September 29, 2017 by Loyola Maroon

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 96 • Issue 6 • September 29, 2017

THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA

Study abroad program aims to boost diversity By Chasity Pugh cmpugh@my.loyno.edu @chasitypugh_

Seeing the world, being immersed in a new culture and honing language skills are just a few of the opportunities students can expect from studying abroad. Although 30 percent of Loyola students choose to go abroad to enjoy a new experience, the university’s international studies department hopes to raise the percentage of students of color participating in the program. While the percentage of African-American students studying abroad slowly rises, Loyola's Center for International Education's new initiative includes adding more students of color within the peer adviser group to encourage travel. Courtney Graves, marketing senior and peer adviser for the study abroad office, is excited about helping students since she is a woman of color who has traveled abroad. Graves spent her junior year at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. “We are currently working on a marketing campaign in the office to increase the participation of minorities in study abroad programs,” Graves said. Debra Danna, director of the Center for International Education, agreed that growing interest among students of color to study abroad is an important issue that the department is working on. “We have been working on diversifying the population who studies abroad for a long time. We are not where we should be yet, but we are getting better,” Danna said. After doing a review of the program’s numbers, Danna said that, for the 2016-2017 period, of the undergraduate students who went abroad on academic programs or with a faculty member, about 34 percent were students of color. “The number of African-Americans was 12.9 percent, up from 4.7 percent in 2011-2012. Again, not good enough, but better,” Danna said. According to the Institute of International Education, only 5 percent of students who study abroad during college are African-American with the rest being other races. In the institute's 2015 annual report, they expressed their interest in diversity and growth in U.S. study abroad programs through their Generation Study Abroad initiative, which works with a variety of stakeholders to provide financial support through scholarships. Lack of financial support paired with highly competitive scholarship applications for travel make some students drop their thoughts of traveling to their dream destination, said Alliciyia George, A’17. During her junior year in the fall of 2016, George made the decision to study abroad at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. George said that her admiration for travel and her desire to broaden horizons

beyond her hometown of Zachary, Louisiana influenced the decision. “I traveled to other states and cities but never out of the country, so I chose to study abroad. That, paired with the fact that it was affordable and I could fulfill my degree while traveling, helped me make my decision,” George said. Prior to enrolling at Loyola, George said the university appealed to her because they gave all students the opportunity to study abroad. When she finally attended and saw how the school worked to put a program together to learn in a new country, she was all in. She said that the group of students she studied with were a diverse bunch. “We had a mixed group with six of us in total. Three of us were African-American and three others were white. There were three females and three males. These are all of the people that applied, so when it comes to applying, it is all about giving minorities that push,” George said. From research she has seen, however, George said minorities are not applying to go abroad as often as others, and that makes it hard to raise the numbers. “Some feel Loyola has hoops that students must jump through to study abroad, but it is not to hinder people — it shows that you want to work for it. I don’t think it is unfair, but people get discouraged by that reason or say that they cannot afford it and therefore apply less often,” George said. Rodriana Edwards, psychology pre-med major and peer adviser in the study abroad office, said that one of the reasons she applied was to represent those minorities that are underrepresented within the program. “After I met the two Korean exchange students that went to Sogang University, they really encouraged me to apply and visit their school. So I did,” Edwards said. Edwards studied in the fall of 2016 at Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea. After returning to the U.S., she took the offer of being a peer adviser in the Center for International Education office where she shares with students of color the possibilities of studying abroad. “I want to let students know that if you’re worried about finances, or even courses, that if you come and make an appointment with me, that is the first step in learning about it. You can overcome those obstacles, no matter the case, to follow your dreams of going abroad,” Edwards said. According to Edwards, having a fellow peer help guide students with their process of going abroad can be of significant assistance, since they feel more comfortable speaking with someone who has successfully gone through the program. "White women dominate when it comes to studying abroad," Danna said. "So it helps when I have African-American women in the office because they say 'Well, they look

Courtesy of Rodriana Edwards

Rodriana Edwards, psychology pre-med senior and peer adviser in Loyola's study abroad office poses with the flag of South Korea. Edwards attended Sogang University in the fall of 2016 and made several friends with whom she still stays in touch.

like me' and realize they too can accomplish that goal. Representation matters.” Danna said that her office has always marketed to students of color for that reason and ensures that students have peers who can relate to their situations. Both she and the advisers emphasize that everyone has the opportunity to travel. After traveling to Taiwan, Juli Smith, A’17, wrote a short letter to students of color by sharing her perspective on different cultural norms and discrimination while abroad as an African-American woman. Serv-

ing as a peer adviser, Smith gave advice to those nervous about their new experience. “Our experiences abroad are going to be different. Whether you directly experience discrimination or one of your new friends does, learn from it. We’re the generation that gets to change this, domestically and internationally,” Smith said. As for the advice that Danna gives to those interested in embarking on a foreign journey, she said the first step is to plan early. “The very first time you meet with your academic adviser, tell

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them you want to go abroad. That will allow you to see which requirements you can fulfill and help you find a university that fits best,” Danna said. She also said remaining flexible and avoiding the myths that surround study abroad programs is important. “I encourage students to remain persistent and simply come talk to us about it. We will figure something out,” Danna said.

September 29, 2017

THE MAROON

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Residence Burglary 5900 Block of Freret St

Sept. 20

3:24 p.m.

Shoplifting 6000 Block of Magazine St

Sept. 20

4:47 p.m.

Theft 7900 Block of St Charles Ave

Sept. 21

12:23 p.m.

Simple Burglary Vehicle 1800 Block of Lowerline St

Sept. 22

1:03 a.m.

Shoplifting 6200 Block of S Claiborne Ave

Sept. 22

8:51 a.m.

Theft from Exterior 6500 Block of Magazine St

Sept. 23

12:08 p.m.

Simple Burglary Vehicle 200 Block of Audubon St

Sept. 25

8:20 a.m.

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Sept. 25

10:13 a.m.

Bicycle Theft 7300 Block of Hickory St

Sept. 25

11:38 a.m.

Bicycle Theft 800 Block of Audubon St

Sept. 25

4:57 p.m.

Theft 6500 Block of Magazine St

Sept. 25

7:38 p.m.

Simple Battery Domestic 2700 Block of Cadiz St

Sept. 25

10:12 p.m.

news

September 29, 2017 The Maroon

news briefs Provost: Presidential Search to include students, faculty, staff

Erin Snodgrass/ The Maroon

Osama Ayyad, mass communication and political science sophomore and veteran, helps students check out cameras and electronics in the equipment room. Ayyad is also part of the Veteran’s Association, a place where he is able to connect with other veterans on campus.

Loyola offers a community for veterans By Lacinea Mcbride ltmcbrid@my.loyno.edu

Among the accolades Loyola received in U.S. News and World Report’s “2018 Best Colleges,” one of those was being a top 10 school for veterans. But what is it about Loyola and the veterans at the university that made for such recognition? This year’s Student Veteran’s Association President Joseph Hyde attributes Loyola’s ranking to it being one of the few private universities in the nation to supply full benefits for veteran education. Through the “Yellow Ribbon Program,” a post9/11 GI bill, which offers benefits to help service members cover costs associated with education, Loyola matches whatever the Department of Veterans Affairs pays for their

schooling. Hyde said The Veteran’s Association exists to build an informal network and community among veterans on campus, and to represent veterans’ concerns and interests to Loyola’s administration, and the community at large. “We are mostly focused on keeping vets informed of who the other vets are on campus for any questions and answers on academic issues or otherwise,” Hyde said. Founded by Marine Corps veteran and Loyola alumnus J.D. Silva in the spring of 2015, Loyola’s Student Veterans Association hosts two to three events a year; one meet and greet, one mixer or tailgate and one volunteer event. Kathy Gros, director of Student Records and Registration Services, is responsible for submitting the veterans’ paperwork

each semester so they receive their VA benefits. Loyola’s Student Veteran’s Association serves just over 100 people, half of those being children or spouses of veterans using post-9/11 benefits, Gros said. “Any active duty or veteran status qualifies. No ROTC. There are approximately a dozen active members and passively several dozens who reach out when they have questions or concerns,” Hyde said. Another association member is Osama Ayyad, a 29-year-old Palestinian-American Muslim, a first-generation American and the first in his family to join the military. He spent five years in the army as a rocket artilleryman and public affairs specialist. Currently, he studies mass communication and political science, while working two jobs --

one at Loyola’s equipment room and one at WWL-TV. “The Veteran’s Association is what I like to call the ‘Island of Misfit Toys’, and that’s where I belong,” Ayyad said in an email interview. His experience as a service member changed him, Ayyad said, and he is grateful for the VA on campus. For Ayyad, the Loyola Veteran’s Association is a safe place where diversity of opinion is welcomed and he wants students to know how much veterans have to offer in the classroom and elsewhere. “My work ethic; my language; my expressions; my mannerisms; my mindset. It’s all different. That doesn’t make all us vets the same; it just makes us different from the rest,” he said.

Residential Life adds new spin with Wolf Pack Weekend By Madison McLoughlin mmmcloug@my.loyno.edu

Every year, Loyola hosts Family Weekend, but this year, plans are a little bit different. Instead of just inviting current students’ family members, Loyola is extending an invitation to all alumni, and changing the name from Family Weekend to Wolf Pack Weekend: Welcome Back to the Pack! This weekend begins on Friday, Sept. 29 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 1. According to Amy Boyle, director of Residential Life, Loyola is expecting about 350 guests, which is about the same number as last year’s event brought in. “With the recent natural disasters, we have heard from a few families that they will not be able to make the weekend this year, and so I do not think we will see a significant increase in registrations,” Boyle said. In an email sent out to students on Monday, she reminded those affected by the recent hurricanes that the Loyola community is here to support them, and students should not hesitate to reach out to university staff and faculty.

For those that will attend, the weekend will offer various activities for families and alumni to participate in. On Friday, there is class shadowing as well as an open house at the Student Success Center, and a Study Abroad Fair. The weekend will also integrate alumni members in the festivities in an alumni panel titled “From Wolf Pup to Pack Leader.” On Saturday, the university is offering guests a variety of specialized tours throughout New Orleans. From historic bus tours to eating pralines, the tours begin in the morning, followed by faculty-led seminars in the afternoon. “Our welcome reception and city tours are very popular. New this year is a career panel of alum who will discuss their Loyola degree and how it shaped their career,” Boyle said. “This year we are also bringing back the living community lunch, which encouraged relationship building among campus residents and commuter students.” Sunday morning will feature one of the most popular events: the Jazz Brunch. The meal features a classic New Orleans menu as well as live jazz music in the Orleans Room. Charlotte Coughlin, design soph-

Loyola’s nationwide search for a new university president is beginning, and the community will have the opportunity to voice opinions and preferences. In an email sent out by David Borofsky, interim provost, he announced that Isaacson Miller, the presidential search firm hired by Loyola, would be on campus Thursday and Friday, Sept. 28-29, to begin conversations with faculty, staff, students and alumni about what they are looking for in the next president. Staff and faculty were asked to sign up for scheduled sessions throughout Thursday and Friday. For those unable to attend, an anonymous form was provided in the email for community members to submit their thoughts. Borofsky provided guiding questions to think about when considering the attributes desired in the candidates. He asked recipients to think about the suspected changes in their organizations and programs in the upcoming years, and which activities needed to be sustained, enhanced and initiated. He also asked to consider the subjective measure for determining someone’s success. More information about getting involved in the presidential search can be found on Loyola’s website.

‘Life by the Drop,’ forum on NOLA water management hosted in Nunemaker On Thursday (Sept. 28), a panel of New Orleans public officials, professionals and professors gathered in Nunemaker Auditorium to discuss many of the issues New Orleans faces with water. The event, called “Life by the Drop,” tackled issues such as coastal erosion, unreliable power generation and the potential for lead exposure faced in the city. The group included New Orleans Chief Resilience Officer Jeffrey P. Herbert, Assistant Inspector General Nadiene Van Dyke, Urban and Landscpare architect J. David Waggonner III and Loyola College of Law Professor Robert R.M. Verchick. The event was moderated by Loyola urban historian Eric M. Hardy and sponsored by the Environment Program and the Center for the Study of New Orleans at Loyola.

Loyola ‘Streetcar Stories’ finalist for PR award

Courtesy of Department of Student Involvement

The Orleans Room plays host to the Jazz Brunch on Sunday of Family Weekend in 2015. This year, Residential Life is inviting alumni, as well as families.

omore, had her parents and sister come visit for Family Weekend last year. Her mother, Deirdre Coughlin, was appreciative of the valuable opportunities the event allowed she and her family to experience. “Our family’s favorite part of Family Weekend was spending time with Charlotte in her new surroundings and learning more about Loyola with her. We enjoyed the lunch, Sun-

day mass, brunch and meeting other classmates and parents. We also loved exploring New Orleans, going to a music festival, walking around Audubon Park, dining out and having sno-balls.” A full schedule of events for the weekend can be found on Loyola’s website.

Angelique Dyer, digital marketing manager for the marketing and communications department, has been nominated for her work on Streetcar Stories, a web series featuring 2-5 minute videos highlighting the Loyola community that began last fall. Her nomination is a Platinum Award by PR News for best visual storytelling. Hosted by Edwin Unzalu, A’17, and produced by Dyer, the series was filmed on the New Orleans streetcar and integrated visual storytelling, music, and interviews. “We’re currently brainstorming our next series, and may be bringing Streetcar Stories back!. Not sure yet,” Dyer said.

WORLDVIEW

September 29, 2017 The Maroon

Associated Press

In this Sept. 15, 2017 photo, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos talks with Gracie Johnson during a hog roast before a high school football game between Eastern Hancock and Knightstown in Charlottesville, Indiana. DeVos uses a private jet to fly around the country to tour schools and attend other work events, the Associated Press has learned. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

DeVos rescinds Obama-era sexual assault guidelines By Rose Wagner rmwagner@my.loyno.edu @rosemwagner

On Sept. 22, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos officially rescinded Obama-era guidelines for campus sexual assault. These guidelines were established in a letter, referred to as “Dear Colleague,” that the Office for Civil Rights sent to colleges receiving federal funds in 2011. Dear Colleague used Title IX, a policy that bans educational institutions from discrimination based on sex, to set strict federal guidelines for how colleges investigate and assess instances of sexual assault on campus. According to the

guidelines, there does not have to be proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a student is responsible for sexually aggressive or abusive behavior for them to be deemed “guilty” by an educational institution. Rather, there must be a preponderance of the evidence. This means that the majority, not all, of the evidence presented must point to the accused’s guilt in order for them to face institutional repercussions. It is this threshold of evidence that DeVos has overturned. She now has spoken in favor of a higher standard referred to as “clear and convincing evidence” which requires a high probability that an assault occurred in order for a university to punish the accused. Despite voicing her support for

this new standard, DeVos has not officially issued a policy replacement for the Obama-era guidelines that she rescinded. However, DeVos stated she plans to roll out new guidelines after a public comment period that will likely span over several months. In the meantime, it is left to universities to decide upon their own standard of evidence. The Dear Colleague guidelines established under Obama also required schools to provide accusers with the opportunity to appeal non-guilty verdicts, an option that under the DeVos administration is no longer a guarantee. Patricia Boyett, head of the Women’s Resource Center at Loyola, voiced her concern for DeVos’ stance on campus sexual assault.

“I am deeply concerned about how any changes under DeVos will affect survivors. I serve as an advocate and procedural advisor for survivors. I need every tool provided to universities under the Obama guidelines to do my work. I would like more tools, not less,” Boyett said. These policy rollbacks, in conjunction with her speech at George Mason University on Sept. 7, mark a radical change in the Department of Education’s perspective on campus sexual assault. While her speech contained assurances for victims and the declaration that “one assault is one too many,” DeVos also stated that under Obama-era guidelines “any perceived offense can become a full-blown Title IX investigation.

But if everything is harassment, nothing is.” According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, false reporting occurs approximately 2 to 10 percent of the time when they’re reported while 63 percent of sexual assaults go unreported to the police. Cissy Petty, vice president for Student Affairs and associate provost, has stated that the university will continue to follow the Title IX processes as outlined in the student handbook. Petty also noted, “the university has a thorough process, which is designed to care for the survivor and to seek justice.”

Leonidas, Hollygrove residents fear gentrification By Andrew Callaghan atcallag@my.loyno.edu

Some Leonidas and Hollygrove residents are fearing gentrification as students move into the neighborhood for short-term housing rentals and sublets. Leonidas, known informally as “Pigeon Town,” is a lower-income, historically black neighborhood on the western fringe of the Carrollton neighborhood. Adjacent to Leonidas is its northern neighbor, Hollygrove, which is also predominantly black and low-income. Both of these neighborhoods border East Carrollton, a more affluent area traditionally rented by Tulane and Loyola students. According to a 2015 study conducted by the New Orleans Data Research Center, average gross rent in East Carrollton is $1,555 a month. In Leonidas, rent is $972 a month, and in Hollygrove, it’s just $875. For some students, the proximal convenience of renting in East Carrollton doesn’t justify its costly price tag. Many students are willing to

live further away from campus for a cheaper rent cost. Isaac Worley, a popular and commercial music junior, echoes this feeling. This semester, he moved from on-campus dormitories to a house in Hollygrove. “It’s close enough, and it’s considerably cheaper. It’s 300 bucks less than living in Carrollton, so it’s pretty worth it,” Worley said. Laci McBride, sociology junior, moved to Leonidas last spring. Despite inexpensive rent costs, she is uncomfortable living there. Both of her neighbors are now Loyola students, and relations between locals and students are increasingly tense, she says. “I didn’t realize there’d be so many families, so many old families who’ve always been here,” McBride said, “Whole generations upon generations of families in houses, and college kids scattered in between. I definitely feel the resentment toward us from [locals].” HousingNola, an affordable housing advocacy organization, recently noted Leonidas as a “Diamond Zone.” This indicates that

the area has seen “drastic increase in household income, home prices and rents,” making the area “more susceptible to the displacement of low-income residents.” Ideally, neighborhood homeowners would benefit from this influx of renters. However, Paul Baricos, interim general manager at Hollygrove Market and Farm, explains that many of the landlords who own these rental properties are from outside the community and aren’t interested in neighborhood revitalization. “In terms of rental property, we have a lot of absentee landlords. They don’t live here, so they aren’t part of the neighborhood, all they want is that rental check,” Baricos said, “so you probably have a lot of long-term renters really feeling the pressure.” Craig Gemellus, a 21-year-old graphic designer and musical artist who grew up in the Hollygrove and Leonidas area, now finds himself “priced out,” and unable to find affordable rent in his native neighborhood. He blames student renters and absentee landlords for the in-

flated rental market. “The people moving in are from a different financial background. These [students] aren’t supporting this neighborhood, they’re going to Tulane and Loyola and putting their money into these campus stores instead of putting it into local businesses,” Gemellus said, “So in five years, these businesses won’t be around.” Julianna Padgett, president of the Carrollton-Riverbend Neighborhood Association, is aware of Leonidas’ redevelopment and has spent the last six months developing a plan to protect affordable housing in the neighborhood. She plans to approach the Housing Authority of New Orleans with a plan that will optimize affordable and subsidized housing units in the neighborhood. “If students are moving further into the neighborhood, that can impact housing prices, and if a lot of apartments are dedicated to students, then regular folks might have a harder time finding an affordable place to live,” Padgett said. McBride, who now sees herself as a gentrifier, said she is compelled to

make a positive contribution to the community while she completes her lease in Leonidas. “Because I’m privileged enough to choose where I live and many of these people aren’t, I would definitely be interested in helping out my neighbors,” McBride said. Padgett suggests that students concerned with the negative effects of their economic footprint could consider local volunteer work to engage the community’s youth. “Nicole Bouie owns and runs a community center at Leonidas and Spruce, and would appreciate volunteer tutors for kids in her after-school program. I can imagine that there other are initiatives that students could get involved in. We’d welcome that,” Padgett said. Gemellus, who was priced out of the neighborhood, is more pessimistic about the idea of students helping the neighborhood while simultaneously contributing to its gentrification. “Really, it’s a tricky situation,” he said.

THE MAROON

September 29, 2017

C R O S S W O R D

Across

1. “Death of a Salesman” salesman Willy 6. Abysmal grades 9. “__ Cross”: 1949 Lancaster movie 14. Friend’s opposite 15. Minor point to pick 16. Convened again 17. Unwise act that could be dangerous 19. Video game pioneer 20. Singing syllable 21. Vicinity 22. Type of cleansing acid 23. Actress Skye 25. Time-out for a cigarette 27. Upper crust groups 29. Courage and fortitude 30. Done in, as a dragon 31. Swoosh company 34. Cold War state: Abbr. 35. Dashboard music provider 39. Oral health org. 42. “Piece of cake!” 43. Real doozies 47. Dips for tortilla chips 50. Agree 51. Pre-talkies movie 55. “Please leave your message at the __” 56. Illegal lending tactic 57. Wrath, in a hymn 58. Round green veggie 59. Helped 60. Hot chili designation, and a literal description of the starts of 17-, 25-, 35- and 51-Across 63. “The Accidental Tourist” actress Davis 64. Z, alphabet-wise 65. Start of a tennis point 66. Opinion piece 67. Part of GPS: Abbr. 68. Passover feast

Down

1. Southpaws 2. Winning at craps, say 3. First lady after Michelle 4. Wee hrs. 5. PBS “Science Guy” Bill 6. Huge, in verse 7. “Hawaii __”: TV cop show 8. T-bone, for one 9. Buster who played Flash Gordon 10. Sharp comeback 11. Turkish travel shelters 12. Continuing stories 13. Place for a new-car price 18. Sunday service 24. Suffix with diet 26. 911 situation: Abbr. 28. Disney doe 31. CIA cousin 32. “__ not up to me”

33. Vitally important 36. Relax 37. Overhead trains 38. Kick out of office 39. Appease 40. Yellow-disked flowers 41. Refers casually (to) 44. Spotted wildcat 45. Rattle 46. Soft-shell clam 48. Williams of tennis 49. Very soon 50. From the States: Abbr. 52. Small winds paired with drums 53. Literary twist 54. Heaps pra ise on 61. Beast of burden 62. Golfer Trevino

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Life &Times

September 29, 2017 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

UPCOMING EVENTS 9/27-10/22 Southern Rep and NOCCA Stage Company present ‘Fun Home’ Description: A cartoonist explores her past and her family’s secrets in this musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic.” Location: NOCCA Nims Black Box Theatre, 2800 Chartres St. (7:30 p.m., 3 p.m. for matinees) Price: $25-40, $8 for Loyola family and $8 NOCCA students and faculty

9/28 Aaron Cohen Band and Organized Crime Description: Aaron Cohen Band and Organized Crime perform (18+) Location: Gasa Gasa (8 p.m.) Price: $10

CRISTIAN ORELLANA / The Maroon

Fortune teller Miss Stephanie preforms tarot card readings at Jackson Square. The New Orleans Psychic Fair will be held, consisting of psychics ranging from mediums, tarot card readers, a mah-jong tile reader and vendors selling metaphysical supplies, will be held at 3803 Toulouse St. on Oct. 6 and Dec. 30.

There’s a psychic fair in your future By Payton Whittaker pmwhitta@my.loyno.edu

Seeking to boost the mind, body and spirit with a celebration, The Cannery at 3803 Toulouse St. hosts its New Orleans Psychic Fair on Oct. 6 and Dec. 30. With vendors ranging from mediums to witchcraft suppliers, the fair represents a coming-together of people working in the metaphysical fields. Debra (Luna) Gonzalez, a vendor there, is a Mah-jong and tarot card reader who owns Snake Oil Tarot and Apothecary. Gonzalez said she has always been attracted to this field of study. She was raised Catholic but she said it never gave her what she was looking for. “This lead me on a philosophical quest of sorts for the truth,” Gonzalez said of her occupation. A friend taught her tarot and Mah-jong reading 11 years ago. Gonzalez has now been doing it on

her own for the past five years, and she believes New Orleans has deep cultural roots for things of this nature. “Famous cultural characters like Marie Laveau, an extremely powerful, free woman of color that did spiritual psychic work for people were hugely influential in things like court cases,” Gonzalez said. She also said New Orleans being a port city brings out a mixture of spiritualities. “Places that are ports are the crossroads,” Gonzalez said. “[The] element of water brings out imagination and sensitivity and becomes a heightened place for that.” Another vendor that will be present at the psychic fair is Linda Murphy, who owns The Witch Depot. Murphy believes in the power of healing through stones and has collected stones herself since she was 13 years old. Murphy grew up in a “haunted” plantation home in Mississippi where she said she used to have

dreams that would come true. “The dreams became true so often and scared me so bad,” Murphy said. “I actually turned off the ability at around 16. I have not had a vision come true since about 18.” Swami Stone, another vendor who collects stones, claims to be a “healer,” who picks up stones from wherever she travels. Stone, like Murphy, said she experienced abilities as a child such as being able to read minds and see the future. With the help of a Yogi, she said she was able to reach enlightenment and unlock her full potential. “Through meditating, my head exploded and energy went through my body and at age 33, I was activated,” Stone said. Although New Orleans is often associated with the supernatural, such as its cultural connection to Voodoo, events like these are often not well attended, according to Sid Patrick, who is president of the Metaphysical Resource Center.

“Other large cities like Dallas and Atlanta have quadruple the size that we do,” Patrick said. After Katrina, Patrick’s Metaphysical Resource Center hosted occasional fairs for several of the shops that had closed down. “The success of the fairs told us there were needs for this type of ongoing education and healing,” Patrick said. Patrick hopes that one day, the New Orleans Psychic Fair will be as big as the events in Dallas and Atlanta. “We strive to bring the best in the form of educators, psychics, mediums and healers to the public,” Patrick said. Gonzalez said her favorite part about attending the fair is that “you meet interesting people who are open-minded.” In addition to their work in the metaphysical there, Stone said vendors also strive to create a welcoming environment which she describes as a place of “no judgement.”

City Park Ghost in the Oaks tickets vanish into thin air By Melody Bigelow mfbigelo@my.loyno.edu

Ghosts in the Oaks, a fundraising event hosted by Friends of City Park, has sold out faster than usual this year. This “non-scary” Halloween benefit will have a range of activities, primarily geared toward children. Some of those include arts and crafts, musical entertainment, airbrush face painting and unlimited rides in the Carousel Gardens. Those attending are welcomed to dress up in costume. “The best part is seeing the kids and their parents each night dressed in

their costumes and ready to have fun,” Jennifer Montgomery, a spokeswoman for Friends of City Park, said. The organization formed in 1979, while the Ghost in the Oaks event started in 1995. Over the past 22 years, the celebration has grown from a oneday event to a three-day celebration. Aliyah Franklin, English writing junior, said she is disappointed that she won’t be able to attend this year since tickets have already sold out, according to the event’s Facebook page. Franklin was planning on taking her seven-year old cousin, Mackenzie, to the family-oriented Halloween celebration.

“I thought Ghost in the Oaks would have been great because it’s catered to kids. Mackenzie will be disappointed, but I will have to take her to a Halloween party,” Franklin said. While there are no more guest tickets, there are still opportunities to get in on the event, as volunteer positions remain available. Those positions include setting up arts and crafts and working with children. The only volunteer requirement is being over the age of 16. “Next year I’ll definitely have to prepare more. I might consider volunteering, but only if I get to scare some of the kids,” Franklin said.

Tickets originally ranged from $1220 and each night has a maximum of 2,200 people. Over its three-day celebration, Ghost in the Oaks will have a total of 6,600 guests. Although the event is not for another month, organizers decided to pull the plug on further ticket sales. “If we sell any more, then the lines for the rides and activities will get too long and guests might not have a very enjoyable experience,” Montgomery said. Proceeds will be donated towards improvements for the Carousel Gardens and Storyland.

9/29-10/7 Loyola University Theatre Arts Department present ‘The Christians’ Description: Directed by C. Patrick Gendusa, Lucas Hnath’s “The Christians” centers on Pastor Paul about to preach a sermon that will shake the foundation of his congregation’s beliefs. Location: Marquette Theater Price: $15 general admission, $12 seniors, $10 students, faculty and staff

9/30 Big Ups and Hound Concert Description: Big Ups and Hound perform (18+) Location: Gasa Gasa (8 p.m.) Price: $10

10/1-10/29 Spine Chilling Sundays Description: A horror movie premieres every Sunday in October. House on Haunted Hill (1959), Carnival of Souls (1962), White Zombie (1932), Dementia 13 (1963) and Nosferatu (1922) are the films of the month. Location: Prytania Theatre Price: Free

10/4 Delgado Theatre presents ‘Seascape’ Description: This play by Edward Albee follows two couples, one human and one lizard, discussing their lives on a beach. Location: Delgado Drama Hall, 615 City Park Ave., 3rd Floor of Building 1 (8 p.m., 3 p.m. for matinees) Price: $12 general admission, $10 for Delgado students, faculty, staff and senior citizens, $8 for all area high school students with student group rates available.

September 29, 2017

The Maroon

SPORTS

September 29, 2017 The Maroon

Tennis team revamps roster, adds depth By Brian Wollitz bawollit@my.loyno.edu @brian_wollitz

The addition of new players to the tennis program has given head coach Kyle Russell something to get excited about heading into the upcoming season. During the offseason, Russell added two freshmen to the women’s team and added a division one sophomore transfer to help strengthen a team that finished with a program record seven wins last season. On the men’s side, four freshmen and a sophomore transfer join a team that Russell said lost leadership and experience with the departure of upperclassmen. “The girls we brought in this year will make a huge impact and I feel like the teams before this one did a great job of building a base and a culture and now we’re in a position where we can really take the next step,” Russell said. Koral Martinez, biology and premed junior, said her new teammates will help improve the team and it has already changed the vibe at practice. “We have a lot of new girls and they’re really good, they all have something different to bring to the table. Last semester we didn’t have many players and now that we do have good players and more girls, practice is more serious, and people are more into it,” Martinez said. Russell said the women’s roster is at a strong point right now and he is looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish this year. “I may even be more excited about the women’s team than the men’s team right now, so we’re just putting it all together. Just the attitude has changed, the spirit on the team, the pride and just taking things from the abstract to actually seeing the reality come to fruition,” Russell said. After bringing in the talent that he envisioned for the women, Russell said that it is his responsibility to help polish his players’ skills to field the best possible team.

The Maroon

Anthony Zaleski, biology senior practices his serve in City Park. The men’s tennis team kicks off their fall season on Oct. 6 while the women’s team begins on Oct. 12.

“Kind of top to bottom we really don’t have any weaknesses anymore. So now I feel like I got the raw materials to work with so it’s a little bit more on my shoulders. It becomes less about recruiting and more about developing the talent,” Russell said. With new faces on the men’s ros-

ter and loss of leadership, Russell is looking for the younger players to step up. “We need everybody to step in and contribute right away. Freshman kind of tend to think that, ‘Oh I’ll just kind of get in the back seat this year and then next year maybe step it up,’ but we don’t really have

time for that losing all the upperclassmen that we did.” A bright spot for the men’s team last year was their doubles play, but the loss of last year’s graduates has Russell shuffling players around and creating different combinations to find the best pairs. “There’s more unknowns this year, but I feel like we’re more talented than we were last year. So now we have to find the right combinations, who has the right chemistry,” Russell said. However Sean Presti, business junior, is hungry to accomplish what the program has never done. “Our main objective is to be ranked. I think we’ve never beat a ranked team before, so the first step is beating a ranked team in our division, which I think is going to happen this year, because I feel really confident about it,” Presti said. Something that Russell also implemented this semester was a stricter workout plan off the court. “There’s way more training outside of tennis too, so like physical training, workouts are way more intense than last year I’d say,” Presti said. To help accommodate all the new faces to the program, Russell gave the incoming freshman a “big brother” or “big sister” to help aid them in their transition to college. Russell said he also sees the program taking a leadership by committee approach and he has seen signs that make him optimistic. “We’re so young, but we’re already starting to see some of the sophomores step forward and really take ownership of the team,” Russell said. With both rosters in place, Martinez feels that it is up to the players to take the next step and holding themselves accountable to develop their game in order to be the best players they can moving into the season. “We all know what we have to work on, so we have to work for it. It’s more on us than Coach,” Martinez said.

Sports briefs Women’s golf team finishes fourth Led by international business freshman Alejandra Bedoya Tobar, the Wolf Pack wrapped up the Carey Collegiate Fall Classic on Tuesday, Sept. 26 with a 628 (+52) team score, placing Loyola 4th out of 10 Southern State Athletic Conference teams. Bedoya Tobar opened the tournament shooting a 72 on the first day, tying a program record for the lowest individual round. Bedoya Tobar finished the event individually in 12th place overall. The women’s golf team will get the rest of the month off before they hit the green again on Oct. 23 for the Redhawk Fall Invitational while the men’s golf team will compete in the NAIA Battle of the Bayou in New Orleans on Oct. 9.

Cross country team travels to Alabama The Wolf Pack will travel to Oxford Lake & Recreation Center, Alabama this Saturday, Sept. 30 to face multiple other collegiate teams in the Jacksonville State Foothills Invitational. They will look to continue their good form coming off their last meet, where a number of runners were able to achieve personal records in paces and times. This meet is the penultimate event of the season for the cross country team before the Southern State Athletic Conference Championships on Nov. 3.

Rugby looks to continue perfect season The Wolf Pack (2-0) will face the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (0-1) this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Gretna. The team is coming off a 32-27 win against Louisiana Tech last Saturday, Sept. 23, moving them to a 2-0 record overall and 1-0 in division play in the Deep South Rugby Conference.

Volleyball team finds its groove after slow start to the season By Cristian Orellana ceorella@my.loyno.edu @ceorellana8

After shutting out the Middle Georgia State University, Brewton-Parker and Talladega College back-to-back-to-back this past week, the Loyola volleyball team still continues to improve throughout the season by focusing on head coach Jesse Zabel’s points of emphases for the Wolf Pack. “I’m hopeful that with continued work in the gym, we will move beyond expectations and peak as we enter the second round of conference match-ups,” head volleyball coach Zabel said. Zabel says the team is meeting expectations and is still growing. Zabel says the team is working on what they call “volleyball IQ,” where the players try to really understand the strategy of the game, not only being involved when the ball is on our side of the net but knowing & understanding what’s happening on the other side of the net.

“The more we know, the smarter we can be about what hitters we set, where those hitters will hit, and how we set up our blockers and defenders,” Zabel said. Speaking of the offence and defense, Zabel gave shout outs to junior education major Maddie Huekels, general studies sophomore Sunni Rae Blanchard, junior biology major Allison Hartmann, psychology sophomore Malea Howie, psychology sophomore Beatriz Agosto, and sophomore mass communications major Tylar Beckham for making great attacks and blocks offensively. Defensively, she said freshman psychology major Helene Masone paced the team with many digs every match. Zabel is emphasizing the phase “trust the process” to the whole team. “All of these girls are learning, or relearning a lot of information on a daily basis, and at times it may look worse before it gets better. We are trying to embrace that and learn from those moments to ultimately reach success,” Zabel said. Senior business major and vol-

JULES SANTOS/ The Maroon

Coming off their 3-1 win against Tougaloo College on Wednesday, Sept. 26, the joyful Wolf Pack gather together as a team. The team will travel to Pulaski, Tennessee this weekend to kick off their upcoming three-game road trip.

leyball player, Lindsay Ulfig, is also trying to become a smarter player by being aware of what is happening on the other side of the court. “I am really excited for the upcoming weeks because we have a few home games coming up. We have been learning a lot from the last couple games on the road and

I’m excited to have some more games in our new gym,” Ulfig said. With more consistant conference play coming up, Zabel thinks the team can keep up. “I’m seeing moments of greatness within matches, and we are looking to string more of those moments together within a match as we contin-

ue on in the season,” Zabel said. As of Sept. 26, the Wolf Pack is riding a four-game winning streak. three of which of those wins being shutouts, and stand 9-7 overall. The team will head to Pulaski, Tennessee on Friday, Sept 29 to ride their momentum into an interstate threegame road trip.

The Maroon

September 29, 2017

JC scrutinizes sports (special edition): Loyola’s gym equipment falls flat IN MY OPINION By JC Canicosa jccanico@loyno.edu @JCcanico

JC CANICOSA/ The Maroon

This is one of the pieces of gym equipment that the University Sports Complex hands out to students post-renovations. Yes, that’s tape attempting to keep the leather on the basketball together.

The day was September 6, 2017. I had just gotten out of my last class of the day, but knew I’d have to get right back to the grind in a couple hours because it was press night (the night that all the sections editors like me work until the twilight hours of the night to get their section of the Maroon ready for print). I badly needed to de-stress beforehand and I knew just the way. The sports complex had finally fully re-opened that day, and after waiting for weeks, I could at long last reunite with God’s greatest gift to planet Earth: basketball. As I was going up the elevator to the fifth floor of the sports complex, I couldn’t help but feel giddy, almost child-on-Christmas-morning giddy. The summer months of playing

pick-up basketball on raggedy outdoor hoops in San Francisco were finally over and I would get to go back to my newly renovated, fully furnished, collegiate-grade Loyola basketball courts. When the elevator finally dinged open and I saw the new hardwood floors, freshly painted courts and good ol’ Wolfie looking fierce as ever, I felt like a child who had just laid their eyes on a wrapped present that was the exact same shape and size of the new Pokemon game that they wrote down and circled three times on their Christmas list under the tree with their name on it. I almost didn’t care that I was probably going to be spending the rest of my day in the Maroon office, scrambling to find pictures and fill white spaces in a futile effort to finish up before Bruno’s handed out their last wine bottle on Wednesday. I got to put a ball in a hoop for the next couple hours. That’s when things took a turn

for the worst. When I went to go check out a basketball at the front desk, they instead handed me back a torn-up, round-ish barely together piece of leather and air. And just like that, my excitement turned right back into disappointment, like the child opening that Pokemon gameshaped Christmas present and discovering it was actually just underwear and wool socks instead. Loyola Athletics might as well have handed me a slap in the face. But in all seriousness, the gym equipment is not up to par with the semester-long gym renovations. Students like me can’t fully enjoy the benefits of having a fully furnished sports complex because the equipment we use to play with is so substandard. There’s almost no point in having these renovations with gym basketballs like the one in the picture (and that’s one of the better balls too). We expect better, Loyola Athletics.

EDITORIAL

September 29, 2017 THE MAROON

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to Jesus GROWL to supply-side economics HOWL to pumpkin patches GROWL to Monsanto ghostwriting “research” papers HOWL to NFL unity GROWL to a lack of aid to Puerto Rico HOWL to Elton John GROWL to the Bobet elevator Have a howl or growl? Tweet us at @loyola_maroon to be featured each Friday!

EDITORIAL BOARD Nick Reimann

Editor-in-Chief

Paulina Picciano

Managing Editor for Print

Sidney Holmes

Managing Editor for Electronic Properties

Lily Cummings

Maroon Minute Executive Producer

Hayley Hynes

Design Chief

Barbara Brown

Photo Editor

Erin Snodgrass

News Editor

Davis Walden

Life & Times Editor

Caleb Beck

Wolf Editor

John Casey

Worldview Editor

JC Canicosa Grant Dufrene

Sports Editor Opinion and Editorial Editor

Katelyn Fecteau

Copy Editor

Jamal Melancon

Senior Staff Writer

Marisbel Rodriguez

Senior Staff 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.

Illustration by Hayley Hynes

Voting in local elections is important Around this time last year, student organizations were hosting debate watch parties and setting up tables to help students get absentee ballots, and professors would often spend a little time tying their lectures back to political happenings. That’s because there was a major election coming up, and in just a couple of weeks, there will be another one – one that will probably have a more direct impact on your life than any presidential election ever did. Haven’t you heard? Well, unless you expect a congressional shift in the 2018 midterms to fix the pothole outside your house, better start listening. New Orleans, the city many of our students now call home more so than the places they grew up, is about to hold its municipal elections. The results will decide who will be mayor for the next four years, who will serve on the City Council

and what the policies will be on everything from public safety to the water that we drink. That’s a pretty big deal, and while you don’t hear roundtable discussions about it on 24-hour cable news, you do hear discussions around the community about it. If you’ve ever driven down one of New Orleans’ streets, you’ve probably been in one of those talks yourself. This is the truest form of governance — a community coming together on Oct. 14 to decide how we’re going to proceed and where partisanship (for the most part) doesn’t matter. And this doesn’t just apply to New Orleans. In towns and cities across the country, the same issues will be discussed and candidates will give their pitches on what should be done going forward. It is in elections such as these that our cities are shaped — not national ones. These elections also offer the

opportunity to meet and discuss the issues with candidates face-to-face, an opportunity few are lucky to have with national candidates, who, let’s face it, only seem to talk with everyday people in front of the cameras to look more personable. That is not to say that national elections aren’t important. We’re all in agreement that we don’t want nuclear war and that it’s an issue all of us should be aware of and care about. So, yeah, definitely keep on voting in national elections. But, if you haven’t yet, start voting in local ones. The turnout in these is usually abysmal, despite the fact that the impacts on communities are huge. So no matter where you’re from — be it New Orleans, another part of Louisiana or somewhere out of state — check with your registrar of voters. See if there’s going to be an election this fall, educate yourself on the issues and let your voice be heard. Request an absentee ballot if

you have to. And if you find yourself feeling connected to New Orleans and want to plant some roots here, consider changing your registration to where you’re living in the city. It can even be done if you live in the dorms. It’s easy — just go to the Louisiana Secretary of State website, fill out a little information and you’re ready to go for the next election. If you were hoping to vote in the October mayoral election, though, it’s a little too late, since the deadline to register for that one has already passed. But don’t worry, you can rest assured that there will be changes the new mayor wants for the city that will appear on the next ballot. So if you want your voice to be heard in New Orleans, or if you still want to impact wherever it is you call home, start educating yourself now. And, most importantly, vote. Because otherwise, at least in this city, you might find yourself swimming home.

OPINION

September 29, 2017 The Maroon

Students play a role in promoting safety Letter to the editor

Community members add their thoughts

Courtesy of Sean McCreavy

Students on the Awakening retreat huddle together for a photo underneath an oak tree in Fontainebleau State Park. Awakening is a weekend retreat for Loyola students to connect on a personal and spiritual level and cultivate a sense of community.

Awakening retreat is for all students CARRIE FENTON & Sean McCreavy English Literatutre Senior; Music Industry Senior crfenton@my.loyno.edu; spmccrea@my.loyno.edu

When we first get off the bus at Awakening, it feels like coming home. Far from our actual houses, Awakening is held at Fontainebleau

State Park, a roughly forty-five minute drive away from where either of us live. Awakening itself is not a place but a weekend retreat held once a semester and open to all students at Loyola. When we arrive, we are immediately surrounded by people, all laughing, talking and greeting one another with smiles on their faces. In nature, removed from the rush of classes, extracurriculars, jobs and other commitments, we’re able to encounter each other with a fullness that is difficult to achieve in the life of a busy college student. All other obligations fall away, and for one weekend, we get the chance to experience being in a community with our fellow students with absolutely

no distractions between us. We love it because Awakening is open to everyone at Loyola and is not restricted to Catholics or Christians. Though the retreat is based on Jesuit spirituality, and features a Catholic Mass, Awakening provides a place of belonging that respects and engages the identities of all its members, especially with regard to their personal spiritual journeys. Beyond the weekend of the retreat, Awakening is a community. We started our time together on our first retreat, but with Awakening, we created memories and friendships that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. So why Awakening? Why do we give up a weekend out of our busy

semester to go on a faith-based retreat in the woods with a bunch of strangers? There are many reasons, and anyone who comes on Awakening will have a different answer for you. Everyone else in the Awakening community could’ve written this a hundred different ways. Their opinion reflects their identity, their experience and their perspective of community. And that’s “Why Awakening?” for us: because it creates and sustains a community of individuals, a blending of ideas and experiences, perspectives and beliefs, that is wholly unique to Awakening. It is a place where everyone is welcome, all are respected and you truly can find a home away from home.

Students should consider mindfulness-based stress reduction ASIA WONG Associate Director of the University Counseling Center awong@loyno.edu

What is mindfulness? “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally”, says Jon Kabat-Zinn, professor of medicine emeritus and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. We can break this down into three parts. Paying attention on purpose: choose to focus, rather than to distract. If your first impulse when you are stressed is to watch an hour of Netflix (which ends up turning into four hours of Netflix) try allowing yourself to focus on your feelings instead.

In doing so, focus on your feelings in the present moment as opposed to engaging in regretful thoughts about the past or anxious thoughts about the future. Instead, ground yourself in the here and now. Allow yourself to experience your anxiety about one thing at a time as opposed to amplifying anxiety with additional worries. As you notice your thoughts and feelings in the present moment, remind yourself to be non-judgmental. This means allowing yourself to experience your feelings without an accompanying soundtrack of selfdoubt and recrimination. For example, let’s say you’re stressed about an upcoming exam. Instead of Netflix and dread, you pick mindfulness and peace. Ask yourself “What sensations in my body am I experiencing right now? What thoughts? What feelings?” As thoughts about the past or future intrude, gently bring yourself back to the present. You can tell yourself “I can worry about that later, right now I want to focus on my current feelings.” Treat self-criticism as a

minor distraction and give yourself permission to experience your anxiety without judgement. “I’m allowed to feel nervous without thinking that I am an idiot.” As you focus on your thoughts and feelings, recognize them as transitory — you won’t always feel this way. Notice the sensation of the anxiety passing and calmness replacing it. If this sounds difficult or foreign, I want you to know that it’s likely you are already using mindfulness in your daily life. Think about the last time you stubbed your toe. Did you keep walking, putting full weight on that injured toe? Did you think about all the stubbed toes of the past or ruminate on the potential for more stubbed toes in the future? Did you tell yourself, “I’m the clumsiest person in the world!” or “Only an idiot like me could stub their toe?” Did you immediately kick your toe right back into that table leg over and over again? If the answer to these questions is yes, the probable outcome is that you ended in bed, overwhelmed, in pain, and unable to function. But most of us

don’t do any of those things when we stub our toes. Instead, did you stop moving and stand there for a minute, allowing yourself to experience the physical pain? Maybe you screamed or cursed, but you also just waited for the pain to pass. And it did, and you went on with your life. Imagine doing the same thing when you have an anxious thought or an anxiety-provoking experience. That’s mindfulness! Want to learn more strategies to manage your anxiety? Come to the University Counseling Center’s free Anxiety Management Workshops on Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. — 1:30 p.m. at the Student Success Center (MA 112). The workshops focus on skill-building as opposed to self-disclosure, and no preregistration is necessary. For more info, go to http://bit.ly/ loynoworries or e-mail awong@loyno.edu.

In response to last week’s articles about front desk operations and safety, I wanted to share a counterpoint. I am a senior, have lived on campus for four years and I have worked as a Conference Assistant this past summer with the department of Res Life. Residential Life provides an opportunity for us to live and grow in a community of our peers. Different from most apartment complexes outside of a university setting, our communities are led by full time professional Community Directors and Resident Assistants who work to support the mental health, social well-being and overall wellness of resident students. As members of these communities, it is up to us, the residents, the building staff and consistent support from LUPD, to ensure the safety of the building. The Loyola University Police Department is exactly that: a police department. If you feel unsafe for any reason, call them and they will do everything in their power to provide their mission of education, safety and security 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are available to discuss how you personally can help protect the pack at their headquarters attached to Biever Hall. Some facts were left out of last week’s article, and I felt it was important to let students know the following: the front door of each building is locked 24 hours a day and can only be unlocked with an ID card of a student residing in that particular building. The only way someone who is not a resident of the building can gain access is if a resident of the building swipes their card and lets them in. If you bring a friend with you into the building, they are considered a guest. If you let a non-resident in, that’s called tailgating or piggy-backing, and it’s your responsibility to try and prevent that. Other safety and prevention efforts you might not be aware of are that LUPD officers conduct rounds in the building at least three times in a 24-hour period, and Resident Assistants complete three social and safety rounds during their duty shift, which runs 5 p.m. — 8 a.m. on week days and 24 hours on weekends. Other myth busters worth mentioning are that when a DA is present at the desk, you are required to check in your guest before heading to your room, and if you are locked out, you can actually call the main office from your cell phone or the outside call box and someone will assist you (the number is posted on the box). Safety on campus and in the residence halls cannot be simplified to the presence of 24-hour desk assistants. I believe that every community member should be held responsible for the safety of the building, including: monitoring who is coming into the building, locking their rooms, apartments and suites, and communicating with LUPD so that they can follow through with their mission. Bari Bellard Theatre Arts Senior

THE MAROON

September 29, 2017