November 3, 2017

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 96 • Issue 8 • October 27, 2017

THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA

Change comes for Caroline Loyola University Theatre Arts Departments partners with Jefferson Performing Arts Society to perform Tony Kushner's "Caroline, Or Change"

By Davis Walden jdwalden@my.loyno,edu @daviswald

A musical discussing a toppled Confederate monument, racial inequality and a struggle to make social change happen sounds like something new, but for Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s musical “Caroline, or Change,” it was already happening in 2003.

It took 14 years for the Tony award-winning musical to premiere in the greater New Orleans area.

The musical follows Caroline, a maid with four children, in 1963 and her life with her employers.

“Caroline, or Change” discusses racial inequality, oppression and features a sub-plot about a defaced and toppled Confederate monument.

“A lot of the things we see in ‘Caroline, or Change’ are still things that happen to people,” Josie Gautier, dramaturg (a student researcher) and theatre arts sophomore, said.

“It was already relevant because of racial tensions in America. Two weeks after I was assigned as dramaturg, the rally in Charlottesville happened.”

“Caroline, or Change” is being co-produced by Loyola’s Department of Theatre Arts and Dance and the Jefferson Performance Arts Society.

“I just wanted someone to do it.

Nobody was biting. It’s always been on the back of my mind as a wishlist, and then we got this musical theatre program,” Laura Hope, director of “Caroline, or Change,”

said. “We, in 2016, when I became chair [of the department], made a commitment to making more social justice theater to tie in with the mission of the university.”

Hope, along with faculty member Patrick Gendusa, attempted to find a way to put on the musical despite its size and budgetary needs.

“It’s a very complex musical score,” Briana Thompson, who plays Caroline’s friend Dottie, said.

“I feel like it’s a really important show. Especially with the nature of society right now. There’s a new revolution with the African-American community and this play highlights revolution and civil rights.”

Dottie is a younger maid that goes to college during the Civil Rights movement.

“She shows the side of the African-Americans who supported the change, while Caroline is the foil to that change,” Thompson said. “She (Caroline) wants to stay where she is and she is afraid, if she steps out of her boundaries, she’ll be persecuted as many people were.”

The play brings up issues about race and inequality that are talked of today.

“That musical now feels like it was written five minutes ago, even though it’s about the past, because we’re cleaning up now,” Hope said.

“We’re cleaning up some of the stuff that’s never been resolved and has been sublimated and pushed aside in the mainstream culture and media and now it’s back with a vengeance.”

"Caroline, or Change" was nominated for six Tony awards including best musical, best original score

See CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, page 6

Illustrations by Hayley Hynes

LOYOLAMAROON.COM • FB.COM/THELOYOLAMAROON • @LOYOLA_MAROON

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October 27, 2017

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October 27, 2017 The Maroon

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Success coaching offers support to first years

By Sean Brennan shbrenna@my.loyno.edu @sean_themaroon

First year students at Loyola will receive something new along with their student IDs and dormitory keys: a professional success coach.

All Loyola freshmen have personal life coaches provided through the university’s success coaching program, offering individual support to over 800 students after working with about 30 students last semester.

“Our goal is to partner with first year students to engage in goal setting and reflection as soon as they arrive at Loyola,” said Liz Rainey, director of Retention and Student Success. “Personally, my goal is to provide support before students even think to ask.”

Rainey brought the idea for classwide success coaching to Loyola over the summer. At a conference, she met representatives from InsideTrack, an education company based out of Portland, Oregon, and learned about their services for students.

The company reports a 10 percent increase on first year retention at mid-sized public universities. At large community colleges, they found a 24 percent increase on retention for low-income and first-generation students. They also found around a 10 percent increase on graduation and completion rates at several institutions.

After seeing the impact on these rates at other schools who used InsideTrack, Rainey and university representatives agreed to a threeyear partnership with the company.

The coaching program will be internal after those three years.

Now, Rainey is one of the 15 success coaches from across campus using InsideTrack’s methods to boost students’ independence.

Coaches include faculty and staff from the College of Arts and Sciences; Business; Music and Fine Arts; the Career Development Center; the University Honors Program; the Student Success Center and InsideTrack.

“Success coaches partner with students to develop great academic

By Erin Snodgrass eesnodgr@my.loyno.edu @erinsnod

SEAN BRENNAN/ The Maroon

Jolleen Quimba, a full-time success coach, meets with a first year student in the Student Success Center on Sept. 28. Quimba is an employee of InsideTrack, the education company partnered with Loyola, and mostly works from their headquarters in Portland.

Oregon.

habits and set milestones for progress. Together, they reflect on what’s going well and discuss how to overcome challenges when they arise,” Rainey said.

An email to make a coaching appointment was sent out to first year students during the second week of the semester.

Once he got the email to make an appointment with his coach, Blake Kirtley, a graphic design major and recent transfer student from the University of Missouri, met with Katie Brandy. Brandy works as both a career coach in the Career Development Center and a success coach for the program.

“She was literally my best friend right off the bat,” Kirtley said. “I just lost my dad over the summer and she really helped me cope with that.

I thought it would be counseling, and it kind of is, but its more upbeat than that. It’s not just all questions.”

Kirtley and Brandy have had two meetings so far, ending both sessions the same way.

“She said ‘I want you to come back, but leave here with a concrete goal,’” Kirtley said. “The first time

it was easily attainable, like signing up for a work out program. Now I’m looking at internship opportunities.”

Other students, like fine arts freshman Emmett Kerrigan, have yet to schedule their first appointment.

“I got the email but I haven’t gotten around to it. I don’t think I need it, I’m doing fine and I already have enough to do,” Kerrigan said.

The success coaching team met with traveling representatives from InsideTrack’s headquarters to talk about program goals and reflect on the first month at Loyola on Sept. 28.

Josh Harris, one of the two fulltime success coaches with the Student Success Center, emphasized the need for all students to set up a meeting.

“I have valedictorians on my coaching roster. This is not a program for struggling students. This is a program for all first year students,” Harris said. “Your success coach is another positive adult you can connect with on campus.”

Asia Wong is a success coach who works in the University Counseling

Center. For her, counseling, advising and success coaching go handin-hand.

“Think of your success coach as your personal trainer for success at Loyola. Think of your counselor as akin to a physical therapist for your thoughts and feelings. Think of your advisor like your dietitian for academic planning,” Wong said.

“I encourage all first year students to work with their success coaches — that person is there to help you crush it.”

Full-time coaches have over 100 students to manage and other faculty work with around 15 each. Rainey said while coaches have different numbers of assigned students, they had met with over half their roster by the beginning of October.

They hope to meet with most of the first year class by the end of the month, boosting engagement through email reminders and word of mouth.

Non-first year students can request a success coach on the Student Success Center page of the university website.

Loyola student crowdfunds to restore her smile

By Sidney Holmes smholmes@loyno.edu @sidneymajee

Vocal performance senior Olivia Garcia loves to sing, but she could have lost her chance to do that forever after a car accident almost took her life.

Garcia said she was driving her motorized scooter down Carrollton Ave. towards St. Charles Ave. on Sept. 21, 2015. She stopped at a red light on the corner of Carrollton and Claiborne Avenues, and when the light turned green, she was t-boned by a car.

She said that she had to be resuscitated back to life. When she woke up in the hospital, she wasn’t able to see out of one of her eyes or speak.

“When I realized I couldn’t speak, I knew something was wrong,” Garcia said.

Garcia suffered many injuries, including liver laceration, fractured pelvis, a broken arm, severe lacerations on her hip, and road rash on

Campus climate survey needs thirty percent participation

her body.

Out of all of her injuries, she was most worried about the loss of her tooth and other injuries to her face that came from landing face down on the street.

“I was really afraid that I wasn’t going to be able to sing like I knew I could,” Garcia said.

Over several months, Garcia said that she visited many doctors and racked up a large amount of medical bills that she could no longer afford on her own.

On Oct. 10, Garcia started a GoFundMe to raise money for her tooth repair.

She said she wants to use the money to repay her parents for her many doctor visits and to get her final tooth implant.

Her goal was to raise $6,500 by March, but she passed her goal in less than two weeks.

Her GoFundMe campaign was shared over 400 times and received donations from almost 90 people.

“It warms your heart knowing

SIDNEY HOLMES/ The Maroon

Olivia Garcia, vocal performance senior, performs in an opera recital on Oct. 15 in Nunemaker. In 2015, Garcia was hit by a car while driving her moped and has started a GoFund Me to help pay her medical bills.

that this many people want you to succeed,” Garcia said.

Now that she has reached her goal, Garcia said that she wants to complete her tooth repair so that

she can perform in the Loyola Opera Theatre production of Dialogue of the Carmelites.

The show premieres in March 2018.

Loyola’s administration began discussing a Campus Climate Assessment about a year and a half ago, after students delivered a list of demands to the president’s office regarding diversity, gender and disability oppression, according to Maria Calzada and Liv Newman, co-chairwomen of the survey.

The 30 minute survey includes questions regarding all parts of Loyola’s campus environment. The questions were chosen by the 17 member committee of faculty, staff and students from a list of survey questions provided by Rankin and Associates, the consulting firm chosen to conduct the survey.

Calzada and Newman said it was important to conduct the assessment externally for a variety of reasons.

“The institution wanted an outside firm because doing this work internally is oftentimes a challenge,” Newman said. “You need someone who is familiar with not only the background of many of the topics of importance but also someone who knows how to create a survey, how to run focus groups and how to do statistical analysis.”

The institution also wanted to remain objective when assessing itself, Newman and Calzada said.

Rankin and Associates has decades of experience in administering over 200 assessments for universities and university systems.

“In higher education, Rankin and Associates is the foremost group that conducts these type of assessments,” Newman said.

One section of the survey presents questions regarding sexual harassment and assault. Calzada and Newman said the possibly triggering questions were meant to inform how the university can improve its handling of such incidents.

Before the survey begins, there is a warning saying “there are no anticipated risks in participating in this assessment beyond those experienced in everyday life. Some of the questions are personal and might cause discomfort. In the event that any questions asked are disturbing, you may skip any questions or stop responding to the survey at any time.”

Beneath the questions discussing sexual assault, links to University Counseling, the Women’s Resource Center, and Mission and Ministry are provided.

Newman and Calzada stressed that anonymity was guaranteed, and any names or specifics of incidents would be removed from the data by Rankin and Associates before it was presented back to Loyola.

In order for the data to be a representative sample, 30 percent participation is required, although Newman and Calzada say their goal is 100 percent.

The survey runs until Nov. 3, and the data will be presented in spring 2018. Newman and Calzada said after they receive the data, the committee will hold a town hall meeting to develop actions and enhance and address issues that arise form the findings.

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WORLDVIEW

October 27, 2017 The Maroon

City mourns fallen officer

By John Casey jecasey@my.loyno.edu @J_E_CASEY

Associated Press

President Donald Trump listens as he is introduced to speak with winners from the National Minority Enterprise Development Week Awards Program, in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump summit speech draws critism

By Jack Deorio jmdeorio@my.loyno.edu

President Donald Trump became the first president to attend the Values Voter Summit earlier this month, a summit that has been criticized by organizations nationwide for connections to anti-LGBT and white nationalist groups.

Held annually since 2006, the Values Voter Summit is a conference which focuses on traditional Judeo-Christian ideals in relation to national politics and attracts a high number of evangelical conservative voters.

The Values Voter Summit claims to “preserve the bedrock values of traditional marriage, religious liberty, sanctity of life and limited government.”

While speaking there, Trump focused on religious values that he said were pinnacle in the founding of the United States.

“I pledged that in a Trump administration, our nation’s religious heritage would be cherished, protected and defended like you have

never seen before,” he said. “That’s what’s happening, and you see it every day.”

Rula Thabata, president of the Loyola Society of Civic Engagement, said that not a president — but rather the Constitution — determines how religion is defended in the United States.

“My opinion is that our country has progressed the way it has for a reason, through people fighting for equality and equity. The Constitution protects the separation of church and state, which is a foundational principle of this nation’s creation,” she said.

Patricia Boyett, director of the Women’s Resource Center, is concerned that such language from the president is encouraging individuals to go against the bedrock of the Constitution.

“We are witnessing efforts to undermine the First Amendment. To sustain a representative democracy, it is vital that we engage in a free exchange of ideas, that we protect the right of all people to practice any faith or no faith at all and that we always honor the ‘right of the peo-

ple to peacefully assemble and to petition’ our governing bodies,” she said. “I consider America’s diversity its greatest strength; it protects us from becoming a dictatorship. The founding fathers considered religious freedom vital to a republic.

Consequently, they articulated that right in the first two clauses of the First Amendment.”

The Family Research Council hosted the summit this year. The group has come under fire for use of anti-LGBT language in the past, with the Southern Poverty Law Center condemning the group in a recent article that labeled the organization as a hate group.

“The FRC is an organization that has relentlessly vilified LGBT people – portraying them as sick, vile, incestuous, violent, perverted and a danger to children and the nation,” the Southern Poverty Law Center said in the article. “Because of its demonizing lies about the LGBT community, it has been named as a hate group by the SPLC.” Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, has publicly denounced homosexuality in

the past.

“Homosexual conduct is harmful to the persons who engage in it and to society at large and can never be affirmed,” Perkins said.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Perkins has questionable history in Louisiana. It was reported back in 2005 that he paid former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke $82,500 for his constituent mailing list.

A 2004 article from the Southern Poverty Law Center claimed that Perkins spoke at the Louisiana chapter of the Council of Conservative Citizens in May 2001, which it labels a white nationalist group.

The Council of Conservative Citizens explicitly states in its statement of principles: “We oppose all efforts to mix the races of mankind, to promote non-white races over the European-American people through so-called ‘affirmative action’ and similar measures, to destroy or denigrate the European-American heritage, including the heritage of the Southern people, and to force the integration of the races.”

A New Orleans police officer was shot and killed in the early morning of Oct. 13 during a shootout in New Orleans East.

According to NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison during a press conference, four officers were on their regular patrol in the NOPD Seventh District when officers “saw something that aroused their suspicion.” Upon stopping and exiting their vehicles, gunshots suddenly erupted, several of which struck one of the officers.

Officers were able to return fire and injure the shooter who, after a brief standoff, surrendered and was arrested. The injured officer was transported to University Medical Center where he was declared dead.

NOPD has identified the fallen officer as Marcus McNeil, 29, a twoyear veteran of the force. McNeil had been assigned to the Seventh District for most of his tenure with NOPD. The Seventh District is home to almost a fourth of the 126 homicides so far in 2017.

NOPD quickly took to Twitter to express the profound heartbreak of the situation.

“We have lost one of our brothers.

NOPD grieves this morning,” NOPD said.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu followed suit with a tweet of his own during a press conference at University Medical Center early that morning.

“It is with a heavy heart, that we share that a 7th Dist. Ofc. was killed in the line of duty. Our prayers are w/ family & NOPD,” Landrieu said.

Representative Steve Scalise, R-LA, who is still recovering from a gunshot wound of his own, also expressed his condolences via Twitter.

“Our whole community mourns the tragic loss of Officer McNeil and we are praying for his loved ones,” Scalise said.

McNeil was the first officer shot to death in two years. Officer Daryle Holloway was shot and killed in the summer of 2015 when alleged killer Travis Boyes attempted to flee custody. Boyes’ trial was set for Oct. 18 of this year, but the case changed course when he was declared incompetent after smearing feces on his face during jury selection.

Tulane offers free tuition for displaced students in Puerto Rico

By Nick Reimann nsreiman@my.loyno.edu @nicksreimann

With Puerto Rico still reeling after Hurricane Maria, Tulane is now offering a helping hand for the thousands of students studying there that were displaced.

The university sent out a blog post on Oct. 13 through its director of admissions, Jeff Schiffman, offering “a tuition-free guest semester program for students from universities and colleges in Puerto Rico.”

“Tulane will open our doors to students whose lives have been up-

ended by Hurricane Maria for the spring 2018 semester provided that they pay their home institution’s spring tuition,” the blog post read.

Students have until Nov. 1 to submit applications, which are available online. There is also an option for students to mail in their applications.

They will be given “guest student” status, meaning that they have to return to their home university following the semester.

It’s a similar situation to the one Tulane itself faced 12 years ago when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, forcing the university to cancel its entire fall 2005 se-

mester.

And that’s something that was on the minds of Tulane administrators when they made this decision.

“Tulane simply wouldn’t be the university it is today if it hadn’t been for the generosity of several dozen universities that offered our students the opportunity to continue their education there,” Robin Forman, university provost, said.

Forman also hopes the move will be a chance to develop a relationship between the school and the island.

He said there isn’t much of a Puerto Rican presence at Tulane right now, but that’s not something

that is the case next door at Loyola.

According to the most recent University Fact Book, there are 44 students from Puerto Rico enrolled at Loyola.

The university did not respond to request for comment on whether it is also considering waiving tuition for next semester.

Someone who hopes that it does, though, is Francesca Lausen, vice president of the Hispanic music appreciation club. The hurricane had a first-hand impact for Lausen, who has family on the island.

“It’s scary, you know, when you’re on the opposite side and your family’s having to evacuate and, you

know, have food portions and not know when they’re going to have power or shelter,” she said.

Lausen added that she is proud of Tulane’s efforts, and is happy to see the school stepping up to help in the same way others helped them 12 years ago.

She does have concerns about the plan, though – specifically when it comes to the Nov. 1 deadline.

“How are they getting students over there to know that an opportunity like this is just waiting for them to grab it and take it?” Lausen said.

Over a month after the storm, 79 percent of the island remains without electricity.

October 27, 2017

The Maroon

We’re Looking for a few good candidates for

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Listen to what past editors have said about the job: “Being Maroon editor is high-glamour, high octane stuff! Nothing beats the power of steering an ultra-eager, rockilicious staff to purple mountains majesty! I mean WOW! I laughed, I cried, I dropped two classes!”

— Hank Stuever, TV Critic, e Washington Post; 1993, 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing runner up; Maroon Editor-in-Chief, Fall 1987 “It was the best of times, and it was the best of times.”

— Liz Scott Monaghan, columnist and feature writer, New Orleans Magazine; Maroon Editor-in-Chief, 1963-64 “To quote the great journalist I.F. Stone, ”I’m having so much fun I should be arrested.”

— Mike Wilson, reporter, e New York Times; Maroon Editor-in-Chief, 1991-92 “ere were times I asked myself if it was all worth it. But not on Friday. On Friday, I knew it was worth it.”

— Michael Giusti, Loyola University Driector of Student Media; Maroon Editor-in-Chief, 1999-2000 “Make sure you pick agood copy editer.”

— Nick Reimann, Maroon Editor-in-Chief, 2017

Applications are available in CM328 today e position of editor-in-chief is open to any full-time Loyola student. As the chief student editor of e Maroon, candidates must possess proven leadership ability, above-average competence in writing, reporting and editing; and an intimate understanding of journalistic practices, including legal and ethical standards.

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Life &Times

October 27, 2017 THE MAROON

6

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

Tony Kushner to conference at Loyola

By Emma Gilheany eagilhea@my.loyno.edu

Tony Kushner, described by Loyola professor Laura Hope as “the greatest living playwright,” is coming to Roussel Hall on Nov. 2.

In an event that is free and open to the public, Kushner will be interviewed by a founding editor of America Theatre Magazine, Jim O’Quinn. Raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Kushner is a Pulitzer Prize, Tony award and Emmy award winner, as well as an Oscar nominee. Kushner will have a private event for Loyola theater students, on Nov. 3.

Kushner is most well-known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Angels in America,” discussing the AIDS crisis in the United States.

Gautier described the modern day relebance of Kushner’s plays as “fortune telling on Kushner’s part.”

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Laura Hope, chairwoman of the Theatre Arts and Dance Department, said.

Kushner’s event will be in conjunction with Loyola’s own production of Kushner’s musical, Caroline, or Change. The show will run on the weekends of Oct. 27-29 to Nov. 3-5 at Jefferson Performing Arts Society’s Westwego Performing Arts Theatre.

“It’s a good point of view for people who want to be playwrights or understand the industry better,” Emma Lovas, theater arts junior, said.

Loyola students to play Day of Dead concert

By Anderson Leal aleal@my.loyno.edu

Courtesy of Jefferson Performing Arts Center and Theatre Arts and Dance Deparment

Troi Bechet plays Caroline in “Caroline, Or Change.” Caroline is a maid in 1963 Louisiana who struggles with the social changes beginning to impact the community around her (Top). Charis Gullage (Bottom Right) plays Emmie, Caroline’s 16-year-old daughter who wants to escape the socioeconomic structure she was born into. Kyler Jett (Bottom Left), theater arts senior, plays the Washing Machine, a personification of the inanimate object.

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, continued from page 1 and won best performance by a leading actress in a musical.

“At its core I think it’s a hopeful musical. It’s about tearing apart what social change and personal change means,” Hope said.

“Change is scary for some people, but change is what life is about.

Nothing ever stays the same. Good or bad, everything changes. The world doesn’t stay static.”

“Caroline, or Change” features personified household appliances that are a part of Caroline’s world, such as the radio, which is formed by three people, including Talia Moore, musical theatre sophomore.

“The radio acts as almost like a chorus in a Greek play, where they

are an outside observer. They still have opinions that shape the whole play,” Moore said.

Other personified objects include the washing machine, dryer, bus and moon.

The Confederate monument mentioned in “Caroline, or Change” is the “South’s Defender” statue outside of Calcasieu Parish Courthouse in Lake Charles.

“These monuments are still very much oppressive to just be up for a lot of people,” Gautier said. “They mean a lot more than just the heritage argument that people are saying.”

Loyola students cast in the Department of Theatre Arts and

Dance’s “Caroline, or Change” will be able to work with theater professionals and an equity theater for the production.

“I think JPAS has a lot more resources than we have. They have a bigger budget, more access to a lot of publicity. They have bigger spaces that allow for the people who study here to have more educational opportunities to perform,” Gautier said.

The production is a mix of professional actors and student actors as well as student technicians working with professional technicians.

“It’s just a good learning experience to work with a professional

theater in the area,” Gautier said.

“The theater department is training young professionals, so to have young professionals work with professionals just brings them up into the world that they need to be working in.”

The musical is two hours long with one break for intermission.

“It’s honestly one of the hardest productions I’ve ever been a part of and not just because of the musical score but because of the depth and complexity,” Moore said.

“Caroline, or Change” performs from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5 at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre at 177 Sala Ave. in Westwego. Tickets range from $20 to $50.

Nov. 2 marks the Day of the Dead.

This year, a group of Loyola music industry and music performance students will be performing at Gasa Gasa.

Perrin Kileen, event coordinator and music industry freshman, will be performing. He mentions that they will be implementing the traditions of Day of the Dead, “bringing aspects of the celebrations by using make up, establishing a themed scenery and paying respect for those who have passed.”

“People should expect a lot of energy from eager artists trying to make a name out of themselves,” he said.

The bands and artists are freshmen and sophomores of Loyola’s school of music, and “Tulane music students will also make a featured appearance” The official list of performers includes both soloists and groups.

“There is going to be bands, deejaying, and live singing,” Kileen said.

Confirmed are: Maxtaylor, Skylarallen, Nick Coleman, Nye, Kip, Heartbreakp, Buddha, Choirboi Jourden and Freakout.

Dj DII TII and Lukrative will be leading the night’s sound.

“Though this is not everyone’s first time performing as artists, we are coming together on stage for our first collaboration,” Max Taylor, music industry sophomore, said.

The concert will play at Gasa Gasa. Tickets are $5 or $8 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the event will begin at 8 p.m.

The Maroon

October 27, 2017

7

Star chef Besh steps down amid sexual harassment allegations Associated Press

Associated Press

FILE - Chef John Besh attends the Supper to benefit the Global Fund to fight AIDS in New York. Besh is stepping down from his restaurant group it was reported that 25 employees of the business said they were victims of sexual harassment. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP, File)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans celebrity chef John Besh stepped down from management of the restaurant group that bears his name after a newspaper reported that 25 women who are current or former employees of the business said they were victims of sexual harassment by male co-workers and bosses.

New Orleans media outlets said Besh’s departure from the business he co-owns was announced to employees Monday. “John has decided to step down from all aspects of operations and to provide his full focus on his family,” Shannon White, the woman who is stepping in as CEO, said in an email to staff.

The allegations were published Saturday by NOLA.comThe Times Picayune after an eight-month investigation. Women interviewed said male bosses in the Besh Restaurant Group touched or verbally harassed them and, in a few cases, tried to leverage positions of authority for sex.

Besh acknowledged a sexual relationship with an employee, saying in a written statement to NOLA.

comThe Times-Picayune that it was consensual, despite the woman’s assertions in a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that she felt pressured.

The allegations came to light in a time when sexual harassment allegations have been made against other famous men, including Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the late Fox News executive Roger Ailes and comedian Bill Cosby.

Repercussions from the Besh story were being felt even before the allegations were published. Last month, Alon Shaya, a star chef who rose up through the Besh Group ranks, was dismissed as executive chef at Domenica, Pizza Domenica and his critically acclaimed namesake restaurant, Shaya.

Shaya had contacted NOLA.com in August regarding his concerns on how sexual harassment allegations were handled. “I do feel like I was fired for talking ... and for standing up,” Shaya said in a follow-up interview Oct. 17. Current and former staff, meanwhile, said in the article B:8.375” and in social media that Shaya did not do enough T:8.125” to stop sexual harassment at the restaurants he ran.

S:7.375” On Sunday, Harrah’s New Orleans Casino said it was severing ties with

Besh and would rename its Besh Steak restaurant in the casino.

Nine women interviewed for the NOLA.com story agreed to the use of their names, including Madie Robison.

“After being immersed in the culture of the company, I realize my morals and values do not align with the daily practices,” Robison wrote in a resignation email, sent to Besh, his business partner Octavio Mantilla and others.

In multiple interviews, Robison’s complaints included persistent, sexualized comments from peers and supervisors. Robison claimed she also endured the uninvited touching of Mantilla for almost the entirety of her two years at the Besh Group.

Mantilla said he doesn’t remember touching Robison. “I don’t remember touching her at all, not on intention or anything,” he said.

A Besh Group spokesman said none of the thousands of current or former employees has ever filed an internal complaint alleging sexual harassment in the company’s 12 years of existence. Besh and Mantilla said during an Oct. 16 interview that in the past the company had lacked a human resources depart-

ment to process such claims. The company has one now - its first ever director of human resources took the job Oct. 11, the spokesman told NOLA.com.

In his separate, written statement to NOLA.com, Besh said he was working to “rebuild my marriage” and publicly apologized to employees “who found my behavior as unacceptable as I do.”

“I alone am entirely responsible for my moral failings,” he added.

“This is not the way the head of a company like ours should have acted, let alone a husband and father.”

Raymond Landry, an attorney for the restaurant group, gave the news outlet a written statement as well, not mentioning specific allegations, but saying the company is implementing a better procedure for receiving and dealing with complaints.

“While we’ve had a complaint procedure in place that complies with all existing laws, we now recognize that, as a practical matter, we needed to do more than what the law requires and we have revamped our training, education and procedures accordingly,” Landry’s statement said.

T:10.5”

B:10.75”

S:9.75”

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C R O S S W O R D

THE MAROON

Across

1. Got taller 5. Etching supplies 10. Ski area in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains 14. See 66-Across 15. Bad news for the waiter 16. Classic cars 17. Fall in love with something at the home improvement center?

19. “Pretty please?”

20. “Frasier” role 21. Debuting on screen 23. iPhone, e.g., briefly 24. Scooby-__ 25. Bring Bugs into harmony?

30. Golf tee, e.g.

31. “Flashdance...What a Feeling” singer Cara 32. Barbecue pair 33. Solo in a spotlight 35. Smallish batteries 36. Med. condition with repetitive behavior 37. Get voices in all ranges?

42. Colony resident 43. Gallery filler 44. Went like crazy 46. Second thought 49. Get fuzzy, as vision 51. Grand __ Opry 52. Severely criticize the store special?

54. “Breaking Bad” org.

55. Org. offering written and road tests 56. Mason jar attachment 57. Humdrum 59. Start bubbling 61. Criticize the stringed instrument?

65. Greek peak 66. With 14-Across, event with batons 67. Site with tech reviews 68. __ end 69. Wild West transport 70. Run-of-the-mill

Down

1. __ Joe, Charlie’s companion on his tour of Wonka’s chocolate

factory 2. Time before TV 3. Environment-related 4. “Where __ you?”

5. Actress Ortiz of “Ugly Betty” 6. Fish sticks fish 7. Midori on the ice 8. Pop singer Warwick 9. Binge 10. Reliever’s asset 11. Seize, as an opportunity 12. Pooch in your lap, maybe 13. Most people 18. Actor Morales 22. Keep an eye on 26. Personal attribute 27. Rip (up) 28. Opens, as an official document 29. Commotions 34. Jordan’s only port 36. In base eight 38. No later than

39. Space 40. Tiny tunes player 41. Big events for film studios 45. Gives a hand 46. Somewhat flabby male physique, informally 47. Diffuse slowly through a membrane 48. Permit to enter the States 49. Unwise wager 50. Country’s McEntire 53. Whopper creators 58. Basics 60. Young chap 62. According to 63. Give in to gravity 64. Word after eagle or hawk

October 27, 2017

SUDOKU

For the weekly puzzle answers, download our app!

SPORTS

October 27, 2017 The Maroon

9

Winning habits strengthen team resolve

By Andres Fuentes aafuente@my.loyno.edu @af_nola

For the Loyola women’s basketball team, the season can’t start fast enough.

Coming off a Southern States Athletic Conference title, an appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament and head coach Kellie Kennedy winning Coach of the Year awards, the Wolf Pack team has been ranked second in the SSAC preseason coaches poll, behind only rival Bethel University.

With a record-setting 25-5 regular season mark last year, the women’s squad hopes to not only replicate that this year but also move forward to a bigger goal: winning championships.

“We are trying to win,” Kennedy said. “We always have the same expectation. We will try to win championships again this year: regular season, tournament championships.”

The focus of winning is ingrained deep in the program’s culture, as the team is led by Kennedy, the coach with the most wins in Loyola history, and a streak of four consecutive appearances in the NAIA national tournament.

“When we recruit these kids, that’s what they hear and that’s what they know,” Kennedy said about championships. “That’s what they understand. That’s their expectation, and that doesn’t necessarily come from me or the staff, it comes from them.”

The championship mindset is very present within the players, especially team leader Zoie Miller, a mass communication senior.

As a senior guard on the team, Miller was named First Team AllSSAC last year as she helped propel the team to success. And she plans on this year being no different.

“I plan on building on what I was able to do for my team last year and hopefully lead us to a championship,” she said.

Even with her experience and talent, though, she still feels as though she is part of a bigger unit.

“There isn’t just one leader. I feel we hold each other accountable as a team and make each other better.

We build each other up and don’t allow anyone to fall short,” Miller said.

The women’s basketball team kicks off its season Oct. 26 at home against cross-city rival Xavier University at 6 pm.

JULES SANTOS/The Maroon

The women’s basketball team practices at The Den. The team hopes to progress on a successful season last year.

JC does sports: Cheerleading JC Canicosa Mass Communication Sophomore Sports editor jccanico@loyno.edu

“JC does sports” is a series where sports editor JC Canicosa engages in different club and varsity sports around campus and describes his experiences as a reporter attempting to be athletic.

Walking into cheerleading practice in the University Sports Complex Friday morning, I remember thinking that this may be a relatively lax episode of “JC does sports.” Oh boy, was I wrong.

My first clue was my attempts at the “warm-up” stretches that the team did to start off practice. Half of them involved contorting my body in ways that I had only seen people do on television or on stage. While the rest of the team was effortlessly bringing their feet to their head or pulling off full-on splits, I was feverishly pushing the limits of my body’s flexibility and almost touched my toes.

From there, things didn’t get much easier. The team moved on to what was called the “extension drill,” which is where the base cheerleaders lift and support a flyer cheerleader while everyone maintains perfect balance. I was positioned as a base cheerleader, and couldn’t help but feel a little nervous trying this stunt, as I was about to thrust a person into the air and balance her on the fingers and palms of my hands.

It’s safe to say that a lot more goes into springing and balancing a person on your hands than meets the eye, which is a lesson that I quickly learned around the third or fourth time that I mistimed a dip or lifted the flyer too high and landed on my butt.

But as we moved to other drills, such as the “pancake stunt” or the “liberty stunt,” and got more repetitions in, my movements gradually grew smoother and more effortless.

My dips were cleaner. My timing was more rhythmic. My throws were more fluid. Slowly, I was learning how to become a full-fledged cheerleader.

And by the end, I was so eager to join the cheerleading team, I felt like I could start waking up at 6:30 every morning and somersault into some full-on splits.

But in all seriousness, cheerleading is a fun, challenging team-oriented sport to be a part of. It definitely takes more than one practice in order to get the timing and balance right for each stunt.

And though Loyola’s cheerleading team does a phenomenal job of making mid-air splits into a human pyramid look so easy, it’s only because the team has done dozens and dozens of repetitions of the stunt in order to do so.

I gained a lot of respect for how hard the Wolf Pack works in mastering such dynamic gymnastics stunts. Led by Rickey Hill, head cheerleading coach, the sky’s the limit for the Wolf Pack’s cheerleading team.

Rating: 4/5 standing backflips Verdict Somewhere between Gabby Douglas and High School Musical...

Sports briefs Basketball teams represent in SSAC Polls The women’s and men’s basketball teams finished second and seventh respectively in the annual Southern States Athletic Conference coaches’ preseason poll.

After winning its second SSAC regular season title, the women’s basketball team finished behind Bethel University and enter the 2017-2018 season ranked number two in the conference. The men’s team finished seventh after one of the greatest single seasons in the program’s history after losing key players such as Johnny Griffin Jr., Jalen Gray and Nate Pierre.

Volleyball team finishes six-game homstand 2-4 After falling to Bethel University on Saturday, Oct. 21, the Wolf Pack finished 2-4 in the team’s recent sixgame homestand. This puts them at 13-15 overall and 3-8 in conference for the season. The team’s next game is Friday (Oct. 27) against Brewton-Parker, which will kick off a two-game road trip in Georgia.

Quidditch team prepare for Crawfish Cup

TRE LI/The Maroon

Sports editor JC Canicosa tries to keep his balance while attempting the “chair stunt” during cheerleading practice.

After struggling in the Breakfast Taco Tournament in Texas, the Quidditch team now prepares for the Crawfish Cup hosted by Tulane on Saturday (Oct. 28). This is the team’s first official tournament of the season, according to music industry sophomore Griffin Parr. The team will look to improve after going 0-5 in the Breakfast Taco Tournament on Sept. 30.

EDITORIAL

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October 27, 2017 THE MAROON

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to taking back the night GROWL to “institutionalized meathead culture” HOWL to the Jesuits for bringing satsumas from Asia GROWL to starbucks’ gentrification HOWL to Tom Kruse GROWL to Tom Cruise HOWL to Terry Crews GROWL to Ted Cruz Have a howl or growl? Tweet us at @loyola_maroon to be featured each Friday!

EDITORIAL BOARD Nick Reimann

Editor-in-Chief

Paulina Picciano

Managing Editor for Print

Sidney Holmes

Managing Editor for Electronic Properties

Lily Cummings

Maroon Minute Executive Producer

Hayley Hynes

Design Chief

Barbara Brown

Photo Editor

Erin Snodgrass

News Editor

Davis Walden

Life & Times Editor

Caleb Beck

Wolf Editor

John Casey

Worldview Editor

JC Canicosa Grant Dufrene

Sports Editor Opinion and Editorial Editor

Katelyn Fecteau

Copy Editor

Jamal Melancon

Senior Staff Writer

Marisbel Rodriguez

Senior Staff Photographer

EDITORIAL POLICY The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Loyola University.

Letters and columns reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of The Maroon’s editorial board.

The Maroon does not represent the opinion of administration, staff and/or faculty members of Loyola.

Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and style. Please limit submissions to 400 words. Submissions are due no later than 4 p.m. the Sunday before publication.

Please send all submissions — The Maroon, 6363 St. Charles Ave., Box 64, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Email us your letters — letter@ loyno.edu.

Submissions may also be made online at www.loyolamaroon.com.

Courtesy of Loyola Campus Climate Survey

Administrators: Would you answer these questions?

At the beginning of the spring semester Father Wildes sent out an email discussing future plans to assess “Loyola’s climate,” explaining “Climate is our learning, living, and working environment.”

Students didn’t hear anything else until Oct. 3, when Interim Provost David Borofsky sent out an email with a link to a survey and a brief explanation saying it was part of the climate assessment.

Two weeks later, on Oct. 17, Honors students got an update thanks to Honors College director Naomi Yavneh. That update gave the university participation rate – a whopping 8 percent.

Why so low?

Was it apathy? A dying use of email? A pure campus disdain by the student body?

The answer is probably none of those.

One need look no further than the survey itself, which doesn’t even include the option to select psychology – psychology – as a major.

Psychology – the second-largest major on Loyola’s campus, according to the most recent University Fact Book.

And it’s not just the exclusion of this major that brings the legitimacy of this survey into question.

The survey itself felt incomplete.

With all of the people on the Campus Climate Assessment Committee, it was shocking to see how so many issues with the survey overlooked.

The survey states that omitting answers for 50 percent of the questions will result in responses being discarded. If I was a psychology major filling out the survey, the question concerning my major could be the tipping point of whether or not my answers will be reviewed.

Many students also felt uncomfortable with the questions, with some seeming pretty invasive.

Just look at some.

Were you sexually assaulted? Better be ready to share all your details in the survey. Citizenship status?

Your Campus Climate Committee wants to know. Parents’ education?

Hey Loyola, don’t you already have this information?

So…anyone see an issue with this?

The argument administrators make is that these questions are necessary to see if people feel comfortable enough to talk about these issues.

Well, it looks like they have their answer.

Maybe, just maybe, there is such a low turnout because of invasive, unnecessary and nonsensical questions. One would think the Campus Climate Committee would have realized this and reassessed its approach by now.

But – no. Instead, a “survey party” was organized, where students could share the experience of filling out a survey for half an hour together, with food and refreshments.

And hey, while they’re at it, maybe they could discuss how an agnostic, atheist or non-spiritual person

is supposed to answer the religious identity question. Side note: one of the options for this question is “secular humanist.” How many people know what that even means?

Bottom line: Loyola seems to think this survey will provide an accurate view of the campus’ vibe.

With only a tiny fraction of it answering, though, that will not be possible.

And given the nature of the questions, it should be no surprise that this survey has floated like a lead balloon with the student body.

But if you want to answer the survey, there is still time – it’s available until Nov. 3.

Unless you’re one of the 200+ psychology majors on campus, of course. And if Loyola decides to send out another survey in the future, it might be helpful to consult one of them. Maybe they could help with the questions.

OPINION

October 27, 2017 THE MAROON

Attendance policies are imperfect MICHAEL GIUSTI Director of Student Media mdgiusti@loyno.edu

Perfect attendance awards are immoral. There. I said it.

Every year I sit in my daughters’ elementary school awards ceremony, and every year I cringe when they hand out those perfect attendance certificates to the lucky few kids who came to school every day that year. Some students even get an award for showing up every day since kindergarten.

Yuck.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Class attendance is essential to success.

And I applaud the efforts by Project Magis to make freshman attendance mandatory. I have long had mandatory attendance in every class I teach.

But mandatory attendance is different than perfect attendance.

Mandatory attendance means that unless you have an excellent reason, we expect you in class every day it is in session.

Perfect attendance means you showed up to each and every class, no matter what.

But you see, there are excellent reasons for missing class every now and then. For example, if you have a family emergency — an illness in the family you need to help tend to, or a death and funeral you need to attend — those are excellent reasons for missing class.

Or say you have an emergency — like a flat tire or car accident en route to class — again, excellent reasons.

Even a mundane flu or cold are terrific reasons to miss class. Please, if you are contagious, do us all a favor and stay in bed until you are better.

No, I mean it.

If you are sick, don’t come to class. Call your professor. Explain that you are contagious. Find the as-

11

Free speech is important on college campuses RAZAN BADR Biology Sophomore rabadr@my.loyno. edu

signments you need to make up. Get notes from a friend. And get some sleep.

For an administrator to reward perfect attendance is at best rewarding good luck, and at worst enabling the spreading of a contagious disease.

Rewarding luck is a terrible practice from a managerial standpoint.

Instead, managers (read: administrators) should be rewarding behaviors that they want replicated and repeated.

Showing up for class with the sniffles is not a behavior I want to see happening over and over again.

So, what should be rewarded then? Surely the perfect attendance award was born out of a frustration and attempt to motivate students to bother coming to class.

Responsibility. That is what should be rewarded.

The trick then is to find a reward that is specific, meaningful, achievable, relevant, challenging, that does not rely on pure luck, and that doesn’t endanger classmates.

I humbly submit that the award should instead be perfect-assignment-completion. That’s right, if you turn in every piece of work for the year, that is what should be rewarded.

Reward what you want repeated.

And while I am on the subject of attendance, I think it is ridiculous for professors to give a set number of absences before it hurts your grade. That works counter to the spirit of the attendance policy goal.

If I tell my students they can miss three classes before I take off a letter grade, then they will miss exactly three classes. Period.

They hold those “excused” absences as tokens and use them for fun, rather than emergencies. Then when the emergencies come up, we are back to the immoral situation of dragging into class with a communicable disease.

So, let’s come to an understanding.

Students: go to class. If you have an excellent reason to not be in class, communicate your issue with your professor, and be responsible with what you missed.

Professors: don’t offer “gimme” days.

Ask your students to act like adults and not miss class or be late, and if they are, to communicate with you.

And administrators, please, for the love of all things holy, stop rewarding perfect attendance. The Centers for Disease Control thanks you.

“If you’re afraid of doing something, then do it. That’s how you grow.” Those words from my mentor echoed in my head as I first set foot on campus. I did not have expectations of the culture I chose to become a part of, but I was surprised by the diverse nature of Loyola and the city of New Orleans itself. The diversity was not only in race and culture, but the ideas and their expression spoke volumes. As the semester went on, my perspective expanded and grew out of the culture that raised me and taught me to stay quiet and just listen. After the presidential elections came along, Loyola’s campus flourished with opinions. The challenging, debatable views were intriguing, and I was surprised with myself as I also exercised the first amendment and voiced my opinions — something I had always held back, afraid of being judged or shut down. It wasn’t until the summer when I went overseas that I realized that being able to express our ideas freely is something truly of value that we don’t think about. I volunteered most of my time in organizations on college campuses there, meeting different people and learning from their experiences. As I immersed myself with their culture and engaged in many conversations, I noticed how students had substantial opinions and a lot to say about how things were run on campus or the country in general, but indirectly felt restricted by society.

College is the place where young adults learn to intellectually grow and become their own person, forming individual ideas and exercising a right to free speech. After my trip, I became more aware of how every person has a unique story to share and how it is our responsibility to educate others. For example, I met

an architecture major at one of the colleges I visited. He would often explain to me how he felt limited by the education he was getting and the by the institution itself, as he did not feel like he was able to express the ideas and designs he had in his mind, that his education was objective. He told me how he felt forced to do or think about art in a certain way, limiting his abilities to grow. That idea was egregious to me; every class I had been in growing up has always encouraged our intuition and imagination. College students play an important role in our society. They need to establish the confidence in bringing diversity in opinions to the workplace and to become stronger leaders. Free speech triggers discussion and is a learning opportunity; if ideas are not challenged, education and conversation are limited.

College students are the future generation and should not be afraid of speaking out. They will promote change in society, and it is important to teach them that free speech is their human right and that it is not to be taken from them by a higher power or another person. It is important to teach them that their voices are heard and their opinions are valid. As humans, we instinctively form our opinions about issues and want to get them out. Free speech also promotes a dynamic society by bringing awareness to social issues; it educates people about what is actually happening, instilling a sense of empathy and an urge to create a change for a better future.

Part of what makes my college experience unique is the ability to express my values and share my thoughts to help me gain the knowledge I need to grow. I learned to not be afraid of putting myself out there.

Free speech is an inalienable right crucial to achieving our goals and shaping our character that not a lot of people exercise, and I am hoping to shed light on this issue and to inspire students to feel comfortable and not be afraid to express their views despite any efforts shutting them down. That’s how they grow.

Uptown bar offers welcome oasis for the Wolf Pack amid its scary neighbors KAYLIE SAIDIN English Sophomore Assistant Op/Ed Editor kesaidin@my.loyno. edu

Going to college in New Orleans is, undoubtedly, a different experience than going to college anywhere else. When applying to colleges, you want to say you’re thinking entirely about things like academics or housing, but you’re really thinking about culture. Is your school in a major city?

Is there a vibrant culture surrounding it? And, most importantly to the high school senior – is it a party school? The answer is yes for essentially every college in New Orleans.

As a freshman, you are thrown into Bacchanalian festivities before classes even begin. You remember the promises you made to your par-

ents when they dropped you off for Wolf Pack Welcome weekend about moderation and sobriety, but all of a sudden, it’s 12:30 a.m. on a weeknight and you’re inside The Boot. Or 3:30 a.m. and you’re on a pool table somewhere dancing with a foreign exchange student. Or you just paid $5 for three full pitchers of beer, and while you’re listening to the 2009 smash hit Bedrock by Young Money, you have the sinking realization that you have a 9:30 a.m. class the next morning.

The excitement of finally being in a college bar wears off when you realize that college students living in Uptown (who are, by the way, majority Tulane students) frequent places that are actually kind of gross. When you accidentally show up a little too sober one night, you notice that the floor looks like it hasn’t been cleaned since the eighties when your parents partied here.

You show up on Saturday night and see that the bathrooms still have crusted vomit from Friday night, but you aren’t sure if you should be

more disgusted with the bar or with yourself for being there two nights in a row. And finally – and perhaps only relevant to the women of Loyola – you realize that you’re constantly being groped by men in a sea of sweaty drunkenness. Tulane men (and no, you’re not making assumptions, you know they’re Tulane men from their excessive Tulane apparel) circle you and your fellow female friends while you dance like they’re animals hunting. You don’t want to go to places where low-key sexual assault can happen and nobody will notice. You start to value quiet, relaxed music that you can have a conversation over. You start to just want to sit down and have a beer.

You feel like your dad.

Cue title card: Bruno’s Tavern.

An 18+ bar that most of your Loyola friends frequent, but none of your Tulane friends. You go there for the first time and there’s a modern jukebox on your left and a working cigarette dispenser on your right.

The Top 40 isn’t blaring in your ear, and nobody is staring at you like

you’re prey as soon as you walk in.

There are real tables and booths – like, ones you eat at, not ones that are covered with slabs of wood for dancing on. Your student ID gets you a discount on their menu some nights (and you almost exclusively get the best thing there: mac and cheese bites). The drinks are reasonably priced, and the bartenders aren’t throwing napkins around and acting cocky – they’re actually helping you out.

For once, you’re surrounded by college students in an environment that feels like a real bar. You, especially as a girl, feel safe from foreign hands grabbing you because of the openness of the bar. You can play pool all night, smoke on the balcony and drink a $5 bottle of wine with your friends. The eager crowds of The Boot and The Palms don’t trap you in anymore. You’re free to mingle and talk with your fellow students, play music on the jukebox, drink your beer (from a real glass) and watch your favorite sports teams on the televisions. You think

to yourself: it the absence of Tulane students and the presence of more Loyola students that creates a more mature environment? Is it Bruno’s Tavern on its own that emulates this casual semi-adulthood? Is it a blissful synesthesia of both?

Whatever it is, the Loyola-ness of Bruno’s is undeniable. You’ll never go there without seeing some fellow students you know. You may even see some parents of students you know. It’s common knowledge that Tulane’s go-to bar for cathartic release is The Boot. But Loyola is a very different place and a very different community (no further commentary there), and for many students, the go-to bar seems to be Bruno’s Tavern.

We have found our niche, our quintessential college bar that represents our campus – and, purely speaking from opinion, we have the best one.

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THE MAROON

October 27, 2017