31 Oct 2018 by Driftwood

THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS Volume: 62 Issue: 9

OCTOBER 31, 2018

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Friends of the UNO Library hosts their biannual book sale

-Photos by Brennan Probst

Community members, students and dealers perusing the many books.

BY CASSANDRA JASKIEWICZ Managing Editor The Friends of the UNO Library held their first book sale of the school year from Thursday, Oct. 25 until Saturday, Oct. 27. They had a wide range of books, including art, history, science, fantasy, mystery and horror. The book sale, a fundraising initiative for the librarylibrary, was open to students, faculty and the general public. The next book sale will be next April, and the date will be announced on the Friends of the UNO Library Facebook page. During the first two hours, the organization charged $5 admission for a “first look,” but this was free for students and members of the library. Freshman Lisa Gilmore-Montero said, “I was drawn to the historical fiction books the most. I got two of them!” Graduate student Meredith Knauer said, “I look for the sci-fi fantasy books!” The book sale had a ton of options and was very affordable. Most books could be bought for one or two dollars, depending on genre, whether the book was hardcover or paperback, and age. Though the book sale was previously a cash-only operation, peo-

ple now had the chance to pay with credit card or debit card. Sharon Mader, president of The Friends of UNO Library and former dean of the library for 15 years, helped organize and run the book sale. “We’ve had hundreds and hundreds of people come. Today is only Saturday, but we have a lot of community people, with people bringing their kids,” Mader said. “Thursday, which was our first day, we have dealers come, but we also had a lot of students, which we were really happy about.” Mader noted that this year, a lot of people were getting books from

science fiction and fantasy. “So [a] lot of people were getting those [science fiction and fantasy books], but children’s books were also really popular. I noticed a lot of students getting classic fiction,” Mader continued. The money that The Friends of the UNO Library earns through the book sale helps the Earl K. Long Library function and expand. Making sure that the library is funded and can still make purchases that will benefit the community is always one of their goals. “We have a certain formula that is used every year,” said Mader. “A portion of it goes to profes-

sional development because the University doesn’t generally have very good, if any, travel money. The librarians are faculty, and so they need to continue developing and going to conferences.” However, the funds that the they make also go into finding resources for the library that will be

open to the public. “We bought things like … the new furniture that’s in the information literacy classroom. The tables that are mobile, the server, the Louisiana Supreme Court archives — the original ones from 1813,” Mader said. A lot of the library’s renovation and archival maintenance expenses come out of the money earned at the book sale. “Those things would really have been quite difficult to purchase otherwise,” she stated. One of the biggest changes that the group has experienced has been their move to the new location. “This new space is really good; we used to have it on the other side of the floor in the unfinished space. It was dusty and disorganized. So this is a really good space for us to use. People can find things,” Mader said. According to Mader, this room had more open space and was a lot easier for people to navigate and explore. “We made a lot more money and a lot more people came!” Mader exclaimed. Friends of the UNO Library will be hosting the event “Wine with Friends” on Nov. 15 at the Earl K. Long Library. Tickets include a wine tasting workshop with six wines and food pairings, a reception buffet and a silent auction.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

Chef Matty Matheson visits NOLA on book tour BY ERINN LANGILLE Copy Editor

-Photo courtesy of TorontoLife.com TV chef Matty Matheson is taking a tour to publicize his new cookbook, and he made a stop in New Orleans to cook a meal for about 200 lucky foodies.

Celebrity chef and internet personality Matty Matheson graced the Big Easy with his presence Oct. 15 when he came in town to promote his debut cookbook entitled “Matty Matheson: A Cookbook.” Having just arrived from taping a segment with Rachel Ray, the rotund, inked chef hosted a dinner for 200 starstruck gourmands at the Ace Hotel New Orleans’ osteria, Josephine Estelle. The event sold out in just a few hours, due in part to the popularity of Matheson’s Viceland and MUNCHIES cooking shows “It’s Suppertime,” “Keep it Canada” and “Dead Set On Life.” Known as a food and culture influencer as well as a chef, Matheson has over 500,000 followers on Instagram, and he guestjudged “Master Chef Canada.” “I love New Orleans!” said Matheson. “It’s one of my favourite spots to chill and eat. Has more soul than most cities. It does this through hardship, unity and hella good cooking. My kind of town! Also, shout out to Cheeky Blakk, the only twerk queen of the South!” This was not Matheson’s first visit to New Orleans. His show

“Dead Set on Life” shot an episode in the Crescent City in 2016, visiting the Lower Ninth Ward during Lundi Gras, then heading to Lafayette for Cajun Mardi Gras. He made pit-stops at The Buttermilk Drop, Old Gentilly Spicy Kitchen and Green Goddess. The event at Josephine Estelle was a family-style dinner. Large platters came to the table, including a robust Italian chop salad, rigatoni, baked manicotti made with spinach, roasted garlic, parmesan and panna gratta and a Gulf shrimp dish. The meal was finished with tiramisu and cannoli. While diners feasted, Matheson, wearing a Pabst Blue Ribbon bucket hat and a midriff-revealing beach shirt, strolled around the restaurant to greet fans, pose for pictures and charm guests with his crude yet large-hearted humor. “The baked manicotti was a stunner,” says Ross Nervig, a grad student at UNO who attended the meal. “Matty knows his way around a red sauce dinner. All around the restaurant I saw people smiling and laughing. I was expecting some sort of pretentious hipster dinner, but the meal I shared with my tablemates was rich, comforting and made with love.”

An hour after the tables were cleared, the chef was hanging out and signing books. Born in New Brunswick, Canada, Matheson trained at Humber culinary school before dropping out to be a roadie for his best friend’s hardcore band. Even though he returned to the kitchen, working his way up in some of Toronto’s most prestigious restaurants, he maintained a wild, partying lifestyle until he had a heart attack at the age of 29. Now five years sober, he wrote the cookbook as a reflection of his rocky road, peppering it with recipes from his rustic childhood and his riotous twenties, finishing with meals he prepares as the family man he is today. His rising celebrity status doesn’t seem to get in the way of his immense approachability. To cap off the night, he walked jauntily down the street to Seaworthy for oysters, giving hugs and highfives to fans and passersby. Currently on “The Greatest Cookbook Tour of All Time,” Matheson and his crew hit the Ace Hotels in Pittsburgh, New York and Chicago before swinging through New Orleans. Matheson then flew out to Austin for another book launch, and then Los Angeles for more events.

New Orleans Film Festival wraps up its 29th year BY JACK WAGUESPACK News Editor On Wednesday, Oct. 17, the New Orleans Film Festival kicked off their 29th year, showing 200 films out of 6,000 submissions. These films came from 120 countries with directors representing 42 different nationalities, 50 percent or more of the films were led by women and gender non-conforming filmmakers, and 45 percent or more were led by filmmakers of color. The diversity of the film curators progresses each year and the festival itself is known to grow with the times, highlighting current, important social issues, while always including bits of humor. According to the MovieMaker magazine, one of the most qualified film magazines, the New Orleans Film Festival has been recognized as one of the top 50 film festivals in the world since 2012 due to its diversity, top film selections and all-around culture. Starting in 1989, the festival was always a place for creatives to express themselves and the culture of Louisiana. The festival comes from the New Orleans Film Society, which was founded the same year. It started as a nonprofit arts organization that exhibited year-round films and events. Along with the film festival came the French Film Festival, Moonlight Movies, Filmo-Rama, and many more events all cultivating the skills of many filmmakers in the South. The society started with and still has the same mission, to keep the film culture in New Orleans alive and to empower young filmmakers to continue working on their craft.

Writers and co-stars of the film “Tiger.” One of the featured films during the first few days of the festival was the brand new film, “Tiger.” Directed by Alister Grierson and written by Michael Pugliese and Prem Singh, it is a film based off of a true story of a Sikh man who pursues a boxing career. The main character, Pardeep Singh Nagra, played by Prem Singh is given two options: either shave his beard or forfeit boxing. The boxing community has strict rules regarding facial hair, but as a Sikh man, Nagra cannot shave his facial hair. He has to pick between something he believes strongly about or something he loves doing. During the film, Nagra faces backlash from the boxing association and even receives death

threats. This film not only depicts how important it is to stick to what you believe, but also shows what happens when rules and regulations are not kept up with current times. “We didn’t want to just touch on racism, we wanted to touch on acceptance,” said the writers Pugliese and Singh. The writers and co-stars both wanted to show others what it means to be a Sikh man in America but to educate people on the culture and lifestyle. They talked about the process of the film and how it was to both write and co-star in it, “Our favorite part of it all was the grind. We got to wake up every day and have the whole film and crew to look forward to.” You will be able to see “Tiger” in select theaters

-Photo by Jack Waguespack starting November 30th. Each year, the festival has an assortment of films, including documentaries, narrative features, Louisiana features and many more. Here are some of the more highly acclaimed pieces this year: “Boy Erased,” directed and written by Joel Edgerton, is based around a nineteen-year-old man, Jared, who is outed to his parents. He is given two choices; attend conversion therapy, or be disowned by his family and friends. This is one of the first films on this topic to be screened in theaters, premiering Nov. 2nd. In such a politically stressful time for the LGBTQ+ community, this movie perfectly hits home for many.

“Guilty Until Proven Guilty” is based off of a true story in New Orleans. Written and directed by Harry Moses, this story follows Tim Conerly, who in 2014 was arrested in the wake of a robbery in the French Quarter. He waited 28 months for a trial. The justice system in New Orleans is known to be unfair and biased towards people of color, which this film demonstrates in multiple ways. “Chained for Life” is a short comedy with a sad but true background. Director and writer Aaron Schimberg brings this comedy to life with humorous underlinings of a real problem in the world today. This film shows how disfigured people are represented in the media today and how rarely these representations are accurate. While disfigured or disabled people are usually shown as a lost cause in media, this film gives a whole new meaning to being disfigured. “Black Memorabilia” is a film based off of the history of racist knick-knacks and television shows. Director Chico Colvard, presents this documentary as a historical tour of different stores that still have racist memorabilia. They visit multiple places and dissect the history and motive of these articles and toys that people grew up with for years. The annual New Orleans Film Festival is not only a place for filmmakers, but for any audience as well. Each night has a special event at the end of showings, along with multiple parties at various locations. Anybody can get a pass for as many films as they want, including a student pass for only $50.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

NEWS

2nd Privateer Sendoff for Success helps seniors prepare for life after graduation

-Photo by Claire Sargent The second Privateer Sendoff for Success panelists.

BY CLAIRE SARGENT Reporter On Oct. 23, the Office of Career Services hosted their 2nd Privateer Sendoff for Success. Senior students were invited to listen to a panel of successful UNO alumni from an array of disciplines share their stories and advice. Students were able to ask them questions about how the alumni became successful in their careers. Omar Aziz, Natausha Gaudin, Sheba Turk, Edward Murphy, Annie Juttner and Peggy Rome were the alumni seated on the panel.

Sheba Turk, a news anchor for the local WWL News and an author, kicked off the panel. Turk told the audience how she didn’t expect to end up with a career in TV news, as she did not show interest in it at the beginning of her undergraduate career. “I didn’t want to be on TV. I wanted to be a writer,” Turk said. Later in her schooling, she took a class on broadcasting. Turk graduated from UNO in 2011, and shortly after, she started working behind the scenes at her first job at WWL. She then worked her way up to being a news broadcast-

er for WWL, where she is still on the morning news today. Next was Natausha Gaudin, owner and entrepreneur of Innovative Realty. Gaudin started off her college career as an education major, and later on she switched her major to English with a concentration in journalism. She then switched majors again to general studies. Eventually, Gaudin left school to join the workforce, to the dismay of her parents. Gaudin knew she wanted to help others, so she became a job recruiter to guide others through their job-search journey. Ultimately, Gaudin went back to UNO to finish her degree in general studies. She now runs her own real estate company, where she works mainly with building development. Omar Aziz, director, restaurant developer and entrepreneur, said his path to success was really different. His father was from Mississippi, and his father came to New Orleans to work on the riverfront. After Aziz was born, his father decided to become an entrepreneur by selling pies in Gentilly. Aziz did not want to join the family business, so after Aziz graduated from high school, he went to UNO

and decided he wanted to go into law. But when he saw how successful restaurants were in New Orleans, he changed his mind. He later opened a test market in the French Quarter to test a theory he learned from a business course he took at UNO. He then started his own restaurant development company in 1991, and he still runs the same company today. Edward Murphy, senior manager for GE Digital, got his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science at UNO. He became UNO’s first webmaster and created UNO’s first website. He later moved into management. He grew into a natural leader over time, and he joined a startup. The startup was a bust, but he did not let that discourage him. He became a software engineer, and he continues to develop software today. Annie Juttner, director of recruiting and selection at Northwestern Mutual, decided to come back home to New Orleans, and transferred to UNO after she attended college elsewhere. Her mother and uncle went to UNO, so she felt inclined to give UNO a shot. She graduated with a hotel, restaurant, and tourism degree and

worked in a hotel. However, when the economy went down in 2009, she was laid off. Juttner was laid off a few times while the economy was rough, but then she landed a job for a staffing company in recruiting. Juttner said she loved recruiting, and later on, she was recruited for a job at Northwestern Mutual, where she still works. Peggy Rome was the last panelist to share a story. She’s the executive director of human resources for Jefferson Parish Public Schools. Rome started college at UNO when she was 28 and married with two children. She got her degree in education, and she became a middle school teacher afterwards. After her husband passed away, Rome decided to go back to UNO and get her Master’s degree in business administration. She landed a job in human resources for Jefferson Parish Public Schools after getting her Master’s degree. “Not having a degree in education does not mean you cannot land a job in the school system! We need more IT workers, writers, and other non-education related workers in the school system,” Rome said.

ENTERTAINMENT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

Jazz at the Sandbar presents: Danilo Perez

Digging these tunes in a bar full of hepcats.

BY DYLAN MININGER Entertainment Editor Small gusts of wind like exhalations complemented the cool 65-degree temperatures of fall in New Orleans. Fall and winter are what I consider “blue seasons” because I find that jazz music fits so extraordinarily over colder temperatures, and earlier sunsets. On the evening of Oct. 24th, at 7 p.m., I could feel the jazz in the air: high notes, low notes, horns, brushes and an upright bass. It turns out I wasn’t feeling hypothetical jazz in the air, I was hearing and feeling the jazz emitting loudly from

-Photo by Dylan Mininger

the well lit and seemingly crowded Sandbar located on campus. As I approached the bar and restaurant, I felt as though I had been transported to a different time. The lighting was low, the drinks were flowing, people were rubbing elbows with fellow musicians and discussing the early records of Count Basie and Charles Mingus. As soon as I reached the threshold of the bar, the band dove head first into one of my favorite jazz standards: “Afro Blue,” arranged by John Coltrane but originally composed by Mongo Santamaria. I pondered the track over a gin and tonic, performed as wildly and technically sound as Coltrane

had intended by a group of UNO jazz studies students. This song would set an interesting precedent for the rest of the evening. As I had only heard of Danilo Pérez in passing, I was truly in for a treat. Danilo Pérez is a pianist, composer, educator and social activist often credited as one of the most dynamic musicians of our time. Pérez, born in Panama in 1965, studied music from the young age of three with his father who was a bandleader and singer. He studied European classical piano at the National Conservatory in Panama at the age of 10, moving on to receive a degree in electronics in Panama before studying jazz composition at Berklee College of Music. Pérez has played with a long list of profoundly impactful jazz musicians, such as Terence Blanchard, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Wynton Marsalis — and the list goes on. Pérez focused on becoming a band leader, releasing eight albums, which lead him to several GRAMMY and Latin Grammy nominations. Alongside his endeavors in music, he has made some incredible humanitarian efforts as the Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF and the UNESCO Artist for Peace and Cultural Ambassador to the Republic of Panama.

Pérez is the embodiment of a musician who believes in the power and influence of music, and the ability for it to bring people together throughout the world. These beliefs of can be seen and heard within his music, often blending between Latin, European and African styles of jazz and folk music. Pérez hit the stage and showed himself as a true talent. Watching his fingers dance around the keys was mesmerizing. His eyes darting to and from each musician as if his pupils were metronomes was absolutely mesmerizing. I could sense an air of excitement from the jazz studies students as Pérez lead them on several songs, allowing room for solos to be played, and strategically conducted by Pérez himself. He eventually brought out the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Ensemble, a very bare bones type of group, but an exceptional group of musicians with a female vocalist that blew me away on every track she was featured. As the evening performance neared its coda, Pérez took the time to speak on issues that he felt passionately about and is a strong advocate for. He spoke about jazz as an immigrant genre, and the importance of loving and including people of all backgrounds in

to the American melting pot. I found this to be an absolutely exquisite and beautiful ending to the show. Before calling it a night, Pérez invited all of the musicians from his group and the UNO jazz students to come up and join him for a final song. Pérez danced around in front of the musicians, directing solos and conducting like a truly passionate man. People in the front row stood up and danced, laughed, with smiles all around the room as each solo progressed further and further until the final coda. It was a perfect summation of his humanitarian and musical views, a coming together of everyone in the room of different ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, all joining to dance and smile. It was a beautifully priceless moment. The Sandbar is unlike any place I’ve ever been to on a college campus. It’s designed for the students, but it feels like so much more: a real New Orleans jazz venue. I am so appreciative to have stepped into this venue, and strongly encourage everyone to come check out this wonderful series of jazz events. I will be attending the rest of the shows at the Sandbar in the coming future. So if you see me around, don’t hesitate to buy me a drink and ask me about my favorite jazz pianist (it’s Count Basie).

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

PRIVATEER PANIC

-Photos by Terry Shields On Wednesday, Oct. 24 in the Human Performance Center, both the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2018-2019 basketball teams were presented for the first time. The teams and coaches were introduced, and then there was a three-point contest, a dance contest, musical chairs, and a dunk contest. Fans could also enter in giveaways to win an Amazon Echo, a 3-day Voodoo pass, and an iTunes gift card.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

WHAT’S YOUR DREAM HALLOWEEN COSTUME? QUESTION OF THE WEEK WITH CLAIRE SARGENT

Dalton Dileo, Sophomore, Music studies

“I’d be the Mask ‘cause I want an excuse to wear a yellow suit one day.”

Elizabeth Odynocki Freshman, Biology

“For my dream Halloween costume, I’d dress as an angel.”

LaMaria Phillips Sophomore, Political science

“I am planning on being a cow this year because a recent viral and funny music video featured a cow, so that’s my dream costume.”

Jailyn Hoskins Freshman, Biology

“I would be, without a doubt, Leonardo from the Ninja Turtles.”

Samantha Leslie Sophomore, Electrical engineering

“I was a steampunk last year for Halloween, and it was my dream costume.”

Angelita Merchan Sophomore, Biology

“I’m currently planning on dressing up as someone from the Day of the Dead for Halloween, so I’d pick my costume as my dream costume. The Day of the Dead means a lot to me and my culture.”

Felicia Lachney Sophomore, Secondary education

“My dream Halloween costume would probably be something funny like Post Malone.”

Will Leonard Sophomore, Theater

“My dream costume would be Iron Man with an actual working suit.”

Trevor Nathan, Senior, Jazz studies

“I think my dream Halloween costume would be Finn from Star Wars Episode VII because people say I look and act like him, and I love Star Wars.”

What is YOUR dream Halloween costume? Frederick Sango Sophomore, Computer science

“To be funny, I’d dress as a JUUL, like the vape.”

We want to know!

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ENTERTAINMENT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

“Mid90s” review: Jonah Hill taps into the joys and pains of growing up

-Photo via A24. Jonah Hill cast non-professional actors in his writing and directing

BY JEFF BOUDREAUX Contributor Jonah Hill, gifted comic that he is, unsurprisingly delivers an auspicious writing and directing debut with the poignant and funny coming-of-age tale, “Mid90s.” While that base description may sound like a thousand other movies, what sets this apart from many of the rest is the stark realism throughout the picture. For those individuals not alive at the time (which would include some of the student body at this institution), what may be most fascinating is the SoCal skateboard culture that the main character immerses himself in. Perhaps, some may watch in disbelief at a time when kids played video games with cords on

the controllers, collected music on CDs, and had to decide if they still wanted to partake in that one special evening a week spent watching a flick with the family, also known as “Blockbuster Night.” While such idiosyncrasies were a product of their time, what remains the same and universally relatable are the challenges of being a teenage boy or girl in the formative years after puberty. As for the people who remember this era, let’s just say that this film is a very welcome trip down memory lane of one of the greatest decades for … well, anything. 13-year-old Stevie (Sunny Suljic) is the product of a less-thanstellar home environment. While his mother Dabney (Katherine Waterston) is doing the best

she can, there’s no denying that the door to her bedroom is of the revolving variety--a fact hardly concealed from her two sons. There’s also really no camaraderie between Stevie and his very angry, abusive older brother Ian (Lucas Hedges). Brothers with more than a couple of years in age difference can tend to not get along, but Ian takes it to a whole new level, physically beating the crap out of Stevie for every little reason. One good thing Ian does is trade Stevie a skateboard for a couple of new CDs. This allows his little brother to make friends with the teens at the local skate shop. Here we meet Ray (Na-kel Smith), F*cksh!t (Olan Prenatt), Fourth Grade (Ryder McLaughlin) and Ruben (Gio Galicia), four teens with their own problems at home. They quickly become Stevie’s ersatz family on the sidewalks, playgrounds and streets of Los Angeles. Obviously this doesn’t sit well with Ian or their mother. Viewers see Ian’s tough exterior crack under threats by the comparably-aged F*cksh!t. That’s alright though, Ian’s still tough enough to beat Stevie up while wearing a Bill Clinton mask! It’s no wonder that Stevie seeks fulfillment outside of his household, with the only four people that seem to understand him. Oh, and did I mention that girls are attracted to skaters? Yep, you could say that Stevie and his friends are living out the best years of their lives, and in a decade that seemed a little bit simpler, but no less exciting. Undoubtedly, this is a star-making performance by Sunny Suljic, in the first of what one would hope to be many lead roles. Moviego-

ers may recognize him from supporting performances in 2017’s terrific thriller “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” and more recently in Eli Roth’s “The House with a Clock in its Walls.” He’s a fresh, yet relatively seasoned talent who highlights the performances of those around him, as he predominately shares the screen with four unknown, yet refreshing young

“...this

ﬁlm is a very welcome trip down memory lane of one of the greatest decades...”

actors. It’s not hard to decipher that those other guys are amateurs in comparison but, strangely enough, it only adds to the film’s ambiance. Suljic’s frequent, volatile interactions with co-star Lucas Hedges provide most of the film’s dramatic moments, bordering on pathos at times. Worth noting is the vulnerability on display by both characters. After particular fights their respective coping mechanisms reflect a demeanor that you might expect to come from the other sibling. Hedges, an Oscar-nominee for

“Manchester by the Sea,” may be one of the best actors of this generation. He has the golden ability to fully dissolve himself into a role, and I often find myself surprised at how effective he is each time he graces the screen. And what can be said about Katherine Waterston (“Fantastic Beasts 1 & 2”), except that she’s always a joy to watch onscreen. On the aesthetic side of things, it’s interesting to note that “Mid90s” is presented in 4:3 or Academy ratio. The decision to shoot the film in this format is hardly surprising though, considering that the film is situated in the glory days of VHS tapes and CRT TVs. The mid-1990s was a heyday for homemade skate films, and the film version of the era also plays like a home movie, typified by the way the character Fourth Grade is perpetually filming his friends. Because of these factors, a widescreen representation of the narrative would most certainly have been amiss. There are numerous instances of nostalgia on display for children of the ‘90s: pop culture throwbacks such as Beavis and Butthead, the Street Fighter images adorning Stevie’s T-shirts, and teens getting their first taste of alcohol from the unforgiving mouth of a 40-ounce beer bottle. As a result, Jonah Hill has crafted a oneof-a-kind, intimate excursion into the joys and pains of growing up. We’ve all been there, and some have had it better or worse than others, but if we had half as much fun as the kids in this movie, then it was all worth it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

COLUMN

Explore the haunted highlights of New Orleans

BY CASSANDRA JASKIEWICZ Managing Editor While a ghost tour can be a fun and exciting way to explore the haunted places of New Orleans, it is not always cheap. Halloween is approaching, and now is the time to explore the local haunted places before finding something scarier to explore on the internet. Here are some places, all within walking distance of each other in the French Quarter,

that students can take for their own self guided tour. The first stop is the 1100 block of Royal Street is the LaLaurie Mansion. Delphine LaLaurie and her husband lived in this mansion. It was believed that while she lived there she brutally tortured and murdered her slaves in the attic. While much of this story has been exaggerated over the ensuing years, many believe her ghost can still be seen.The Lalaurie Mansion is privately owned and not open to the public, so people can only look and wonder from the outside. Next is the Andrew Jackson Hotel, located at 919 Royal Street. It was originally a boarding school and orphanage for young boys. One day in 1794, a fire started and destroyed the building with some of the boys still inside. There are many claims that their ghosts still

live inside the hotel. Unlike the LaLaurie Mansion, this hotel is still in use and people can stay there and see the ghosts for themselves. After two spooky locations, it is time to stop for some food. Muriel’s is a renowned restaurant located on 801 Chartres Street. It is also believed to have ghosts roaming the halls. It is said that the owner took his own life after he lost his home during a late-night poker game. Many people think that they have seen his ghost on the restaurant’s second-floor lounge. The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum should be the next stop. It is located on 514 Chartres Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The legend is that the original owner would do experiments on enslaved people and would do “voo-

doo rituals” on the property. The ghost of that original owner is supposedly visible through the windows after the museum is closed. Ghosts or no ghosts, The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is an interesting and affordable place to stop. Le Petit Theatre is another haunt, located on 616 St. Peter Street. It is one of the most well known theatres in the city. It has had tragedy both on-stage and off-stage. Ghostly pianists, spectral ex-stage managers, dead actors and more have been known to lurk inside the the-

atre. While they currently do not have any tickets available to enter for a show, they still will let people take a peek inside to see what the haunted theater is like. There are many other possibly stops to take on a self-guided ghost tour of New Orleans, but the ones mentioned are all conveniently located and easily researched. Exploring the city on your own time is an affordable and fun experience, made even scarier during the spooky month of October.

DRIFTWOOD Staff

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EDITORIAL

Watching television while doing homework is a terrible idea Watching television while doing homework is a bad practice. So is texting, scrolling social media sites, and even listening to music. But we all do it. Why? It feels less stressful to do it in front of the TV, like one isn’t actually doing homework, or it distracts from the feeling of being controlled by or burdened by work. We think we can multitask successfully, but we aren’t really absorbing the show or the subject matter we’re studying. It would be better to use the TV as a reward after getting the work done. That way the homework doesn’t suffer, and you can actually relax and invest in the episode. Society has been concerned about technology use for a long time, but worries have grown over the use of multiple technologies while learning. The team with Larry Rosen, a psychology professor at California State University–Dominguez Hills, completed a 2013 study on multitasking while learning using 263 students. Researchers examined what students were engaged with while studying (social media, instant messaging, TV, music) and

then tested their retention of the study material. They were told to study something important. Within two minutes of multitasking, student retention declined. By the 15-minute mark (the length of the observation), students had only spent about 65 percent of their time on the school work. When you think about it, this means students spend more time doing schoolwork. What might take 20 minutes with focused attention becomes a two- or three-hour affair. It’s like students are constantly in a state of somewhat doing their homework. When students spend their enjoyment time doing schoolwork, then work and pleasure time blurs together. The costs may not be obvious to students right away, but they are there. Students test poorly, distractions add up, they maintain a superficial grasp on the material of class. David Meyers, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan has studied the effects of multitasking on the brain. He argues that tasks like TV watching and social media scrolling use the same prefrontal cortex as doing homework. The brain

simply can’t do two things at once, and fatigues quickly trying to balance them both. Human memory is affected. When students divide their attention during study, they fail to do the best work possible. Potential focus and commitment is thwarted, and grades suffer, whether the student recognizes it or not. If doing assignments while watching TV or texting is a regular part of their school routine, they may never know the extent to which they’re missing out. Larry Rosen believes students can resist unhelpful technologies while studying. He advises “tech breaks” of a few minutes at a time between longer stretches of study time. It’s fine to engage in social media or watch TV on its own time (the use of new technologies may even help some brain development) but not while focusing on homework. Fundamentally, students need to be students, and spend focused time on their studies, without distraction. Save the TV shows and texting for afterward--it’ll be a sweet relief.

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