8 23 13

Cabra Hall gets a makeover See page 3

FOR A GREATER LOYOLA Vol.92, No. 1

Friday, August 23, 2013

THE NEW AND THE FEW

President: challenges can be addressed

By LAUREN PATTON Staff Writer

26%

Enrollment and construction were the highlights of Rev. Kevin Wildes S.J. , speech given on Monday, Aug. 19 Wildes, university president, addressed Loyola faculty and staff in Roussel Hall to discuss issues from new faculty and staff to enrollment.

Wildes began the speech by addressing the “elephant in the room”-Loyola’s enrollment challenges.

He reminded faculty and staff that Loyola has faced serious challenges in the past by referring to the book “Founded on Faith,” written by Bernard A. Cook, provost distinguished professor of history, discussing the history of the university.

Eleven students made up the population of Loyola during a time of war, the Spanish flu, and other factors, Wildes said, citing these as other challenges the university has overcome.

Despite facing challenges, “the

see SPEECH, page 12

Common curriculum changes

SARA FELDMAN /Senior Staff Photographer CHERIE LEJEUNE/The Maroon

By BURKE BISCHOFF Staff writer

University works to rebound

By KARL GOMMEL Senior Staff Writer

Loyola University’s incoming freshman class is 26 percent smaller than anticipated.

Loyola initially set a goal of 875 incoming freshmen, according to a letter sent to the campus-wide community in May 2013 from the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president.

As of Aug. 15, 647 incoming freshman students were committed to attend this year, but that number may still fluctuate a bit.

According to Roberta Kaskel, interim vice president of enrollment management, the university expects a “melt,” where a few students may still choose not to attend.

Because of the enrollment shortfall, the university faces an estimated $9.5 million budgetary gap for the 2013-2014 school year.

LIFE & TIMES

page 6

Students learn as they intern

SPORTS

That figure was based on a worst case scenerio of an incoming freshman class of 600-625 students.

Marc Manganaro, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said that he believes the university could end up a more favorable final number. If that happens, the deficit might not be so deep.

“I can’t tell you exactly what it would reduce by, but it would most likely reduce by $1 million to $2 million,” Manganaro said.

The university has laid out a number of options to deal with the expected deficit, but officials say none of these options will go into effect until later in the fall.

“I am going to review options with the Cabinet and the Faculty and Staff senates. Then, I will make a set of recommendations to the Board at their October meeting,” Wildes said in an email.

Potential strategies include reducing the university’s salary budget and fringe

page 9 EDITORIAL

Alumnus’s book highlights past

benefits, or taking a drawdown from the endowment.

Other options include offering a voluntary retirement plan that would be funded by a separate pull from endowment.

Maria Calzada, dean of the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences, said she is optimistic.

“I am hopeful that the voluntary retirement program will provide Loyola with a workable solution that will largely take care of the financial issues we face,” Calzada said.

The university has kept Calzada and the other deans informed about the enrollment and budgetary issues throughout the process, she said.

According to Calzada, Manganaro has consulted her for solutions and is intent on

A mandatory science lab course and a more extensive foreign language requirement will be among the new changes to the common curriculum for new students.

As the Fall 2013 semester begins, students will be faced with a newly formed common curriculum that seeks to better prepare them for graduation, according to John Sebastian, associate professor of English and director of common curriculum.

The standing committee on the common curriculum is putting into effect a newly revised common curriculum for incoming and existing students.

According to Don Hauber, biology professor and standing committee on the common curriculum chairman, the

see FEW, page 12

see GOAL, page 12

page 10

“The responsibility, as always, lies with the student body to point Loyola in the best direction...”

INDEX Crime Watch City Life & Times Religion Sports Editorial Opinion

ONLINE 2 4 6 8 9 10 11

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THE

STAFF

Assistant Editors: Raquel Derganz Baker, Sarah Szigeti, Taylor Denson, Tiffany Kudiwu Staff Writers: Alicia Serrano, Burke Bischoff, Cami Thomas, Christiana Van Bree, Diana Mirfiq, Janeicia Neely, Jonathan Cepelak, Lauren Cutuli, Lauren Patton, Raven Richard, Shamara King Editorial Assistants: Ashley Ureta, Jacob Stringer, Julia Nolan, Laura Rodriguez, Lauren Stroh, Mack Guillory, Mary Graci, Maura Vananzo, Micah Hebert, Ryan Carlson Sales Manager: Charley Whitman Business Manager: Albert Clesi Distribution Manager: Hasani Grayson PR Marketing Manager: Lindsey Rouselle Art Director: Triana Rebeca Assistant Art Director: Mia Marshal Sales Representatives: Alisha Bell, Michaela Krummel, Reyes Regina, Emily Tastet, Sharita Williams Proofreader: Shelby Schultheis Faculty Adviser: Michael Giusti

Maroon

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

CRIME WATCH: a summary of violations reported at or around Loyola Lost or Stolen

July 9

12:24 p.m.

Monroe Library

Theft

August 1

2:26 p.m.

Monroe Library

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Maroon

NEWSBRIEFS

PAGE 3

Loyola implements the Student Success Summit Marc Manganaro, vice president and provost of academic affairs, assembled the Student Success Summit last December.

The summit was “designed to enhance institutional effectiveness, improve student service systems, promote student persistence and ensure that Loyola is meeting student academic needs,” said in a summit feedback form. The summit presented its findings in May. According to Tom Spence, vice provost of acadmeic affairs, the summit’s finding will be implemented during the school year.

Princeton Review and College of Distinction recognize Loyola The College of Distinction and the Princeton Review awarded Loyola with distinctions this summer.

College of Distinction acknowledged Loyola University New Orleans for the improvement of students through programs such as the Career Development Center and the Center for International Education.

The Princeton Review released its annual college guide, “The Best 378 Colleges” ranking Loyola fifth place in race-class interaction and eighth place for town-gown relations or how the university interacts with the community.

Students win national competition Loyola’s Public Relations Student Society of America won first place in the 2013 Bateman Case Study Competition. The “Step Up, Reach Out!” anti-bullying campaign team members were students Dwayne Fontenette, Haley Humiston, Charlie LaRock, Leah Whitlock and Vannia Zelaya.

Loyola’s enrollment shortage is featured on a national stage “Student Drought Hits Smaller Universities” was the headline topping an article about enrollment shortfall on July 25 in The Wall Street Journal. Similar articles were seen in other newspapers. The national headlines said declines in enrollment were not unique to Loyola, but Loyola was referred to as an extreme case.

The article referred to some statistics including a 2.3 percent drop in college enrollment nationally and a peak in high-school graduates, according to Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

The Wall Street Journal also said that in general, the decrease has been seen more prominently in the Midwest and South.

ZACH BRIEN /The Maroon

Cabra Hall now features new kitchen appliances and furniture. Over the past year, Cabra Hall has been completely internally renovated.

Cabra Hall reopens

By LAUREN CUTULI Staff Writer

Cabra Hall is expected to be at full capacity for the 2013-2014 academic year as it opens for the first time since the 2011-2012 school year.

Cabra Hall opened its doors to students the first week in August.

The residence hall came back online after a yearlong closing that brought many exterior and interior changes to Loyola’s Broadway campus residence hall.

The changes that have been made are the first major renovations on Cabra Hall completed by Loyola since Loyola acquired the property in 1984.

Cabra Hall is now designed to house fewer students than in previous years, but it provides students with more living and social space.

Craig Beebe, director of the offices of residential life, said Cabra Hallthe office is in the “punch out stage.” All the major work is completed, but the contractors and cleaning crews are finishing up last minute projects, Beebe said.

The only remains of the old building include the columns and support structure. Interior additions include new walls, floors, ceilings,

new plumbing, wiring and electrical work.

A new glass structure was added to the building’s exterior.

Thomas Raymond, director of construction and safety, said the renovation was “the first major overhaul that Loyola has done.”

The biggest difference for Cabra Hall residents will be the floor plans.

The new designs have an apartment style community for students, Students will be welcomed into apartments with two double rooms and two single rooms. In 2011, Cabra Hall housed 213 students, with eight students to a suite. The four rooms were double occupancy rooms. The occupancy number has been decreased to 163.

Also, all of the furniture in the rooms is now moveable, different from the previous layout.

Beebe said he believes these changes will benefit students and add privacy.

“We know that students value their space and their privacy, and we tried finding a balance of offering enough beds so that we can accommodate students, but at the same time by offering more private space as much as we could,” Beebe said.

Cabra Hall will have a complete

Zach Brien/The Maroon

Biology junior Moises Perez and Political Science junior Henry Gerbracht enjoy their new Cabra Hall room. Cabra Hall rooms now feature a two single rooms and two double rooms. kitchen with refrigerator, range with oven, microwave, quartz countertops and stainless steel sinks in each suite, Raymond said.

Cabra Hall was renovated to meet LEED standards, so the residence hall is sustainable and energy efficient, Raymond said.

Robert McCoutts, general studies business sophomore, said he believes

Cabra Hall will be a nice place to live.

“I definitely have enough privacy throughout my apartment and in the building, ” McCoutts said.

Cabra Hall also added a foosball table into the common area, a fitness room and laundry room.

Lauren Cutuli can be reached at lecutuli@loyno.edu

SGA focuses on communication

By ALICIA SERRANO Staff writer

Loyola Student Government Association is gearing up for the new school year by focusing more on visibility and transparency to the student body, according to SGA executive staff.

Blake Corley, executive vice president of the organization and international business junior, said that he wants to be accessible to students.

“I want to be someone students know that they can call on and be there. Knowing any concerns, questions or comments or any ideas

that people have, they can message me on Facebook, call me on my cellphone,” Corley said.

Jasmine Barnes, student government president and mass communication senior, said that communication is key to a successful year.

“We’re really working on that communication aspect to really let students know what SGA is doing, because these are your elected officials and Senate,” Barnes said. Barnes said she wants students’ voices to be heard.

According to Ron Palmer, vice president of communication for the organization, student government is planning to hold town hall meetings

and press conferences after the organizations’ senate meetings.

These meetings would give students the opportunity to speak to elected SGA officials, as well as to keep students informed on what the organization is doing throughout the year, Palmer said.

“It’s really just to bridge that gap between the student body, SGA and administration. It’s opening the lines of communication and really putting the students’ voice out there in the forefront,” Barnes said.

Barnes is positive about this school year in spite of budget concerns. She said she believes students will not feel the impact.

“Students will still have quality programs, traditions and access to services despite budget shortfalls.

The amount in allocations will still be high enough to support student organizations,” Barnes said.

Constituent concerns remain important to the organziation, Corley said.

“Everyone should be so engaged in their educational process and their student life because we pay to go here, this is our experience,” Barnes said.

Alicia Serrano can be reached at amserran@loyno.edu

City news PAGE 4

CITY BRIEFS The second hostage in Louisiana bank shooting dies ST. JOSEPH, La. (AP) — LaDean McDaniel died on Aug. 15 at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, La. after being taken hostage and shot at the Tensas State Bank in St. Joseph, LA. McDaniel was one of the three bank employees taken hostage Tuesday by 20-year-old Fuaed Abdo Ahmed.

Ahmed, “who was angry and hearing voices,” according to authorities, wrote a letter detailing his plan to take employees hostage at the rural Louisiana bank.

The mayor of the small town of 1,200 near the Mississippi border said he has heard from a lot of angry residents. However, sadness is perhaps one of the strongest emotions felt throughout St. Joseph.

“The healing process is going to take time,” St. Joseph mayor, Edward Brown said.

Herman Watson, 52, said that he knew McDaniel and other victim, Jay Warbington.

“They were great people, and I know they are going to Heaven,” Watson said. “They got a first-class ticket.”

Angola civil rights suit awaits ruling BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana State Penitentiary inmates and prison officials are currently awaiting a decision from U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson on a civil rights lawsuit filed against the prison in June.

Jackson took a tour of the penitentiary, also known as Angola, on August 12 to determine whether or not the heat conditions on death row violate the rights of the inmates Elzie Ball, Nathanial Code and James Magee and whether or not the prison officials are failing to protect them from cruel and unusual punishment.

“It’s important for the court to issue a ruling in the short-term, or in the near-term I should say,” Jackson said.

Nilay Vora, an attorney representing the three inmates, said the state penitentiary should add air conditioning or another type of mechanical cooling system on death row that will keep the heat index below 88 degrees. He even added that animal shelters are required to have cooling systems.

“Mr. Ball, Mr. Code and Mr. Magee deserve more than what is required for dogs and cats,” Vora said.

The inmates and prison officials are still awaiting Jackson’s decision.

The

Maroon

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Unarmed teen shot in the Marigny

By NIA PORTER Assistant City Editor

While 14-year-old Marshall Coulter remains hospitalized in critical condition, many New Orleans residents can’t help but compare this incident to last year’s fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin.

Merritt Landry, 33-year-old Faubourg Marigny resident, discovered and shot Coulter in his fenced-in front yard around 2 a.m. on Friday, July 26.

The Orleans Parish Sheriff ’s Office has stated that Landry has been charged with attempted second-degree murder because the victim was allegedly unarmed and therefore not posing an immediate threat to Landry and his family.

Kathleen Fitzgerald, an associate professor of sociology at Loyola, said that there are both similarities and differences between this local shooting and the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman incident.

“The similarities are obvious,” Fitzgerald said. “Armed white men shoot unarmed black teenagers because they feel threatened.”

Fitzgerald, whose research and teaching focus mainly on the study of race, racism and white privilege, said that one of the differences, however, is the time of day the two shootings took place.

“Being approached by someone at 2 a.m. is ultimately more threatening than seeing someone walk around an apartment complex at 7 p.m.,” Fitzgerald said. “In that regard, Landry is going to have an easier time convincing a jury that he acted in self-defense or was standing his ground.”

According to Alex Mikulich, an assistant professor at the Jesuit Social Research Institution, the only similarity between the two shootings lies in the use of unnecessary lethal force.

“Did Mr. Landry give fair warning that he would shoot to kill? Questions like this would need to be answered in more detail to be able to form a judgment,” Mikulich said.

In May 2012, following Trayvon

ZACH BRIEN/ Staff Photographer

This house stands in the Marigny. 14-year-old Marshall Coulter was shot near the backdoor of this home in the 700 block of Mandeville Street, inside the fenced-in front yard.

Martin’s death, Mikulich wrote an article for The National Catholic Reporter discussing the important role he believes the Roman Catholic Church should play in the fight for racial justice.

“I completely agree with Fr. Bryan Massingale, professor of theology at Marquette University, who recently argued that when profiling is reasonable, injustice becomes excusable,” Mikulich said.

“I share Fr. Massingale’s sense of outrage for our sons and daughters when unconscious racial bias equates white with innocence and black with criminality.”

Landry, who has since been released on bail, was initially charged with second-degree murder, but was later charged with attempted second-degree murder becuase Coulter survived the shooting and is still alive.

According to the police report, Landry stated that Coulter made

“

“...when profiling is reasonable, injustice becomes excusable Alex Mikulich, Jesuit Social Research Institution

a sudden move, as if to reach for something, which conflicts with the account of a witness questioned at the scene. That, along with the fact that Coulter was not armed and not caught entering the residence, is what ultimately led to Landry’s attempted second-degree murder

charge.

Fitzgerald said she believes that the location of the shooting will play a major role in the prosecution of Landry.

“The young man was, as I understand it, in the fenced-in portion of the shooter’s driveway — thus the owner felt threatened,” Fitzgerald said. “It appears the young man was up to no good, possibly attempting to steal from the residents.”

As for Landry’s attempted second-degree murder charge, she doesn’t know if it had anything to do with George Zimmerman’s recent acquittal.

“What will be key are the efforts the state puts into prosecuting Landry. Like the Zimmerman case, that will be telling,” Fitzgerald said.

Nia Porter can be reached at naporter@loyno.edu

Loyola fights human trafficking

By MELANIE POTTER City Editor

New Orleans has long been suspected as a center for human trafficking, but with a lack of public attention and knowledge, it has gone undetected. Loyola students and Assistant Professor of English Laura Murphy want to change this.

With the FBI’s recent crackdown on child prostitution across the nation, attention has been brought to this issue of human trafficking.

Murphy, who teaches freshmen seminar class, “Bought and Sold: Slavery and Abolition in the 21st Century,” is on a mission to educate the public on this issue, just as she was once educated on the issue.

“My research on historical slavery led me to a New York Times article on modern slavery.

After I realized that slavery still exists in the 21st century, I knew I could not look away,” Murphy said.

“My research and activism turned toward working to eliminate the worst forms of labor exploitation.”

Her battle against slavery began

in 2004. She is the adviser of the Free the Slaves student chapter at Loyola, and is the national chapter coordinator for the organization.

Her position provides to lead the student abolitionist movement.

Loyola students like Saramaile Tate, English writing junior, have joined Murphy in this combat.

After taking Post Colonial Literature with Murphy, Tate said she grew to respect Murphy and the work that she did. When Murphy asked Tate to participate in her research efforts, she didn’t hesitate to say yes.

“Simply through my desire to work more with Dr. Murphy did the issue of human trafficking come into my life,” Tate said.

Tate became inspired by Murphy’s passion about an issue that she said usually goes unnoticed. Murphy is in the process putting together a book of narratives that survivors of modern day slavery have written about themselves.

“My book suggests that the slave narrative has re-emerged as a venue through which survivors

of human trafficking can articulate their experiences of captivity and press for political action. The book looks at the cultural, political, social and religious impetuses that have driven the re-emergence of the genre,” Murphy said.

Murphy explains that trafficking victims are a hidden population because of the illegality that occurs.

The traffickers who hold them captive do so illegally, which makes trafficking difficult to detect.

Murphy said that trafficking is also complicated by the fact that victims may choose to do agricultural labor or work in the sex trade; but once they get a job, it turns out that their bosses steal all their wages, violently abuse them and hold them captive.

Murphy was thrilled to hear about the recent FBI trafficking sting, and hopes law enforcement will become more vigilant in the future with adult slaves.

“My goals are for us to be even more vigilant and attentive to grown men and women in both the sex trade and other forms of labor who are being forced to work

without pay as well,” Murphy said.

“I hope that people don’t begin to think that only children are being exploited in trafficking.”

Both Murphy and Tate urge Loyola to join them in this fight for freedom. They recommend joining the New Orleans Human Trafficking Group, through which students can participate in activism and research projects that are helping to understand and fight trafficking in the region.

Melanie Potter can be reached at mppotter@loyno.edu

THE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013 Across 1 33-Across topper 6 Points (at) 10 Trucker on a radio 14 Former “Idol” judge Abdul 15 Tie in chess 16 Cosmo competitor 17 Marx Brothers shenanigan 18 Topnotch 19 Sugar bowl block 20 Long-eyed stitching tool 23 Student’s Web address ending 24 One on the other side 25 Right on time 28 Finally registered, mentally 30 __ cheese dressing 32 Dinghy mover 33 Dairy Queen order 36 “The __ Baltimore”: Lanford Wilson play 39 “__ Wiedersehen” 40 Picnic spoilers 41 Proverbial backbreaker 46 Main element in pewter 47 Dance in a pit 48 Soak up 52 Promotional theater display item 54 Martini order 55 Theology subj.

56 Maine’s nickname, and a hint to the ends of 20-, 33- and 41-Across 60 Army vehicle 62 “I figured it out!” cries 63 Craze 64 Gets older 65 Army status 66 Rags-to-riches author Horatio 67 Murder mystery staple 68 Russian fighters 69 British city on the River Aire Down 1 Black suit 2 Ottawa’s country 3 Beat in a race 4 “thirtysomething” actor Ken 5 World’s largest ocean 6 “Time is money,” e.g.

7 Golfer’s selection

MAROON

PAGE 5

SUDOKU

8 Lion’s tresses 9 Popeye’s kid 10 Violin cousin 11 Song title words before “You saw me standing alone” 12 Horror film street 13 Workout unit 21 Nada 22 Beaten instrument 26 Breathe after sprinting 27 Yves’s “very” 29 Pass idly, as time 30 Hair neatener 31 Exited 34 Sylvester and Garfield 35 Cornfield cries 36 Internet address opening 37 Cincinnati’s home 38 State-of-the-art 1970s bike 42 Church agreement 43 Pitcher’s problem 44 Hard to find 45 Totally dreadful

49 Autumn color 50 Tightened, as shoelaces 51 Dims with tears, as one’s vision 53 A bit too happy at happy hour?

54 Office workplaces 57 Spicy cuisine 58 Jingled 59 “A __ of Two Cities” 60 Fighter’s punch 61 Self-regard

Please see the issue on Aug. 30 for the solutions

life&times FILM || ARTS || FOOD || MUSIC || LEISURE || NIGHTLIFE

PAGE 6

“The Simpsons” actor takes on new role

THE

Maroon

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

OUT OF THE BOX

By RAQUEL DERGANZ BAKER Assistant Life & Times Editor While actor Harry Shearer provides voices for multiple characters on the television show, “The Simpsons,” Shearer will be acting as himself as an adviser and artist-in-residence at Loyola this fall.

On “The Simpsons” Shearer is the voice for characters Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner. At Loyola, Shearer will help with a new program called Digital Filmmaking and will work as an adviser to students, as the college of music and fine arts announced over the summer.

“We are thrilled to have Harry working with us. He is a brilliant artist and a great friend of New Orleans,” Donald Boomgaarden, dean of the college of music and fine arts, said in a Loyola press release.

Shearer will be holding workshops on acting, writing and directing. Along with these workshops, students will be able to intern and work as an assistant to Shearer. By working with Shearer, students may gain tools that they can use in their future filmmaking careers.

English and film studies senior Jorge Maradiaga was happy to hear Shearer will be coming to Loyola.

“I think it means the film area will expand at Loyola. More students will be inspired to be in the film program and give Mr. Shearer some work in the consulting area,” Maradiaga said.

This past summer, Shearer hired many Loyola students to shoot a sixepisode web series. The web series parodies a popular reality television show, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” From this experience, students had a chance to work alongside locals and

“

We are thrilled to have Harry working with us.

He’s a brilliant artist and a great friend of New Orleans.

Donald Boomgaarden Dean of the college of music and fine arts

Hollywood pros.

Jim Gabour, artist-in-residence and extraordinary professor of video technology, said he is excited to work with Shearer.

“Harry has offered amazing insights into what is means to work as a writer, director and actor in the mechanics of the Hollywood system,” Gabour said.

Shearer is already very involved with the university students, and he has spoken at two Loyola music industry forums in recent years.

“Harry Shearer is incredibly generous and approachable media star,” said Gabour. “He is a literal genius and also a great friend.”

Raquel Derganz Baker can be reached at rsdergan@loyno.edu

SARA FELDMAN/ Senior Staff Photographer

An incoming freshman loads a box of belongings into his new home in Biever Hall. The freshman class of 2017 moved into Biever and Buddig Halls on Wednesday, Aug. 21, with Wolf Pack Welcome beginning on Wednesday and lasting through Sunday.

Student interns find summer success

By DIANA MIRFIQ Staff Writer

Whether cruising in a submarine, shaking hands with the U.S. vice president or building a web show in MTV’s New York City office, summer internships can be the opportunity of a lifetime.

LaMicha Jackson, international business junior, interned with the U.S. Navy this summer. Her summer adventures ranged from flying in a helicopter, firing weapons and riding in a submarine on her birthday. Jackson said her most memorable experience was flying a T-34 aircraft by herself.

“That was incredible. We did barrel rolls and sharp turns, so we had about two or three G-forces acting on us,” Jackson said.

Jackson believes that her Loyola education enabled her to think critically, particularly during her Somali immersion training.

Jackson said everyone was split into different teams and was given rifles loaded with paint bullets. They had to formulate a plan to kill all snipers while keeping their team safe, Jackson said.

With the chaos of yelling, carrying injured or ‘dead’ team members, explosions and numerous weapons being fired, along with a captain and five or six sergeants yelling at us, this was an experience for the books,” Jackson said.

Jackson said she was shot twice in the exercise, but she still managed to “kill” three snipers.

Jackson finished off by carrying out a wounded teammate, all without “dying” during the training. A major recognized her group as the best fire team, but Jackson gained more than an award.

“So much respect was gained for not only the Marines, but also all troops who go through land and hand to hand combat,” Jackson said.

Like Jackson, Alden Woodhull, mass communication and Spanish senior, said she strengthened her sense of pride for her country through her summer internship.

Instead of taking on her usual summer waitressing job in her hometown of Washington, D.C., Woodhull ditched the apron and embarked on an adventure at the White House as an intern in the vice president’s press office.

“I realized that this internship encompassed so much of what I’m passionate about,” Woodhull said.

“It allowed me to work in my field of study with communications and media relations.”

Woodhull said she enjoyed meeting Vice President Joe Biden and said that he even spared time to talk to the interns who worked in his office. Any time she got to listen to the vice president was a “good day,” Woodhull said.

“He speaks with so much poise but is so genuine at the same time.

The two most moving speeches that I heard in person were his calls to action for mental health care and gun safety in our country,” Woodhull said.

Woodhull said she believes that her mass communication education was able to give her an upper hand during her internship. She felt confident about her writing and learned things that added to her previous social media knowledge.

“Having taken Professor Nelson’s Social Media Strategies class, I already had background on social media analysis and was thereby able to get so much more out of the experience,” Woodhull said.

Woodhull feels honored to have had the privilege of interning at the White House.

“I know what a rare and special opportunity it is to walk onto the White House grounds every day, and I feel so fortunate to have been able to been a part of this amazing and historic administration,” Woodhull said.

Bryan Mooney, music industry senior, said he had his sights set on a “different” kind of summer internship. He was interested in Viacom International Inc., a media company that owns various television networks and film studios ranging from VH1 to MTV.

After seeing what the company had to offer, Mooney said MTV seemed like the “perfect” placement.

“When I applied to Viacom, my interest was focused on MTV, because I feel that it is more closely tied to the music industry than many of Viacom’s other brands,” Mooney said.

As a product development intern, Mooney’s main objective was to design strategies and campaigns to attract more online engagement.

His coworkers started a weekly livestreamed music and comedy show out of their office called “Streamed Dumplings” that he soon became involved with along with co-worker Ralph Bishop.

“This began as a test of the company’s live streaming technology,” Mooney said. “They decided to turn it into a program after Ralph ate a banana at his desk on the live stream and was encouraged by viewers to eat a second.”

After that moment, Mooney started handling the booking and engagement strategy for “Streamed Dumplings.” Their production value has increased since.

As for celebrities, Mooney says he occasionally bumped into a few around the MTV office, but being starstruck isn’t in his nature.

“Celebrities are just people, and I can’t say that there are many people I would really freak out over meeting. Unrelated to MTV, my friend and I chatted with Aziz Ansari the other night — he was pretty cool,” Mooney said.

Jackson, Woodhull and Mooney said they all gained new knowledge in their particular field of study, along with special memories that they’ll not soon forget. Whether it’s flying an aircraft, listening to a speech from our nation’s Vice President, or working with a major media company, there is no predicting what Loyola students can experience through a summer internship.

Diana Mirfiq can be reached at dnmirfiq@loyno.edu

Courtesy of LaMicha Jackson

Courtesy of Alden Woodhull

Courtesy of Bryan Mooney

TOP PHOTO: LaMicha Jackson poses on an aircraft runway.

She wore this uniform regularly while interning for the Navy this summer. MIDDLE PHOTO: Alden Woodhull called the White House her office for the summer. She worked as a communications intern in the Vice President’s press office. BOTTOM PHOTO: Bryan Mooney sits alongside a stuffed banana. This became a mascot for him and his MTV co-workers as they worked on their web show.

THE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Boy follows strange glow

—Burke Bischoff

PART ONE His journey began with a prick from a rose.

Baethan, ten years old, was lying in the grassy field in front of his home, following the streaks of purple and orange in the sky and focusing on the few lone stars that had appeared. He breathed evenly as a calming wind brushed through his ginger hair, taking in the scent of magnolia trees that were scattered around the open field.

He was continually opening and closing a necklace designed to look like a playing card, revealing the family photo inside to no one in particular.

He considered falling asleep.

“I probably shouldn’t,” Baethan thought to himself. “Papa will be mad if I stay out too long by myself.”

Baethan sat up, stretched and pushed his wire-rimmed glasses up his freckled nose. He looked around the acres of land that his parents claimed as their home, and then at the family’s simple little wooden cabin. Through the one window in the front of the cabin, he saw his parents curled together on the living room couch. They both looked up to smile and wave at Baethan.

He smiled and waved back, then turned around and laid his sight upon the forest ahead of him.

“The forest is kind of like an ocean,” Baethan thought.

“It’s so big and mysterious.”

He could barely see into the forest, which seemed to house nothing but darkness. He then noticed something very faint through the trees, something

that appeared to be glowing. He squinted his eyes and tilted his head, causing his glasses to become askew.

“What could be giving off such a light?” Baethan thought.

He stood up and wandered into the forest.

He passed many gigantic live oaks as he moved toward the center of the forest. He did not notice the light of the sun fading away as the distant glowing became stronger.

He slowed to a stop when he finally reached his destination. There, in the center of a clear patch surrounded by a circle of wisteria vines, was a rose that seemed to be radiating pure gold. Baethan was transfixed by the rose’s beauty as he walked toward it. He knelt down, longing to cradle the flower in his hands — But just as he touched the rose, black veins began to spread along its petals and its brilliant light started to diminish. Scared and confused, Baethan quickly pulled his hands away from the rose and stood up.

As he did this, he saw something that made him halt in place.

There, in the outer darkness, a pair of red glowing eyes was staring at him. Baethan tried to turn around and run, but he saw more crimson eyes surrounding him on all sides.

As the rose continued to turn black and sickly, the glow faded more and more, and the surrounding eyes began to advance toward him.

With nothing else he could do, Baethan huddled on the ground and sobbed as the light from the rose gave out. He saw nothing but the red eyes that were descending upon him and felt nothing but immense pain as he was crushed. He soon felt nothing at all.

His body was abandoned, but his mind traveled on into the hands of an observant conjurer.

Burke Bischoff can be reached at bwbischo@loyno.edu

MAROON

PAGE 7

“Isolation”

“Isolation” by mass communication freshman Caroline Weiss.

March 2013. Acrylic on canvas. 40 x 30 in.

Any student wishing to publish his or her work in this section should submit to letter@loyno.edu Applications for the Spring 2014 serial are now being accepted.

RELIGION THE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

MAROON

PAGE 8

RELIGION IN BRIEF

A Catholic Bioethics Seminar will be held at Loyola The National Catholic Bioethics Center will hold a two-day seminar in the Danna Student Center at Loyola on Friday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept.

7. The center conducts research, consultation, publishing and education to promote human dignity in health care and the life sciences, and derives its message directly from the teachings of the Catholic Church. The seminar is based upon The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

The seminars are structured to raise awareness of and give problem solving techniques to tackle complex bioethical dilemmas encountered in clinical education and research from an interdisciplinary perspective.

The French Quarter will host Louisiana Priests’ Convention The Louisiana Priests’ Convention will take place on Tuesday, Sept.

17 through Thursday, Sept. 19. To date, 300 priests have registered to participate in the convention. Priests from all over Louisiana and from outside of Louisiana will attend. The convention will take place at the Omni Royal Hotel in the French Quarter. With the influx of registries, more than one hotel will be booked full for the event.

“Gay conversion therapy” disbanded

by Governor TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed a law barring licensed therapists from trying to turn gay teenagers straight.

Christie said the health risks of trying to change a child’s sexual orientation, as identified by the American Psychological Association, trump concerns over the government setting limits on parental choice. The APA and other major medical and mental health groups believe that “sexual orientation change efforts can pose critical health risks.” In signing the ban, Christie reiterated his belief that people are born gay and homosexuality is not a sin.

Egyptian authorities continue arresting Islamist leaders CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian authorities on Wednesday, Aug. 21 continued their crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies by arresting two more high-profile Islamist figures, while officials said that they had started a closed hearing in a prison outside Cairo to decide whether to release jailed ex-president Hosni Mubarak. The arrested Islamists include a preacher known for his fiery sermons who was reportedly caught as he tried to flee to neighboring Libya in disguise.

ERIC BURAS/Photo Editor

Reverend Etido Jerome (left) shares the microphone with Ansel Augustine (right) at a talk about faith and the youth on Thursday, Aug. 8.

Augustine has worked with youth organizations since 2002 after he graduated from Loyola two years prior.

Top diocese office hires “holy hot boy”

By MARY GRACI Staff Writer In July 2013, Ansel Augustine, A’00, was appointed the director for the Office of Black Catholic Ministry in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

“The office of Black Catholic Ministry is a very important office in New Orleans,” Tom Ryan, director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry, said.

“I am proud that a graduate of Loyola has been selected for that office.”

With a ministry career that began at Loyola in early 2000, Augustine worked his way back home to St. Peter Claver Parish.

Known throughout the community as New Orleans’ “Holy Hot Boy”, Augustine described that the nickname originated from his apparent sense of humor.

When Hurricane Katrina hit the

city, Augustine dedicated his time to rebuilding his home parish and working as a youth minister.

“I met Ansel in 2005 just right after the storm,” Reverend Etido Jerome, member of the Black Catholic Ministry and resident chaplain at Xavier University, said.

“Since that time, I got to know his interest and his faith, and I know he’s enthusiastic to spread the faith amongst the young people.”

After several years of working for the Catholic Youth Organization/ Youth & Young Adult Ministry office as associate director, Augustine was asked to consider this new position within the archdiocese.

“Previously, my focus was on youth and young adult ministry.

And now my focus is widening to incorporate ministries that target all age groups.”

Augustine said that he hopes to raise awareness for the black Catholic ministry without forgetting his roots in youth ministry.

“I think the main focus is to build up the awareness and talents and gifts within our youths and young adults of the black Catholic community

“

I am proud that a graduate of Loyola has been selected for that office Tom Ryan

Director of the Institute for Ministry

because they are not only the future of the church, but they’re the present of the church. And if we can get them excited about the church, then we’re leaving the church in good hands,” Augustine said.

To highlight his new position, Augustine will be presenting a keynote speech at the National Catholic Youth Conference this November in Indianapolis, Ind. The theme of the conference, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”, was chosen as a reflection of the speakers’ personal experiences with Christ, according to the organization. Augustine’s speech will discuss his Hurricane Katrina experience.

“We in New Orleans are lucky to have Ansel in this position,” Ryan said.

Mary Graci can be reached at megraci@loyno.edu

Muslims in New Orleans fast in the summer heat

By JANEICIA NEELY Staff Writer Zahra Abdeljaber, a sociology junior, fasted for one month for the Islamic holiday Ramadan.

Ramadan is a 30 day fasting period when Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.

The placement of Ramadan each year depends on the Islamic Calendar as specified in the Quran. This year Ramadan began on July 8 and ended on Aug. 7 for Muslims around the world.

Muslims fast during Ramadan to better understand how the poor and hungry regularly live.

Seif Amer, a Muslim marketing student at the German University in Cairo, described Ramadan as a month of spiritual guidance and cleansing.

“While each person may define Ramadan in a different way,” Amer said. “The goal of Islam is to learn about the unfortunate and to become more patient.”

During these summer months, Muslims in New Orleans fasted in the humidity and high temperatures for 14 hours.

Samar Sarmini, a Muslim and a Loyola mathematics instructor, said

she uses the month of Ramadan to get closer to God and make charity and giving a priority.

“It’s a month to get in touch with your spiritual side. You dedicate more time toward your worship, catching up with duties mainly toward God. It’s a month of catching up also with the Quran,” Sarmani said.

“You would notice that most Muslims who practice are active participants of Islam would go over the whole Quran at least one during this month.”

After sunset members of the Muslim community gather for the Iftar dinner to break their fast.

Diana Mirfiq, psychology junior, said she loved her Iftar dinners this year.

“Iftar dinner was usually a feast for a king. The table is always filled with delicious food. I never knew where to begin. Each Ramadan, I fill my plate with food and swear that I’m going to eat everything in sight, but once you take three bites you’re already full,” Mirfiq said.

Another priority during Ramadan is to celebrate the end of a successful day fasting with close family, friends and neighbors for the Iftar feast.

“I love the fact that my family sat

KAMRAN JEBRELLI/AP Dubai

Muslims in Dubai, United Arab Emirates gather for the final days of Iftar dinner for the celebration of Eid. Ramadan requires Muslims to fast from eating, drinking and smoking from sunrise to sunset. down and ate dinner for a month straight. It brought us closer. Usually, we are off doing our own thing, and it was great to come together during this joyous month,” Mirfiq said.

“It doesn’t have to be family members. Anybody, everybody is welcome. Whoever wants to come to Iftar would be more than welcome to come and join us. Its really getting people together,” Sarmini said.

She explained its tradition to join and provide food for the Iftar dinner.

Overall, Ramadan is a time dedicated to family and those who want to be a part of the Muslim community.

“I was happy to be able to celebrate Ramadan in New Orleans. Although it was challenging because of the heat, I felt encouraged to continue going and complete the day,” Abdeljaber said.

Janeicia Neely can be reached at jlneely2@loyno.edu

Sports THE

FRIDAY, August 23, 2013

Maroon

PAGE 9

SPORtS WWII champions are re-introduced Loyola alumnus BRIEFS uncovers championship Saints fans are angry over new bag rule The National Football League is beefing up on its security policy, enacting new rules that include restricting the type of bags allowed into the stadium and on stadium property.

This policy is not specific to New Orleans. The policy is league-wide and applies to all NFL stadiums.

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome released the following rules for bags in the stadium.

“Vendor bags that are clear plastic, vinyl and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”. [Small clutch bag approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap.] This can be carried separately or within a plastic bag.”

All other bags besides those mentioned above will not be permitted at all. The league hopes that the new policy will speed up entry on game days.

New Orleans Pelicans are close to breaking record

New name, new roster, new logo: the New Orleans Pelicans have undergone an overhaul in the last six months. All of the work has brought results according to the franchise, as season ticket sales are on schedule to be at an all-time high. The Pelican’s Senior Vice President of Sales Michael Stanfield said that the team has sold over 11,000 season ticket packages. This is all before the season opener on Oct. 30 versus the Indiana Pacers.

The franchise attributes much of the ticket sales success to Tom Benson, Dennis Lauscha, Dell Dems and Mickey Loomis for their collaborative effort in better communicating with the fans.

Cutting ticket prices, sprucing up the logo and arena renovations have played a part as well, according to a press release from the franchise.

Wolf Pack basketball players are honored over the summer Over the summer, the National Association of Basketball Coaches honored three Wolf Pack basketball players and also awarded the Loyola men’s basketball team with the National Association of Basketball Coaches Inaugural Team Academic Excellence Award. International business junior Rocco Gandara, public relations senior Cameron Hill and Steve Davis, A‘13, were the awarded athletes.

The individual award recognizes the achievements of the players on and off the court, while the team award is reserved for a team whose average GPA is 3.0 or above. The team was the only group out of 96 schools around the country to earn the National Association of Basketball Coaches Inagural Team Academic Excellence Award.

past

By CAMI CRUZ THOMAS Staff Writer At the height of World War II, Loyola won a basketball championship, making them the very first team to bring a national basketball championship to the city of New Orleans by winning the 1945 Intercollegiate Basketball Title.

Winning a national athletic contest would, in many cases, be impressive on its own. However, when factoring in the trials of a nation in war, the circumstances are especially unique.

Ramon Vargas, A‘09, former editor-in-chief of The Maroon, brings light to the school’s victory in his new book “Fight, Grin, and Squarely Play the Game.”

A group of young men, some fresh from war, returned to this small Jesuit school in the south to fight for a different type of victory. Decades later, while working in The Maroon office, Vargas stumbled across the story by accident.

“I had some free time one day, and I asked myself what it was like to be at college during World War II,” Vargas said.

The Maroon keeps copies of the newspaper dating back to the 1920s.

Vargas took advantage of this and went on his own quest for a detailed history of Loyola life during WWII. “I pulled out the archives of the old Maroons,” Vargas said. “I saw a headline about Loyola winning a national championship.”

Vargas was surprised to learn that many Loyola students and New Orleans residents were unaware of this piece of history.

“I had never heard of it,” Vargas said. “I asked my father, and he had never heard of it either. Everyone I asked had never heard of it. So my inkling was that most of the city hadn’t.”

As a college student, Vargas promised himself that he would one day tell the story of the national championship team.

“It was this forgotten piece of

LOYOLA ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT ARCHIVE

Players and coaches of the 1945 Loyola men’s basketball team pose for a photograph on the bleachers of the old basketball court. The team went on to bring home a national basketball championship amidst the surrounding events of World War II. history that needed to be told to the city,” Vargas said.

In his book, Vargas details the lives of these players during the season and after graduation.

“It was such a unique accomplishment,” Vargas said. “What I really enjoyed was being able to see that it was the peak of many of their basketball careers. And seeing what they did after they graduated.”

The members of the 1945 team went on to achieve a variety of things in the city.

“Two [members] founded schools,” Vargas said. “One ended up playing a few seasons in the NBA. Being able to trace the direction of their lives afterwards is great.”

James Eldon was a freshman on the basketball team when Loyola went on to grab the national championship.

“I played in high school,” Eldon said. “Then I came to play at Loyola.”

Eldon, a New Orleans native, recalls his experience as a young man in America during the war, but was fortunately able to stay in the country.

“I was exempt from the war because I was in dental school,” Eldon

said.

So while some friends and classmates were shipped off to war, Eldon was able to stay on the home front and fight for a different type of victory. Eldon remembers watching his friends leave for war, but was not fazed by it.

“It was just a part of life,” Eldon said.

Vargas recalls moments of driving around the city and realizing that the building or school he was looking at was actually founded by one of the championship players.

“The legacy of these players is all around the city,” Vargas said.

“Reminders of them are really all around us.”

Though the whole scenario may seem like a fairytale ending, some aspects of the event serve as reminders of the U.S.’s long battle with racism.

“One of the biggest players, it was discovered that he had a black ancestor,” Vargas said. “He ended up having to transfer schools.”

While integration and racial tolerance are strong today, Vargas reminds readers that they have come

a long way.

“Back then, white people and black people couldn’t compete together,” Vargas said. “They couldn’t compete with or against each other or eat in the same restaraunt.”

Vargas said he found it especially important to remind Loyola students how much progress we have made, and he stresses the importance of knowing our own history. The 1945 team was one of the best in all of basketball’s history.

“You could knock it out in two and a half, three hours,” Vargas said. “You can learn so much. It’s a quick read.”

Whether it’s race relations or the war itself, playing college basketball during WWII undoubtedly had unique factors that no other generation has experienced.

“This was one of the greatest groups assembled in the history of Loyola,” said Vargas. “And World War II was just all around.”

Cami Thomas can be reached at cathoma2@loyno.edu

Volleyball is preparing to ace season opener

By Raven Richard Staff Writer The Wolf Pack volleyball team hopes to spike their upcoming season opener in Oklahoma.

The team faces various challenges this season, including their youth as collegiate players, the difficulty of this first tournament and working with a new head coach, Margot Frederick.

Frederick said the Oklahoma Baptist Tournament in Shawnee, Okla. is sure to be a challenge, but she is confident it will have a positive outcome for the team.

“We are going to get tested, but we will learn,” she said.

Frederick pointed out that “good” competition is in store. She said the team will face high-quality teams on the first day.

“We are expecting a competitive, fast-paced, exciting match where we are able to debut our new team and our fresh start,” Katie Broadbent, accounting senior, said.

The team starts the tournament playing Texas College and Wiley

“

I want the girls to know what I stand for and what Loyola volleyball stands for.

Margot Frederick

Head Volleyball Coach

College, both out of Texas. The women will finish with a match against Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan. and Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla. Loyola’s

record was 28-9 for the 2012 season and 7-7 in the conference.

With the addition of a new head coach, the women understand that adjustments will be made.

“We have a new head coach which is a large but positive adjustment for our team,” Broadbent said. “We are coming into the season with an open mind and preparing for a successful season. We are working to make the necessary adjustments to a new season’s challenges.”

Broadbent said the team has returned stronger this year.

“We have a fresh start that we are taking and running with in the best way. We are taking this opportunity to continue to play as hard as we know,” she said.

Despite the adjustments the women are making this season, they still have other focuses.

“The key focuses that we are currently working on in preparation for the season are teamwork, balance, discipline and pride,” Broadbent said.

When asked about plans for the season, Frederick said that she hopes the team can “progress through the season with composure and grace.”

Fredrick said she wants the team to do their very best this season while making adjustments to new players and a new coaching style. She also wants her message communicated to the women very clearly.

“I want the girls to know what I stand for and what Loyola volleyball will stand for,” Frederick said.

Frederick said that she would ultimately like to win a conference championship, but understands that it will be a process.

Broadbent said the team is confident and has a positive attitude entering the season.

“We are expecting this season to be not only fun and exciting but very successful,” she said.

Raven Richard can be reached at rerichar@loyno.edu

Established 1923

EDITORIAL

• “For a greater Loyola”

Editorial Board Aaren Faith Gordon Editor-In-Chief Sara Feldman Devinn Adams Senior Staff Web Editor Photographer Emily Andras Karl Gommel Copy Editor Senior Staff Writer Topher Balfer Hasani Grayson Copy Editor Sports Editor The Works Editor Cherie LeJeune Eric Buras Life and Times Editor Photo Editor Kylee McIntyre Jessica DeBold Editorial Editor Religion Editor Melanie Potter Lucy Dieckhaus City Editor Managing Editor News Editor NiRey Reynolds Social Media Director Shannon Donaldson Wolf Editor

THE

PAGE 10

Maroon

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013 EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorial Cartoon

The editorials on this page represent the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and do 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.

Letter to the Editor

Club can offer a forum for students with strong opinions

Please send all submissions to The Maroon, 6363 St. Charles Ave., Box 64, New Orleans, LA 70118. Or write us via e-mail: letter@loyno.edu.

Submissions may also be made through The Maroon Online at www.loyolamaroon.com.

To the Editors:

RICHARD O’BRIEN/ The Maroon

After a year of regularly reading The Maroon, it has come to my attention that several students on Loyola’s campus have a passion for their opinions.

From the articles on abortion to the letters to the editor on gay marriage, everyone has a position on something. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fully understand more than just your own opinion?

Have you ever wanted to win an argument because you know both sides of the issue better than your opposition?

Joining the speech and debate team may be the perfect place for you to hone in on and refine your already formulated opinions.

Being a collegiate debater is more than being committed to a student organization — it is preparation for a lifetime of success. By gaining public speaking skills, furthering your critical thinking abilities and learning how to eloquently articulate your every thought, the speech and debate team will help to prepare you for everyday conversations, the classroom in virtually every subject and eventually your career.

In 1960, John F. Kennedy said, “I think debating in high school and college is most valuable training whether for politics, the law, business or for service on community committees such as the PTA and the League of Women Voters. A good debater must not only study material in support of his own case, but he must also, of course, thoroughly analyze the expected argument of his opponent. The give and take of debating, the testing of ideas, is essential to democracy. I wish we had a good deal more debating in our educational institutions than we do now.”

Then and now, speech and debate helps to provide a student with invaluable skills that can be easily transferred to every aspect of life.

More than half the members of congress of high school or college debate experience, as do many presidents and Supreme Court justices.

From Nelson Mandela to Oprah Winfrey, everyone has something to gain from being involved with collegiate speech and debate.

In order to be successful, voice opinions and learn how to take balanced approaches on heated topics, students ought to give the speech and debate team a try.

Sincerely, Allison Rogers Speech and Debate Union President

Editorial

Students must direct Loyola in financial crisis Loyola’s low enrollment numbers and rising tuition costs have come into light on both local and national stages. Both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have written articles within the last month about universities across the country that are suffering from low enrollment numbers. Loyola made both lists as an example.

The financial problems that affect Loyola result partially from problems that affect universities across the U.S. As college students, we have become familiar with the economic problems in the U.S. that, for some students, have existed before we entered high school.

The financial problems at Loyola, however, affect Loyola more intensely than most schools in the country. The plan will take time to fully take effect, and we will continue to feel the repercussions of the past five years for years since before the problem is fixed.

When faced with crisis, it is easy to begin overscrutinizing the situation and pointing fingers.

However, in placing blame, we do not find the quick solution. Repairing problems with enrollment in higher education will take a long time, according to universial officials. Smart action can help Loyola heal.

We at The Maroon implore students to be part of this healing process. It is more important now for students to communicate with both administrative officials and student representatives at this time when they are looking for what students, faculty and staff love about Loyola. You have an opportunity to make Loyola a school that truly reflects what the student body wants. Ask yourself why you decided to come to this school and what makes you love

Loyola. Tell your school representatives want you want so that we keep the activities and events that make Loyola great.

Loyola provides several avenues through which students can make their voices heard. Loyola’s faculty and administration can either relay concerns in committees or point students toward someone who can help with the problem. The Student Government Association is composed of individuals who have committed to representing all students and making smart changes.

Student organizations, such as the Residential Hall Association and organizations within mission and ministry also provide avenues for students to identify and implement improvements at the university. If you, like several other students at Loyola, do not have the time to devote to a student organization, drop one of your representatives an email or fill out one of the surveys administration passes out in the Danna Student Center.

Finally, we at The Maroon are committed to informing the student body about what students like, what students think and what works at this university. We strive to remain a forum for discussion and an avenue for sharing opinions.

We ask students to use us as a resource during this process and to remember that the immensely powerful voice of a united student body has even more potential to create positive change in a time of crisis. The responsibility, as always, lies with the student body to point Loyola in the best direction.

This editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial board named above.

Letter to the Editor

Alumni: Student’s opinion column was misguided To the Editors:

We were considerably dismayed by reading the article printed in a recent issue of The Maroon. The author of the article, a self-described pro-choice, makes a number of noteworthy comments in expressing her opinions about feminism.

Surely, we have many miles to go in this country to erase the last remnants of female discrimination, and feminism generally points us in that direction.

However, her opinions defending feminism tacitly condone pre-marital sex and explicitly condones abortion.

Admittedly, the article appeared as a

student opinion piece. We do not fault the young lady who wrote the article. She is certainly entitled to her opinions and values, as are all Loyola students. We do, nonetheless, fault the editors of the paper who made the decision to print it. If The Maroon poses itself as the official voice of a student body in a Catholic university,

HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to new dining on campus GROWL to rain at lunchtime everyday HOWL to an awesome Saints preseason GROWL to humidity HOWL to new dining in midcity GROWL to construction, on and off HOWL to H&M coming to New Orleans GROWL to disappearing classes HOWL to Cabra Hall

should it have published an article, which espouses a student opinion which is diametrically opposed to the teaching of the church? We think not! Growls to The Maroon!

Sincerely, Felix and Beth Gaudin A’54

“The commencement of anything of consequence in this material world that surrounds us is made with a certain definite object in view.

The Maroon, which makes its commencement today, has for its goal of endeavor: A Greater Loyola.” — Nov. 1, 1923

OPINION THE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Maroon

PAGE 11

I believe the overthrow of Morsi was not a coup

JESSICA DEBOLD In My Opinion When I arrived in Cairo, there were people gathered in the streets with signs calling for a peaceful protest to take place on June 30.

I watched the progression of the grassroots campaign, “Tamarod” or “Rebel” in Arabic. At this time before the overthrow of President Muhammad Morsi, news outlets were focused on the demands and the failures of his policies post-2011 revolution. On the night of July 3, I heard fireworks and cheering as the military announced Morsi was arrested. After much worrying and praying, I celebrated the ousting of a dictator with Egyptian University students. Within minutes of the first announcement, CNN, BBC and Aljazeera named the ousting a military coup.

From my point of view, the demands of the people have been met and a dictator was removed from power. International journalists and scholars immediately discredited the efforts of these people and my friends. Millions of people flooded to the streets in Cairo and around the world to protest against the “elected” president. In the eyes of fed-up Egyptians, this was not a military coup. This was the voice of the people demanding for a fair and just leader and the military was acting on behalf of this demand.

The truth is that there has never been democracy established in Egypt. The so-called democracy that has been “victim to a military coup” was nothing but some fantasy that Western culture propagated.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been an unpopular political party in Egypt since the assassination of the much-loved President Anwar Sadat in 1981. The Muslim Brotherhood was never involved in the 2011 revolution until the overthrowing

of their enemy, President Hosni Mubarak, became a real possibility.

When the building of Mubarak’s political party was set aflame, the Brotherhood swooped in quickly and strategically. Brotherhood members supplied injured protesters with bread and aid, and so they received the trust of the vulnerable and angry citizens.

Following a two-week long blood bath between police and protestors and conspiracies surrounding the Port Said massacre, the Egyptian public did not want a member of the old regime back in power.

When elections came around, the people had the choice between Morsi and a member of Mubarak’s regime. After seeing their friends suffer and die in the revolution, no one wanted anything to do with Mubarak. Consequently, Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood gained political power.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been a known violent terrorist organization for over 50 years, and they had been using Morsi as a puppet for their conservative political agendas. Since the election of Morsi, the government was publicly corrupt and shamed the people who died for the freedom of Egypt. For example, electricity was poorly regulated and would go out for millions of people on a daily basis. The police were no where to be found on the streets throughout Morsi’s presidency, which left the people lawless and the roads violent. Under Morsi’s rule there were frequent gas shortages, intense sexual harassment and no demands of the revolution were met. The youth and women were especially neglected despite all of their sacrifices in 2011. Due to the radical conservative views of The Muslim Brotherhood, the Cairo ballet and opera house were cut from federal funding and nearly outlawed. Imagine if President Obama decided to outlaw the art scene in New Orleans because it was against his religious beliefs.

If you call the overthrow a military coup, then you discredit the nation’s efforts to discontinue terrorism, gender violence, sexual harassment and tyranny disguised as a democratic system. Why are all of

JESSICA DEBOLD/ The Maroon

Egyptians congregate to protest against elected president Muhammad Morsi in Tahrir Square. Since the arrest of Morsi on July 3, Western media has called the overthrow a military coup d’etat. these news organizations reporting this as a military coup when the president interim is unaffiliated with the military? The people started this “coup” and military is helping the people. The army announced that there would be early elections and a new constitution drafted.

Western news media portrays a disturbing bias in favor of The Muslim Brotherhood. Headlines and stories frequently portrayed the military as acting in self-interest.

The protestors’ efforts — a majority of Egyptians — were put on the back burner. Morsi’s overthrow made it clear that the people have hopes for a better Egypt, and they will not settle for an oppressive leader. The Muslim Brotherhood had the opportunity to lead, but instead they just indulged in power and neglected the people.

I believe during these times of instability, revolt and demands for reform, we need to ask ourselves: what is a true democracy? The reality is that democracy today is a rigged system defended mercilessly for and on behalf of the rich and the powerful. Democracy is not

meant to hold the corrupt in power.

Democracy is meant to defend the vote of the people and not votes that were bought with lies and bribes. In my opinion, true democracy died a long time ago for the U.S., considering our dishonest politicians and crony capitalistic system.

It is evident to me that the average citizen and even university student in America is not aware that our government is actively contributing to civil unrest and war in the Middle East. Our citizens pride themselves in having a stable government and civil liberties, but we don’t seem to support honest democracy within Arab nations.

Instead, we would rather close our borders and violate their rights in our airports. We categorize Arabs as violent terrorists, but the truth is that American armed forces have murdered more innocent people on foreign soil each year than Obama will ever publicly admit.

As educated adults with infinite resources at our fingertips, we need to support humanity’s fight for

freedom across the world by staying engaged with the international and domestic policies of our government.

Turn off CNN, Fox and MSNBC. Most mainstream news media is owned by the same five very rich and powerful people. Don’t let these people become simple statistics you see and then forget. What the Egyptians are going through is horrifying, and we should be very angry at the way the news is treating the situation. I want the world to support efforts towards progress and true democracy in Egypt — and Syria and Iraq, etc. Stay engaged and don’t forget that people dying in these countries are real people with families, secrets, dreams, friends, pain and love.

Jessica DeBold can be reached at jtdebold@loyno.edu In My Opinion is a regular column open to all Loyola students. Those interested can contact letter@loyno.edu

“Stand your ground” laws justify crime

EMILY CROCHET In My Opinion “If you shoot someone on the street, drag them into your house and call the police,” states the widespread satirical advice in states such as Louisiana, Florida and the 22 others with Castle Doctrine’s modern self-defense laws. These assure homeowners’ permission to defend themselves and their properties by necessary force. Furthermore, by the derivative sweeping self-defense or “stand your ground” laws, this right extends to any public space. So why

are we surprised and appalled when the law prevents a murder conviction?

According to the majority of media conversations, the much talked-about George Zimmerman trial seems to have been about whether he killed Trayvon Martin. It is not. Rather, it was a trial, a decision as to whether Zimmerman broke the law — and under Florida’s “stand your ground” law, there was no conclusive reason to convict him of the provided charges. So, for a moment, forget this individual circumstance, or popular politics that surround it. The truth is that Zimmerman was not the first to act on Castle Doctrine laws, their mentality, nor will he be the last benefit by their protection.

These laws are a threat not only because they can justify unjust crimes but also because they can inspire them. This was precisely the case two years ago in Shreveport, La., when Donald Aaron saw a strange car in his driveway and followed

it down the street before shooting the driver on the side of the road.

Aaron claimed self-defense. He had rightfully followed the stranger under

“

Not guilty and innocent are not the same.

Emily Crochet

Psychology senior

the belief he was a robber — defense of property — and, provoked by violent speech and a reach for what turned out to be a bottle on the car floor, rightfully shot the man in selfdefense. In this instance, the laws did

not fully protect Aaron because he was convicted of manslaughter and negligent homicide. The problem is that it seems to have been the law and his perceived right to protect home and property that provoked the inevitably violent pursuit.

In a recent news case, a shooting in the Marigny placed a 14-yearold boy in critical condition after a shot to the head. A resident shot a criminal intruder. He is, therefore, within the grounds of Louisiana’s “rightful defense of self and property” laws. He is being tried for attempted second degree murder, similar to Zimmerman, but his case is as of now relatively unknown. It is possible, likely and legally justified that he be declared not guilty of the legal charge.

Not guilty and innocent are not the same. It is not the jury, verdicts or even individuals that are cause for concern, but rather the initial charges and laws. Aaron was convicted of negligent action but was acting under

his perceived rights. Zimmerman was acquitted because, though charges regarding negligence — as in the Aaron case — may have allowed a different outcome, by Florida law there was no evidence of murder.

Yes, all three aforementioned victims were black, their shooters otherwise, and racism does play a part, but this is more than racism. To truly reduce these violent situations, the individual trial cannot be the predominant interest. Each case is only an example, a diversion, of the larger problem. The solution has to be in the recognition of legitimate crimes and the laws that permit or further their occurrence.

Emily Crochet can be reached at ekcrochet@loyno.edu

In My Opinion is a regular column open to all Loyola students. Those interested can contact letter@loyno.edu

PAGE 12

Speech: Wildes discusses plans for university Continued from page 1 university has consistently risen to meet those challenges and emerges stronger than before,” he said.

During the summer months, Wildes contacted the Loyola community, to seek input about how they believed the university could mitigate the impact of the budgetary shortfall created as a result of the drop in freshman enrollment.

The plan is divided between short term and long term solutions, Wildes said.

In an upcoming board of trustees meeting on October 17, Wildes will present a proposal to the board of trustees.

“I will ask the board to approve at a minimum a voluntary retirement plan at the October meeting,” Wildes said.

He said that following the October meeting he will know where the university’s budgetary shortfall stands and whether or not further measures are necessary.

The long term plan seeks to prevent and to avoid future enrollment shortfalls challenges, Wildes said.

“We need to understand what factors contributed to the problems we now face and take the corrective steps that are necessary so it does not reoccur,” Wildes said.

Lauren Patton can be reached at lepatton@loyno.edu

THE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Maroon

FEW: Loyola brings consultants in to find solutions Continued from page 1 upholding Loyola’s academic integrity.

“He has also been very open to suggestions to possible solutions. He is firm in his resolve that academics are at the heart of what we do here at Loyola, and I agree with him completely,” Calzada said via email.

While looking to solve this year’s budget challenge, Loyola is also working to avoid this level of enrollment numbers in the future.

At a recent University Senate meeting, administrators said they hope to draw 850 incoming freshmen next year.

To make that happen, Kaskel said the university is working with two firms, Scannell & Kurz and the Lawlor Group, to assess Loyola’s ability to attract new students.

“We have engaged two nationally known enrollment management firms to work side-by-side with us, not just in enrollment but across the university,” Kaskel said.

Kaskel said that Scannell & Kurz specializes in understanding families’ economic strains in college choice.

She said she believes that Scannell & Kurz will help Loyola ensure “that we are aiding in a way that is realistic for a family to enroll.”

The Lawlor Group specializes in university marketing and branding, Kaskel said. The group will be on campus the first week of classes talking to members of the community to examine how the university “messages” to students, Kaskel said.

Many national experts say that while college enrollment is down nationwide, opportunities still abound for

universities that position themselves competitively.

Philip Oreopoulos, research associate for the National Bureau of Economic Research, said he believes enrollment declines at universities in general are not a national trend. He said the nation’s current economic landscape is pushing more people to see a value in universities.

“It appears to a very good investment,” Oreopoulos said.

Oreopoulos wrote the report “Making College Worth It: A review of Research on the Returns of Higher Education,” issued May 2013.

In the review, Oreopoulos said he believes attending universities will benefit students if they choose schools based on a number of factors, including focusing on programs that the student intends to complete.

He said he believes when students are faced with a choice between similar programs at a private and public university, they will often pick the public option due to the lower cost, which creates a competitive and recruiting challenge for private universities.

On the whole, Loyola officials are optimistic things can turn around here.

“We think we do a good job, but we want to do a better job in telling our prospective families in very compelling ways what is the strength of a Loyola education, and how do we work with students to transform their lives while they’re with us,” Kaskel said.

Karl Gommel can be reached at kagommel@loyno.edu

GOAL: Curriculum is changed to include new objectives Continued from page 1 committee has been reviewing the old common curriculum since spring 2005 by the common curriculum review committee.

The main changes to the common curriculum are both philosophical and structural, Sebastian said.

The committee wanted to change the philosophy of the old common curriculum from being a requirement checklist to representing their idea of what a Loyola graduate should look like, Sebastian said “We have tried to infuse the new curriculum with a number of different learning outcomes and objectives that enable us to reform that kind of

student,” Sebastian said.

The committee rethought the existing requirements structurally in the common curriculum by sharpening the focus on particular requirements, Sebastian said For example, students will be required to have classes that specialize and detail certain aspects presented in a broader course, he said.

The committee also added new elements entirely to the curriculum, he said. Sebastian said he believes the most significant additions are the newly required courses in creative arts and cultures.

To complete the requirements, students will need to take a lab

science experience and additional foreign language credits, he said.

The first year seminar has officially been added into this new common curriculum, he said.

When deciding the new common curriculum, the committee asked different faculty work groups to decide on learning outcomes. 25 different learning outcomes were chosen across different courses, such as critical thinking and written and oral communication.

Students can view their online Degree Program Course listing and see the new common curriculum, Sebastian said “We want students who graduate

who are critical thinkers, who are excellent communicators both in written and oral form, who have a knowledge and an understanding of different forms of disciplinary knowledge, who understand our unique Jesuit Catholic identity and mission and who are really transformed into people who will go out into the world and change it for the better,” Sebastian said.

Burke Bischoff can be reached at bwbischo@loyno.edu