The Feminist Forum VI

The Feminist Forum Volume VI

Empowering Women to Lead

Take Back the Night

Gabrielle Restaurant & the Resilient Women Who Run it

Cover Story

The Feminist Forum 4

Reflections from the Director's Desk Power.

Patricia Boyett

6

Feminist Manifesto of the Women's Resource Center

9

Loyola's Student Organiztions

10

Powerful Women Empowering Other Women - PWIA Patricia Boyett

16

Diversity & Inclusion Panel

18

Been There Done That Panel

21

Answering the Call to Lead Elect Her Workshop

Patricia Boyett, Athena Merida, & Noelle Timberlake

Features 30

Gabrielle Resturant and the Resilient Women Who Run It Challon Palmer

Authorization

Feminist Forum is an unofficial publication of the Women’s Resource Center. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Women’s Resource Center or Loyola University New Orleans.

Loyola University New Orleans Women’s Resource Center

The Feminist Forum Vol. VI October 2019 www.loyno.edu/womenscenter

Submissions

Submissions are welcome and should be submitted to wrc@loyno.edu. The Feminist Forum editors reserve the right to all final decisions.

Loyola University New Orleans has fully supported and fostered in its educational programs, admissions, employment practices, and in the activities it operates the policy of not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex/gender, or sexual orientation.

This policy is in compliance with all applicable federal regulations and guidelines.

Columns 26

Projects & Events

Music in the Movement Carolyne Shofner

27

Business Blurbs

28

Standing in Solidarity

29

Trans Talks

30

Feminist Fits

31

Broads Abroad

Isabel Dickinson

Stephanie Adams &

33

Being Boss Babes

34

Feminist Fridays

35

Take Back the Night

36

At the Intersection

Poetry

Leo Thomas

37

Emmaline Bouchillon

Bound

Delaney Harper

Rhon Ridgeway

Our Mission

In the path of the Ignatius mission at Loyola University New Orleans, we, as a feminist community, seek to educate ourselves through critical analysis; we endeavor to empower the oppressed through devotion to diversity and uplift; and we pursue equality through social justice.

Production Team Director/Editor in Chief Patricia Boyett

Senior Editor Grace Riddick

Creative Director Emmaline Bouchillon

Editor Delaney Harper

Art Team Erika Torres Lance Taylor Aubrey Jane Gabi Hawkins

POWER.

Reflections from the Director's Desk

P

ower. It is the core of the Women’s Movement. Without equal power, we will always be circling around the centers of our society that men dominate, fighting for scraps of justice, battling for the narrow accesses to the e-suite and the political arena, navigating the sexist obstacles to our success, and struggling to be treated as equal human beings. Yes, we find many wonderful allies in men who believe in gender equality. Still, we need to have power too.

We have made great gains. But as women represent slightly over fifty percent of America’s population, we must not be forced to settle for 5 percent leadership of Fortune 500 companies, 23.7 percent of the United States Congress, 18 percent of officers in the military, 31 percent of creators of films, or 0 percent of U.S. presidents. We must not accept serving mostly in only secondary roles in our spiritual lives. We must focus much of our fight for the inclusion

4

By Patricia Boyett of women of color, who are far less represented in the institutions that govern our world. Without equal power, women will remain locked into gender pay gaps in which on average Asian women make 90 cents on the dollar compared to white men, white women 79 cents, black women 62 cents, Latinas 54 cents, and Native Americans 42 cents. The pay gap received extensive publicity this past summer with the revelation that Fifa pays male World Cup champions ten times the prize money of their female counterparts. Pay gaps also exist because we live in a society in which female-dominated careers are valued less than male-dominated ones. Our society’s tendency to devalue women also affects our basic rights to life and freedom.

Without power, our personal safety and bodily autonomy remains at risk.

Without it, we will always have to navigate a world of danger where one in five of us will be raped, one in four of us will suffer abuse at the hands of

an intimate partner, and eight in ten of us will be sexually harassed in the workplace. Without power, survivors of gender violence will continue to live in a world in which only 4.6 percent of sexual abusers serve time in prison.

Without power, when we are harassed, raped, and abused, we will continue to be blamed for the violence. We will remain painfully familiar with the interrogation: “What were you wearing? How much did you drink?

Why did you go to that bar? Why did you dance like that? What did you do to make him mad? Why did you stay?

What is wrong with you?” We will be told not to get raped or beaten instead of society telling rapists and abusers not to rape or beat.

Without power, misogynist judges will continue to free or mitigate the punishment of boys and men who rape because they don’t want to ruin their lives. And many powerful people in society will support them.

They all forget to ask, “What about her life?” Documentaries like The

Hunting Ground, Audrie & Daisy, and Roll Red Roll tell of such stories.

The Brock Turner case supposedly awakened America to rape culture. #MeToo emerged with Tarana Burke in 2006 and became a social media phenomenon in 2017. Changes began.

Bill Cosby went to prison. Jeffrey Epstein might have faced justice if he had not committed suicide. R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein will be prosecuted. Perhaps they will face justice. Yet others, including the President, who admitted to grabbing women’s genitals, escape justice. And what of all the cases that happen daily in this nation in which so many rapists and abusers are never prosecuted?

How many rapists and abusers live among us?

We must rise together, all women, as intersectional feminists, and we must rise with our allies and fight, not to reverse the power, but to create a new world that empowers all genders equally. We must force America to live up to its founding creed at the opening of the United States Constitution: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and to our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

These words should have created a society of equal opportunity. But they did not.

For centuries, those persons not included in the practice of the American promise have fought in an array of social justice struggles, including abolitionism, feminism, and civil rights activism to force an evolution toward that creed. And yet, the opposition has resisted every inch forward. To this date, America has still not passed the Equal Rights Amendment, which simply states: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.” The Louisiana State Legislature refused to pass it last year.

The Senate has failed to consider the Equality Act to prevent discrimination

against the LGBTQ+ community. The Senate has also neglected to renew the Violence Against Women Act, even in the midst of the #MeToo and #Times Up movements.

To create venues to empower women and other marginalized populations, I have collaborated with the thirtyfive students who work at the Women’s Resource Center to develop programming, podcasts, social media Now in our time, as we face sexist, projects, advocacy campaigns, and a racist, and bigoted backlashes, it is television show, which we highlight as important as ever that we not only in our cover story. We also collaborate take seats at the table, but that we with the Women’s Studies program, contend for the head chairs. At the the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, heart of our mission at the Women’s many student organizations, centers, Resource Center is to empower women departments, and community partners and all marginalized communities. Our to empower women. We welcome you motto is: Education, Empowerment, to join us, to collaborate with us, to Equality. It drives us to fight for enrich our feminist solidarity, and to change, to contribute to the movement help women obtain power. for America to become a government for and by the people—all the people.

Power. It is the central component To become a government of all the of feminism. Without it, feminists people, women and marginalized will never disempower the sexism communities must be equally and misogyny that fosters gender represented in the halls of justice, in violence, discrimination, and injustice. the political arenas, in the military Only by empowering women and all institutions, in the corporate offices, marginalized populations to share in the spiritual landscapes, and in the leadership in the halls and institutions cultural forces that create the social that govern us, will we truly become a fabric of our lives. society governed by and for the people.

May we follow in the path paved by This year, and perhaps every generations of feminists and push year hereafter at the Women’s the struggle forward from seeking Resource Center, we are focusing a seat at the table, to taking many on empowerment of women seats--to commanding our share of and marginalized communities. the head seats. Let us not lose out on Empowerment is at the center of our the girls and women whose gifts of motto between education and equality. leadership are stolen from the world Without educating ourselves and by patriarchy. Rise feminists. Fight for others, we will never be able to achieve power. Embrace power. Empower other power or persuade others that power is women. central to the struggle. Without power, we will never achieve equality.

Art by Aubrey Jane 5

Feminist Manifesto

of the Women’s Resource Center Who We Are We are an intersectional collective of engaged feminists at Loyola University New Orleans that welcomes all people of different races, ethnicities, cultures, religions, nationalities, gender identifications, sexual orientations, ages, and classes.

Our manifesto is a result of a persistent revolution. We build upon the work of those who came before us to push the historical struggle forward through our active engagement in the wider feminist discourse and the sociopolitical climate of New Orleans.

We believe in, promote, and work towards equality for all genders.

We accept, educate, empower, and learn from one another, as well as advance towards a community that embraces and practices gender equality.

We work to push the historical fight of feminism forward by using active engagement at Loyola, and in New Orleans, that builds from the work of previous generations in order to better ourselves and future generations.

Our Goals We will combat gender discrimination by expanding the feminist conciousness and our knowledge through discussion and debate.

We seek to engage with all communities by creating a welcoming space for everyone.

We challenge ourselves and others to engage in advocacy and activism to facilitate individual and institutional changes in our society

How We Enact Our Mission We enact our mission through collaborative relationships with student organizations, departments, and centers within the Loyola community in order to develop an array of intersectional feminist programs, events, and literature.

We immerse ourselves in the New Orleans community by participating in service, sharing scholarship, and engaging in feminist activism.

We discuss various topics at Feminist Fridays, we publish the Feminist Forum to open a greater dialogue, and we host our annual Feminist Festival to bring together feminists from various backgrounds to advance gender equality through forums, workshops, networking opportunities, artistic presentations, performances, and celebrations.

At the Women’s Resource Center we are modern feminists. We are distinct. We are of all ages. We are liberal, radical, cultural and eco feminists. We are an array of colors, creeds, classes, cultures, orientations, and gender identities. And we come together in our common mission to find the path to gender equality.

6

7

Art by Erica Torres 8

Check out some of

Loyola's Student Orgs Feminist Fridays:

Feminist Fridays is an organization that host feminist events and holds a weekly dialogue on gender issues every Friday from 1:30pm-2:20 p.m. in the Women’s Resource Center Living Room. The moderators of Feminist Fridays, Hadori Bukle and Lucia Vives, create a safe space for everyone to speak on current matters dealing with intersectionality, equality, and progression towards empowerment of all genders.

SASA: Students Against Sexual Assault seeks to combat the normalization of sexual assault, victim blaming, and cultural proliferations of unhealthy masculinity by altering the way in which people hold others accountable for their actions and view of society. Education, advocacy, and service are the primary tools that SASA uses in this pursuit of a safer, more egalitarian community.

L.O.V.E.: As a charter organization, Living Our Vision Everyday (L.O.V.E.) serves to continue the ongoing legacy of sisterhood, as well as to support in academia, mentorship, leadership, community service, and overall excellence. As a sisterhood, our goal is to equip each woman with the essential resources for navigating life beyond the classroom. With the understanding that we are not alone, L.O.V.E. aims to cultivate leaders of tomorrow through the guidance of one another. Our biggest goal is to educate the mind, ignite the fire, spark the passion, and illuminate the world.

SELF:

Solidarity, Empowerment, and Leadership for Females The purpose of this organization is to encourage women and girls to support each other, feel and express confidence in everything they do, and to celebrate women regardless of their race or identity.

To achieve this, we are going to implement a mentoring program with the girls in the New Orleans community. Our goal is to not only build up a relationship with these girls, but to also express the power in the unity of women!

Women in Politics:

Women in Politics is an organization for the advancement and support of women in politics.

We are an organization which helps women run for office in our university and connect with local politicians, and much more. We give voice to women and their civic involvement.

Plus+:

PLUS+ is an organization founded to foster community, inclusivity and growth at Loyola University New Orleans. Our organization has several community gatherings, discussion-based meetings, sponsored events on-campus and throughout New Orleans. Open up.

Be yourself. PLUS more.

SAGE:

Student Advocates for Gender Equality (SAGE) was founded in 2011 with the purpose of breaking down gender stereotypes and expectations. We focus on providing awareness of all gender identities through meetings, fun socials, and campus-wide programming, such as Loyola's 1st Annual Transgender 101 Workshop.

Art by Erica Torres 9

Cover Story

Powerful Women

Empowering Other Women: Professional Women in Advocacy Workshop – New Orleans

By Patricia Boyett

Mayor LaToya Cantrell & President Tania Tetlow

10

Kristine Brethaupt

T

he Women’s Resource Center opened the 2019-2020 year by collaborating with LeeAnn Peterson to bring her Professional Women in Advocacy Workshop to Loyola University New Orleans. Peterson developed the first workshop in 2013 in Washington D.C. and expanded to hold regional workshops in Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City. This year, for the first time, Peterson brought her workshop to New Orleans by partnering with Loyola’s Women’s Resource Center. Many local organizations sponsored the event, including NOLA4Women, Junior League of New Orleans, and NOW, LOVE. Peterson developed PWIA because she “believes that when women are involved at the highest levels of policy making, everyone benefits.” Consequently, she considers it vital to connect women in their fields and to “give women advocates the tools and information they need to competently and confidently represent their organization or cause.”

O

n September 25, over 100 hundred women congregated in Loyola’s St. Charles Room to learn from extraordinary women leaders in New Orleans and to develop new tools and leadership skills to advocate for their causes and empower women. The workshop opened with two inspiring women who have broken the glass ceilings in their fields: President Tania Tetlow, the first woman and the first lay person to lead Loyola University New Orleans, and Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the first woman to serve as mayor in the City of New Orleans. Both President Tetlow and Mayor Cantrell called on the women in the room to work in solidarity, to empower women of all demographics, and to create a more just and equitable world.

11

Cover Story spoke of the long history of gender and racial oppression that stretches back to the sexual violence in slavery, that thrived during Jim Crow, and that plagues women of all demographics.

Tetlow called this sexual violence a “profound injustice” that had no adequate name. In the modern era, #MeToo, she said, has given the survivors a voice and a platform.

Women must sustain that struggle and challenge the world to change. She called on all women to work together, “inside and outside” the halls of power. Together, she said, “women can make change happen.” Tetlow emphasized the change the City of New Orleans is making right now by having elected its first female mayor.

She introduced Mayor LaToya Cantrell as a woman who has “a passion for standing up to those in power” and giving a voice to the “powerless.”

P

resident Tetlow paid homage to the two women who served as great mentors in her own life: Representative Lindy Boggs and Bogg’s daughter, Cokie Roberts, a renowned political journalist, who had recently passed away. These strong and brilliant women taught her different ways of navigating gender obstacles to achieve success.

Boggs used her impressive diplomatic skills to persuade her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support important causes. Roberts, Tetlow recalled, “could be far more blunt and forceful,” and she never feared “calling someone out on an issue.” Roberts was also incredibly giving of her time and expertise and mentored many women. Tetlow always reminds herself of the importance of mentoring, giving back, and keeping up the fight.

On those days that she is tired, she says to herself: “Think what Cokie would do and keep going.” She makes herself available to mentor women and continues to fight for gender equity.

She paused to look about the room and said, “Do not ignore the 100 pound weight on your back called gender.

Talk about it. Insist on change. If we won’t do it, who will?”

Tetlow never fears talking about women’s challenges and rights, even

12

the most painful struggles women face. She has devoted much of her career to fighting gender violence. She reminded the audience that “three women are murdered a day in this country because we aren’t obedient enough. When we are beaten and trapped, we are told it’s our fault.” She

Mayor Cantrell echoed Tetlow’s theme of sacrificing personal time for the success of all women. She expressed how vital it is for women to move into positions of power together and to never forget all the women who helped them. Women who want to make changes in the political arena

must sacrifice a great deal. “The time for us to slow down,” the mayor said, “is almost never.” She recalled that as she moved up through her grassroots work in the Broadmoor community in New Orleans, to city council, to the mayor’s office, she always had to think of the next task and how to facilitate a better society. To advance social justice, women must take risks. “You have to put skin in the game,” she said. She also cautioned women from allowing the political world to change their character. “We must stay true to ourselves.”

The mayor cautioned that women would find other women who worked against them, who tried to tear them down, and in so doing, harmed the struggle. She encouraged women “to connect as real sisters in this work. You can’t tear down another sister when we’re trying to build our community.” She mentioned that she recently had an incident where a woman failed to understand the struggles that black women faced.

The lack of willingness of this woman to seek to understand experiences outside of her own frustrated the mayor. Cantrell emphasized how important it was for women “to step out of [their] bubble[s]” and to understand the different struggles women faced based on their many other identities, like race.

During the last election, Mayor Cantrell noted that she and another woman, Desiree Charbonnet, competed for the mayoral office in a run-off election. The selection of two women for the run-off, Cantrell said, showed that “the City of New Orleans decided that the future of this city was going to be female.” As mayor, she has focused on working daily to make this city a better place for women and all marginalized communities. She complimented all the women in the room for gathering at Loyola to learn how to improve their advocacy and

to work with each other. “This room is very powerful – the work you do is important. You are not alone because you are on the ground advocating.”

Events such as these gave her hope for the future of women. Yes, she was the first woman to become mayor in New Orleans. But she was certain she would not be the last because “women like you will manifest change in future generations to come.”

The message of female solidarity and uplifting marginalized communities became a central theme of the workshop, one echoed by the keynote luncheon speaker, CEO of the Urban League of Louisiana Judy Reese Morse, and woven into each of the sessions.

Panels of advocates, political leaders, legal experts, and businesswomen taught attendees how to develop and foster grassroots movements, how to improve marketing with original social media projects, how to run successful election campaigns, and how to develop and empower advocacy networks. In addition, Rebecca South, Federal Compliance Associate, State & Federal Communications shared important information about ensuring that one’s organization is complying with the law in its advocacy work in the “Lobbying and Ethics Compliance Tutorial.”

13

Cover Story

T

he Innovation in Advocacy and Breakthrough Communication for Advocacy sessions moderated

by Sherry Whitworth, Executive Vice President of FiscalNote, and Melissa Richmond, Chief Strategy Officer of Running Start, respectively taught attendees the latest tools, trends, and technologies in advocacy work and how to use old and new tools to communicate with policy makers and stakeholders. Sarah E. Vandergriff, Legal Director, Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools shared some important means of increasing advocates and partners for one’s cause or organization, including holding member meetings, composing newsletters, hosting partnership and coalition meetings, and developing an advocacy corps that will respond rapidly to calls to action.

Aaron Ahlquist, South Central Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League, suggested finding “new voices to push messages.” He stressed that groups which oppose each other on many issues could still come together to advocate for a policy that both groups support. He referenced the coalition between the Koch Brothers and Warren Buffet to advance the unanimous jury project as a perfect example. He also noted the importance of asking questions before

starting any project, such as: Are you in the role of leader or ally in a shared space? What is your central mission?

What are the barriers? How can you overcome the challenges?

Panelist Melissa Cressey (Vice President of Global Strategies, DS Political) is a master of developing strategies. Her work involves integrating data and technology to persuade constituents to vote for progressive candidates and support progressive causes and issues. Cressey emphasized the importance of understanding the constituency and/ or audience the advocate is addressing.

For example, when Cressey supported a teacher strike in her work, she reached out to parents and explained why teachers should not have to use their meager wages to pay for supplies for students. She used media messaging to pressure legislatures.

In one message, she asked legislators: why do you hate children? By denying teacher’s proper funding and salaries, she argued, the legislatures were denying children access to the education they would need to thrive.

Kristine Breithaupt (founder of Last Word Strategies) explained how to use effective messaging through social media. First, she said, post emotional

Melissa Cressey 14

content as people are drawn to stories that are sad or funny. Second, present a well-crafted and short argument and evidence that proves a point. Third, use human faces as humans are drawn to their own species. Fourth, select orange as a color as it is rarely used and thus draws attention.

Sherae Hunter, Director, Community Outreach and Special Projects, Councilmember at Large Helena Moreno, emphasized the importance of also using more traditional methods of outreach and communication. “New Orleans is a city of neighborhoods” with folks of different ages and demographics. Some constituents prefer leaders call them, others communicate via social media, and some prefer leaders and officials visit their homes. Hunter spends many hours at neighborhood meetings and making personal connections with constituents. She recalled driving with a woman constituent across her neighborhood as the woman pointed out problems she wanted resolved, such as potholes and the removal of abandoned cars. During their drive, Hunter also learned that the constituent wanted to learn how to text on her flip phone. So, Hunter taught her. These personal connections are vital to understanding the needs of a neighborhood and addressing them.

Panelists also recommended that advocates remain open to critical reviews of their work and to demonstrate a willingness to revamp a program or campaign that is failing.

Sydney Gray, Senior Director of Impact and Operations at Propeller, made a crucial point about making such a change. Propeller, as stated on its website, provides a “free program designed to help startup and growth stage entrepreneurs start, grow, and transform their businesses.” Gray recalled that Propeller initially used a race neutral strategy. However, once the leaders of Propeller came to understand that “race neutral” means white “racial dominance,” they revamped their mission and now use their program to advance racial justice.

Judy Reese Morse

T

he keynote speaker, President and CEO of the Urban League Judy Reese Morse, has devoted much of her career to racial and gender justice in America. Her powerful and inspiring talk moved everyone in the room. She spoke of her grandmother who toiled as a child at the Flotilla Plantation and worked as a cook and maid as an adult to pave the way for future generations to thrive. Morse recalled that they called her grandmother, “a tough piece of leather that is well put together.” She smiled through tears and said, “Even though she couldn’t make it, she made it possible for me.” Morse’s father and mother also helped pave the way for her. As a profile celebrating Morse’s work in 2016 in Urban Innovation Exchange noted, her father served as a freedom rider and member of the Congress of Racial Equality during the Civil Rights Movement. “Growing up I always heard about the importance of equity and justice and fairness – unless all of us are saved, none of us are saved.”

Reese’s passion for equity led her to work for Congresswoman Lindy Boggs, a woman she called “the most

admired woman in Congress who fought so hard for the least of her constituents.” During that work, she met many extraordinary mentors in her field who became her champions.

Morse flourished under such mentors and rose to work in Louisiana state government with Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu and eventually as Deputy Mayor when Mitch Landrieu became mayor of New Orleans. Morse focused much of her work on race and equity in America in Landrieu’s administration and is proud of the progress that the Landrieu administration achieved.

bring to the world.” She called on the audience “to use your privilege to make public arenas open to women of color.” In addition, she summoned them to consider ways of making the world a more inclusive, equitable, and just place. To advance such goals, she said that advocates need to identify their own biases and dismantle them and to intentionally include historically marginalized populations in power centers. The whole room rose to its feet in applause as she finished her powerful talk.

During her rise in the political arena and her advocacy work, she sought to serve as a mentor to others. Morse stressed the importance of women seeking power to empower other women and to improve the lives of those who suffer most, particularly women of color. Governing institutions, she said, need the perspective and ideas of women of color. To ensure that women of color have a seat at the table, mentors need to provide women of color “access, information, champions, and respect for the perspective women of color

15

Cover Story

Diversity & Inclusion Panel

Markey Pierre & Nia Weeks

E

mpowering marginalized populations became the heart of the Diversity and Inclusion in Advocacy panel moderated by Dr. Natasha Bingham, Associate Professor of Political Science and Co-Chair of the Women’s Studies Program at Loyola. All three panelists emphasized the importance of empowering women, particularly women of color.

Panelist Melanie Oubre, the Executive Director of Emerge Louisiana, stated that Emerge seeks to close the gender gap in the political arena by recruiting Democratic women to run for office and by training and supporting them.

Nia Weeks, Founder and Executive Director of Citizen SHE United, often works closely with Oubre because she also seeks to restructure the system.

The mission of SHE is to “inform, advocate for, and enact a policy agenda for black women across the state.” Weeks focuses on five major issues: educational justice, economic justice, health care access, quality voter care, and criminal justice reform. SHE advocates engage deeply in community outreach to explain issues to residents and to mobilize them to vote and to run for office.

16

Registered lobbyist, Dr. Markey W. Pierre, Southern Strategy Group – NLA, offered an interesting perspective from an insider in the political scene. She has had great success because she has learned to directly confront the challenges of succeeding in a male-dominated and white-dominated field. Women, she said, must “demand a seat at the table” in lobbying, particularly because lobby work greatly influences the development and implementation of policies that govern society. She understands that many women perceive lobbying as a “daunting profession” because it is dominated by white men. Many women believe that most white male lobbyists will prevent women, particularly women of color, from entering the door. Dr. Pierre argues the first step is to break that mindset and realize: “you can get in the door if you just walk in.”

Lobbying, Dr. Pierre said, is hard work that involves deep study of the issues, developing talking points, reading the daily reports, and preparing and attending committee meetings. But above all, it requires “cultivating

relationships.” She learned early in her work that the men in her field like to gather at the cigar bar and the golf course. These were important doors to their world. So, she walked through the door to the cigar bar and onto the golf course and soon found that she too enjoyed these activities. She has gone to the center of the boys club and joined it. By being on the inside, she has acquired access and power to make a difference. She called on the attendees to do the same. “Let’s be a disrupter to make a change in our community. We can’t do that if we sit back and accept what is.”

Oubre and Weeks want to restructure the system. Oubre, like Dr. Pierre, emphasized that the good ole boys club remains a powerful force in Louisiana politics because these men have the funds and connections and help other good old boys run and win.

On average women are asked seven times before they run for office and women of color are asked fourteen times in large part because it seems impossible to break into the good old boys club via elections. Thus, Oubre focuses much of her energy on

Natasha Bingham & Melanie Oubre

changing that mindset and recruiting.

She often tells women: “Your city needs you. Your state needs you. Your country needs you.” The obstacle is not just the gatekeepers of the good old boys club, but money. Oubre notes that many women candidates, who work full time and have families, lack the time and connections to raise money. Oubre also works to recruit mass support for women. “If you have a few bucks,” she said to the audience, “give to a woman running for office.”

Weeks agreed that women “might not be able to raise as much money, but we can raise people.” And one raises people by spending time canvassing neighborhoods, teaching people about the issues, convincing them that if they all vote, they will make a difference. Both Oubre and Weeks stressed that electing women helps society at large. Oubre pointed out that the Barbara Lee Family Foundation’s research determined that women are better candidates and leaders because they focus

on policies rather than pettiness during elections, they pass more bills while serving, and they bring more money to their districts. Oubre reminded the attendees that they had an opportunity in the upcoming election in Louisiana on October 12 to make significant changes by electing women. The election, she stressed, includes the election of state representatives who will be drawing our district lines. “Go vote,” she said.

“Go unrig the system.”

All the panelists discussed the importance of the Women’s Movement and ensuring that it is diverse and successful. Oubre said, “Diversity in the movement is what makes it important.” She also noted how important it is to work toward empowering each other. She said, “It’s lifting while you rise.” Dr. Pierre agreed, stating, “We have to empower one another as we seek power.” Weeks declared, “part of your role all the time is supporting each other. . . . Our job is to create a world that is better.”

The next generation will then be able “to create a world that they want their children to inherit.”

17

Cover Story

Representative Stephanie Hilferty

Been There Done That Panel

T

he final panel of the day, Been there Done that – Women of Distinction, moderated by Dawn Starns, Louisiana State Director NFIB, delved into the generational changes that powerful women could produce.

Representative Stephanie Hilferty, Louisiana House of Representatives for district 94, and a Loyola graduate, started her political career by serving as a president of her neighborhood board. As New Orleans is a city of strong neighborhoods, these boards are often an important springboard to higher office. Still, Hilferty, like most women, had to be asked several times to run for the state legislature. She won by campaigning door-to-door and learning about the issues important to the constituents. Hilferty became the second woman in Louisiana to give birth during a legislative session, which presented many challenges for her. She had to carry her breast pump behind her when she came back the floor for sessions. Yet such an image, she hoped, would help woman reimagine the possibilities of serving in government and would convince society in general that women could be mothers and political leaders.

In addition, she is hopeful that she serves as a strong role model for her daughter, who enjoys attending events with her and often wants to join her on stage. By seeing her mother lead, she will believe that she and all girls could grow up to be leaders.

18

Mayra Pineda, President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, credits her mother for influencing her to become a leader.

Pineda moved to New Orleans in 1980 when her widowed mother accepted a position at the Consulate of Honduras. Pineda constantly accompanied her mother at events and received an experiential education in diplomacy. In her early career, she worked in the tourist and service industries and owned a franchise restaurant for twenty-five years.

Eventually, Pineda became the former Consul General of Honduras in New Orleans, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. In her current work as President and CEO of

the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, she represents her community: “I pull my chair up at the table to educate.”

Councilwoman Kristin Palmer also touched on the importance of reimagining that mothers could be leaders. She recalled that during her first run for city council, she was “written off as a community activist and a mom.” When she lost, she determined she would put her efforts into rebuilding after Katrina. However, she did not give up on her dream of serving as a councilwoman. “Losses do not define you,” she insisted, “but how you handle them does.” She ran again in 2010 and won. In 2014, she took a

Mayra Pineda

step back because her children were teenagers, and she wanted to spend time with them. She urged women to make choices that were best suited to them, and to realize that stepping back to spend time with family could be wonderful. In addition, it did not mean that they could not return to the political world if they wished.

Councilwoman Palmer returned to the council in 2018 in a tough and close election, and she is deeply enjoying making important changes in New Orleans.

All four women emphasized that society benefited greatly from female leadership and encouraged women to run and serve in office. They also

must toughen up your skin because you will be knocked down.” She also encouraged them to do the hard work; study policy and cases, find out who works for who in order to know who to contact, and develop relationships with other leaders and constituents.

“Listen to people,” she said.

“The more they talk, the more they like you.”

Judge Paulette Irons

Like Irons, Councilwoman Palmer emphasized that politics is a tough business.

To survive and thrive in that world, she provided important advice about how advised women to “know thyself to navigate this male-dominated and be unapologetic.” She also Honorable Paulette R. Irons, Judge of world. Representative Hilferty asked if advised women to “find a passion for Division of M, Section 13 noted that any Loyola students were in the room. something in life. You need something women sometimes “validate ourselves When a table full of Loyola women to sustain you because we take care by trying to do it all.” She began raised their hands, she addressed them of people all the time. Our kids. her political career in the Louisiana directly, telling them how she used her Our parents.” She also shared how Senate where she served for twelve studies at Loyola and her philanthropy rewarding the work could be, how years. While serving in the senate, work in her sorority, Alpha Chi much she loved her work, and how she she realized that men were not reading Omega, to educate herself and prepare toiled every day to make important all the bills. But women always felt to become a leader in the world. She changes in the city that would improve like they had to do more to prove encouraged them to make use of their the lives of New Orleanians. themselves. Judge Irons confronted opportunities at Loyola to empower gender obstacles in the legislature, themselves and others. but she also learned that being a Pineta advised young woman was an asset that she could women in their twenties use to open minds. For example, she to prepare themselves for was particularly proud of ensuring their future careers by that women served on Clinton’s CHIP working hard, seeking and Program task force in Louisiana. appreciating advice from Initially, no women were appointed mentors, believing that to the task force. Senator Irons asked women could thrive in any the men in charge of the task force: field of their choosing, and “Who do you think takes children to surrounding themselves the doctor?” They put women on the with role models. She committee. She also worked to reduce encouraged women to run the complicated Medicaid applications for office and to be fearless that served as a barrier to proper in their pursuits. Judge care. She has focused her career on Irons also encouraged advancing issues that “impacted women to run while also people’s lives.” cautioning them about the challenges they will face. To succeed, “ you

Councilwoman Kristin Palmer

19

Cover Story

M

any of the panelists stayed long after their panel ended to speak with the attendees and join LeeAnn Peterson and attendees in a champagne toast for the final networking session.

Women exchanged business cards, engaged in conversations about their passions for their works and their hopes for the future, and they began to think how they might work with each other and use the tools and methods from the workshop to achieve their goals. In that room filled with women devoted to advocating for themselves and other women, the power of the individual and communal female spirit soared.

LeeAnn Peterson

20

ANSWERING THE CALL TO LEAD: Elect Her Workshop

by Patricia Boyett, Athena Merida, & Noelle Timberlake workshop.

Running Start’s Chief Strategy Officer Melissa Richmond facilitated the workshop. Richmond has substantial experience in the political field. She worked for Mitt Romney during his term as governor of Massachusetts and served as Director of Donor Relations during his presidential campaigns.

Through Running Start, she has Courtesy of Tulane trained women to run for office in fifteen states and in Jamaica, Mexico, Sierra Leone and Tunisia. Richmond brought her considerable expertise to New Orleans and inspired the students mpowerment and solidarity in their dreams of running for office. emerged as central themes in Through a variety of exercises, she Running Start’s Elect Her workshop, taught them how to run for student hosted by the Women’s Resource government and leadership in student Center at Loyola and the Newcomb organizations. Such experience would College Institute at Tulane and prepare them to run for city, state, and sponsored by George Washington federal offices after they graduate.

University’s Graduate School of Participants were first asked to focus Political Management. On September on an issue to build their platform 27, twenty-five women students from Loyola University New Orleans, Tulane upon, then to think about who was a part of their support network and University, Xavier University, and what each person in the network University of New Orleans gathered could contribute to the campaign. at Newcomb College Institute for the Next, participants developed their

E

Rana Thabata & Lauren Gaines Courtesy of Tulane

“elevator speeches,” a thirty second pitch that expresses their character and their causes. The training culminated in a campaign simulation where participants delivered their elevator speeches in small groups, nominated candidates to present to the entire workshop, and then voted on their favorite campaign.

Participants based their platforms on various issues including special needs advocacy, education expansion, college counselling for low-income public schools, climate change, and gun control, among other pressing political issues.

The workshop also included a student leadership panel and a government official panel. During the first panel, attendees learned from the experiences of Rana Thabata, who served as the Chief Justice of Loyola’s Student Government Association for the 2018-2019 academic year and Lauren Gaines, who currently serves as the Vice President for Tulane’s Undergraduate Student Government for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Both of these women are noted as “historic firsts,” as Thabata is Loyola’s first Truman Scholar, and Gaines is

21

Cover Story Each also pointed out the importance of living a respectable life. “People are going to go back to what you did in high school or college,” Judge Pittman noted. “It reflects on your character.”

Judge Pittman and Representative Thomas insisted that anyone running for office had to have a strong sense of self, to be able to handle political attacks, and to work with a previous political opponent, even one who might have previously attacked them.

Melissa Richmond, Representative Polly Thomas, Sharae Hunter, Judge Robin Pittman Representative Thomas emphasized, Courtesy of Tulane “You have no permanent friends nor enemies in politics.” the first African American woman to Judge Pittman and Representative hold an elected student government Thomas shared with the students the Despite the challenges, Hunter, position at Tulane. Both Thabata and challenges and joys of elections. Both Pittman, and Thomas remain Gaines emphasized the importance of them love “knocking on doors” passionate about their work as it of small changes that made lasting and becoming acquainted with their has given them many opportunities impacts on their universities. Gaines constituents. Constituents, they to make a difference in people’s highlighted how she created a brand emphasized, aren’t going to vote lives. Representative Thomas, a for USG as it didn’t have a logo, for someone they have never met. former professor with a passion for website, or anything that they could Meeting constituents face-to-face special education, said she toils to call their own. Thabata is most proud gives the candidates a chance to let improve educational accessibility. of her work in developing Iggy’s them know about their passions and Hunter enjoys immersing herself in Cupboard, Loyola’s first ever free ideas. These personal connections the neighborhoods of New Orleans food pantry. The development of the could make the difference in the polls. to speak with constituents, to pantry came out of a climate survey They also pointed out the importance learn about their needs and hopes that showed a substantial number of always conducting themselves as for the city, and to working with of students struggled financially professionals and understanding that Councilwoman Moreno, the first and often had to skip meals. Loyola campaigning and serving is hard Latina to serve as council president, and Tulane are two very different work. For example, each of them noted to bring those hopes to fruition. universities; however, it was clear that they don’t drink alcohol or eat Judge Pittman shared that one of that any student government has one at political parties and events. Judge her proudest moments was to take goal: to improve student life at their Pittman said, “You don’t want to part in the rulings of the Miller university. have your mouth full of food” when case, which has allowed her to free someone wants to ask you a question. prisoners “who never should have The government officials panel Hunter stated that when she is at an been” imprisoned. Thomas, Hunter, included Judge Robin Pittman (Orleans event, she knows “it’s about my boss,” and Pittman all considered it vital Parish, District F) State of Louisiana and her job is not to partake in the that women increasingly enter the Representative Polly Thomas (District celebration but to do the work. political arena as elected officials and 80), and Ms. Sharae Hunter, (Director as staff members. Women, they all of Community Engagement and Special Projects for Councilwoman Helena Morena). All three women provided an in-depth look at the challenges in the municipal, state, and judicial arenas and the struggles that women particularly face in running for and holding an office. While moderating the panel, Richmond pointed out that on average, women have to be asked seven times to run for office, a point Representative Thomas confirmed. She pointed to the audience of students and smiled: “You don’t have to be asked though because you are here.”

22

Feature

Gabrielle Restaurant

and the Resilient Women Who Run It

By Challon Palmer

S

eptember 27th, 2017, saw the reopening of a classic New Orleans restaurant that had previously been lost in the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina. Originally, it was run by Mary and Greg Sonnier, two established chefs in their own right.

From 1994 until Hurricane Katrina, Gabrielle Restaurant hosted a nightly celebration of Cajun and Creole cuisine that tourists and locals constantly enjoyed.

Now, with the second anniversary of Gabrielle Restaurant’s long-awaited comeback quickly approaching, Mary and her daughter, Gabrielle (the original inspiration behind it all), are sitting down to talk about their incredible journey to reopening.

23

Feature G: Our fanbase was really happy that we were coming back. You know, people will come in and say “oh, I used to go to the old place and I’m so happy M: Greg actually found it. I don’t know you’re back!” if he drove by it or saw an ad for sale M: They had been looking forward but he was the one who first found it. to us coming back for years, so that’s Gabrielle: I think they wanted to It was originally a little convenience definitely the biggest thing that reopen right after the hurricane but store that also sold food out of the survived. the building was destroyed and it was back. difficult to get the insurance payout, G: We had also been looking What new additions have helped so they sold the building and bought everywhere. reinvigorate Gabrielle Restaurant another one that they then weren’t M: Everywhere! We had been looking since you’ve reopened? able to open a restaurant in. all over New Orleans, all over the Mary: We had to operate a catering West Bank, Metairie, everywhere, for M: I think [Gabrielle] being here is business because of that. years. We looked at rental properties the biggest one. She never really liked G: It wasn’t a decision to wait twelve but we didn’t really want to rent going to our old restaurant. I think she years, [circumstances] meant that it anywhere either because we didn’t almost resented the restaurant. couldn’t happen for twelve years. want to put money into something G: I didn’t resent it! There was just that we didn’t own. Greg found this nothing for me to do. I’d go in and sit So in addition to the insurance place and then when we came to look there and make paperclip jewelry and payout, what sort of challenges did at it, all of the kitchen equipment and put scotch tape all over my face. you face with trying to reopen? air conditioning equipments were M: But, really, I think her being here brand new. The only thing we worried is really the biggest addition. There’s M: We actually found a building in about was the neighborhood because something really fresh to it.

2015 in Gretna that we put an offer on we weren’t familiar with the area. So G: We also have Open Table so we can and it was accepted. [The owner] was for two weeks we would drive around take reservations online-doing renovations on the building and the neighborhood or walk around to M: Which is really strange to me! I said it was going to take six weeks and see what kind of people were around don’t think I could do it. then six weeks turned into six months here and it looked nice. And then with and the day we were supposed to go to Dooky Chase being two blocks away, So, Gabrielle, you’re the namesake the act of sale he just didn’t show up. that was even better. But before we of the original restaurant and So that took us almost a year. put an offer in, we went and spoke now you’re running it after it’s G: And we were pretty much back with our friend Lea Chase, at first to comeback. How does it feel to be in to square one trying to find a new ask if she would mind if we moved into that position? building. Also, the building that [Mary her neighborhood, but also what she and Greg] originally purchased was thought about us coming in. And she G: It’s interesting. I think the weirdest in their neighborhood, about a block was really welcoming and encouraging part is that I’m one of the youngest away. Dealing with the neighbors about the idea. people here and yet I’m in charge of was really hard because that was the G: When we asked her if she thought everyone, which is a little strange. I neighborhood we all still lived in-anyone would bother us, she told us think, also, working with my dad has M: It was really hard emotionally as that she told all the bad boys to leave been nice because we get to spend well as financially. We had a lot of us alone. So after that we put down time together since I didn’t see him lawsuits filed against us. (a server, an offer and it got accepted and then much growing up and now we work from the sidelines, shouts: “they sued we started the process of getting our together five nights a week, which is you?!”) [Our neighbors] sued us, they permits and renovating. But we also really nice. put up signs in their yards. kept it very quiet--I don’t think we G: We would get threatening letters even told our family, really.

Like you said, you’re one of the in the mail. They were anonymous, M: We didn’t want any problems. youngest people working here. typed out letters-You’re a thirty year old woman in M: They were threatening us and Aside from Mary and Greg, what charge of a staff of middle-aged and telling us to leave. survived from the old Gabrielle? older career servers. Have you faced G: And then the city opposition was any challenges because of that? really hard because the city was G: Our customer base definitely trying to promote rebuilding but they survived.

G: Yeah, I think that, when it comes wouldn’t let you rebuild.

M: Our customer base--some old time to making decisions about what M: I went through a time where I plates and silverware, also. Some of is best for the business, it’s hard couldn’t even leave the house. our original dishes, like the roasted because these are people’s careers. If duck and the barbecue shrimp pie, you let a twenty-year old go, they’re customer favorites. going to bounce back, but if you let Gabrielle Restaurant reopened two years ago after a twelve year hiatus.

What made you guys decide to wait that long to reopen after the hurricane?

24

So how did you find your current location on Orleans Avenue?

a sixty-year old person go--I know they’ll eventually bounce back but it’s still hard.

How do you deal with that?

G: I just have to remember that we are a business and while I want to take care of our staff, I need to take care of our business first. If I don’t take care of the business first then there won’t be a business for the staff.

Now, Mary, you moderated the Women in Food panel that the Women’s Resource Center hosted back in March. Do you feel like there is a strong camaraderie between the women in the culinary

world in New Orleans?

M: That is an interesting question. I think there probably is but I don’t feel as though I am a part of it because I’m a lot older than a lot of them. I have a camaraderie with a few of them but they’re mostly restaurateurs, not chefs like I am. When I was a chef, there weren’t so many women in the game.

G: I don’t know if it’s so much a female camaraderie as much as it is a generational camaraderie. I think there’s a new wave of post-katrina chefs that are coming in and opening their own restaurants in the same circles.

M: And I just don’t really know them that well because they are so much younger than I am. I think they have

a respect for me, but not really a camaraderie.

G: What we do here a lot of people don’t really understand because it is an old school New Orleans-y kind of thing and not something modern. And what you have to remember is that New Orleans has a lot of transplants that have now opened businesses here which has caused the food scene to evolve. What we’re doing is a lot more authentic, but some people don’t necessarily understand that.

Gabrielle Restaurant is open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner and Thursday-Saturday for lunch.

Reservations can be made over the phone or through OpenTable.

25

Columns Playlist: I Don’t Get High - Tank and The Bangas Ants - Tank and The Bangas Karaoke - Big Freedia Poppin’ - Big Freedia If I Die - Maggie Koerner Birds - Maggie Koerner You Say - Lauren Daigle Rescue - Lauren Daigle

Maggie Koerner - If I Die, Birds

By Carolyne Schofner Tank and The Bangas

After six years, Tank and The Bangas released their sophomore album “Green Balloon” in the spring of 2019.

The local New Orleans group combines melodic lyrics and spoken word to form their unique style. Frontwoman Tarriona “Tank” Bell performed as a spoken word poet before joining the group, influencing the impactful lyrics and genre of their music. This spoken word style becomes evident in singles from “Ants” to “Green Balloon” with fast flow and short verses that keep you on your toes to catch every word. Throughout the album, this fast flow is mixed the bellowing yet soothing voice of Bell that rings in your head and your heart. It’s almost like experiencing a live spoken word performance with a complementing improv jazz performance in the background. The album switches back and forth between this jazz-y, serious flow and more pop-y rap tracks, both pleasing to the listener. Tank and The Bangas are currently their United States tour. Make sure to catch them at Tipitina’s this winter on November 30.

26

Big Freedia - Karaoke, Poppin’

New Orleans’ Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia, is growing in star and notoriety. While the gender-non conforming artist has had notable success at home for many years, her voice gained international recognition after being featured on hits like “Formation” by Beyonce and “Nice for What” by Drake. Not only has she been featured on hits from major artists, Big Freedia has had big features on music of her own. In 2018, Big Freedia released her EP “Third Ward Bounce.” The hit song “Karaoke” from the album features the dynamic pop artist Lizzo, propelling Big Freedia into the mainstream with almost 6 million streams on Spotify.

“Karaoke” along with the other four songs in the EP provide Freedia’s confident commands of words of selfencouragement with big-bass sounds perfect for a party. The sound of the EP embodies the groove and get down of New Orleans culture, typical of the bounce genre. She is currently on her international Bounce tour

Maggie Koerner is an alternative rock artist with a twist. Her honest lyrics and soulful voice make for a powerful listening experience. A Shreveport native, Koerner made the move to New Orleans to pursue her singing career after impressing The Revivalists at their own show. The singer’s latest EP “Dig Deep Down” came out in 2016. This fall the singer came out with two new singles “If I Die” and “Shadows.” These two singles depart from the artist’s previous EP with a grittier sound closer to southern rock, showing her versatility while sticking to her soulful sound. She is currently on a continental United States tour.

Lauren Daigle

Lauren Diagle, former American Idol contestant and Lafayette native, has evolved her music and artist image.

She no longer accepts the label of “Christian” artist and songwriter. Her distinction as a two-time GRAMMY Award winner proves the depth of her songwriting skills. Diagle’s latest album, “Look Up Child,” won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards. The lead single, “You Say,” is a pop crossover hit with powerhouse vocals that have been compared to Adele. “You Say” features uplifting messages and reminders of strength fit for any listener that continue throughout the whole album. Diagle presents breathtaking arrangements with words of loving acceptance. She is currently on her Look Up Child World Tour.

T

oday women still face unequal financial barriers across the globe that hold them back from being included in the economy and improving women's rights over all.

There is a $320 billion shortfall in access to credit for women worldwide according to IDB Invests Chief Investment Officer, Gema Sacristan. Access to credit can assist women in starting up more women owned businesses by creating more economic opportunities.

It can also be an entry into further financial services for women. With more businesses opening worldwide as a result of giving more women equal opportunities, it shows that it is not only about equality but also about expanding the economy overall. The problem is that women face barriers in all regions, there are laws including gender differences in both developing and developed countries.

Across the globe more than 2.7 million women are legally held back from attaining the same job as men and according to The Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, closing the gender labor

gap could add $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025.

Women make up more than twice the population of India and China combined of the global economy, by empowering women and supporting their economic interests, income equality and economic diversity will boost, resulting in a more stable economy worldwide. So what are some simple ways to invest in women? Start by asking who is managing your funds. Many large institutions have none or few women fund managers and having just one can make your money move in a totally different direction. Having women be a part of managing your funds means money will be going towards issues that concern women, which in turn will open up many more opportunities for women. Another obvious way to invest in women is to actually invest in companies owned or led by women. Although there are plenty of statistics to show women led companies perform the same, if not better, than male led companies, less than ten percent of Fortune 500 companies are led by women. By investing in women led companies people will be investing in the future of women leaders.

By Isabel Dickinson

27

Columns

By Stephanie Adams & Kaitlyn Manning

A

mong the many events Loyola’s Women’s Resource Center host, Take Back the Night has become a community event. Students and residents of surrounding areas come together in a night of support for survivors of sexual assault. The hope of this event is to not only raise awareness of these heinous acts but empower the survivors. This event is partnered with students and faculty at Tulane, UNO, Dillard, and Xavier.

Take Back the Night allows survivors in the New Orleans community to know that they are not alone. People hear their stories, believe them, and stand with them.

Take Back the Night is relevant to the importance of Title IX. Title IX protects students from gender discrimination at state funded educational institutions. This includes public K-12 schools, as well as most colleges and universities. Title IX also protects the rights of survivors of sexual violence. Title IX grants

28

survivors the right to not share spaces with the accused, protects survivors from retaliation, as well as require schools to be proactive in their investigations, among other things.

Loyola University offers many resources for survivors. Confidential reporting is available in the University Counseling Center (Danna Center 2nd Floor, 504-865-3835), Student Health Center (Danna Center Lower Level, 504-865-3326), and Pastoral Counseling (Danna Center Lower Level, 504-865-3622). With confidential reporting, no information is given to the school unless it is requested.

Private reporting is available in the Women’s Resource Center (Marquette 315/318, 504-865-3083) and through certified Title IX Advocates. Private reporters report details of events to the school without providing names unless the survivor requests so. Mandatory reporting is available through Loyola University Police Department (Biever Hall and Founder’s

Hall, 504-865-3434), The Student Conduct/Title IX Office (Danna Center Room 222, 504-865-3428), Residential Life (Located in Biever Hall, 504-8652445), and all Loyola faculty and staff, including student staff who have responsibilities involving students.

Mandatory reporters must report the incident to the school and give names.

Alongside efforts to support survivors, LUPD has offered suggestions for taking precautionary measures. LUPD suggest saving their number to your favorites in your contacts, to keep it readily available if needed. They also sell POM, a keychain that only requires three taps to alert help. You will speak with a dispatcher as they receive your location and see your profile. They also remind everyone to hang out and groups and when going out never take a drink from someone you do not know or leave it alone. One good rule of thumb is to understand what resources are available and the various ways to stick together in prevention methods.

H

Coming up, Plus+ has several events planned, including a Holiday celebration, a talent show, and even a Gleaux prom at the end of spring! The Holiday celebration, or Holigays with Plus+, is an event where everyone can celebrate the holidays on campus in a safe environment. We plan to hang out in pjs, decorate cookies, eat popcorn, and watch cheesy holiday movies. We also will host a talent show, which will showcase the LGBTQIA+ community, showing off the art and talent of the LGBT students on our campus. And finally, for Gleaux Prom, we plan to have the open environment everyone could have hoped for at their high school prom with food and a DJ all under black lights. We will offer an event to decorate clothes for a small fee that you can wear to glow prom, and when you wear them you get a discount on tickets!

If you want more events on campus, or want to see more of us, sign up for the Plus+ committees! You will take part in being an instrumental part of the organization and helping to bring to fruition your ideas for Plus+!

We would love for everyone to get involved, sign up to be part of the committees for event planning and social media, and even just coming to events. Be sure to follow us on instagram and howl connect to be sure you know about all of our upcoming events, and we can not wait to see you all!

Insta: www.instragram.com/loynoplus

Tr a ns

i, I am Leo Thomas, the current president of Plus+ and I want to tell you about what our organization has been doing so far and what we plan for the rest of this year! Recently, we celebrated Coming Out Day, which is such an important part of the LGBT community. As Harvey Milk once said, “...Break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions. For your sake. For their sake. For the sake of the youngsters who are becoming scared by the votes from Dade to Eugene.� Coming out is not only to let people know who you are, but is also to let people who think they do not know someone who is LGBTQIA+, but instead that they just do not know yet. Coming out is an act of protest, to stop the spread of homophobia. Plus+ talked about the significance and listened to the stories of students who were coming out to give them a place where they felt.

Executive board members shared their stories with membership to spawn the discussion and to make members feel comfortable in the environment they were in.

Talk s

By Leo Thomas

29

Columns

By Emmaline Bouchillon

T

ucked away in the depths of Monroe hides an airy studio where beautiful clothing sings on racks and fabric dances under sewing needles. Surrounded by massive windows and drenched in natural light, Baylee Robertson works in Loyola’s equivalent of a Fashion House. The eclectic designer creates costumes for the theatre department on campus, showcasing her work in both Violet and These Shining Lives. With a major in theatre arts and double minor in businessand studio arts, her creativity expands beyond the walls of her work-study.

Her off-campus catalogue includes Shrek, Aladdin, and My Fair Lady to name a few. Baylee began working in theatre as assistant director and stage manager. One day she took on the position of costume designer

30

last minute to save a production and never looked back. Her role as costume designer came naturally to Baylee, whose Grandma taught her to sew at age 4. She got her first sewing machine for her sixth birthday, which she still has today.

In college, Baylee dove deeper into fashion. For her costume design class, she planned a research based runway show to highlight historical lesbian figures, incorporating period accurate clothing. As Baylee puts it, “Saffo to Hailey Kyoko on one runway, in clothes. But make it fashion.”

she has a deep love for funky pieces, always dressing to the beat of her daily mood. Baylee emphasized the importance of wearing whatever you want fearlessly and experimenting with different looks. Her carefree attitude, effortless coolness, and boundless creativity land Baylee a well-deserved spot in Feminist Fits. As she says best, “mix it up. Shake it up.

Shock people, that’s fun.”

Keep an eye out for the Halloween costume sale and the Mardi Gras When it comes to Baylee’s style, “most costume sale in February, both taking of my style icons are queer for sure” place in the costume department, MO with mentions to snappy dressers such 606. Baylee is also a stage manager as Kristen Stewart, Janelle Monae, and for Cabaret this spring, so mark your Laverne Cox. With her background calendar! in fashion and talent with a needle,

By Rhon Ridgeway

G

oing abroad was a thought that had never occurred to me until my sophomore year of college.

I was, and still am, pretty proud of myself for accomplishing something like that all by myself. I am a firstgeneration student, so going to college was the only milestone I planned on completing in four years. But getting to live in London while traveling to Paris, Barcelona, Italy, Edinburgh, and Wales was just the icing on the cake!

Living in London was drastically different for me. First, London time is six hours ahead of New Orleans, so talking to my family and friends from home was only ever for a short period.

Although that was nerve-wracking, it forced me to be in the presence of the world around me. Being in a huge city thousands of miles away from my family has left an impact on the way I live my life. It made me more responsible because I was not working during my semester abroad, therefore, I had to be conscious of how I spent my money. Being conscious meant if I planned on going out that night with friends I made dinner at home instead of eating out. Traveling to other places was also when I had to be very frugal because I was taking mini-vacations inside an already expensive vacation.

Although managing my money became frustrating, I’m glad I was able to learn how to be money conscious while I was a thousand miles away from home.

Living in London for a few months certainly tied into my identity because of the experience as a whole. It was important for me to be comfortable with my own company while also experiencing the challenges of starting entirely from scratch and building a social life in London. I met so many people from different backgrounds and cultures, and finding common ground to connect was a fascinating experience. I appreciate the joy of meeting new people and learning through their experiences and the life they have lived. It’s a spiritual awakening and within learning through people’s experiences I was able to learn more about myself.

Traveling alone as a black woman was genuinely liberating and made me more culturally aware of things I may have been ignorant of. I had a class called Media, Gender, & Identity and it was informative on what happens past the stereotypes of London while touching on what it’s like being a black female from the United Kingdom. It was eye-opening to see what women of color experienced in the UK and how it was pretty similar to the experiences of women of color in the US. I know it sounds scary and expensive but scholarships and grants made me living across the pond much easier.

Also, it’s a learning experience that will stick with you for the rest of your life!

31

Projects & Events

Projects & Events

32

“Being Boss Babes” podcast created and produced by Rhonisha Ridgeway and Vanessa Alvarado.

33

Projects & Events

34

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT

On October 26, the Women’s Resource Center and the University Counseling Center at Loyola will host the twenty-eighth Take Back the Night ceremony, march, and speak-out in partnership with Tulane University, Xavier University, Dillard University, and the University of New Orleans and supported by many community partners, including the Family Justice Center, LaFASA, STAR, Metro, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. During the ceremony, all these partners come together as a community standing in solidarity with survivors to demand justice and to create a world free of gender violence. To advance these goals, Loyola’s Women’s Resource Center are also engaging in advocacy campaigns to demand the Senate renew the Violence Against Women Act, to call for the U.S. Congress to pass the Equality Act to ensure equal protection of the law for the LGBTQ community, and to pass sensible regulation of guns to respond to the horrors of gun violence in America. Come by the One Loyola room in the Danna Center October 21-25 to sign petitions.

We will also be selling Take Back the Night shirts for $10.00.

35

Projects & Events

At The Intersection Cohosts Tyler Sanchez and Carrie Elizabeth Smith host conversations on intersectional feminism in the Crescent City.

36

Poetry

Bound

By Delaney Harper I shine beneath marshes of fantasy, forgetting’s an art when mastered well.

All pain raises the sullen earth that my incantation erodes into islands.

Only a soul’s geography knows the true menace of magic.

The truth behind limestone is ruin, but an atlas of dreams vows respite.

My spell explores the depths of the language: I live a life without leaning, I swim in an ocean of quiet.

My wounds are only as deep as memory.

But the topographer’s craft leaves handprints-his hands are the hired magicians trick; folds me into his palm, a streetside hustle.

He roams, and I dream of him as children dream of sabre-tooth tigers.

The archipelagos are his stepping stones to victory.

I sink beneath marshes of fantasy.

Art by Aubrey Jane 37

38