January 20, 2017

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 95 • Issue 14 • January 20, 2017

THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA

ANNA DOBROWOLSKI / The Maroon

The Dirt on Divestment After a semester of delay, Divest Loyno is making strides toward stopping the school from profiting from coal, fossil fuels and private prisons

By Colleen Dulle mcdulle@loyno.edu @ColleenDulle

Jose Torres was suffering from a fever for 11 days in prison, but said he was denied medicine for refusing to sign his deportation papers.

Instead, he said, he was sent to "el pozo" — "the pit" — where detainees who started fights were sent.

“They took me there because I asked for help. I said that they could take me there, but I needed medicine first. He didn't do it. When he came back, I told him, 'Hey, we're human beings, not animals.'"

Torres was detained in Pine Prairie Correctional Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. The prison is owned

by Immigration and Customs Enforcement but operated by GEO Group, one of the largest private prison companies in America.

A spokesman from GEO declined to comment on Torres' case, but said that Pine Prairie refutes any claim that prisoners aren't treated humanely.

Still, reports of conditions like those Torres laid out are one of the reasons that President Barack Obama's Justice Department announced it was phasing out its use of private prisons last year.

“They simply do not provide the same level of correctional services,” Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates said in an Aug. 18 memo to the department.

It is also one of the reasons behind a movement at Loyola to divest its endowment from those private companies' stocks.

Michael Hubbard, Loyola’s portfolio coordinator for financial affairs, said Loyola’s investment manager did sell its shares in private prisons back in September.

This was after the market value of the school's holdings in America's largest prison company, CoreCivic, Inc., depreciated by about $68,000.

The possibility to re-invest is still on the table, though, because the school's ethical investment guidelines don't prohibit investing in the prisons.

In spring 2016, Divest Loyno met with members of the board of trustees and Loyola’s finance officers to discuss ethical investments.

The group agreed to let students from Divest Loyno sit on the school's endowment committee, which manages investments.

First, however, Divest Loyno had to be officially chartered as an organization and elect officers to serve on the investment committee, according to an August letter from the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, to the students of Divest Loyno.

The purpose of this committee would be to update Loyola's ethical investment guidelines to say the school would divest from private prisons and to set up stricter guidelines for investing in coal and fossil fuels.

Divest Loyno did get chartered, but Max Boyce, the club's president, said the group didn’t hold elections for officers because they were waiting for Wildes to state explicitly that he supported divesting from private prisons.

Boyce said Wildes had told him personally that he backed divestment, but that neither Wildes’ letter to the campus community in June nor his later letter to Divest Loyno reflected that personal commitment.

“We saw that letter. We noticed it was a very [diplomatic] political response, didn’t really make any indication of intention of any sort,”

Boyce told The Maroon last semester.

Divest Loyno published an open letter in The Maroon in December asking Wildes to reiterate his support.

Laura Kurzu, vice president for marketing and communication, said that the semesterlong stall in establishing the student committee has been frustrating because Wildes supports the initiative.

"Father Wildes indicated that he was in support, but as much as he's in support, there is a process about investments, and purposely so," Kurzu said.

She said decisions about investments rest with the endowment committee, not with Wildes.

Kurzu said that after the administration told Divest Loyno that they needed to be chartered, she never

See DIVEST, page 13

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January 20, 2017

THE MAROON

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Bicycle Theft Biever Hall

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Simple Burglary, Vehicle 7600 Block of Jeannette

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Burglary 6900 Block of Willow

Jan. 12

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Sexual Battery 5700 Block of S Claiborne

Jan. 12

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Residence Burglary 7800 Block of Oak St

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Auto Theft 1500 Block of Nashville

Jan. 13

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Sexual Battery 1100 Block of Calhoun

Jan. 13

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Cyberstalking Buddig Hall

Jan. 14

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SImple Battery 800 Block of Hillary

Jan. 15

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E ST

IN MAGAZ

STAFF

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NEWS

January 20, 2017 THE MAROON

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Spring convocation to honor faculty and staff SGA has new plans for the new year

By Lily Cummings lrcummin@loyno.edu @lilyrain6

By Lily Cummings lrcummin@loyno.edu @lilyrain6

The Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, addressed faculty and staff during the President’s Convocation last Friday.

Wildes touched on the university’s devotion to service in the past year, updates on financial campaigns and the responsibilities the university has for its students and future.

After confirming that Loyola students have participated in nearly 15,000 hours of service learning in the past year, Wildes announced that Loyola was included on the 2015 President’s Community Service Honor Roll.

“Being selected for this group is not only a national recognition for us, but it is also an affirmation that we are living out a part of our mission,” Wildes said.

Wildes went on to talk about Loyola’s financial situation, saying that faculty and staff working together to increase reductions, savings and additional revenues has been successful. He said that the

university is on track to reach their goal by 2018 and that the board will continue to look for ways to strengthen the foundation for the future.

“I am happy to report that we have closed the gap on financial equilibrium and have found 20 million dollars of the 25 million dollar challenge we faced a year ago,” Wildes said.

Provost Mark Manganaro honored faculty and staff members at the convocation with several awards including the 2016 Dux Academicus Award, which is one of the highest awards to be given in Loyola’s academia.

This year’s recipient was Leslie G. Parr, the A. Louis Read Distinguished Professor in Communication. She is the 39th person to receive this honor.

Wildes and Parr both mentioned in their speeches the university’s role to encourage students to have discerning minds and to think critically about what is true or fake news.

“This is important for us and our students so that they may become better citizens,” Wildes said.

Near the end of the convocation, Wildes thanked John Sebastian, vice

NICK BOULET / The Maroon

(Top left) University President, Kevin Wildes addressing faculty and staff in Nunemaker Hall on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Right) University President, Rev. Kevin Wildes speaking at the bi-annual President’s Convocation for Faculty and Staff. Wildes thanked faculty and staff and spoke on the university’s finances and honored award recipients.

president for Mission and Ministry, for his 13 years of service and wished Sebastian well in his new position at Loyola Marymount. He also thanked the Rev. Ted Dziak, S.J., for resuming his position so that the

university remains focused.

Wildes concluded the session by thanking Anthony Decuir, dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts, who announced his retirement last semester.

Loyola to absorb spring TOPS cuts

By India Yarborough iayarbor@loyno.edu @iayarbort

Katilyn Cleveland of Covington, Louisiana received news last school year that she might have to pay thousands of dollars more out-ofpocket for her tuition this semester.

Loyola’s price of tuition for the 2016-2017 school year had only risen .02 percent, or $724, but her Tuition Opportunity Program for Students scholarship was shrinking.

The change for Cleveland, mass communication sophomore, resulted from funding cuts to Louisiana’s TOPS after the state legislature announced last year it was experiencing budget shortfalls.

“Choosing a school in Louisiana, you’re taking into consideration that money you’re receiving from TOPS, so when you hear they don’t have enough money or they may be running out of it, it doesn’t feel fair,” Cleveland said.

TOPS scholarships, offered through the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, are awarded to graduating Louisiana high school students who achieve exceptional grades and ACT or SAT scores and who plan to attend a four-year college in Louisiana.

Fully funded, TOPS is a $300 million a year program, but for this school year, TOPS funding was expected to fall short nearly $187 million, according to information released in April 2016 from the office of Louisiana Gov. John Bell Edwards.

In 2015-2016, the year Cleveland first earned her scholarship, over 50,000 Louisiana students received money from TOPS to cover tuition costs, according to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance. Therefore, many of those same students are experiencing similar, if not greater, monetary burdens to that of Cleveland.

Cleveland said she also receives an academic scholarship from Loyola, so the strain is not as great as it could be.

“I know some people who chose other schools, public schools, in Louisiana, and they didn’t receive other academic scholarships, so they’re really relying on TOPS more,” Cleveland said.

She said the decrease in TOPS funding is now more a question of how much her student loan debt will amount to, as she may have to procure additional student loan money to cover her deficit.

In a separate November press release from Edwards, he said he hopes the state can restore funding

JORDAN LASSITER/ The Maroon

The number of students recieving funding from TOPS dropped by less than 100 students, while the available funding has been cut by more than half. Source: the Louisiana Office of Student Financal Assistance.

to TOPS, although he did not say when that might be.

“In fact, despite the budget shortfalls we’re currently facing, we will not be making further cuts to this program,” Edwards added.

Loyola made a mission-based decision and announced last spring that we are committed to helping students realize any TOPS funding shortfall for the 2016-2017 academic year, even though TOPS is an agreement between the student and the state, which Cleveland points out

that the university is not required to do so.

“It’s not Loyola’s fault that this is happening, so I wouldn’t be angry at Loyola if they weren’t covering what we don’t get,” Cleveland said.

While the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance determined TOPS appropriations will cover 41.8 percent of students’ financial awards this semester, Cleveland is not certain what her financial aid package from TOPS will amount to from this point forward.

Student Government Association members remained active during winter break, initiating changes around campus and planning future events.

On Dec. 21, SGA transitioned the student body from WolfMail to Gmail and has been working on another project over the break that students may not have noticed. SGA allocated funds from its budget to sponsor a new American Elm tree in front of the Danna Center to replace another that had to be removed as it was going to fall.

Ellie Diaz, SGA president, said that was just one way SGA is contributing to the effort to keep Loyola’s campus beautiful, sustainable and environmentally conscious.

SGA also sent out a campus-wide email Jan. 12 promoting its first service event in the spring semester, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 16. SGA hoped to honor Dr. King by teaming up with Tulane, UNO and Xavier University.

This year will mark the 31st year of the MLK Day of Service.

Although Diaz said that students should not expect tremendous change this semester, she confirmed that SGA will remain consistent with many of the programs it has worked to put on during the fall semester.

“We are making sure that our senate meetings are occurring every week and that we are putting on great programs with the University Programming Board and having Third Friday’s,” Diaz said.

Diaz also mentioned that students can expect a town hall meeting hosted by SGA this spring. Student attendance is encouraged to express their comments and concerns to the senate.

Loyola’s first Third Friday of the semester will be Jan. 20 and Diaz said the theme is Bounce Back and will be a late night Loyola event.

Bounce Back will showcase silent disco, a photo booth, free food and glow-in-the-dark tattoos.

Diaz said the event she is looking forward to the most is the Dance Marathon, which will be hosted by SGA on April 1.

Students can put together teams to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network and dance through the night. The money raised from SGA’s event will directly benefit the New Orleans Children’s hospital. Diaz said that the programming board and every cabinet member will be working to recruit students from various organizations across the campus to take part in this event.

“What better way to have a dance marathon to include a bunch of teams that are made up of our different organizations on campus?”

Diaz said.

Diaz said the dance marathon was spearheaded by Omicron Delta Kappa last year, but when she attended she felt very passionate about the fundraiser and wanted SGA to take on the challenge of hosting it this year.

“I hope it is as successful as some other schools and that we reach our goals,” Diaz said.

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WORLDVIEW

January 20, 2017 The Maroon

WORLDVIEW briefs Donald Trump wax figure unveils inauguration day London (AP)-London’s Madame Tussaud’s museum has unveiled a wax figure of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump days ahead of his inauguration.

The figure, dressed in a navy suit, red tie and an American flag lapel pin, now stands in the museum’s mock-up of the White House’s Oval Office, next to other key leaders and politicians of past and present.

Sculptor David Gardner said he and a team of around 20 worked on the figure for six months. Yak hair was used to recreate Trump’s famous hairdo.

Finishing touches were added on Wednesday, with the installation due to open to the public on Friday.

ZACH BRIEN/ The Maroon

Donald Trump delivers his speech. Trump, the leader in the 2016 Republican presidential race, held a rally at the Lakefront Airport on Friday, March 4, 2016.

Taxes, immigration plans are clear before inauguration

By John Casey jecasey@loyno.edu @J_E_Casey

The highest ranking office in the United States will shift from the reigns of Barack Obama to Donald Trump.

Before officially stepping into office, the president-elect had yet to firmly declare his position and plans for many issues that face the American public. On the issues he has addressed, he has frequently flipflopped his position, with the exceptions of taxes and immigration, on which his opinions have been clear.

Trump has laid out his tax plan on his website, which indicates he wants to take the current tax plan and significantly alter it. A key pillar of his plan will be collapsing the seven income tax brackets to three.

The maximum income tax per-

centage currently applicable is 39.6 percent for married joint filers with an income greater than $466,950.

Under Trump’s new plan, the maximum tax percentage will be 33 percent for incomes greater than $225,000.

On the other end of the spectrum, the current minimum tax percentage is 10 percent which is applicable to married joint filers with an income less than $18,550. Trump’s tax plan aims for a 12 percent tax on married joint filers with incomes less than $75,000.

He also plans to raise the standard deduction for joint filers from $12,600 to $30,000 in addition to repealing the death tax and 3.8 percent Obamacare tax on investment income.

Overall, Trump’s tax plan is built on a foundation that could positively impact just about every economic

class.

He has proposed a possible fourth bracket as well, one which would allow extremely low-income filers an opportunity to avoid paying income tax entirely. This, however, will likely not be instituted.

The new president’s website also details his 10 point plan on immigration. His infamous wall is just a small part of his overall plan, which will significantly alter the United States’ unofficial status as a safe-haven for immigrants around the world.

Among many things, Trump aims to end sanctuary cities around the United States. The concept of a sanctuary city is most commonly used to describe cities that do not utilize municipal funds or resources to enforce federal immigration laws.

An analysis done by Politico found that 47 cities nationwide

meet the criteria necessary to be defined as a sanctuary city, including New Orleans. The top 10 sanctuary cities in the nation are home to over two million undocumented immigrants.

While Mayor Mitch Landrieu has not formally declared New Orleans a sanctuary city, the city’s policies regarding immigrants define it as one.

Landrieu has enforced policies that do not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement warrants and requests for sweeps.

However, Landrieu has publicly argued that New Orleans is not a sanctuary city, citing that the police force does cooperate with the turnover of information to ICE officials, in addition to assistance in local raids.

Trump’s inauguration took place at the nation’s capital building in Washington, D.C. around 12 p.m.

Landrieu jeered, called “a traitor” at heated pipeline hearing

By Nick Reimann nreiman@loyno.edu @nicksreimann

Fiery speeches ruled the night as both supporters and opponents voiced their opinion over the development of the Bayou Bridge pipeline.

The hearing took place on Jan. 12 in Baton Rouge and came as a result of concerns over the pipeline’s environmental effects, primarily in the Atchafalaya Basin, where the company Energy Transfer hopes to install the line. It is the same company involved in the controversial Dakota Access pipeline.

The most notable speaker at the hearing was former Democratic U.S. senator Mary Landrieu, who spoke in favor of the pipeline on behalf of Energy Transfer, who she is a paid lobbyist for.

The crowd in attendance, which was overwhelmingly against the pipeline and numbered in the hundreds, didn’t take too kindly to Landrieu’s allegiance with Energy Transfer.

“You’re a traitor!” a voice from the crowd yelled as Landrieu spoke.

“Shame on you!” another said.

Landrieu defended her views, stating: “If I wasn’t working for them, I would still be here,” to which someone in the crowd responded “You used to work for us!”

Landrieu said that supporting the pipeline is the most “rational” step to take, even though she sympathizes with those who may not support the project.

“I understand the passions of those that are anti-fossil fuel. I get it,” Landrieu said. “I am not a climate denier. I am not. I believe strongly in the impacts.”

Another speaker who believes strongly in the impacts is retired U.S. Gen. Russel Honore, who became famous for attempting to restore order in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Unlike Landrieu, though, Honore spoke out against the pipeline’s construction.

“Our concern with this pipeline is that we will continue the practice of destroying the Atchafalaya basin,” Honore said. “We have hundreds of miles of pipelines that run through there now. Many are abandoned. No one claims them, and no one’s mak-

NICK REIMANN / The Maroon

Former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu speaks in favor of the Bayou Bridge pipeline. Energy Transfers, who hopes to build the line, is the same company involved with the Dakota Access pipeline.

ing the people pick them up.”

Another theme of the night was the economic impact the pipeline would bring, as explained by an Energy Transfer spokesman at the start of the hearing.

“The project will create 12 permanent jobs,” the spokesman said, as he was met with laughter from the crowd.

Opponents continually referenced this number in their speech-

es, with one saying, “12 permanent jobs is a joke. I don’t know how to say that any differently.”

If approved, the pipeline would run 162 miles from Lake Charles in western Louisiana to refineries in St. James Parish, about 50 miles upriver from New Orleans.

Energy Transfers hopes for the pipeline to be completed and in operation by the second half of 2017.

Abortion rate in decline since 1974, report says New York (AP)- Even as the election outcome intensifies America’s abortion debate, a comprehensive new survey finds the annual number of abortions in the U.S has dropped to well under 1 million, the lowest level since 1974.

The report, which counted 926,200 abortions in 2014, was released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group which supports abortion rights. It is the only entity which strives to count all abortions in the U.S.; the latest federal survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lacks data from California, Maryland and New Hampshire.

The total from 2014 represented a drop of 12.5 percent from Guttmacher’s previous survey, which tallied 1.06 million abortions in 2011. The decrease was spread nationwide. Abortions increased in only six states over the three-year span.

According to the report, the abortion rate was 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44, the lowest rate since abortion was legalized nationally in 1973 by the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.

The authors of the new report, Guttmacher researchers Rachel Jones and Jenna Jerman, said the latest phase of the decline was likely the result of two main factors: the increased availability of affordable, long-lasting contraceptives that have reduced unintended pregnancies, and the surge of abortion restrictions in many states that have forced some clinics to close and hindered many women’s access to the procedure.

Guttmacher’s state-by-state breakdown showed big declines in abortions in some liberal states, such as California, that protect abortion rights, and also in some conservative states, such as Texas, that have passed laws to restrict abortions.

The highest abortion rates were in the District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida. The lowest rates were in Wyoming, Mississippi and South Dakota, states that had only one abortion clinic operating in 2014.

The report’s release is 10 days before the anti-abortion movement’s annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 22.

January 20, 2017

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The Maroon

Christmas trees stop coastal erosion in Jefferson Parish COLLEEN DULLE/The Maroon Clockwise from top left: Stephanie Zimmerman, a volunteer with the Louisiana Coastal Restoration Project, throws a Christmas tree into a “crib” in Lafitte, Louisiana, on Jan. 14. A boat of volunteers returns to Cochiaras Marina in Lafitte after dropping off trees. “Cribs,” containers made from plywood, hold the trees away from the shoreline to break the incoming waves and prevent erosion, eventually building up sediment and marsh plants. Jahan Aghakasiri, a volunteer, loads trees onto a pontune boat at the marina. Around 40 volunteers braved low visibility and slick conditions to move Christmas trees into the bayou in Jefferson Parish. Jefferson is one of the few remaining parishes that still uses manual labor for the coastal restoration project. In other parishes, the military uses helicopters to move the trees. According to Bob Thomas, director of Loyola’s Center for Environmental Communication, the project has added as much as 100 feet of land back onto the Louisiana coastline over the last 20 years.

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RELIGION

January 20, 2017 THE MAROON

Sebastian reflects on new job, time at Loyola

By Colleen Dulle mcdulle@loyno.edu @ColleenDulle

Loyola’s vice president of Mission and Ministry, John Sebastian, is leaving New Orleans in May to fill a similar position at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

“John has been a great gift to Loyola,” the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, said when he announced Sebastian’s resignation Jan. 12.

Sebastian began his 13 years at Loyola as an English professor teaching medieval literature. He led the University Honors Program for a year and helped revise Loyola’s common curriculum.

For the last two years, Sebastian has been vice president of Mission and Ministry.

In that position, he established a summer theology institute for high school students and a series of retreats for the College of Arts and Sciences faculty.

Sebastian said that he hadn’t been searching for a new job, but after he let an email about the position at Loyola Marymount sit in his inbox for a few weeks, he decided to apply.

“It was an interesting opportunity, and I thought, if anything, it’s a chance to get to learn about one of our other [Jesuit] schools,” Sebastian said.

His new position includes the same responsibilities he has now, but on a larger scale. Loyola Marymount’s enrollment is more than double that of Loyola New Orleans.

Sebastian said he sees parallels between the schools, like their

COLLEEN DULLE / The Maroon

John Sebastian, vice president for Mission and Ministry, sits in his office Jan. 13. Sebastian will be leaving Loyola in May.

strong film and media programs, their multicultural student bodies and the challenge of good state education nearby.

“The strengths that they’ve leveraged, I see our potential here. The things that seem to me like challenges for them, they’ve figured out how to manage, so I have confidence we can do that here,” Sebastian said. “I think New Orleans’ best days are in front of it still. I really do

believe that.”

Sebastian said that he’s not worried about transitioning to a new university.

“I feel really confident that there are some really terrific folks who are going to help me along the way there,” Sebastian said.

He said an important part of the job will be having a relationship with the faculty, because he understands how busy professors are

and can help them fulfil their mission-related responsibilities without giving them more work.

“It’s these kinds of relationships that will make it hard to leave Loyola,” Sebastian said.

He reflected on the impact his time here has had on him.

“If it weren’t for this experience at Loyola, there’s a lot of things in my life that would not have happened.

I would not have met my wife. I

would not have traveled to Africa.

I would not have taught in Rome,” Sebastian said. “I would not have met the countless really wonderful students who have come through my classes and gone on to really wonderful things that make me immensely proud as a teacher.”

Catherine Dempsey, history senior, is one of these students. She has taken Sebastian’s classes and worked with him in the honors program.

“He is kind to his core, caring, unbelievably intelligent and funny to boot,” Dempsey said.

Sara Butler, who taught medieval studies alongside Sebastian at Loyola, added to Dempsey’s description.

“To say that the students adore John somehow feels inadequate, as if it simply does not capture the depth of their respect for him as a teacher, their awe at his story-telling abilities and the impact he has in shaping them as young scholars,” Butler wrote in a message.

She continued, “I have always felt that John Sebastian is Loyola at its best: erudite scholar, passionate teacher, advocate of justice, defender of Loyola’s Catholic mission and generous colleague who always has a moment to listen. John made me proud to be a part of Loyola.”

Naomi Yavneh Klos, director of the University Honors Program, said that Sebastian embodies Loyola’s Jesuit values.

“If you want to think about the idea of ‘Finding God in All Things’ and understanding that above all, God is love, that’s kind of what he has to say,” Yavneh said. “That’s kind of who he is.”

New films about Jesuits examine spiritual struggles

By Erin Snodgrass eesnodgr@loyno.edu @erinsnod

Within the last year, two movies have been released dealing with Jesuits and their ideals.

Martin Scorsese’s historical drama “Silence” follows two 17th century, Jesuit missionaries who travel to Japan in order to find their missing mentor in a time and place where Christianity is outlawed.

Philippine-based Jesuit Communication Foundation’s “Ignacio de Loyola,” written and directed by Paulo Dy, tells the story of St. Ignatius Loyola. The film was screened at Loyola last semester.

Scorsese’s Passion Project “Silence,” written by Scorsese and Jay Cocks and directed by Scorsese, is based on Shusaku Endo’s novel of the same name. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson. Scorsese has described the movie as a passion project that he’s wanted to pursue since 1989.

The Rev. James Martin, S.J., editor at large of America, a national Catholic magazine, served as a consultant for the film. His duties included helping Scorsese and Cocks refine the Jesuit details in the script and putting the actors in contact with other Jesuit experts.

“In the beginning there were very

few references to the ‘Spiritual Exercises,’ which would have been very important to the Jesuits. I made sure that when the characters were talking they would use language from the exercises, which is what a Jesuit would use with another Jesuit,” Martin said.

He also led the actors through St. Ignatius’ “Spiritual Exercises,” a series of meditations on the life of Christ, and served as Andrew Garfield’s spiritual director.

The film premiered in Rome in November, and Martin suggested an additional screening for the Jesuits in Rome. About 350 Jesuits attended that screening, followed by a Q&A. “I know Scorsese was really amazed by the depth of the questions, and I said to him afterwards, ‘These Jesuits have been thinking about these things their whole lives,’” Martin said.

The film had a limited release in December and came out in more markets, including New Orleans, Jan. 13.

Appealing to the Masses Paolo Dy’s independent film, “Ignacio de Loyola,” follows the life of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. The full length feature tracks Ignatius’ journey from soldier to saint.

Dy grew up in Jesuit schools and was delighted when the Rev. Emmanuel Alfonso S.J., executive producer of the film, invited him to di-

rect the project.

As someone who heard the story of St. Ignatius frequently as a child, Dy knew he needed to find an exciting and effective way to portray not only the adventure of Ignatius’ life, but his spiritual transformation as well.

“In many ways, Ignatius was a classic hero, and yet, in many ways, Ignatius’ life is not immediately the stuff of cinematic storytelling. It was a huge challenge to portray his inner turmoil visually, to bring his mental and spiritual battles to the screen in an interesting and visually exciting manner,” Dy told The Maroon in an email.

Dy said that his personal bouts of being nearly agnostic and his times of deep devotion helped him create an honest depiction of Ignatius.

“My hope is that my history has contributed to ‘Ignacio’ being accessible to not just the already strongly devout, but also the peripherally spiritual,” Dy said.

Hitting Home Jonathan Vogl, extraordinary professor of digital filmmaking at Loyola, has noticed an increase in religious themes and topics integrated into mainstream film and television.

He lists “Caged No More,” an independent film, and “The Night Of,” an HBO miniseries, as recent film and television works that include religious themes.

Courtesy of Paramount

Andrew Garfield plays a Jesuit priest in Marin Scorsese’s “Silence.” The movie, based on the novel of the same name, is one of two recent films made about Jesuits.

Vogl also said three Loyola students are currently exploring religious ideas in their own work in the film department. Vogl credits the greater amount of religious films to the familiarity and comfort audiences have with religion.

“It becomes intuitively woven into storylines simply because it’s on our minds more,” Vogl said.

Both Dy and Martin expressed the difficulty that may accompany creating religious art and the contradictions and reconciliations religion forces people to consider.

Martin said about “Silence,” “I think it’s a difficult movie for people; it’s going to be very difficult for them to grasp it. There are so many unusual scenes.”

In his interview, Martin told Loyola students to “see ‘Silence’ on its own terms, to think about it, to discuss it and to pray about it, because like any great work of art, it deserves contemplation.”

Colleen Dulle contributed to this report.

January 20, 2017

SUDOKU

ACROSS

C R O S S W O R D

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THE MAROON

1. Having been cut, as grass 5. Stage showoffs 9. “The Prince and the Pauper” author Mark 14. The “E” in Q.E.D. 15. Parisian gal pal 16. Salon dye 17. In a precarious situation 19. Fats Domino genre, briefly 20. Tales of __: misfortunes 21. Market shelves filler: Abbr.

22. Ambles 23. Pabst brand 25. Swimmer’s path 26. Like a lake during a dead calm 32. Dessert with icing 34. Mr. Rogers 35. __ Beta Kappa 36. Really mess up 37. Dude 39. Resting atop 40. State south of Wash.

41. Jury member 42. Struggle (through), as mud 43. Permanent 48. Exiled Roman poet 49. “Right away!”

52. Added financial burden for drivers 55. Bag for a picnic race 57. Massage reaction 58. Pretended to be 59. Art form in which the ends of 17-, 26- and 43-Across may be used 61. Glisten 62. Mr. Peanut’s stick 63. Pac-12 member 64. “The Great” king of Judea 65. Rec room centerpiece 66. Number one Down 1. Cat conversation 2. “To be, __ to be ...”

3. One being pulled behind a boat 4. High degree, in math 5. “Don’t touch that!”

6. “London Fields” author

Martin 7. “Three Blind __” 8. “Get my point?”

9. Big crowd 10. “Pop goes” critter 11. Novelist Brontë 12. “500” race, familiarly 13. Hauls off to jail 18. Texter’s “I think ...”

22. Live __: Taco Bell slogan 24. Black cat, to some 25. Soup servers 27. Fearful 28. Her face launched a thousand ships 29. Puréed fruit served with pork 30. “Scram!”

31. Perform a ballad 32. Gator’s kin 33. Ghostly emanation 38. Section describing the United States Constitution’s amendment process 39. Annapolis inst.

44. Cast a negative ballot 45. Dodged 46. New Jersey fort 47. Like a GI scraping plates 50. Viscounts’ superiors 51. Glance sideways during a test, maybe 52. Serious cut 53. Throbbing pain 54. Mix in a glass 55. Large amount 56. Marie, to Donny’s sons 59. 63-Across, for one: Abbr.

60. Place for a soak

For the weekly puzzle answers, download our app!

Relatives of slain churchgoers confront gunman for last time Jeffery Collins, Associated Press CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — One by one, family members of nine slain black parishioners confronted Dylann Roof for the last time, shouting at him, offering forgiveness and even offering to visit him in prison as he awaits execution for the slaughter.

The 22-year-old avowed white supremacist refused to meet their gaze and simply stared ahead, his head tilted down slightly as it had been for much of his trial.

“Dylann,” Janet Scott said quietly as she started speaking. “Dylann!

Dylann!” she said, her voice rising.

Toward the end of her remarks, she said, “I wish you would look at me, boy.”

Scott, an aunt of 26-year-old Tywanza Sanders, the youngest victim killed in the massacre, demanded that Roof look at her as she talked about her nephew’s “great big heart,” which could not be donated because of the police investigation.

The final statements came a day after jurors sentenced an unrepentant Roof to death. The gunman had one final opportunity to ask for mercy but instead told jurors he still “felt like I had to do it.”

On Jan. 11, U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel formally confirmed the sentence, saying “This hate, this viciousness, this moral depravity will not go unanswered.”

Some family members had already testified at Roof’s trial. The formal sentencing hearing gave 35 of them a chance to speak directly to him, without prosecutors or the judge interrupting or asking ques-

AP Exchange

In this Friday, June 19, 2015 file photo, Annie Simmons, wife of 24 years of Daniel Simmons Sr., one of the nine people killed in Wednesday’s shooting at Emanuel AME Church, holds a photo of her husband at her home, in North Charleston, S.C. During Dylan Roof’s sentencing, friends and family members walked up to the witness stand and testified about the nine black church members gunned down during a Bible study.

tions.

Roof also had an opportunity to speak but declined to say anything.

He is the first person ordered to be executed for a federal hate crime.

Some of the relatives looked directly at Roof. Others chose to look at jurors, who did not have to be in court that day but told the judge they wanted to attend.

Sheila Capers, the sister-in-law of Cynthia Hurd, said she prayed for Roof’s soul to be saved.

“If at any point before you are

sentenced and you’re in prison and you want me to come and pray with you, I will do that,” Capers said.

Felicia Sanders, who survived the attack, said she forgave Roof, repeating comments she made after the shooting. But, she noted, Roof did nothing to save himself.

He served as his own attorney during the sentencing phase and never explained the massacre, expressed remorse or asked for his life to be spared.

Sanders brought the bullet-torn,

bloodstained Bible she had with her on the night of June 17, 2015. She told Roof he still lives in her head, and that when she hears a balloon pop or fireworks, it returns her to that night.

“Most importantly, I can’t shut my eyes to pray,” Sanders said.

On the night of the shooting, Roof sat through a 45-minute Bible study session at the black church known as Mother Emanuel with 12 others.

He opened fire as they stood and closed their eyes for a final prayer.

In all, he fired 77 shots. Each victim was hit at least five times.

Three people survived. Roof told one of them he was sparing her life so she could tell the world he was killing the worshippers at Emanuel AME because he hated black people.

The willingness of some of the relatives to forgive the gunman was widely discussed in the days after the killings. But that did not mean they felt his life should be spared.

And there are others who said forgiveness is still a work in progress.

“You are Satan. Instead of a heart, you have a cold, dark space,” Gracyn Doctor, the daughter of DePayne Middleton-Doctor, said, expressing hope that Roof would “go straight to hell.”

When he was arrested, Roof told FBI agents that he wanted the shootings to bring back segregation or perhaps start a race war. Instead, the slayings had a unifying effect as South Carolina removed the Confederate flag from its Statehouse for the first time in more than 50 years.

Other states followed suit, taking down Confederate banners and monuments. Roof had posed with the flag in photos.

The jury convicted Roof last month of all 33 federal charges he faced. He insisted he was not mentally ill and did not call any witnesses or present any evidence.

Roof, who also faces murder charges in state court, plans to appeal the federal case. Prosecutors say he will remain jailed in Charleston until the state charges are resolved. No trial date has been set.

SPORTS

8

January 20, 2017 The Maroon

Loyola’s baseball team prepares for season After finishing 22-33 last season, the baseball team is ready to take their game to the next level

By Ryan Micklin rwmickli@loyno.edu @RyanMicklin61

OSAMA AYYAD / The Maroon

Blake Toscano, Loyola Wolf Pack shortstop and business management major, throws a baseball during practice at the John A. Alario Sr. Event Center baseball diamond in Westwego, Jan. 14. The senior said he hopes to get some participation from Loyola students during the season.

While most college students were relaxing and soaking up the summer sun, business management senior and starting shortstop Blake Toscano took his game to new heights during the teams’ offseason.

“I went to Denver, Colorado for the entire summer and played about 40 collegiate baseball games in the Rocky Mountain Baseball League.

The league was filled with talented players from all colleges and divisions,” Toscano said.

Toscano wasn’t the only player on the team that worked to improve their game before the start of the new season.

“I worked every day over winter break to provide myself with a consistent swing that can help me succeed, but overall I really focused on establishing a more resilient and confident mentality so that I will be able to lead,” said Alexander Lorenzo, business senior and starting outfielder.

Lorenzo started in every game last year and finished the season with the team’s second highest batting average (.293).

Loyola’s baseball team experienced success last season under coach Doug Faust as the Wolf Pack garnered a 22-33 record and received its first conference tournament berth since entering the Southern States Athletic Conference in 2010.

Faust is entering his fifth season at the helm of the Wolf Pack’s baseball program and currently holds a record of 87-124 during his tenure at

Loyola’s track and field team sets eyes on conference championship

By Jc Canicosa jccanico@loyno.edu @JCcanico

As the spring season begins, Loyola’s track and field team hopes to see their hard work in the offseason pay off.

Nick Dodson, head coach, said that he feels that his team is in a good place for the start of the season.

“Preparation for the upcoming season has been very good,” Dodson said. “I will see where we are once everyone comes back from the Christmas break, but all and all I believe we are ready to go.”

Many of the runners, such as Christian Lynch, management senior, have been focusing on strengthening their weaknesses in their running ability while others have focused on being as healthy as possible for the season opener.

“I have been working on my speed, and my reaction time is something that can always get better. Some days I react like the Flash, others I feel like a snail. I want to have more consistency when competing,” Lynch said.

“I have always wanted to get faster since my first race freshman year.

I’m never truly happy with a race or a jump unless it is a new personal

Loyola.

“As a program, it is very important that we not only get stronger and more explosive, but we need to be able to play a 55 game schedule without physically breaking down,” Faust said.

It’s worth noting that Faust led Loyola to its first winning season since 2002 when his 2013-14 team finished with a 26-24 record.

“This group of seniors is the first group that we recruited and they have played a big role in the development of the program,” Faust said.

“They are determined to continue to try to improve the program before they are finished here.”

In the recently released Southern States Athletic Conference Coaches Preseason Poll, the Wolf Pack was picked to finish the season in seventh place and Faulkner University—the defending conference champions—were selected as the favorites to win the conference yet again.

Regardless of what the preseason poll indicates, there is a strong sense of optimism that permeates throughout the team as the start of a new season approaches rapidly.

“We are considered underdogs by the conference, so that only fuels our competitive spirit even more and we accept the challenge,” Toscano said.

“I truly think this is the most overall talented Loyola baseball team I have been a part of.”

“Our goals are to go out and compete as hard as we can. If we do the things that we do well, the wins and losses will take care of themselves,” Faust said.

The Wolf Pack will open up the 2017 season on Feb. 3 when they play host to Rust College.

Sports briefs Women’s basketball drops out of the NAIA top-25 The Loyola women’s basketball team dropped out of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics top-25 after going 2-2 on a four-game road trip this past week.

The women fell three votes short of the top-25, receiving 60 votes in a poll released on Tuesday.

The Wolf Pack stand at 14-4 overall and 6-2 in Southern States Athletic Conference play.

Loyola takes the court again facing Blue Mountain College on Saturday, Jan. 21.

Courtesy of the Loyola Athletic Department

Sophomore mass communication major Asia Kelly jumps over a hurdle at the Tulane Twilight Invitational on March 4, 2016. The Loyola track and field team opens up their season at the Emory Crossplex Invitational on Jan. 22 in Birmingham, Alabama.

record. I am a bit of a perfectionist so I always aim to have the best race of my life every time I step in the blocks.”

Team chemistry is another big key to the success for the team this season, and according to Yesenia Davis, biology sophomore, the team’s chemistry is even stronger than last year’s.

“I consider my teammates to be some of my closest friends,” Davis said. “We all push each other to be

better when we’re at practice because we see the potential that each of us possess.”

Although the team is very young, Dodson said he expects nothing short of their best this season.

“I want us to qualify as many athletes as we can for both the indoor and outdoor national championships and get someone on the podium and earn All-American honors.

This will put us in a great position for a bright future as we are a very

young team,” Dodson said.

Lynch echoes Dodson’s hopes for the team and looks forward to seeing the team’s accomplishments.

“In the end, I want to see as many teammates as possible on the podium at conference and nationals.

We struggle together and succeed together, but when we get on the bus to go to the meets, we’re family,” Lynch said.

Men’s tennis team ranks fifth; women’s ranks ninth in preseason polls The Loyola men’s tennis team was picked to finish fifth in the Southern States Athletic Conference after receiving 44 votes in the coaches’ preseason poll on Tuesday.

The women’s team received 34 votes, ranking ninth in the SSAC preseason poll.

The Wolf Pack open up the spring against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on Jan. 21 at the City Park Tennis Center.

9

THE MAROON

January 20, 2017

Loyola’s rugby team to appear in Jesuit Cup

By Andres Fuentes aafuente@loyno.edu @af_nola

MARISABEL RODRIGUEZ / The Maroon

The Loyola rugby team works on passing during their practice on Monday, Jan. 16. The team opens their spring season on Jan. 28 at the University of South Alabama.

The Loyola rugby team has been invited to the second annual Jesuit Cup in Santa Clara, California.

The tournament hosts rugby teams from universities across the nation.

The 7’s tournament will feature teams from Notre Dame, Gonzaga and Boston College to name a few.

Loyola’s rugby team will be competing for the Pope Francis Cup for the first time in the team’s history.

Alex Le, biology senior and team president, said that it’s exciting to be acknowledged by the commitee and looks forward to playing on the field with his team.

“The Jesuit Cup is new to us. They [the committee] were very selective on which teams they wanted to invite into their tournament. They heard about our accomplishments the past few years and we’re honored to accept their invitation,” Le said.

Le was quick to credit the invitation toward the new players and his coach.

“We’ve recently had a lot of new guys come to the program and they’ve gotten competitive and driven after getting a taste of victory,” Le said. “But a lot of (credit) also goes to coach Jerry. He has the ability to mold us young athletes into talent-

ed rugby players.”

With a young and motivated roster and an inspiring coach, the rugby team seems to be on the track to success heading to Santa Clara.

Despite the fact that the team will be new to this tournament this year, Connor Delahunty, criminal justice senior and team captain, said that they are ready for anything they come up against.

“We are playing some very talented teams who are probably more talented than us. They may be more athletic, but that means nothing,” Delahunty said. “We have been playing more athletic teams my entire career for rugby at Loyola and we have beaten them all the time.”

The high sense of confidence has created a buzz around the rugby team as a result.

“Everyone was very excited about hearing about the trip. Our rugby team never gets to leave the South all that often, so people were very excited about being able to go to the west coast,” Delahunty said.

Although the team is excited for their opportunity, head coach Jerry Malina believes that the tournament will be no easy task. “[This year] we played much larger schools than us, but we have had success. It’s going to be a big challenge, but I’m sure the team can handle it,” Malina said.

The tournament will be April 21-23 at the Univeristy of Santa Clara.

2017 ENVIRONMENTAL ROUNDTABLES: Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm Location: Monroe Hall 152 Thursdays: • January 26th • February 9th & 23rd • March 9th & 23rd • April 6th

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APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 27 bit.ly/loynocode17 For more information, contact Kate McCrery at kymccrer@loyno.edu.

Environmental Roundtables are facilitated discussions of important environmental issues, hosted by the Loyola University Environment Program. Facilitators include Environment Program Faculty and guest hosts.

The Maroon

10

January 20, 2017

Loyola tennis team knows what “love” is all about

By Andres Fuentes aafuente@loyno.edu @af_nola

With the spring season quickly approaching, there is now a chance for the Loyola tennis team to make their mark in the Southern States Athletic Conference.

In the fall of 2016, the men’s team beat Our Lady of the Lake University (4-5) in a close contest, and the women’s team went on to shut down Spring Hill College (0-9).

Despite the wins, head coach Kyle Russell sees room for improvement.

“The fall is a time to break some things down and dig into what we can do better. We did a lot of good work and although I was not completely satisfied, I am excited to see if we can put it all together in the spring,” Russell said.

According to Russell, this season looks promising for the Wolf Pack, especially with the work the players are putting into practice.

“This is a very difficult question to answer because I expect a lot from all of our players, and I know they all are hungry to deliver,” said Russell, when asked which players look to be standouts this season.

Koral Martinez, biology and premed sophomore is expected to play with excellent talent and tenacity.

Players Maxime Rumeau, business marketing sophomore, Steven Le, business senior and Federico Mercado, economics senior look to put up great numbers in their final season at Loyola, and four freshmen will be added to the women’s team.

Margaret Adams, biology sophomore and team captain, looks to lead her team to great success in the upcoming season.

“We have a unique opportunity to build the team this year, and just as the coaches, I expect everyone to give their all during practices and matches. That is all I can ask for,” Adams said. “By doing this I know we will be successful. We have a great group of enthusiastic and diligent girls and I am so excited to see all of their hard work pay off.”

Adams also recognizes the strengths that her team has to offer this year.

“One of our biggest strengths as a team is the energy that all of the girls provide. They are all very spir-

ALLICIYIA GEORGE / The Maroon

Anthony Zaleski, biology junior practices his serve in City Park. The spring season starts on Jan. 27 against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College at City Park Tennis Center.

ited and ready to tackle anything thrown their way,” Adams said.”Additionally, we have a very dynamic group. We have girls from all different backgrounds and different personalities that each bring some-

thing unique to the table. We are all working towards the same goal and are very determined to reach our full potential. They are constantly wanting to raise the level of standard to improve.”

With a fresh start, the goal this season is simple: to win.

“We would ultimately like to win the conference, whether that happens this spring or in the years to come remains to be seen. In the

short term, it’s to coalesce into a cohesive team and really just focus on getting better every day,” Russell said.

Loyola’s Environmental Roundtable tackles climate change denial

By Caleb Beck cmbeck@loyno.edu @CalebBeckIRL

Due in part to polarizing opinions of climate change in the current political landscape, the Loyola Environment Program is addressing climate change denial as a key part of their roundtable discussions.

The Environmental Roundtable is a forum that provides a platform for students and faculty to present ideas about addressing environmental concerns.

The discussions are structured so that each chief member is given thirty or forty minutes to introduce their topic and define their stances and platforms.

David White, professor of Biological Sciences, is a strong advocate for the influence of fact-based science, and in his curated roundtable, he addressed the social causes for environmental neglect.

“In recent decades, there has

been a concentrated effort in this country with people who have agendas—political, economic, business—to put out a lot of false information that can simply be defined as denialism. Denialism is wanton disregard for information that is contrary to someone’s belief systems,” White said.

Olivia Wells, visual art senior, has attended the previous roundtables, and believes the biggest opponent of fact-based science is sheer denial.

“I believe that climate change is caused by industrialization and anthropocentrism. I’ve talked to people that believe climate scientists solely publish biased, falsified statistics for personal gain, but the vast majority of scientists agree that there is real evidence behind humans impacting climate change.”

Wells said.

Bob Thomas, director for Loyola’s Center for Environmental Communications, is viewing Donald Trump’s nominee for the Environ-

mental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, with cautious stoicism. Pruitt has long been a climate change skeptic.

“Anything that I say right now about our Pruitt and his environmental impact right now is speculation. He’s said a lot of things that have upset environmental advocates, but he also changes his mind on a whim, so we’re waiting on pins and needles to see what happens,” Thomas said.

Thomas is referring to Scott Pruitt’s confirmation hearing Jan. 18 where he contradicted Trump’s sheer denial of climate change by mentioning that humans are probably involved with the impact, but not to what extent.

“One of the encouraging things is that climate change skeptics Trump has nominated have shifted their stances when they testified, and it gives me hope,” Thomas said.

The roundtable members have agreed that time will tell what this

Courtesy of Kyle Encar

Loyola’s Environmental Roundtable meets in Monroe Hall to discuss issues. The discussion covered a range of pressing matters in the environmental sphere.

schism in climate rhetoric will mean for the environmental community.

“How far is he willing to go with it and will it satisfy me? I don’t know, but I’m watching it with great trepidation,” Thomas said.

White recanted that the science is self-explanatory, and what it means

is not be ignored.

“Climate change isn’t just the biggest problem environmentalists are facing right now, it’s the biggest problem the world is facing right now,” White said.

Katelyn Fecteau contributed to this article.

January 20, 2017

THE MAROON

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Life &Times

January 20, 2017 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

Pop-up-ular: Impromptu Street Food The industry of pop-up restaurants finds a home in the New Orleans area

Life & Times briefs Loyola theatre set to premiere acclaimed “Street Scence” opera Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Elmer Rice, Kurt Weil’s “Street Scene will be featured at Loyola’s Roussel Hall on Jan. 20 and Jan. 22.

The backdrop for the performance is 1940’s New York City, complimented with lyrics from noted Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. The music has been described as a fusion of traditional European music with American jazz and blues influences.

Tickets will be priced at $15 for students and faculty and $25 for general admission.

Bar to host Trump antiinaugural dance party Poor Boys Bar on St. Bernard Avenue will be hosting a dance celebration on Jan. 20 in response to the inauguration of President Donald Trump from 9:30-3:00 a.m.

The free event is set to unite local community organizations and recruitment groups, while featuring DJ sets from artists Riviera Slim, DJ Bunny, Helen M. Gillet and Brian Coogan.

The party is set to coincide with protest marches happening throughout the night in response to the inauguration taking place at 11 a.m. on the morning of Jan. 20.

Heart of the Pack photo series launched

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

From sit-downs to grab-n-go’s, impromptu pop-up restaurants are on the rise in New Orleans.

These temporary restaurants feature a wide variety of food styles and serving techniques. Whether the restaurant has their guests sit down or dish food out, eaters can find them at festivals, a local bar or while exploring the French Quarter.

Midnight Noodle, the vegan friendly pop-up restaurant seen at locations such as Kitchen Witch and 45 Tchoup, is run by chef Melvin Stovall III and pastry chef Mariah Casmir.

Stovall said that he appreciates how Midnight Noodle unites people through food.

“You get to meet amazing people in the community,” Stovall said. “It brings people together, and there’s such a camping feel to my pop-ups with the wok on an open flame. I’ve witnessed people reuniting with old friends who they haven’t seen in a while and eating a big plate of noodles is a great way to catch up.”

With a vegan spin on classic dishes, Midnight Noodle plays around with cultural influences such as Thai and Tex-Mex. “Pop-ups give you the chance to experiment with many different cooking techniques and cuisines that you wouldn’t be able to test out in someone’s restaurant,” Stovall said. “Everyone is so open with one another here that eating food from a stranger outside a bar isn’t seen as strange.”

Black Swan Food Experience, started by Chef Nikki Wright and General Manager Shana Turner, uses Creole, Caribbean and Thai influences for their contemporary soul food dishes.

“Black Swan is inspired by the idea of street food culture meeting casual fine dining,” Wright said.

“New Orleans is a city of creating, so the idea of pop-up restaurants with their flexible structures fits well into the high expectation for uniqueness in this city.”

The Black Swan Food Experience began after the events of Hurricane Katrina, when Wright decided it was time to pursue cooking as a living.

The native New Orleanian learned to appreciate food and its potential effect on others in her grandmother’s kitchen.

“People sell pralines on street corners, a tradition that dates back centuries. People throw suppers to cover their rent, like my Mama did while we were growing up. People cook food from grills off the back of their trucks and sell it to late night club crowds; they set up tables on Frenchmen street to sell their art,” Wright said. “The ability to make a living through preparing and selling food on the street is a lifeline for many women.”

The Black Swan Food Experience has popped up at locations such as the Ashe Cultural Center, the Contemporary Arts Center, Eiffel Society, The Building, Cafe Istanbul and the Milkfish Restaurant, as well as at music and art festivals.

“We often collaborate with musicians, visual artists, local jewelers and vendors who produce handmade goods for home and body,”

To kick off the new year, the Office of Marketing has started an online showcase of the Loyola community through photography and storytelling.

The concept behind the project is to include a photo and a brief quote intended to leave the reader wanting more.

New portraits are scheduled to be released each week on both the website and social media accounts.

This project will include students, faculty, staff, support and alumni.

First Third Friday of the semester happens this week

DAVIS WALDEN / The Maroon

(Top) General manager Shana Turner speaking with Tania Vidal, who is ordering food at Black Swan’s location at Roux Carre. (Bottom) Chef Nikki Wright of Black Swan Food Experience presents avocado fries with a honey lime sriracha dip. Black Swan is influenced by Creole, Caribbean and Thai cuisine.

Wright said. “Food, alongside art, music and the entrepreneurial spirit that this port city has had for centuries.”

While each city has their own specialty, Wright said that New Orleans creativity makes it a great place for pop-up restaurants.

“New Orleans is a city of creating, so the idea of pop-up restaurants with their flexible structures fits

well into the high expectation for uniqueness in this city,” Wright said.

“Even though we have moved into the Roux Carre, our goal is to continue popping up around the city throughout the year.”

For a list of the pop-up restaurants around the city check out our website loyolamaroon.com

The Student Government Association’s Third Friday event will feature a silent disco.

Silent discos are dances where guests wear headphones to listen to the music instead of being played over speakers.

The SGA-sponsored event will include a photo booth, glow tattoos, cotton candy and Bayou Hot Wings.

The event starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Residential Quad on Jan. 20.

G-Eazy wins People’s Choice Award Former Loyola University student and hip-hop performing artist G-Eazy won Favorite Hip-Hop Artist at the 2017 People’s Choice Award.

The “When It’s Dark Out“ artist thanked his fans after receiving the award.

G-Eazy won the award over artists such as Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa and DJ Khaled.

THE MAROON

January 20, 2017

13

Cont.: Loyola divests, may reinvest again DIVEST, continued from page 1 heard from Boyce that the group had completed that task. She said the group didn’t respond to any of her messages until they wrote the open letter.

Looking back on this process, Boyce said, “We could have communicated better.”

Wildes never responded to the group’s letter, but Boyce said in December that if he didn’t receive a response, the group would move forward with the endowment committee anyway.

“Wildes has been reluctant to say anything, but, you know, you’ve got to move forward,” Boyce said. “We need to take a stand for what we ultimately stand for.”

Divest Loyno will now be represented at endowment committee meetings.

The group never elected representatives, so Boyce will speak for Divest Loyno on the committee. He was expected to meet with Hubbard and Leon Mathes, associate vice president of finance and administration, on Jan. 20 to be briefed on what he had missed at last semes-

ter’s committee meeting.

“It’s really exciting, and then from there we’re going to be able to partake in each investment committee meeting,” Boyce said.

Davis Walden contributed translation.

For a full translation of Torres’ story and more information on private prisons’ finances, visit LoyolaMaroon.com

Nearly 50 House Democrats vow to boycott Trump’s inauguration SAM HANANEL, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The roster of House Democrats planning to boycott President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration grew to about 50 on Tuesday in a protest of the New York businessman’s policies and his repeated criticism of legendary civil rights activist John Lewis.

The Georgia congressman made headlines over the weekend for challenging Trump’s legitimacy to be the next president and erroneously claiming that Trump’s inauguration would be the first he will have missed since coming to Congress three decades ago.

Lewis said last week that he would skip Trump’s swearing in on Friday, telling NBC News that he didn’t view Trump as a legitimate president.

“I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton,” Lewis said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday.

Lewis’ comments drew angry weekend tweets from Trump, who wrote that “rather than falsely complaining about the election results,” Lewis should focus on his congressional district.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., also weighed in, telling a Milwaukee Fox television affiliate Tuesday that Trump “won this election fair and square” and that Democrats were wrong “to try and inject some kind of claim of illegitimacy on the dawn of a new presidency.”

Ryan praised Lewis, however, telling Fox6Now.com that Lewis “knows what I think of him, how much I look up to him. I think both men would do better by just getting to know each other, and understanding each other.”

The number of Democrats boycotting Trump’s inauguration continued to increase, including Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, a top contender to lead the Democratic National Committee, as well as many black and Hispanic lawmakers. Top Democrats like House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York will attend, however, and none of the Senate Democrats said they’ll skip the inauguration.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer shrugged off the protest and indicated they would give away the seats.

“We’d love for every member of Congress to attend but if they don’t, we’ve got some great seats for others to partake in. It’s a shame that these folks don’t want to be part of the peaceful transfer of power,” Spicer told reporters on a morning call.

On Tuesday, Democrats such as Alma Adams of North Carolina, Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania and Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire joined the growing ranks of lawmakers boycotting Trump’s inauguration.

“I cannot in good faith and consciousness pretend to celebrate the inauguration of someone who has spoken so horribly about women, minorities and the disabled,” Adams said.

Trump and other Republicans have dismissed the boycott and complaints, saying Democrats are sore losers who need to accept the results of the election and move on.

EDITORIAL

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January 20, 2016 THE MAROON

The Next Four Years HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to New Orleans in January GROWL to the warmest year on record HOWL to the new tree GROWL to homework on Syllabus Week HOWL to playoff football GROWL to another 7-9 Saints season HOWL to a new semester GROWL to repeal without replace HOWL free meals when parents visit

EDITORIAL BOARD Starlight Williams

Editor-in-Chief

Naasha Dotwiala

Managing Editor for Print

Nick Reimann

Managing Editor for Electronic Properties

Taylor Ford

Maroon Minute Executive Producer

Anna Dobrowolski

Design Chief

Barbara Brown

Photo Editor

Jessica Molina Caleb Beck

News Editor Life & Times Editor

Paulina Picciano

Wolf Editor

Jamal Melancon

Worldview Editor

Brian Wollitz

Sports Editor

Colleen Dulle

Religion Editor

Seán Brennan

Opinion and Editorial Editor

Paulina Picciano

Copy Editor

Hayley Hynes

Copy Editor

Liz Johnston

Copy Editor

Osama Ayyad Haley Pegg

Senior Photographer Senior Staff Writer

Asha Thomas Public Relations Director

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.

ANNA DOBROWOLSKI / THE MAROON

Here’s to the next four years. It will be the time when mass media, both the publications that provide news and the citizens who consume, like, comment and vote, will sink or swim.

In this time, private citizens and news organizations alike will need to look inward, to assess their routines and habits, the way that they interact with each other, the values they exercise and how they handle the information they receive with every glance at their phones.

The next four years will be a challenge for everyone who cares.

From the reporters who must learn to walk the tightrope of an unconventional president to the onlookers on Facebook who feel rectified as those reporters come under fire, people will need to start asking why and start looking more deeply at the other instead of running further into their rooted beliefs.

The next four years will not be easy, but looking back on the last two years, there’s no way they could be.

The last two years have unearthed too many issues that Americans never widely understood. People learned that disillusionment, unease and outright fear are more prominent in the country than anyone could imagine.

Of all the uncovered hazards of the last two years, the most important in entering the next four years is this: the sheer power of modern media.

Not a single person participating within the mass media – not the largest news syndicates in the world or any of the 58 percent of American

adults, and growing, on Facebook – projected how impactful the dysfunction of the media would be.

Media experts have long understood the concept of echo-chambering, the selective interaction with information to reinforce one’s own beliefs. But until Election Day, as millions of Americans sat genuinely shocked while millions were equally certain, no experts could understand just how much information bubbles could change mass perception.

People, generally, have always been wary of information found on the Internet, while also understanding the partisan set up between the mainstream news organizations like Fox, MSNBC and CNN. But until the presidential election, when more pieces of fake news–stories that purposefully mislead, omit or falsify information–were engaged on Facebook than pieces of news from credited outlets, no one could realize just how severely the mainstream media had earned their distrust.

Until a gunman drove across state lines and held up a pizzeria with an assault rifle, because he believed it was the site where the democratic nominee for president of the United States was involved in an underground child sex ring, could people see the legitimate danger and ease in which misinformation is accepted.

Until the last two years, when the heat of election season and the alarm of the American people brought to light the increasing blur between empirical evidence, facts, beliefs and opinions, could people truly understand that the Age of In-

formation also has the potential to threaten objective reality.

Looking at the last two years, no, change cannot be easy. But as the world spins into 2017, positively reforming these problems over the next four years should not be easy either.

According to the most recent Gallup poll, four in 10 Americans put trust in the mass media, a record low that shows continuing downward trends, especially in those younger than 50. The majority of Americans do not trust the media.

Rebuilding this trust requires that the members of the established media, from the Los Angeles Times to The Maroon, acknowledge that business-as-usual must change.

Media outlets are part of an industry and are composed of people.

“The media,” for all of its growing, amorphous power, is comprised of individuals, professionals who each must examine their part in the development of the issues they now face.

Members of the traditional media must ask themselves when President Donald Trump calls CNN fake news, why do so many of his supporters adamantly agree? It is not just because they are misinformed.

In a constant battle of ratings, first-scoops and faux-objectivity, the media industry solidified Trump within the spotlight, treating coverage as a commodity. Then, almost simultaneously, they became overtly critical as his chances turned to legitimate possibility.

People, not just Trump supporters, notice these things. Distrust in the mainstream media increases,

pushing consumption further towards unaccredited news sources and creating the idea that “fake news” is what comes from the news outlets following corporate interests as usual.

This effect is exacerbated, so, when BuzzFeed releases a dossier two weeks before the presidential inauguration of “explosive” information that is also “unverified,” enough doubt can be cast to render a potentially history-changing story useless.

In the next four years, news outlets must acknowledge their contributions to the increasingly frayed trust with the public and step up their game.

Unverified facts cannot be published. Every piece of hard news must be unassailable. If that means not being the first organization to publish a story, then so be it. If that means running pieces that do not cater to a target demographic’s views, good.

In the next four years, doubt from all sides will be cast upon the news media. If these organizations do not rise to the occasion, the very nature of factual reality will be put in jeopardy. If these organizations continue to respond to the president’s tactics with cattiness, an unprecedented administration will be without a watchdog.

The next four years will be hard, but the media must use this time to re-earn public trust. Only when news organizations improve can they wave away the insult of “fake news,” as they should.

January 20, 2017 The Maroon

OPINION Democrats, not Russia, to blame for Trump 15

Millennials need to debate more Andrew leach Mass Communication, senior

Nick Reimann Mass Communication, junior Managing Editor nsreimann@yahoo.com

andrew_leach@outlook.com

Today, Americans are left with the vision that Donald Trump, the famous – or infamous – billionaire, is holding the highest office in the United States. Most of us are still coming to terms that this “literally just happened.”

There’s fury coming from both sides of the political spectrum, but liberals are no longer able to see where conservatives are coming from and vice versa. That is dangerous, friends.

Both Democrats and Republicans sit in their bubbles, continuing to shift to their extremes. Both sides have become so polarized to the point where neither can see the other and instead resort to ridiculous name calling. Just look at Facebook.

There are many factors that have brought the country to this point, but the one factor that needs to be addressed is this: our generation doesn’t debate.

The recent rise in “political correctness” and “safe spaces,” especially in American universities, have crushed our abilities to debate with one another. It’s taught us that if we debate, we run the risk of offending someone because we said something they don’t agree with. This mentality is a serious problem. Every person is entitled to their own opinion, and as 2016 has shown, there are a lot of different opinions out there.

When we don’t debate, we allow people to carry their beliefs without the worry they’ll ever have to question them. Facts cease to matter and when a powerful voice like Donald Trump starts telling people certain behavior is excusable, people believe him.

And when people start believing Trump is the answer to everything, will the opposition calling his supporters “stupid racists” change their minds? I cannot speak for everyone but I have never changed my mind because some stranger on the Internet called me an idiot. When debate is stifled, we are left with this unproductive name-calling.

This is a major reason why someone like Donald Trump is president.

We bicker, we call people different than us names and they come back at us with a vengeance. Nobody wins.

We need to debate. When we debate, we learn more about each other. We have the opportunity to teach someone the reasons they could be wrong.

I’m sure conservatives would be more than happy to point out the flaws they see in Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton and Democrats would be more than happy to point out the flaws they see in Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

It’s time to come together and educate one another with facts on the important issues. It’s time to drop the fear of debating and to start proving people wrong with legitimate facts. Facts beat ignorance every time if you are willing to listen.

RUSSIA. RUSSIA. RUSSIA. Turn on cable news and that’s all you’ll hear. Any time, 24/7, it’s all about how Russia “influenced” the election or even “changed the outcome.” The horror!

Well, guess what, it’s not Russia’s fault that Donald Trump is the next president of the United States. The fault solely lies with the Democratic Party in their fervent effort to nominate a flawed and dangerous candidate at all costs.

People might realize this if the media focused a little more on the content of the “Russian hack” rather than the hacking itself.

Look no further than the interview with Sen. Diane Feinstein on this week’s edition of Meet the Press.

In the interview, Feinstein stated that based on her viewing of the unclassified intelligence report, she was “astonished” at Russia’s longterm effort to provide “propaganda” wherever it really could and that this played a role in changing the outcome of the election.

Well Ms. Feinstein, here’s how Russia influenced the election: they showed the American people that the Democratic Party is the same grossly corrupt machine it always has been.

It showed a party that was willing to go to all lengths to coronate their

MCT Campus

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton delivers her concession speech on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016 from the New Yorker Hotel’s Grand Ballroom in New York City, N.Y.

queen Hillary Clinton from day one, using threats and manipulation to ensure they met their desired outcome.

In other words, they really put the “democracy” in “Democrat.”

Well then, you may ask: Why would Russia expose the Democrats’ dark secrets but not the Republicans’ (who surely have some)?

Maybe it’s because the Democratic nominee posed a serious, tangible threat to them.

During the campaign, Hillary Clinton doubled down again and again on the issue of Russia in Syria.

Clinton seemed more than willing to begin World War III by using America’s arsenal of military re-

sources to aid “moderate rebels” (who definitely aren’t terrorists or anything) over the Russian-backed Assad.

If Clinton was elected, the best case scenario geopolitically would have basically been a return to the heart of the Cold War. Russia, rationally, realized this was not in their interests, so they did a little bit of investigative journalism (ethics aside, of course) and exposed the Democrats for what they are: corrupt.

This, in turn, may or may not have influenced the election by making the American people aware of the true nature of the Democratic nominee and her party. It also, in turn, may or may not have prevent-

ed World War III. And now we see the hypocrisy of Democrats, joined by their war-mongering GOP cheerleader John McCain, diving into their witch hunt to investigate and prosecute anyone who has ever spoken to Putin, been to Russia or simply looked at a map, and said: “Hey, look, that country’s bigger than ours!”

Here’s the fact of the matter: none of them would have had any problem interfering in Russia’s election.

In fact, they probably did, but failed.

Maybe next time, they should think before nominating someone under FBI investigation.

La la (B)land: Musical leaves catharsis wanted Caterina Picone English, freshmen cpiconefilms@gmail.com

As award season approaches, two films are at the forefront of everyone’s minds: Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” and Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight.”

One of 2016’s most anticipated releases, “La La Land” is a cosmic swirl of color, choreography and music, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as struggling artists attempting to make their theatrical debut in Los Angeles. This is juxtaposed by Jenkins’ “Moonlight,” a poetic drama that follows a young man’s attempt to find himself and come to terms with his sexuality on the streets of Miami.

One cannot deny either film’s critical or public success, as both films received more than 120 awards this season and are expected to gain more as the year goes on.

However, Chazelle’s “La La Land” appears much more vapid and disjointed than “Moonlight,” while receiving much more attention than Jenkins’ drama.

Manihla Dargis, New York Times film critic, claims that, “’La La Land’ makes musicals matter again.” But if I could only use one word to de-

scribe the film, it would be blasé.

From start to finish, “La La Land” is filled with overused tropes and predictable writing and quickly becomes a boring amalgamation of its classical musical predecessors.

While Chazelle boasts a win from the Golden Globes for Best Screenplay, “La La Land” has an extreme focus on over-the-top musical numbers and leaves its dialogue to the wayside. Although Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are, not surprisingly, able to pull solid performances from the film’s very basic writing, it doesn’t save the script. Their performances, paired with both production design and dreamy visuals, are the only saving grace of the musical.

In a world full of year-round “blockbusters” and predictable scripts, we crave original and immersive films. Cinema that is both poetic and transformative is what we deserve, and “Moonlight” delivers. The world Barry Jenkins creates is all too real, and the triptych storytelling unfolds as easily as the characters’ lives in the film. “Moonlight’s” few tender moments, amidst the vivid suffering of Jenkins’ characters, create the type of catharsis that is missing in contemporary cinema.

A film has never left me stuck with the weight of the world like “Moonlight.” I sat as the credits rolled to black, listening to the tender soundtrack as I let the last few waves of moonlight wash over me.

Associated Press

(Top) “Moonlight,” directed by Barry Jenkins, earned six nominations at the Golden Globes on Jan. 8 and received Best Screenplay in the drama category. “Moonlight” received critical acclaim as a modern coming-of-age story. (Bottom) Director Damien Chazelle’s “La la Land” took home seven Golden Globes on Jan. 8, including Best Screenplay for a motion picture. The film currently has 182 nominations from various academies.

January 20, 2017

THE MAROON

FROM NYC

TO NOLA Second Location Coming Soon!

5001 Freret St. www.TheHalalGuys.com

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