writing HP fanfiction. Did you hear the story about the bike who couldn’t stand? He was two tired.
Staff Picks Anna Gowin
TV Show- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt- Netflix’s newest original series premiered this week, about a woman finally freed from an underground bunker after being there since the 8th grade. The show is unexpectedly funny and sincere, with most episodes revolving around Kimmy (played by Ellie Kempler) coming to terms with what are now the realities of society. The entire first season is available to stream on Netflix now.
High school students competed in the National Science Bowl (NSB) on March 7 in Kirschman Hall. Students from various cities in Louisiana and Mississippi competed in a verbal forum focused on solving technical problems and answering questions in branches of science and math. The NSB was sponsored by the US Department of Energy.
Album- Sound and Color- Alabama Shakes will release their first album since 2012’s “Boys & Girls” on April 20th. The band played two songs from the new album on their SNL appearance last weekend, which show a similar style to those from their previous album, while still displaying a new sound. Alabama Shakes will continue touring in the next year. Sound and Color is available for pre-order now.
Restaurant- Mr. Gyros- The Greek restaurant in Metairie has recently moved into a new location on Severn, tucked into a strip mall. While the homemade food is nothing fancy (traditional takes on gyros, kebabs and other Greek fare) it is undeniably delicious, with large portions for a decent price. The gyros platter is a great value if you’re into well-seasoned meat and fresh pita (which I know I am), but trust me: you’re going to want to ask for extra tzatziki.
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