The Maroon March 15, 2024 Issue

SGA SHOWDOWN

Get to know the presidential and vice presidential candidates running in this year’s student government election. Two tickets qualified for running as pairs to serve the student body until next spring. Voting begins on March 21 and goes until March 24. Students will be able to vote online. Students are invited to a town hall debate on March 21in Monroe 152 at 6:15 p.m. and a tabling event for voting on March 22. For more information and updates about voting, follow @loyno_sga on Instagram.

Unifying Loyola

A Sweeter Loyola

Bertholet - Cruse Ticket Dixon - Sawyer Ticket

"Together we can create the Loyola we all deserve."

"I hope to empower students as SGA has empowered me throughout my time at Loyola."

- Juleea Berthelot, presidential candidate - Rowan Sawyer, vice presidential candidate

From left to right; vice presidential candiate Carson Cruse and presidential candidate Juleea Bertheaway. Sophia Renzi / The Maroon

From left to right; presidential candiate Diamond Dixon and vice presidential candidate Rowan Sawyer. Sophia Renzi / The Maroon

Q&A with SGA Candidates

We asked each candidate running this election six yes or no questions and one short answer. Here are their responses.

President/Vice President Senator-at-Large Senators*

Dixon/Sawyer

Berthelot/Cruse

Myers Delker

Gustin Moss

Have you held a previous position with SGA?

Do you think SGA has been upholding its responsibility in being the voice of the student body?

Should SGA members be allowed to speak to the media without permission from or going through other SGA members?

Do you think the administration is receptive to SGA representatives as leaders of the student body?

Do you think the current budget allocation process is e cient?

Do you think SGA is clear and transparent with funding in its recent past?

What do you think SGA's role on campus should be?

Diamond Dixon:

"SGA's role and responsibility on campus should be to advocate for students' voices and concerns. SGA should utilize its resources to make Loyola sweeter for everyone including those who join the pack after us."

Rowan Sawyer:

"SGA has the resources to make campus life SWEETER, and it is our responsibility to support student's interests and concerns. SGA should be a space for student's voices to be amplified in conversations with upper administration."

Juleea Berthelot:

"I think SGA's role on campus is to be a conduit for information from the student body to the administration as well as from the administration to the student body. I also think SGA is meant to connect the di erent parts of campus and help them have the best Loyola experience they can."

Carson Cruse:

"SGA’s role on campus ought to be a direct line of communication from the student body to administration. We are beholden to the needs and wants of our constituents and have a responsibility to advocate for them regardless of our personal beliefs. In my time in SGA I feel that this line of communication has been damaged and needs to be strengthened."

Kalena Myers:

"I think the role of SGA on Loyola's campus is to be a voice for the student population, between students, between di erent organizations, and between students and various departments and administration. SGA serves a key role in facilitating connections and advocating for student representation across campus."

Kaley Delker:

"Right now SGA has to do a lot of enforcement of campus policies. This takes away from us from doing the accessibility, educational, and student involvement work we should be focused on."

Grayson Gustin:

"I think SGA’s role on campus should be exactly what it is, a liaison for student to administration communication. I feel that a lot of people don’t understand that SGA isn’t the end all be all, its a process just like regular government which calls for a lot of back and forth, taking a lot of time. The role is of course major, especially for the student body but is misunderstood to be the way immediate change is made. SGA is just another branch of Loyola, then going through other branches."

Kruz Moss:

"I think SGA’s role on campus should be to receive and relay the concerns of the student body and beautify areas of the school that need upkeep, whether that be in the constitution, belongings of the campus like furniture, or simple acknowledgment of common concerns that go unseen."

*Senatorial candidates who did not respond in time for publication:

• Paris Hayes - College of Arts and Sciences

• Pharrell Every - College of Arts and Sciences

• Emma Ridge - College of Business

• MaryKate Mintken - College of Business

A town hall will be held on Thursday, March 21 in Monroe room 152 from 6:15 - 8 p.m.

Joshua Hinchie reflects on time at Loyola

By Pharrell Every pjevery@my.loyno.edu

Philosophy instructor, co-director of faith formation for the Catholic Studies program, and a former Jesuit in residence, Joshua Hinchie is leaving Loyola to pursue further education at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain.

He currently holds a masters degree in philosophy and is seeking a graduate degree in theology to further his education

In Hinchie’s three years at the university, he taught a variety of philosophy and religious studies courses. As the co-director of faith formation, he plans faith-based programming in the Catholic Studies program for Catholic Studies nights.

He also coordinates the Sodalities which he describes as, “groups of stu-

dents committed to living in a more intentional form of Christian life.”

He recalls his time at Loyola as being “beautiful” and “transformative.”

As a Jesuit in residence, Hinchie worked for a year-and-a-half in Biever Hall assisting with the resident ministry program.

The Resident Ministry program has two components. The first is the Jesuits in Residence, made up of members of the Society of Jesus, and the second is the resident ministers who all work together to “bring home our Jesuit values” as their slogan states.

Ken Weber, associate director of ministry said, “the foundation of that mission is in offering ourselves as relational resources to residential students. In other words, we want to get to know our neighbors so that we can help them.”

To bridge the gap between those in the department and the student body,

the Jesuits in Residence and resident ministers often look towards the Catholic heritage to guide their works in the ministry.

Weber said, “Whatever our thoughts on religion, faith, spirituality, or any other views, all of us are made for connection among one another. We are all made for love. Resident Ministry works to facilitate contexts for growing in charitable love among students in the res hall communities.”

Upon his departure from Loyola, Hinchie plans to attend university for three years. After which, he will return to the U.S. and be ordained as a priest, possibly in New Orleans at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. After becoming a priest, he could be missioned anywhere depending on where the Jesuits choose to send him.

He was sent to New Orleans by the Jesuits and regards it as one of many plac-

es he would’ve been happy to have been assigned to.

Although he is leaving the Big Easy, he knows that students will still have “big questions” and to those students he says, “don’t lose those opportunities if you have those big questions.”

Hinchie said, “Don’t let anything hold you back from [going] to someone, people who are eager to help you discuss those big questions and help you explore and find what you’re looking for.”

While he didn’t expect the amount of responsibility that he would have in the Catholic Studies department or with students coming to him regarding their lives and struggles, Hinchie said, “I also did not expect the amount that I would see students grow and change in the last three years.”

Event held to increase awareness of sexual assault

By Kloe Witt kgwitt@my.loyno.edu

Students had the opportunity to dress up, dance, and educate themselves on sexual assault prevention at a soiree put on by Loyola’s Student Government Association.

SGA’s Assembly for Sexual Assault and Prevention banded together to create a night to honor those who have survivors of sex related violence, according to assembly chair, Kalena Myers.

ant to one, address those issues and two, build up the community and to support each other,” Myers said.

But the event wasn’t exclusive to Loyola. The committee partnered with Dillard University’s Healing Women organization and Loyola’s counseling center, both of which had speakers at the event, to show this awareness.

"The opportunity to feel not alone, it's so important."

— Breanna Crain Psychology senior

The soiree gave students and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence the chance to feel welcomed and heard.

“The opportunity to feel not alone, it’s so important,” psychology senior Breanna Crain said.

This type of event was one Myers said they felt was needed at Loyola, whether the community realizes it or not. Myers said she hopes this soiree will become an annual event.

“I think, especially with Loyola being as diverse as it is, um it’s really import-

Assistant Director of the University Counseling Center

Ash Bayer spoke at the event and said events that educate one another on sexual awareness are essential to fight for prevention.

“We can unlearn harmful ideas, educate ourselves, and hold each other accountable to be the people we all aspire to be,” Bayer said.

In previous years, the committee focused on handing Title IX cases and increasing awareness for sexual assault and domestic violence on campus through posters. This year, however, Myers said they wanted to do something different.

“This year, we’re really moving forward with events like this and I think it was really a success,” Myers said.

Faculty's qualifications evaluated for accreditation

By Nadir Benslimane nmbensli@my.loyno.edu

Loyola is beginning a process of evaluating the qualifications for its teaching faculty, leading up to the university's accreditation report in 2025.

The review is part of the university’s overall accreditation report, which aims to document, update, and report on all aspects of the university’s operations.

The most typical teaching qualification is a terminal degree, such as a doctorate or master of fine arts, or at least a degree that is one step above the level the faculty member is teaching.

The qualifications will be determined on a class-by-class basis. If a faculty member doesn’t have the requisite degree to teach a particular class, then it will be up to the department to document exactly how that faculty member is qualified to teach that course.

Accreditation, in short, is an evaluation process performed by a regional accrediting agency to ensure that universities are in compliance with the standards put in place by the U.S. Department of Education.

Vice Provost for Institutional Research, Accreditation, and Academic Engagement Uriel Quesada said that it is very important for a university to be in compliance with the standards set by the Department of Education.

Quesada explained that accreditation is a requirement for universities to be able to grant degrees to students.

“Being accredited is a requirement for universities and students in those universities to have access to federal funding, federal loans, and other programs that support students,” he said.

To receive accreditation, Loyola University must exhibit compliance with the 72 standards set by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the regional accrediting agency in the Southern states, in 2025.

One of these standards is faculty qualifications which allows the university and the agency to “ensure that the students are getting quality education.” Quesada said. He said that his office started coordinating with the deans and associate deans in February of this year on how to create a clear and detailed accreditation report for SACSCOC.

From the Editor

CORRECTION: Last week, The Maroon published an article, “Students frustrated with refund processing” that contained misinformation. The Office of Financial Aid does not process refunds. Refund requests are received and processed by Student Financial Services. Although both offices are housed in one suite in Thomas Hall, they are different departments.

Additionally, quotes from Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Mary Musso were to a student in regard to student eligibility with and receiving Louisiana Go Grant funds for the spring semester and not any other forms of aid.

Also, contrary to our implications, the Office of Financial Aid and Student Financial Services can’t add or remove charges to students' bills.

SGA senator Grayson Gustin assists Senator-at-Large and event coordinator Kalena Myers with soiree raffle tickets on March 8, 2024. Maleigh Crespo/The Maroon

Joshua Hinchie speaks at Catholic Studies night on March 12. Hinchie will be leaving at the end of the semester. Christopher Nesbit/The Maroon

DJ Pretty Na$ty paves the way for fellow female DJs

By Ashlyn Bobb Collins abobbcol@my.loyno.edu

Katie Chandler is a teacher by day and DJ by night. Known as “Pretty Na$ty” by most, she wants to help people pursue their musical passions and be a role model for women.

Chandler was born in New Orleans and has always had a passion for music. She grew up listening to artists like Lil Wayne and Boosie, so her work has strong in uences of hip hop.

In college, Chandler majored in journalism before she made the switch to education. She didn't think there was a career in music, so she went on to pursue teaching for 9 years.

During her free time, she would listen to music all day or get in the studio. Eventually, her passion for music grew so strong that knew she needed to express it. Encouragement from friends and her rst time at a music festival really helped solidify how Chandler felt. She then discovered a career in DJing.

Chandler bought her rst DJ controller during Hurricane Ida when she had plenty of time on her hands to get the hang of it. She taught herself to DJ by watching YouTube videos and constantly practicing. Eventually, she was able to put her skills to use.

Chandler had some friends who worked at Republic NOLA, who were looking for performers. After some deliberation and previewing her work, she played her rst show at Republic NOLA. Her shows didn’t stop there. Since then, Chandler has played at multiple other dive bars in the city like e Saint,

e Drifter, Rabbit Hole. Subsequently, gigs began to get more high pro le, and Chandler has now played in other cities like Denver, San Francisco, and Austin, Texas.

With her rising popularity, she’s used her platform to mentor other aspiring DJs. Chandler is more interested in taking women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and minorities under her wing because she understands the di culties that come with being a woman or a minority in the music industry, or even both.

As Chandler is growing in popularity, she approaches challenges, like not being taken seriously, people doubting her skills, and being told she was seeking attention.

She wants to teach other women that while these challenges might feel like they’re holding you back, they’re just words, and all you need is to “have a really strong sense of self.”

Chandler hopes that fellow up-andcoming female artists know how benecial it is to be true to themselves, regardless of how saturated the music industry may be.

“It’s important to nd your uniqueness and use it for branding purposes and build a community people can relate to. Have something that people can expect from you,” Chandler said.

Chandler continues to believe in herself and what women can do and is proud of how far she’s come.

“I’m really starting to see the fruits of my labor. Seeing myself overcome my challenges and my mental toughness to be able to push through,” Chandler said.

Loyola helps musicians monetize music

By Abigail Schmidt acschmid@my.loyno.edu

After garnering over $30,000 in sync placements in the last year, Loyola is working to teach its students how to monetize their music.

Synchronization licensing is the process of securing legal permission to synchronize music with visual media such as lms, television shows, commercials, video games, and online videos. According to music supervisor and professor

Jonathan McHugh, it is the best way for young musicians to get money and traction.

“ ere was very little conversation here at Loyola about sync, so part of my mission is to demystify how to best monetize some of the great music that our School of Music and eatre Profession students are creating,” McHugh said.

e Studio A Library initiative builds upon Loyola's previous endeavors in sync licensing, which have focused on

educating students about the process of monetizing their music for visual media content. Music supervisors, integral gures in the industry, rely heavily on one-stop music libraries like Studio A to e ciently license music for various visual projects.

"One of the most important tools that music supervisors use to get their jobs done e ciently are one-stop music libraries to license music for our visual media content," McHugh said.

Loyola has already had major suc-

cess in past sync placements. Senior Sergio Soto has four songs featured in the series " e Freak Brothers," and junior Kinsley Welch, along with sophomore Aidan Pilley, created a song for an unreleased movie.

"We were just given the note of 'do the reference but better.' So naturally we freaked out a bit," Pilley said. is was his rst time writing for sync, so he said it was a learning curve.

"I was creating and producing restlessly at rst since I've never tackled a

sync brief before,” Pilley said. “But when I realized the power was in not overthinking, I feel like that's when I got in the groove."

Music industry sophomore Savannah Bergeron manages Loyola artists and assists them in acquiring sync placements.

"As we develop the catalog, we hope to get bigger and better placements for our students and alum,” Bergeron said. “Because how cool would it be to have your music in a lm or TV show?"

Courtesy of Bryan Ell

Students work on music in studio on the 4th oor of the Communications/Music Complex. Student musicians are learning about synchronization licensing. Maleigh Crespo/The Maroon

Musician MSSNGR works on producing music in studio on Jan. 26, 2024. Maleigh Crespo/The Maroon

ACROSS

1. “I can’t breathe! We have a ____ problem.” said by many students living in dorms

5. Oysters contain the most of this nutrient of any other food

9. Junior year, you are required to pick this

14. Organization for the Prevention of Alien In ltration, abbr.

15. Optical Parametric Oscillator Ampli er, abbr.

16. Design majors are extremely familiar with this program

17. “Calm Down” singer

18. ____ nabbit!

19. Implant

20. Early humans crossed these to enter the Americas

23. Latin term translated to “by the fact itself”

24. Experimental Aircraft Association, abbr.

25. Intense pain associated with birth, death, or great change

27. Why drink soda it's just _________

33. King of France during the French Revolution

34. A lovely ying baby with arrows

35. Common myth that you can get pregnant in a hot ___

38. Fashion Designer ____ Jacobs

39. Streptococcal pharyngitis

40. Miller ___ beer

41. ___ sh, two sh

42. A mocking smile

43. e green streetcar line ends at

44. Havoc was caught stealing extra snacks in _____ _______!

47. White, in Paris

48. Automated External De brillator, abbr.

49. Skyscraper: apartment; dorm: ____

50. e FBI monitors the activities or development of a person or org.

57. Emotionally distant

59. Two people singing

60. Pond plant

61.”Heaven forbid!”

62. Father of Art Deco

63. Opposite of upset

64. English majors write a lot of these

65. Close by

66. Middle of your leg

DOWN

1. Memento ____

2. Oil group with twelve member countries

3. Not exciting

4. With insulin de ciency

5. Pisces, leo, virgo, etc.

6. Millennial parents give these to their children to shut them

up

7. Foolish person, in Sydney

8. e ____-d Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

9. Flirtatious wife in "Of Mice and Men"

10. Look with pleasure

11. What students look for after graduation

12. More than overweight

13. Doing something again

21. Need sunscreen to protect against UV ____

22. Take o clothes

26. Past tense of hide

27. Red puppet that Jordan Peterson hates

28. Ghostly sound

29. People in the Harry Potter universe with no muggles in their family

30. Past tense of act

31. Attracted sh

32. Soap _____

36. Salt Lake City is the capital of this state

37. Louisiana is in the bible ____

39. A sweet treat

40. Easygoing or relaxed

42. Oedipus complex is when a ___ loves his mother

43. Actress DuVall from “But I’m a Cheerleader”

45. Scott Pilgrim’s main love interest

46. Talk incessantly

47. Philippine machetes

49. “Miss the ____” By Trippie Redd feat. Playboy Carti

51. Adam and Eve’s address

52. Your, in Berlin

53. Animal rights org. that everyone thinks is annoying

54. Goddess of ame in Berserk

55. Search engine Go_____

56. It’s on your ID

58. Irish singer ___ Vance

Lights, Camera, Action: The Women of Film and Television

By Dajah Saul and June Fernandez

Mean girls, demigods, and superheroes, oh my! As March graces us with Women’s History Month, we have compiled a list of the best films and television shows 2024 so far - with women leading the forefront. This list aims to showcase

These films of 2024 shine a light on the strong female performances within their main casts. A ride through various genres, these women-led films allow audiences to enjoy the performances in a short period of time. Whether you’ll enjoy these films for the plot (or for Zendaya, which I understand), you’ll find a film or two that will make your watch time as enjoyable as possible.

FILMS:

Renee Rapp - Regina George - “Mean Girls”

Jenna Ortega - Cairo Sweet - “Miller’s Girl”

Kathyrn Newton - Lisa Frankenstein - “Lisa Frankenstein”

Katy M. O’Brian - Brian - “Love Lies Bleeding”

Bryce Dallas Howard - Elly Conway - “Argylle”

Dakota Johnson - Madame Web - “Madame Web”

Sydney Sweeney - Julia Carpenter - “Madame Web”

Florence Pugh - Princess Irulan - “Dune: Part 2”

Zendaya - Chani - “Dune: Part 2”

Zendaya - Tashi - “Challengers”

Mckenna Grace - Phoebe Spengler - “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”

Kristen Dunst - “Civil War”

Emily Blunt - “The Fall Guy”

Cailey Fleming -”IF”

Anya Taylor-Joy - Imperator Furiosa - “Furiosa”

Concert films are just as impactful as live performances

By Maleigh Crespo macrespo@my.loyno.edu

2023: The year of larger-than-life concerts and women dominating the film and music industries with Barbie on the big screen, Taylor Swift on her record-breaking tour, and Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE, which both made their way to the big screens, as well.

Do you really wanna know where I was April 29?

I was in Atlanta, Georgia for night two of “The Eras Tour.” And call me “the lucky one” because I also have tickets to her upcoming show in New Orleans, which is seven months and 10 days away, but honestly, baby, who's counting?

Even though I traveled 13 hours (*wink, wink*) to another state to see Swift perform and have plans to see her again on the same tour, when she announced the film version of the tour, I immediately bought tickets.

up-and-down that occur at live performances.

Ultimately, it was up to the theater and the person. Before the film’s debut, AMC Theatres released a statement about guidelines, “Taylor Swift Eras attire and friendship bracelets are strongly encouraged! We encourage dancing and singing throughout this concert film event, but please do not dance on our seats or block other guests from viewing.”

Many Swifties (myself included) took this as their golden opportunity to take full advantage of the concert film experience by making and trading bracelets, dressing up, waiting in line to get the coveted pink popcorn bucket, and for me, recreate and relive The Eras Tour experience.

“Whether it’s reliving the experience or seeing the hard work and effort put into the show, it’s an immersive experience that’s just as special.”

For super Swifties, like my friends and I, every announcement and release from Swift is a reason to “make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it,” and of course, dress up in our sparkliest outfits and accessories.

After Swift announced the film premiere, however, there was discourse in the fandom on whether attendees would follow typical theater guidelines of sitting, watching, eating popcorn, and sipping on Icees or the standard scream-singing and jumping

For others who were unable to get tickets, this was their version of “The Eras Tour,” and Swift made sure the experience could be just as special for them by giving attendees free posters and selling “merch” by way of themed popcorn buckets and cups.

Even though I’d already been to the show, being in that theater transported me back, and it was exhilarating. I cried just as hard, sang just as loud, and danced just the same as I did at the concert.

And I’ll probably do the same from the comfort of my living room when the film is released on Disney+ this Friday.

As a lover and massive consumer of media, I am definitely a fan of concert

films in general, not just of Swift’s.

So when “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” was released, I ran to buy tickets for its on screen premiere.

Although the superstar had a tour stop in New Orleans, I opted not go even though I would’ve undoubtedly had a good time, I had a prior commitment.

The film, which also had tourinspired cups and free posters, was the perfect alternative.

However, unlike Swift’s “The Eras Tour” film, Beyoncé’s film, which was produced by the performer’s own production company Parkwood Entertainment, is a documentary rather than a filmed version of the concert.

While Swift’s film was footage from a single night in Los Angeles, Beyoncé’s film showcased behindthe-scenes moments leading up to the tour, the making of the show, and had featured editing that allowed for every costume, which was around 140 total, to be shown.

Both artists’ shows had similar runtimes, so the respective films were both 2 hours, 49 minutes.

Even though I was “cozy” in the theater, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” brought me to tears with its poignancy and homage to the queer community, along with the vulnerability shared by the artist and mother of three.

Though different, these two films show that concert films can be just as impactful as a live concert. Whether it’s reliving the experience or seeing the hard work and effort put into the show, it’s an immersive experience that’s just as special.

actresses who left us speechless for their onscreen performances. From live-action series of beloved media to revamped classics, the film and television series of this year display the best female performers to keep an eye out on.

Television expands the world of storytelling, giving the female actresses leading the shows to build on their performances in a fulfilling manner. Want to watch a smart, strong demigod find her way through a hero’s journey? A waterbender working hard to protect her tribe - and the world? Read through this list of fantastic women-led television shows to discover more interesting series to add to your watchlist.

SHOWS:

Leah Sava Jeffries - Annabeth Chase - “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”

Quinta Brunson - Janine Teagues - “Abbott Elementary”

Ambika Mod - Emma Morley - “One Day”

Kiawentiio Tarbel - Katara - “Avatar: The Last Airbender”

Alaqua Cox - Maya Lopez - “Echo”

Maya Erskine - Jane - “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Michelle Yeoh - Mama Sun - “The Brothers Sun”

Sofia Vergara - Grisela Blanco - “Griselda”

Danai Gurira - Michonne - “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live”

Anna Sawai - Lady Mariko - “Shogun”

Concert films are a superficial experience

By Maria DiFelice mldifeli@my.loyno.edu

Waves of new artists have converted the concert experience to film. The wave started with Taylor Swift's “The Eras Tour” that came out in October 2023, and then Beyonce’s “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” that came out in December of 2023. I saw Taylor’s, but after that the appeal to see another concert movie was low for me, so I never saw Beyonce’s film.

something a movie just can’t show. It dawned on me that it’s not so much about the artist singing, but the excitement of being in the crowd and being able to connect with the artist on a different level.

“While the money appeal is nice, nothing beats going to the concert and experiencing the rawness of everything in real time.”

While I'm not a die-hard Swiftie, the overwhelming praise for her live performances prompted me to give it a shot. However, my enthusiasm waned just 30 minutes into the screening.

As I’m watching “The Eras Tour” unfold on the big screen, I found myself wondering: why spend hours in a movie theater when I could easily enjoy the artist's music from the comfort of my home?

The excitement of watching this amazing live performance dwindled away, making me realize that it means more to me to be at the concert. You are experiencing the music in real time and experiencing the raw emotion of the artist singing,

Don’t get me wrong, the appeal is great because if you can’t afford to pay for a ticket to see Taylor Swift live, why not just go and watch it at your local theater for way less. But as I sat in my seat, the spontaneity dwindled away and left me with no excitement to see what will come next.

Thanks to social media, the element of surprise is gone, especially due to all of the spoilers people get nowadays. Spoilers never usually bother me when I go to a concert because there is the aspect of watching unfold right in front of your eyes and seeing everyones reactions in real time is priceless.

In essence, me watching a concert movie, like “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” is just me trying to vicariously experience someone else’s joy and excitement – a pale imitation of what you would experience at a concert. While the money appeal is nice, nothing beats going to the concert and experiencing the rawness of everything in real time.

Taylor Falgout/The Maroon

New Orleans Book Festival has something for everyone

By Ecoi Lewis ealewis@my.loyno.edu

Get ready to be immersed in a world of literature and culture, as the New Orleans Book Festival begins next door at Tulane University.

e festival will be held March 14 - 16 with over 183 participants, 90 of them making their rst appearance at the

event. e event will feature book signings, family day activities, 90+ panels, a culinary symposium, and a music celebration to close the festival. e musical act will be Irma omas.

Imani Perry, Clint Smith, Jake Tapper, Cleo Wade, and Jesmyn Ward are just some of the authors participating. Members of the Tulane administration, facul-

ty, board members, sta , and alumni will appear on panels. Two Loyola professors will be moderators – Michelle Johnston and Justin Nystrom.

For the rst time, the festival will also feature a session presented in Spanish. ere is something for everyone. e festival is free to the public and on a rstcome, rst-served basis.

“ e convergence of literary, culinary, and artistic brilliance at this event transcends mere celebration; it's a symphony of creativity and a feast for the senses,” festival co-chair and Tulane professor Walter Isaacson. “Our aspiration is for attendees to engage deeply in the diverse, innovative discussions, and spark an intellectual curiosity that extends well beyond the boundaries of New Orleans.”

"Our festival lineup promises something for every book lover, regardless of age and we hope to ignite a love for reading in the hearts of all attendees."

— Cheryl Landrieu Festival co-chair

Women's basketball to host and compete in NAIA regionals

By Matthew Richards mlricha2@my.loyno.edu

Loyola will host the women’s National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics regional basketball tournament for the second consecutive year on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. with the women’s team up against a familiar opponent—Southeastern University of Florida. Loyola (24-4) hopes that its 12-1 home record in the regular season will translate into the tournament as it seeks to improve on last year’s surprise first-round exit.

“We have a lot of success at home this season and we hope to continue that moving into the weekend,” head coach Kellie Kennedy said. “We play well here, and our group is comfortable at home.”

Kennedy said last year the team was dealing with the loss of starting point guard Kennedy Hansberry, due to an ACL injury in the conference tournament final game. This year is different, she said.

“Our team is excited, and we will approach this next game as we have each one all season. One game and one possession at a time,” Kennedy said.

This game serves as a rematch from earlier in the season when the Wolf Pack and the Fire met in Montgomery, Alabama for the Southern States Athletic

Conference/Sun Conference Challenge, and Loyola won 55-53.

The Wolf Pack is led by Sandra Cannady and Taylor Thomas. Cannady, a graduate senior forward and two-time reigning SSAC Player of the Year, earned the award after averaging 16.7 points and 9.3 rebounds this season. Thomas is a graduate senior guard who was second on the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game and leads the team in assists, averaging 4.5 per game.

The Southeastern Fire (22-7) enter this contest on a five-game winning streak that saw them claim their seventh Sun Conference title in the last nine years. The team is led by grad senior point guard Bekki Kalaydjiev, who was named the Sun Conference Player of the Year for this season after averaging 15 points per game and 3.9 assists. Along with grad senior forward Kiki Britzmann, who was named Sun Conference tournament MVP after a 30 point performance.

Coach Kennedy stressed the importance of having a solid game plan to win on Friday and advance to the second round.

Swim team makes waves at nationals

By Hector N. Garcia hngarcia@my.loyno.edu

The swim team competed at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship on March 6-9.

In the men’s 4x200-yard freestyle relay, Jack McNamara, Tate Bladon, Benjamin Chehebar, and Logan Gary broke the Loyola record for the first time since 2019 with a time of 3:04.12, finishing in 8th place and All-American in the second heat.

Tate Bladon set a school record of 45.15 in his preliminary swim in the 100yard Freestyle, which placed him in the B final where he swam a 45.53.

Harvey Quiddington finished 14th in the 200-yard Breaststroke at 2:04.85, which was just close to breaking his own previously set record.

“The team spirit is always high at nationals. This is a chance to get up on the block and show everyone that you deserve a medal more than they do," Quiddington said.

Eve Thomas placed 18th in the 200-

yard Backstroke with a personal best of 2:08.46.

Catherine Streeter swam a 53.98 in the 100m Freestyle.

Monty Moore Yetter swam a 56.20 in the 100-yard Breaststroke, setting a school record for Loyola. Yetter finished in 16th place in the finals with a time of 57.68.

Mya Baker won her heat for the 1650yard Freestyle with a time of 18:11.22. At the end of nationals, the Loyola Wolf Pack Swim Team finished in 12th place.

Men's basketball prepares for NAIA regionals

By Eve McFarland ecmcfarl@my.loyno.edu

The Loyola men’s basketball team took an unusual route to winning its third straight Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament title.

The Wolf Pack entered last week’s tournament with a 10-14 record. But the team found itself and made history by becoming the first team in the SSAC

March 22,

tournament to win four games in four days and win the title.

The team’s reward? A date with No. 1 seed team, Freed-Hardeman, at the Brewer Sports Center in Henderson, Tennessee, on Friday at 7 p.m.

“We never gave up, and we believe in each other,” redshirt freshman and MVP of the SSAC tournament, said.

Freed-Hardeman Lions (26-4) made history in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as

“We need to play well on both sides of the ball,” she said. “We need to be aggressive and execute offensively and defend their personnel well.” Senior Spotlight:

By Matthew Richards mlricha2@my.loyno.edu

When Lucy Carpenter arrived at Loyola all the way from Croton-on-Hudson, New York, she did so as the highest-rated tennis recruit in the history of the program and was being reunited with her high school coach, Matthew Llewellyn, as the program looked to reach new heights.

“Before coaching at Loyola, I had a unique opportunity to coach Lucy as

back-to-back champions of the MidSouth Conference tournament. This was their second time facing Georgetown College in the tournament, with a victory of 71-59.

Head coach Donald Reyes said the team is continuing to build on its foundation and is ready for the matchup against Freed-Hardeman.

“I truly believe we are right where we need to be at this time to compete for

a junior player and have known her since she was 13 years old,” Llewellyn said. “She was always a great competitor with huge potential, and she's one of the strongest, most genuine people I know.”

Carpenter lived up to her lofty billing and expectations the moment she stepped on the court for the Wolf Pack, winning Southern States Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, first team All-Conference, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Second Team All-American, and reached the highest singles ranking for any Loyola tennis player in program history (no. 8).

“It’s such an honor to be a part of so many big moments for this program,” Carpenter said. “I really love this school and it feels really good to do things that no one has done here before, so I’m

another national championship,” Reyes said.

Senior Milan Mejia brings experience to the young team from being part of the NAIA national championship team two seasons ago.

Mejia plans to lead the team and help them understand that not one person can do it alone.

proud of that. I love the community here and it’s really fun to do it for them.”

Carpenter recorded more program milestones her sophomore season, becoming the first women’s player in Loyola history to win SSAC Player of the Year, along with Scholar-Athlete of the Year, first-team All-Conference, and NAIA Second Team All-American, and finished the season on a 10 match winning streak.

“It was awesome to win that award,” said Carpenter. “That was a really good season for me, and my goal is to do it again this year. It was really cool to be the first to do it at Loyola too. And I don’t usually care about personal or individual awards, but it was cool to get it and be the person that was able to put a light on my great teammates as well.”

Final Scores

Baseball vs. Louisiana Christian, March 12

L 9-12

Men's Golf at Carey Collegiate March 11-12

13th of 14

Competitive Dance at dance regionals - March 11

1st of 5

Men's Tennis vs. Dillard University March 13

L 7-0

Women's Tennis vs. Dillard University March 13

W 6-1

Upcoming Games

Men's Track and Field

March 15-16 vs. University of Louisiana

Women's Track and Field March 15-16 vs. University of Louisiana

Women's Tennis

March 15 vs. Louisiana Christian @ 2 p.m.

Members of Loyola swim team race in the indoor pool on Jan. 20, 2023. The team concluded their season at nationals in Columbus, GA. Heidi Herrera/

The Maroon

Lucy Carpenter in action against Jones College on

2023. Carpenter was the highest-rated recruit in Loyola history. Gabriele Korein/The Maroon

Junior guard Lizzy Ratcliff shoots a shot against Thomas University on Jan. 20, 2023. Loyola will host the NAIA regional basketball tournament on Friday. Jacob L'Hommedieu/The Maroon

March 15, 2024

Briefs

Presidential preference primary is approaching

The Presidential preference primary election for Louisiana is right around the corner.

Polling stations for the primary will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 23. All registered voters should visit the GeauxVote website or download their smartphone app to ensure they vote at the correct location, as polling sites vary within each parish.

In-person voters must present valid photo identification such as a driver’s license or the LA Wallet app.

The Campus Vote Project is an online resource where students can find information about elections and why their votes matter.

Additionally, the AllSides website is a resource which provides information about a number of databases and news sites regarding their potential political biases. Such information is gathered through expert analysis as well as surveying readers from a range of points on the political spectrum. Students and voters can use this resource when reviewing news databases that provide information about presidential candidates as the primary election approaches.

Loyola to host union event

Loyola’s Department of Sociology is hosting their second annual Labor Spring.

Partnered with the Workplace Justice Project, Loyola’s Jesuit Social Research Institute, University of New Orleans Justice Studies, and others, the sociology department is hosting a panel to discuss workers rights.

On March 21 at 5:20 p.m. in Monroe Hall room 610, this event will educate students on labor unions and how the labor movement contributes to and aids workplace equality. Professors, labor union leaders, and workers will be presenting.

TikTok faces potential ban

TikTok once again finds itself in a precarious position as lawmakers in Washington move forward with a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on the platform.

The House passed legislation on March 13 that would ban TikTok if its China-based owner, ByteDance, doesn’t sell its stakes in the popular social media platform within six months of the bill’s enactment.

Lawmakers from both parties as well as law enforcement and intelligence officials have long expressed concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over data on the 170 million Americans who use TikTok.

If the bill becomes law, it would be bad news for small businesses who rely on the platform for marketing or sell products on TikTok Shop. It would also impact the lives of social media influencers who have spent years relying on their platform to acquire brand deals or other types of income.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Louisiana battles coastal erosion

By Eloise Pickering ewpicker@my.loyno.edu

A football field an hour that is how much coastal land loss Louisiana is constantly experiencing, according to a 2011 U.S. Geological Survey. Since 1932, they have estimated that Louisiana has lost around 1,900 square miles of its coast, which is larger than the size of Rhode Island.

To combat this ever present issue, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana has numerous programs, including one that recycles oyster shells.

According to Fiona Lightbody, the coalition’s oyster shell recycling program coordinator, the oyster shells are cleaned, bagged, and sent to the coast to create a reef barrier in order to prevent and lower erosion rates.

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana partners with 30 restaurants in the greater New Orleans area to collect oyster shells to keep the shells from ending up in a landfill.

“A lot of them do really appreciate the sustainability aspect of this program. There's actually a tangible outcome from their actions, which is really, really huge for them,” Lightbody said.

On March 2, Loyola’s Students for Environmental Action club partnered with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana at a volunteer event to bag the oyster shells.

SEA is an on campus organization with the mission of community involvement and education regarding environmental action.

“We do a lot of volunteering and outreach, like our trip to CRCL and then here on campus, we are working to make campus more environmentally friendly,” Ellie Redeman, SEA's co-president and environmental science major, said.

The club is involved in numerous events both on and off campus. SEA volunteers various organizations in the New Orleans community such as Glass Half Full, as well as participates/hosts volunteer events on campus, like working in Loyola’s greenhouse.

SEA brought six members out to the oyster shell recycling event, where they

spent a morning shoveling and bagging heavy oyster shells with dozens of people throughout the community and various other volunteer organizations.

“This was a really special volunteering opportunity because, I mean, coastal erosion is a big problem here in southern Louisiana,” Redeman said. “It's kind of nice to be able to physically take action and fight that as well as you know, kind of like grow that community feeling and like know that you're helping out your local community.”

This year, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana will be celebrating their 10 year anniversary of the oyster shell recycling program.

This specific program began in 2014 following the receival of a $1 million grant after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill crisis.

The coalition has functioned as an advocacy group since 1983, and ground programs began in 2000 with the planting of cypress trees and marsh grasses to prevent coastal erosion.

“We are engaging people with the coast, helping them make choices when they are voting, for instance, or also just helping people understand what legislation is coming out,” Lightbody said.

According to Lightbody, the mission of the coalition and the oyster shell recycling program is community involvement. The niche, as she refers to it, is in the citizens and the volunteers.

“We're not doing huge scale projects that need to be contracted out, because then we're missing that critical part, which is the people, the citizens,” Lightbody said. “The ones who can lose their livelihoods and their home and what

Louisiana gun legislation changes

By Chiara Faircloth clfaircl@my.loyno.edu

Legislation that legalizes the concealed carry of a weapon without a permit has been sent to Louisiana State Governor Jeff Landry’s office for approval,

Currently, individuals with permits alone are legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon within the state of Louisiana.

The proposed law will allow eligible people to carry guns hidden in their clothing without having to pay for a government permit, having their fingerprints taken or completing a firearm training course — which are all currently required.

In response to the potential change in legislation, Director of Loyola University Police Department Todd Warren said, “Nothing will really change on campus. The reason being campus is a gun-free zone.”

Loyola policy and state law prohibit the possession of firearms on campus or the storage of firearms in vehicles parked on campus. Violation of such

policy will subject the offender to potential suspension, expulsion, or criminal charges within the state.

Warren said that campus signs indicating that the university is a “gun-free

zone” will likely be replaced in the fall if they have deteriorated, and students may also be sent a reminder of the campus policy on weapons.

they love about this place to the landloss crisis.”

Since the oyster program began a decade ago, they have recycled and sent nearly 14 million pounds of shells to the reef.

Both the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Loyola’s SEA are continuing their fight for Louisiana’s coast as well as the environment as a whole.

“There are so many amazing community organizations and people out there that are working against climate change, working for climate change, and for environmental justice here in New Orleans,” Redeman said. “Just that itself is really inspiring, but I really recommend getting involved because it does you know, it feels good to like, bring change and see the change that you can make in a community.”

TUPD, students speak on college bar safety

By Maria DiFelice mldifeli@my.loyno.edu

With the bustling nightlife around Tulane and Loyola, safety becomes a concern, Tulane Police Captain Anthony Dominguez said.

Dominguez said his team has 24/7 patrolling from South Carrollton Avenue to Jefferson Avenue and St. Charles Avenue to South Claiborne Avenue.

The patrol route includes six popular college bars around Tulane and Loyola: The Boot, Palms, Bruno’s Tavern, TJ Quills, Redd’s Tavern, and Snake and Jakes. Whether Tulane police officers are on foot, bicycle, or driving around, they make sure students are safe, Dominguez said.

“While not responding to calls for service, our officers proactively patrol these areas to prevent criminal activity and to be available to our community members when needed,” he said.

Grace Nolan, program coordinator, leads team in shoveling and bagging oyster shells on March 2, 2024 with the Coalition for Restore Coastal Louisiana. The event works to combat rapid coastal erosion on Louisiana's shore. Eloise Pickering/The Maroon

Guns sit on display at Walmart. New gun legislation legalizes weapon carry without permit. Sunny Bedford/The Maroon

COMMUNITY: Bar safety fosters commmunity

Continued from page 11

Advertising junior Emma Santangelo said she enjoys going to Bruno’s for “wine Wednesdays,” a popular event, where Bruno’s serves $5 bottles of wine.

Santangelo doesn’t just go for the wine. She said it’s also for the social aspect. The familiarity of people is a reason why she goes out.

“The age range is nice in college bars because you are around people who you know are at the same stage of life,” she said.

Santangelo isn’t the only one who likes the familiarity of college bars, like Bruno’s. Former Loyola student Rory McCarthy said he enjoys going out with his friends and being able to recognize others around him.

“Going to other bars feels like you are a small fish in a big pond, so being here makes you feel like a sense of community,” he said.

Students said it's not just the ambiance of the bars; it's also the safety element of them, as well.

Tulane junior Mackenzie Jackson said she enjoys going out and being able to feel safe because Tulane Police are patrolling.

“In terms of security, and I guess outside dangers, I feel pretty safe,” she said.

FACULTY: Loyola enforces faculty qualification standards

Continued from page 3

He detailed in an email to The Maroon that for this standard, his office will start by making a table listing each teaching faculty’s qualifications cross-listed by every course they are teaching.

“That table includes each course offered in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 (we offer hundreds of courses each semester), the faculty member teaching the course, and the faculty member’s qualifications to teach the course,” he wrote.

Quesada said that determining these qualifications are often straightforward as the university usually offers courses that correspond with faculty members’

degrees in compliance with SACSCOC’s standards.

In other cases, he notes the connec tion between the course and the faculty member’s qualification is not that clear. In those cases, Quesada said that those unclear qualifications could still be justified if that member has additional credentials such as work experience, teaching experience, certifications, or other experience that relates to the course they’re teaching.

Quesada said that when Loyola went through the same process during SACSCOC re-accreditation in 2016, the accrediting body only flagged six faculty

members across the entire university. hired for a position. He added that these reports help to update vital information about faculty, and their documents to be as accurate

BASKETBALL: Team "locks in" for regionals

Continued from page 10

By playing together and focusing on what coach Reyes has for the team, Mejia believes that locking in on defense will let their offense come together.

“Coach [Reyes] tries to inspire us to do more for the team than for ourselves,” Mejia said.

Last season, the Wolf Pack lost to Sagu University at the Den in the first round of the national tournament. Freed-Hardeman also lost to Sagu in November 7471 in Panama City, Florida, during the Battle at the Beach tournament.

Quesda concluded by saying, “We are not saying that faculty may be disqualified from teaching their class, that’s not the point, and that’s not what we are doing. We are following a process that comes from the Department of Education and our accrediting agency, in which we have to report that we have the right people teaching. And I am 100% sure that we have the right people

SAFETY COURSES: Police concerned about increased gun access

Continued from page 11

Regarding changes that may occur off-campus as a result of the legislation, Warren said, “If I had my preference, I would want anybody carrying to be permitted.”

However, Warren also stated, “Historically, they [legislation legalizing concealed carry for permitless holders] have not caused any more shootings or conflicts.”

He referred to the same legislative

change which occurred years prior in Texas.

“[Loyola] police chiefs had predicted that there would be an increase in con frontations, an increase in shootings, and there wasn’t,” he said. “I would sug gest if they're going to carry, that they go take a course anyway.”

With the number of car burglaries that take place near the city, Warren added, “And if they’re going to leave it in the car, I would recommend a lockbox in the car.”

Considering how this might affect students on campus, Gallagher said concealed carry then makes the no-gun policy on campus really hard to enforce.

“It’s not like we do stop-and-frisks

Gallagher said that offering gun-safety courses within colleges may be beneficial. She referred to how lack of gun-safety knowledge often leads to ac-

The Associated Press contributed to

While the Lions have the home-court advantage as the number one seed, Reyes said they are ready to take them on.

“Some would say [the match-up is like] David and Goliath in terms of going to their home environment, but we are built for it,” Reyes said. “This isn’t our first time in a foreign environment versus a really good team.”

The Wolf Pack faces a challenge as the Lions have been a prolific offensive team, averaging 84.6 points per game while shooting over 52% from the field goal. The Wolf Pack is averaging 68 points and shooting 42.3% from the field goal.

Reyes said his team didn’t understand who they were as a young team in terms of maturity earlier in the season, but he has been speaking to his players individually. His personal goal is to trust in their hard work to get where they are now.

“It’s just the little things; earlier in the year, we couldn’t get over the hump because we didn’t do the little things,” Lee said. “We understand that everything is not going to be perfect, but as long as we stay together, then we will be straight.”

Milan Mejia dribbles down the court on Nov. 16, 2023. James Hufnagel/The Maroon.

Map of bars popular with college students in Uptown within walking distance from campus. Margo Weese/The Maroon.

Sofia Johnson / The Maroon

Students should vote in SGA elections

What does Loyola Student Government Association do for the student body?

The truth is many students don’t know.

The organization serves as the primary representative body for the student body, advocating for their needs, concerns, and interests to the university administration. Through its three branches – Executive, Legislative, and Judicial –and the President's Cabinet, SGA should facilitate communication between students and the administration, organize events and programs to enhance student life, allocate funds to registered student organizations, and foster a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and social justice on campus, according to SGA.

We know how they operate, but why don’t we see what they do?

We should have high expectations for our SGA. We know about the events they host, but students want real change within the university.

According to Butch Oxendine from the American Student Government Association, the role of student government should advocate for positive change through interaction with the student body.

With the 2024-25 SGA election on the horizon, laying a new foundational groundwork can create a better future

for SGA to implement real change within policies around campus.

This begins with research, such as comparing to other Jesuit institutions on what their SGA’s do, and a direct line to the student body.

The start of this change can be in shifting more of their operations to gear toward student advocacy and support, not just planning programming events. Although SGA merged with UPB in 2012, their goals and roles should remain separate. Fostering a community is important, but SGA is meant for more.

SGA needs to strive for advocacy rather than just novelty programming.

Educational panels, such the Assembly for Sexual Assault Prevention committee’s soiree, and inclusive events, like the drag show, are examples of propelling and impactful programming that uphold our university’s Jesuit values. While these are great events that are necessary, they are the role of UPB. SGA is called for a different role on campus.

The implementation of the community garden, providing rain barrels to the environment program, advocating for the return of “window,” along with maintaining campus resources such as Iggy’s cupboard and the Grace of Ignatius award are great examples of what we need and continue to expect from the next student leaders. Advocating for students needs to be met and implementing change to support the student body

should be at the forefront of our SGA.

But, beyond those initiatives, SGA is the student body’s voice at the table. SGA sits in on Board of Trustees meetings, the University Budget Committee— where tuition decisions are made—and the Standing Council for Academic Planning, where curriculum decisions are made. Those are the areas that SGA needs to be standing up for students. If they are doing this, that’s great, but we need to be made aware of it. We aren’t being asked what needs to be communicated to higher ups. And this should be the core role of SGA.

These are expectations, but the decision to elect a candidate to fulfill these expectations rests in the hands – and votes – of students. We must vote to be heard. Only students can decide which candidate will be effective in making change and supporting the school.

There is a fee within your tuition bill for SGA. You have the right to put your opinion in on what happens with this organization. Don’t let your money go to waste.

Together, let us ensure that our SGA serves for positive change, fostering an inclusive, vibrant, and empowered campus community.

Keep all these considerations in mind, and remember – you have a say in your Loyola experience and voting a worthy candidate can make all the difference.

HOWLS & GROWLS

HOWL to SGA elections

GROWL to missing socks

HOWL to the swimming team

GROWL to unsolicited advice

HOWL to concert films

GROWL to concert films

HOWL to hot water

GROWL to parking violations

HOWL to daylight savings

EDITORIAL BOARD

Maleigh Crespo Editor-in-Chief

Sophia Maxim Managing Editor for Print

Kloe Witt Managing Editor for Digital

Daniela Martínez Executive Producer

Dajah Saul Wolf Editor

Taylor Falgout Chief Visual Artist

Zach Cesarini Design Chief

Laci Barrow Photo Editor

Sophia Renzi Wolf Lead Photographer

Tanesha TaylorDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

Elinor Upham News Editor

Maria DiFelice Breaking News Editor

Eloise Pickering Worldview Editor

Mia Oliva Life and Times Editor

B. Welch Sports Editor

Lizzy Hadley Op/Ed Editor

June Fernandez Reviews Editor

Ecoi Lewis & Pharrell Every Senior Staff Writer

Sunny Bedford Senior Staff Photographer

Ruth Brown Senior Staff Illustrator

Heather Rabassa &

Violet Bucaro Copy Editor

EDITORIAL POLICY

The

Letters

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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.

Loyola needs more left-handed desks

Mardi Gras is not sustainable

The amount of waste that Mardi Gras accumulates each year is absurd. Empty water bottles, broken plastic beads, and unwanted parade throws flood the pot-hole filled streets of New Orleans. Parade-goers leave their all trash behind and wait for garbage trucks to scoop it up. The trash gets sent to landfills and everyone continues on with their Mardi Gras celebrations, not thinking twice about their impact on New Orleans and its environment. Society as a whole needs to move towards sustainability efforts and stop embracing litter culture during Mardi Gras.

There is one huge sustainability issue during Mardi Gras: plastic beads.

Everyone loves to catch beads from their favorite parade, saving only the good beads and leaving the plain ones behind. That’s what Mardi Gras is all about. But what about all the beads that get shoved into the drains along the streets of New Orleans? A majority of the beads are made from plastic that can’t naturally break down, so imagine what it is doing to New Orleans infrastructure.

Everyone knows that New Orleans doesn’t have the best infrastructure to begin with. If it isn’t a busted pipe, the street is flooding from poor drainage. There is always a problem because of the outdated infrastructure in New Orleans. The drains can’t handle heavy rain, much less tens of thousands of plastic beads being shoved down them. Gutter buddies are being placed in certain locations to stop beads from going down the drain, but they aren’t located at every drain in the city.

Bead recycling has become a popular effort amongst organizations like Recycle Dat, and krewes are joining and buying recycled beads and throws. If more krewes joined and bought recycled beads, it would lessen the overproduc-

Sydney Piglia History sophomore snpiglia@my.loyno.edu

When I walk into class for the first time, my eyes are instantly searching the room for left-handed desks. I get embarrassed when I have to move things around because inevitably, the one left handed desk is shoved all the way in the back. Most times, I do not move desks because either it’s too much trouble, or there isn’t a left-handed desk at all.

I like left-handed desks because I physically write my notes and as a lefty, it provides a little perch to rest your elbow on as you write. I also enjoy the extra space I get with a left-handed desk. Even at smaller class tables, I find myself bumping elbows with the right-handed person next to me and feeling like I take up too much space. Left-handed people have a long history of being considered evil or weird (which I am sure a few have been). We are those whose parents tried to force them to be right-handed before we could even write. Even though we (hopefully) no longer consider left-handed people as dishonest or stupid, the academic world still conforms to right-handedness.

Accessibility on campus is an ongoing discussion because there are many ways that Loyola continues to fall short. Students pay thousands of dollars to be here only to have a campus that does the bare minimum (in accordance to the Americans with Disabilities Act). Those who are physically disabled find campus hard to navigate in a timely manner. Other disabled students find their course load and class policies uninviting or unaccepting. Not to mention the growing number of mentally ill students who are too scared to ask for what they need. It can be embarrassing or hard to ask for support or help when there are no rules or guidelines acknowledging your reality. Often, students end up suffering in silence.

“Even though we (hopefully) no longer consider left-handed people as dishonest or stupid, the academic world still conforms to right-handedness."

It is easy to look away and ignore these issues or to believe the bare minimum is enough even when it isn’t when we ourselves are not experiencing these struggles. We cannot assume we immediately know how to meet the needs and comfort of others, but that does not mean we should not try. It does not mean we should not listen and help where we can.

While this may seem like a silly complaint, and in some ways as a left-handed person who loves to complain, I agree, but the lack of left-handed desks shows that accessibility is not always obvious or something we think about.

At some point, someone thought about making left-handed desks or switching to tables, and they’re available on our campus, but it is the duty of the university to ensure that they are in every classroom. It is also the duty of the university to not only listen and react to student complaints but to actively seek their commentary, something I rarely see Loyola do.

So while I search my classrooms for a left-handed desk, there are people who need much more than me, and while I can’t claim to know their struggle, I hope they know that they are seen.

tion of plastic beads that are distributed on the streets. This is an excellent way to push towards a more sustainable carnival season. An even better switch would be towards biodegradable beads, but this is a longshot.

Not only does there have to be a change by Mardi Gras krewes, but there has to be change on an individual level. People have to want to join the efforts and make a difference, but it's so hard

when litter culture is so normalized during Mardi Gras. When it’s any other time of the year and you see someone litter, it is very distasteful. During Mardi Gras, generally, no one bats an eye at someone littering.

During Mardi Gras, it can sometimes be hard to find a trash can, and people definitely don’t want to leave their spot to throw away some trash. The city of New Orleans needs to start putting out

more trash cans and recycling bins to encourage people to throw their trash away, not leave it on the streets. It seems like a small action, but it would definitely help out the waste problem. There are so many other sustainability issues that come with Mardi Gras that people don’t really address. Many people see Mardi Gras as a time to party and have fun, but their impact on New Orleans during Mardi Gras is not worth it.

Gabbee Bonura Journalism senior gbonura@my.loyno.edu

Photo illustration by Rodrigo Delgado / The Maroon

Sign reads "Beads. Fence. Recycle." outside of Felicity Street on Feb. 17, 2023. The church collects beads on their fence to recycle after Ash Wednesday. Maleigh Crespo / The Maroon

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