PG. 3
X AV I E R S T U D E N T RECEIVES STEM SCHOLARSHIP
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R E P R E S E N TAT I O N S OF AFRICANAMERICANS IN FILM
PG. 8
MEET THE NEW VOLLEYBALL P L AY E R S
The Xavier Herald
@xulaherald
xulaherald.com
Sept. 29, 2015 -Oct. 20, 2015
xulaherald.com
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, La.
Page 2
Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
XU Professor Receives Grant to Pursue Haiti Research By Kendall Lawson Staff Writer
O
ne of Xavier’s Mass Communication professors will visit Haiti this academic year to investigate the roles of media and politics, while working with local Haitian students and the state government Second year professor Dr. Shearon Roberts will use her roughly $15,000 grant to travel to Haiti to research media’s influence on and engagement of Haitian citizens. That research is intended to help government agencies and be the topic for her next book, which will be centered on understanding Haiti in its post crisis situation. Founded in 1995, the Henry C. McBay Research Fellowship provides funding support for faculty for advancing their research studies and challenging themselves to continue work in their field. Kimberly Hall, the director for Donor Relations for the United Negro College Fund, said that the fellowship committee
selected Dr. Roberts as one of eight awards given this year. Dr. Roberts is the latest Xavier faculty to receive this fellowship honor since 2013, Hall said. “Haiti has always been my favorite place in the world growing up. The history of it I have always admired and had a passion for. It started when I began journalism,” Roberts said. “I have a love affair with Haiti, that people don’t get to see and people in the Caribbean get to see. To tell the other sides of Haiti that people in America don’t know about. They are strong and proud,”she said. Five years ago, on Jan. 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, destroyed several cities, and killed and injured over 300,000 people. Half a decade later, Haiti continues to feel the effects from the devastating catastrophe. “Things do not turn to normal after a natural disaster, even after a decade,” Dr. Roberts said, who plans to spend most of her research time in the island’s capital, Port-Au-Prince, and other small towns that were affected by the earthquake. “Haiti feels very much like the earthquake happened
Photo by: Dr. Shearon Roberts
Radio Cast of Ranmasse, the most popular radio broadcast programming in Haiti Radio Caraibes FM
yesterday,” she added. Roberts has three project goals she would like to accomplish during her visits to Haiti. One is to observe how Haiti’s largest news organizations in Port-Au-Prince have been working to advocate for its citizens. Next, she plans to work with Haitian university students to understand how socially conscious they are to the current circumstances in the country. She’s seeking to understand Haiti’s state media and how they benefit and support the Haitian government
xulaherald.com
Xavier President Dr. C. Reynold Verret, a Haitian native, said he endorsed Roberts’ post disaster research in Haiti. Verret added that Haiti and New Orleans share strong histories and the need to recovery from recent natural disasters. “Note that Haiti and New Orleans are linked by history and culture. This makes her work especially relevant to this city and university,” Verret said. “One need only look at images of the cathedral square of Cap Haitien to realize that it inspired the layout of St. Louis
Cathedral and Jackson Square,” he said. Roberts said she is excited to return to Haiti to advance and share her research. “I was one of the first researchers to work with them [Haitian media] after the earthquake. I’m hoping to build on that relationship,” Roberts said. “The ending goal is to write for think tanks on what I’ve learned. My longerterm goal is to publish in scholarly journals on the things I have learned as well.”
Page 2
Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
XU Professor Receives Grant to Pursue Haiti Research By Kendall Lawson Staff Writer
O
ne of Xavier’s Mass Communication professors will visit Haiti this academic year to investigate the roles of media and politics, while working with local Haitian students and the state government Second year professor Dr. Shearon Roberts will use her roughly $15,000 grant to travel to Haiti to research media’s influence on and engagement of Haitian citizens. That research is intended to help government agencies and be the topic for her next book, which will be centered on understanding Haiti in its post crisis situation. Founded in 1995, the Henry C. McBay Research Fellowship provides funding support for faculty for advancing their research studies and challenging themselves to continue work in their field. Kimberly Hall, the director for Donor Relations for the United Negro College Fund, said that the fellowship committee
selected Dr. Roberts as one of eight awards given this year. Dr. Roberts is the latest Xavier faculty to receive this fellowship honor since 2013, Hall said. “Haiti has always been my favorite place in the world growing up. The history of it I have always admired and had a passion for. It started when I began journalism,” Roberts said. “I have a love affair with Haiti, that people don’t get to see and people in the Caribbean get to see. To tell the other sides of Haiti that people in America don’t know about. They are strong and proud,”she said. Five years ago, on Jan. 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, destroyed several cities, and killed and injured over 300,000 people. Half a decade later, Haiti continues to feel the effects from the devastating catastrophe. “Things do not turn to normal after a natural disaster, even after a decade,” Dr. Roberts said, who plans to spend most of her research time in the island’s capital, Port-Au-Prince, and other small towns that were affected by the earthquake. “Haiti feels very much like the earthquake happened
Photo by: Dr. Shearon Roberts
Radio Cast of Ranmasse, the most popular radio broadcast programming in Haiti Radio Caraibes FM
yesterday,” she added. Roberts has three project goals she would like to accomplish during her visits to Haiti. One is to observe how Haiti’s largest news organizations in Port-Au-Prince have been working to advocate for its citizens. Next, she plans to work with Haitian university students to understand how socially conscious they are to the current circumstances in the country. She’s seeking to understand Haiti’s state media and how they benefit and support the Haitian government
xulaherald.com
Xavier President Dr. C. Reynold Verret, a Haitian native, said he endorsed Roberts’ post disaster research in Haiti. Verret added that Haiti and New Orleans share strong histories and the need to recovery from recent natural disasters. “Note that Haiti and New Orleans are linked by history and culture. This makes her work especially relevant to this city and university,” Verret said. “One need only look at images of the cathedral square of Cap Haitien to realize that it inspired the layout of St. Louis
Cathedral and Jackson Square,” he said. Roberts said she is excited to return to Haiti to advance and share her research. “I was one of the first researchers to work with them [Haitian media] after the earthquake. I’m hoping to build on that relationship,” Roberts said. “The ending goal is to write for think tanks on what I’ve learned. My longerterm goal is to publish in scholarly journals on the things I have learned as well.”
Page 2
Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
XU Professor Receives Grant to Pursue Haiti Research By Kendall Lawson Staff Writer
O
ne of Xavier’s Mass Communication professors will visit Haiti this academic year to investigate the roles of media and politics, while working with local Haitian students and the state government Second year professor Dr. Shearon Roberts will use her roughly $15,000 grant to travel to Haiti to research media’s influence on and engagement of Haitian citizens. That research is intended to help government agencies and be the topic for her next book, which will be centered on understanding Haiti in its post crisis situation. Founded in 1995, the Henry C. McBay Research Fellowship provides funding support for faculty for advancing their research studies and challenging themselves to continue work in their field. Kimberly Hall, the director for Donor Relations for the United Negro College Fund, said that the fellowship committee
selected Dr. Roberts as one of eight awards given this year. Dr. Roberts is the latest Xavier faculty to receive this fellowship honor since 2013, Hall said. “Haiti has always been my favorite place in the world growing up. The history of it I have always admired and had a passion for. It started when I began journalism,” Roberts said. “I have a love affair with Haiti, that people don’t get to see and people in the Caribbean get to see. To tell the other sides of Haiti that people in America don’t know about. They are strong and proud,”she said. Five years ago, on Jan. 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, destroyed several cities, and killed and injured over 300,000 people. Half a decade later, Haiti continues to feel the effects from the devastating catastrophe. “Things do not turn to normal after a natural disaster, even after a decade,” Dr. Roberts said, who plans to spend most of her research time in the island’s capital, Port-Au-Prince, and other small towns that were affected by the earthquake. “Haiti feels very much like the earthquake happened
Photo by: Dr. Shearon Roberts
Radio Cast of Ranmasse, the most popular radio broadcast programming in Haiti Radio Caraibes FM
yesterday,” she added. Roberts has three project goals she would like to accomplish during her visits to Haiti. One is to observe how Haiti’s largest news organizations in Port-Au-Prince have been working to advocate for its citizens. Next, she plans to work with Haitian university students to understand how socially conscious they are to the current circumstances in the country. She’s seeking to understand Haiti’s state media and how they benefit and support the Haitian government
xulaherald.com
Xavier President Dr. C. Reynold Verret, a Haitian native, said he endorsed Roberts’ post disaster research in Haiti. Verret added that Haiti and New Orleans share strong histories and the need to recovery from recent natural disasters. “Note that Haiti and New Orleans are linked by history and culture. This makes her work especially relevant to this city and university,” Verret said. “One need only look at images of the cathedral square of Cap Haitien to realize that it inspired the layout of St. Louis
Cathedral and Jackson Square,” he said. Roberts said she is excited to return to Haiti to advance and share her research. “I was one of the first researchers to work with them [Haitian media] after the earthquake. I’m hoping to build on that relationship,” Roberts said. “The ending goal is to write for think tanks on what I’ve learned. My longerterm goal is to publish in scholarly journals on the things I have learned as well.”
Opinion
Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
Page 5
Elba’s Rejection as 007 Demonstrates Bias By Sharissa Wright Staff Writer
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espite Hollywood producers wanting to keep its most iconic spy hero portrayed by leading white actors, fans of one British actor say it’s time that a black actor gets to star as James Bond. Fans say: “The name’s Elba, Idris Elba”. Celebrity websites and social media lit up this month with fans challenging Hollywood’s typecasting Elba as being unfit to play Bond. The author of the official James Bond franchise novels, Anthony Horowitz, caused an uproar when he stated he didn’t think Elba fit to play the mold of the spy. “He’s a bit too rough for the role,” said Horowitz in his interview with The Daily Mail in early September. Horowitz told reporters that it wasn’t an issue of race, but he believed Elba is too “street” and not British enough to personify James Bond. Elba responded by uploading a photo to Instagram captioned, “Always Keep Smiling!! It takes no energy and never hurts! Learned that from the Street!!” Although Horowitz apologized for what he stated was a poor choice of words, Elba’s fans were offended by
Horowitz’ comments. “Just because one person has crossed the line, that’s just one person. We still have work to do,” said Dr. Tia Smith, the department head of Mass Communication at Xavier, who studies race, gender, and the media. When veteran actress Viola Davis became the first African American woman to receive the primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series on Sept. 20, she singled out actors of color
who still are trying to cross Hollywood’s color line. According to the Nielsen ratings, the African American economic buying power is expected to skyrocket. “As we become more producers of the mass medias and less consumers, that will make a change,” Smith said. When the African American community starts putting more effort into making films as much as they view them, Smith further explained, then that’s how major changes will occur in
Idris Elba won’t be James Bond
Hollywood. Until then, black actors continue to push against industry stereotypes that consider them unsuitable for many leading roles. “How does a person not be English enough?” said Andre Morgan Jr., a junior, communication studies major at Xavier. “It sounds like they’re just making excuses to hide what the true meaning is.” Hollywood producers often fear black actors won’t attract the audience draw that white male leads do, despite recent trends contradicting the fact that black leading actors can pull in box office revenue. “Columbiana,” “Independence Day,” “Obsessed,” “Inside Man” are just a few films in which black and brown lead actors have carried films successfully at the box office. Despite the large pool of African American actors in Hollywood today, these actors are usually cast as the stereotypical black person. “The character is either aggressively violent, uneducated, etc.,” Morgan said. “It’s rare that a colored individual serves as a positive influence within a movie, but it’s becoming more prevalent now depending on who’s making the film.” Some Hollywood leading men disagree that the industry needs more diversifying. Actor,
Homecoming 2015 Theme Release October 2nd at 6:15 PM During the Class of 2017 Carnival
xulaherald.com
filmmaker, and producer Matt Damon mentioned on an episode of the HBO series, “Project Greenlight,” that aired Sept. 13, “that diversity in film should be shown on screen, and not necessarily behind the camera. “When we’re talking about diversity, you do it in the casting of the film, not in the casting of the show,” said Damon to Effie Brown, an African American producer. Damon has since released an apology statement stating that he was sorry his comments offended others. Still in a state of shock, Brown shared her thoughts on Twitter about the episode. “Ooof! Wow! Okay. Thanks for watching the show and getting a great conversation started. I can’t wait to hear you on the other episodes!” Brown said. Even though African Americans don’t have to fight to be seen on the big screen, there’s still a lot of work to be done. “We need more Spike Lees, more Shonda Rhimes’, more Mara Brock Aklis, and more John Singletons,” said Alesha Smith, a senior, political science major at Xavier. “If African American writers put more demand on African Americans actors in traditional and non-traditional roles then we’ll make the film world respect us to the point where they would have to include roles for us,” Smith said.
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Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
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Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
Public Transit Is Accessible, Affordable Snazzy RTA Tips
RTA is the ticket to off-campus freedom Bus Stops Near XU
By Claudia Lopex Staff Writer
L
Did you know the streets change “direction”on either side of Canal? Xavier University is on the south side of Canal. The most common routes that we live by are the 39 Tulane, 90 Carrollton, 27 Louisiana and 32 Leonidas-Treme buses. With the 90 Carrolton, students can go to the grocery
store or find a new place to eat. The 39 Tulane goes from Xavier’s library and to downtown. Students can visit Magazine Steet or use it as a connecting route to the Lakeside Shopping Center on the 27 Louisiana. The 32 Leonidas-Tremebus goes up Carrollton Avenue and to Audobon Park.
et’s face it: On-campus food, entertainment and basic services are limited. There are no grocery stores, wide selections of food and drinks, and not much to do, especially after 7 p.m. week nights and all weekend. In order to get to know the city you’re in, you have to explore. For students with or without their own transportation, the solution to consumer freedom is a bus stop away on RTA. The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is in charge of public transportation. It began as the St. Charles Avenue streetcar in 1835. Since then, RTA expanded and now serves the Greater New Orleans area with five streetcar lines— Canal Street (Cemeteries), Canal Street (City Park/Museum), Loyola Uptown, Riverfront and St. Charles Avenue—and more than 35 bus routes. Many Xavierites either don’t know about RTA and how to use public transportation or are afraid to step outside their car-only comfort zone. Everyday for my summer internship, I took the bus to the Westbank and I learned the RTA inside and out. With this I gained freedom, advanced my Robert Freter, left, and Jeremy Crummie wait for the RTA bus to career goals. explore the city.
Riding RTA Throughout the Week?
RTA Fares Standard Fares Streetcars
$1.25
Buses
$1.25
Transfers
$0.25
Children
Purchase a Jazzy Pass online at 2 years old and norta.com for a 1, 3, or 31-day pass. under
Confused about where to go? The RTA “Plan My Trip” feature navigates you through google maps.
Take the Canal Street car to the French Quarter and City Park.
Mardi Gras Benefits
Looking for a safe way to get around during Mardi Gras? The RTA streetcar and bus routes are also available during festival seasons. “Last year I mainly used the bus and streetcar to get around so I wouldn’t have to drive or struggle trying to find parking during Mardi Gras and it worked out to be a great idea,”said Asia Clegget, a Loyola University student.
Fits Student Budget
Compared to larger cities, the RTA has reasonably priced fares. A one-way ride costs $1.25. If you need to change buses/ streetcars, tell the driver and the fare is then $1.50. You can also get a day pass for $3, which is good until 4 a.m. the next day.
Have No Fear, RTA is Here
Students who normally have a car choose not to ride the bus. “Before I learned how to take
the bus, I used Uber”said Lauryn Dial, a Xavier student. “But the bus is not as scary as some people think. It’s so simple”Dial said. The RTA bridges the gap for students who don’t have cars, want to see New Orleans and want an affordable, accessible option to getting off campus. For complete information, more visit their website at www. norta.com.
FREE
3 years old and over $1.25 Senior Citizens (65 years old and over, with ID/Passport) Streetcars
$0.40
Buses
$0.40
Transfers
FREE
Disabled (with RTA-issued ID card)
The bus stop and www.norta.com provides maps, like this one above. The 90 Carrollton is, below, is a ride to consumer heaven.
Streetcars
$0.40
Buses
$0.40
Transfers
FREE
Paratransit (with RTA ADACertification)
TRANSIT TRACKER ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE
Streetcars
FREE
Transit Tracker by Text Message
Buses
FREE
Paratransit services
$2.00
Find out when the next vehicle is scheduled to arrive from any stop in the RTA system in seconds! Now you can get scheduled arrival times on your mobile phone in a text message. Just text your Stop ID to 27299, and find out when the next bus or streetcar is scheduled to arrive at that stop.
Jazzy Passes
How does it work? It's easy! First, look for your Stop ID at your bus or streetcar stop. All Stop IDs begin with "N" followed by a number. Then, text your Stop ID to 27299. For example, if your Stop ID was N1234, just text N1234 to 27299. Look for this sticker at your stop.
1-Day
$3.00
3-Day
$9.00
31-Day
$55.00
Other Buses Photos by: Luis Marquez and Allana Barefield
xulaherald.com
xulaherald.com
201 Kenner Loop
$1.25
Express
$1.50
Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
Page 8
XU Sports Spotlight
Volleyball’s Jodi Hill Continues to Lead Gold Nuggets by Kaelin Maloid Staff Writer
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eing a student athlete is a “beast of its own,” but senior Gold Nugget volleyball player Jodi Hill is handling that beast. A political science major from Prarieville, La., Hill— through 13 matches in the 2015 season—is averaging 2.44 points per set; 1.80 kills per set; .04 assists per set; .31 aces per set; .78 digs per set; .33 bocks per set; and a .267 hitting percentage. She has started 39 matches, and helped her team to 20-6 overall season in 2014 and 14-0 Gulf Coast Atlantic Conference.
Part of her success is the communication within the team. They’re always telling each other about open spots on the court and getting each other through the next couple of plays. “We yell and scream and get excited when we do something good. It just kind of keeps you motivated and reminds you to have fun when you’re playing because it can get kind of serious when you play,” said Hill. Prior to her volleyball career, Hill played basketball. However, her freshman year at Dutchtown High School, she tried out for volleyball and made the team. She wasn’t even really sure she wanted to play, but she did. “I had a lot of sun and made a lot of friends that season, so I continued to play and learn more about the game and better. And then I ended up at Xavier,” Hill said.
Jodi Hill, Senior
“The energy on the court it can really make or break your team. Are you going to win or are you going to lose?” said Hill. “A big part of volleyball is what we say all the time— communication, communication, communication.”
Playing volleyball for Xavier wasn’t even in Hill’s plans. Before she became “Jodi Hill with the kill,” she was just Jodi Hill, a political science major who planned on attending Xavier. “It’s a liberal arts school, and it’s small, so I figured I would get a diverse education, not only in my major but in other classes in different fields that would help
me become a better professional and better leader in my field,” she said. It also helped that she found out how small her major was and how “tight-knit” the political science department was. Coming from her high school, where everybody went to LSU, it was important to Hill to have a smaller school. Xavier was perfect for her—it was small, she loved New Orleans, and even though she didn’t know it at the time, she wanted the “HBCU environment.” It didn’t hurt that she received academic scholarships and athletic funding. As a senior, Hill balances athletics and academics. Being a student-athlete means maintaining the GPA requirements and professional environments like research and internships. The grind doesn’t stop with just athletics or academics. Hill has had semesters where she had to balance internships, jobs, schools, and volleyball. Not only that but she—and other team members also—are trying to be more involved on campus with other organizations. “I’m the president of the pre-law chapter here at Xavier, member of Public Policy Club, and a social entrepreneurship club,” said Hill. Being a student-athlete has taught Hill that “you might not
Jodi Hill positions for an opponent’s serve. sleep sometimes,” but in the end, it pays off. “It’s hectic, it’s fun, sometimes it’s a little stressful, but it’s made me stronger. I feel like I can pretty much do anything now after graduating because I can balance a lot of things,” Hill said.
Throughout her four years as an athlete at XULA, Hill has managed to maintain her grades, stay a strong athlete, and carve out a future for herself.
XU Volleyball Home Games At the Convocation Center
Belhaven Tue OCT 6 - 7:30 p.m. Edward Waters Thu Oct 8- 7:00 p.m. Philander Smith Sat Oct. 10 - 1.p.m SUNO (Senior Day) Sat Oct 31 -1 p.m.
Photo by: Xavier Gold Jodi Hill, right, goes up for a kill.
xulaherald.com
Sept. 29, 2015 -Oct. 20, 2015
Page 9
First NBC Bank opens doors
By Javion Gutter Accounting Sophomore
T
his summer was very productive as I had the opportunity to return to First NBC Bank as a second year Loan Operations intern. Not only did I gain more experience in the banking world, but I also made lifelong connections with people who could help me with my future endeavors. In the summer 2014, my sister, who worked at the bank, informed me about the opportunity to be part of the internship program. Once this information was given to me, I immediately applied and within two weeks I was called for an interview, and a few days later offered the job.
While at the bank, some focal points were to learn various processes within the Loan Operations department. Included were processing loan payments to validating account information for flood and homeowner’s insurance policies. Some daily activities include logging customer’s payments and appointing checks to the correct departments within the bank. The bank trained me on various systems that they utilize, including Silverlake, Image Center and Synergy. There were other opportunities outside of the bank. The Chief Compliance Officer of the bank introduced me to the human resources director of the Pelicans/Saints organizations. This meeting happened because I expressed interest in the Finance and Business Management aspects of the sports industry. These summer experiences are valuable as I further my education, graduate, and begin my career. The purpose of an internship is to offer real life and work experiences to prepare a person for their future career. As for me, I look forward to the next internship opportunity, and the future seems bright.
XU, Chinese Students Discover Common Ground By Evan Reynolds Business Management Junior
O
n May 11, 2015, I joined a delegation of 14 students and three faculty for the Confucius Institute Summer Abroad in China program. From the time we left New Orleans until our return May 26, it was an unforgettable experience. Prior to the trip, Rongyao Wen, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute and head of the 2015 summer camp, asked me to assume the position of Trip Captain.I gladly accepted this role because I simply love to lead. Before our group left, we had a final meeting and I could tell the majority of my peers were anxious and not exactly sure what to expect because of stories they had heard from previous participants. These feelings alone made this experience exhilarating. My experiences started once I arrived at the
International Hotel on Hebei University’s campus, which looked similar to those in the U.S. The food that was prepared in the hotel’s restaurant was amazing and made our stay even more magnificent. Thanks to mandatory Mandarin courses here at Xavier, I wasn’t totally illiterate in the Chinese language. One thing that I and my peers took away from this trip, if nothing else, was removing ourselves from our American comfort zones. There was not a time I can remember when a Chinese student or resident was not taking a picture of me, with me, or of other members in my group. The people of Baoding City, our translators, the International Office staff at Hebei University, the students and those we also met in Beijing always made us feel welcomed. I have never met anyone so excited to meet me. I hope to return to China very soon because I have fallen in love with the country, its language, and most importantly
its people. I recommend this experience to anyone and everyone because you will not come back home the same person. You will have a completely different outlook on life.
Send your Submissions to the Xavier Herald Email: herald@xula.edu Phone: 504.520.7474
Photo by: Xavier Herald
Evan Reynolds accepts a leadership award from Liwei Wang the director of the foreign affairs division at Hebei University.
xulaherald.com
Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
Page 10
ARTS aND ENTeRTaINMENT A
S u l l e n
‘ H o n e y m o o n ’ by Aaliyah Young Staff Writer
Source: Lana Del Rey’s Official Site
L
ana Del Rey’s new album, “Honeymoon,” was released on Sept. 18, 2015. The album does not feature any artist and all in all is bland. You will notice that the 14 songs on the album consistently have the same rhythm and tone. Although it was number one on iTunes before the Drake and Future mixtape, the album is trite with no dynamic sounds. Lana Del Rey’s voice stays constantly monotone and is
somewhat whispery. Although this album is not very distinctive in sound, she still remains one of the most wellknown Indie pop artists. Del Rey is most known for her songs Young and Beautiful and Summertime Sadness. The most popular song on this album is High by the Beach, which is the only song that gives a different vibe and subject. A personal favorite would be God Knows I Tried, which is a soft song that listeners will know contains personal meaning to the artist by her word choice. Though it is still repetitive, it is also interesting.
Overall, Del Rey’s one hour and five minute album is far from phenomenal compared to some of the other work she has produced. None of the songs on the album seem like they will reach heights as far as public interest. If interested in listening to the album, it can be heard on Spotify and iTunes.
Chinese Moon Festival by Allana Barefield Staff Writer
T
he Chinese Moon Festival is more than the symbolic cutting of a moon cake. It signifies unity and peace. Families in China celebrate the occasion at home with a dinner, lighting lanterns, and admiring the moon at night. The Confucius Institute will mark the festival on Sept. 25, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the University Center. The moon festival is all about “harvesting, abundance, and good fortune,” said Dr. Yu Jiang, the director for Xavier’s Confucius Institute.
Successful people often possess a combination of these three things, Yu said. The custom is one that is worth sharing to the Xavier community, Yu said, because it calls for reflection, which helps people to realize what is important in life. “Our center’s mission is to start spreading the Chinese culture among the American culture,” said Rongyao Wen, the associate director for the institute. The goal is to increase the ability of Xavier’s students to speak Mandarin, which is a primary way to share China’s culture. Xavier is the first Historically Black University in Louisiana to host one of China’s Confucius Institutes.
The festival brings together Xavier students of all backgrounds to sing, dance, and partake in the cutting of the moon cake. The moon cake is round, which represents people who are fully and completely happy with their lives. “The moon cakes are my favorite since it is a tradition,” said Kevin Lam, a junior, Biology/ Pre-Med and Philosophy major at Xavier. A piece of cake is for good fortune, good wealth, and a good new year, Lam explained.
F e t t y Wa p i s j u s t g e t t i n g s ta r t e d by Shermona Harvey Staff Writer
L
et me begin by saying any hip hop artist in 2015 who can refrain from using derogatory language towards women in their music has my respect. Further more, Fetty Wap has four singles that have reached the Billboard Top 10, three of them being in the top 11 simultaneously (“My Way,” “679” and “Trap Queen”) which is more than noteworthy. Fetty Wap just released his
self-entitled 17-track debut album that can be found on iTunes and in stores. The rapper humbly did mostly solo work with only features from his not famous friends, Monty and M80. Fetty’s album doesn’t fail to make you feel good with its auto-tuned sounds about having a good time, beautiful women, and of course, his take on the “trap.” I personally find some of his music a bit repetitive but his music style is truly unique. Nevertheless, I can still vibe with a few of Fetty’s new songs. I recommend giving
“Rewind,” “How We Do Things” and “D.A.M” a listen first. People who are curious to listen to the album, it is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music.
xulaherald.com
Source: Fetty Wap’s Official Site
Page 11
Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
1st Annual Treme Festival to Save the Augustan Church by Morgan Yates Staff Writer
C
elebrating 174 years of existence, the St. Augustine Catholic Church, considered the heartbeat of the Tremé neighborhood, has begun to show her age. In an effort to revive this aging church, the Historic Faubourg Tremé Association will host its first annual Tremé Festival from Oct. 3-4. The event is free and open to the public and features food, art, and musical performances. Dedicated in 1842, the St. Augustine Catholic Church was the first integrated church where whites, free people of color, and slaves worshipped. This church sits in the center of Tremé, the first African American neighborhood in the city. In 2006, the Archdiocese of New Orleans announced its decision to close several Catholic churches in the city due to decreased financial support and attendance. When St. Augustine was targeted, congregation members rallied to, keep it open, said
Beverly Curry, former pastoral chairperson at St. Augustine. “St. Augustine has been the backbone of the Tremé community, and I refused to let them close this church,”
said Curry. In 2006, Curry and 11 long-time members of St. Augustine slept outside the historic church for 12 days to protest the archdiocese’s decision to close their church.
Successfully, these women were able to keep their church open. Members said they now hope the community will join them in preserving the church. The Historic Faubourg Association, a non-profit made up of Tremé residents and St. Augustine members, said the festival will raise funds to begin restoration.“This festival is what we call a party with a purpose, and our purpose is to save a historic church that is essential to this community by celebrating its legacy,” said Dr. Naydja Bynum, the association’s founding president The free festival takes place on the corner of Henriette Delille and Governor Nicholls Streets. Oct.3 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. • Face painting, stilts-walkers, children’s activities • A variety of food booths • Live entertainment: a second-line procession lead by the Roots of Music Band; and jazz musical performances by John Boutte, Kermit Ruffins, James Andrews and many more.
St. Augustine Catholic church celebrates 174 years of age
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Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • 10 a.m. Gospel Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church • Noon-4 p.m., gospel extravaganza “We wanted a festival that benefited the people of the Tremé, so we reached out to artists that have a strong connection to Tremé,” said Darryl Durham, the vice president and chairman of the association. More information can be found www.neworleansonline.
St. Augustine Catholic Church
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Sept. 29, 2015 - Oct. 20, 2015
Snaps! Pep Rally
Students hang out at the Student Athletics pep rally. L-R: Bria Brown, Canaan Cavalier and Bria Wroten enjoying the festivites on the yard
Confucius Institute Chinese Moon Festival
L-R Stephen Bourgeois, Levon Leban II, Brandon Hylton, Kevin Lam and Makayla Matthews at the Annual Moon Festival hosted by the Confucius Institute.
Gold Star Dancer Shalani Taylor hypes up the crowd with her dance moves
Photos by Luis Marquez and Allana Barefield
L-R Jasmine Tate, Aminah Williams, Brianna Warren, Christina Webster, Morgan Dillard view performances at the Annual Moon Festival.
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