February 17, 2017 by Loyola Maroon

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 95 • Issue 18 • February 17, 2017

Black History Mass sparks controversy By Leah Banks lmbanks@loyno.edul @elle_banks12

Loyola's Black History Mass was planned as an uplifting celebration of African-American culture but left some students feeling discouraged. On Feb. 12, Loyola's 9 p.m. Mass community held its 8th Annual Black History Mass. It featured music from the Genesis gospel choir. During the month of February, the African-American community comes together not only to acknowledge the efforts of those who have come before them, but also to celebrate the innovations and struggles that have occurred in past generations. While in the past Black History Mass has been a Loyola celebration, organizers worked this year with Xavier University New Orleans and Dillard University and invited their students to attend the Mass. Bishop Ferdinand Cheri, who was intended to celebrate the Mass, fell sick on Sunday, however, and two other African-American priests who were called as backup could not attend, according to the Rev. Ed Vacek, S.J., who celebrated the Mass in Cheri's place. Vacek delivered a homily intended to confess to his internalized racism, he said; however, this confession sparked unease among some of the students there. During Vacek's homily, he recounted times when he had noticed his racism. "One of the clues I have from my

own racism is that, at one point, I find myself saying, ‘Oh, that African American person did a really fine job,' and I’ll realize that I’m saying ‘Oh, for an African American person, I didn’t expect them (to),' and shame on me, that’s my racism and I’m slowly overcoming it," Vacek said in an interview after the Mass. The Loyola L.O.V.E. (Living Our Vision Everyday) Chapter of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs worked alongside University Ministry to organize the Mass. Natavia Mitchell, a member of the L.O.V.E. Chapter, said she felt Vacek's homily degraded the black community. "The intention of the Mass was to uplift and honor black culture, and Fr. Vacek's message did not meet the intended expectation to encourage our black community. I personally left the Mass feeling disappointed that a member of the Loyola community would degrade my culture in such a public setting," Mitchell said. Vacek said he wanted his homily to reflect Sunday's Gospel reading. "I was trying to say something like this: the Gospel is about having a heart that is not good, a heart that is full of anger, needless anger, and a heart that is full of needless lust. And our hearts are not good. Then I used myself as an example of a heart that is not good. I used my history to say, over time, I have developed and, I think, gotten better, and I think better, but I still find some racism in me,” Vacek said. Mitchell said she wished this message was communicated more

The Maroon

February 17, 2017

clearly. "I do also recognize that Fr. Vacek's message could have been comprehended incorrectly by the audience, but the fact that Fr. Vacek is an educator and a priest should ensure that he has the ability to properly address his point with little confusion," Mitchell said. Mitchell clarified that she was not speaking on behalf of the L.O.V.E. Chapter. Armani Eady, president and co-founder of the L.O.V.E. Chapter, had not responded to requests for comments at press time. Vacek said that Mission and Ministry is working to plan a meeting between himself and the students who were upset with his homily to create an opportunity for dialogue. The date and time of this meeting have not yet been set.

DAVIS WALDEN / The Maroon

(Top) Rachael McGee sings a solo at Black History Mass on Feb. 12. (Right) Students line up at a buffet following the Mass. The Mass drew criticism because of the Rev. Ed Vacek, S.J.,'s homily.

Students opt for jobs to pay off debt, rather than dream careers Many students are no longer leaving college and starting careers but leaving college hoping for any job that pays well enough to pay off their debt. Mark Kantrowitz, nationally recognized expert on student financial aid, scholarships and student loans, has found that many emerging professionals care more about paying off student loans than about putting money away for retirement. According to Kantrowitz, students who graduate with excessive debt are 20 percent more likely to say that their debt influenced their employment plans, causing them to

take a job outside their field. For Ellen Egitton, marketing senior set to graduate in May, a “dream job” isn’t something that she’s expecting to land right out of the gate. Instead, she feels that any salary-based job can be used as a stepping stone to achieve her dream job. “I think I would veer more toward, ‘I need to get something that pays me and that lets me have health insurance,’ so that I can be in a better position to then really start looking for a job that actually speaks to me,” Egitton said. With the total student loan debt in the United States topping $1.3 trillion, according to Business Insider, it's no surprise that the rising costs of student debt are changing the future of the job market. In 2007, tuition at Loyola was

$12,816 per semester, according to Academic Affairs. Today, students looking to attend Loyola next semester will have to pay $19,746 per semester, or with room and board and general fees, $52,107 for the entire year. Anastasia Sion, A’16, said that she believes most private universities tend to have higher tuition, and she's not wrong. According to College Board, the average cost of tuition at a private university for the 2016-2017 school year was $33,480 while the average tuition cost at a public university (for out-of-state residents) was $24,930. For in-state residents who attend public universities, the average cost of tuition is less than

See DEBT, page 3

Loyola Tuition Rates per semester, 2007-2017 20 19 18 Tuition(x1000)

By Ryan Micklin rwmickli@loyno.edu @ryanmicklin61

17 16 15 14 13 12 07

School Years

RICCARDO MUZZETTO/ The Maroon

February 17, 2017

THE MAROON

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Auto Theft Birch St./Lowerline St.

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Armed Burglary 7400 Block of Zimple St.

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Theft 6200 Block of S. Claiborne Ave.

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Theft 54000 Block of Magazine St.

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Vehicle Break-in 500 Block of Broadway St.

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2:01 p.m.

Residence Burglarly 7400 Block of Zimple St.

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Residence Burglarly 1300 Block of Adams St.

Feb. 12

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Theft 7100 Block of Zimple St.

Feb. 12

3:38 p.m.

Theft 6300 Block of St. Charles Ave.

Feb. 13

3:14 p.m.

Residence Burglary 300 Block of Audubon St.

Feb. 13

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Vehicle Break-in 200 Block of Broadway St.

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NEWS

February 17, 2017 THE MAROON

OCELTS by day, Muses by night Office of Community Engaged Learning, Teaching and Scholarship director moonlights as lieutenant for Muses

ResLife makes improvement for Mardi Gras By Jessica Molina jgmolina@loyno.edu @jmolina217

By Lily Cummings lrcummin@loyno.edu @lilyrain6

With Mardi Gras right around the corner, students aren’t the only ones looking forward to the holiday. Jennifer Jeanfreau, director of the office of community engaged learning, teaching and scholarship, is one of several Loyola faculty members who ride in a Mardi Gras parade. Jeanfreau has been riding in Muses since 2005. As a New Orleans native she grew up riding in day parades from the age of two. When she was in graduate school an offer was extended for her to ride with the fairly new krewe that began in 2000. Today, Jeanfreau is one of the lieutenants of her float, meaning she is in charge of the 45 business women on her float. “One of the nicest things about the krewe,” Jeanfreau said, “is that it is women of all ages, races and careers and we all come together and have a great time.” Not only does she work at Loyola full-time, but Jeanfreau said the preparation for the parade is year

round. Soon after Mardi Gras passes, the krewe will begin discussing the theme for next season and designing floats. Throughout the year they host events and choose charities to fundraise for as well. “It’s a lot of prep, but it’s fun prep,” Jeanfreau said. Muses is known for the iconic shoes they throw each year, however, Jeanfreau said she spends about 8 hours creating each unique shoe. There are many stages of the shoe decorating process she said. “If you get a shoe you should be thrilled and treasure it,” she said. When asked to describe the show of Muses, Jeanfreau said you can feel the excitement in the air. Muses tries to have the best marching bands and troops so that it truly is something to see and people want to come out she said. From her perspective she sees the tremendous crowds, screaming with excitement of what they might catch. “For the people on the float, it’s like being a rockstar,” Jeanfreau said. Just as our Jesuit values encourage us to be with and for others,

Courtesy of Jennifer Jeanfreau

(Top) Jeanfreau’s view from atop a Muses float from a previous Mardi Gras, some in the large crowds have their hands raised in hopes to catch a coveted Muses shoe. (Right) Jennifer Jeanfreau and (Left) friend at a previous Mardi Gras, ready to ride in Muses wearing colorful wigs. Jeanfreau said that sometimes being on a float is like a rockstar.

Jeanfreau exhibits this value serving as lieutenant. Jeanfreau takes riding in the parade very seriously she said, noting that it’s a totally different experience on the ground than on a float. Putting on a show, free of charge, and making sure both the

crowds and the women on her float have a great time is important to her Jeanfreau said. “That’s really what Carnaval is about,” she said, “To take a break and enjoy all the rich traditions of Mardi Gras.”

Tornado relief efforts continue on and off campus By Daniella Garcia danniellecgarcia@gmail.com

NATALIE HATTON The Maroon

Loyola alumnus and Alpha Phi Alpha member, Eddie Murray A’15, helps remove debris from Mims’ bedroom window. Alpha Phi Alpha organized a group of volunteers to help clear debris.

While Mission and Ministry said Loyola is not equipped with tools to send students out and immediately start rebuilding, they encourage students to find ways to help, and several organizations have embraced the spirt of “magis” and done just that. Delta Sigma Pi, business fraternity, is planning to do a tornado clean up on Feb. 18. Loyola University Community Action Program is planning a relief project through St. Bernard Project to go out to help with disaster relief on Feb. 18. The University Honors Program is hosting a furniture drive for a Cypress Academy family whose home was completely destroyed. They are welcoming any donations and accepting any students or groups on campus who wish to assist. Last Saturday, Loyola’s chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha held a prayer service for the victims on Feb. 9, and Allen Moret, management junior

and director of educational activities for Alpha Phi Alpha, reached out for volunteers to assist with a day of service on Feb. 11. As of right now, Mission and Ministry is accepting monetary donations, as well as bottled water, canned food, unused toiletry and personal hygiene items, baby diapers and formula and cleaning supplies. Kurt Bindewald, director of Mission and Ministry, also stressed the importance of working with emergency response organizations. “As much as we want to help, Loyola is not an emergency response organization so we urge people to call Catholic Charities and St. Bernard Project, groups we work closely with because they always have people on the ground and they have the proper tools,” Bindewald said. “It’s important for us to be connected to the bigger organizations because those bigger organizations are going to be there even when we get distracted by Mardi Gras or finals.”

ResLife has added safety measures for students during the weekend leading up to Fat Tuesday. In specific reference to the upcoming Mardi Gras season, the handbook states, “The front desk operations will be moved into a more central and visible location in each residence hall, and everyone entering the building will be required to hand their identification to the officials stationed at that desk. Proper identification must include a current building sticker and current validation sticker (available at Parking Services). All identification will be checked against a current list of residential students and registered guests.” Chris Rice, associate director of operations for Residential Life, emphasized the dorm policy in place for Mardi Gras. “Mardi Gras Visitation and increased security begin on the Friday, Feb. 24 through Wednesday, March 1. As usual, our desks will be staffed 24 hours a day,” said Rice. “We will have increased student staff from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and an LUPD officer stationed at each desk from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.” Resident assistants will be the increased student staff. Amber Crabb, political science freshman, works as a desk assistant in Biever Hall. Crabb has been educated by Residential Life, and believes that the increased security starts at the perfect time, when the traffic really picks up. “After learning about all the Mardi Gras protocols, I believe they are all necessary and beneficial for everybody. I hope students understand that as well,” Crabb said. Claire Dulle, general studies freshman, enjoys living on campus and thinks that the DAs make the buildings feel safe. “I didn’t really notice any increased traffic after Krewe Du Vieux. I know that the entry to our dorms will begin to be a lot more strict as the Mardi Gras season goes on, because I’ve heard about it from my roommate who is a DA,” Dulle said.

NEWS BRIEFS Grad Fair make-ups available For any senior who missed the grad fair this week caps, gowns and graduation announcements can still be ordered. There will not be another opportunity to take formal portraits, but your photo will be taken at graduation after you exit the stage with your diploma. Cap and gown can be ordered after Feb. 17 by calling the University Bookstore or emailing dhaydel@ loyno.edu with your degree, major, height and weight. Announcements and class rings can be ordered through Balfour’s website: balfour.com/loyno.

RELIGION

February 17, 2017 THE MAROON

RELIGION BRIEFS Nuns to make history riding in Femme Fatale

Courtesy of Irving Johnson III

Xavier students pose with Marc Lamont Hill (center) after his lecture on Feb. 2. Xavier University is hosting a series of activist speakers to celebrate Black History Month.

Xavier brings in activists for Black History Month By Skye Ray saray@loyno.edu

As Black History Month celebrations popped up around the city of New Orleans, Xavier University, a historically Black college, led the way. Through a free series of lectures, Xavier opened its doors to educate the public about social activism, political involvement and the current political state of America. The first of the speakers was Marc Lamont Hill. A former CNN contributor and current BET News correspondent, Hill is known for his activism on social media outlets including Twitter and Instagram. On Feb. 2, Hill began his speech with the hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” commonly called the “Black

American National Anthem.” Throughout the rest of the night, Hill focused his speech on one thing: perseverance, not only challenging one’s own character but the surrounding community. “As activists we must first learn to listen. It quickly becomes a moral, ethical and political skill to know that voices have value,” Hill said. “Once we’ve heard the stories of our people, it’s a necessity to become brave, to challenge America to be as good as it can be.” Hill began by calling the audience to action. “We need courageous freedom fighters who are willing to struggle, especially when it gets difficult,” Hill said. His suggestion for starting a change is to use social media to engage with the community, since it is

a daily resource for news and information for this generation. “We need to connect. We need to be linking and connecting our campus to our communities,” Hill said. Hill encouraged students to think of themselves as the next leaders who can bring change and justice to their communities and the world. Amber David-Prince, Xavier’s director for campus activities, wanted the speaker to teach unique lessons for the Xavier community. “I was looking for a speaker who has been very vocal in the media,” she said. “Someone who understands and can communicate to students.” Students from all over Louisiana came to New Orleans to attend the event, filling up the ballroom. Loyola music freshman Lyndsey Murray enjoyed meeting other stu-

dents at the event. “It was very nice to be able to talk to students from all over the state about changing our country,” Murray said. “I sat next to someone from Louisiana State University and we shared very similar ideas.” Murray said Hill’s speech inspired her. “He encouraged us as young students to never be silent and continue to fight for what we believe in,” she said. “I now know how to use social media in a positive light, to spread awareness and make a change in our country.” The speaker series will continue on Feb. 16 with Shaun King and Feb. 22 with Steven Elem Rogers. More information about the speaker series can be found on Xavier University’s website.

One year after fire, Voodoo Spiritual Temple rebuilt, thriving By Cole Gautereaux cgautere@loyno.edu

A year after an electrical fire scorched its 21-year-old building, the Voodoo Spiritual Temple is resettled and looking forward to the future. Priestess Miriam Chamani said the majority of the temple’s artifacts were left unscathed by the flames. With the help of friends and community members, Chamani was able to relocate the organization to a double-shotgun house in the historic Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. Chamani said the fire helped her appreciate the temple community. “It’s like it were something that was inevitable to happen” Chamani said. “It wasn’t about crushing me or destroying anything. ... It’s to unbox a pattern in order to see how the divine has organized a body of humanity surrounding the space you’re sitting in. You reach a pivotal point in your existence where you think that maybe you were supposed to have this moment so you can see how much has become a part of your life.” Chamani added that she was able to pay her rent and bills immediately after the fire because she had just

been paid for an initiation. Chamani said when she returned after the fire, she found her belongings soaked from the firefighters, but most things were left intact. She said she was neither shaken nor distraught over the fire; rather, she saw it as a message to move to a new location. According to Chamani, relocating a temple typically requires several steps toward approval, but this particular transition was very smooth. “Those who helped me were extraordinary,” Chamani said. “To see the spirit working with [my friend] to pack my things was amazing. It works things out, and you sit there and say ‘Wow, OK.’” The community itself has been thriving as well. People come to visit seeking Chamani’s guidance from all over the world, as well as to purchase trinkets from the temple’s cultural center. Chamani said the temple is a tight-knit, small yet global cluster of people ranging from New Orleans to New York and from France to Russia. Chamani said she is looking forward to what the future has in store. She said she has no desire to stop serving the temple community anytime soon.

The Sisters of the Holy Family will become the first group of religious women to ride on a float during a Carnival parade on Feb. 19. The krewe invited 20 sisters to ride in the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale, which rolls Uptown at 11 a.m., as part of the order’s 175th anniversary. The sisters will throw their own custom beads, featuring the order’s crest. The Sisters of the Holy Family were founded in New Orleans by free woman of color Henriette Delille, who is on the path to being canonized as a saint. The sisters own and run St. Mary’s Academy, Lafon Nursing Home and the St. John Berchmans Center.

Trump charts new Mideast course; maybe no separate Palestine WASHINGTON (AP) — Charting a striking new course for the Middle East on Feb. 17, President Donald Trump withheld clear support for an independent Palestine and declared he could endorse a onenation solution to the long and deep dispute between Palestinians and Israel. The American president, signaling a new era of comity between the U.S. and Israel after rocky relations under President Barack Obama, said he was more interested in an agreement that leads to peace than in any particular path to get there. Standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump broke not only with recent U.S. presidents but also distanced the United States from the prevailing position of much of the world. While Trump urged Netanyahu to “hold off” on Jewish settlement construction in territory the Palestinians claim for their future state, he offered unwavering support for Israel, a pledge he appeared to substantiate with his vague comments about the shape of any agreement: “I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like,” Trump told reporters. “I can live with either one.”

Registration open for Lenten Retreat in Daily Life

COLE GAUTEREAUX / The Maroon

The Voodoo Spiritual Temple sits, reopened, in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. The temple’s former building had an electrical fire in February of last year, which forced it to move locations.

Loyola’s annual Lenten Retreat in Daily Life will take place March 13 through April 7. Registration is open now through March 8 on the University Ministry website. The retreat is aimed at helping participants pray for 20 minutes each day during Lent. It includes daily reflections emailed to participants about praying with nature and “Laudato Si,” Pope Francis’ encyclical about the environment. Retreatants will meet with their assigned spiritual director once a week. Participants can choose whether to be directed by a Jesuit or lay person, and they can choose the gender of their spiritual director. At the beginning and end of the retreat, all of the retreatants and spiritual directors will share a meal and pray together.

February 17, 2017

C R O S S W O R D

THE MAROON

SUDOKU

ACROSS 1. Bowling alley button 6. European cheese town 10. Puddle jumper trip 13. Wedding figure 14. ChapStick container 15. Fix up 16. Newspaper reporter’s compensation? 18. Big star 19. “I’m with ya” 20. Threatening words 21. Farming prefix 22. “Wheel of Fortune” buy 23. Smooth, as transitions 25. Wise 29. DOJ bureau 30. Dry as dust 31. Speaker’s spot 34. Get out of bed 37. “__ who?” 38. Chiropractor’s compensation? 40. N.L. player whose home games include a Presidents Race 41. Brownish-green 43. Greenish-blue 44. Some prosecutors: Abbr. 45. “Selma” director DuVernay 46. Drops in 48. Medical emergency alert 53. Baby fox 54. Soon, to a bard 55. Kibbutz setting 57. Actress Thurman 60. Cooling meas. 61. Comedian’s compensation? 63. Bass’ red triangle, e.g. 64. Moran of “Happy Days” 65. Flared dress 66. New Testament bk. 67. German battleship Graf __ 68. Connection point

DOWN 1. Former NYC mayor Giuliani 2. Seesaw sitter of tongue

twisters 3. Send in a box 4. Sushi selection 5. “Taste this” 6. French I verb 7. Stereotypical dawn challenges 8. Take down a peg 9. Scorned lover of Jason 10. Landscaper’s compensation? 11. Aromas 12. Shirts named for a sport 15. Theater district 17. Lee who was the topcharting female soloist of the ‘60s 22. Helping hand 24. Painter Cassatt 25. Over-the-shoulder band 26. Square statistic 27. Domino’s delivery driver’s compensation?

28. Diplomatic skill 32. ‘50s prez 33. Health resorts 35. Swedish automaker 36. Internet crafts marketplace 38. Spill the beans 39. PC feature only used in combinations 42. “All the same ... “ 44. Fitting 47. TV’s J.R. Ewing, e.g. 48. Part of CNN 49. Winning 50. “__ Been Good”: Joe Walsh hit 51. Take over 52. Bath-loving Muppet 56. Novelist Rice 57. Windows alternative 58. Drop-down list 59. Yes votes 62. Chihuahua cheer

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WORLDVIEW

February 17, 2017 THE MAROON

City rallies for and against Planned Parenthood

OSAMA AYYAD and HALEY PEGG/ The Maroon

(Top) Karen Arnold, New Orleans native, prays with other protesters. (Bottom left) Charles P. Stiebing III, a member of the Archdiocesan Sidewalk Counseling & Prayer Ministry, leads a prayer via speakerphone. On Feb. 12, 2017, protesters gathered near the entrance to the New Orleans Planned Parenthood location, as part of a national protest against the establishment. (Right) Planned Parenthood supporters chant for pro-abortion rights. Nearly 200 people gathered in front of City Hall to defend the organization in response to President Trump’s order to defund it Feb. 10, 2017.

Abortion rights supporters rally in front of city hall By Haley Pegg hapeg@my.loyno.edu @haleypegg

Planned Parenthood supporters took part in a rally to spread their message to the government: “Defend, don’t defund.” On Friday, Feb. 10, nearly 200 people gathered at Duncan Plaza in front of City Hall. Event organizers took the mic to show their support for Planned Parenthood, in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order to defund the organization. Men and women of all ages spent the afternoon holding up signs, cheering on speakers, and chanting, “Defend, don’t defund.” Ashley Robins, New Orleans resident, helped organize the event. She said the rally itself is just one piece of a bigger message she would like to send. “I want to incite activism in New Orleanians, whether it be for Planned Parenthood or whatever it is they’re passionate about,” Robin said. Robins said the rally was planned in response to an anti-abortion rally that was set to take place in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic the following day. The support rally organizers came up with the idea because they wanted to host a counter rally to oppose the anti-abortion group. Initially, event organizers anticipated a much bigger turnout – over 3,000 people RSVP’d to the event on Facebook. Robins noted the significant difference in what was expected and the amount of people who actually attended could be due to a scheduling

issue. The event was originally to take place on Saturday afternoon when people were off work. However, organizers made a last minute change and decided to have it on Friday afternoon instead. Hasmig Vartanian has been a member of Planned Parenthood for years. She attended the rally to show her belief that Planned Parenthood is a necessary part of women’s rights. “It has to do with choice, which has to do with freedom, which has to do with healthcare for women,” Vartanian said. Amy Krueger is pro-abortion rights, and said she attended the rally for the purpose of educating others about the purpose of Planned Parenthood. “I hope the rally brings more attention to the fact that Planned Parenthood is about more than just abortions,” Krueger said. “They provide cancer screening and they provide contraception to people.” Planned Parenthood supporters were not the only attendees at the rally, however. Lydia Rose was one of a handful of anti-abortion activists who came to speak up for the opposing side. As a nurse, Rose said her stance on the issue comes from the belief that life begins at conception. “If a heartbeat is what determines death, it should also be what determines life,” Rose said. As the rally went on, opposingcrowds became more angered. A group of pro-abortion rights activists interrupted anti-abortion activists by chanting repeatedly, “My body, my choice!”

Life &Times

February 17, 2017 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

$pare Change at Tipitina’s The Loyola band took to the Uptown stage to perform a theatrical Krewe du Vieux afterparty

LIFE AND TIMES briefs Professor-produced album wins Grammy Award Homer, Louisiana native Bobby Rush was awarded “Best Traditional Blues Album” at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for his 2016 album “Porcupine Meat.” “Porcupine Meat” was produced by Scott Billington, music industry professor, and featured performances from fellow music industry professors Jeff Albert and David Torkanowsky, who play trombone and keyboards on the album, respectively.

Krewe of Chewbacchus sets phasers to stun The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus, a Star Wars and sci-fi themed krewe, is prepared to bring their satirical parade from Royal Street to Poland Avenue on Feb. 18. The 900 member self-proclaimed “space cult” is celebrating this year’s theme “Cult of the Sacred Drunken Wookie,” featuring an eleven-foot effigy of Chewbacca himself.

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

Loyola’s own $pare Change played an after party show to kick off Carnival season in the wake of Krewe du Vieux. From their humble beginnings as a music industry project that played their first show in Satchmo’s, $pare Change played at Uptown’s Tipitina’s with Miss Mojo on Feb. 11. “We are huge fans of Krewe du Vieux and so are our fans,” said Jeremy Kern, saxophone player and founding member. “We love performing and getting the chance to share our music with people.” $pare Change is known for their theatricality, often wearing boas,

masks and dresses on stage. “A big part of our musical identity is freedom of expression. The fact that it warrants a question is reason enough for us,” Kern said. “Plus it’s extremely comfortable. I’m a believer in skirts now. Shorts suck.” Tipitina’s began in 1977 as a jukebox joint that became a place for performer Henry Roeland Byrd, known as Professor Longhair, to play music later in life. “It was really trippy,” Fionn Hunter-Green, lead singer of $pare Change and music industry studies junior, said. “You go to the green room, and it’s really beautiful and decked out.” $pare Change had opened for Miss Mojo at the Howlin’ Wolf in 2016, back when the band Miss Mojo was calling themselves Cake-

walk. Miss Mojo contacted the band to play at Tipitina’s with them. “We go pretty far back,” Kern said. “We owe them our thanks. They hit us up to play Tipitina’s this last time.” The band released their first EP in 2015 at the end of their freshman year. They had played at a variety of concert spaces with differing technical environments. “It was the first time I’ve ever had a really professional sound on stage,” Fionn said. “It helps you play professionally for everyone else.” $pare Change will be playing at the Willow Uptown Bar Feb. 24th with Stone Rabbits and Long Neck Culture. $pare Change will be releasing their first full-length album in April.

Crawfish Festival announces musician lineup

DAVIS WALDEN / The Maroon

(Clockwise) Fionn Hunter-Green sings at Tipitina’s with $pare Change after Krewe du Vieux parades. Hunter-Green is the frontman and bassist of the band. Jeremy Kern plays saxophone with $pare Change at Tipitina’s. Kern is one of the original members of $pare Change, who began in 2014. Parade goers, fans and friends look on as $pare Change and Miss Mojo perform to ring in Carnival season.

Buku Music & Art Project returns revitalized By Jamal Melancon jamalmelanc@my.loyno.edu @jam_m_mel

The site of the annual Carnival themed Buku Music + Art Project will become a colorful, chaotic place when the festival comes to Mardi Gras World this March. Touting a stacked musical roster across electronic, indie rock and hip-hop genres, the festival hosts six stages, including a VIP stage. New to the festival this year are some logistic tweaks to enhance the aesthetic, according to Winter Circle Productions, Buku’s promoter. Festivalgoers will find the live graffiti wall in a different location, as well as some new art installations. Buku’s Back Alley area receives an annual make-over, and the festival is upgrading the sound in the Float Den, according to Spenser Schott, talent and administration assistant. Each artist’s work will go up for auction at the festival with proceeds benefiting the non-profit music education organization Upbeat Acad-

emy and Animal Rescue New Orleans. “We are really striving to embrace and celebrate progressive elements of the city to keep our musical ecosystem thriving,” Schott said. Besides the live music and art, festivalgoers are encouraged to enjoy the celebration of the creative and funky subculture of New Orleans. “Bukulture” curators pick authentic street performers, musicians, artists, interactive exhibits and more beforehand to sporadically introduce into the festival in a “pop-up” fashion. Schott described the excitement of being a part of the festival, whether she’s working on-site or behind the scenes. “When you’re on-site, you’re watching so many things evolve in front of your eyes, within two sunsets. You experience pop-up performances, blank graffiti canvases made into art, countless boats and barges passing on the river, delicious food made in front of you, live-painting, dance battles, light-

The NOLA Crawfish Festival will take place this year March 1-3, between Jazz Fest weekends. A supergroup called Crawfish Fest All-Stars will headline, featuring George Porter Jr., John “Papa” Gros, June Yamagishi, Terrence Higgins and special guests. The lineup also features, Neville Jacobs, Khris Royal & Dark Matter, Boukou Groove, Good Enough for Good Times and Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet. Chris “Shaggy” Davis aka “The NOLA Crawfish King” is set to boil over 5,000 pounds of crawfish for the event.

Swing Dance Club will host Loyola Masquerade Ball this week Loyola’s Swing Dancing Club will be throwing their third annual Masquerade Ball on Friday, Feb. 17 in Satchmo’s. Formed in collaboration with the Commuter Student Association, a photo booth, mask contest and live band featuring student musicians are all set to make an appearance.

Krewe of Barkus’s fourlegged members will parade through the French Quarter. Courtesy of aLive Coverage

Festival patrons walking by Buku’s power plant stage and water tower. The stage is one of the six stages the festival hosts, including a riverboat stage and a parade float stage.

shows and so much world-class talent,” Schott said. The festival will take place the weekend of March 10 to March 11, featuring separately ticketed after party events each night. The Buku Music + Art Project and its after parties taking place at The Republic and The Joy Theater, respectively, are all 18+ events.

Schott said that the Buku team expects the festival to sell out this year, as they have years previous. “We want to continue bringing a transformative experience to as many people as possible,” Schott said. “Art drives culture and we want people to leave BUKU with a positive attitude that can be carried into their day-to-day lives.”

The Mystic Krewe of Barkus will make their appearance in the French Quarter on Sunday, Feb. 19 with all manner of canine attendees. The krewe is a nonprofit organization that promotes adoption and rescue of homeless animals in New Orleans. The theme of this year’s Barkus parade is “Pirates of Crescent City.” The parade will begin in Armstrong Park at 2 p.m. and continue on a 15-block route through the Vieux Carre.

SPORTS

February 17, 2017 The Maroon

Sports briefs Tennis teams finish winless vs. UNO and Nicholls State

BRIAN WOLLITZ/ The Maroon

(Left) Eddie Hagan, criminal justice sophomore, (Center) Vincent Duhe, history junior, and (Right) Connor Delahunty, criminal justice senior, hit the newly installed weight racks. The renovations began at the end of last semester and were expected to be complete by Feb. 7, but the athletic department re-opened its doors on Feb. 13.

Weight room receives a full-body renovation By Tristan Emmons tmemmons@my.loyno.edu @tristanmati

The athletic department finished renovations to the weight room on Monday, providing a late Christmas gift for students and athletes. The renovations began at the end of last semester and were expected to be complete by Feb. 7, but the athletic department officially reopened its doors to all students and patrons a week behind schedule. The refurbishments entailed emptying one of the two weight rooms for an explosive training space, replacing it with turf flooring, resistance bands, sleds, power blocks, high quality squat machines and more, according to Brett Simpson, athletic director. “Our goal was to better maximize our space while conforming to the new trends in fitness and wellness for all our constituents,” Simpson said.

For a little over a month now, Loyola students, athletes and alumni have had to pump iron in the now permanent upstairs weight room or at Tulane University’s Reily Student Recreation Center. Vincent Manuel, former student-athlete and gym manager, said the renovations will give athletes more time and space to train. “We [athletes] would have to wait for other students and patrons to get out of the gym. It held us up,” Manuel said. Manuel believes the sports teams deserve private sessions in the weight room to help them concentrate better. “Once the team’s in there, the door is going to close and we can actually focus,” Manuel said. The weight room is divided into two rooms: the one just renovated and one with a variety of workout machines. The soon to open weight room is the only one athletes can temporarily claim for themselves. “Once the athletes are done, the

patrons [and students] are welcome to work out,” Manuel said. Manuel also said the new renovations give athletes an extra chance to improve, without excluding regular students and patrons. However, Marcus Rindal, business sophomore and avid gym user, has other ideas on the impact of the renovation. “As a regular Loyola student, I hope that it doesn’t make the gym more crowded. What if I won’t get to use the equipment because there are teams in there all the time? If I need a weight rack, I hope there’s one available,” Rindal said. Rindal said he wasn’t dissatisfied about previous equipment; however, he said that the gym renovations could possibly attract potential student-athletes with a newer look. “It will bring more prestige and ability to recruit athletes, as they are more likely to go somewhere that has nice facilities to train in,” Rindal said. The room previously dedicated

to yoga, stretching and freedom of movement, is now occupied by all the weights and heavy machinery from downstairs. “I haven’t seen the actual renovations yet, but from what I know, I’m not a big fan of losing the yoga room upstairs where I used to stretch and do ab exercises,” Rindal said. Despite these negative impacts Rindal is looking forward to the new equipment and believes safer machines are the biggest advantage of the renovation. “I’ve been looking forward to having squat racks with safety bars so that I can squat super heavy by myself,” Rindal said. While the weight room renovations are complete, these renovations, however, are not the last for the athletic department. Simpson said this summer Loyola students can expect new bleachers and a refinishing of all the basketball courts, as well as lights, floor and more equipment updates.

Sports Complex hosts its first ever Rec Night on Monday By Brian Wollitz bawollit@my.loyno.edu @brian_wollitz

The Loyola Sports Complex hosted its first ever Rec Night giving students an opportunity to explore all the different programs the department has to offer. On Monday, Rec Night welcomed students to participate in an event full of free food, prizes and fun. Rec Night included different activities ranging from knockerball, basketball, dodgeball and mini golf, to group fitness class demos like Zumba and Body Pump. The event also included information about intramural and club sports as well as giving students and patrons a chance

to meet the different personal trainers and learn more about the different fitness programs. Zach Bracey, assistant director of campus recreation said the goal was to have a night dedicated to the students so they could see the different programs available to them as well as helping them get physically active. “This is the first time we’ve tried this event. Basically we are promoting everything campus recreation tonight. It’s a great way for them to come learn about the different opportunities they have in campus recreation,” Bracey said. Megan Byas, student involvement fitness coordinator, hoped to have a Rec Night this past fall, but they decided to do it in the spring to

see how the event could work out. “Typically we’d like to do an event like this in the fall, but we wanted go ahead and do a trial and error so it was kind of appropriate to do it in the spring,” Byas said. The event took place on the re-opening of the renovated gym, but Byas said Rec Night planning did not coincide with the re-opening. “We really didn’t know for sure when the weight room was going to be open; it just so happens to be today. It’s a nice addition though,” Byas said. Maggie Donatelli, mass communication senior, said she wished an event like this was available to students earlier, but she still had fun and learned a lot about the different

programs they offer. “I wish Rec Night happened before my senior year because I didn’t know about all the cool fitness programs, clubs and intramural sports they have. It was still a lot of fun getting free food and hanging with my friends tonight,” Donatelli said. Moving forward, Byas said she hopes that Rec Night will be a regular event in the fall giving students an opportunity to learn about the programs at the start of the year. “We are looking to make this a regular thing in the fall because that seems to be the most eager time for people and thats when we can get all the students in early. It also gives us a chance to put a face to the different programs we offer,” Byas said.

The Loyola men’s and women’s tennis teams faced the University of New Orleans and Nicholls State, dropping both the matches over the weekend. Against UNO, the women’s squad featured Miranda Cano, biology freshman, and Koral Martinez, biology and pre-med sophomore, in the doubles match. They faced off against UNO’s Anna Segarra and Anja Luethi, and fell 6-3. Alexander de Pascual, business sophomore, and Galileo Cabrales, business management freshman, had a strong showing in doubles play, but could not defeat the Privateers. Both squads finished 0-9 versus UNO. Loyola played at home versus DI NCAA Nicholls State the following day. Martinez and Cano manned the No. 1 spot in doubles but fell 6-2. Nadja Ochsner, pre-med freshman, finished 6-4 in singles play. De Pascual and Cabrales secured a 6-4 victory in the third doubles match. Maxime Rameau, business marketing sophomore, and Sean Presti, business sophomore, also managed a 6-2 victory. The women’s squad finished 0-9 while the men’s finished 3-6. The tennis team will travel to take on No. 22 Middle Georgia State on Feb. 24.

Baseball claims two over Tougaloo and drops two to Spring Hill The Wolf Pack Baseball team took down Tougaloo College in a double header winning 7-1 and 20-0. Alexander Lorenzo, business senior, had three RBIs in the first game and cleared the bases in the second game to record his first grand slam of the season. On Wednesday, the Wolf Pack had a double header against Spring Hill, dropping both games 5-4. In the first game, the Wolf Pack surrendered three runs late in the ninth inning to fall to the Badgers. In the second game, Loyola led early but could not hold on, giving up five runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Women’s basketball falls just outside top-25 The women’s basketball team recieved 53 votes on Tuesday, falling seven spots shy of the top-25. Before Tuesday, the Wolf Pack sat in the No. 24 spot. Despite dropping out of the top25, the Wolf Pack currently stands at (20-5) overall sitting in third place in the Southern States Athletic Conference at (12-3). Loyola ranks second in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in rebounds per game with 48 and leads the conference in offensive and defensive scoring per game, scoring margin, and offensive and defensive field goal percentage, among other statistical categories. The Wolf Pack faces conference leader Bethel University on Feb. 18 at First NBC Court.

THE MAROON

February 17, 2017

CONT’D: Student debt influences graduate job choices DEBT, continued from pg. 1 $10,000 per semester. “I feel that a lot of private universities and colleges nowadays follow a trend of high tuition. Loyola is one of them,” Sion said. Many schools provide federal need-based grants and scholarships that do not have to be repaid to cushion to blow of the high tuition prices, which Sion said she was grateful for. “I was fortunate enough to earn

enough grants and scholarships to cover a good portion of my tuition so that I wouldn’t have to worry as much as others,” Sion said. However, for students like Morgan Ballard, A’16, taking out extra loans may be the only option to afford school. “I had to take out both private and federal student loans, in addition to the support of my family, and I had to work many part-time jobs throughout my time at Loyola,” Ballard said.

According to The Institute for College Access and Success’s Project on Student Debt, the average borrower will graduate $26,600 in debt and this can take years to pay off. Egitton said she already feels the looming burden of her debt that will come when she graduates. “From what I understand, my parents paid a portion and then every year I took out a certain amount and I think that when I’m done I’ll have close to $30,000 in debt,” Egitton said.

Ballard said she is counting the days until she is debt free. “From my personal research, it is projected to take 10 years to pay off,” Ballard said. Ballard’s assessment aligns with Kantrowitz’s research. “If a student’s loan debt is less than the total starting salary, they should be able to pay off their loans in 10 years or less,” Kantrowitz said. While the reality of student debt is a scary one, it’s worth noting that students who received certain loans

from a university are also given a grace period. Students do not have to begin repaying the school until the grace period is over and the standard grace period for students is six months after graduation. “My advice to seniors is to become familiar with your loans, billing and payment plans now,” Ballard said. “Preparing for graduation may seem hectic, but trying to figure out student loans while simultaneously needing to pay them is no walk in the park.”

Electric Girls encourages women joining the STEM fields By Haley Pegg hapeg@my.loyno.edu @haleypegg

Almost two years after creating an educational program for young girls, the founder and Loyola University New Orleans alum is proud of the progress so far. Flor Serna, A’15, is the founder and executive director of Electric Girls. The program is designed to teach leadership skills to young girls through electronics and computer programming. Activities within the program incorporate learning aspects of the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program is partnered with certain local schools which hold after-school, inschool and summer programs. Serna started the Electric Girls in the spring of 2015, her senior year at Loyola. The idea sparked when she decided to create a contract degree for her studies at Loyola, creating her own major of music technology.

Serna’s major required her to spend most of her time in Loyola’s recording studio, where she first realized she was different from the other students studying there. “I was puzzled that I was the only female recording engineer,” Serna said. “I realized that was not unique to Loyola, but that was the case worldwide. Across the board, audio engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields, academically and professionally.” Serna made it her mission to find an answer to her own question: “How can we get girls to stop saying and believing they’re worse than boys at math?” Hope Clark, Electric Girls director of communications, teamed up with Serna and the rest of the Electric Girls team to solve the problem. Clark is an environmental science junior at Loyola and has been a part of the Electric Girls team for a year. “I want the future to have a lot of female influence,” Clark said. “I think that the more women in powerful positions in science, the better

the future will be.” Susan Mendez’s daughter, Karmin Naquin, is currently enrolled in the Electric Girls program. Mendez said her daughter has had a great experience and is learning new things. “Programs like these are important because they inspire girls to think outside the box,” Mendez said. Serna said the program is expanding and she is looking to recruit more members of the growing Electric Girls team. She is especially proud that Electric Girls is able to provide scholarships to families who are interested in the program, but are unable to afford it. She is excited for what the future has in store. “The kids are awesome. They are going to dictate the way the program runs and give me input about what they want to do,” Serna said. The next five-week session for girls in the program will begin in a few weeks. The camp will also host six sessions throughout this upcoming summer.

Courtesy of Flor Serna

Flor Serna (left) demonstrates an electric device the Electric Girls helped her create. The Electric Girls program is designed to teach leadership skills to young girls through science, technology, engineering and math.

EDITORIAL

February 17, 2017 THE MAROON

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

In the wake of disaster HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to Barkus GROWL to not having Barkus every weekend HOWL to All-Star Weekend GROWL to The Pelicans’ season HOWL to The Fourth Estate GROWL to whatever this RussianTrump relationship is HOWL to journalists figuring it out Tweet using #Loynohowl or #Loynogrowl to have your voice heard each Friday!

EDITORIAL BOARD Starlight Williams

Editor-in-Chief

Naasha Dotiwala

Managing Editor for Print

Nick Reimann

Managing Editor for Electronic Properties

Taylor Ford

Maroon Minute LILY CUMMINGS / The Maroon

Executive Producer Riccardo Muzzetto

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

Asha Thomas Haley Pegg Osama Ayyad

PR Director Senior Staff Writer Senior 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.

Loyola students and local community members walk through the wreckage of a New Orleans East neighborhood on Feb. 11, the Saturday morning following Tuesday’s storm. This preliminary clean-up effort was organized by the New Orleans alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, one of the many local organizations to mobilize support.

A flurry of destructive tornadoes has once again forced communities around Southeast Louisiana to rebuild. Loyola students must be a lasting part of this effort If the political climate of 2017 has you questioning the amount of empathy amongst fellow Americans, it’s time to be the change you want to see in this country. The people of New Orleans East, Killian and Watson could use a hand. The National Weather Service has confirmed the landfall of six tornadoes from the extreme storm on Tuesday, Feb. 7 around the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metropolitan areas. These twisters were unexpected and unprecedented in size, with a massive multi-vortex tornado ripping through ten miles of eastern New Orleans. Thousands of people were caught off guard in the storm, watching the sky turn dark as spiraling winds whipped rain, hail and debris in every direction. All onlookers could do was seek cover and pray that these violent vortexes did not turn in their direction. Then, they were gone as quickly as they developed. By Tuesday evening, the weather was calm, the sun was shining and hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses had been destroyed, sustaining moderate to severe tornado damage. “Moderate to severe” means that hundreds of buildings — from mobile homes and two-story houses to storefronts, schools and even the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility — had walls, roofs or their entire struc-

ture blown away in 100 to 150 mph damage of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana has experienced more than its winds. Luckily for Loyola, the tornadoes fair share of natural destruction. And now, New Orleans East, part in New Orleans East, Killian, Watof the Ninth son, DonaldsonWard that ville, Elmwood experienced and Montpelier “These tornadoes may have some of the were miles away lasted an afternoon, but worst longfrom campus. Beterm damages sides a few hours the thousands of families from Katrina, of rain and windy who have lost homes and is the site of conditions, the the strongest Uptown area re- businesses will feel the effects tornado to mained unaffect- for years to come.” ever hit the ed. area: an EF-3 Unlike this freak storm, Loyola’s support for on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with these affected communities cannot winds peaking at 150 mph, reaching blow away after a day. These torna- a length of six football fields and 125 does may have lasted an afternoon, yards wide. This twister made landfall a mile but the thousands of families who have lost homes and businesses will east of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal and did not dissipate until feel the effects for years to come. The support demonstrated with- reaching Lake Bogne, a stretch of in the Loyola community in the last nearly 10 miles. It ripped apart entire mobile week is inspiring. The Department of Student Involvement’s fundrais- home parks, neighborhoods and ing, the University Ministry’s call to businesses around Chef Menteur action, the University Honors Pro- Highway. In New Orleans East alone, the gram’s support for Cypress Academy and the efforts of students to orga- National Weather Service reports 33 nize clean-up crews and demon- injuries, moderate to severe damstrations are all great works from age to 638 homes — half of which an institution that is all too familiar will likely be deemed completely destroyed — and damage to over 40 with disasters. After a summer of unreported, businesses. It is truly amazing that devastating flooding and only elev- no deaths have been reported. The outcome was similar in Kilen years since the immeasurable

lian and Watson in Livingston Parish to the northwest, where although only six people were reported to sustain injuries, extensive damage from wind and debris destroyed dozens of homes. Both towns were site to some of the most severe flooding last summer. The communities around southeast Louisiana have shown unbelievable resilience in the wake of disaster, resilience that can’t afford to stop after a day of national coverage, a few weeks of local coverage, “marking safe” on Facebook and a single donation. Their resilience won’t stop, so it’s up to the members of the Loyola community to match it. We must remember that local support is the way things get fixed, and it takes months and years of this support to fix things correctly. American Red Cross is one of the highest rated relief organizations in the nation, and will use monetary donations responsibly. Locally, the St. Bernard Project, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Catholic Charities and Second Harvest are established organizations that will use food, money and supplies to continuously help their communities. If you want to see what makes America great, supporting your neighbors in their time of need is where you’ll find it.

OPINION

February 17, 2017 The Maroon

Shopping local will save your city Brianna Cunningham AmeriCorp VISTA/ Program Assistant at StayLocal

bc028@bucknell.edu

New Orleans is a city booming with culture. When people come to visit, they usually spend time walking around the French Quarter, making their way to Café Du Monde for some mouthwatering beignets or taking a stroll down Magazine Street. Nicknamed the Big Easy, most people only get to know the city using the guides that they pick up from the airport. They visit without ever learning about the priceless pieces that they could experience by shopping local. This city has a massive community of local businesses throughout the different parishes. In New Or-

leans specifically, small, local businesses capture the city’s culture and character unlike any other way. Most business owners are familiar with the specialties of the area because of family ties that can go back centuries. By shopping local, you will be able to find some of the most unique gift items for your friends and family. If you go to a local restaurant, outside of the French Quarter or Magazine Street, your experience will be different. You will not feel like you are eating the usual. Getting to know the community by shopping local is beneficial to both visitors and locals. You can explore New Orleans in a whole new way while contributing to an economy that relies on tourist spending. Your money goes into the economy, creating more jobs with higher wages and encouraging entrepreneurship. Most homegrown business owners understand the needs of their communities and can shed light on local issues. These businesses pro-

vide an array of services, like how most local retailers carry a higher percent of locally-produced goods rather than products from huge chains. For visitors, students and natives alike, going to a local business first benefits everyone. Stores like Walmart and Walgreens can put local pharmacies and food stores out of business, places that have been mom-andpop stores for generations. Many small businesses even end up paying more taxes than big chain stores, making it even more difficult to compete. As a supporting member of a non-profit called StayLocal, whose focus is to support small businesses, I have been exposed to a world that I truly never got a chance to know before I came to this city. By not shopping local, we are robbing our communities of sustainability. Even more, we are robbing our city of its character. Local businesses create diversity. Your favorite local business can define your

sense of place. Not all chains give back to the areas where they are located, and the ones that do cannot possibly be as close to the issues as local families who have been in business for decades. Spend time researching and learning about the impact that local businesses can have in your community. You can start visiting the home pages of the American Independent Business Alliance, a Washington DC organization that lobbies federal and state governments on behalf of businesses who support economically and environmentally sustainable policies. Also, you can check out the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a comprehensive website full of great information and resources One of my favorite quotes from a local business here in New Orleans is, “When you support small business, you’re supporting a dream”. Support that dream by shopping local in New Orleans.

Identity politics destroy democracy Matthew Bertucci Louisiana State University Mathematics sophomore mbertu3@lsu.edu

The most profound result of the 2016 presidential and congressional elections is, without question, the utter failure of identity politics. The focus on shared identity as a political tactic has proven to be unsuccessful and, more recently, quite devastating for certain groups. Consider the current political atmosphere. Democrats have attempted to form coalitions around popular issues such as LGBT and women’s rights, climate change and fair wage practices. Each of these issues is particularly divisive, a word that seems to appear all too often in contemporary political discourse. They are divisive not only to the obvious Democratic-Republican dichotomy but also to general citizens who would support the party were it not for their view on certain issues. In fact, I claim that identity itself is to fault not only for the Democratic losses suffered in the presidential and congressional elections but also for the decline of American politics in general. It is undeniable that all of us fit into broad categories related to our age, race, gender, sexuality and class distinction, among others. It is also undeniable that throughout history, the oppression of certain factions of society has called for political resistance in the form of battles for child labor laws, women’s suffrage and civil rights. That history is undoubtedly still unfolding, requiring guidance by the president, congress and, most importantly, the democratic majority. Ignoring for the moment the United States’ flawed electoral system, consider the majority

MCT Campus

that elects those who represent us throughout the government. It is my experience that the average voter is unlikely to question party ideology once an alliance has been formed. Further, the ideological commitments required to be accepted as a member of the party divorces those that wish to discuss the issues at hand from potential political activism. I speak here specifically of the Democratic party; however, this applies more generally to any traditional party system, including Republicans before Trump. Allow me to clarify. I believe that it is the duty of the American citizen to be aware of and to think deeply about those political positions which he or she supports. As an LSU student and frequent visitor to both the Loyola and Tulane campuses, I have witnessed the exact opposite. Students are eager to ask about your political views, but rarely can

one find someone with which to discuss the ethics of abortion, the current state of American troops in the Middle East or Trump’s pact to repeal Dodd-Frank without having them resort to ideology. I do not mean to say that every citizen should analyze climate statistics or read the entirety of Rawls’ ‘A Theory of Justice.’ The problem lies in that most people just aren’t willing to discuss the merits and justifications of various political viewpoints. The effects of this avoidance of justification and the will for simple ideology have had enormous effects on the political environment. Is it possible to be both pro-life and a feminist? Who do I vote for if I believe in a limited government, but also that public universities are underfunded? Obviously, these ideas are not mutually exclusive, nor would any reasonable person argue

them to be. However, the systematic repression of discussion among party members has barred certain viewpoints from coalescing to compromise on candidates that best represent party constituents. Instead, many feel out of place due to their opposing viewpoints and politicians’ insistence on identity as the sole unifier. This, of course, has been discussed ad infinitum, has led many into the chaos that lacks both justification and ideology, i.e. Donald Trump. To approximate Marx, a specter is haunting the United States — the specter of justification. All the political powers of old America have entered into an ideological alliance to exorcise this specter. It is our duty as citizens to break from ideology for the sake of the future of the country and democracy as an institution.

Loyola’s Jesuit values in the abortion debate Christopher Backes B.A. Philosophy ‘15 MA/Ph.D. Candidate, Catholic University America christopher. backes@gmail.com

With the dust beginning to settle over the recent events involving Loyola’s Pro-Life Club and the proceeds of The Vagina Monologues, it is a good time to pause and take stock of where the philosophical debate behind the issue lies. There are two camps divided from one another. On one side, those who are pro-choice emphasize bodily autonomy as moral in reasoning and action. On the other, those who are pro-life believe that life is a basic good and morality dictates that life should not be ended before birth. These are not the only reasons for being on one side or another, but they are the prevailing relevant reasons. This is nothing new. There is, however, something quite remarkable about this debate as it stands at Loyola: the school’s status as a Jesuit institution. The troubling aspect here is that the term “Jesuit” is usually used to suggest an entitled dissent from the Church. From my time at Loyola, I know this is how the term is used in this debate. However, a cursory investigation into the writings of St. Ignatius would reveal a profound gap between the current use of the term and St. Ignatius’s vision for his religious order. I don’t believe that any member of the Loyola community could isolate a single value that everyone, most importantly St. Ignatius, would agree is “Jesuit.” Two examples of St. Ignatius’ Jesuit values are important to consider. The first is constantly repeated at Loyola: critical thinking. This is not a distinctively Jesuit value. Nearly every college campus will surely mention critical thinking, but there is nothing Loyola does with respect to critical thinking that cannot be gleaned from any other relatively progressive liberal arts college. The second value is another of the most popular: finding God in all things. St. Ignatius truly only mentions this once, in response to Fr. Antonio Brandão in June of 1551. Ignatius writes to Fr. Brandão about seeking God in all things, and after some interpolation adds that God is to be sought by His presence, power and essence. Ignatius is citing St. Thomas in his letter to Fr. Brandão, and uses the saint’s ideas to explain what has now become this staple of the Jesuit identity. From these two examples, it is at least clear that Loyola’s dialogue must lie in what Jesuit values are (and determining their relevance) since there is a fundamental disagreement about how they are used. Resolving how “Jesuit” informs “Jesuit University” is ultimately a more fruitful route, given the stalemate between moral psychologies on campus.

THE MAROON

February 17, 2017

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