Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 96 • Issue 15 • February 2, 2018
THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA
HAYLEY HYNES / The Maroon
KREWE DU SAFETY The Loyola community encourages everyone to watch out for themselves and other this Carnival season
By Mairéad Cahill @mscahill@my.loyno.edu @mairead_siobhan
‘Tis the season for krewes and king cake. Meanwhile, Loyola students are being urged to plan ahead and stay safe as New Orleans prepares for the biggest party of the year: Mardi Gras. It arrives every year with the promise of parades filled with beads and glitter, but university officials are encouraging students to put as much thought into safety as they do for their costumes. “Plan ahead and let friends know what your plan is and follow it,” Roger Pinac, Loyola University Police Department captain, said. He also suggested students “avoid wandering” and said to “trust your instincts” when out at parades. “Intoxicated students make easy
targets for criminals,” he said. But, in addition to warning against criminals, Pinac wants students to remember that Mardi Gras is primarily a family affair. “Contrary to MTV, it is not ‘anything goes.’ Most families don’t watch MTV nor do they have much of a sense of humor if you engage in offensive behavior,” he said. Besides catching beads, drinking is the other established activity of the Mardi Gras season that Pinac said students should be wary of. “If you intend to consume alcohol, do so in moderation. Drinking is only half the coin. Know where you can go to the bathroom, legally,” he said, adding that parade goers should “never leave your drink unattended.” As a residential assistant for freshmen in Biever Hall, management senior Aubrey Palhegyi described Mardi Gras as “a complex
time.” “This is a time of year when it’s really, really, really easy to get in trouble,” Palhegyi said. He told his residents to “look out for one another’ and “listen to advice” if they wanted to have a safe and enjoyable Mardi Gras. Palhegyi also reminded his residents about the amnesty policy in place at the university, which is a policy that would protect an individual from punishment in certain situations if they sought help from LUPD for an intoxicated friend, despite being underage. “If somebody needs help, call,” he said during a Mardi Gras safety floor meeting in the freshman dorm. Christina Murphy and Wendy Yang, both Health Advocates at Loyola were also present at the floor meeting in Biever to advise the residents how to stay safe during the
parade season. The Health Advocates also warned the freshmen attending the floor meeting about recreational drug use during Carnival season. “This is not the time of year to try something that you do not know, especially synthetic marijuana,” said Murphy. “It’s very different from actual weed because it has a myriad of side effects.” She also warned students about Fentanyl, an opioid that Murphy said has caused many deaths over the last year. Sophomore Nicole Bouchie had her first taste of Mardi Gras last year as a freshman at Loyola. “I luckily had a safe Mardi Gras last year despite not knowing much about New Orleans,” Bouchie said. “I personally did not hear any horror stories about drug use during Mardi Gras last year, but it would not surprise me if there was
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a slight problem. It’s very easy to go overboard so I’d definitely recommend listening to advice from Loyola organizations and the administration itself when being safe during parade season,” she said. As she gears up for round two this year, Bouchie shared her recommendations for a safe and successful Mardi Gras. “I’d definitely say to plan ahead and definitely ensure a buddy system and make sure you travel in groups because it is extremely easy to get separated from your friends,” Bouchie said. City officials have set up a system for parade-goers to stay up to date throughout this Mardi Gras season, as well. Students attending parades can text MARDIGRAS to 888777 for safety alerts from the Mayor's Office.
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STAFF Graphic Designer: Hayley Hynes, Dana Gainey Executive Producer for Maroon Minute: Amy Ngo Assistant Producer for Maroon Minute: Miles Rouen Social Media Producer: Samuel Lucio Assistant Editors: John Casey, Will Ingram Staff Writers: Alena Cover, Rose Wagner, Melody Bigelow, Cody Downey, Richard Simmerman, Tyler Wann, Monica Ruiz, Emma Gilheany, Payton Whittaker, Diana Carmona
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news Salmón named Faculty Member of the Year
February 2, 2018 The Maroon
By Rose Wagner
pjpiccia@my.loyno.edu @picciano_pj
Josefa Salmón received the Dux Academicus award for superior work as a faculty member Jan. 19, 2018, during the Spring Convocation in Nunemaker Auditorium. She is the first member of the Department of Languages and Cultures to receive the Dux Academicus. KYLE ENCAR/Courtesy.
dent at Tulane, was one of the students who endorsed Salmón for the award. “Josefa’s energy is infectious. She presents the material in a way that keeps students interested and keeps us engaged by teaching via dialogue and not just relying on lecture,” Rosas said. It was by listening to the interdisciplinary interests of students that Salmón saw the need for a course on Latin American cinema, so she created one, drawing students such as Rosas into her classroom. “Even though I’m Latinx, I didn’t know much about films or politics from Latin America. What made it really intriguing for me was that we used films as a way of analyzing political and social events in Latin America,” Rosas said. Providing students like Rosas with a specialized education on aspects of identity and history that often go uncelebrated has been Salmón’s goal since her arrival at Loyola in 1986. “We offer a degree in Latin American studies to learn about these countries and to provide a fresh
outlook for our students so that they can become conscious of our neighbors to the south in order to avoid easy categorizations or denigrations of these societies,” Salmón said. Her insistence on a diversity of perspective is clear in her classes, her multilingualism and her recruitment of guest speakers. Salmón has organized talks with everyone from continental philosopher Slavoj Zizek to Alvaro Garcia Linera, the vice president of Bolivia, who video chatted with Loyola students last year. Salmón said part of her openness to new ideas stems from her own experience as a student. “As an undergraduate student, I first wanted to major in sociology, later in French, then philosophy, so I was an undecided major until my junior year. I would say I am still an undecided major, since my research has taken me in many directions,” Salmón said during her acceptance speech. Salmón’s activism and dedication to the lives of students go beyond the classroom. When Rosas was contemplating graduate school,
Salmón stepped in as her mentor. “She continues to be in touch with our students who have graduated. I think it’s amazing that you get involved with a life and even after that life is no longer within the walls of the university, you stay connected,” said Alcazar. What connects Salmón to her students long after they leave her classroom is the bond they develop through discussion and collaboration. “Learning a foreign language is fundamental to learning about others, to living up to our Jesuit values of being for others. To learn a new language means not to learn one more word to represent an object, but to learn to look differently at an object, nature and society as a whole,” Salmón said. Although Salmón is currently on sabbatical and wrapping up her time here at Loyola, she has made her mark by teaching both her students and the Dux Academicus Award selection committee to look at the world differently.
Residence halls enforce changes during Mardi Gras season By Payton Whittaker pmwhitta@my.loyno.edu @paytonwhittaker
There will be slight changes to residential hall rules during the Mardi Gras holiday. Starting the Friday before Mardi Gras, all of the residential halls’ rules will be altered due to the need for an increase in security over the holiday, according to the Office of Student Affairs’ website. First and foremost, normal visitation will be suspended for all students. There will be a desk assistant present at all times, and every person must present a Loyola ID with the current building sticker or an administered temporary ID and leave it at the front desk when checking in upon entering any residential building. Students and guests are required to check in and out of every residential building. University police will be monitoring the residence halls closely during the late night and early morning hours to ensure increased security. Rooms are only allowed to host one person more than that room’s
Mission and Ministry defers Institutional Examen by a year By Paulina Picciano
rmwagner@my.loyno.edu @rosemwagner
The Department of Languages and Cultures is home to a former diplomat, a variety of political activists, a certified interpreter and professors from over five different countries, but it has never been home to the winner of the Dux Academicus award. Until now. Josefa Salmón, Spanish and Latin American studies professor and co-founder of The Bolivian Studies Association, shattered 40 years of Loyola tradition when she accepted the award for superior scholarship and teaching on Jan. 19. “This award is especially significant for me as a Bolivian immigrant because there is a common notion about Bolivia as a place where there is nothing, as being the last place on earth. The main character in an Argentinian film, tells her husband: ‘Let’s go away just the two of us, even if it is to Bolivia.’; so, this award finally gives me the opportunity to answer that notion by saying: ‘Even a Bolivian can get a Dux Academicus Award’,” Salmón said during her acceptance speech. “I really feel proud for my department. And also, I could not have done all the research and the organization of talks without the support of my department as a whole. That is why it is also their award,” Salmón said. It was through nomination by her fellow professors that Salmón came to be honored with this award. “I am proud to be a friend of hers. She’s an amazing person. Teaching is really an art of the mind and the heart, and she certainly has that down,” Alvaro Alcazar, adjunct faculty in the Latin American studies department, said. In addition to faculty, consideration for the award also required a letter of support from students. Karla Rosas, A’15 and current Latin American studies graduate stu-
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Tess Green, a Buddig residential assistant, speaks at a mandatory floor meeting Jan. 30, 2018, on campus. The meeting addressed Mardi Gras housing policies, including the policy that prevents students from hosting guests of another sex. JULIA SANTOS/The Maroon.
normal occupancy. Visitation hours for non-registered guests are from 10 a.m. to
midnight for the duration of Mardi Gras. Any overnight guests must be registered and cannot be registered
to stay in a room with anyone of the opposite sex. If guests are not registered to stay overnight, they must check out at midnight regardless of school affiliation. Registered overnight guests must pre-register and pay $125 for the week of Mardi Gras. The students hosting the guest must fill out the form provided on the Office of Student Affairs’ website. Normal registration must be completed before 4 p.m. on the Thursday before Mardi Gras. The cost of late registration is $250. Late registration is available from 4 p.m. on the Thursday before Mardi Gras until noon on the day before Mardi Gras. No guests can be registered after noon on Monday, Feb. 12. Registered guests will receive a temporary ID that will allow them to enter and leave residential buildings. Guests are allowed to enter and leave a building without their host, but will not be keyed into any rooms, lounges, kitchens or bathrooms. Additional information about residence hall policies can be found on Loyola’s Office of Student Affairs website.
Loyola has started to evaluate how it lives up to its mission and identity as a Jesuit university, but the process for doing so has been delayed by a year. In an email sent out to the student body on Jan. 12, the Rev. Ted Dziak, S. J., announced that Loyola will be reflecting on how it lives out its Jesuit mission and identity in an “Institutional Examen.” According to the email, the reflection comes from a request by Jesuit Father General Arturo Sosa, S. J., to all Jesuit universities. However, due to upcoming structural changes in leadership, the university has decided to defer the Institutional Examen for a year. Part of the Examen includes a visit from a team of three faculty or staff from other Jesuit universities in order to follow up on a report that the school would have had to submit by May 2018. However, considering how the university will have a new president starting in fall 2018 as well as a new director of University Ministry and possibly a new vice president of Mission and Ministry, the new leaders would not have the opportunity to take part in the reflection without the deferral. “Because of the change in key leadership mission positions, we decided it would be better to wait until the fall of 2019 to have the Examen team visit us, with the report turned in to them by the end of the spring 2019 semester,” Dziak said. “Then the new president will be able to add her/his imprint upon the future direction and goals, in terms of its Jesuit identity.” However, before the decision to defer was made, Mission and Ministry had already started the reflection process with listening sessions incorporating feedback from the faculty, staff and students. The sessions focused on seven areas of mission integration outlined in the Examen’s guiding document “Some Characteristics of Jesuit Colleges and Universities,” which included issues such as leadership’s commitment to the mission, academic life, service to the local church and integrity. Laura Alexander, assistant director of University Ministry, said these sessions were a great way to foster connection and a sense of shared purpose as well as to hear the community’s perspectives on mission-related issues. “We will continue gathering feedback from our community throughout this semester and early next semester and will begin working with the AJCU on the next steps of the process beginning in fall 2018,” Alexander said. Alexander also thinks the deferral is a positive decision, not only because it allows Mission and Ministry more time to incorporate feedback from the community before they start writing the report, but also because it will allow Mission and Ministry to involve the new university president in the process. “This is important, as the Institutional Examen will identify two or three areas of focus to address within three to five years, and the new president will play a big role in implementing these identified areas,” she said.
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WORLDVIEW
February 2, 2018 The Maroon
Scientists work to fight Chagas disease By Catie Sanders casande2@my.loyno.edu
Through emails and video calls, a team spread across the globe is working to end the transmission of a life-threatening disease. Patricia Dorn, professor of biological sciences, has dedicated her time and research to ending the transmission of Chagas. A parasitic disease, Chagas is the leading cause of heart disease in Central America. Nicknamed “kissing bugs,” insects infected with the parasite spread Chagas to humans with their bites. The “kissing bugs” commonly live under mattresses and in the dirt on the floors of houses, putting many at risk of contracting Chagas. The highest concentration of Chagas in Central America lies in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. However, it can also be found in Mexico and the United States, with Bisbee, Arizona having the highest density of “kissing bugs.” The issue of Chagas transmission is global and therefore requires a global approach for its study to be effective. Dorn has brought multiple perspectives to her research on this widespread issue. Over the span of her research, she has formed an international Chagas fighting team. Dorn has colleagues in Brazil, the U.S. and Guatemala, along with their database manager, a Loyola Alum who lives Japan. In the beginning, it was not an easy feat to start this global discussion of Chagas. Dorn shared that her first attempt at reaching out started by contacting the University of Guatemala. There was no response for over two years, until one day when she received a fax from Dr. Carlotta Monroy. A medical entomologist and the first woman ever to win the national science award in Guatemala, Monroy has since worked by Dorn’s side to end Chagas transmission. Dorn largely attributes success in this field to her collaborative effort with scientists of different disciplines, often working with ministry of health
Patricia Dorn, biology professor, and Lindsey Mixer, A’17, show off samples of insects in her office Jan. 30, 2018. Dorn researches Chaga’s disease, which spreads across Central America. CRISTIAN ORELLANA/The Maroon.
technicians, universities and community members of affected areas. The team communicates about their mission through the advantages of modern technology. They share ideas through video calls or emails, and work together in real time through Dropbox. Dorn who has easy access to a library, can send the team articles she finds helpful. The makeup of Dr. Dorn’s team proves how collaboration can have a larger impact on the betterment of our increasingly global society. Finding solutions to global issues,
such as Chagas, requires that everyone’s values be taken into consideration. While Dorn is mainly concerned with tracking the kissing bugs, Monroy reminds the team to focus on how each community is impacted by Chagas. “Carlotta always pulls us back to what’s going to help the people,” Dorn said. The only solution proven to be effective in ending Chagas transmission is the improvement of housing, which prevents kissing bugs from
living among people. A large part of the team’s work has been raising awareness of the disease and working with community members to improve housing to prevent insects from infesting homes. The team has created a website, along with pamphlets and step-by-step videos. These show people how they can take steps to bug-proof houses by sealing cracks in the walls and cementing floors. Dorn is impressed by Monroy’s ability to work within the culture and convince people to act.
“Science is global. Especially when working on a disease that’s so devastating for Central America. You need a Central American perspective and expertise and on-theground understanding to propose successful solutions,” Dorn said. This team firmly believes that science is not about self-improvement. They believe it is about working towards a common goal to help improve the quality of human life.
Loyola students seek to reform sexual assault policies By Tyler Wann wtwann@my.loyno.edu
Loyola students are working in conjunction with the university to improve upon current sexual assault policies. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network estimates that 11.2 percent of all college students have been raped or sexually assaulted, which makes this a relevant matter for Loyola. The newly formed student-led group Students Against Sexual Assault has been working to reform what members say are ineffective school policies regarding issues surrounding sexual assault on Loyola’s campus. SASA member Gabby Rodriguez said that the group is working closely with Loyola’s new Title IX coordinator Diana Ward on a list of demands to bring to the head of school. Such demands include making private reporting options for sexual assault available like the ability to report anonymously on-
line. Rodriguez also emphasized the group’s desire to have sexual assault prevention training as a requirement during freshman seminars. The university is open to working with all students on this deeply sensitive issue. As stated in its handbook, Loyola is committed to taking “prompt and effective steps to end any sexual or gender-based harassment and discrimination, assault and/or sexual violence as well as to eliminate any hostile environment.” Rodriguez said that she had participated in activist movements before she joined SASA in October. She, along with several other students, had previously launched a viral campaign to have Loyola’s official definition of consent changed. According to students, Loyola previously had several contradictory definitions of consent which some critics say allowed room for offenders to avoid prosecution. It has since been changed to a singular definition that now requires verbal consent. While Rodriguez says that things
are “definitely headed in the right direction” with this change, there are still several policies which she said the group wants Loyola to modify. One such example, she said, is known as the “Retaliation Policy.” This policy states that while an investigation is ongoing, the parties involved are unable to disclose information regarding the case to others. While this was initially put in place to protect victims, some victims have said this policy is intimidating. Per Loyola policy, even the victim can be charged with a student conduct hearing if they decide to disclose the event to a friend or loved one. Rodriguez said that the act of disclosing is a vital part of the healing process, and if a person feels intimidated or has a bad first experience disclosing, they may feel uncomfortable disclosing to anyone in the future. Besides working for policy reform, SASA will be hosting several upcoming events this semester.
Gabby Rodriguez, one of the members of SASA, has worked to create conversation about sexual assault on campus. This includes prevention training for all freshman students. CRISTIAN ORELLANA/The Maroon.
These events include a painting session to help survivors of sexual assault cope with stress and trauma, as well as trainings for allies regarding what to do if a friend is assaulted. They are also working with the locally based Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response group
to help train trauma counselors in the Women’s Resource Center and Counseling Center. SASA is an official sanctioned group at Loyola. Students are able to get involved by finding them on Orgsync through the LORA website.
THE MAROON
February 2, 2018
C R O S S W O R D
Across
1. Color changers 5. Allowing for the uncertainity of the future 10. Fairy tale bear 14. Set 15. Greenland coin 16. Holiday lead-ins 17. Aerialists’ insurance 19. Days in Durango 20. Side by side? 21. Medical priority system 23. Visually transfixed 26. Porsche Boxster, e.g. 29. Mauritania neighbor 30. Make a big stink 31. Immobile 32. Lining fabric 34. Zebra hunter 36. Breakfast order ... and a hint to the last words of 17-, 26-, 51- and 58-Across 41. Loaves that may be seeded 42. Printing goofs 44. Narrow groove 48. Take to heart 50. “Yikes!” 51. Like some pizza ovens 53. Decorative draperies 54. Brand name for the sleep aid zolpidem 55. Culture starter? 57. Tropical tuber 58. Conflict in Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade” 64. Tiny bit 65. Broadcaster 66. Sticking point 67. Many Christmas presents 68.Involuntary muscle contraction 69. Jet black
Down
1. Wedding reception VIPs 2. Vote for 3. Cookie baker in the Hollow Tree 4. More disreputable 5. Terrier breed from Scotland 6. Richly decorated 7. Rival 8. Colony crawler
9. Stops working for a while 10. Highway divider 11. Pilot 12. Scanty 13. State strongly 18. Little Italian number 22. “Stand By Me” director 23. Bowling alley initials 24. Some square dancers 25. Baldwin brother 27. “Maybe” 28. 1930s migrant to California 30.Beverage company Cointreau 33. Coffee server 35. Binged (on) 37.Paint brand sold at Home Depot 38. Got big enough for 39. “Born This Way” Lady 40. Antlered animal 43. Program interruptions
44. Try to hit, as a fly 45. Minestrone ingredient 46. Drink named for a Scottish hero 47. Make a scene and act up 49. One of a ‘50s singing quartet 52. Ancient empire builders 53. Madrid Mrs. 56. Start of an idea 59. Fabric flaw 60. Yo La Tengo guitarist Kaplan 61. Break the tape 62. Whichever 63. King of ancient Rome
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Life &Times
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February 2, 2018 THE MAROON
Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife
How to do Mardi Gras the right way gmdufren@my.loyno. edu
Nyx (2/7 at 7 p.m.)
Our humble columnist Grant Dufrene is a seasoned Mardi Gras veteran and has seen his fair share of triumphant victories and staggering losses. Now, he shares his advice on how to have a successful and safe Carnival season.
Description: The mystic Krewe of Nyx is an all-female carnival krewe. In Greek mythology, Nyx is the goddess of the night. Their signature throw is hand-decorated purses.
Muses (2/8 at 6:30 p.m.) Description: Krewe of Muses was the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe to roll into the parades. Named after the nine daughters of Zeus, the parade celebrates the virtue of these goddesses. They are well-known for their fabulous glitter shoe throws - so if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a shoe.
The Spanktuary City float rolls as a part of the Krewe du Vieux parade on Frenchman Street, Jan. 27, 2018. Krewe du Vieux kicks off the beginning of the Mardi Gras season. JACOB SCHMITT/The Maroon.
part about Mardi Gras is having to get back to campus. With the streets blocked off after parades for cleaning, catching an Uber can be a nightmare, not to mention the fact that the rates are astronomical due to the high demand. Bringing a bike or a comfortable pair of shoes that you wouldn’t mind wearing while making the trek back to campus is the more economic choice and it may even be faster. Be nice to workers. Service workers are the backbone of Mardi Gras, from those who clean
the streets to those who serve the drunken crowds their food. Because of them, when you wake up in the afternoon and return to St.Charles Avenue, the only proof that parades have passed are the colorful beads hanging from the oak trees like Christmas ornaments. Your awesome Mardi Gras experience is in part due to service workers, from the bartender serving you drinks and keeping you hydrated to the police officers making sure everyone is safe. Don’t let all the partying go to your head. You should act respect-
fully to those making Mardi Gras run functionally. *Side note, while it isn’t illegal, please don’t try to pet the horses the police are mounted on. Above all: use common sense. “As long as you aren’t being stupid, you’re okay,” said Robert Bell, director of learning resources, native New Orleanian and member of the Skeleton Krewe. “I think that’s sort of a blanket statement, play stupid games win stupid prizes.” And there you have it. Be safe, make good decisions, and enjoy yourself.”
Tony Dagradi’s album “Oneness” debuts at jazz underground By Chris Gilyard ccgilyar@my.loyno.edu
In a performance driven by emotion and sound, faculty musician Tony Dagradi and his group played as part of Loyola’s Jazz Underground Series. Dagradi, an internationally renowned jazz performer, composer and educator, performed selections from his newest album titled “Oneness.” The performance was in Nunemaker Hall on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Several notable New Orleans jazz artists were seen playing with Dagradi in his core band. The band included Steve Masakowski on guitar, Larry Seiberth on the piano, Roland Guerin on bass and Ricky Sebastian on drums. Dagradi led the group on the tenor saxophone. Dagradi captivated the audience as the group went down the list of songs on his album. Between songs, he took moments to tell the audience about what drove him to participate in the jazz scene. “The first revelation I had regarding the spiritual power of music was triggered by listening to the music of John Coltrane and Duke Ellington,” said Dagradi. When it comes to the inspiration behind “Oneness,” Dagradi said there were many roads and emo-
Cleopatra (2/2 at 6:30 p.m.) Description: Named after the fearless Egyptian Queen, the Krewe of Cleopatra is an all-female parade that celebrates girl power and its love for New Orleans. This parade kicks off the first Friday of carnival season.
Grant Dufrene Philosophy/English Sophomore
Mardi Gras is upon us, so let’s make the most of it before Lent begins calling the festivities to a close. Here are some tips to make the most of your celebration: Find your designated bathroom early. The parade has come to a halt. The frenzy of beads being pelted in your direction has passed, and instead the marching band is stopped right in front of you. The vibrations of the bass drum beats are rattling in your chest, and then it hits you: your sudden need for a bathroom. What are you to do? On your way to meet friends you passed some Uptown dad who was charging $10 to use the port-a-potty set up in his front yard, but that’s a pretty steep price. Public urination is a crime and after you pay the fine and bail, you might as well have just paid to use the porta-potty standing in all it’s bright blue glory in his front yard. What are your other options? The bathrooms in restaurants are for patrons only, but luckily the city provides free restrooms along the parade route. Think about transportation before the parade is over. It could be argued that the worst
UPTOWN PARADE SCHEDULE
tions that led to the album’s creation. A horn section of Loyola students from the music program joined Dagradi on several tunes. Among them was Brian Maassen, jazz performance and music education sophomore, who played the trumpet. “Playing with Dagradi is always a treat. He’s a world class player, which becomes pretty obvious to anyone that’s ever seen him perform. He’s also a really great band leader. I’ve been on plenty of gigs where the guy in charge is cluttered and disorganized, but Dagradi always writes his charts out very neatly and is clear with what he wants from the band. He’s a legend and any chance to play with him is always a pleasure,” said Maassen. As the concert ended, the audience gave a well-deserved standing ovation. Dagradi expressed his hard work and gratitude to his fellow musicians, as well as the jazz program at Loyola. “The jazz program here and all the faculty are definitely helping me become a better player,” said Maassen. More about Tony Dagradi can be found at tonydagradi.com. For information about the upcoming events in the Jazz Underground Series, visit presents.loyno.edu.
Endymion (2/10 at 4:15 p.m.) - Mid City Description: Endymion is one of the most popular and largest parades of the season. They toss millions of beads, cups and doubloons - so many that their motto is “throw until it hurts”. *Located in Mid-City, but is deserving of an honorable mention.
Bacchus (2/11 at 5:15 p.m.) Description: The Krewe of Bacchus celebrates Dionysus, the god of winemaking and of ritual madness - perfectly fit for Mardi Gras. This parade is an uptown favorite with massive floats, marching bands and some great grabs.
Orpheus (2/12 at 6 p.m.) Description: The Krewe of Orpheus was founded by Harry Connick Jr. and Harry Connick Sr. in 1993 and quickly became one of the largest. It is named after mortal Orpheus, whose music was said to be so beautiful that wild animals stopped their hunting. Accordingly, Orpheus is largely music-oriented.
Zulu (2/13 at 8 a.m.) Description: The first roll on the morning of Fat Tuesday, the Krewe of Zulu has been around since as early as 1901. Their colorful costumes and extravagant parade floats prove that they march to the beat of their own drums.
Rex (2/13 at 10 a.m.)
Loyola professor Tony Dagradi plays the saxophone at Nunemaker Auditorium during a concert on Jan. 25, 2018, introducing his recently released album: Oneness. The concert was part of Loyola’s Jazz Underground Series. ANGELO IMBRAGUGLIO/The Maroon.
Description: Get ready - this parade is when the King of Mardi Gras rolls out, complete with the mayor handing over a symbolic Key to the City to him. This tradition has been around since 1872, and the spectactular parade marks the glittering conclusion to an awesome Mardi Gras season.
February 2, 2018
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THE MAROON
Proposed redesign of Louisiana tuition program criticized BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — House Republicans on Tuesday released details of spending controls they want from Gov. John Bel Edwards in exchange for considering taxes to fill Louisiana’s $1 billion budget gap, describing their passage as required to reach a financial deal. The items proposed by House Speaker Taylor Barras in a threepage list had been talked about broadly in the ongoing budget and tax negotiations. But the list provided the first set of specific details, in response to Edwards’ push for additional information. It also represented an ultimatum of sorts as House GOP leaders and the Democratic governor haggle over taxes sought by Edwards
to replace expiring sales taxes that threaten to force sizable cuts when the new budget year begins July 1. Barras wrote in a letter sent to the governor with the spending control suggestions that without passage of the proposals, a budget agreement couldn’t be struck. He said he and a majority of House members require the ideas “to be part of a final solution.” “House members feel strongly about coupling these reforms to revenue measures being proposed in an effort to achieve a balanced solution,” the House speaker wrote. The proposals would tighten limits on annual state spending growth and create a new website called Louisiana Checkbook to track state
spending. In the Medicaid program, some patients would be charged copays for certain health services and medications and premiums for the government-financed insurance, and some non-elderly adult enrollees would be required to work or lose their coverage. Exemptions for the work requirements would be allowed for children, people with disabilities who are deemed “unfit for employment,” pregnant women, people in a drug treatment program, or parents caring for children under the age of 1 or children with severe disabilities. Others would have to work — or participate in a volunteer or training program — for at least 20 hours
a week. Barras said House Republicans want the ideas included in any agenda Edwards sets for a possible February special session. While the ideas wouldn’t necessarily chip away at the size of next year’s budget gap, Barras has said they could lower the state’s costs in the long term. Edwards said he needed more financial analysis to vet the recommendations — and details on what taxes lawmakers would support in exchange. “Once the speaker offers his plan to address the fiscal cliff, we can begin negotiations. While none of these measures accomplish that, I view them as a positive development in our ongoing discussions,”
the governor said in a statement. Edwards wants a tax package passed in a February special session to replace the $1 billion in expiring sales taxes, but he’s been unable to strike a deal with House Republican leaders so far. The governor said he won’t call the session without an “agreement in principle.” If lawmakers want to replace the lost revenue with taxes, that requires a special session, either before the regular session starts March 12 or after it ends June 4. Otherwise, they’ll have to slash spending, cuts that are expected to fall most heavily on health services and college programs.
House GOP outlines spending controls wanted in tax debate BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A proposal to rewrite Louisiana’s TOPS college tuition program, to limit the dollars flowing to lower-performing students, is hitting pushback before it even gets a vote. Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, a Jennings Republican, wants to reduce the amount of tuition covered for students who reach the basic award for a four-year college, to give them a flat $4,000 payment for the year, below the $5,600 average annual tuition rate in Louisiana. Payments would then increase for higher-performing students. Currently, the program has tiers that offer stipends for higher-performing students, but tuition at a
four-year school is covered for any high school graduate who reaches a 2.5 grade-point average and 20 ACT college entrance exam score. A legislative task force studying TOPS will decide Feb. 7 whether to include Morrish’s proposal in its recommendations to the full Legislature. Critics on Wednesday said the changes could keep students from attending college and disproportionately hit poorer students. “For some kids, that $1,600 is going to be the difference between them going to college or not,” said Sen. Wesley Bishop, a New Orleans Democrat. Morrish, chairman of the task force, said TOPS would remain
among the most generous college tuition programs in the nation. He said the change — which wouldn’t affect anyone currently receiving TOPS — could push students to improve their performance by offering them larger tuition payments and stipends if they achieve higher GPAs and ACT scores. “I don’t think we’re leaving them out in the cold by any means. We’re reducing the award,” he said. “I think it’s an incentive for those students to step up.” James Caillier, a booster for the program, said Morrish’s proposal would be a “horrible mistake” for TOPS. He said the students at the lower performance levels are gener-
ally low-income students “with the greatest financial need.” “This proposal takes from the bottom and gives to the top. It’s a redistribution of funds,” said Caillier, executive director of a foundation created by Pat Taylor, the philanthropist who designed a TOPS precursor and for whom the program is named. TOPS, which began covering tuition costs in 1998, is credited with improving high school performance and college graduation rates. But costs have grown to $290 million this school year, as more students reached the eligibility standards and as tuition on college campuses rose. Morrish’s proposal is estimated
to save about $20 million a year, though it would take a few years to reach that savings level. If the task force backs Morrish’s idea, the suggestion would require a change in state law. Gov. John Bel Edwards hasn’t said whether he supports the concept. Meanwhile, it remains unclear if TOPS will be fully funded in the 2018-19 school year as lawmakers grapple with a $1 billion budget gap. Other proposals to change eligibility requirements and the payment terms also are being offered.
OK, Loyola We're in the mood
for some new tunes. Good thing we've got so many talented musicians on campus.
Win up to $500!
loyNO Songwriting
contest Loyola Fight Song poster 10.25x7 matron ad v5.indd 1
If you're a current undergrad student (any major), and you've got the chops to write Loyola a new school song, check out the contest rules (and pRIZES) at loyno.edu/songcontest
Submissions due by midnight February 23, 2018. Finalists will perform at 7 p.m. on 3/18 in Roussell Hall.
1/30/18 3:40 PM
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THE MAROON
February 2, 2018
SPORTS
February 2, 2018 The Maroon
9
Baseball team combines the old and the new for the upcoming season By Cody Downey cadowney@my.loyno.edu @CodyWrites
The Loyola dance and cheer teams perform a halftime routine at the University Sports Complex Jan. 20, 2018, during Loyola’s women’s basketball game against Faulkner University. The dance team is gearing up for a dance team championship Feb. 3, in Mobile, Alabama. CRISTIAN ORELLANA/The Maroon.
Dance team shimmies its way to Mobile By Will Ingram wringram@my.loyno.edu @WillIngram4
The competitive dance team is setting their sights on the upcoming conference championship. In its first year of existence, the Loyola competitive dance team took home the Southern States Athletic Conference title versus Brenau University on Jan. 28 2017. The championship was historic for both the conference and Loyola, as it was the first year the sport was recognized in conference play, and Loyola took home the banner. It was a shining victory as three of the six Loyola dancers made the All-Conference team when the Wolf Pack beat the Golden Tigers 87-71 — the only other team competing.
The “Six Pack,” the name used to refer to last year’s team, went out to prove they could be successful in the freshly organized sport. “They felt that they had something to prove. It was the first year that there was competitive cheer and dance. They wanted to prove that they were a force to be reckoned with even though they only had six dancers,” Head Coach Rickey Hill said. After winning the 2017 championship, the Loyola competitive dance team is preparing for another shot at the conference title this year. However, it will have more competition this year as three teams plan to compete in the Southern States Athletic Conference. The Wolf Pack is preparing with early morning practices every Tues-
day, Thursday and Friday starting at 6:30 a.m. With new additions to the team, the experienced dancers are making sure the squad meets the high standards of competition set last year. Elizabeth Cohen, music industry major and member of the “Six Pack” team, said that she knows exactly what it takes to be a conference champion. “Nailing our skills, upping our performance quality and a well-rounded routine including both technique and engaging energy is key to repeating as champions,” she said. The team is confident in its hard work and remains unfazed despite the new conference competitors, Brewton-Parker and Martin Methodist. The Georgia-based Brenau
University will not compete as the school has left the Southern States Athletic Conference. Hill said the team has remained focused despite the increased competition. “We have not thought about it. We are staying focused on choreography,” he said. New additions have brought a greater sense of confidence to the team before its championship run. “They are excited that we have some really strong freshman. They are also excited to show the intricate choreography that they are practicing,” Hill said. The Wolf Pack will compete in the Mobile Invitational on Feb. 2 and the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship on Feb. 3.
Cheerleaders look to take home SSAC crown By Sam Lucio salucio2@my.loyno.edu @_sam_lucio
With the conference championship coming up, the Loyola cheerleading team is out for revenge and hopes to bring the crown back home. Last year, the team went head-tohead with the University of Mobile in the conference championship. The then newly-created Wolf Pack team fell in a close matchup. Now the Wolf Pack cheerleading team is gearing for another shot at the Southern States Athletic Conference championship. With only 14 members on the squad last year and only two being male, the team built off of what they had, adding two more members for a total of four male members for the current season. The mix between experienced and rookie members has created a buzz on the team. “We have a lot of returning people and a couple new people that are very talented and we’re just ex-
cited to showcase what we can do and hopefully everything will stick,” Head Coach Rickey Hill said. Adding more members to the team was is the only thing the cheerleading program has done to improve performance. The team has been practicing more in order to prepare for the upcoming championship. “We wanted to have more practices to get our routine better,” Tri Le, bio-chemistry sophomore, said. Le was on last year’s squad and sees the team’s first shot at the title as a valuable learning experience. “We had to build a foundation before we could improve,” Le said. With the championship date approaching, the team faces the mental stresses of competing against other teams. “It’s been a little overwhelming for the past couple of weeks but they’re excited about the possibility of being able to bring home a championship,” Hill said. With the conference adding new schools, such as Bethel and Point, the team will compete without
The Loyola baseball team is bringing the best of both worlds for the upcoming season with a mix of young and experienced players. The team has 25 underclassmen, 14 of which are freshman, and 18 upperclassmen, eight of them being seniors. “We return a good number of starting position players and pitchers and also have added some really talented young players,” Head Coach Doug Faust said. Finance senior Jason Roussel also said that having both returning and new players can be an advantage for the team. “I think the experience and growth from the older guys along with the addition of some talented freshmen make this year’s team really competitive,” he said. With the new year bringing the team a fresh start, Faust hopes to play off of the talents the team has. “It is important for us to identify our strengths and weaknesses as a team and play to our strengths,” Faust said. The Wolf Pack team finished 2234 last year and ending the season with a 3-11 loss versus the University of Mobile. This year, the team wants to improve on their previous record by taking a slower pace. “It’s very important to take every game one at a time, but to not dwell on loses from prior games or become arrogant after a win,” Roussel said. For his final year, Roussel is happy to be a part of such a diverse squad. “It is my last year as a Loyola baseball player, and I wouldn’t want to take that journey with any other group of guys,” Roussel said. The baseball season will start up on Feb. 2 at Rust College at 6 p.m. at Segnette Field.
Sports briefs Banks shines at Houston Invitational Leah Banks broke her own school record in the long jump and hit a personal best in the high jump as she traveled to the Houston Invitational track and field event. Banks, a mass communication junior, ran in a field against eight National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes in the pentathlon, consisting of the 60-meter hurdle, high jump, shot put, long jump and the 800-meter run. Banks finished fourth in the event overall and ranked seventh in the nation.
Loyola women’s tennis upset No. 10 Xavier The Loyola cheerleading team rehearses one of their routines at the University Sports Complex, during a practice Jan. 25, 2018. The team is working on their routine in anticipation of the conference finals Feb. 3. CRISTIAN ORELLANA/The Maroon.
knowing the strategies and capabilities of some of their opponents. However, Hill believes his team will prevail. “They’ve worked really hard, we’ve had some ups and downs and
lost some people along the way but they still keep pushing,” Hill said. The cheerleading team will compete in the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship in Mobile, Alabama Feb. 3.
The Loyola women’s tennis team took down nationally ranked Xavier University on Jan. 28. The Wolf Pack beat the Golden Nuggets in a 5-4 nail-bitter in an away match. Loyola starts the season (1-0), and look to take on the University of New Orleans on the road on Feb. 2.
EDITORIAL
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February 2, 2018 THE MAROON
OUR EDITORIAL
The majority opinion of our editorial board
HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to cleaning Tide Pods GROWL to eating Tide Pods HOWL to George Orwell GROWL to the obsolete English ruling class HOWL to the Pelicans GROWL to torn Achilles tendons HOWL to the Winter Olympics Have a howl or growl? Tweet us at @loyola_maroon to be featured each Friday!
EDITORIAL BOARD Sidney Holmes
Editor-in-Chief
Paulina Picciano
Managing Editor for Print
Erin Snodgrass
Managing Editor for Electronic Properties
Amy Ngo
Maroon Minute Executive Producer
Hayley Hynes
Design Chief
Osama Ayyad
Photo Editor
Madison McLoughlin
News Editor
Kaylie Saidin Paulina Picciano Miles Rouen Andres Fuentes
Life & Times Editor Wolf Editor Worldview Editor Sports Editor
Nick Reimann
Editorial Editor
Katelyn Fecteau
Opinion Editor
Rose Wagner
Copy Editor
Crysten Price
Copy Editor
JC Canicosa Cristian Orellana Anderson Leal
Senior Staff Writer Senior Staff Photographer Director of Public Relations
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.
Photo by MCT campus. Design by Hayley Hynes.
Long live the week off for Mardi Gras You’ve heard the cliché: Everywhere else, it’s just another Tuesday. But even in New Orleans, that glorious Fat Tuesday is just that — Fat Tuesday. The rest of the week means just another Wednesday, just another Thursday, just another Friday. Not at Loyola. Here, we elevate Mardi Gras to its rightful place — as one of the top holidays on the calendar. We even put it above Thanksgiving, if we judge a holiday based on the amount of days off school. The freedom given by having a week off in February or early March (depending on when Mardi Gras falls) gives Loyola community members an opportunity you can’t find many other places in the country or, as we said, even the city. That’s most noticeable right next door, so don’t be surprised to hear Tulane students complaining about only having the Monday and Tuesday of Mardi Gras week off the next time you’re standing behind some of them in the line at Starbucks. Now, that’s not to say having a week off for Mardi Gras is all fun. It can be tough coming back from having a month off for Christmas only to have a few weeks of classes inter-
rupted by the Mardi Gras week and then having to do the same thing over again when Easter rolls around. By then, many students have left to look forward to are finals — without ever feeling that they really got into any sort of flow during the semester. Worse yet, students are often faced with professors cramming work in before the break that’s only rivaled in the fall semester by the days right before Thanksgiving. And then there’s the most cruel and unusual of all — making projects due immediately after coming back from break. We could probably editorialize on that point alone, but the fact is, when you take it all into consideration, the positives far outweigh the negatives of having a long break for Mardi Gras. And it’s not just so that we get the chance to go out and see the parades and have time to recover from whatever debauchery college students will inevitably find themselves in. That’s nice and all, but it’s the time we get off after Mardi Gras that really gives us a chance few others get. That’s three days of no classes, while even the rest of the city starts back on a normal schedule.
What that gives members of the Loyola community is a rare opportunity to travel during what’s a low season across most of the country. That gives us the chance to go home and see families or travel to popular destinations without having to deal with the crowds or serious expenses that normally come with traveling to those places during normal holidays. But there are other options for those not jet-setting. Maybe you just want to relax. You get the chance to do that. Or maybe you don’t. Maybe you want to work and make some money without being distracted by classwork — you know, so you can save for that big trip next Mardi Gras. You can do that too. So with Carnival season in full swing, go out and enjoy it. Enjoy the days off for Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras. Go out and see the parades on Mardi Gras day. Don’t sleep in. Experience the day that actually makes the season and take part in some New Orleans history. And then for the rest of the week, do whatever you want, courtesy of Loyola. Happy Mardi Gras!
OPINION
February 2, 2018 The Maroon
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Minimum wage does not reduce crime christian torsell Economics sophomore cvtorsel@my.loyno. edu
In the 16th century, the Jesuit order was closely identified with what is today known as the “School of Salamanca,” a group of Spanish Catholic intellectuals who revolutionized philosophy, theology, law and, perhaps most significantly, economics. In their pioneering writings, the school’s proto-economists defended markets and private property against intellectual trends that overwhelmingly opposed them, famously denouncing the advocates of artificial “just prices” in favor of natural prices determined by market supply and demand. These, they argued, were the only truly just prices. In the 21st century, by contrast, it isn’t uncommon to see an article from the Jesuit Social Research Institute like the one I received by email recently, entitled “Minimum Wages Reduce Crime.” How the mighty have fallen. There are a host of reasons to doubt the claim made in that article’s title. For the sake of the late Salamancans, I’ll raise a few key objections. In his article, Bustamante largely relies on a recent study entitled “The Minimum Wage, EITC, and Criminal Recidivism,” writing that paper “finds strong empirical evidence that state minimum wage increases not only benefit workers directly but also reduce crime, thereby further serving the common good.” Increasing the minimum wage, he claims, leads to lower recidivism rates and higher employment in formal labor markets for ex-nonviolent offenders. This is a curious argument since a minimum wage can only raise the bar for those seeking employment. Unless intervening factors are at play, it’s safe to assume that an employer will only hire someone if the (marginal) productivity contributed
What do you wish you would catch at a mardi gras parade?
Terran lumpkin Psychology junior telumpki@my.loyno. edu
“Snacks for the parade route, because sometimes I get hungry.”
Jack laughlin Biology pre-med sophomore jplaughl@my.loyno. edu
A Loyola student grips onto $7.25, the Louisiana minimum wage. It is the same as the federal government’s mandated nationwide minimum wage created in 2009. Photo Illustration. CRISTIAN ORELLANA/The Maroon.
by his labor exceeds the (marginal) cost of paying his wage. So when the government raises the minimum wage, it excludes from the market all of the people who don’t have the skills necessary to produce value for an employer at or above the level of the new price floor, thus creating unemployment for less skilled laborers. The workers who suffer the most are the ones with the least access to opportunities for productivity-increasing skill development (e.g. formal education or apprenticeships), namely, the elderly, the poor and the otherwise socially disadvantaged—including ex-offenders. If released convicts tend to recidivate due to their choosing illegal work in the informal sector over lawful employment, as Bustamante claims, then it’s hard to imagine how raising barriers of entry into legal labor markets could help in any way. As he rightly points out,
“The stigma of criminal convictions coupled with gaps in work histories and typically lower levels of educational attainment leave ex-offenders with scant employment prospects,” leaving them especially vulnerable to minimum-wage-induced unemployment. On the other hand, it could be argued, as in the article Bustamante references, that “if an individual is able to secure a job at the now higher minimum wage, then their opportunity cost of returning to jail has increased, reducing the probability of recidivism.” Maybe this could account for the correlation between an 8 percent minimum wage hike and a 2 percent decline in recidivism that paper’s authors found. But this argument ignores a major cost associated with finding lawful work. Ex-convicts who lack the skills to produce value at or above the level of the new minimum wage face the
cost of acquiring those skills, potentially offsetting the increase in the opportunity cost of recidivating caused by the minimum wage. Lowskill ex-offenders can’t wave a magic wand and be granted legal employment at the newly-raised minimum wage rate; they have to demonstrate that they are productive enough to earn such a job, and learning new skills to increase human capital involves costs that may not be present were they to choose work in black or grey markets. It would seem that the correlation the authors found in their study might not demonstrate causation. Economics involves the unseen as much as the seen, and unintended consequences of policies are often at least as important as intended ones. The Jesuits at Salamanca were well aware of that. Hopefully now, 500 years later, we can return to the example they set.
NAMI helps those with mental illnesses christopher gilyard Mass communication junior ccgilyar@my.loyno. edu
“Feelings of ease, intensity, power, well-being, financial omnipotence and euphoria pervade one’s marrow. But, somewhere, this changes. The fast ideas are far too fast, and there are far too many; overwhelming confusion replaces clarity. Memory goes. Humor and absorption on friends’ faces are replaced by fear and concern. Everything previously moving with the grain is now against. You are irritable, angry, frightened, uncontrollable and enmeshed totally in the blackest caves of the mind. You never knew those caves were there. It will never end,
for madness carves its own reality.” Kay Redfield Jamison wrote this in her book “An Unquiet Mind ” about mental illness. Mental Illness: writing it sends this rush of misunderstanding, classification and unknowing down my spine. Not just mine, but every human being that has gone through, experienced or seen mental illness at work. Feel free to ask Rachelle Orgeon and Jesse Smith III, representatives of National Awareness of Mental Illness (NAMI) in New Orleans. Both are able to tell compelling, majestic, yet painful stories of living with different forms of mental illness, and yet found strength in a program dedicated to bringing light to the issue. Listening to them speak, you walk away knowing three things. The first being that there truly is a stigma when it comes to mental illness, a stigma that revolves around not being able to see something physically, making it hard to believe. Imagine how complicated it has to be,
knowing that you need help, yet not receiving the right help to help you grow. The second being that every road has bumps, curves, twists and turns, yet if you keep going you will “...rise from the ashes”, as Orgeon gracefully stated. That patience will get you in the door, but walking in saying “I am here. And I need help” is the first step. The last thing is the most important one of them all. It’s what I observed as Orgeon and Smith brought their presentation to a close: unity. It wasn’t just the fact that they were a powerhouse together, but all the acceptance, coping and bridge to recover that they opened up about. This was allowable due to NAMI, a program that sees them as tokens to a blissful life, rather than as rocks sinking below the ocean unable to graviate to the surface. Using therapy as a way to open the wounds and medication to clean it, the true bandage comes from love and understanding. That is how we can help
people that battle mental illness. We are in a time where we need to realize that a sickness is not always curable with drugs, an illness is not always something to fear, and the worse pain is not always physical. Together we can create a home to every man, woman, race and sex that advocates joining together and helping people. Through NAMI we have that opportunity, that chance to help the ones that yearn for it the most. It’s time that we not only wake up, but stay woke to this issue. Orgeon and Smith did something during they’re presentation that will forever be engulfed in my heart. They smiled. They showed that while the illness may be forever, the dark days are only temporary. That there is hope ... a yellow brick road ... a happily ever after for mental illness. It’s just up to us, to help get them there.
“iPhone headphones; I’ve been needing those.”
Tori wilson Physics sophomore vgwilson@my.loyno.edu
“Cash money—bundles of it!”
marco pittarelli Mass communication senior mgpittar@my.loyno.edu
“I wish they threw eco-friendly beads ... and maybe a drink or two.”
max heimburger
Political science senior mvheimbu@my.loyno. edu
“I wish I could get something from Mardi Gras that I’d want after the week is over...maybe have one parade where their big thing is something that isn’t cheap plastic.”
tony domino Vocal performance freshman addomino@my.loyno.edu
“A new pair of Muses shoes that I could actually wear!”
For suggestions on next week’s question, email letter@loyno.edu.
February 2, 2018
THE MAROON
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