March 17, 2017

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Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 95 • Issue 20 • March 17, 2017

the Maroon For a greater Loyola

OSAMA AYYAD / The Maroon and Loyola News Service

(Left) Zoie Miller, mass communication junior, takes a jump shot against Di'Mond Jackson, biology junior, during practice, March 10, 2017, at the First NBC Court at Loyola University New Orleans. (Top Right) Nate Pierre, business senior, steps to the hoop during practice, March 10, 2017. (Bottom Right) Loyola Wolf Pack women's basketball team members practice at the First NBC Court on campus in New Orleans, March 10, 2017.

Wolf Pack basketball teams make history The men end a 71-year drought while the women make the national tournament for the seventh time in nine years

By Brian Wollitz, Seán Brennan and Ryan Micklin bawollit@myloyno.edu shbrenna@my.loyno.edu rwmickli@my.loyno.edu @brian_wollitz @sean_themaroon @RyanMicklin61

For the first time in the school’s history, both Loyola’s men and women’s basketball teams are headed to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournament together. This ends a 71-year drought for the men’s team, as they will go into the tournament as the number eight seed. The women, ranked number six, will make their fourth consecutive national appearance in a historic season of their own — with Kellie Kennedy solidifying herself as Loyola’s winningest head coach and

senior forward Meghan Temple becoming the first player in program history to surpass 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. The men’s team faced the defending tournament champion and number one seed William Penn University Statesman on Wednesday, and lost 100-78 at the Municipal Auditorium-Gymnasium in Kansas City, Missouri. The women’s team took on the number three seed Montana State University-Northern Skylights on Thursday, March 16 at the Rimrock Auto Arena at Metrapark in Billings, Montana. Brett Simpson, Loyola’s athletic director, said that having both men and women’s teams travel to represent the Wolf Pack at nationals is a well-deserved opportunity. “It is indeed historic, but not unexpected. Our women’s basketball program has had sustained excellence in the classroom and on the

court with Coach Kennedy leading us to seven appearances in the NAIA national tournament,” Simpson said. “We’ve been close in the past, and I’m happy that we were able to break through in just Coach Hollowell’s third season.” Stacy Hollowell stepped into the men’s head coaching position in 2013 after starting as an assistant coach in 2010, leading this year’s team to a 22-9 regular season record, which is tied for the second most wins in the program’s history. “I was surprised to hear that this was the first time that both programs had qualified for the national tournament,” Hollowell said. “Hopefully we are able to make some noise in the tournament and build some notoriety as a team that is a perennial national contender.” In his three years as head coach, Hollowell’s win total has progressed 14, 17 and 22 in the 2014-2015, 20152016 and current season, respec-

tively. Kellie Kennedy, head coach since 2008, has led the women’s team to seven national tournament appearances in nine years, earning the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season title and becoming the winningest coach in Loyola’s history this season. “Winning the regular season title was our automatic bid to that tournament,” Kennedy said. “It’s that time of the year. I just think we have to be driven and stay focused and stay in the moment.” Kennedy enters this tournament with 195 total wins at Loyola, more than any other coach in Wolf Pack history. The women’s team enters the tournament at the number six seed, after breaking the program record for regular season wins with 25 and five loses. While both teams have had different outcomes leading to this first shared national tournament, senior

players on the men and women’s teams have been recognized as key components for both squads. Finishing the regular season in the top 40 of nine statistical categories in the nation, business senior and combination-guard and forward Johnny Griffin Jr. was named Conference Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-Conference and is sixth in rebounds and blocks in program history — despite only transferring from Chicago State University last season. Griffin Jr. sat amongst his teammates and coaches last week as they heard the announcement that they were slotted in the tournament, meaning a historic chance for the team in his last year of college basketball. “We were waiting to see, waiting, not knowing if we were going to make it or not.

See BASKETBALL, page 8


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March 17, 2017

THE MAROON

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Bicycle Theft 900 Block of Cherokee St.

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Simple Battery 200 Block of Hillary St.

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Armed Robbery with G Bordeaux Street/Carondelet Street

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Simple Battery 800 Block of Joseph St.

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Simple Battery 7300 Block of Zimpel St.

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Sexual Battery 7600 Block of Zimpel St.

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Vehicle Break-in 5300 Block of St. Charles Ave.

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news

March 17, 2017 The Maroon

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Courtesy of Theresa Solenski

Students from Patricia Dorn’s parasitology class plaster the walls and cement the floors of an elderly villager’s home. The service learning group utilized an ecohealth approach developed by their professor, Patricia Dorn, and her colleague Dr. Carlota Monroy.

Parasitology class fights Chagas disease abroad By Paulina Picciano pjpiccia@my.loyno.edu @piccianopj

Patricia Dorn and her parasitology students partnered with an ecohealth initiative to combat Chagas disease, which affects about six million people in Almolonga, Jutiapa, Guatemala. A service learning option for students in the class, the purpose of the trip was to utilize an ecohealth approach to teach the villagers how to improve their homes in order to avoid contracting Chagas and other diseases. According to Dorn, the stu-

dents on the trip helped to plaster the walls and cement the floors in homes of elderly villagers who could not make the changes on their own. “The students had a tremendous opportunity to learn a great deal about what conditions most of the world lives in and what puts people at risk of parasitic and other diseases. Also to see first-hand how important international scientific collaborations are in addressing the many challenges we face,” Dorn said. The Center for Disease Control’s website described Chagas disease as caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and spread by insect

hosts. The disease is only found in the Americas, mainly rural areas of Latin America prone to poverty. Gaby Gallegos, biology senior, said that the conditions in which the villagers live are ideal for the bugs who carry the disease. “Many people don’t even know that they have been infected, and the treatment has awful side effects,” Gallegos said. The class had a number of service learning options to choose from, including designing an educational calendar for the villagers, teaching school children about Chagas disease or modifying an environmental survey for houses in Arizona. Gal-

legos felt like the trip to Guatemala was a good fit for her. “Personally, service is something that I have always enjoyed, and I am also passionate about access to health care across the world, so this was the perfect opportunity to learn more about Guatemala and Chagas disease,” Gallegos said. In order to prepare for the trip, Gallegos said she and her classmates had to learn about Chagas disease and the ecohealth approach designed for the village, as well as watch a video and read a paper. The ecohealth approach was developed by Carlota Monroy, a medical entomologist, whom Dorn has

been collaborating with for over 21 years. Dorn explained how the trip had an even greater purpose. “This current project is a demonstration project to convince the large funders to put up the millions of dollars needed to implement this approach across Central America and halt transmission of Chagas and other infectious disease,” Dorn said. To learn more about Chagas disease and the ecohealth initiative, visit the group’s website at www.chagasecohealth.com.

Single confirmed case of mumps on campus Provost search By India Yarborough indiayarborough97@gmail.com @iayarbor

While Louisiana has had several confirmed mumps cases, there has only been one on Loyola’s campus. A student who attended the noon mass on Ash Wednesday at the Ignatious Chapel later discovered that they had mumps and immediately began trying to contact other mass-goers. Loyola’s Office of Emergency Management sent out a campus-wide announcement on March 10. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mumps is a contagious disease, which can be spread by an infected person through touching and sharing items and not washing one’s hands. The CDC said it can also be spread by coughing, sneezing or talking. Common symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite, and more serious cases are characterized by swollen salivary glands, resulting in puffy cheeks and a sore

jaw. It can take 12 to 25 days for symptoms to appear. Loyola has encouraged all students experiencing possible symptoms to seek help at the Student Health Center located in the Danna Center immediately. Additionally, students who are diagnosed off campus are encouraged to get in touch with the Student Health Center. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is the preventative treatment for mumps. While the vaccination is not 100 percent effective, the CDC said people who have received both doses of the MMR vaccine have an 88 percent immunity rate. Since the vaccination program began in 1967, there has been more than a 99 percent decrease in mumps cases in the United States. To help prevent mumps from spreading, Loyola and the CDC encourage people to wash their hands often with soap and water, avoid sharing food or drinks and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Proof of MMR immunization is required to enroll at Loyola, but

advances By Jessica Molina jgmolina@loyno.edu @jgmolina217

AP EXCHANGE

A vial of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. This is the recommended and most effective way to avoid contracting the mumps, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

according to the CDC, mumps outbreaks can still occur in highly-vaccinated, close-contact communities, such as college campuses. No cases of mumps in Louisiana were reported to the CDC as of Feb. 25, 2017. However, Louisiana State University confirmed several student cases around the same time as

Loyola, meaning at least four cases of mumps are present in southern Louisiana. According to the CDC’s website, Louisiana’s neighboring state Arkansas has confirmed over 300 cases of mumps this year, while Texas has confirmed at least 50.

The search for provost continues with a new round of candidates. According to Patricia Murret, associate director of public affairs, Loyola is taking their time with the selection process in order to ensure the best fit for the university. The process includes interviewing rounds of candidates who will visit campus and meet with members of the University Senate. Marc Manganero, current university provost, has agreed to remain at Loyola through the transition. Once the selection is made, the interim provost will hold the position for the duration of the search for a permanent provost. According to John Levendis, who facilitated meetings between the previous candidates and the faculty senate, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, is in charge of hiring decisions.


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WORLDVIEW

March 17, 2017 The Maroon

Uptown sees drop in persons crimes and residential burglaries By John Casey jecasey@my.loyno.edu @J_E_CASEY

JAMAL MELANCON/The Maroon

The PT-305 World War II ship sits in its boathouse at the Lakeshore Landing project site at the South Shore Harbor on Lake Pontchartrain. The public can purchase tickets for 90-minute rides on the boat starting April 1.

Tipitina’s owners to open ‘entertainment destination’ By Jamal Melancon jmmelanc@my.loyno.edu @Jam_M_Mel

The owners of Tipitina’s and the Orpheum Theater plan to open a multipurpose facility for all walks of life at the South Shore Harbor on Lake Pontchartrain. With regular events and an amphitheater for live music, the new site will feature restaurants, a fuel dock and marina store, as well as a boathouse for the last operational, fully restored combat veteran PT boat, the PT-305. Tipitina’s owners, Roland and Mary Von Kurnatowski, signed a deal on the application for a project called Lakeshore Landing in 2015 with the Orleans Parish Non-Flood Protection Asset Management Authority. The Von Kurnatowskis agreed to spend at least $12 million to develop the 19 acres at the South Shore Marina and former Bally’s

Riverboat Casino site in New Orleans East. Mary Von Kurnatowski said she’s excited that the development is underway and that she doesn’t believe the project could have had a stronger start than with the addition of the last operational World War II PT boat that offers rides. “You know, when it was a Bally’s casino site, they don’t have kids, so it wasn’t for families,” Mary Von Kurnatowski said. “So we’re looking forward to making it sort of a multifunctional, multipurpose space out here with a lot of activity going on for people of all ages.” Ronald Von Kurnatowski said a partnership with the National World War II Museum started to develop when the museum contacted him and his wife as they were finishing the renovation of the Orpheum Theater. “They’re so dynamic,” Ronald said. “They’re so on top of things. And even though this isn’t amuse-

ment or food-related, it is on the water, and it is a boat. So we figured it’d be a nice addition to the plan.” The Lakeshore Landing project first phase, slated to be completed in 2019, features the renovation of the Bally’s Riverboat Casino building to construct the first floor open to private parties and the second floor with a restaurant and commercial kitchen. The amphitheater, fuel dock, marina convenience store and restaurants outside the Bally’s building are included in first phase plans. The second phase entails a recording studio and adding bar, restaurant and retail spaces. Mary Von Kurnatowski said that the site would also be open to events like farmers markets and pop-up activities like outdoor yoga classes and movie screenings, but there won’t always be something going on. When the location is not booked with events, the owners would like the site to serve as a recreational and family dining area.

She explained that down the line, the Lakeshore Landing project could install kayak and bungalow rentals on Lake Pontchartrain, opening up a closer location for people flying into the city from the Lakefront Airport to stay the night. She also wants to provide laundry and shower facilities for people with their boats at the dock. “For a city surrounded by water, there are very few places where you can actually go and be by the water,” Mary Von Kurnatowski said. “The West End area hasn’t come back to what it was before the storm, unfortunately.” An exclusive, early access homecoming party for the PT-305’s relaunch will be held at the restored boat’s specially designed boathouse, located at the Lakeshore Landing site at the South Shore Harbor. The event takes place on March 25 and will be presented by the National WWII Museum’s Young Benefactors.

Restaurants, seafood markets respond to state crab ban By Taylor Ford tcford@my.loyno.edu @TaylorCFord

Menu changes, angry customers, and a lack of inventory are all major problems that seafood businesses will have to face over the course of a commercial crabbing ban in Louisiana. On Feb. 21, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enacted a ban on commercial crabbing which will last for a 30-day period. According to Jeffrey Marx, Wildlife Fishery Enforcement agent for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, this crabbing ban is set to happen on a concurrent pattern beginning on the third Monday of February for 2018 and 2019. Officials with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have cited recent decreases in the crab population as the reason behind the ban.

“The most current stock assessment which has data that runs through 2015, basically showed that the biomass of crabs out in the wild has been pretty low, the lowest it’s been in history. So we took a rather aggressive stance to have a seasonal closure,” Marx said. Though this will negatively affect the business endeavors of crab fishers in the area, some business owners, such as Henry Poynot, owner of Big Fisherman Seafood, and Chandra Chifici, owner of Deanie’s Seafood, believe that this ban could eventually have a positive impact on the industry as a whole. “I think it’s about 20 years too late; I think they need to close it every year. They overfish, the crabs never get a chance to get big, and with such demand, they take them when they’re smaller and younger, and they use those for factory crabs,” Poynot said. Poynot said he estimated three-quarters of crab catches

being “factory crabs” or “gumbo crabs”that would give more meat, if the industry allowed them to grow bigger. Chifici commented on the untimeliness of the ban in New Orleans. “They did not need to do this in the middle of Lent and Mardi Gras. They could’ve done this in January and have had the same result, and that wouldn’t have messed with two important high volume times of the year where seafood is prominent, and everybody wants it,” Chifici said. Rene Cross, manager at Fisherman’s Cove, explained how customers may react. “They [customers] definitely want it [crab] right now with today being the first Friday of Lent and people are wanting it. So they’re going to be ready once it opens back up,” Cross said. With the lack of crab inventory in Louisiana at their disposal, Deanie’s

is now having to make adjustments to their menu and importing. “I’ve taken crab claws off of the menu because of the ban, as well as the Crabmeat Au Gratin and the salad entrées. We’re having to get crab meat out of Alabama to compensate, but the prices are so high that that’s why we’ve taken the crab claws off of the menu,” Chifici said. In spite of the effects that this ban could have on their business, Cross sees the bigger picture and is hopeful that it will have a lasting positive effect on the industry. “I hope it works. I hope it’s helpful. It’s detrimental to what we’re trying to do now and having the supply available, but I really hope it works,” Cross said. The ban will be lifted March 22, but restaurants and seafood markets will need to come to a decision of how to adjust their business practices with the ban happening in years to come.

Crime over the past week has decreased since the Mardi Gras season, according to New Orleans Police Department officials at the weekly district meeting. Only four persons crimes, or crimes involving bodily harm to an individual, were reported in the second district. Persons crimes were down from last week, and NOPD officials said that all four persons crimes were unusual and that two may be connected. On Saturday, March 11, a man was picked up on Carondelet Street by two women who he claims he believed was his Uber. He said that the two women proceeded to drive the wrong direction, stopped the vehicle and robbed him at gunpoint. NOPD officials, however, found a gaping hole in the story provided by the victim. Bank records show that the man made two withdrawals of considerable amounts during the period he was with the women. Also, the story provided by the victim was inconsistent. Officials concluded that the incident was likely prostitution gone wrong and are pursuing a warrant for falsifying a police report. The man, however, has returned to his home in Chicago at this point. Two days earlier, on March 9, a minor car accident escalated into a robbery. Two women in a sedan took off after snatching the purse of the driver of the second involved vehicle. The sedan had a temporary tag equipped, which police officials concluded was a copied tag that has been used on several vehicles. The credit card of the victim was used for a purchase shortly after and surveillance at the purchase site managed to get an angle on the suspects. The descriptions of the two female suspects corresponds with the two involved with the prostitution gone wrong, according to NOPD. Burglaries in the second district declined this week from last. Seven auto burglaries were reported, all of which were said to be unsecured vehicles. One of the auto break-ins involved a stolen firearm. Four auto thefts were reported, three of which were motorized scooters. Two of the thefts occurred on Apricot Street, including a stolen Sedan, which was recovered the next day. Only one residential burglary occurred this week, down from five last week. The burglary on Belfast Street occurred early in the night. The victim reported a stolen computer and television as well as several pieces of jewelry. Police are working to locate surveillance in the area but have been unsuccessful so far. A total of eight thefts were reported in the district, one of which was a bicycle theft in the university area. Officials said that crime in the second district is up 9 percent on the year, down from 10 percent as of last week. The NOPD conducts weekly crime meetings at the Second Distict Station at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and encourages the public to attend. The next meeting will be on March 21 at 4317 Magazine St.


March 17, 2017

C R O S S W O R D

THE MAROON

ACROSS 1. Negative attention from the press, briefly 6. Deep-voiced opera singer 11. “I knew it!” 14. Blazing 15. Gossip spreader 16. Abu Dhabi is its cap. 17. Change one’s route to avoid heavy traffic, say 19. Org. for marksmen 20. “You __ here” 21. Pipe-cleaning brand 22. Composer Stravinsky 23. Likely successor to the throne 26. Magnificent 29. Epps of “House” 30. Have no doubt 31. Fabulist mentioned by Aristotle 34. Soda 37. “You’re confusing me” 41. Capitol Hill fig. 42. Quarrel 43. Machu Picchu resident 44. “Me neither!” 46. Sacred river of India 48. Sprained ankle, often 53. “Peter Pan” beast 54. Safe place? 55. Help in finding the hidden treasure 58. Kept under wraps 59. Climactic show ending, and a literal hint to this puzzle’s circled letters 62. Blanc who voiced Bugs 63. “__ bet?” 64. Kind of panel or system 65. Keats work 66. Annual celebrations, for short 67. Plot surprise

DOWN

1. The Crimson Tide, familiarly 2. In the distance 3. Storied water barrier 4. Ante5. Page turner 6. Way to play music if you can’t read it

7. Insurance giant 8. Busybody 9. Good name for a lover of hearty meals 10. Paddle 11. Gut feeling at dinner time? 12. Packers quarterback Rodgers 13. EKG organ 18. Smidgen 22. Nest egg acronym 23. Previously cut, as timber 24. Penniless 25. Gig equipment 26. Decide not to go to 27. Loosen, as a knot 28. Cylindrical water toy 31. Director Lee 32. School URL ending 33. “Comprende?” 35. Fairy tale starter 36. High-tech appt. books 38. Sharp-tasting 39. “Exodus” author Leon 40. Minuscule

45. Tolkien beast 46. __ of Mexico 47. Whistler, but not his mother 48. Blockhead 49. Jimmied (open) 50. The first Mrs. Trump 51. Mary Poppins, e.g. 52. Biblical betrayer 55. Timbuktu’s country 56. “__, poor Yorick!”: Hamlet 57. Cheeky 59. Pres. #43 60. “Cool!” 61. “Immediately!”

SUDOKU

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Life &Times

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March 17, 2017 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

BUKU HITS NEW ORLEANS The Buku Music and Art Project festival attracted over 30,000 attendees in its fifth year

By Caleb Beck cmbeck@my.loyno.edu @CalebBeckIRL

Courtesy of a Live Coverage

(Right) Electronic DJ and producer Rezz performs during her Saturday Float Den set. (Left) A “Bukureature” wears a Buku custom deadmau5 mask. The costumes, performances and street art are all part of Buku’s nods to Carnival.

Known for its diverse lineup, unique stages and vibrant street performers, audiences reported a noticeable spin on the traditional New Orleans Carnival culture at the Buku Music and Art Project. On March 10 and 11, nearly 30,000 neon-clad music fans found their way to Mardi Gras World on the Mississippi River to partake in one of the South’s largest electronic music events. F o r t u n a t e l y, t h e projected rain for the weekend never arrived, and the vast majority of

the over 60 performers went ahead as scheduled, in contrast with the rained-out Jazz Fest and Voodoo Fest days of previous years. Dave Thomas, business junior, was one of many Loyola and Tulane students exhilarated by this Buku, citing the range of performers as impressive. “Between the venue, the vibe and the artists, Buku has become one of my favorite music festivals. Big Wild, Cashmere Cat and Zhu stole the show for me,” Thomas said. Making the pilgrimage from stage to stage, attendees witnessed all manner of street violinists, break dancers, graffiti artists and acrobats, playing into the circus-esque theme of the festival. Jaimie Villar, music industry junior, found that the crowd and attention to detail at Buku are what gives it distinction from other festi-

vals she’s visited. “I think what separates Buku from other festivals is the culture and lifestyle behind it. Each and every aspect of the festival is carefully thought out and exemplifies what these events are all about,” Villar said. Taran Cornejo, street team manager and marketing assistant for Winter Circle Productions, said watching Buku culminate was very rewarding for her and her team. “Seeing Buku come to an end has been bittersweet. We have put so much time and energy into making Buku happen, and now it’s over, so I’m a little sad. It feels good knowing all the hard work paid off,” Cornejo said. While neither night sold out this year, attendees reported that thousands of fans flocked to standout shows at the outdoor power

plant stage all the way to the warehouse “Float Den” venue, with performances from the likes of Run the Jewels, Tycho, Vince Staples and others. Cornejo reflected that this Buku felt like a standout year for the project, the collaborators and all the attendees who were able to enjoy themselves. “There was something special about this year and I can’t quite put my finger on it but if you were there, you felt it. From artists, to fans, to the staff, everyone felt the magic that was in the air this year and that’s something I am really proud of — it’s all I could ask for. The production, the vibes, the talent, everything felt perfect in the moment,” Cornejo said.

Mixing It Up: JT Sides hones his bartending craft By Davis Walden jdwalden@my.loyno.edu @DavisWald

John Thomas Sides is an apprentice at Cure, a local cocktail bar, where he is learning the

tricks of the trade, so he can one day create his very own cocktail recipes. Before starting in January, Sides hadn’t bartended a day in his life, but he is now training to be part of Tales of the Cocktail. Cure opened in 2009, specializing in artesian cocktails with high quality ingredients. Cure’s ambience and attention to detail marks it as one of several New Orleans bars, such as Bar Tonique and Cavan, that share the same affinity for craft bartending. “There’s not really any more room for mistakes,” Sides said. “A lot of our time throughout the year is preparation for it since it’s such a big industry event.” Tales of the Cocktail is an annual event that dates back to 2002. Bringing cocktail lovers together from all over the world, the weeklong networking event is a way for industry professionals to put their recipes to the test and exchange new ideas. “It brings us a lot of business. It’s

something that a lot of bartenders completely depend upon to pay rent over the summer,” Sides said. Alex Anderson, a decade-long professional in the industry, is helping Sides learn the techniques, tricks and recipes used to make the perfect cocktail. “Being called a mixologist is something that’s funny to me,” Anderson said. “There’s no -ology in what we do. You can’t get a doctorate in bartending. I’m just a bartender.” Anderson said that dedicated bartenders need to understand the histories, uses and flavor combinations of a large variety of alcohols, syrups, bitters and other ingredients that can be mixed into a cocktail. “It’s all-encompassing,” Anderson said. “As a high-end cocktail bartender, you have to really commit to it. It’s a lot like being a chef, trying to train your palate to learn what’s good and what’s not.”

DAVIS WALDEN / The Maroon

JT Sides prepares a cocktail. Sides uses a wide bevy of ingredients to craft new drinks. This drink (Left) is called El Topo. Designed by Ryan Gannon, it is an orange and mint mingle with a slightly smokey mezcal.


March 17, 2017 THE MAROON

RELIGION

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Uptown universities celebrate Holi

ALLICIYIA GEORGE / The Maroon

(Clockwise from top left) Students fill cups with colored powder at Tulane’s Holi celebration on March 11, hosted by the India Association of Tulane University. Splattered with colors, students take a pause from throwing powder on one another. Members of the India Association perform a dance at the Holi celebration, held in the Bruff Quad. Holi is a Hindu celebration of spring, sometimes called the “festival of colors” or the “festival of love.”

LGBT students share their experiences with religion By Leah Banks lmbanks@loyno.edu @elle_banks12

Sex, politics and religion are three topics people are never supposed to discuss in polite company, but for some members of the Loyola community, they’re a major part of life. Kayla Noto, biology sophomore and member of the LGBT community of Loyola University New Orleans, was raised in a traditional Catholic household, but said there is tension between her religious upbringing and sexual orientation. “When I was younger, trying to fit into the Catholic community as well as come into my own as a member of the LGBT community was very

difficult and ultimately became impossible,” Noto said. “Not that my sexuality has determined my religion, because it was that along with other things. Believing in a greater plan and being a person for others has essentially shaped who I am, and that very much so fits in with my sexuality, in believing that everyone should be treated with respect and loved in their own way.” According to a 2013 report from the Pew Research Center, whose primary purpose is to inform the public about the issues and trends that are shaping America and the world, about 50 percent of LGBT Americans have noted their religious affiliation, while the other half has stated that they are not concerned with religion at all.

Kayla Mack, criminal justice sophomore, is a member of that latter half of the LGBT community who does not have a direct tie to religion. “I’m not really religious. I wouldn’t say something drove me to not be religious, I just don’t believe what other people believe,” Mack said. The LGBT community has had numerous successes in past years, beginning with the legalization of same-sex marriage on June 25, 2015, which went through heated debates all the way up to the Supreme Court. Still, some religions do not view homosexuality positively. Brian Davis, business analytics junior and advocate for the LGBT community, has undergone numerous training programs in order to speak to officials and other author-

ity figures about the needs and desires of LGBT people. “It is very difficult being Baptist and gay,” Davis said. “I face discrimination and stereotypes from both sides of the spectrum. Being Baptist, my homosexuality is deemed as taboo while being black automatically puts me into a frame for only sexual purposes within my own community.” While Davis said that being religious has its difficulties, he said his sexual orientation has not swayed him from his overall religious affiliation. “Homosexuality is an abomination in God’s eyes,” Davis said. “I have learned that the church’s beliefs are rooted in bigotry, and the Bible was a book of the ‘times,’ and

it should be taken figuratively in its initial text, Hebrew. My sexual affiliation has not affected my religion. It has allowed me to break the taboo culture, though.” Even though there are members of the Loyola student community who feel very strongly about their sexual orientation and feel that the university is representing them well, Davis believes there is still some work to be done in terms of hiring LGBT faculty members. “I feel like the campus should be doing more because the LGBT representation is poor amongst the faculty on campus as Loyola is capitalizing on our culturally diverse student population, but they are not representing us,” Davis said.


SPORTS

8

March 17, 2017 The Maroon

Track and Field team hits their stride By JC Canicosa jccanico@my.loyno.edu @JCcanico

With the Southern States Athletic Conference National Championships on the Wolf Pack’s mind, Loyola’s track and field team looks to continue grinding through this spring season and finish strong. Nick Dodson, head coach, spoke about the progress has made throughout this season and the vision that he has estbalished in his first season coaching the team. “The team has improved drastically since we started preseason training in August up till this point. We improved mostly on trust in each other. They have trusted me and the vision I have for the program and continue to buy-in to what my plan is,” Dodson said. “When we do the little things right, the big things take care of itself.” Dodson said he was announced as a finalist for the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association South Region Women’s Coach of the Year. Multiple Loyola athletes placed high during their indoor season. Standouts for the track team include Leah Banks, mass communication sophomore, who was a finalist for the track and field association’s South Region Track and Field Athlete of the Year and ranked first in the South Region in the pentathlon, third in the 60m hurdles and fourth in the long jump. “My primary goals are to stay healthy, continue to strive for excellence and to remain strong throughout the season. I know that I’ve had numerous successes so far, but I also know that I have had numerous

BASKETBALL, continued from page 1

Courtesy of Loyola Athletic Department

Leah Banks, mass communication junior and pentathlete, leaps for distance in the long jump event March 4, 2016. Banks broke three Loyola track and field records including shot put, long jump and overall points in a track and field event.

obstacles. So definitely remaining strong and remaining steadfast in my goals are important,” Banks said. “I can build on my success by trusting the process ultimately.” Yesenia Davis, biology and premed sophomore, was also a finalist for the track and field association’s South Region Field and ranked second in the high jump in the South Region. Mari Hebert, biology sophomore, ranked eighth in the South Region in the 400m with a personal best time of 1:00.66 and Taylor Hagins, forensic science sophomore, finished eighth in the South Region with a

toss of 10.13m, which just missed the school indoor record of 10.19m. On the men’s side, Christian Lynch, management senior, and Brian Davis, accounting and finance sophomore, have led the way, according to Dodson. Lynch was ranked in the top 10 in the 200m event in the South Region all season. “We had several athletes that were ranked in the top eight in several events in our region as well. This shows we are headed in the right direction,” Dodson said. “The results and success has created hunger amongst each other and reassur-

ance that we can execute against the best. They have realized that if they do their part, the team success will take care of itself.” Conference national championships for the outdoor season begin on April 22 and Tristin Sanders, music industry freshman, said the team is focused on their goals in preparation for the end of the season. “I think everybody’s goals for the rest of season are to try our hardest to win conference and to have as many people make it to nationals as possible,” said Sanders.

Wolf Pack swim team reflects on its first season By Skye Ray saray@my.loyno.edu

After their first conference season, the Loyola swim team sets records in the classroom and the pool. Thomas Natal, head swim coach, had high hopes for the Wolf Pack this year, and the the team has exceeded his expectations seven months into the inaugural season. Along with several conference honors, the swim team has had six swimmers qualify for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Swimming and Diving Championships. “We started with a good foundation,” Natal said. “There were never bad times, always good times.” Natal believes that the swim team brings more than medals to Loyola. “Our team has a lot of unique young adults to campus with a different perspective on life,” Natal said. “Our team creates the ability to leave footprints in something that will be around 50 years down the line.” Although they have made history here at Loyola, Natal and his team have a lot of learning to do. “We have a lot more to learn next year, as well,” Natal said. “First semester, everyone was learning how classes and teachers work. Now we must learn how to become leaders for new freshmen coming in next year.” Courtnie Prather, assistant ath-

CONT’D: Wolf Pack basketball has historic season

letic director, believes that the new team has brought nothing but good aspects to Loyola. “This season, the swim team has brought a standard of excellence in regard to how student athletes compete in and out of the classroom. Several students have had a 3.5 GPA or above,” Prather said. Through the challenges, Prather believes the team has shown Jesuit values, helping them grow as individuals and a team. “Swimming is a very individual sport. In the beginning of the season, people focused on their own goals. Suddenly, the team started to express mentorship and become more family orientated from one meet to the next,” Prather said. Prather believes the Loyola swim team has potential to be one of the premiere sports in the history of Loyola athletics. “Under the helm of Coach Natal and his ability of strong recruiting by scouting good character and talented people to fit into Loyola, our team can only go up from here,” Prather said. Due to the team’s success in and out of the classroom, Prather believes the team has set the possibility to expand Loyola’s athletic program. This season, Paige Carter, general studies freshman, became the first Wolf Pack swimmer to earn conference honors. However, her adjustment was not easy. “I was nervous coming in be-

JESSAMYN REICHMANN / The Maroon

Swimmers take laps in the University Sports Complex pool on Feb. 7. The men and women’s teams finished 15th and 14th respectively at the national championships.

cause I did not know how hard it was going to be. We had to grow out of high school and become adults,” Carter said. Although they had to grow up fast, she admits that together, the team was able to grow as a family and athletes, mentally and physically. “Not a lot of people know about hardcore swimming and what it takes to be a competitive swimmer.

It’s cool seeing a lot of people cheer us on at our meets. Our team brings a brand new atmosphere to Loyola,” Carter said. Now that the season is over, Carter is excited for upcoming meets and the expansion of the team with new recruits. “In the future, I see our team going nothing but up from here,” Carter said.

I felt like it was the best feeling ever, you know,” Griffin Jr. said. “It was one of our goals that we wanted to accomplish before the season started. Knowing that we can go there and have a shot at winning a national championship means everything.” Griffin Jr. and his teammates matched up against the number one seeded William Penn Statesmen, who Hollowell said were strong shooters and rebounders in the second half of the game. After becoming the first player in Loyola women’s history to score 1,000 points and gain 1,000 rebounds, Meghan Temple, mass communication senior and forward, falls inside the top 25 in six major statistical categories, while making 1st Team All-Conference. Temple has been a team leader and an integral part of Kennedy’s squad for four years. Returning to the national tournament for her final time as a senior, Temple said that keeping the team mentality up is the path to success. “In order to get a win, we just need to stick together and be uplifting to one another,” Temple said. “We need to play how we know how to play, don’t play down to anybody’s level or take anybody for granted, but also be very confident in ourselves and know that we have the potential to go all the way.” Temple was one of nine members of the team to earn recognition from the conference and believes that their opponent, Montana State-Northern, is a favorable matchup if the little things can be done on the court. “The past couple of years, we watched them [Montana State-Northern] play. They’re beatable,” Temple said. “We just have to do the little things on defense that will lead to big things on offense, so if we can take care of those things, I feel like we’ll get the job done, and we’ll make a great run in Nationals.” While Temple and the women’s team are no strangers to the national stage, Kennedy believes that having the men’s team qualify as well is a positive for both programs. “It’s great that we have both the men’s and women’s programs participating in the national tournament at that level,” Kennedy said. “That’s what we’re trying to do; we’re trying to win championships. We’re trying to get to that level nationally and make a statement and be somebody to contend with there, as well, and do that consistently. Going forward, Simpson believes that ending the men’s national tournament drought and continuing the women’s national expectations is a feat for Loyola as a whole, regardless of the final score. “Potential student athletes desire the opportunity to display their talents on the biggest stage,” Simpson said. “Qualifying for national championships only solidify Loyola as a great choice for student athletes to pursue their academic and athletic dreams.” Caroline Gonzalez contributed to this report.


EDITORIAL

March 17, 2017 THE MAROON

9

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to St. Patrick’s Day GROWL to midterm grades HOWL to President’s Open House GROWL to Stella HOWL to March Madness GROWL to madness in Washington HOWL to spring weather on the way Have a howl or growl? Tweet us at @loyola_maroon to be featured 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 Executive Producer

Riccardo Muzzetto

Design Chief

Barbara Brown

Photo Editor

Jessica Molina

News Editor

Caleb Beck

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.

RICCARDO MUZZETTO / The Maroon

Get a grip on the climate debate On March 9, newly confirmed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt — who’s history battling the agency in court has surrounded his appointment with both fear and anticipation — publicly said that he does not believe that carbon dioxide is a significant factor in climate change. Rather than immediately trying to debunk this claim, analyzing it fully is more important for understanding both sides of the ongoing climate debate. At Loyola, students and faculty continue to push for environmental justice, calling to divest the university from corporations in the fossil fuel industry and improving campus recycling. This movement, of course, has its opponents, reflecting the international issue of man-made climate change. With both, “deniers” and “alarmists” continue to reach the same impasse in their arguments. Only by looking at the intricacies and semantics of climate science, the “why” along with the “what,” can we see the roots of this impasse, and that, unlike popular belief, Pruitt’s statement is not entirely false. A CNBC reporter asked Pruitt if he believed carbon dioxide was the “primary control knob for climate.” His answer, which acts as the tone-setter for his administration, was that, because of a lack consensus, it was not. “I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do, and there’s tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact,

so no, I would not agree that it’s a primary contributor to the global warming that we see,” Pruitt said. The matter of scientific consensus has been a battle for climate change activists for over 20 years. The fact is that no matter how it is measured, 90 to 97 percent of active climate researchers — scientists with at least one master’s degree or PhD who’s active work is climate research — agree that climate change is accelerated by human emissions. This is a consensus, and it is an overwhelming one. The findings of the majority in the scientific community should lead to public change, but the use of “consensus logic” has proven difficult for three main reasons. For one, the very nature of scientific reasoning calls for skepticism. The empirical process and scientific method have been used for centuries with extreme meticulousness and doubt as the basis of scientific fact. So when man-made climate change dissenter Robert Trancinski writes that “Any assertion of cause and effect in a complex system like the climate, where there are hundreds of competing variables, is someone’s interpretation of the data,” his argument using the scientific process can seem sound. He can spread enough doubt to question the mainstream media’s ardent defense of the censuses, as well as the entire credibility of the international scientific community. And it works. In the same fashion, dissenters of climate change data can then create

enough doubt around the actual amount of consensus there is. While they cannot deny the consensus that human action negatively affects climate, they can focus on the disparities between how much it does — findings on the severity of impact do differ substantially. Shifting the focus to the differences between findings instead of the big-picture incubates the notion that “scientists can’t really agree,” seen in Pruitt’s statement. This also goes hand-in-hand with the massive amount of disinformation that has been spread about climate change. From the false ideas that the Earth is getting colder and Antarctica is gaining ice to the concept that historic climate research is unreliable, there have been dozens of semi-truths added to scientific skepticism. These factors ultimately lead to an argument strong enough to rail against any climate-based regulations, a sentiment seen at the public, state and federal levels. With a climate-change denier in the oval office and skeptic running the EPA, this is the current narrative: the environment danger of human emissions has been researched and advocated against for decades, an idea first hypothesized over a hundred years ago. Now, there is finally consensus in the scientific community, and reformers push that consensus as scientific fact while it is not. This leaves skeptics and dissenters with enough room to discredit all of the above. To those who support the con-

sensus, Pruitt’s response solidifies their worst fears: a climate-change denier is in charge of the EPA. To those who question this consensus — the details, the data, the human error, the range of agreement amongst scientists — it is a huge victory toward reversing the regulations created under the Obama administration. As college students, using the same figures that the mainstream media dulls out against climate-change skepticism would be met with even more dissent. However, it is painfully clear that humans will need to enact major changes to adapt. Human technologies need to advance to combat the increasing effects of climate change, effects that may truly have to interfere with the lives of the average American to finally be believed. This reality is not as far away as many imagine. As temperatures, extreme weather and ecological devastation continue to historically increase, climate change activists, — whether scientists or Loyola students—need to heed what deniers are nitpicking in order to combat them. Climate change skepticism is not inherently bad, and it should be used as a check during reformation. Truly, not all environmental regulations are for the best. For those who simply deny the consensus of the world’s best minds — in the most important field in the history of the human race — beyond genuine skepticism, hopefully your grandchildren will be fine without water.


10

OPINION

A Civil Debate

March 17, 2017 The Maroon

In an effort to further civil debate on abortion, Loyola students weigh in on the ongoing argument. Representing both sides of the issue, each contributor was given the chance to pose an argument and a chance for rebuttal

Argument: The criteria for life: humans are alive at conception Sophie Trist English writing freshman Secretary of Loyola Students for Life smtrist@loyno.edu

A human being is alive from the moment of conception. One of the criteria for life is an organism’s ability to grow and generate cells. Humans have this ability almost immediately after conception. Cell division begins within 24 to 36 hours of conception, when the child is still in the fallopian tube. Once a human zygote has split into eight separate cells, cells begin to assume specific functions. Within

three weeks, the neural tube, or the beginnings of the brain and spinal cord, forms. This is also when a human’s heart begins to form and beat. By the eighth week of life, a human being already has all of its vital organs, except sex organs, which develop later. Other criteria for life include the ability to metabolize nutrients and the ability to respond to external stimuli. Unborn children receive nutrients from their mothers through the placenta and the umbilical cord. They metabolize these nutrients to continue growing and developing. A child responds to external stimuli long before he or she can survive outside the womb. Also, every human has a unique DNA code, which is copied in every

cell of his or her body. Children’s DNA can be identified long before they are born, making each unborn child a unique individual. As unique individuals who exhibit all the characteristics of life, unborn children have the same inherent and unalienable right to life guaranteed to people at every other stage of life. Biologically speaking, an unborn child’s life is just the same as that of a toddler or teenager. The right to life is guaranteed to every human being in some of the world’s most important political documents, including the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and Article III of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The pro-life movement believes in a woman’s right to control her

body, but because children are alive from the moment of conception, they have the right to bodily autonomy as well. A hierarchy of rights must be observed. When a baby’s right to life conflicts with a woman’s right to control her body, the right to life supersedes the right not to give birth. A woman is pregnant for nine months, but a child can live for 99 years. Women have no right to take away 99 years of potential. Abortion is not exclusively a women’s issue. Framing it as such diminishes the role of fatherhood. Men might not be able to get pregnant, but they share emotional and spiritual bonds with their unborn babies. Abortion betrays men and women as well as their children. Many

women have suffered psychological trauma after abortions. Over 17,000 women have spoken out publicly to say that they regret their abortions. Abortions are applied in a way reminiscent of the 20th century’s eugenics movement. Minority children are aborted at a higher rate than White children, and abortions overwhelmingly target people with disabilities. A study from Wane University shows that 87 percent of unborn children with Down syndrome are aborted, as are 64 percent of children with spina bifida. That devalues the lives of minorities and disabled people. The pro-life movement seeks to create a society that preserves and protects every human life.

Rebuttal: Supporting abortion rights actually supports life Ciara Rizzo Theatre senior 2017 Director of The Vagina Monologues cfrizzo@loyno.edu

Since you used the criteria for life to try and prove why a fetus has the right to life, I believe that I can use that same criteria to prove why a fetus does not meet those qualifications. I used the requirements for life listed in an article published by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. The first category for life is that living things are composed of cells. The article states that single-cell organisms are considered alive because they have everything they

need to be self-sufficient. If fetuses were self-sufficient, we could take them out of the womb to develop on their own. A fetus cannot survive unaided outside of the womb, however, until around 24 weeks. At this point, abortion should only be a possibility in a lifeor-death situation for the mother. Next, the development process that you mentioned is sound, but it is not an argument for human life, but rather all life in general. If we use all of these requirements as a logical explanation for why abortion should be illegal, then that same reasoning would qualify all animals as having the right to life, as well. While I believe animals have the right to fair treatment, I do not think you are proposing that the human population should convert to veganism. The “hierarchy of rights” men-

tioned honestly disturbs me. Hypothetically, if a woman were to be at serious risk for death should she continue her pregnancy, the hierarchy of rights demands that she accept her fate for the sake of the fetus’ chance of life. When you say “A woman is pregnant for 9 months but a child can live for 99 years,” I understand, but the potential that a child has is as equal to the potential a woman has. However, that woman may very well outlive the child by any number of years. No one knows when they will die. It may be well before 99 years or it may be after. The woman who died because the “hierarchy of life” demands it may have given up her potential to a baby who dies from neonatal death. I feel like disproving your arguments are straying me from the real issue, which is defending a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy, but

before I continue with that, I would like to bring up one more point that you mentioned. Men may share connections with their babies, but they are not the ones carrying the baby. Many times, women chose to abort because the man who helped in the conception of the fetus is no longer in the picture or has just as little to offer the child as the woman does. Men are not required to help pay for the bills that a woman deals with during pregnancy or the outrageous hospital bill that comes after birth. If men do not have the legal obligations that a woman does in the midst of her pregnancy—ignoring the pain, sickness and physical changes a woman’s body goes through—then men should have no legal say in whether a woman can have an abortion. I am pro-choice because hav-

ing the option to time pregnancies allows women to reach their full potential as humans, not just as mothers. Children that are born to a mother who could handle and joyfully accept her pregnancy live healthier lives. They get the kind of love and support every child needs and deserves. Abortion can also help people escape poverty by not adding more mouths to feed or doctors’ bills to deal with. I’m pro-choice because, despite any fruitless arguments over conception, a women has the right to protect her health and control her future. There are myriad reasons to support a women’s right to choose, but only a few philosophical and religious-based reasons that do not qualify as evidence to suggest it is wrong, morally or legally


OPINION

March 17, 2017 The Maroon

11

Little Support for overturning Roe v. Wade Would you like to see the Supreme Court completely overturn the Roe versus Wade decision?

Source: Pew Research Center Graphic: Staff, Tribune News Service

Abortion poll

An AP-GFK poll asks Americans if they support abortion

27% Less strict

39% Illegal in 58% most/all Legal in cases most/all cases 3% MCT Campus

Supporters of legal access to abortion, as well as anti-abortion activists, rally outside the Supreme Court on March 2, 2016 in Washington. The Court heard oral arguments in the case of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, which deals with access to abortion.

Refused to answer

37% More strict

32% Left as they are 3% Refused to answer

Source: AP-GFK poll Graphic: Tribune News Service

Argument: Individuals’ beliefs should not legislate abortion Ciara Rizzo Theatre senior 2017 Director of The Vagina Monologues cfrizzo@loyno.edu

I am pro-choice, and that’s a decently recent development. I have a relatively close relationship to the subject, though I have luckily never needed an abortion myself. My mother was conceived by a woman who could not provide a safe space for her. Knowing this before her conception, and with no access to a safe procedure, her birth mother attempted a home abortion, but failed. I’m lucky to be here today, but the

reality is that my luck is far from the typical outcome. According to the World Health Organization, over 47,000 women die from complications of unsafe abortion each year, and deaths due to unsafe abortion remain close to 13 percent of all maternal deaths. No one wants an abortion. No one should be forced to have an abortion. However, they can be a necessity for a woman’s health and are a right that needs to be protected for safety, for freedom and for choice. Scientifically, there is no evidence to prove at what point human life begins in the development process. When considering that over half of conceptions are aborted by nature, meaning that sperm and egg will engage and fail without a woman ever knowing, trying to insist that life be-

gins at conception is illogical. How are we possibly supposed to apply this legally? We live in a democracy that prides itself on the separation of church and state. Religious and philosophical views are the only justification not to allow abortions to be legal, and though faith is a beautiful thing, it is not infallible in any way. I do agree there is much in the law that is not always just, but a separation of church and state is vital to a free America. Religious beliefs cannot be applied to the law, especially with such an important matter at hand. The media shows us stories of people like Tim Tebow, successful people who were close to being terminated as fetuses. Those stories are incredible, and should be cherished, and because my moth-

er’s amazing story, I understand the sentiment personally. But I’ve also seen the harsh reality for people, both the women and children, who were born into situations where abortions were sought but unavailable. Both paid the consequences. My mother’s biological sister, for example, did not make it out of that situation and has spent her entire life struggling in and out of inpatient care. Every individual is different, but woman who seek abortions are in no way selfish or bad people. They are people in incredibly difficult situations, who are considering the life they can or cannot provide for their future children, as well as the specific health risks they may face. If you haven’t been personally affected by this situation, you sim-

ply cannot understand the gravity and pain this decision holds. It outweighs any beliefs, religious or personal, and trying to ban this necessary practice only endangers the lives of women and countless children. I’m pro-choice because there is no justifiable reason for me not to be. Being pro-choice, to me, means that I am truly pro-life. I’m for the lives that are already members of this society. Their health and happiness matters. We already need improvement in sexual education and resources, and abortion should obviously be a last resort. But sometimes it the resort we need, and attempting to ban it only feeds this dangerous cycle.

Rebuttal: Alternatives to abortion protect the right to life Sophie Trist English writing freshman Secretary of Loyola Students for Life smtrist@loyno.edu

Abortion is the unnatural termination of pregnancy. A miscarriage is defined by the American Pregnancy Association as a pregnancy that ends naturally before 20 weeks. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 10 to 25 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage, not two-thirds. But just because some pregnancies end naturally doesn’t mean that unborn children aren’t alive and don’t deserve the same rights as everyone else.

One study published in the February 2013 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology claimed that legal abortion is 10 times safer than childbirth. However, maternal deaths resulting from legal abortions are underreported. The Center for Disease Control keeps track of abortion statistics, but no federal law requires states to report abortion-related deaths. Three of the four most populous states, including California, don’t report abortion-related deaths to the CDC, so these statistics are skewed and unreliable. A study of 173,000 low-income California women published in the August 2013 issue of the Southern Medical Journal found that women who had abortions were twice as likely to die within a year than women who gave birth. Abortion doesn’t improve the

mental health of women. Although many women feel a sense of relief after the procedure, this is usually temporary. One study showed that between 40 and 60 percent of women reported depression, suicidal thoughts, loss of self-esteem and survivor’s guilt within a few weeks after their abortions. Over 17,000 men and women have spoken out publicly to say that they regret their abortions. It is true that unsafe abortions cause 13 percent of maternal deaths worldwide. However, the solution is not to make abortions more available. We should focus our efforts on eliminating the social and economic pressures that force women to have abortions. If a girl gets pregnant at senior prom, she’s told that she cannot attend college and be a mother. Our

schools and workplaces should provide quality daycare for these women instead of forcing them to choose between being mothers or being career women. One of the major goals of the pro-life movement is to eliminate the stigma surrounding unplanned pregnancy. This means providing better sexual education that teaches not only abstinence but effective methods for protection. Women deserve access to quality prenatal and postnatal health care. What many people don’t realize is that there are 13,000 clinics that offer pregnancy services but don’t support abortion. If a woman doesn’t have the resources or the desire to care for her child, she can put the baby up for adoption. There are 3,000 adoption agencies in the U.S. There is a shortage of

American infants put up for adoption; each year, there are 36 couples on a waiting list for every baby who is adopted. Also, all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico have Safe Haven laws that allow parents to leave infants up to one month old at hospitals, police and fire stations. Parents who surrender their children under Safe Haven laws are allowed to remain anonymous and shielded from prosecution. Although the tenets of Christianity support the pro-life worldview, there are scientific and social justice grounds for these beliefs. The prolife movement isn’t trying to create a theocratic state. Being pro-life doesn’t mean caring only about the unborn; it means treating all lives, those who are here now and those yet to come, with equal respect.


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THE MAROON

March 17, 2017

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