2-27-15 by Loyola Maroon

M Falling into place For a greater Loyola University • New Orleans • Vol. 93 • Issue 19

The Maroon FEB. 27, 2015

After a year of planning, the university announced how it will rearrange its colleges to create an atmosphere of collaboration and learning

By Burke Bischoff bwbischo@loyno.edu @Burke_Maroon

Loyola’s University Senate has decided on a new college structure, which includes the restoration of a former college and changes to existing colleges. On Feb. 20, Marc Manganaro, provost and vice president of academic affairs, announced the new model, which is said to help move the university forward in becoming a collaborative, learning-centered institution by the fall of 2016. The new structure will restore the College of Arts and Sciences — taking departments from the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences and combining them with programs from the College of Social Sciences. Manganaro said two committees, the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Structures and the Provost’s Advisory Committee for University Restructuring, worked on gathering data for the plan with faculty input during 2014. He said the best interest of the students as well as making Loyola a learning-cen-

tered community were at the heart of the decision. “It is the intention that the restructuring will move us toward a more streamlined and efficient course registration and advising practices,” Manganaro said. “The decisions on restructuring will also be discussed and factored into the work of the consultant and the advisory committee on the university’s long-term financial equilibrium.” One of the changes included in the restructuring includes dissolving the College of Social Sciences. Roger White, interim dean of the College of Social Sciences, said once the restructuring plan is fully implemented, he will return to his role as a professor. “When the reorganization process is concluded, I will resume my teaching duties and those administrative tasks requested of me at the pleasure of the provost,” White said. The restructuring plan also includes moving the School of Mass

Communication to the College of Arts and Sciences, which was the topic of much discussion in the development process, according to Manganaro’s email announcement. Manganaro said that Maria Calzada, future dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Sonya Duhé, director of the School of Mass Communication, are currently discussing concerns regarding the school’s transition. “Mass Communication will remain a school with a director, and the full expectation is that it will thrive within a reconstituted College of Arts and Sciences,” Manganaro said. “Throughout this year, I will work with the School of Mass Communication on this transition, as I will with other units that are seeing changes in reporting.” White said he would help with restructuring all of the schools that are affected during the next year. “My task will be to help the process of reorganization in such a way that we maintain continuity of service for the students, faculty and staff of all the rel-

evant departments and schools,” White said. Manganaro said changes in the university’s staff as a result of the restructuring are yet to be determined. “There will be many discussions at many levels throughout the coming year,” Manganaro said. “Also, there is no intention or plan to reduce workforce.” White said he took the position of interim dean of the College of Social Sciences so he could focus on those administrative duties needed for the schools and departments under his purview. He said he respects the restructuring process and the work it is tasked with improving upon. “The provost has had consultative process in play on the matter of reorganization,” White said. “I support and respect that process.”

KARLA ROSAS / Design Chief

Professor’s sexual assault study shows low rates of reporting By Lauren Saizan lesaizan@loyno.edu @Lauren_Maroon

Two on-campus sexual assaults have been reported to LUPD for the 2014-2015 school year, but research suggests that the real number of on-campus sexual assaults may be higher. In his study on Loyola and Tulane students, Marcus Kondkar, associate professor and chair of the sociology department, asked both men and women questions about their perceptions of sexual assault, such as their experiences, beliefs, gender dating scripts and what they think is appropriate in certain situations. He found that only 4 percent of women who experienced an act of sexual coercion legally considered

rape in Louisiana reported it to someone empowered to take action. Kondkar said that a lack of knowledge about resources available on campus creates complications in reporting sexual assaults. “One of the greatest barriers to reporting is that people have no idea where to go or what to do, and also, more importantly, what will happen when they report,” Kondkar said. Lieutenant Angela Honora said that the Loyola University Police Department tries to help students as much as possible when they report a sexual assault. “The only thing we’re learning right now is that all sexual assaults are not reported, but for those that are reported, we assist the student in every way to see if they want to follow the NOPD or if they want the university to handle the disciplinary

action among the person that committed the assault,” Honora said. Kondkar said that for many women, sexual coercion is about a loss of control, and experiencing a further loss of control over how the case will be handled may be a reason why victims are hesitant to report sexual assaults. “There are all kinds of reasons why they go unreported. The primary reason that seems to crop up over and over again is that the victim feels partially responsible, so there’s a lot of self-blame that happens in these things,” Kondkar said. Tate Havens-Morris, business management freshman, said that she also recognizes victim-blaming as a factor of why sexual assaults go unreported. Kondkar said that another reason is that victims want to leave their as-

sault experience in the past or they might not define it as seriously as another person might. He found that only 20 percent of the students he surveyed who had experienced what is considered rape in Louisiana recognized their experiences as rape. Kondkar has also found in his research that in terms of precautionary measures, women tend to have a “laundry list” of things that they do to keep themselves safe from interpersonal violence that is simply not a part of men’s consciousness. “We kind of have this inverse image of reality. Typically, people feel that the greatest risk is somebody jumping out of the bushes on their way to The Boot, as opposed to the more realistic source of the problem, which is probably someone you’re dating, or at least an acquain-

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tance,” Kondkar said. While Kondkar said the truth is much harder to recognize, he also said that many people are more comfortable with the idea of a pathological stranger harming us than a friend. Kondkar also said that more sexual assaults happen in places where victims would ordinarily feel safe. “The places that they do happen at are the places where the victim reports being the safest because there’s no stranger threat. At a party, at a person’s home — these are places where acquaintances come together, not strangers,” Kondkar said. Among his findings, Kondkar said that relationship instability is also associated with higher risks, as is intoxication.

See STATISTICS, page 3

February 27, 2015

THE MAROON

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IN MAGAZ STAFF

Assistant Editors: Gabriel Garza, Lauren Saizan, Starlight Williams, Kameron Hay Design Assistant: Autumn Cormier Staff Writers: Asia Alvarado, Sarah-Anne Smurlick, Jessica Molina, Raymond Price, Taylor Ford, Haley Pegg, Daniela Leal, Marie Simoneaux, Nick Ducote, Lester Duhe, Sidney Holmes, Jamal Melancon, Zayn Ali Abidin, Skyllar Trusty, Davis Walden, Kristen Stewart, Barbara Brown, Raquel Derganz-Baker

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Assault St. Charles Avenue, 6800 block

Feb. 24

10:26 a.m.

Theft/Larceny St. Charles Avenue, 6300 block

Feb. 24

4:42 p.m.

Theft Cabra Hall

Feb. 23

12:48 p.m.

Theft/Larceny Freret Street, 6400 block

Feb. 23

1:01 p.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft Freret Street, 7100 block

Feb. 23

4:38 p.m.

Simple Battery Buddig Hall

Feb. 23

9:40 p.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft Audubon Street, 1000 block

Feb. 22

2:12 a.m.

Motor Vehicle Theft Valmont Street, 1700 block

Feb. 22

9:25 a.m.

Theft Biever Hall

Feb. 20

10:20 a.m.

Vandalism Biever Hall

Feb. 20

2:34 p.m.

Burglary Lowerline Street, 1200 block

Feb. 20

4:24 p.m.

Theft/Larceny Webster Street, 1500 block

Feb. 20

7:04 p.m.

Send mail to: The Maroon, Loyola University, Campus Box 64, 6363 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118 The Maroon is published every Friday. Unless otherwise noted, all content is copyrighted by The Maroon. All rights reserved. First copy free to students, faculty and staff. Every additional copy is $1.00. The Maroon is printed on 30 percent postconsumer recycled content.

NEWS

February 27, 2015 THE MAROON

3 STATISTICS, continued from page 3

Courtesty of Caitlin Page

The Quidditch team competes at its regional competition in Texas. The team’s trip was one of the events that received funding through the Student Government Association’s allocations process.

Organizations score funding The Quidditch team is one organization jumping through a new hoop to receive money through SGA’s allocations process By Daniela Chavez dachavez@loyno.edu @12dchave

The Student Government Association and the finance committee voted to implement and enforce a new 21-day rule for allocations. The new rule was decided upon on Feb. 9, and states that all paperwork must be submitted 21 days prior to an event that needs funding to ensure reservations can be made within enough time before the event. Allison Rogers, SGA’s director of communications, said that the finance committee goes through a set of established guidelines for allocations and chooses to approve or

deny a submission based on those rules. “Then, they take a majority vote that excludes the director of finance, because he remains impartial towards the process,” Rogers said. Organizations on campus are required to fill out an online form on OrgSync where they state how much funding is needed, describe the event and attend the finance meeting to discuss the event with the finance committee. Organizations usually hear back within 24 hours if their request is approved or denied. If a request is sent to SGA without proper documentation, Matthew Moldtham, director of finance, gets in touch with the president of the organization in order to receive the documentations on time.

This spring semester, Loyola’s Quidditch team received funding from SGA. Caitlin Page, history junior and the team’s president, said the team’s trip to regionals required funding. “We are using the funds for hotel rooms that we are required to stay in by The United States Quidditch Association rules and for gas money to get us there and back. Any other cost for the tournament is basically paid by the team or per individual,” Page said. Page said that the allocation for regionals is the largest funding the team requests besides the allocation for the World Cup. SGA also sets aside funds every semester for individual student needs.

Students have individual access to software, graduate test reimbursements and can get up to $100 for software they need to purchase for classes or graduate admission tests. Caroline Welsh, criminal justice junior, said many students do not know that they can take advantage of these funds. “I’ve been in this school for three years and had no idea that I could have these options available to me through SGA,” Welsh said. “I’m pretty sure most of my friends don’t know either, but since I have a year left I’ll definitely be looking into that now.”

Honora said that although students may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs when an incident occurred, this does not mean the blame will be placed on them. “A person that’s under the influence of alcohol or drugs cannot consent to have sex. I try and tell them that as much as possible to make them feel comfortable in reporting it, and I found that last semester we had more students that were willing to talk about things that have happened to them or may have happened to a friend compared to the past,” Honora said. Kondkar said that because every situation is different, sometimes the cost of reporting a sexual assault far outweighs the benefits of reporting it. Kondkar said that victims who reported sexual assaults in the past said that they were less likely to report in the future, which suggests that their last report may have discouraged them from reporting again. “The main thing is for me, as an educator, it’s more important to just make information available to people in a safe place in a safe way, and then not judge people for the decisions they make,” Kondkar said. Kondkar said that one way to promote awareness of sexual assault is by simply having conversations, by removing the lens of domination associated with sexual assault and by inviting men into the conversation. In his study, Kondkar found that 84 percent of the students he surveyed said they would report an act of sexual coercion if it happened in the future. Havens-Morris believes that, beyond raising awareness, sexual assault victims need to be supported. “To support victims, we need to believe them. It’s plain painful for someone to go through this, so the best thing to do is believe that they’re telling the truth. To prevent it, we need to enforce ‘no means no’ and report the people who commit assaults,” Havens-Morris said.

Alumni association holds professional development lecture By Mairead Cahill mscahill@loyno.edu @Mairead_Cahill

Loyola’s Young Alumni Association re-launched its three part Pack Lecture Series to aid the professional development of recent graduates. The group re-launched the series on Feb. 25. Each presentation introduces a new aspect of professional development. Emily Ramirez Hernandez, chairwoman of the Professional Development Committee, said the three lectures are spread throughout the spring semester. “Professional development is important for recent graduates to succeed, so we hone in on three topics each spring,” Hernandez said. The alumni board established the lecture series as a way for graduates to remain connected with Loyola

but also enhance their professional careers. Emily Stewart, assistant director of alumni relations for campaign, said the speakers are meant to appeal to the needs of alumni. “We like to have alumni present on the topics but also reach out to our Loyola faculty and staff who may be experts on the topic,” Stewart said. Chip Kerth A’80, director of accounting & finance recruitment at The Personnel Consulting Group, opened the series. The lecturer advised attendees on how to secure suitable salaries and benefits while employed. Kerth said his lecture was meant for those seeking new jobs as well as people already employed who might be wanting better wages or benefits. Role-plays demonstrating methods of negotiation that alumni might use with a boss or future employer were also part of the evening.

The upcoming lecture by Leigh Thorpe A’03 on March 18 will focus on fundraising and soliciting sponsorship. The final lecture of the series will be held on April 22. Artemis Preeshl, associate professor of theatre, will present on the fundamentals of public speaking. The lecture series was created to deepen alumni relationships with Loyola, teach marketable job skills and provide networking opportunities, Hernandez said. She said that she hopes the three lectures will bring together like-minded, career driven individuals. Although it is designed for alumni who have graduated in the last ten years, Hernandez said that the series is open to seniors who will soon be young alumni with the hope that it will aid their professional development too.

AUSTIN HUMMEL / The Maroon

Chip Kerth A’80 (right) explains how to negotiate a salary at the Young Alumni Association’s professional development lecture on Feb. 25. The lecture was the first in a three-part series that the alumni association will hold this semester.

WORLDVIEW

February 27, 2015 The Maroon

Calling in the reinforcements

DAVIS WALDEN / Staff Photographer

(Left) An officer for the New Orleans Police Department and a civilian jump-start a vehicle. (Right) A Medical Reserve Corps volunteer bandages a patient’s hand. Safety personnel, such as NOPD officers and Louisiana State Troopers, were stationed at key parade routes for Mardi Gras celebrations. New Orleans Emergency Medical Service and Medical Reserve Corps set up emergency medical stations along parade routes.

Mayor signs citywide smoking ban By Ellen McCusker emccusk@loyno.edu @ellen_mccusker If you are accustomed to nights of bar-hopping and lighting up a cigarette wherever you please, you may want to switch things up, because those days are seriously numbered — at least in the Crescent City. After being ratified by Mayor Mitch Landrieu, the Free Air Act is expected to go into effect on April 22. Though the ban will never apply to Carnival festivities, it will prevent New Orleans bars, casinos and private clubs from permitting smoking within their establishments. The ban will not apply to patios, balconies or other outdoor areas attached to these establishments, however. The ban will also not place a distance rule on how far smokers must stand from an establishment in order to smoke, as smoking bans in other cities have done. Despite these differences from other smoking bans, service industry employees have expressed some concerns with New Orleans’. Rebecca Leigh, a New Orleans bartender and smoker, said smoking bans within the service industry should be left to the discretion of business owners. “Every business owner I’ve spo-

ken with feels that they should be allowed to decide whether or not people smoke in their bars,” Leigh said. Leigh pointed out that many New Orleans bars and clubs, especially those in the French Quarter, have chosen to ban smoking within their establishments without the ban. “There are two bars I can think of who, within the past couple of years, said goodbye to smoking because they wanted to up their food sales,” Leigh said. The ban states that businesses such as hookah bars and cigar bars existing before Dec. 14, 2014, that make their profits predominately from selling tobacco related products, can continue to allow smoking within their establishments. Economically, there are other concerns specifically regarding the grandfather clause put into place. Daniel D’Amico, assistant professor of economics, said that this grandfather clause should be a concern for future entrepreneurs in New Orleans. “The grandfather clause has problematic effects on new business development. No new entrepreneur can ever start a cigar bar, electronic cigarette bar or hookah lounge in New Orleans,” D’Amico said. According to Councilwoman Susan Guidry, however, this is a public

WORLDVIEW briefs Obama uses veto power and blocks Keystone XL WASHINGTON (AP) — Defying the Republican-run Congress, President Barack Obama rejected a bill to approve construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, wielding his veto power for only the third time in his presidency. Obama offered no indication of whether he’ll eventually issue a permit for the pipeline, whose construction has become a flashpoint in the U.S. debate about environmental policy and climate change.

DAVIS WALDEN / Staff Photographer

Tim and Vicky Trieb smoke in front of Galatoire’s restaraunt, which has a no-smoking policy, on Bourbon Street. The city’s ban does not place a distance rule for smokers.

health concern. Guidry said that this ban is about providing a safe work environment for employees of the service industry. Another concern regarding the ban has been the fines. First time offenses for individuals start at $50 and go up for each offense within a 12-month period. Guidry said she is not worried about the fines. “Though I understand their concerns, I do not think that the fines will be a problem because most businesses will enforce the ban privately,” Guidry said.

Businesses that are caught allowing vaping or smoking within their establishments face the loss of special licenses and permits. Leigh said she believes that this ban can only hurt New Orleans. “Many smoking tourists come here, not only to enjoy the culture and history of New Orleans. Being a post-industrial city, our current main industries here are music, booze and food,” Leigh said. “Take the smoking away and the booze and music will hurt.”

Public universities plan to compensate for cutbacks BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Threatened with the loss of up to half of their state financing, Louisiana’s higher education leaders are devising their own package of ideas to generate new cash for their campuses. Among the concepts, campuses are looking for less micromanagement from state officials and fee hikes on students and tuition changes that could raise costs on students and their families. Higher education leaders have also raised the debate of asking lawmakers to give up their tuition-setting authority and leaving that to the college systems to decide.

February 27, 2015 THE MAROON

FICTION

THE W RKS

The Maroon's section of student art. Contribute at letter@loyno.edu

Original stories written by Loyola students

Tom stops by Daniels’ cozy office for a friendly chat

PART SIX By Mike Hogan mjhogan@loyno.edu

Detective Daniels’ office was bigger than the rest but tight and stuffy all the same. The glass door met a window overlooking a sea of desks overflowing with paperwork and antiquated laptops, with red-faced, overweight street soldiers stationed at them. Tom could feel the open void of that pit staring at his back as he sat in front of Daniels’ own desk. Behind it, the detective looked half constipated as he studied Tom, seeming to wait for him to break the silence. Tom obliged. “Detective, I — ” “Two murders. Two houses. And you, at both of them.” Daniels tsked. “Tom, I’ve been at this a long time. Long as you’ve been alive, may-

be longer. You see all sorts of shit working homicide — we’ve got the bangers down here, 110er’s looking to smoke some homeboy who wandered the wrong avenue in the 10th ward. Gagliano rounded up a good count in his time, too. Course he was working for the big man: ‘Little Man’ Marcello. They get a lot done when they’re organized, mhm.” Tom had no idea who or what Daniels was talking about. He could only sit quietly and patiently and think, “Isn’t that what innocent men do?” “Then there’s the bums who don’t like you backing out of shoe bets. You get nicked pretty good for that, don’t doubt it. Gay bashin’ youngin’s, work an artist up something ugly. Yeah, we’ve got a little bit of everything. And every once in a while, you college boys stumble into the middle of it. Get yourselves shanked on Bourbon. Try one too many big boy deals and get stomped by a real major leaguer. It’s this or that. One run in will usually tame the rest of ‘em, but only for a while. They’re all the same — all want to wander out from under daddy’s umbrella and see what it feels like to really get wet. You, though, you,” Daniels took a pull from a coffee mug and shook his head. “You’re something else. You’re sopping wet, son! That you are, Tom.” Tom hadn’t blinked once. His

KATIE RICHARD / Resident Cartoonist

eyes were red and raw when he said, “Why would I kill somebody? That’s insane. I’ll tell you everything I know that will help you solve these, detective, but I had nothing to do with them.” “Well, Tom, I’ve been surprised before. Didn’t think much of you

DOWN

1. McDonald’s founder Ray 2. __ Scotia 3. Atlantic republic at the edge of

Don’t always expect ‘em.” “So I’ve been told,” Tom said with a wandering stare. He wondered how prudent it would be to get a lawyer. It seemed like a guilty man’s move, but he seemed guiltier and guiltier with each passing second.

SUDOKU

ACROSS

1. Works with yarn 6. Anheuser-__ Brewery 11. Solomon, for one 14. Valium drug company 15. Snow-block home 16. Logger’s tool 17. Past one’s prime 19. Doc for a kitty 20. Thickness-measuring instrument 21. Hiker’s tool 23. Mauna __ 24. Actress Zellweger 25. Perilous course to go down 30. Margarita condiment, in Mazatlán 32. Tiny amt. of time 33. Ballet skirt 34. Vote in 36. Tom Collins liquor 38. Red giant with a carbon-rich atmosphere 39. Say with assurance 40. Red-shirted bear 42. Prefix with bar 43. Achieves one’s goal 48. Skin openings 49. “Saw __”: second “Saw” sequel 50. Popeye’s adoptee 53. Lacking a handle? 57. Bother a lot 58. Interest-paying institution 60. Alphabet finale 61. Where embryos develop 62. Do-or-die poker bet 63. Finale 64. Heat-resistant glassware 65. Writer/director Allen with four Oscars

after our last meet. A half-ass smartass, sure, but there’s plenty of those. Seemed a little too busy to be murdering folks, what with your classes and work and partying, but you go and show up at another one.” He put his hands in the air to show his perplexity. “I’ve been surprised before.

the Arctic Cir. 4. Roller-coaster ride feeling 5. Climactic tennis match situation 6. Oktoberfest quaff 7. “That turns my stomach” 8. Deli machine 9. Ant complex 10. Watson’s associate 11. Perked pot contents 12. Couple that’s split 13. Dampens 18. Piles 22. Furrier’s hides 24. Cookbook contents 25. Streamlined 26. Take down a __: humble 27. Navel variety 28. School support gps. 29. Peseta replacement

30. Tailor’s line 31. Thomas __ Edison 35. __ suzette: dessert pancake 37. Christmas quaff 38. Logger’s tool 41. Round gasket 44. Cleans with a paper towel, as a spill 45. War-ending pact 46. Shot put competitor, e.g. 47. Devil, in Durango 50. Small or medium 51. Small songbird 52. __ out a living: barely got by 53. Windows alternative 54. Bueno’s opposite 55. City near Tulsa 56. Big Apple fashion initials 59. Anger

Puzzle answers for February 13, 2015

Life &Times

February 27, 2015 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

TEACHERS AFTER HOURS A peek into what professors do after class

Professor sings his way into the spotlight By Lester Duhe laduhe@loyno.edu @lduhemaroon

When he leaves the classroom and steps off campus, Professor Dreaux Montegut spends his time as St. Louis Cathedral’s director of music. “I conduct the choirs there, and it is a great opportunity for me to explore choral music,” Montegut said. He has been the director of music since 1996 in what he believes to be the prime spot of the archdiocese. At the cathedral, he puts on concerts twice a year with the orchestra. Montegut graduated from Loyola in 1983 and eventually returned as a vocal performance professor in 1994. He recently celebrated 20 years of teaching at Loyola and said he’s aiming for another 20. “I love what I do, and I love coming to school,” Montegut said. Montegut teaches students how to practice, read music, and sing in front of an audience. He compares his time teaching at Loyola to a playground. “It’s sort of like going out to play when you’re a little kid. You’re happy to go and be there,” Montegut said. Kind, understanding, empathetic and talented are just some of the words students use to describe Montegut. Anne Singer, theatre and music performance sophomore, takes private lessons with Montegut and said she admires him greatly. “Some people you just kind of click with, and I just feel like he’s so kind and understanding as a professor and a person,” Singer said. Alexandra Mena, sophomore music major, took voice lab with Montegut. “He taught us basic techniques for breathing and support while you’re singing and basically just how to start from the beginning and learn how to sing,” Mena said. Mena complimented Montegut on his passion for music and said she enjoys his approach to teaching. She said that he provides his students with compliments as well as helpful criticism to further their improvement. “I think of Dreaux as not just one of my professors, but he is also kind of like a mentor because I feel as if I can go to him with any kind of concern that I have,” Singer said. Montegut loves working with students and watching them grow in their careers. Many of his former students have become his friends and colleagues. “The best part is seeing how they develop and grow into really wonderful musicians, singers, and see them going out into the world and doing really well,” Montegut said. Overall, Montegut said he loves his playground at Loyola As the choir director at St. Louis Cathedral and a voice instructor at Loyola, Montegut seems to be admired for his work and most importantly, his dedication. “He is my favorite person at this school,” Singer said.

Local music culture sparks students’ careers By Ellen McCusker emmccusk@loyno.edu @ellen_mccusker

ZACH BRIEN / Photo Editor

Stanton Moore A’94 (top), drummer of Galactic, performs at the Civic Theatre, Loyola students Spence Bailey, music business sophomore, and Abner Deitle, jazz studies junior, (middle) of Elysian Feel, perform at Prytania Bar, and John Culbreth A’14 (bottom), trumpet player of Naughty Professor, performs at Voodoo Fest in 2014. Each year, dozens of Loyola bands play gigs all around the city and some even make it to the striving festival scene that New Orleans is known for, getting the chance to perform alongside legendary artists from all around the world.

Madeline Marva is one of the many locals who thrive on attending New Orleans music festivals each year. Marva, music industry freshman, and other New Orleans festivalgoers understand that these music festivals are a quintessential part of the city’s culture. Ray Moore, music industries professor and a local musician, said that the music festivals in New Orleans have become just as much a part of the city’s culture as second lines and parades. In reference to Jazz Fest specifically, Moore said that while the festival promotes major music stars, it also showcases the heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. “You get a lot of the cultures that gave to New Orleans. You can get there and see this whole lineage and then at the same time there could possibly be more room for artists that are local,” Moore said. Mary Beth Maggio, music industry junior who has worked with a number of festivals around the city, said that music festivals in New Orleans and around Louisiana are also an indicator of the surrounding area’s culture. “There are very few areas that are able to support so many music festivals,” Maggio said. She said many festivals around the state have managed to maintain themselves after funding cuts from the state due to overwhelming support from the community. For a certain group of Loyola students, this important piece of New Orleans culture could mean more than just a few days of good food and fun times. According to a Jazz and Heritage Foundation spokesperson, while attention is given to big stars, over 80 percent of musicians that perform

at Jazz Fest are from Louisiana. For many local musicians, this means exposure. “Playing at music festivals is one of the best gigs a band can get, because you get paid to go there and play,” Maggio said. While he agrees that music festivals can help rising musicians gain exposure, Moore pointed out that every festival is designed for different types of artists. “In terms of some of the festivals, there are festivals made for local and upcoming bands and then there are other festivals designed to show national and touring acts. It’s hard to find the festival that suites your music,” Moore said. The New Orleans funk band Naughty Professor did not seem to have a problem finding theirs, however. This Loyola-formed band of recent graduates played at Voodoo Music and Arts Experience this year in addition to several other festivals they have played outside of Louisiana. Upon being accepted to perform at their first music festival, trumpet player John Culbreth said they were very excited. “The festival circuit is an important one to be a part of, so the first one was welcome news because it meant people who book big events were starting to take us seriously,” Culbreth said. As for gaining popularity from music festivals, Culbreth said that it has certainly increased the band’s fan base. He also acknowledged that bands want to perform for people that will listen, and the people that attend music festivals are there to hear music specifically. As for Marva, she is looking forward to attending several music festivals this year, both in New Orleans and in other states. “Whenever you are there, the way you feel — you can’t feel that way anywhere else,” Marva said.

ROOM SELECTION 2015 IS HERE!

LIVE IN COMMUNITY

LIVE FOCUSED

Living on campus gives you opportunities to meet new people and make friends, go to campus events, join student organizations, and participate in leadership experiences.

National research tells us that students who live on campus have better grade point averages (GPA) than students who live off campus.

LIVE CONVENIENTLY

LIVE SAFE

Living on campus means no sitting in traffic or searching for parking. The library, classroom buildings, and on- campus dining options are less than a 10 minute walk from each residence hall!

Safety and security is a priority on Loyola’s campus, with University Police, Residential Life staff, and an on call mental health counselor are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

LIVE WELL

LIVE AFFORDABLE

Students living on campus have convenient access to our University Sports Complex, group fitness classes, healthy dining options, worship services, and the Student Health Center.

At first look, living off campus may seem less expensive, however, when considering all costs (rent, food, gas, water, electricity, internet/cable, furniture, and maintenance) living on campus can be cheaper and is included in one convenient bill!

LIVE & LEARN

LIVE SUPPORTED

Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors have the option to apply for suite and apartment style living, which offer additional amenities such common living space, kitchen access, on-site work out facility, and kitchen access.

As you adjust to life away from home, trained student and professional staff members in Residential Life are available to assist with personal and academic concerns.

LIVE FLEXIBLY

LIVE UPTOWN

Sodexo’s Uptown Campus Dining concept allows you to choose from over 25 dining options on both Loyola and Tulane’s campus, including the new addition of Starbucks and locally owned Slice Pizzeria.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Living on campus puts you in the heart of the Uptown New Orleans area including convenient access to the street car, Audubon Park and Zoo, along with great local restaurants and festivals. Living here is really a one of a kind experience!

APPLY BY MARCH 6TH LOYNO.EDU/RESLIFE – 504.865.2445

RELIGION

Lectures feature Jesuit saints By Marie Simoneaux masimone@loyno.edu @mariesimoneaux

Mardi Gras is over, the beads have been thrown, the floats have stopped rolling and the king cakes have been eaten. However, Lent has arrived, along with Loyola’s annual event, the Lenten Lectures. The Lenten season may seem slightly less exciting than the weeks of parades and parties that have now ended, but, Loyola’s Jesuit Center will be hosting a series of lectures that take place every Wednesday from Feb. 25 to March 18. The theme of the 2015 Lenten Lectures is “Jesuit Saints as Lenten Companions.” The purpose of the Lenten Lectures is to bring the Loyola community together through the sacred season’s reflective events, according to the Jesuit Center. Wednesday, Feb. 25 marked the first day of lectures. The Rev. Ted Dziak, S. J. spoke about St. Ignatius: The Inspiration and the Mystic. “What can we learn about Ignati-

an spirituality that we can use in our own lives and how can we use it as a spiritual guide,” Dziak said. The next week, March 4, The Rev. Robert Gerlich, S.J. will speak about St. Peter Favre, the Jesuit’s newest saint and co-founder. Gerlich said that although Favre is one of the lesser known Jesuit saints, he is one of the most important. “He was the roommate of Ignatius and Francis Xavier during their studies. His internalization of Ignatian spirituality, however, was most complete. It is this process that is of interest to me,” Gerlich said. “They were two very different people, but his ability to translate his experience of Ignatian spirituality into a concrete set of apostolic strategies makes him worth our study and emulation.” Dziak said that the theme of this year’s lectures is centered around the idea that we can learn from St. Ignatius and his experiences to help guide us through Lent. The overall goal of the entire series is to bring awareness of Ignatian Spirituality to the Loyola community and shed light on some things

that they might not know about. “I think as a Jesuit school it is important for us to have some exposure to Ignatian spirituality and to allow individuals to learn more about it and to use it as a way to examine their own faith,” Dziak said. The third lecture takes place on March 11, and will be on St. Francis Xavier: Missionary and Saint Video Discussion, given by The Rev. Jeremy Zipple, S.J. There will also be a screening of his recent documentary held in the School of Mass Communication, on the fourth floor in Studio A. The last lecture, on March 18, will be slightly different than the rest. It will take place at the College of Law in Room 401 on the Broadway Campus. The Rev. W. Penn Dawson, S.J. will speak about how Ignatian spirituality can be used in the practice of law, instead of focusing on a specific saint’s experiences. Aside from Dawson’s on March 18, all of the lectures will be taking place at Ignatius Chapel in Bobet Hall. All lectures will start at 7 p.m.

February 27, 2015 THE MAROON

Norwegian Muslims stand with Jews

HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/The Associated Press

Muslims in Norway formed a “ring of peace” around Oslo’s synagogue on Feb. 21. Over 1,000 people participated to show support after recent attacks against Jews across Europe.

Faith and the city: religious services around New Orleans

BUDDHISM MID-CITY ZEN 3248 Castiglione St. Monday, Wednesday and Friday: Meditation at 6 a.m.; Service at 7:05 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays: Meditation at 5:40 p.m. Sunday: Meditation at 9:30 a.m. Meditation instruction is offered at 8:45 a.m. every Sunday except the first of each month.

NEW ORLEANS ZEN TEMPLE 748 Camp St. This temple practices zazen. Instruction for beginners is offered on Sundays at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday: 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday: 6:30 a.m. Thursday: 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Friday: 6:30 a.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. Sunday: 10 a.m.

HINDUISM HINDU TEMPLE SOCIETY OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS 3804 Transcontinental Dr., Metairie Aarti: Daily at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunderkand Path: Fourth Sunday of the month at 5:30 p.m. Vishnusahastra Path: Second Sunday of the month at10:30 a.m.

SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA TEMPLE 2730 Tupelo St., Kenner Daily Abhishekam to Lord Ganesh: Sunday through Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Daily Aarathi: 11:30 a.m. Abhishekam to Lord Krishna: First Sunday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Abhishekam to Lord Sri Venkateswara: Second Saturday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Abhishekam to Goddess Durga Devi: Third Friday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Abhishekam to Lord Sri Rama: Fourth Saturday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

CHRISTIANITY IGNATIUS CHAPEL 1st floor of Bobet Hall Monday-Wednesday at 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday at 12 p.m. Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.

THE NEW CHURCH (METHODIST) 921 S. Carrollton Ave. Sunday at 10:30

QUAKERS 921 S. Carrollton Ave., second floor Sunday at 10 a.m.

GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH 2021 South Dupre St. Sunday at 11 a.m.

JUDAISM TEMPLE SINAI 6227 St. Charles Ave. Friday at 6:15 p.m. Saturday at 10:15 a.m.

TOURO SYNAGOGUE 4238 St. Charles Ave. Friday at 6 p.m. Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

SHIR CHADASH, CONSERVATIVE CONGREGATION 3737 West Esplanade Ave., Metairie Friday at 6:15 p.m. Saturday at 9:45 a.m.

ISLAM MUHAMMED MOSQUE #46, NATION OF ISLAM 4201 Downman Rd. Wednesday, lecture at 7:30 p.m. Friday, congregational prayer service at 12 p.m. Sunday, lecture at 10 a.m.

MASJID ABU BAKR SIDDIQUE 4425 David Dr., Metairie Quran classes: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 5 p.m. Tafsir: Wednesday after the Isha prayer

ST. CHARLES AVE. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1545 State St. Sunday at 8:30 a.m., communion service Sunday at 10:30 a.m., traditional service

ST. CHARLES AVE. BAPTIST CHURCH 7100 St. Charles Ave. Sunday at 11 a.m. KARLA ROSAS / Design Chief

SPORTS

February 27, 2015 THE MAROON

RISE TO THE OCCASION

SPORTS BRIEFS Women’s team dominates at home The women’s basketball team upended conference rival William Carey University with a score of 6347 on Saturday, Feb. 21. Senior Janeicia Neely led the team with 17 points and dished out a career high of 12 assists in the win. Sophomore Meghan Temple recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Pack now stands at 22-2 in the season and 13-2 in conference play. They will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 28 for their senior game matchup against Belhaven University in the Den.

The men’s basketball team receives contributions from all players as they enter a critical part of their regular season

By Kameron Hay kahay@loyno.edu

The men’s basketball team is nearing the end of their regular season and is looking to make a final push for the conference tournament. The Pack (12-10, 6-8 SSAC) has endured an up and down season due to attrition, injuries and struggles on the road. Head Coach Stacy Hollowell said the team’s road woes have been the biggest challenge of the season for the team. “Playing on the road in any league can be tough and that has been the case this year for us; playing in what might be the most competitive conference in the country. We have six losses on the road. That has been our biggest challenge this year,” Hollowell said. The team has also been dealing with the knee injury of senior Robert Lovaglio, who is recovering from a torn ACL. “Dealing with my knee has definitely been a battle. I have to be that much more focused on my recovery after games and practices,” Lovaglio said.

Even with the adversity the team has faced, Lovaglio said he has been proud of the way the team has handled themselves. “We’ve had nagging injuries throughout the season and guys keep stepping up,” Lovaglio said. One of them has been freshman forward Benjamin Fields, who said he attributes his growth to his teammates and coaches. “Gaining the trust of my team and coaches has helped ease my transition onto the court. I’m glad I have been able to help contribute to the team,” Fields said. And even though the team has had its ups and downs this season, they still remain focused on the conference tournament and potentially the national tournament. “We have to secure a spot in the conference tournament and then it’s one game at a time from there. It would be really special to get to the national tournament,” Lovaglio said. The Pack will face Belhaven University in their final game of the regular season in The Den on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Men’s team notches big win over William Carey The men’s basketball team gained a crucial win over William Carey University on Saturday, Feb. 21 with a score of 86-74. Senior McCall Tomeny and freshman Nick Parker had a combined score of 47 points, 24 and 23 respectively, to lead the Pack on offense. Sophomore Nate Pierre came two points shy of tying his career high with 16 points on a 6-10 shooting average in the game. Tomeny also added 14 rebounds to his 24 points to earn his sixth double-double of the season. The team will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 28 for their final home game of the season against Belhaven University.

Zach Brien / Photo Editor

Nate Pierre, business sophomore, hangs on the rim after a dunk in a game against William Carey University on Feb. 21. The men’s team is pushing toward postseason play.

Baseball team braces for a conference fastball By Taylor Ford tcford@loyno.edu @TaylorCFord

AUSTIN HUMMEL / The Maroon

John Daley, accounting freshman, throws a fastball to Head Coach Doug Faust. The men’s baseball team is heading into a critical strecth of conference games this month.

Following a 10-6 start to the season and a 2-4 record in conference, Loyola’s baseball team is looking to catch up as they begin the heart of their conference schedule. As the team continues to set high expectations, the players are looking at their conference schedule as an opportunity to build on what they hope to be a very successful season. Alexander Lorenzo, business management sophomore, said that last year the team had their first .500 season. “So it does put a little bit of pressure because we want to continue that success after so many years of mediocrity, but we take the pressure with open arms. We want to be successful as we can and get as high above .500 as possible,” Lorenzo said. Though at times inconsistent during their conference schedule, splitting games with Martin Methodist College 4-14 and 6-1, it hasn’t affected their approach to this season. However, they still believe with their current roster they have the

makeup of what can be a highly competitive team. John Nicholson, finance senior, said he believes they are playing well as a team. “I think our two losses in Dallas were games that we could have won. By no means were those teams better than us, but I am still proud of the way we played. We are a great team collectively and if we continue to play to the best of our ability, I really think we will do well this season,” Nicholson said. With a rather young roster, the coaching staff has tried to help the team continue focusing on what it will take in order to be successful in the Southern States Athletic Conference. “We are trying to stress the importance of every detail. We know that once conference begins, we will be facing teams that may be a little more talented than we are. If we can do the little things right, we should have a chance to compete,” Head Coach Doug Faust said. Following a 1-2 record in their last series against William Carey University, the team is hoping to bounce back as they take on Belhaven University on Feb. 27 and 28 at Segnette Field.

Men’s and women’s tennis team swept by Coastal Georgia The men’s and women’s tennis team fell to the College of Coastal Georgia on Saturday, Feb. 21 in Mobile, Alabama. Senior Meghan de Baroncelli and sophomore Alexa Mancuso put up a fight in the No. 1 doubles against Daniella Caruso and Emy Alplund of Coastal Georgia, but fell to the duo 5-8. De Baroncelli brought Freja Rasmussen to a tie-breaking set in the No. 1 singles position, but dropped her match 6-4, 4-6 (10-6). For the men, senior Tony Benjamin and freshman Anthony Zaleski won two individual games in the No. 3 doubles against Monteo Garcia and Joel Hunter of Coastal Georgia, but fell to the Mariners 2-8. Freshman Ernesto de Diego won six individual games, but fell to Coastal Georgia’s Rhan Burton 4-6, 2-6 at the No. 2 singles position. Both teams will return home on Saturday, Feb. 28 for morning and afternoon matchups against Tougaloo College.

Men’s and women’s golf concludes play against Coastal Georgia The men’s and women’s golf team finished their tournament play at the College of Coastal Georgia Winter Invitational on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. Sophomore Julchen Narwark led the way, finishing the tournament tied for 14th place with an overall score of 171. The women finished seventh out 11 schools, and the men finished 15th out of 18.

OPINION

February 27, 2015 THE MAROON

On-campus sex education helps assault victims recover

IN MY OPINION Students sharing their opinions on topics

ELENA VASQUEZ Elena is a psychology freshman. ecvasque@loyno.edu

Our city’s most vulnerable population must not be ignored and disrespected. We have a moral obligation to treat New Orleans’ homeless community with dignity and respect JOE GEHRINGER Joe is an English writing sophomore. jhgehrin@loyno.edu

You’re walking in the French Quarter and someone you don’t know asks you for a dollar, claiming homelessness. You look straight ahead and keep walking. You might feel bad about it, but you didn’t want to give a dollar. Maybe you didn’t even have one. Walking around New Orleans, or almost any other major city, you’ll be solicited for money frequently, most often by homeless people. Whenever it happens to me, I’m not quite sure what to do. Regardless of what they spend it on, I know that they need the money more than I do. On the other hand, it is my money. Most times, I get nervous and end up sputtering something

about not having any cash. This is usually true. Sometimes, I just keep walking. In doing so, I am blatantly and deliberately ignoring the human being in front of me. What’s strange and tragic is what it takes for me and for society as a whole to pay attention to a person. If you have siblings, you know that often times the sibling who gets the most attention is the one who causes the most trouble. I would know, as I’ve been in turns both a troublemaker and a quiet, honor-roll student. Most often, when I or my siblings would act out, it was because we felt ignored, neglected or marginalized. What’s strange is that if we view society as a kind of super-extended family, as our Loyola Jesuit values urge us to, a similar pattern of marginalization tends to appear. Put simply, for whatever reason, society ensures a higher standard of living for convicts than for homeless people. They’re our problem siblings, and as it should, society takes great lengths — in the form of taxpayer dollars — to ensure that they are fed and

housed, albeit in prison. Obviously, convicted criminals deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and depriving them access to basic human rights and necessities would be an incredible atrocity. However, by comparison, our homeless are far too often ignored and neglected as other issues take the spotlight. According to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, 25 to 50 percent of homeless people in the United States have a history of incarceration, with increased rates amongst those with histories of mental illness. Clearly, the two issues are inextricably linked. What’s amazing is the way in which our society is compassionate enough to provide so much to criminals who have breached its most sacred codes and taboos. What’s tragic is the way the homeless can fall by the wayside as we pass them on the street, silently ignoring their humanity. If we as a society are willing to provide for our convicts, then shouldn’t we also be willing to provide for those who have com-

mitted no crime? Homelessness is a complicated issue, with complicated causes, and simply throwing money at the problem isn’t going to solve anything. That’s not what I’m advocating. If you continue to walk around New Orleans, you will continue to encounter homeless people. In the past, I’ve failed to treat these people as people. I’ve failed to recognize their dignity. Next time — and sadly, there will be a next time — I’m going to do better. I might not give a dollar — I might not have one. I will, however, do my best, as I hope you do, to treat the person standing in front of me with all the decency and dignity they deserve as a fellow human being. I’m not going to let myself be the kind of person who won’t make eye contact with a stranger in need. Instead, I want to listen to the people I meet, talk to them, and if nothing else, provide them with the free and simple comfort of a friendly smile. That’s the very least we at Loyola should feel called to do.

Pakistani students need a safe learning environment MOLLY MULROY Molly is an English writing junior. memulroy@loyno. edu

I hate guns. It’s no secret. I’ve never even held one. I think they belong solely in the military and the police force; maybe in the hands of those who hunt for sustenance, but that’s another opinion piece altogether. More than anything, I think guns have no place anywhere near children. However, the provincial government in northwestern Pakistan disagrees. This past December, gunmen scaled the outer walls of a Pakistani school in the city of Peshawar and slaughtered teachers and students alike, killing almost 150 people. The school is located in a re-

gion that borders Afghanistan and is heavily impacted by militant attacks and recent retaliation by the Pakistan Armed Forces. The assailants were members of the Islamic, Pakistani group Tehrik-i-Taliban — a group not directly affiliated with the better-known Afghani Taliban. According to reports from BBC, most of the victims were students, most of them had military relations and most of them were under the age of 16. After the attack, the province’s government passed new legislation that not only allows teachers to keep guns in their classrooms, but also trains the ones who choose to do so. No other provinces have passed such legislation. But why haven’t they? First of all, accidents happen. Regardless of experience or expertise, guns are dangerous weapons that can misfire if used improperly. According to CNN, many scholars further argue that increasing students’ familiarity with guns could lead to a perpetuation of

violence and an acceptance of gun culture in the future. In addition, the New York Times reports that the government is taking $15 million previously set aside to improve sanitation and drinking water for the students and is instead redirecting it to build taller boundary walls and hire security forces. While this reallocation is problematic in itself, such security measures surpass necessity, and arming inexperienced teachers is excessive. Besides, how likely is it that militant groups are going to start targeting schools regularly? Finally, is a group of suicide bombers wielding semi-automatics really going to be deterred by a couple of biology teachers with Glocks? For all the reasons mentioned — and I’m sure there are plenty others — it makes sense to dismiss the Pakistani legislation as irrational at best. But sometimes reasoning stops short. It forgets about humanity. How do the students feel about these new safety measures? Are

they better able to focus on their studies if they know there’s a gun in their teacher’s desk? The New York Times suggests that teachers are conflicted about the idea, and I’m sure parental views differ greatly on how to make a school “safe.” But has anyone actually asked the students? If everyone is so concerned with ensuring these children feel safe in their learning environment, maybe someone should go through the trouble of asking what would make them feel safe. Maybe someone should ask what it’s like to see your classmates shot and killed and whether having a gun in the classroom takes some of that fear away. Before writing off the new legislation as irrational, then, maybe we should take a look at those who are most affected by it — those same children who we, as a society, have a duty to protect. If you’re interested in helping the education system in Pakistan, donate whatever you can to Care Pakistan.

It has become common today to dismiss sexual assault, especially on college campuses, because of modern hook-up culture. Furthermore, few students are educated about what to do after a sexual assault occurs. The pamphlets distributed by Student Advocates for Gender Equality encourage Loyola students to become more informed on how to recognize sexual assault, take the proper steps to report the assault, recover from medical injuries and regain mental stability with various support sources. Perhaps you have heard this information before, but it is crucial that it is distributed now because of the current concern of sexual assault on Loyola’s campus. Associate Professor of Sociology Marcus Kondkar’s research about relationships of the victim to the offender challenge the common assumption that most victims do not know their rapist. Although many people are in denial about these facts, this information forces a realization that sexual assault can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender or sexual orientation. It forces us to come to terms with the fact that it also occurs on Loyola’s campus. Anna Salter, former psychology Teaching Fellow at Harvard and Tufts Universities and lecturer and consulter on sex offenders and victims, once said “…when I ask groups how many people know someone personally with a history of molestation, almost always, every hand in the room goes up.” We must admit to ourselves the magnitude of this issue before we can make any progress. Although being properly educated may not prevent all instances of sexual assault, it can reduce panic and confusion after an attack. The pamphlets also educate supporters of sexual assault survivors by highlighting different methods of reassurance. Although Loyola’s sexual assault protocol is very thorough, I believe that more student education on the available resources is of critical importance. The protocol is multifaceted, addressing not only the medical aspects of assault, but also psychological aspects by offering free counseling, support groups and crisis hotlines. Utilization of this process by Loyola’s sexual assault survivors has the potential to provide the necessary stepping stones for recovery.

EDITORIAL

February 27, 2015 THE MAROON

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

HOWLS & GROWLS

The talk

If Loyola intends to proactively stop sexual assaults on campus then they must acknowledge and meet the need for a comprehensive sexual health curriculum

HOWL to “Let Me Clear My Throat” by DJ Kool. GROWL to the winds blowing in from Bogalusa, Louisiana. HOWL to anarchist cheerleaders. GROWL to self-indulgently studying history without utilizing the lessons of the past to work proactively towards a better future. HOWL to whiskey sours at Snake and Jake’s. GROWL to taking the stairs in Monroe instead.

EDITORIAL BOARD Nia Porter

Editor-in-Chief

Alexandra Kennon

Managing Editor

Karla Daniela Rosas Burke Bischoff Colleen Dulle Devinn Adams Lauren Stroh Mary Graci

Design Chief Senior Staff Writer News Editor Worldview Editor Editorial Editor

Life and Times Editor

Melanie Potter

Wolf Editor

Mark Robinson

Sports Editor

Emily Branan Zach Brien Linda Hexter Adam Albaari Mary Staes Whitney Woods Ellen McCusker

Religion Editor Photo Editor Senior Staff Photographer The Works Editor Maroon Minute Coordinator Social Media Coordinator Web Master

Katie Richard

Resident Cartoonist

Brian Reaney

Copy Editor

Jack Vanchiere

Copy Editor

EDITORIAL POLICY The editorial on this page represents 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. 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.

e need to have a conversation about sex. This conversatio n needs to arise not after another Loyola student is sexually assaulted or raped. Three such instances have been reported this semester alone. This conversation deserves dignity. It deserves a more appropriate forum than sexual assault BOLOs from the Loyola University Police Department, Maroon-sanctioned investigative reports and opinion pieces and student organizations’ meetings and pamphlets. Although these mean well, rectifying the entirety of this issue is beyond the capacity of these organizations alone. They need administrative support and action. It needs to happen because students should not have to assume sole responsibility for the consequences of rape — like pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases or trauma — when they are robbed of their ability to choose whether or not to have sex. This conversation needs to arise proactively and organically. It needs to take a form that is approachable, conversational and dialectical. This conversation needs to arise because our community must proactively ensure that these traumas are not inflicted upon another one of its members ever again. This conversation should not solely consist of retroactively reporting what went wrong. This conversation needs to happen because Pope Francis, the Jesuit leader of the Catholic Church, has made it a point to explore and condemn members of the clergy found guilty of sexually abusing minors. It must happen because Catholic universities must follow his lead and condemn perpetrators of sexual assaults against their student victims. We cannot let these assaults fall to the wayside. Our student victims deserve better than the continual sweeping of their sexual assaults under the rug — they deserve justice. This conversation must happen because we must offer our students immediate access to comprehensive sexual health education and resources — like condoms and affordable STD testing — if we intend for them to understand the full logistics of healthy, consensual sex. Even Pope Francis’ conservative predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, made it a point to revisit the Church’s staunch anti-condom position during his time in the Vatican and indicated that the use of condoms is not morally reprehensible in the case of preventing the spread

of HIV/AIDS. But because of our conservative origins, our administration refuses to acknowledge this break with tradition and equip us with the tools necessary to prevent the spread of infection. The culture of silence surrounding this subject on Loyola’s campus is pervasive and deeply ingrained. As a result, The Maroon must walk on eggshells when covering this subject. We must carefully formulate each of our arguments to ensure that we do not offend the traditional sensibilities of our university and its counterparts. The tradition of ignoring the sexual lives of Catholic university students takes active strides in perpetuating the taboos and stigmas imposed on sexuality that are commonly affiliated with sexual health curriculum of Catholic institutions. When addressing this issue in our editorial board meeting, members reminisced about prior encounters with Catholic sexual education in our separate primary and secondary schools. One member remembered masturbation being made out to be a habit practiced by serial killers. Another was taught that making out was a form of oral sex. Sexual miseducation exists and sexual miseducation persists so long as Catholic universities elect not to properly and comprehensively educate their students. More specifically at our university, we preach that our purpose as an institution is to educate the totality of the human person, but why is there no place for sexuality in this mission? It is wrong of us to assume that our students understand what constitutes as consent. It is optimistic maybe, but evidence found in the research of Marcus Kondkar, associate professor of sociology, shows ultimately that this idea is false — 37 percent of 500 Loyola students sampled in his study reported at least one act of unwanted sexual coercion in the past year. A conversation about sex needs to happen because so long as we ignore consensual sex, a safe space for dialogue about what a healthy expression of sexuality looks like cannot and will not exist on this campus. Pope Francis continually reaffirms sexuality as a healthy and necessary part of the human person. He takes strides to unmake taboos attributed to sexuality. He draws attention to religious texts claiming that the human body is sacred. He strives to educate Catholics about how to incorporate principled expressions of sexuality into their lives.

However, he emphasizes the importance of consent in these sexual relationships, hence his continual condemnation of sexual abuse on behalf of members of the clergy. He makes strides to compensate for these travesties by asking for forgiveness from victims. Loyola must make amends to its student victims and actively work towards the creation of a safe, inclusive campus for all. In Human Sexuality: A Catholic Perspective for Education and Lifelong Learning, United States Bishops state that sexuality is a fundamental means of relating to our selves, other people and God. It further explains that since God bestowed us with our sexuality, it must be treated like the gift that he intended for it to be. We believe that if sex is something we are not supposed to be scared of, then we should not limit conversations about it to instances when it takes a scary turn. For Pope Francis’ synod in October, where he is expected to openly address contraception, marriage and divorce, he is requesting input from Catholic lay people, as well as theologians and bishops. Perhaps it would be wise for Loyola to consider operating in a similar fashion and begin addressing the needs of its student body by conversing with them about precisely what those needs are. We are not proposing that the university radically revise their stance on pre-marital sex and contraception. We are asking, quite modestly, that they meet us in the middle. Take Georgetown University for example. Georgetown — a leading Jesuit research university in Washington D.C. — allows a widely known student organization to distribute condoms to its on-campus residents. Their administration protects their own interests and the interests of their stu-

dents by choosing to neither condone nor condemn this distribution. In this way, everyone’s best interests are protected. We recognize that some of what we are asking for in this editorial will not be fulfilled due to our Catholic origins. But we do demand an explanation from our administration as to why preserving the interests of traditional Catholic dogma is more of a priority to them than meeting the tangible, explicit needs of the student body they are intended to serve. We are not proposing that this is the best and only solution. We recognize that we are merely a student-run newspaper and that we are not equipped to offer a comprehensive strategic plan for the elimination of sexual assault on our campus. But The Maroon is the mirror and lamp of the Loyola community. We have continually cast a light on the problems our community tries to hide in the dark, and today we are merely asking that the university come face-to-face with itself in the mirror and recognize their personal duty, responsibility and obligation to fix them.

AUTUMN CORMIER / The Maroon