WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
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THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS Volume: 60 Issue: 18
MARCH 15, 2017
unodriftwood.com
UNO wins date to “The Big Dance”
BY JAMIE LLOYD News Editor It has been a long time coming for the University of New Orleans men’s basketball team, and— frankly—for the university itself. After what can only be quantified as an exhilarating win by the University of New Orleans men’s basketball team in overtime, the Privateers are set to be written in the record books of UNO history. With a Southland Conference title already sitting nicely under their belt, the Privateers took home the gold last Saturday night
in Katy, Texas with the final score of 68-65 over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, moving them to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 21 years. “Everybody in the university is a champion,” head coach Mark Slessinger said. “All the credit for this conference win goes to the student athletes, to the players. They’ve had an amazing commitment to the mission we’re trying to accomplish, which is to bring a championship to our campus, to the students and our faculty, staff and alumni. They have had an unwavering resolve in making that happen. I could not
be more proud of them.” Slessinger was awarded Southland Conference’s Coach of the Year honors and has had a long-standing vision for the franchise; he can particularly credit this success to the senior leadership on the team, giving up much of their time to mentor younger players and help the team move forward. Nate Frye, one of those seniors, realized that having a close-knit team was instrumental to the Privateers’ success on and off court. “We needed to be close, not just amongst ourselves but with the underclassmen as well. They need
to be as much a part of this team as the starting five.” Frye said that he believes that building that foundation for teamwork starts from the youngest freshman to the oldest senior. “We bring the lower classmen with us, and it goes a long way to building something like this.” Senior forward Erik Thomas describes the whole experience for the university as “a real eye-opener and turnaround for us.” Thomas claimed 2016-17 Southland Conference Player of the Year, and was named SLC Tournament MVP after posting a
double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in addition to teambest three assists. “Not many players in the nation are able to say they brought a championship back to the school. Being able to experience this is a blessing. A story to tell my kids and my kids’ kids.” Thomas said that setting the team’s goals in stone assisted in the win, further bringing them into fruition after hard work from the coaching staff and the players. “To be able to accomplish this, to be able to do this for the whole school is great. We’re not just champions, the whole school is.” Senior guard Tevin Broyles was second to Thomas offensively for the Privateers with 15 points, with players Michael Zeno and Christavious Gill also scoring high. Athletic Director Derek Morrel said the entire team serves as a “beacon of pride” for the university and explained what wearing New Orleans across the chest of players truly means to them. “When we achieve at a high level, it makes people want to look closer at what the University of New Orleans is about. This brings people together from all walks of life.” Morrel said he believes what led the team to victory is the players buying into the vision of their coaches and not losing sight of that vision, despite the bumps in the road. The Privateers have faced a number of setbacks, notably limping between divisions in recent years before returning to their mainstay Division 1. “To understand what the University of New Orleans was at one point athletically and to see it grow like this is something special.” “We’ve built a strong foundation these past five years,” said Morrel. We didn’t do this to have a one-year championship. The players are strong, active and healthy. We are prepared for success.” A sentiment which Frye shared: “People want something to rally behind, something to believe in. We can build this going forward.” Slessinger ended on some words of optimism for the team, and the university’s, new direction. “This championship brings a massive point of pride back into everything. It pushes us forward, advances where we’re at as a university. It validates this university is on the upswing, and we’re moving in the right direction.” “People better watch out, we’re coming.”
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NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
Man pulled from Mississippi during BUKU
QUESTION OF THE WEEK What is religion to you? In my opinion, religion is a set of beliefs that people or groups tend to follow. Religion doesn’t have to pertain to the afterlife, but more along the lines of something of a higher level in spiritually. JONATHAN FLORES Freshman, Computer Science
-Photo by Nathan Nguyen
BY ANNA GOWIN Features & Entertainment Editor Unbeknown to many of the partiers in attendance, an emergency situation brewed behind the scenes during the BUKU Music and Arts Festival’s first night (March 10), when one festival-goer jumped into the Mississippi River. Capt. Williams, one of the initial EMS responders to the 10:14 p.m. call (and also a first-responder on the AMC reality show, “Nightwatch”), said that this kind of incident happens every year at BUKU. She also added that typically those who jumped into the
river “popped right back up,” and were immediately recovered. However, the search for the still-unidentified man went on for over 30 minutes before he was discovered clinging to a piling underneath the wharf, past BUKU’s “Back Alley” stage, while others celebrated cluelessly above. A representative with BUKU also said that “authorities responded immediately to reports that a man jumped into the river and they removed him safely. We were informed that he is now in custody and in stable condition.” The man was found by EMS personnel who used a rescue boat from the nearby Creole Queen,
according to a UNOFD press release. The festival takes place on-site of Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, with both indoor and outdoor stages immediately beside the river. In addition to signs forbidding festival-goers from jumping, BUKU’s official festival rules (listed in their program) read, “DO NOT JUMP IN THE RIVER. The current is very strong and may result in death.” Many of those spectators who were made aware of the situation expressed concern for the man’s well-being, following the rescue. No official statement was made regarding the incident until the following day.
I think religion is something that people go to to feel comfort and to know that they’re not the only one feeling a certain way. It’s kind of a way for people to relate to people. HALEY SIMON Junior, Business and Administration
Every religion has its own ideology, but all of them are just a set of principles. They demonstrate the way life should be lived here on Earth and the goals to reach the afterlife.
UNO CALENDAR
ALEJANDRO CABRERA Freshman, N.A.M.E.
I feel like religion is just having faith in something or believing in something. It doesn’t matter if it’s a god, a set of rules, or whatever. If you don’t believe in something, then what’s the point of doing it. Religion is about having something that you are willing to file. Like in Scientology, there is not a god, but it’s all about believing the rules that it sets.
Wednesday, March 15, 7-9 p.m.: Jazz at the Sandbar featuring pianist Amina Figarova. The Cove Thursday, March 16, 11:45 a.m.: Diversity Engagement Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the new Diversity Engagement Center; refreshments will be provided. Gallery Lounge, University Center Thursday, March 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Diversity Affairs and PBSU present Soul Cafe, including refreshments. Gallery Lounge, University Center
NADIR HAMDAN Sophomore, Civil Engineering
Thursday, March 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Show Me the Money$: Women Entrepreneurs. Panel discussion by local business owners. Room 220, Kirschman Hall
I’m not really religious myself, but I kind of see religion as being really complicated. It could be a good thing, but I also see it divide people. Some people believe that their religion is the only one that matters and is superior to other religions. It should be a positive aspect of our society, but people have started to make it negative.
Sunday, March 19, 3-5 p.m.: Free concert by the New Orleans Concert Band, Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center Monday, March 20, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Popcorn and Possibilities: a mid-semester motivation. University Center Atrium
GABBY CHULICK Freshman, Biology
Photos by Nathan Nguyen
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
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GNOCIA shines a light on cybersecurity program at UNO BY JAMIE LLOYD News Editor Despite the occasional budget cuts plaguing the University of New Orleans, the university’s cybersecurity program is flourishing, having merited local and national attention in recent months. “We have a center here that is the Greater New Orleans Center for Information Assurance,” said Irfan Ahmed, assistant professor of computer science. Ahmed has been at the university for five years, but he recently became appointed associate director of the center in January. “The center is mostly responsible for all of the cybersecurity-related activity at UNO.” Tucked away on the third floor of the mathematics building on campus, the center has caught the attention of the National Security Agency, garnering three cybersecurity grants totaling $468,000 from the intelligence organization. These grants will support cybersecurity education by providing in-house training and teaching tools for prospective college students and computer science instructors. Cybersecurity training, also
known as information-assurance training, is ever-evolving—with the department most recently offering a digital forensics workshop for undergraduate computer science students at UNO. “We have a research grant that’s related to cybersecurity education. This workshop is a part of that grant. In this three-hour workshop, we want to introduce to students about how the cybercrimes can be investigated.” The digital forensics workshop will also be offering a newer approach to the learning A model representing “The Internet of Things” featured in one of the computer science department labs. process, with a method -Photo by Jamie Lloyd of learning known as peer instruction being thrown ty in other branches of academia, terial] effectively is one of the vulnerable. Just imagine if you into the mix. especially in STEM concentraaspects of the center.” lose access to the internet.” Ahmed explained that the tions such as physics, which may Despite the noted difficulty Ahmed said that he believes idea behind peer instruction is not be the most easily accessible it takes to study cybersecurity, that is what information assurto present denser material by at the introductory level. He Ahmed added the concentration ance boils down to—ensuring placing much of the focus on said this method bodes well for is more relevant than ever and the web and its users are secure small groups of students arriving students wishing to tackle a hefty can be rewarding. from malicious content in a techat their own conclusions in class, concentration in cybersecurity. “If you think about how we nology-dependent world. as opposed to the traditional “Cybersecurity itself is a are getting more dependent on For more information on the method of lecturing on material. difficult discipline to teach, so computers and the infrastructure GNOCIA and its programs, conIt is a classroom technique that finding more innovative or new that connects them, then its sesult the GNOCIA homepage at has gained considerable popularimethods of teaching [the macurity is getting more and more http://gnocia.cs.uno.edu/.
Austria and Migration: the current refugee crisis in historical perspective specifically Austria, talk about migration as if it is a newly occurring event—even though it has stood as a place of migration since a decade ago. Rupnow said, “European historians have not done a good job at addressing this issue. Given the significance of the issue, I think there is a lot to be done.” According to Rupnow, migration is not an “issue” in Europe until it comes knocking on the border. On Aug. 26, 2015, 71 refugees from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Iran (the youngest only 10 months old), suffocated in a truck in attempts to be smuggled into Germany. Dirk Rupnow speaks of refugee In 2015, thousands of refugees crisis in Austria. -Photo by Brennan escaping the Syrian wars crossed Probst Hungary in order to get to the BY ROXANNE ARDEKANI border of Austria, where they Contributor were greeted by the police. Police pepper-sprayed the crowd of refDirk Rupnow, a German histougees, and after, Austrian politirian and the distinguished visiting cians wanted to declare a state of Austrian chair at Stanford Univer- emergency, in fear of the governsity gave a lecture on the current ment collapsing. In attempting to hot-topic: refugees, and, specifiresolve the issue, the government cally, the refugee crisis in Austria. implemented more border patrol. Rupnow said, “To say migration Migration restrictions have been is an important issue is an undermore directed toward people of statement—it is one of the most Islamic decent, even though there crucial issues today.” are many migrants from GermaRupnow was awarded the ny, such as Rupnow himself. He Fraenkel Prize in Contemporary pointed out that there is never History from the Wiener Library a problem with migrants from in London in 2009; in 2011, he Germany, who speak a different was awarded the Humanities dialect of German than Austrians, International award of the Gerbut rather problems with people man Publishers and Booksellers from Islamic backgrounds. Association. Rupnow continues to inform Rupnow touched on the issue and bring attention to the refugee that the definition of migration in crisis in Europe and is currently Europe does not align with the one finishing up a novel that dives into in the United States. He explained the history of migration and how it how many European countries, got to the way it is today.
Explore UNO draws record attendance
-Photo courtesy of UNO Public Relations
BY ANNA GOWIN Features & Entertainment Editor On Saturday, Feb. 11, the university hosted its spring recruiting event, Explore UNO; this year’s open house saw a 23 percent increase in attendance from 2016’s event, and a 206 percent increase in attendance from 2015. Approximately 700 people attended the all-day event (291 prospective students and 401 parents) from 15 states outside of Louisiana, including Texas and Florida, UNO’s two largest recruitment states. According to the Office of Enrollment Services, this was the highest attendance since Explore UNO’s creation in 2013. Adam Norris, chief communications officer for the university, said that this is likely a reflection of the continually growing cost of higher education. “UNO has made U.S. News & World Report’s Least-Debt list for six straight years and graduates of UNO have the highest early career salaries of any university in the state, according to a 2016 Payscale.com report. Those are
things that resonate with prospective students and their parents,” Norris said. Get to Know UNO, the university’s annual fall open house event, also saw a 47 percent increase in enrollment from 2015. “Academic quality and affordability are a very enticing combination. UNO also offers the sort of research and internship opportunities that are only available at very large universities; we are able to deliver those to students while maintaining a small-college type atmosphere,” Norris said. He also attributed UNO’s recent success to the one-on-one level of attention faculty and staff perform when helping students to enroll. The day included financial aid seminars, campus tours, walkthroughs of both the Pontchartrain Hall dorms and the Privateer Place student apartments. A main feature was the “browse” fair held in the Recreation and Fitness Center, where some of UNO’s 100-plus campus organizations met students and answered questions. Each department and academic program also
had a table to try and pitch to prospective students and parents. Assistant Director of Orientation and Communications Brett Hornsby mentioned that all of these count toward making lasting connections with students. “By getting to know these students on a personal level, we are able to connect them with faculty within their intended major, suggest campus events and organizations that meet their interests, and, at the end of the day, make them feel that the University of New Orleans is their home away from home,” Hornsby said. Hornsby also mentioned that he hopes UNO continues their engagement with students post-enrollment: “When a student arrives on campus for new student orientation or the first day of classes, it’s my goal for them to feel that they already know people that can serve as a resource for their success here at UNO.” Norris echoed that he hopes this increase in attendance will help create a lasting effect on the UNO environment: “Growing enrollment is President Nicklow’s top priority.”
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
SPORTS
Beach Volleyball goes 2-2 at Badger Beach Bash The University of New Orleans beach volleyball team competed in its second event of the 2017 season this past weekend, going 2-2 in the Badger Beach Bash. The two victories at one event match a program record set last year at the Pelican Classic, while the three 5-0 shutout-victories in one season are a new record. At the top flight for the Privateers, the duo of redshirt-junior Cara Sander and freshman Victoria Corcoran went 3-1 for the weekend, tied with the pairing of senior Brook Frank and freshman Rachel Kuhn for the best UNO outings at the Badger Beach Bash. New Orleans kicked things off with a commanding 5-0 victory over Huntington, holding the opposition to under 10 points in four sets while never allowing a Hawks duo to score more than 16 in one frame. In Saturday’s second match, the Privateers’ tandem of sophomore Samantha Uline and freshman Karly Baker gave their Florida Atlantic University counterparts two competitive sets on the fifth court, but lost 21-18, 21-17 while UNO lost the overall match 5-0. On Sunday, the Privateers won in straight sets at the top three positions against Austin Peay, while prevailing in three-set bouts on courts four and five to complete the 5-0 sweep. At the fourth position, the pair of senior Lauren
-Photo courtesy of UNO Athletics Levy and freshman Brianna Vega cruised to a 21-9 opening set victory, but a 20-22 setback in the sequel forced a third frame. In the tiebreaker, the Privateers’ duo prevailed 15-10. In similar fashion, Uline and Baker won 21-14 in the opener at the fifth position before a 19-21 second set loss forced the
tiebreaker. The pair kept the shutout victory in tact with a 15-11 win in the deciding set. UNO came close to their first 3-1 weekend in program history, losing three of the five opening sets to Spring Hill 21-19, but lost the second sets of those matches 21-19 on court 2, 21-13 on court
four and 22-20 on court five. The Privateers play their first match in the state of Louisiana this season on Thursday, Mar. 16 when they take on Louisiana-Monroe on the road. UNO will see the Warhawks twice this week, as both teams will be competing in the Third Coast Classic in Hous-
ton, Texas. Host Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi are also on New Orleans’ docket while competing in the weekend event. -Information and photo courtesy of UNO Athletics
FEATURES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
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Safe Spaces on campus offer support to LGBTQIQ+ students
BY ANJANAE CRUMP Managing Editor The University of New Orleans is taking steps to provide a welcoming environment to its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and
a lot of suicides and discrimination and hate crimes happening across college campuses in the United States.” “There was a particular case, the Tyler Clementi case which happened in 2010, in which Tyler had a roommate at his college, Rutgers University, and his roommate videotaped him having a sexual relationship with a guy. He ended up posting that information all over the internet, which went viral, and unfortunately, Tyler ended up committing suicide because of that.” It was after this incident that many colleges, -Photo by Anna Gowin nationwide, started safe space programs, and UNO queer population. The Safe Space was soon to join them. Alliances Program is one of its Hoffshire said, “The safe space implemented strategies. training we offer is a three-hour Assistant Director for First Year training, and it helps to raise Student Success and Safe Space awareness of LGBTQ+ issues Facilitator Mike Hoffshire said, that are happening in the country “The program started in 2010 today, particularly on college camwhen members of the diversity puses. It also helps to mobilize cabinet recognized that there was and identify a support network for
those students.” He continued, “Anyone can participate in the training. You don’t have to be a member of the queer community to participate, but if you want to know more information about the community and learn what some of the differences are between sex and gender or what the coming out process looks like for an individual who may not fall in a dominant category or you want to learn about how to be a more effective ally and support system for those students and/ or people in your life, then that would be a great program for you to participate in.” Junior Cion Conerly said, “I think sometimes, people don’t realize just how unsupported LGBTQ+ students feel because they’re not in the same situation. So a program where the LGBTQ+ community can come together and feel safe and get support will help them.” While there aren’t any officially dedicated physical safe spaces, anyone who completes the training can show their support wherever they are and staff/faculty may dedicate their office as a safe space. Hoffshire said, “At the end of
the program, if you wish, you are allowed to take a sticker which identifies you as a safe-space ally. Some people choose to put them on office doors, some put them on their laptops, but it lets students, faculty and staff know that the space they’re entering is a safe space where they can be themselves. They can talk about issues of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression in an open manner.” Freshman Miranda Liles said, “I would love to support LGBTQ+ students. I have a few friends in that community and this is definitely something they would appreciate.” The training dates for fall have not yet been set but will be announced in the upcoming months. Any interested students may contact Hoffshire at mhoffshi@uno. edu or 504-280-6148. Hoffshire said, “It is completely free. It doesn’t cost anything, and I think it’s fantastic for everyone to go through. Many times, students aren’t necessarily always raised in the most diverse environment, so it’s a great place: a judgement-free zone to get more information.”
New Orleans celebrates its Irish immigrant history with parades strong Catholic presence in the United States at the time. America was an Anglo-Saxon, Protestant nation.” “You had these massive immigrant groups, between 1.5 and 2 million Irish came over. Because of their role with Catholicism, and since many of them spoke Gaelic or Irish as opposed to English, they were willing to hold onto their culture and be-Photo by Christopher Walker liefs when they
BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER Editor-In-Chief On March 17, along with every other city in America and many around the world, New Orleans will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. “Everywhere in the world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. In New Orleans, where so many people have Irish blood and celebrate Irish culture, I think it’s a little different, honestly,” said Irish-parade marcher Michael Burke. Unlike many other cities, New Orleans has several large parades a week ahead of St. Patrick’s Day dedicated to celebrating Irish culture in the city. Some of these parades are held, intentionally, along the Irish Channel neighborhood. “Where we’re walking, a lot
of my countrymen lived here when they first came over,” said Burke. “This parade, to me, is a celebration the Irish, as a people, succeeded. We survived this long.” According to the United States Census Bureau, New Orleans is one of the most Irish-dense cities in America, coming in with a population of around 7 percent who can directly trace their bloodline to Irish immigrants. The Irish came over when the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland, and a massive wave of immigrants found its way to New Orleans in the mid-1840s. Curator of the Irish Cultural Museum in New Orleans, Patrick McCarty, said, “Generally speaking, the American public did not have a favorable view of the Irish. You have to remember, America did not have a
came over.” The Irish, upon arrival in New Orleans, were put to work building the city’s infrastructure. Many Irish found work digging the man-made New Orleans Basin Canal, and many died due to abhorrent and dangerous working conditions. McCarty said, “They were perceived as a group of alien people, alien race who weren’t really American. They were looked at by many Anglo-Americans as subservient, beneath them. If you look at some of the articles and periodicals from the time, they were depicted as ape-like, subhuman. Wild bunch of animals.” “There was such a disdain for these immigrants, you had a political movement form, a political party called the No-Nothing party. This party was created in the wave of the massive influx of Catholic Irish immigration. It was
an anti-Catholic movement, later an anti-Catholic party, primarily directed towards the Irish.” Parade onlooker Christina Weber said, “I’m not Irish - disclaimer - but when I think about the Irish history in America, I always think it’s crazy to remember that all these immigrants weren’t seen as one race coming over. It was not seen as a white migration. The Germans and Irish and whatnot were considered different races.” McCarthy said, “When you look at the infrastructure built by the Irish in this city: the canal, the bridges, the railroads … it’s clear to see the gifts the Irish gave. Not just that, but when you look at the police force and the firefighters, you look at public positions and politics in general, you see the Irish influence.” “The Irish have given so much to this country.”
The Driftwood is looking for literary and visual submissions Do you want your original creative work displayed in our paper? The Driftwood is looking for poems, excerpts from longer works of fiction, short stories or flash-fiction. Send submissions to Driftwoodeditor@uno.edu. The deadline is April 5th at midnight.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
Headline abou
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
ut BUKU lmfao CAPTIONS
CONGRATULATONS TO BRIAN ALEXANDER, THE 2016 RECIPIENT OF THE JOSEPH PATRICK UDDO SCHOLARSHIP IN SCREENWRITING
(from left) UNO Screenwriting artist in residence Erik Hansen, Paul Uddo, Brian Alexander, Anne Uddo, Basile J. Uddo and UNO Screenwriting artist in resident Henry GrifďŹ n.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
ENTERTAINMENT
Young Thug a no-show BUKU has more to offer than EDM at BUKU, Lil Yachty kills BY ANNA GOWIN Features & Entertainment Editor
-Photo by Christopher Walker
BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER Editor-In-Chief I did not expect much from my first experience at the BUKU Music + Art Project festival. I’ve been to some of the bigger festivals in the south, including Austin City Limits and Hangout, and I knew this was not a massive draw for festival fans. Since this was first an EDM-centered music lineup, I knew, upon purchasing the tickets, I was not going to get along well with the crowd. EDM fans are, generally, teenagers, immature and cocky. However, I bought my one-day festival pass and was going to endure this crowd to see two of my favorite hip-hop acts on Friday: Young Thug and Lil Yachty. Objectively, these acts are two of the hottest names in hip-hop right now, both already famous but gaining a wider recognition and more mainstream hits each and every day. Young Thug was scheduled to perform at 6 p.m., and Lil Yachty took a different stage at 10:45. My day was entirely centered around these two acts, and nothing else mattered. So it came as somewhat of a shock when, five minutes before Young Thug was supposed to come on, festival administration announced via a blue-screen on the back of the stage that Young Thug was not going to make an
appearance. BUKU called up Juvenile, whose set was decent, especially considering the late notice. However, he still was not Young Thug. Friday was almost completely ruined. Although Thug fans tried their best to look past what had happened, there was no denying it: One of the festival’s major headliners, perhaps the headliner, was a no-show. The day could never fully recover from it, and the disappointment was palpable in the air from that moment forward. It wasn’t uncommon to hear a “f*ck Young Thug” chant before many of the shows. However, at 10:45 p.m., Lil Yachty came on stage to perform, and he gave an absolutely fantastic show. Lil Yachty was everything any hip-hop fan could have possibly wanted in a show. He was personable, decent-sounding, and he got the crowd hyped with his perfect set list. But for hip-hop fans who went to the festival, especially those with just Friday tickets who didn’t get to see 21 Savage close the festival, Young Thug’s absence left a serious gap in the lineup. As a non-EDM fan, I feel under-qualified to describe how those acts were. Speaking as a massive hip-hop fan, though, BUKU was a letdown. For many festival-goers, this will go down as “the year Young Thug didn’t show up.”
If you were to look at any given picture of me, you’d probably be able to guess that EDM and hip-hop are not my favorite genres. However, I consider myself to be open to all styles of music, so when I got the opportunity to go to BUKU on Friday, March 10, I saw it as an opportunity to expand my horizons. After our photographer, Nathan, and I split up to explore the festival, I found myself unsure of what to do. I ate some overpriced food, I wandered aimlessly. I was admittedly self-conscious about whether or not I fit in with the effortlessly glittery girls bouncing around me. I had never considered the ways that being at a music festival alone was different than going by yourself. It was about then that I decided to just park myself in the back of the Float Den stage and let go of any lingering anxieties. EDM was about being carefree and enjoying yourself anyway, right? (Okay, maybe that’s just something I made up. But it certainly feels true, doesn’t it?) Slushii, a 19-year-old DJ from New Jersey, was already performing. At almost the exact moment that I realized how in-my-head I was being, Slushii called out to the crowd, “Who out there doesn’t give a f*ck?” He then launched immediately into a remix of Cascada’s “Everytime We Touch.” The throwback classic was just the beginning of Slushii’s nostalgia-filled, neon-tinted set. Amid hypnotizing, colorful cartoon graphics, Slushii provided satisfying bass drops and
-Photo by Nathan Nguyen unexpected song choices. This included remixes of Run-DMC’s “It’s Tricky,” Migos’ breakout hit “Bad and Boujee,” The Chainsmokers’ “Closer” and my personal favorite—The Killer’s “Mr. Brightside.” Yes. Seriously. It was totally satisfying to a newcomer of EDM, and I found myself dancing right alongside people who were probably way more intoxicated than I. I even made friends with a girl from Hammond who insisted I dance with her since I was there by myself. I followed this up by chugging a bottle of water and eating more overpriced food. Next was Sleigh Bells, a band I actually knew and was familiar with. The Brooklyn-based noisepop duo didn’t manage to fill the entire Ballroom Stage venue; in fact, I was able to get incredibly close to the stage. But the level of enthusiasm fans had for the band made up for what they lacked in numbers. The group performed all of their hit songs, including their most well-known, “Infinity Guitars.” Vocalist and frontwoman Alexis Krauss has a stage presence that’s almost unmatched—wildly swinging her black hair and progressively tear-
ing her fishnets more and more as she leapt around the stage. I left their performance pumped up and hungry for more. I ended the night with the act I had looked forward to the mostLil Dicky. The Virginia-based rapper has gained a huge following with college students because of his comedic lyrics and impressive rhymes. I’ve been a fan of his music for a long time, before he’d ever put out a full-length album and worked with artists like Snoop Dogg and Panic! at the Disco’s Brendan Urie. Dicky’s stage presence was exactly what his enthusiastic fans (called Dickheads) had come to know and love. Equal parts goofy and serious, he decided to play all of his music in short excerpts so that he could make it through his entire repertoire. It was exactly the kind of high-energy performance that can carry an audience until 1 a.m. So, yes, BUKU might not have been the kind of festival I ever saw myself attending. But as soon as I let go of the idea of what kind of person I thought I was and just let myself enjoy the experience, I realized that any kind of festival can be my kind (and yours too, probably).
Seed offers vegan food with flavor and variety
BY MATTHEW RAMOS Staff Writer
New Orleans has grown into a hub of multicultural lifestyles. Veganism, in particular, has been a lifestyle that has grown exponentially recently. To respond to this change, Seed, a vegan- and eco-friendly restaurant opened a few years ago “to grow a fresh and sustainable dining experience grounded in New Orleans taste,” according to their website. The restaurant also has an
inspiring and sustainable way of operating. Seed offers recycled menus, compost, and solar-panel energy. Seed also donates to local animal rights causes, such as Project Orangutan and the Humane Society of Louisiana. It is a true hippie’s resort. I was taken here first by my co-vegan friend and admired everything about the environment. It’s a small room with windows all around. It’s very open and didn’t look as if the restaurant was trying too hard to look a certain way,
which was refreshing. The serving staff was the nicest group of people who loved seeing people come in - whether vegan or not - to try their food. It was very casual. No one wore uniforms or name tags, which is sometimes preferred against the surrounding corporate life. The menu is large, considering everything is made in-house and from scratch using natural ingredients. There are appetizers, desserts, soups and salads, and many entrees to choose from. I liked how
I didn’t have to question what was in everything or give the waiter or waitress a hard time with an interview about content of the restaurant’s food. I also enjoyed the myriad of options. If I wasn’t in the mood for something, I didn’t have to settle. The food is truly delicious, and every part is flavorful and not cardboard. There is an assumption that a vegan restaurant would serve cooked tree-bark with fresh grass. However, the food is actually
somewhat exotic and not something people eat every day. The ingredients taste fresh, and the combination of some of them is eye-opening. They make queso out of cashews. The restaurant does a phenomenal job at making raw food taste similar to other foods. This welcomes all people to eat at Seed - not just vegans. All the food is complex and filling but pricey. It may be more expensive than one is willing to spend, but the food is definitely worth it.
ENTERTAINMENT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
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Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” more than your typical thriller BY ANJANAE CRUMP Managing Editor The movie “Get Out,” directed by Jordan Peele, was not simply made to be the next popular cookie-cutter thriller, though it has rightfully earned great popularity. This movie fits more into the less-commonly used concept of a social thriller, in which the monstrosity of society is thrown under the microscope and reflected on the big screen in a clever, insidious and relatable way.
In “Get Out,” Chris, a black man, played by Daniel Kaluuya, is dating Rose, a white woman, played by Allison Williams. Rose seems to be your modern, progressive “woke” white chick and is genuinely in love with Chris, who doesn’t at all mind the racial difference - except when it is time to meet her parents with whom she has Daniel Kaluuya as Chris in Jordan not yet disclosed his race. Once he gets there, all hell sue, Rose’s family and friends all breaks loose; however, not present a very awkward situation in the obvious way most thrillers for Chris. It’s the way they look would go. Peele did a fantastic at him, the things they say to him, job inconspicuously depicting the and the things they do and try to true horror that makes this film do to him. speak loud volumes. Everything The breaking point that nearly from the way the zombie-like sent me flying from my seat was black house/groundskeepers stare when, during a party hosted by at Chris and how the eager white Rose’s family, her father, Dean, friends subtly poke and prod at played by Bradley Whitford, holds him, sent the intended message an auction disguised as “Bingo.” loud and clear. With a picture of Chris beside The ultimate horror at hand is him, Dean literally sells Chris to slavery, literal mental and physthe highest bidder. ical slavery. While race is never How he gets to that point is the something we want to be the istruly mind-bending component of
Peele’s “Get Out”. this film. This was no accident, coincidence, or spur-of-the-moment thing. The members of this family are not exactly what they seem. Rose’s mother, Missy (Catherine Keener), is a therapist who practices hypnosis and her dad is a neurosurgeon. This is the perfect combination for pulling off total mind control, a fact they’re well aware of. How their occupations come into play is something you’ll have to see to believe. But aside from the black person’s nightmare this film becomes, there are strategically placed re-
-Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures liefs of comedy which only add to the enjoyment, and honestly, if it weren’t for the laughs it brought, I’m sure a lot of black people would have left theaters with no smiles in sight. Lil Rel Howery plays Rod, Chris’ best friend, who provides the laughs and loyalty needed to balance the film out. In the grander scheme of things, “Get Out” comments on a deep racial issue in a way rarely seen. At some point, many black people in the company of their white counterparts have probably shared the same anxiety, paranoia and subjugation that Chris endures in
this film. While the world is seen to be progressive, as is Chris and Rose’s relationship, some of society still holds the mindset of Rose’s family. And with the advancements in science and technology, the possibilities for carrying out slavery only grows and it is this possibility that adds the thrill to this thriller. It is this possibility that sends the real shivers down the backs of those watching. It is this possibility, so impeccably portrayed, that catapults this film into one of the best so far this year.
A unique novel focusing on terrorists and their innocent beginnings BY CHRISTOPHER WALKER Editor-In-Chief First and foremost, “The Association of Small Bombs” might be one of the most important works written in recent memory. Not because it is particularly exciting (it’s not), but because it chooses to focus on characters most of the civilized world assumes are one-dimensional creatures: terrorists. In America, we hear very little about terrorist attacks taking place in third-world countries overseas. Reports of 50 people killed and hundreds injured in a hospital bomb blast do not shock or horrify our country; these events barely registering on a radar cluttered with Instagram models and the latest Kanye outbursts. To us, terrorists are more akin to wild beasts than to humans with thoughts, feelings, dreams and desires. It might make us uncomfortable to think of terrorists as more than animals; if we start to accept the idea these people share the same frustrations and needs we have, it stands to reason we are capable of the same things if
presented with similar circumstances. “The Association of Small Bombs” chronicles and humanizes a fictional illustration of the circle of violence currently permeating areas where terrorism is a day-today occurrence. The novel starts in a crowded Delhi marketplace, where three young boys (two siblings and a friend) are picking up a television set. A small bomb goes off and kills two of the boys, the brothers of the group. The child who survives by pure luck, Mansoor, is the novel’s primary character. Although his injuries from the blast are minor, years later as he is enrolled in an American college in California, they lead to him developing severe carpal tunnel, rendering his dream of becoming a coder impossible. The reader watches as Mansoor’s grief and pain at the terrorists who planted the bomb is slowly warped over years and years to hatred and anger at the West, the culture that instigated retaliation from the terrorists. We are not hit in the face with the transformation; it is a testament to Mahajan’s writing we
do not realize he is becoming radicalized until we are deep into the novel, long after Mansoor is capable of dark things. This dark arc is captivating and devastating. The transformation from victim of terrorism to terrorist is (presumably) hauntingly realistic. One does not expect Mansoor, presented as a clam and sensitive pacifist in the beginning, to turn into the dark, bitter and sexually frustrated character we see at the end. The novel does not focus strictly on Mansoor, however. Mahajan spreads his focus to include the parents of the brothers killed in the marketplace, and their story likely echoes that of thousands of grief-stricken parents. Although on the shortlist for the National Book Award last year, this novel is certainly not for everyone; but for those who choose to open their minds, it gives a rare glimpse into the reasons and the logic behind the terrorist circle of violence. Before we defeat an ideology, we must understand it. Terrorists are not born evil; they are normal people warped over years and years. “The Association of Small Bombs” is fantastic.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
COMICS & PUZZLES
“Privateer Poop - God help us” by Barrington Hebert
“SUBTLY CHALLENGED” OSWALDO POSAS
SUDOKU
WORD SEARCH
ALLY AUSTRIAN BOMBS BUKU CHAMPIONS CYBERSECURITY
IMMIGRANTS IRISH JUMPERS PRIVATEERS SEED SOUTHLAND
OPINION
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
EDITORIAL Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free Immigration and immigration policy have always been hot-button issues of the American political climate, but rarely are they front and center of the national debate. However, this past year, immigration was perhaps the defining topic of the election cycle. Not only was the ever-present debate regarding the advantage of allowing illegal immigrants to cross the border from Mexico discussed, but a seemingly new topic emerged as well: the fear of radical terrorists slipping in undetected amongst refugees was a belief that divided and continues to divide the nation. Donald Trump and his cabinet have made it no secret: They have zero tolerance with illegal immigration and are serious about strictly limiting the immigration of citizens from countries deemed “too dangerous.” In fact, our current attorney general is flat-out against any
kind of immigration at all: a position many would consider to be both a morally and economically poor stance. These arguments specifically target majority-Muslim countries like Syria and Iran, those that have communities many immigration-opponents consider anti-American in their beliefs and practices. It is interesting: those who oppose these migrants do not see the mistakes of history being repeated over and over again ad-nauseum. The beauty of America is, after all, that we are a nation founded and sustained by immigrants. There is no singular American identity or ethnic background. Not so long ago, it was those Irish immigrants (as well as Italian and Japanese communities) who were considered entirely un-American, and widely banned from local businesses and small
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towns. They were considered a threat simply because they weren’t Anglo-Saxon, the only way many considered an American could be. Today, we embrace the Irish as quintessentially American citizens. We celebrate the culture and the people they brought to our nation. How so many people can directly descend from immigrants who once faced a world of discrimination and simultaneously refuse to acknowledge allowing modern day immigrants in from a war-torn country is a good thing that continues to baffle us. Study after study has shown the children of immigrants are massively beneficial to the American economy. Shutting the door to this great country is not the answer.
COLUMN
To fight speech you don’t agree with, use more speech, not less
BY BRANDON MELERINE Contributor Freedom of speech is enshrined in our Constitution under the First Amendment. It’s a fundamental right, inherent in our republic, and it’s needed to function as intended. Safe spaces on campus violate the principle of free speech in its entirety. Safe spaces do not provide safety from words, they only provide an echo-chamber of ideas and thoughts among a common group of people. Safe spaces gut the premise of freedom of speech, especially in a place designed for learning. Freedom of speech is designed to work very simply by allowing for anything to be said. There are restrictions on what can be said, but the idea behind freedom of speech is to foster debate. It is to cause people to have discussions and persuade others. Without this fundamental right, there would be a deterioration of ideas on college campuses. College would no longer be a stronghold for academia, but a monarch of conformity and complacency. A safe space on campus hurts the fabric of a college campus. The same ideas allowed only in one spot cause radicalization of thoughts that could lead to dangerous consequences. Freedom of speech does not entitle any person to hear only what they agree with; freedom of speech must not be only hearing
thoughts from the same side. If that happens, then freedom of speech deteriorates. We would absolutely lose that right which entitles us to debate and challenge others. College campuses are where people should air out their ideas, challenging their deeply held beliefs on abortion, climate change, and healthcare by debating one another. Challenging your college campuses should represent the diversity of American thought, ranging all across the spectrum from the most liberal to the most conservative. No speech should be shut out because it does not conform to your beliefs. Debate and arguments are the cornerstone of American freedom and democracy. Free speech invites those principles. Conformity of thought does not lead to any positive solutions, and progress is made when discourse knocks on the door. Progress for any group feeling marginalized at the ballot box or in their community should always have an outlet, and that outlet is their fundamental right to speak freely about their ideas. Those ideas should not be placed in a box on campus where their outreach is only heard by those who agree with them. Ideas are meant to be challenged. Thoughts should be provoked by the deepest of insights by the brightest minds. Feelings are not important when it comes to debating. College campuses are not parents and should not shelter you from ideas that make you uncomfortable. Free speech should make you angry, but it should be fought back with more free speech, not less. Dear college campuses: Don’t protect your students from harsh words. Let them use their wits and their diversity to overcome any challenging speech they may face. To fight speech you don’t agree with, use more speech, not less.
Christopher Walker, Editor-in-Chief....................driftwoodeditor@uno.edu Anjanae Crump, Managing Editor.................................driftwood@uno.edu Mindy Jarrett...............................................................................Copy Editor Jamie Lloyd..................................................................................News Editor Anna Gowin.................................................Features & Entertainment Editor Sanjiv Pradhanang.................................................................Visual Director Nathan Nguyen..........................................................Assistant Layout Editor Brennan Probst.................................................................Head Photographer Matthew Ramos............................................................................Staff Writer Kimberly Williams..............Business Manager, driftwoodbusiness@uno.edu Angelle Cleneay...........................................................Social Media Manager Matthew Stennis............................................................Distribution Manager Milan Holman........................................................Driftwood Video Producer Vickie Kennedy....................................................................................Adviser
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