Volume 58 Issue 21

Driftwood The community newspaper of the University of New Orleans

Volume: 58 Issue: 21 What’s Inside:

March 25, 2015

driftwood.uno.edu

UNDERSTANDING THE MUSLIM EXPERIENCE

NPHC benches are historical gathering spots

Find out what the painted benches next to the amphitheatre represent page 4

Katrina@10 summit recognizes 10 year anniversary Learn about upcoming events to commemorate Hurricane Katrina page 5

Students share their cultures at International Night

The largest student organized event on campus was well attended page 6

Christy Lorio/ Driftwood Ayah Saleh, Biology Junior, Taskeen Begum, Education Junior, Mariem Khan,Biology Sophomore, and Hera Riaz,Senior Biology

Controversial scholar addresses Palestinian question at UNO address One of a kind plantation pays homage to the forgotten

Slaves are finally given a voice at Whitney Plantation page 9

Players ejected and suspended after altercation

Helmets fly at Privateers-Cardinals baseball game page 11

Christopher Li Driftwood Contributor Norman Finkelstein, a controversial Jewish American intellectual who defends the rights of Palestinians, received a standing ovation when he spoke to a 270 person audience at the University of New Orleans on March 13.

Finkelstein advocated a pragmatic two-state solution based on the 1967 borders according to international law. “It’s prudent to take the risks for a strategy that might work versus as strategy that has no possibility of success,” Finkelstein said.

Finkelstein sharply criticized Operation Protective Edge, which Israel launched last summer, and which went on for 50 days according to

both Finkelstein and the Jerusalem Post. Finkelstein called the operation, “the most murderous, and the most destructive,” of the eight operations Israel has conducted in Gaza over the last decade.

For nearly three hours, Finkelstein challenged justifications for Protective Edge, which he said was acknowledged by Human Rights Watch to be a war crime that killed 1200 Palestinian civilians. Finkelstein was also critical of many Arab governments as well as President Barack Obama, whom Finkelstein called “the enabler-in-chief of the massacre.”

Not all audience members sympathized with Finkelstein’s position. Early in the lecture, three hecklers stood up and accused Finkelstein of spreading hatred and

lies. The hecklers were escorted out by police when they refused to hold their comments for the question period after the lecture.

Finkelstein said the hecklers reminded him of his own tactics when he protested against the Vietnam War, and he asked the audience not to condemn them. Finkelstein later asked that dissenting members of the audience should be given the first opportunity to pose questions.

When asked for his view on the rights of Israelis, Finkelstein said, “If you’re talking about a Jewish state, a refuge, a state for the Jews, doesn’t that mean that the state is going to be discriminating against non-Jews because it’s called a ‘Jewish state’?”

Continued on Page 2 See Finklestein

Student Perspective Ayah Saleh, a member of UNO’s Muslim Student Association, shares her experiences of being a Muslim American What I love about UNO is everyone is friendly and open-minded to all kinds of cultures, religions, people, etc... This is probably due to the diversity that UNO has on its campus. We have people from all around the world, people from all walks of life. The professors and students are exceptionally nice.

I’ve only had one discriminative encounter by one student ...

I actually personally outside of school feel otherwise. I feel like I come across both open-minded and close-minded people [off campus], it’s not like the friendly environment we have on campus.

Believe it or not, I’ve been told to go back to my country before, which hurt to [no] end ... I was born and raised in the U.S. My dad’s an engineer and professor and my mom’s a school teacher.

I feel no different than average hard-working American families.

I do get the occasional stares and not so friendly looks. These things used to get to me, to the point it has driven me to take off my hijab, in hopes to stop the stares, racist remarks and fit into society. But a year later, I put back my hijab and told myself, I shouldn’t have changed myself to please people with closed-minds.

I learned to tell myself THEY are the problem, not ME. I feel stronger and more brave for putting back on the hijab.

I was doing an internship at a hospital, drawing blood from patients and one patient I had came in with her husband … Once they found out I was Muslim ( I wasn’t wearing the hijab at the time), the lady grabbed my hand and told me “I want you to know I’m really glad you’re in this country and you’re just as American as the rest of us.” It’s as if this kind stranger knew what I was going through, as if she knew I was [just] told to go back to my country.

We had a really long conversation, and during the conversation I mentioned to them the reason why I took off my hijab.

Her husband, who was an average hardworking police officer, told me “Never ever take off your headwear to please society and close-minded people, they are the problem, not you.” They gave me a hug and cried and told me everything will be okay. This older married couple are the true example of Americans.

This country is one big melting pot, and as Americans, we should embrace the diversity and beauty in others. And I am proud to say I am both Muslim and American.

Continued on Page 2 See Perspective

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NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Finkelstein continued from Page 1 Finkelstein said international law is more important than his opinion on the matter. “Israel has the right to defend Israel, but Gaza is not Israel, the West Bank is not Israel, East Jerusalem is not Israel, and under international law...

Palestinians have a right to a just settlement solution of the refugee question,” Finkelstein said. “(Israel) is not defending itself.

It’s defending its right to occupy, appropriate and incorporate territories that do not belong to it,” Finkelstein said. “It’s not my standard, it’s the standard that has been set overwhelmingly by the international community. Once Israel abides by international law, then I say it has the same right to defend itself as any other state,” Finkelstein said.

Finkelstein emphasized that the rights of Israel should depend upon recognizing the rights of Palestinians. “So long as it has its jackboot on the necks of Palestinians... for engaging in what are effectively symbolic forms of resistance... I find it impossible not to say ‘scandalous’ to the claim that Israel has the right to throttle them even more,” said Finkelstein.

According to event organizer Reem Rimawi, students from UNO, Loyola and Tulane along with their families and other community members attended the lecture. Rimawi is the president of the UNO branch of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) student club. The student club has about 10 or 15 regular members, of which about 75 percent are Palestinian, according to Rimawi.

Rimawi said they invited Finkelstein because of his unique perspective on the conflict in Palestine. “He’s not Palestinian, and he is strongly dedicated to the cause.

We thought it would be inspiring for students to see him. He is a great speaker,” Rimawi said.

Perspective continued from Page 1 Mariem Khan also shared her perspective.

Personally I haven’t had an interaction the way Ayah has; people are generally nice and just go about their own business.

I do however always keep on guard for things of that nature because you honestly can never be safe nowadays with everything that is going on. Islamaphobia is definitely real, and the purpose of the Muslim Student Association is to enlighten and inform people of what Islam is really about, rather than what it is portrayed as in the mass media. People genuinely are confused and they are very curious, and have lots of questions when we host Islamic discovery tables outside of the library breezeway.

Teachers aren’t really that racist towards me. There may have been a couple that seem impatient but they give fair chances to me just like they do everyone else. The only group that we [Muslims] feel some animosity from is the Allies of Israel club, but that’s another story.

Pro-Palestinian speaker draws protest Asia-Vinae Palmer Driftwood Staff President of Students for Justice In Palestine (SJP) Reem Rimawi welcomed the group’s first official speaker, Dr. Finkelstein. His parents were Jewish Holocaust survivors and their experiences left a definite mark on Finkelstein, who is now a prominent advocate of the Palestinian cause.

He came to UNO with hopes of “filling in some of the blanks and also to connect what I would think, in my opinion, has been a misrepresented record of what actually unfolded during those 50 days, from roughly July 7 until August 26. And hopefully casting some illumination where there was darkness or even worse, there was distortion and misrepresentation.”

The 50 days he referenced was the recent war in Gaza. This war is seldom spoken of without an Israeli-biased lense. This is one of the reasons SJP chose Dr. Norman Finkelstein as the guest speaker. “He’s not Palestinian and people would actually want to hear what he has to say,” said Rimawi.

Before the event began, a member of the predominantly Muslim crowd stood at the far right end of the room and began the Adhan, or call to prayer. Fellow Muslim men and women followed suit and arranged themselves in the back left corner of the room.

UNO students Chloe Valdary and Maor Shapira, President and member of UNO’s Allies of Israel, at-

tended the speech as protesters.

Plans by protesters intending to lift signs reading “inaccurate” and “false” after Finkelstein’s commentary on the war in Gaza fell through when students didn’t get their signs registered in time for the event date.

Their lack of preparation didn’t stop them from practicing their freedom of speech.

Around 8 p.m., Finkelstein began to explain how and why Palestinians began digging the infamous “Terror Tunnels.” After making a humorous reference to the large number of civil engineers within the Palestinian community, Finkelstein mentioned the 60 percent unemployment rate.

In context of the high rates of unemployed civil engineers and the tunnels they’ve constructed, Finkelstein said, “Having been under this

“ I was familiar with

Norman Finkelstein and interested in being a part of the protest... this issue is so profoundly personal. My understanding of Finkelstein’s position is one that hits me to my core as a Jewish person.”

siege for so many years, the people of Gaza have managed the miracle, not poetically, not hyperbolically, not with exaggeration, but literally, the people of Gaza have learned how

to turn nothing into something. Give a Gazan three empty Campbell’s soup cans and before you know it, it will turn into a satellite.”

He continued, comparing the casualties of Israel during Operation Cast Lead (2012) with those of Gaza and then compared those numbers with the numbers of Operation Protective Edge (2014), “the most murderous and the most destructive” of them all.

Shapira, unable to hold his thoughts until after the lecture, stood up and called out to Finkelstein. He called him a liar and suggested that he was spreading lies to the people in the room. Almost immediately, Igor Cherny, educator at Edna Karr, also stood up and began reciting his own objections.

Cherny found out about the event from Shapira and Valdary. Both students are active participants at numerous anti-Palestinian events. “I was familiar with Norman Finkelstein and interested in being a part of the protest for two main reasons: one is that this issue is so profoundly personal. My understanding of Finkelstein’s position is one that hits me to my core as a Jewish person.

Another Jewish person disavowing his Jewish identity, to the point that he considers Hamas to be reasonable and Israel to be the insane act.

That is one reason why I can’t help but feel compelled to act in some way to say that there is something fundamentally wrong with that position. The other is that the Middle East conflict and the conflict of Israel and Palestine is an advocacy I’ve

been involved in since college. But that advocacy has by and large been limited to responding to anti-Israel comments from professors and fellow students to being present at Pro-Israel events despite large mobs and other protests,” Cherny said.

Cherny admits that this event was the first time that he had the oppor-

“ Protest, by its very

definition, is not meant to be comfortable, for the audience or for the speaker. It is not meant to be eased into the conversation or to create comfort.”

tunity to speak on “the other side of the isle”. Instead of fielding a protest, he was able to step away from his “couch protesting” and partake in a full demonstration.

“Protest, by its very definition, is not meant to be comfortable, for the audience or for the speaker. It is not meant to be eased into the conversation or to create comfort,” said Cherny in response to why he and Shapira decided to make outbursts instead of waiting until the talk back session.

Samia Lalani and Lugine Gray, both founders of Tulane’s SJP, helped Ramawi organize the night’s event and it was Gray who had Cherny, Shapira, and Valdary police escorted out of the ballroom.

UNO professor paves way for training in computer sciences Chloe Gagnon Driftwood Staff Professor of Computer Science Golden G. Richard III is the lead researcher on several projects currently in the works at UNO, including work being funded by a grant from the National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to educate teachers about cybersecurity.

The grant supports funding for a GenCyber training summer camp for high school teachers to teach about cybersecurity. After the training, the teachers implement what they learned into their curriculum.

“There is a huge shortage of people who are trained in cybersecurity and it’s becoming increasingly necessary more and more to have technical background to have any impact at all so we want people to get degrees in cybersecurity,” said Richard. “We are only one of six programs funded by NSA last year and so we did it in the summer and I had about 15 or so teachers who had all expenses paid.”

GenCyber took place last summer and will continue this coming summer. Richard said, “This time, NSA has decided to do a national publicity campaign to try and get NBC morning news to profile UNO as the exemplar of high school training in cybersecurity. It’s really awesome and I’m really excited about that.”

Richard is also head of a research grant involving Digital Forensics. “Computers are involved in almost all crimes now,” said

Photo by Grant Compbell

Richard. “The grant is to come up with ways of not making complete copies of evidence but trying to find the stuff that’s most important to the case in a smart way that doesn’t leave things behind that are really important.”

He compared it to forensic evidence in a hotel room. If a crime

happens in a hotel room, investigators are unable to take the entire room with them to study. They only take the most important evidence such a cigarette with lipstick on it, a hair in the bed, or a blood sample from the bathroom. That is what Richard is trying to create, a software that allows the investiga-

tors to only make a copy of the most important, relevant information. “[We] regularly encounter machines that have terabytes of data.

If you were to try traditional forensic investigation on that, it would take weeks and police departments have backlogs of over a year,” explained Richard. “We simply can’t do it because of the information explosion that we have.”

Richard started doing professional level programming when he was just 15 years old. Raised in New Orleans since he was five, he found it natural to attend UNO and got his undergraduate degree in computer science. He went on to receive his Masters and PhD in computer science from Ohio State University.

Six months before finishing his dissertation, a job opened up at UNO. He applied and got the job teaching while finishing his last semester in 1994.

Richard has influenced a plethora of students over his years at UNO including one that was a co-author of a 900 page book of memory analysis. He said, “I decided to teach a class based on that book and he was actually in the class because he needed the credit for his master’s degree. The funny thing is it’s not possible to test him on any of this stuff and so he sort of co-taught the class.”

Richard recently received a 20 year service pin from the University of New Orleans for his hard work and dedication to teaching thousands of students.

OPINION

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 3

Racism is an issue that can only be fought together Charles Nicholson Driftwood Staff

Am I colorblind? By that I mean, do I not notice other people’s races when I see them? Before I started writing this I would have said yes.

But I thought about it and realized that I very much notice race. Now, I don’t define anyone by their race but I won’t deny it’s a part of who they are. It’s the problem of people defining others by their race that creates the issue of racism today.

It is no doubt that racism is still alive and well. A number of violent hate crimes garnering national media attention last year, such as the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, shows that we have a long way to go. I’m a believer that racism isn’t something you’re born with, but something that is taught, whether it be by example or through circumstance. So if something can be taught, it can also be untaught. In order for that to happen people must be taught, preferably at a young age, that people of other races are no different than they are. Culturally speaking, ethnic groups are different but no group is superior or inferior to another.

I’m not one to single out a side when it comes to conflicts, sometimes I see fault in both parties of many issues. A portion of the white community is still being brought up with negative views of other races. Just recently a video of a racist chant being sung by members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter in the University of Oklahoma obtained national attention and it goes to show that some youth are being taught that racism is okay. That needs to stop.

But the black community’s response to these recent hate crimes hasn’t been perfect. Peaceful protests are always going to be a good way of bringing attention to these issues. I didn’t condone the violent riots and looting that took place in Ferguson, Missouri. Those acts looked barbaric and the black community should be above such behavior.

Something that I think is being forgotten is that racism doesn’t belong to just one race. One problem in the fight against racism is the exclusion mentality. The idea that if you’re not a part of a certain race then you shouldn’t have any input or concern.

Different groups can have similar problems and “white” and “black” aren’t the only two existing races in this country. All ethnicities should be working together to resolve this problem. You might be saying “but other races aren’t discriminated as much.” Well that’s true if you plan to feed into the mainstream media’s idea of racism, which leaves out other minorities simply because they don’t generate the same level of controversy, but that doesn’t make other race issues any less significant.

So how do we combat racism?

To quote the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Racism won’t be resolved by reciprocating with more racism. We must stop judging an entire group of people by the words or actions by a small portion of its members. Otherwise, we’ll be left going around in this endless, hate-fueled circle, never seeing true peace in this world.

Lights & Sirens -March 4 (correction), the bag lost at the UNO Rec Center was recovered and returned to owner.

-March 11, at 11:50 a.m. a Barnes & Noble manager notified the UNOPD that they found a UNO student’s wallet on the premises.

The owner of the wallet was notified and obtained their property from the UNO Police Headquarters.

-March 13, A victim stated she parked and secured her vehicle in the Tennis Center lot at approximately 3:40 p.m. When victim returned to her vehicle she at approximately 6 p.m. she discovered her passenger side rear window shattered and her purse missing.

-Compiled by Carlee Lauve

THE DRIFTWOOD UNODriftwood

Staff

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.

Christy Lorio Editor-in-Chief

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

Nigel Washington Sports Editor

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

Aviayna Thomas Managing Editor Veronica Mansell Features Editor Anna Gowin News Editor

Ave Maria Bordenave Web 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

Campus Calendar

March 25 Blighted Ballot: Nigeria’s Election History and 2015 Polls, Dr. Niyi Osundare’s lecture explores Nigeria’s election history, 2015 polls, the threat of Boko Haram, and the Jonathan presidency. The lecture will be held in the Earl K. Library, room 407, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Dr. Alexei Filippenko Lecture, world-renowned astrophysicist discusses “Dark Energy and the Runaway Universe” in the UC Grand Ballroom from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. with book signing to follow. Admission is free, raffle tickets available for purchase at the event.

March 26 Lunch Lecture with Dr. Andrew Cohen on “Toleration and the Harm Principle.”

The lecture will be held in the Liberal Arts Building,

room 236, from 12:30 p.m.

- 1:45 p.m.

Master Class with Pianist Dick Hyman, legendary jazz pianist leads a master class for UNO jazz studies students in the Performing Arts Center’s Band Room (103). The class is from 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. and open to the public.

Zeta Phi Beta Spring Informational welcomes students to learn about the women of Z Phi B. Hosted by the Zeta Phi Beta sorority in Milneburg Hall, room 314, from 6:20 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. Business attire required.

March 27 Katrina @10, Safe and Just Region? A multi-session assessment of New Orleans 10 years after Hurricane Katrina. The daylong event explores cultural,

structural, prevention, and preparedness in New Orleans. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Music Student Recital Hour, UNO music students present their work in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Open to all.

March 28 Storm and Storyteller, 10 Years On: Two Writers and a Photographer Revisit Katrina, three writers/reporters will be featured on a panel at the 2015 Tennessee Williams Festival discussing their work and reflections on Hurricane Katrina.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

FEATURES

NPHC benches represent history, sacrifice and progress Asia-Vinae Palmer Driftwood Staff

When the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education first went into effect in 1954, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations had already been around for over 50 years. The claiming of space and the creation of black communal organizations were tools used to keep blacks together and strong in the face of extreme discrimination.

The University of New Orleans has eight sets of stone benches - arranged in a circle- between the Performing Arts building and the amphitheatre. Each bench represents an NPHC organization on campus: Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi Beta and Iota Phi Theta. The benches, also known as plots, serve as one of the most prominent symbols of Black Greek Letter Organizations.

Plots can appear in various forms. Most are concrete or brick structures, built to commemorate each organization’s history. Some are areas where the trees and sidewalks are painted and others, similar to UNO’s, consist of benches and garbage cans. The structures usually contain the organization letters, colors and both local and national founding dates.

Delta Sigma Theta member and senior in psychology Trenise Rob-

ins referred to the plots as “a gathering place and pays tribute to the past and future black greek members. It brings us together.”

Despite their historic background, not many people on UNO’s campus are familiar with their significance. The plots play a central role in the culture of black sororities and fraternities.

The plots are more than a compilation of benches; they are symbolic pieces of art that represent a time when African Americans didn’t have the right to claim space.

The history reaches back to the days of slavery and reconstruction.

In 1865, Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania Thaddeus Stephens and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton urged congress for the confiscated land from the Confederate rebels to be taken and divided into 40-acre plots for the newly freed slaves.

A few days after this meeting, Union General William T. Sherman issued Special Field Order No. 15 which stated, “The islands from Charleston, south, the abandoned rice fields along the rivers for 30 miles back from the sea, and the country bordering the St. Johns river, Florida, are reserved and set apart for the settlement of the negroes now made free by the acts of war and the proclamation of the President of the United States.”

The order also stated that the affairs of management would be left to the free slaves and no white per-

Benches form a circle to represent unity for NPHC members and serve as a gathering place.

son would be permitted to reside in the settlements thereafter. After President Abraham Lincoln signed this agreement, 400,000 acres of land were redistributed. Unfortunately, Lincoln’s successor, Andrew Johnson overturned the order once he took office. The plots represent the land, rights and equality African Americans have yet to receive.

Cheyney University in Pennsylvania, the first historically black university, marks the beginning of a long line of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) across the country. HBCUs were at one time the only place an African American could receive an education.

This history prefaces the history of Black Greek organizations.

Founded between 1906 and 1963, the Divine Nine were created for black students who were rejected from National Panhellenic Council (NPC) sororities and fraternities because of their race. Most NPC organization’s constitutions stated that they did not accept minorities. This

discrimination carried through from the 60s to the late 80s. Although the restrictions are no longer on paper, many organizations have yet to accept a person of color.

There has been talk on campus about why non-members are not allowed to sit on the benches. John Perkins, graduating senior and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, referred to the right to the benches as a member’s “rite of passage.” Perkins also said, “[We’re] not saying we’re unapproachable, but our benches are our benches.”

While benches are typically considered public property, the NPHC benches represent the right to claim space and demand respect. The benches are just as much art to NPHC members as any statue on campus is to UNO students. Understanding that something is art means that it won’t require a “Keep Off” sign.

The University of Oklahoma’s fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s recent racial outbreak declaring their lack of interest in having any

Photo by Nigel Washington

blacks inside of their organization, proves that even in 2015, black students are still not fully welcomed within some NPC organizations.

Whitney Marshall, senior in psychology, said, “In order to march through the plot on the way to the amphitheatre, we placed the benches between there and the theatre building.” The plots are a cornerstone for the Greeks and a sacred place of reverence. “This is where we meet before probates, where alumni can meet with the current members and where new members take part in traditions like our Delta’s sweetheart song,” said Marshall, current member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Although discrimination and hate pushed African Americans in the 1800s and 1900s to create opportunities for themselves, the injustices they endured contributed to their strength. The plots on campus are artistic tributes that serve as reminders of how far African Americans have come and how much farther they intend to go.

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Photo by David Kowalski Plots symbolize a claiming of space for black communities, something common on college campuses.

FEATURES

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 5

Katrina@10: Self-assessing a decade later Rebekah Bell Driftwood Staff

Ten years ago Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the surrounding region, leading to one of the largest rebuilding efforts of America. As the tenth anniversary approaches on Aug. 29, 2015, the question is asked: How has the region recovered and changed?

In an effort to educate students and the public, the University of New Orleans is hosting a “Katrina@10” summit this semester, which is a series of free events open to the public. Bringing new films and speakers from around the region to campus, the 10 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina will be remembered as the impacts on the city and region are explored.

Spearheaded by the department of Planning and Urban Studies, the Katrina@10 events are a collaborative effort between the Departments of Planning and Urban Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Public Administration, as well as the Center for Hazard Assessments, Response and Technology (UNO-CHART) and the University of New Orleans Merritt C. Becker Jr. Transportation Institute (UNOTI).

Department Chair of Planning and Urban Studies Renia Ehrenfeucht said, “The goal of the Katrina@10 series is to have a better informed student body, to highlight the work that UNO has done in the past as a foundation for its work in the future, to give a pro-active win-

dow to the media and larger community to the work UNO has done (and continues to do) as well as reach out to our alums to share their knowledge with current students.”

Both UNO students and faculty members will benefit from learning how to respond to the media during the summer and fall of 2015 and will gain an understanding of where the city has been and what possibilities the region has in the future.

Students, faculty, alumni and regional leaders who have served the UNO community in the months and years following Katrina are encouraged to participate in the various venues.

“UNO plays a significant role in the region,” said Ehrenfeucht, “We are delighted to present this program of events as a way to reflect on our knowledge and experience and to use UNO’s wonderful resources to build a more resilient region.”

Upcoming events include:

March 25 UNO College of Engineering Dean Emir José Macari will give a talk from noon-1 p.m. entitled “Ten Years Later — Geotechnical Failures resulting from Hurricane Katrina: The Intersection of a Metropolis, Infrastructure and a Natural Hazard.” The event will occur in the University Center, Innsbruck A and B. March 26 The film “Can’t Stop the Water”

Photo by Rebekah Bell UNO’s Katrina monument serves as a reminder of the lasting effect the hurricane had on New Orleans.

will be shown in Milneburg Hall 265 from 9:30-11 a.m. Directed and produced by Rebecca Ferris and Chief Albert Naquin, the film tells the story of Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana and the Native American community fighting to save its culture as their land washes away.

March 27 “A Safe and Just Region? Assessing New Orleans 10 years after

Katrina,” will be an all day summit in the UC Ballroom. Leaders from around the region will explore how the city and region have changed. A series of four sessions will include the following discussions: 9-10:30 a.m.—Disaster preparedness 10:45-a.m.-12:15 p.m.—Cultures as life and work 1:15- 2:45 p.m.— Historic preservation

3-4:30 p.m.— A decade of rebuilding and urban change Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.

April 15 The Jean Brainard Boebel Memorial lecture will take place in Milneburg Hall 264 at 6 p.m. Stephanie Ryberg-Webster will speak on “Historic Preservation in the Era of the Shrinking City.”

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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

FEATURES

International Night: Myths around the world

The International Night fashion show celebrates traditional garments from around the globe.

Photo by Willie Marsalis

Photo by Willie Marsalis Mizmaar, a Saudi Dance performed with canes by the Saudi Student Association.

Nepali students pay homage to spring with the song “Gurasai Fulyo.�

Photo by Pradip Jaki

Photo by Pradip Jaki Saurab Ghimire plays bass alongside other Nepali Student Association members.

International Night 2015 draws an estimated 850 attendees

S

FEATURES

TU

Anna Gowin

DENT

$10 R AT E

News Editor

This past Saturday the International Student Association (ISO) hosted International Night, UNO’s biggest student-organized event.

International Night features cultural displays from over 10 countries that are represented by a variety of international students, followed by a program of cultural performances and a fashion show of traditional international attire.

There was also a dinner prior to the event featuring foods from all over the world.

Nischal Adhikari, vice-president of ISO and entertainment chair of International Night, said that the best part of the event is the opportunity to “get to know cultures from around the world, enjoy food from different countries [and] watch performances from various countries all under one roof in one night.”

This year’s performances featured various kinds of global entertainment, such as Bollywood dancers from the CHAKRA student organization, Irish Dancers from the Muggivan School of Irish Dance, traditional Vietnamese and Nepali music and even slam poetry.

The performances are divided in half with the intermission of anoth

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 7

er International Night tradition, the fashion show. This years fashion show highlighted garments from Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Honduras, India, Iran, Nepal, Ecuador, Nigeria and Vietnam while participants walked to music from the corresponding countries.

Immediately following the fashion show come the presentation of the cultural exhibit winners.

Voted on by International Night attendees who had the opportunity to view every country’s display, Saudi Arabia’s exhibit came in first place, while Ireland and India came in second and third respectively.

Adhikari also said that the number of attendees “including VIPS, performers, volunteers, exhibitors and general admission...was about 850.” According to ISO, this number is even larger than the number of attendees last year.

The event, already UNO’s largest student-run event, is something that “ISO has been doing for almost a decade,” Adhikari said.

ISO begins organizing the event in the spring, with the formation of a committee within ISO dedicated to planning all aspects of the event, who then spend the semester up until the event bringing it together.

CHRISTIANS, THE ENVIRONMENT &

CLIMATE CHANGE APRIL 10-11, 2015 For more info and registration go to:

www.greerheard.com

GREER HEARD NEW ORLEANS POINT–COUNTERPOINT FORUM

BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

8

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

FEATURES

Net Neutrality laws will provide fair and open Internet to all Charles Nicholson Driftwood Staff

Imagine someone binge-watching season 3 of “House of Cards” and Netflix is running terribly slow.

This doesn’t seem right because they are paying for the highest quality Internet and wouldn’t expect to have this problem.

Well, that person should fear no longer as their connectivity issues may soon be coming to an end.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed new regulations in the net neutrality debate with a 3-2 vote. The regulations involve restricting the discrimination and unfair practices of how Internet service is provided. The rules will go into effect 60 days after they are published.

This ruling comes after a long debate over Internet service providers (ISP) offering faster broadband access, or “fast lanes,” to content providers that pay for them while deliberately slowing access to others.

The idea is that now consumers, people using streaming sites like Netflix and YouTube, won’t see a difference in access speed between certain content providers. ISPs are now considered “common carriers” under the Title II of the Telecommunications Act, which essentially puts the Internet under the cat-

egory of a utility, such as electricity or gas.

The FCC’s rules state three points: •No blocking: Broadband providers may not block access to legal content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.

•No throttling: Broadband providers may not impair or degrade lawful Internet traffic on the basis of content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.

•No No paid prioritization: Broadband providers may not favor some lawful Internet traffic over other lawful traffic in exchange for consideration of any kind, in other words, no “fast lanes.” This rule also bans ISPs from prioritizing content and services of their affiliates.

Many companies, like Sprint and Google, spoke out positively about the new net neutrality laws. “Sprint has been a leader in supporting an open Internet and commends the FCC for its hard work in arriving at a thoughtful, measured approach on this important issue,” the company wrote in a statement.

“We believe balanced net neutrality rules with a light regulatory touch will benefit consumers, while fostering mobile broadband competition, investment and innovation in the United States. We look forward to reviewing the FCC order and continuing to work with policymakers to ensure consumers benefit from an open I n ter-

net.”

The Internet Association, a collection of Internet-based companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon who are dedicated to protecting Internet freedom, also put out a statement

on the FCC ruling. “Today’s FCC vote on net neutrality is a welcome step in our effort to create strong, enforceable net neutrality rules that apply to both mobile and fixed broadband — banning paid prioritization, blocking, and discrimination online,” the association said.

“The Internet Association remains outcome-oriented, and it looks forward to seeing the full text of the order to ensure that the end user experience and the free and open Internet is fully protected by the FCC’s action. Today will not be the end of the discussion. The Internet Association is prepared to work with all stakeholders to ensure that net neutrality rules are meaningful and lasting for Internet companies and users of today and tomorrow.”

A UNO student also spoke out about how grateful he is for the new laws. Joseph Jacobson, a psychology major, said that Internet costs were already high and he “ would be upset if [he] had to pay more [money].”

Jacobson uses the Internet a lot and believes the Internet should be a utility service like cable.

For more details about the FCC and open internet, visit the FCC website at http://www.fcc.gov/.

FEATURES

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 9

Whitney Plantation: Honoring the forgotten Aviayna Thomas Managing Editor

My past experience with visiting plantations left me uneasy and determined not to do it again.

A couple of years ago, I accompanied my visiting aunt to Oak Alley Plantation. I didn’t exactly want to go because it felt strange paying money to visit a place where so many people lived and died against their will, but I went along for the family trip.

The longer I stayed on the property, the more things I found that bothered me other than the $20 admission fee. The renovation of the slave quarters to look more presentable, the comments on the beauty of the grounds written in the guestbook, the guided tour that focused only on the “big house,” and the selling of mint juleps and ice tea on the porch of the house all got under my skin. Once I left the plantation, I told myself that was the last time I needed to spend my money on a plantation visit.

This past Fall semester, the UNO Press gave the Driftwood staff a few books to read and review, and I noticed one of them was Bouki Fait Gombo: A History of the Slave Community of Habitation Haydel (Whitney Plantation) Louisiana, 1750-1860 written by Ibrahima Seck.

Thanks to this book, I found out about Whitney Plantation, a one-ofa-kind plantation founded by John Cummings, that just opened to the public in December. It’s located on River Road in Wallace, Louisiana, just a short drive from Oak Alley.

Whitney Plantation focuses on the slaves’ experiences of plantation life. I was immediately intrigued and curious because I had never heard of such a place. So I made the 45-minute drive to St. John the Baptist Parish, and it was one of the most inspiring, emotional and satisfactory experiences I have ever had.

From the beginning to the end

of the tour, the focal point was the slaves. After paying the admission fee, visitors were given lanyards with cards on it to wear around their necks throughout the tour. Each card had the name of a slave with a quote said by him or her and the age at which the slave died. I found the cards amazing because I had never seen the name of a slave documented anywhere at a plantation before.

I had always seen them listed as “anonymous” or “no name.”

The name of the slave on my card was Ceceil George, and her quote was, “Everybody worked, young and ole; if you could only carry two or three sugar cane, you worked.

No school, no church…and Saturday night they always have a dance, but you worked. You has to put your candle out early and shut yourself up, then get up while it’s still dark and start to work.” She died at the age of 94.

After receiving our lanyards, the tour started in a historic African-American church that now houses several statues created to resemble the last slave children that lived on Whitney Plantation.

A brief video explained the history of Whitney and what should be expected on the tour.

After leaving the church, we proceeded to move to the first memorial on the grounds, a tall granite wall that had the names of thousands of slaves engraved on it. Our tour guide explained some of the slaves had strange names such as “Plato” because it was a common joke to name slaves after prominent figures and thinkers as it was believed they did not have the capacity to become like these well-known historic men.

Slaves were nothing more than pieces of property that were used until they were no longer valuable.

The tour then moved to a memorial called “The Field of Angels,” which “honor[ed] the 2,200 slave infants born in St. John the Baptist parish who perished prior to their second birthday. They were deposited in earthen holes on the

Field of Angels statue memorializes the thousands of slave children who died in St. John the Baptist Parish.

plantations and occasionally at the catholic church cemetery,” read the memorial’s plaque.

An artist created child statues to represent the last children who lived on Whitmey Plantation.

The tour guide described how many babies died during childbirth or very soon after due to the poor health of their mothers, disease or insufficient nutrition. Slave women were not excused from work during their pregnancy, even when they were near full term. They continued working in the fields, often until the moment they gave birth and had to resume work soon after the baby was born.

Seeing all of the names of these innocent children and how some of them were carelessly documented as “male child” or “female child” was probably the most heartbreaking experience of my visit to Whitney.

After leaving “The Field of Angels,” we walked and viewed the slave quarters, the sugarcane fields and the small, metal jailhouse where slaves were kept as punishment in the sweltering summer heat.

We arrived at the big house, which we also approached from the slave’s perspective; we entered through the back of the house as the slaves would have been required to do. The tour guide did not discuss what color wallpaper the master’s wife liked or how many parties the master hosted at his residence.

Instead, she focused on the duties of the slaves who worked inside the house, such as standing for long periods of time to fan the master while

he slept or sleeping on the floor next to the misses’ bed in case she woke up in the middle of the night and needed someone to fetch her some water.

Once the tour concluded, we weren’t encouraged to purchase a refreshing mint julep, but we were instead invited to return to the bookstore and check out the many books on the history of Whitney, plantation life and slavery.

Whitney Plantation is truly a gift to Louisiana and this nation.

It has always been hard to discover the truths about the people who helped build these plantations that are admired for their beauty and used for grand “Old South” themed weddings. Whitney’s memorials finally acknowledge the names of the slaves who are so often ignored, disregarded or glossed over in our American history.

Hopefully Whitney will help spark a conversation of honesty that will aid in a better understanding of our past so that we may come to acknowledge it, not forget it, and strive to build a community founded on truth and acceptance.

Whitney Plantation is located on 5099 Highway 18, Wallace, LA 70049. It is open from 9:30 a.m -4:30 p.m. every day except Thursday. Tours are also given every hour on the hour from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

10 Wednesday, March 25, 2015

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SPORTS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 11

Cardinals and helmets fly past Privateers Nigel Washington Sports Editor

UNO Privateers (8-15, 2-7 SLC) are now on a four-game losing streak and were swept in a three-game series against Lamar (11-12, 3-6) this past weekend at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark. In game one on Friday, Lamar pitcher Chase Angelle proved to be a real challenge as he threw a complete game and held the Privateer bats in check for the majority of the game.

A triple to right center by Lamar outfielder CJ Moore was the first hit of the game and would become the first run of the game as well for a two-hit opening inning for the Cardinals.

The Privateers matched that with a two-hit inning of their own but were unable to drive home a run. Senior designated hitter Jonathan Coco earned the first hit for UNO. UNO would go on to struggle in the batter’s box and could only record a multi-hit inning once for the remainder of the game.

By the time the Privateers could bring across their first run in the seventh inning, Lamar had brought across seven to extend their lead to 8-1.

The lead would hold strong and the Cardinals took the win after the first day.

Tempers flared in the second game on Saturday, which was the closest ending of the series.

After a slow first inning, an error and a wild pitch helped the Cardinals earn an early 3-0 lead in the second inning.

Other than the three-run third inning, junior starting pitcher Jordan Priddle prevented Lamar from stretching the lead and only allowed two hits and a walk in his remaining time on the mound.

With two outs in the sixth inning with the bases loaded, senior catcher Jonathan Santana drove a pitch by the first baseman and brought home two runners and cut into the Cardinal’s deficit to make it a 3-2 game.

Senior Seth Laigast replaced Priddle on the mound after giving up a walk on the leadoff batter

for Lamar. Laigast would walk Lamar catcher Brandon Provost and allowed a runner to score on a wild pitch to bring the score to 4-2.

The next batter would double to left field and bring Provost home as well to make it a 5-2 game for Lamar.

As Provost was crossing home plate, Santana stuck his elbow out and made contact with Provost on his shoulder.

Out of anger Provost immediately got up and threw his helmet at Santana, missing him and rolling near the Privateer dugout.

Provost and Santana had to be held back by umpires and players while the infield and dugout gravitated toward the confrontation

and the benches began to clear.

The situation was controlled quickly, and after a ten-minute delay and discussion between the umpires, both Provost and Santana were handed ejections and were forced to leave the ballpark.

The ejections also come with a 4-game suspension for both players, which counted for the day’s later game.

Freshman Matt Rykaczewski replaced Santana at catcher and will likely be the starter for the next three games.

After the incident the game was relatively quiet until UNO charged with a late comeback in the ninth inning.

The Privateers were down to their final out with a runner on

Sand volleyball makes history Nigel Washington Sports Editor

The University of New Orleans sand volleyball team were winless against top volleyball programs in Baton Rouge this past weekend, but were able to make history despite the outcomes.

UNO has had its fair share of growing pains in the program’s first season but this team has shown some improvement as of late.

Last Wednesday at Coconut Beach in Kenner the Lady Privateers won their very first set

photo by Nigel Washington

A Lamar player celebrates after a home run in the seventh inning.

against Louisiana-Monroe with senior Kelsea Hundtoft and freshman Camila Lau. Three days later at the LSU Tiger Sand Competition, hosted by Louisiana State University, the program added another first to the list with their very first match win. It was junior Lauren Levy and sophomore Brooklyn Frank who made history in a 4-1 loss against Spring Hill.

The Lady Privateers also took two games to a third deciding set in the matchup against Spring Hill.

Along with Spring Hill and LSU, UNO played against North

Florida and Florida International University in the two-day event.

Against FIU the Lady Privateers loss 5-0 with the pair of Levy and Frank having the closest score of any other match (21-17, 21-13). UNO also fell to in-state rival LSU and UNF 5-0.

Next the team will travel to Birmingham to face the University of Alabama at Birmingham this Saturday.

After their matchup against UAB the Lady Privateers will have six contests left on the schedule. All of those games will be against in-state rivals Tulane, Louisiana-Monroe and LSU.

first as the sophomore designated hitter Dane Landry hit a home run to right field to ignite the UNO dugout as well as a comeback opportunity.

Nothing came of it however and a strikeout allowed the Cardinals to walk away with a win while wiping the sweat of their foreheads.

The third and final game was scheduled for Sunday, but reports of rain forced the game to be moved up to Saturday following game two.

With the series already in hand, the Cardinals set a new season-high with runs scored and completed the sweep with a 17-2 score.

The game was close for the

first three innings as neither team could earn and run.

In the fourth inning Lamar designated hitter Kyle Markum scored the first run with a solo home run to left field. The Cardinals put up one more before the inning ended.

After UNO responded with a run in the same inning, Lamar erupted in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to run away with the score and the ball game. The Cardinals hit two home runs in the seventh as the 15-run rule went into effect and the game was ended early.

UNO heads into midweek play with matchups against Loyola and a three-game series against Mcneese State.

Sports Wrap-up Nigel Washington Sports Editor

Track and Field The Track and Field team participated in the Louisiana Classics hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday and Saturday.

Sophomore Alexia Fortenberry earned first-place for the women’s 100-meter hurdles for the third straight meeting.

The rest of the Lady Privateers also showed top-10 performances in their respective events.

Freshman Daigle Bailey finished fourth in the pole vault; sophomore Farydah Inoussa earned third in the 200-meter dash, second in the long jump

and tenth in the javelin; sophomore Mikayla Barber finished seventh in the 200-meter dash; junior Lakayla Lafrance earned fifth in the high jump.

For the men’s side Constant Pretorius and Michael Batson both earned second place finishes in their respective events.

Pretorius placed in the 400-meter hurdles and Batson in the 800-meter run. Batson also placed eighth in the 400-meter dash.

The men’s 400-meter relay team also took third place in the event.The team will travel to Austin, Texas today to compete in the Clyde A. Littlefield Texas Relays.

12 Wednesday, March 25, 2015