Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 94 • Issue 4 • September 11, 2015
THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA
CYCLISTS VS CARS
ZACH BRIEN / The Maroon
Cyclists prostrate themselves in front of City Hall as part of a die-in protest on July 23. This protest was part of a call for bicycle-friendly laws and infrastructure in the city of New Orleans and an overall awareness of cyclists’ rights on the road.
Uptown cyclist are finding it difficult to compete with cars on the road By Gabriel Garza jggarza@loyno.edu @GabeGarza13
While some students like to take leisurely bike rides to school, students such as Wil Hernandez, marketing junior, have had his brakes put to the test after being hit 12 times by cars. “Two years ago, heading down a dark street, a car hit the back of my bike, sent me flying over my handlebars and kept going. I was covered in blood and had to make my way back to Carrollton Hall. I was in pain for a few days but I never found out who hit me,” Hernandez said.
In 2015, LUPD has registered 175 bikes on Loyola’s campus. That is only one more than last year’s number of 174 in 2014. In 2013, the amount of registered bikes on campus was 222. Monwell Frazier, psychology senior, is a commuter from the Freret and General Pershing area to campus. Frazier said he remembers hitting a motorcyclist while driving on a Sunday night to the Opera house. “There was a group of motorcyclists and they were weaving in and out of traffic at full speed. The guy in front of me slammed his breaks, I tried to slam mine, but I didn’t see him in time. I saw him fly 20 feet forward and I couldn’t believe it. I was crying once I saw him lying on the ground for 20 minutes,” said Frazier. “Luckily a doctor and a nurse came out of nowhere to help. I was really
ers make mistakes, bikers get hit. If lucky he didn’t press any charges”. Charles Schully, law student at cars make mistakes then bikers get Tulane, created a Facebook group hit. Either way, the results always called Bike Uneasy after his girl- end up the same,” Schully said. Caitlin Page, history senior, said friend was hit by a car while biking in the Uptown area. The group is as a commuter from the West Bank, used as a forum for capturing bad she finds that cyclists are a problem on the road. drivers who en“They swerve danger bikers’ “Two years ago, heading around cars rights and safety. Schully said down a dark street, a car hit without turning his intention the back of my bike, sent me signals. A lot of people at night of creating the do not wear any group was to flying over my handlebars reflective lights bring attention and kept going.” on, so you can to incidents of hardly see them. hit-and-runs in — Wil Hernandez They need to the Uptown area. marketing junior be respectful “I realize that I of cars because could help other bikers in the city by showing people biking in the middle of the street how to report stuff and remind them does nothing but get drivers angry to keep an eye out for drivers. If bik- and makes bikers probably nervous
as well,” Page said. “If they want to be treated as a car, then they need to act like a car.” According to the Louisiana Revised Statue, it is a crime to pass bikers on the road with less than three feet of room, and it also criminalizes throwing objects out of the windows at bikers. Bikers are allowed to use the same non-interstate roads as vehicles. Hernandez said that there needs to be more enforcement, as far as penalties go, for drivers who don’t respect the laws in place. He encouraged drivers to be aware of bikers out on the street. “Drivers, be patient, we are just as important as you are. We are in a rush as well and have places to be just like you. Unfortunately, we are in a 50 pound bicycle going against a two ton vehicle,” Hernandez said.
SGA gears up for Loyola’s new school year By Jessica Molina jgmolina@loyno.edu @jmolina217
SGA is welcoming in the new school year with a chance for firstyear students to get involved in SGA’s newly created First-Year Council. Natalie Paul, Student Government Association vice president, will head the First-Year Council with assistance from other Executive
Staff members and Courtney Williams, SGA adviser. Before the new school year began, SGA had a retreat where they worked on team building, reviewed the SGA Constitution and learned how their StrengthsQuest strengths could best work together. According to Abigail Justice, SGA director of communications, they discussed everything from the new non-smoking policy to the expecta-
tions they have for themselves as a team this semester. In an effort to keep SGA aligned with its Jesuit roots, a new position entitled Director of Spirituality and Social Justice has been created. Edwin Unzalu, mass communication junior, will serve in this position. “The Director of Spirituality and Social Justice will act as a resource to bring those ideals into the programs, initiatives and members of
the SGA community,” Paul said. Some SGA plans for the upcoming year include SGA pep-rallies, “Third Friday” events and providing student organizations with allocations throughout the year, in addition to putting on their own programs. Nathaniel Ryther, SGA president, said he is excited to work with this year’s executive staff. “As the Student Government Association, we are here to make sure
LOYOLAMAROON.COM • FB.COM/THELOYOLAMAROON • @LOYOLA_MAROON
the students have a voice and have the most rewarding time possible at Loyola,” Ryther said. SGA elections will begin Wednesday, Sept. 16, and the first senate meeting will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 30. SGA weekly Senate meetings are open to the student body and are held at 6:30 p.m. in the Audubon Room each Wednesday.