The Maroon Feb. 3, 2023 Issue

THE MAN BEHIND THE SCENES

SCD technology coordinator honored by Wolf Pack Athletics

By Arianna D’Antonio asdanton@my.loyno.edu

The technology coordinator and instructor for the College of Music and Media, Albert F. Dupont, Jr., was given the “St. Sebastian” award by Wolf-Pack Athletics, to which, one of his student employees, Julia Porcari said, “it’s about damn time.”

The St. Sebastian award is given every year to an individual who exhibited outstanding efforts on behalf of all Loyola athletes. Dupont said he was honored to receive the award this year.

“I really enjoyed helping the athlet-

all of their games live, and the Saints and Pelicans hire hundreds of people for the network broadcasts and in-arena show.

Dupont said he wants students to know they can be a part of that, and that he has had success with former students working live events.

Porcari, an English writing senior, said Dupont took her under his wing, and walked her step-by-step through production, teaching her everything she needed to succeed.

“I was a freshman music major. I had nothing to do with communications or broadcasting or any experience with camera work,” Porcari said. “Not only did

experiences was the production process after Hurricane Ida, Dupont said.

“We had to be portable with our productions,” he said. “We had to play the home games in various locations, and it gave the students the experience of working in different environments, not just our athletic complex.”

Dupont said he hopes to see his students grow through challenging experiences like these, where they are forced out of their comfort zone.

“Producing live sporting events can be somewhat stressful, because you really never know what’s going to happen once the game starts,” he said.

hearted and stress-free,” they said.

Andrews also said that Dupont was an attentive supervisor, and made sure that all of his employees were trained and ready to do their jobs.

The care Dupont has for his employees even goes beyond the skills at their job, Porcari said. She said that Dupont always checks in to make sure his workers are mentally able to work a shift, and notices when they are too burned out.

“You can tell how much Albert loves and knows about production because it really shines through in the work he does,” Porcari said.

The work Dupont did with Wolf-

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On-campus residents return to upgraded Wi-Fi

By Natalie Thomas nethomas@my.loyno.edu

The Information Technology Department upgraded the Wi-Fi systems in residence halls over the holiday break as a first step toward a campus-wide update to improve the speed and stability of our system and prevent future outages, according to Alan Schomaker, chief information officer at Loyola.

Phase two will focus on administrative and academic areas and will take place this spring and summer, Schomaker said. The university has been planning this upgrade for the last two years and has selected a company to host and provide Loyola’s Wi-Fi services, according to Schomaker. He also said that the bulk of the wiring and access point installation work in the residence halls that was completed during winter break also included a full review of completed systems.

Loyola students have complained about problematic Wi-Fi systems for nearly a decade. In 2015, a Loyola student created a Facebook group that protested the slow Wi-Fi, and it gained over 700 members. In 2020, The Maroon reported on a “five-hour-long Wi-Fi outage that affected students during finals week, disturbing the studying of many students and work of many professors.”

In 2021, Alan Schomaker said, “Loyola’s campus has a sufficient number of 1,068 access points, which are wireless routers with radios that allow devices to connect to the internet.”

However, problems continued to persist into the present school year as seen in an October 2022 email to students.

“With any technology or computer systems, updates need to be made regularly to software, firmware, and hardware. The hardware for the Wi-Fi network on campus is seven years old and has reached its end-of-life for support, so

we have to replace all access points on campus,” Schomaker said.

As a result, Loyola has updated their network design – placing an access point

Communication professor wins top faculty award

ment Association and Rogers said that winning the award was an “overwhelming honor.”

“It makes me feel more seen by the academic community,” Rogers said.

Rogers started her academic career at Louisiana Christian University where she studied journalism. She then transferred to Louisiana State University for her graduate degree in journalism, and later earned a Ph.D. in journalism at Ohio University, she said.

in each dorm room of every residence hall on campus to provide increased efficiency, capacity, and redundancy.

The rollout of this network upgrade

has been an investment of resources for the school and has primarily been handled by the IT department, Schomaker said. Schomaker added that any further

inquiries or concerns should be made to the help desk which can be reached at 504.865.2255 or by email at support@ loyno.edu.

New dorm to take over Mercy Hall

By Kloe Witt kgwitt@my.loyno.edu

If all goes according to plan, this year's first-year students may also get to experience another first at Loyola — the first class to live in the soon-to-be-built residence hall.

According to the Rev. Justin Daffron, S.J., interim president, construction on the new residence hall is scheduled to begin in early 2024, with plans to open the doors to residents by fall of 2025.

By Maria DiFelice mldifeli@my.loyno.edu @maria_difelice

The chair of Loyola's Strategic Communication Department, Cathy Rogers, was awarded the “Dux Academicus” award by the Rev. Justin Daffron, S.J, interim University President,

The award was presented to Rogers during the President’s convocation on Jan. 20.

According to Loyola’s website, this annual award honors one distinguished faculty member for their exceptional teaching in line with the university’s Jesuit philosophy. Rogers is the 45th recipient since the award was established in 1978. Nominations are submitted by faculty and Loyola’s Student Govern-

Rogers said she began her professional career in teaching as a journalism professor at Louisiana Christian University from 1982 to 1983. Soon after, she said she commenced her career in 1984 as a public relations representative at The Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, and stayed there until 1986. She joined Loyola in 1990.

Rogers said she loves watching her students succeed and that they are the reason she remains so passionate about teaching.

“I get a lot of satisfaction and pleasure from just helping my students figure out who they are and what they want,” Rogers said.

Rogers said she practices the Jesuit values in her day to day life. She said she looks towards Magis in her teaching by making sure her students are okay and able to put their best foot forward.

“I am really grateful for the confidence the people at Loyola have in me,” Rogers said.

Patricia Murett, Loyola’s director of public affairs, said the project shouldn’t impact housing costs, which are based on market rates, and are subject to change each year, regardless of a new dorm or not, she said.

Housing costs typically increase between 2.5% to 4.5% each year, but larger and smaller increases have occurred based on the housing market, Murret said.

The new residential hall will be constructed on the site of Mercy Hall, and all current administrative offices and classrooms will be moved to other locations on campus, according to Loyola’s Chief Operating Officer Carol Markowitz.

Daffron said the new building is expected to provide over $7.5 million in annual revenue for the university, and construction is planned to be partially funded through fundraising campaigns after approval from Loyola’s top donors.

“The donors who know us best see clearly the possibilities that improved residential capacity will open up for our students and Loyola,” Daffron said.

At the end of 2023, all offices and classes located in Mercy Hall are planned to be relocated to other spaces on the main campus, according to Murret. Murret said the administrative offices will be relocated to Thomas Hall, St. Mary’s Hall, Founders Hall, and Stallings Hall, so as to not affect student classroom space on campus.

One of the main drivers pushing the university to build the new hall is the belief that having more students on campus is not only financially beneficial for the university, but it will also have a positive impact on the students themselves.

“Students will be safer living on campus, will have fewer obstacles to attending classes, and they will have more opportunities to form friendships and build closer ties to the university,” Markowitz said.

A Loyola student stands with a suitcase outside Mercy Hall, the planned site of the new residence hall that is expected to be built by 2025. Sophia Maxim/The Maroon

Senior criminology major, Amid Bautista stands in front of his laptop in Buddig Hall. Bautista is connected to internet through the new router installed in his room over last winter break. Torrie Shuff/The Maroon

Faculty photo of Cathy Rogers courtesy of Loyola University

Governor’s race remains unclear despite key announcements

By Kincaid Leger rkleger@my.loyno.edu

This year Louisiana will elect a new governor as incumbent Democrat John Bel Edwards is termed out, and Loyola political science professor Sean Cain said the unique primary system in the state makes governmental elections run differently than most in the country.

The deep-red state has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2000, yet has voted for democratic governors including Edwin Edwards in 1991, Kathline Blanco in 2003, and John Bel Edwards in 2015 and 2019.

An Early Republican Endorsement

The Louisiana Republican Party, at the request of Republican mega-donor and 2019 gubernatorial contender Edie Rispone, backed Louisiana Attorney General and Loyola alumnus Jeff Landry for next year's governor race, according to The Advocate.

Landry officially entered the race before any other major candidate, preventing other Republican challengers from seeking the state GOP’s endorsement.

“Usually, state political parties in an open seat race will withhold their endorsement so as to not alienate a candidate who wins a nomination but doesn’t get the endorsement,” Cain said. “But of course, Louisiana has its unique Jungle Primary system, in which all candidates compete in a nonpartisan primary and the top two advance to a run-off.”

Cain said another big difference between Louisiana and other states with gubernatorial elections in 2023 is that Louisiana has a very late candidate filing date.

“Because we consider the Jungle Primary, which is held on the normal

election day in other states, as a primary election, whereas other states will have their primary elections before that,” Cain said. “That late deadline creates kind of a vacuum where candidates are in part basing their decision on whether to run based on who has already decided to.”

Cain also said he thinks the Louisiana GOP is trying to get ahead of the late candidate filing date, by throwing its support behind one candidate.

“I suspect that the state party’s endorsement is a way to communicate to Republicans in the state that the resources for the election are going to be heavily favored for Landry,” Cain said.

Louisiana senators. Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser announced their intentions not to run for governor. These announcements eliminated Landry’s biggest potential Republican competitors, especially Cassidy and Nungesser who threatened to challenge the attorney general from the political center, according to Cain.

Eyes on Landry

Landry gained attention earlier last year when he urged officials to withhold funding for hurricane preparation in New Orleans after the city decided not to dedicate police forces to enforce the state’s abortion ban.

“I think it is a combination of Landry’s political positions over his time as a member of Congress and then as Attorney General, that are probably shaping the dynamics of the party’s endorsement and how other candidates are reacting and trying to fill a void,” Cain said.

Cain also said that Landry lost his congressional seat following a post-Katrina redistricting that put him in a contest with a more moderate candidate.

“In his 2012 campaign for reelection to Congress, Landry went head to head with a more mainstream Republican, Charles Bousany, and in the Jungle Primary…no one got over fifty percent. Bousany won the runoff when, though the Democrat was a distant third, the Democrats endorsed Bousany as a less extreme candidate,” Cain said.

Cain added that Landry’s only Republican challengers are State Senator Sharon Hewitt and State Treasurer John Schroder, both of whom, he said, will struggle with name recognition and differentiating themselves from Landry.

This concern over Landry's politics is also seen at Loyola, with students like marketing freshman James Colando, who said that Landry’s previous threats to withhold hurricane funding concerned him.

“As an out-of-stater from Florida who is not very familiar with Louisiana politics, I feel concerned and a bit scared,” Colando said.

The Democrats’ Circumstances

Cain argues that disorganization and failure to unify around a single candidate in 2011 explained the Democrats’ defeat.

“But then in 2015, the Democrats smartly cleared the field for John Bel Edwards and Republicans were divided. By doing that, it allowed [Edwards] to get into the primary against David Vitter, a scandal-plagued candidate,” Cain said.

Cain argued that this exemplifies how unity behind a single candidate is necessary for Democrats in a way it is not for Republicans.

“Now it is possible that the top two might be two Republicans. There is no guarantee that there will be a Democrat,” Cain said. “I think if there is not a strong enough Democrat to get second place

in the Jungle Primary, then it creates the opportunity for a moderate Republican to be that second place candidate who would then have a shot against Landry in the runoff round.

Cain said that he thinks Edwards is not an unpopular figure in the state, even as the state has turned red. Edwards has been a skilled candidate and a relatively skilled governor in winning reelection, according to Cain.

“As long as there aren’t too many Democrats in the race, if a Democrat has Governor Edwards campaigning for him, they at least have a strong shot at winning second place in the first round,” Cain said.

Why a red state can still have a blue governor

Cain said another way that Louisiana differentiates itself from other deep-south states is that, though it has

become a very red state, voters in Louisiana are aware and mindful of the fact that the government provides benefits that a poor state like Louisiana has trouble mustering on its own.

“So, given the state’s history with disasters, given the state’s history of budgetary struggles because we are reliant on the energy industry which has its swings…I think if a candidate can be painted as somebody who is so opposed to government that they make it difficult to keep the lights on, then the Democrats have a chance,” Cain said. “But if the Democrats are painted as out of touch on social issues, then it is much easier for the Republicans to win.”

Failed coup "threatens" Brazil's democratic values

By Macie Batson mmbatson@my.loyno.edu

@maciembats

Many Brazilians, like Loyola Latin American history professor Tiago Fernandes Maranhão, were not surprised about Bolsonaro’s supporters attempting an attack on Brazil’s capitol, citing the country’s rough history with maintaining its democracy.

The attack occurred following former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's loss in last year's run-off election against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, when many claims came from Bolsonaro and supporters of a stolen election.

After Brazil's electoral court certified Lula’s victory following an intense military investigation, Bolsonaro refused to accept defeat and decided to remain hidden from public view, only going out to urge his right-wing supporters to halt roadblock protests over his loss, The National News said.

Maranhão said that the "terrorists" responsible for the failed coup on Jan. 8 in Brazil were very inspired by the Jan. 6 United States Capitol attack exactly two years prior, when former President Trump's efforts to annul the 2020 elections came to a catastrophic stunt when his followers stormed the U.S. Capitol after his defeat.

However, this year’s attack on Brazil’s federal government buildings were not only physical attacks, but Maran-

hão said they were also philosophical attacks. The impact the attacks had on the Capitols in the United States and Brazil, he said, was the main distinction between the two.

“They not only attacked our capitol, the Congress, but they also attacked the palace of the presidency, our executive power, and the Supreme Court building,” Maranhão said. “So it was inspired by what happened in the capital here, but the dimension of that in Brazil was even bigger.”

Graphic design freshman Matheus Portela said that even though his family was safe and distant from the attack's center, he nevertheless felt compelled to focus more on potential changes in the economy and policy in wake of this attack on Brazil's democracy.

“I came to the United States to try and take this world of knowledge to my country, which is what we can see: people fighting for politicians who really cannot change their lives,” Portela said.

Maranhão said that Brazil's democracy has always been very fragile due to the challenges it has encountered since its independence in 1822 as a result of the country's more authoritarian society.

“Many people don't realize it, but when we talk about Latin America, in general, people used to say, ‘Brazil is the largest democracy in Latin America,’ which is not completely wrong,” Maranhão said. “But the thing is, it is the largest democracy in Latin America only because of the size of the country and its population.”

When looking at the history, Maranhão said that Brazil has had more periods of authoritarian regimes than periods of democracy. Brazil remained a monarchy after gaining independence in 1822, while others in Latin America became republics.

Not until 1889 did Brazil become a republic, and since then, there have been many military coups on Brazil's democracy, reverting the country back to a dictatorship on multiple occasions.

According to Maranhão, the reason that this coup was a failed one, was because of the historical context.

“Of course, we are not at the cold war anymore, and it made a huge difference, because the military now had no courage to show their faces to the public as they did in the 1960s,” Maranhão said.

He added that because the U.S. recognized the election as a free and orderly democratic election, and Europe

did the same after Lula was elected, the Brazilian military and the terrorists did not have the support of foreign nations to attempt a coup.

Maranhão said another reason as to why the attack failed was because of social media.

“Now more people, average people, were mobilized by these kinds of fake news speech, misinformation, and hate speech as well,” he said. “This context also made more average people to be there and show their faces to the public, and even taking selfies and recording, so they were arrested.”

Maranhão said that hopefully Brazil’s government continues to treat this attack on the country’s fragile democracy seriously. Following the attacks, Lula vowed to condemn anybody involved in the invasion, including military and security forces, and referred to the occurrence as "acts of vandals and fascists."

“So when many police and attorneys investigate the people who did the attacks, they are giving their own feedback about the interviews, and they say that it's incredible how they really believe that they were saving the country,” Maranhão said. “They truly believe that they were doing something patriotic.”

Maranhão said the Portuguese language has two words for patriotism: "patriotismo," which is the same as "patriotism" in English, and "patriotada," which he said is a way of indicating it is

a "stupid" way of someone displaying loyalty for their nation, as happened during the failed coup.

“You believe that you are saving your nation, your country, but in fact, you are destroying it,” he said. “You are disrupting the society that you believe you are saving.”

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards waves to the crowd during his inauguration at the state Capitol in Baton Rouge, LA, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. He is the incumbent governor and is approaching the end of his term. AP Photo/Brett Duke

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva waits at the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. The palace was stormed by Bolsonaro supporters only twenty two days prior. (AP Photo/ Eraldo Peres)

“You’re disrupting the society you think you’re saving.”

— Tiago Fernandes Maranhão Latin American history professor

king cake at a Mardi Gras party, it is tradition that you throw the next party, and buy the next king cake.

A Guide to Mardi Gras

Tips on letting the good times roll this Carnival season

By Violet Bucaro vabucaro@my.loyno.edu

The city of New Orleans has entered carnival season, a holiday that may be new to some and a classic tradition to others. While carnival is not a New Orleans invention, the way it is celebrated in the city looks much different than anywhere else in the world. Here is some information to help first-timers and seasoned partiers alike.

Safety tips

While a time for excess and revelry, it’s important not to get carried away and take precautions to stay safe during carnival season, said local New Orleanian and environmental science freshman Tane Dearie de Oliveira.

“Be open minded but also vigilant,” Oliveira said. Local music industry junior Soffia Barros-Cassanova warned others of going alone to parades. Do not smoke or drink anything from a stranger either, Barros-Cas sanova said. She also said to stay hydrated and eat before drinking alcohol.

In addition to these warnings from locals, here is a checklist of safety to-dos: Open containers of glass and metal are not allowed during parades. Do not leave drinks unattended. Do not stand in the road during the parade.

- Do not pick up beads or throws from the street. Traditionally this is bad luck.

- Do not cross the street during the parade or during a band performance.

- Bathrooms are hard to access, so take care of business before you hit the streets.

- Have an exit plan in case things go south.

- Keep your phone fully charged or carry a portable charger.

- Share your location with at least one other person.

- Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. Leave heels to the krewes.

A Partial Parade schedule

A Partial Parade Schedule

New Orleans parades each have individual themes and characteristic throws.

Local New Orleanians and Loyola students Oliveira and Barros-Cassanova both recommend Endymion and Muses as some of the best parades New Orleans has to offer.

Krewe of Muses throws hand-made decorated high-heeled shoes. The Krewe is a group of women and local artists who design Muses’ throws, floats, and costumes. It was the first all-female krewe to roll in New Orleans, according to their website.

Krewe of Endymion, founded in 1967, the other favorite from our two Loyola locals, is a super-krewe that is so large they host their ball at the Superdome. The theme of this year’s parade is “Salutes the Poets,” and signature floats include “Papa Joe’s SS,” “The ETV Float,” and the largest float of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras parades, called “Pontchartrain Beach.”

Krewe of Tucks, founded in 1969 by Loyola students, is known for bathroom antics and throwing toilet paper, toilet brushes, and plungers, according to their website.

The Krewe of Rex is one of the oldest running groups in Mardi Gras, and it was the first night-time parade, according to their website. The krewe has 600 male members, and annually one member is chosen to be the king.

Another carnival season classic is the Krewe of Zulu, which is a social aid and pleasure club that has provided essential social services to those in need and is dedicated to community service. The krewe is known for throwing painted coconuts, called the “golden nuggets,” so watch out!

Krewe de Vieux – French Quarter, Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m.

Krewe of King Arthur – Uptown, Feb. 12, 1 p.m.

Mystic Krewe of Druids – Uptown, Feb. 15, 6:15 p.m.

Krewe of Muses – Uptown, Feb. 16, 6:45 p.m.

Krewe of Tucks – Uptown, Feb. 8, 12 p.m.

Krewe of Thoth – Uptown, Feb. 19, 12 p.m.

Krewe of Endymion – Mid-City, Feb. 18, 4 p.m.

Krewe of Bacchus – Uptown, Feb. 19, 5:15 p.m.

Krewe of Orpheus – Uptown, Feb. 20, 6 p.m.

Krewe of Rex – Uptown, Feb. 21, 11 a.m.

Zulu – Uptown, Feb. 21, 8 a.m.

If you are interested in tracking your favorite parades, you can download a parade tracker for real-time GPS tracking.

Wolf Pack inducts 2023 Hall of Famers

By Arianna D'Antonio asdanton@my.loyno.edu

Wolf Pack Athletics and the Loyola University New Orleans Alumni Association held their 2023 Hall of Fame reception and induction ceremony in honor of this year’s inductees.

Also honored alongside the inductees was Albert Dupont, the technology coordinator and instructor for the College of Music and Media, who received the “St. Sebastian” award for his outstanding efforts providing coverage of Loyola athletes.

The 2023 inductees recognized were Janeicia Neely (women’s basketball, Class of 2015, McCall Tomeny (men’s basketball, ‘15), Samantha Worsham (volleyball, ‘13), and Alexander Lorenzo (baseball, ‘17).

Tomeny said he was relieved when he was notified about the induction, since joining the Hall of Fame was a major goal of his after beginning his Loyola career.

“I knew I’d put together a good enough resume as a player to have a real shot at the Hall of Fame, but you never know,” he said. “A lot of great players have come through the Loyola basketball program.”

Neely said on her Instagram account that it's a privilege to be etched into Loyola history.

Both Neely and Tomeny expressed how grateful they are, not only to the university but to their coaches, teammates, and families..

“The entire time, my parents were there with me through it all supporting me,” Neely said. “I had great coaches and great people around me, and I was always around great leaders.”

Tennis has a ball while aiming high

By Abigail Schmidt acschmid@my.loyno.edu

As Wolf Pack tennis heads into their spring season, head coach Matt Llewellyn said he hopes the team has special moments together on and off the courts.

“That's the heart and soul of college tennis and I want our teams to experience more of those moments,” Llewellyn said. “I want our teams to experience moments they will remember for a lifetime.”

The team started their spring season with matches against Mississippi Gulf

Baseball starts off the season with high hopes

By Kloe Witt kgwitt@my.loyno.edu

The Loyola baseball team is preparing to swing into the upcoming 2023 season with several new players on a team that came one win short of making it to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics World Series last year.

Head coach Jeremy Kennedy said this year’s team is different from previous years, and overall has a great mix of youth and experience to help them succeed.

“We have a lot more maturity,” Kennedy said. “We are a closer group. This team has a lot of experience mixed with freshmen who are very mature for freshmen.”

Entering his third season with the team, junior outfielder and music industry major Kason Cullins said he has witnessed the loss of graduating seniors twice in his career. This year, however, he said he isn’t worried how the new and returning players will play together on the field.

“All thirty-one of us have common goals with one another and wish to see one another succeed,” Cullins said.

“When you mix that in with hard work and talent, you’re putting yourself in a good situation to win.”

In the NAIA pre-season rankings for this season, the team was ranked No. 23 and picked to finish second in the Southern States Athletic Conference. When going into a new season with a ranking this high, Kennedy said he tries not to dwell on it.

“I try not to put expectations on a season,” Kennedy said. “We are trying to stay present for as many pitches as we can.”

Cullins said that the team shares this mindset.

“One thing that really makes our team strong is our ability to not look back into the past or forward into the future, but to remain present in the moment,” Cullins said.

The team will be playing a 3-game against Louisiana State University Alexandria at Segnette Field on Feb. 3 at 5 p.m and on Feb. 4 in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Next ,they will face Dillard University in a 2-game series on Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Coast Community College and Meridian Community College in Perkinston, Mississippi on Jan. 31. From here, Llewellyn said the team hopes to have another historic season.

“We have a super solid team going into the season and our expectation is definitely to win the conference tournament,” said the women’s team’s No. 1 doubles player and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American Lucy Carpenter. Carpenter said she is going into the season with high confidence and hopes to take down some of the teams she was

not able to last season.

According to Carpenter, the team was able to get experience against players in the fall season that they will play again this spring.

“We were able to get a good idea of the competition and also get some match play in so we’re ready for competition right when we get back for the spring,” Carpenter said.

The fall season helped the team bond, Llewellyn said. With the women’s team having a historic season and the men’s team gaining confidence at their tournament at Dillard in October, Llewellyn

said that he looks forward to seeing them carry this momentum into the spring.

“We did great last season in terms of results and the team dynamic. I think this season we’ll have even more energy and support for each other both on and off the court during matches,” Carpenter said.

The team will be back in action on Feb. 7 against the University of New Orleans and on Feb. 11 against Xavier University of Louisiana.

Senior infielder Luke Clement is at bat in a scrimmage against Nunez Community College at Segnette Field on Jan. 20. Clement was first team All-Southern States Athletic Conference last season as a designated hitter. Torrie Shuff/The Maroon

Doubles pairing Lucy Carpenter and Fatima Vasquez play against Nicholls State University at City Park Tennis Center on Jan. 31, 2023. Carpenter and Vasquez are the No. 10 ranked doubles pairing in the International Tennis Associations NAIA preseason polls. Maria DiFelice/The Maroon

Dealing with brick-people in the age of Andrew Tate

BLAIR ANDERSON English senior beanders@my.loyno.edu

We shouldn’t have asked that. He brandished a drunken smile, vacuumed in the surrounding air, and began another round of rants.

Andrew Tate is a British-American influencer made famous not for his fourtime boxing world championships, but

for his podcasts, interviews, and, more recently, human trafficking accusations. Much more recently, he was detained in Romania after leaking his location in a tweet in an attempt to antagonize a 19-year old activist. My friend followed him, as well as similar influencers, religiously. His rants danced from topic to topic with no clear direction. First, he complained that modern men are too soft. They don’t have the strength and composure that idols of masculinity like Andrew Tate have. Both he and Andrew Tate hate watching men cry. Emotions interfere with productivity, so they believe men

would be better off without them. Second, he boldly suggested that more people be traumatized. Trauma builds character, after all. To prove his point, he cited the success of Oprah Winfrey, a woman who was regularly physically abused by her parents and grandparents. This claim was a lot harder for me to digest. In fact, his lack of empathy made me want to throw up. I mentioned all the people with lives ruined by their trauma. I explained how they were torn apart both mentally and physically by their experiences. To finish our night, we had a long chat about the connective tissue between

The internet can be used better

DEXTER EARLEY Sociology sophomore daearley@my.loyno.edu

The internet has always been a social place. It was created to enable communication. But the rise of Facebook, Twitter, etc. has launched the social web to a scale unimaginable to its first users. It was originally created for academic and military purposes– but now we use it for fun. While access to these platforms has increased exponentially, 93% of U.S. adults said they use the internet, yet most of us don’t have a lot of influence over the platforms themselves. At the time, those who do have influence are not required to serve the public good, even if they provide a service that's perceived to be useful– for instance, as a forum for public discussion. Though they might be used that way, Twitter's only goal is to keep your eyes on the screen for as long as possible.

The flow of content follows convection patterns. On Instagram, we're all filter-feeders. When participating in a digital economy of attention, the information is generated from you using the app: what you like, what you watch and for how long, etc. It is not only used to sell you shit but serves to inform what others see.

Hyper-connectedness is hard to undo when our brains are addicted to it, and every industry is now built on top of it. While social media isn't entirely a bad thing, there are reasons why we might want to create alternatives to it– mental health being one reason.

When social networks take input from all their users and use this to hold our attention, unconsciously and implicitly, it leads us to see each other as commodities, rather than real people. Kids right now who grow up with social media will be more accustomed to this.

If we want to connect with other people, we must be prepared to see things that aren't tailored to us.

Like the neural algorithms they rely upon, social media platforms aren't creative; they can’t truly create anything new by themselves. They rely entirely on

the people who use their sites, paid or unpaid, to make their content. Take zines, a form of art and communication that are ever non-commercial: the knowledge of how and why to create them is passed on when they're published. Similarly, the skills required to code a site, and set up a web server aren’t always simple to figure out, but they are possible to learn. Those skills and knowledge should reside within the communities that need it, whether those communities originated online or in real life. If people choose to create non-commercial spaces, it divests from an industry that only reaffirms the relationships between content creators (exploited workers), users, and shareholders. The internet sucks right now. There are kids in the same spaces as adults, unregulated hate speech, inescapable surveillance. And I'm not saying that there’s a quick and easy solution for all of these. I’m just saying that everyone has the right to make bad art, and the internet is the world’s biggest canvas. I mean art that you make for you, that serves no purpose other than to express yourself. Someone said, if you write a

people like Andrew Tate and his other idols like Jordan Peterson. I had long since stopped arguing with him. It was around this time that I started laughing alongside my other friends. I questioned why I couldn’t hold the same authority that the prestigious Mr. Tate seemed to have. It could’ve been my full head of hair, or perhaps my ability to speak without rushing through my sentences, or possibly my failure to invest in a wall of firearms I will never have a practical use for. Nevertheless, I realized he wouldn’t listen to me, shrugged my shoulders, and finally started to enjoy the show.

Every now and again, we calmly attempted to remind him that Tate was a problematic figure. And each time, he reassured us, “I don’t agree with everything he says. I don’t think women should be doormats like him.” As much as I want to praise him for this, it isn’t exceptional. This is a standard, and the only standard he’s met. Information is dangerous. It turns us against each other; it causes wars and insurrections. But it’s also the cure. Staying informed lets us craft our own opinions, it keeps us from giving a platform to hate, and it brings us together.

poem on a piece of paper, and never show it to anyone else, you will be all the richer for it. With the compulsion to constantly share yourself that comes from mutual commodification, we miss out on that. It should be possible to share yourself slowly: it should be possible to stumble across something beautiful you never expected to see. The internet is a means of sharing knowledge. But more importantly, the internet is a means of expressing yourself and finding others, across great

distances. That, to me, is a beautiful thing and an essential tool in our developing future.

I care about the way the internet's going because it's going the same place where we're going. I grew up in a generation where we always had it, so I know it can matter– people can find themselves, and can lose themselves within it. It's a place where collective culture is created every day. Whether or not we can make something less stressful, I think, is a question worth asking.

Elle Haavie/The Maroon

Jenna DeLucia/The Maroon

An open letter to Jeff Landry

Dear Attorney General Jeff Landry,

Enshrined in its mission statement, Loyola University encourages students to “pursue truth, wisdom, and justice; and to work for a more just world.” Loyola students are guided by the institution's Catholic and Jesuit principles. Loyola’s philosophies are inspired by those of Saint Ignatius, which we hope Loyola alumni will remain committed to through their practice of being positive and compassionate changemakers, seeking justice, truth, and God in all things.

Loyola graduates go on to practice our Ignatian philosophies in their own professional lives, and many have served in public office – including as governor. Our alumni have defended civil rights, voting rights, and human dignity. Along the way, many have credited their Jesuit education as an integral part of their pursuit of justice and faithful public service.

In spite of that, not all graduates have practiced our philosophies in good faith - particularly you, Attorney General Jeff Landry.

As a 2004 graduate of Loyola’s College of Law and now in your role as Louisiana's Chief Legal Officer, you were elected to serve as the “people’s lawyer.” And recently, you announced you are running to serve as our next governor in the upcoming 2023 election.

In the almost two decades since your graduation from Loyola’s law school, you have violated and opposed the values and philosophies that are fundamental to our university and particularly our College of Law.

You have abused the power vested in you by the people of this state for personal political gain by urging the State Bond Commission, not once, but twice, to withhold $39 million dollars in infrastructure funding for a vital power station that charges drainage pumps in New Orleans. You claimed your actions were intended to pressure the city council to reverse a declaration that stated Orleans Parish would not be enforcing Louisiana’s abortion ban. But your decision to hold the funding hostage was unsuccessful. Instead, you recklessly put the lives of hundreds and thousands of New Orleanians at risk. All the while, the Sewerage and Water Board Executive Director repeatedly warned that “the whole system could fail” if the city’s infrastructure was not immediately updated.

You’ve used racist lies to serve your political ambitions and rile up your base. Take your appearance on the “Jay Sekulow Live” radio show in 2012, when you made the false claim that the Obama administration was “granting special status or waivers to Muslims as they go through TSA screenings.” Your rhetoric is dehumanizing and entirely un-Christian. Such claims have long been used by far-right groups to strengthen their power by distracting citizens from real issues. Racism has no place in an equitable society, and serves as an open attack against the dignity of all people.

Likewise, you have dehumanized and attacked the dignity of LGBTQ communities. You have attacked nondiscrimination policies in schools, created to protect students who choose to live their own, true identity. Your justification relied on a provably false claim that these nondiscrimination policies have a “tendency” to “create safe harbors for people who want to prey on children.”

Regardless of anyone’s political or religious persuasions, the Church teaches us to uphold the principle of non-discrimination. The teachings of Jesus call all people to love their neighbors as themselves and treat others with respect and compassion. It is unbecoming of the Office of Attorney General and that of a self-proclaimed Catholic to perpetuate such hateful rhetoric against any person. Sadly, you continue to spew hate, even though your own brother came out as gay.

You have failed to equitably represent the people over private interests, which is ironic coming from someone who campaigns on his concerns about our increasing national debt and lack of fiscal responsibility. Your protection of big oil from cleanup responsibilities on the gulf coast and acceptance of

millions of dollars in campaign donations from oil and gas companies directly contradicts your promise and oath to serve the interests of the people. Similarly, Citizens United's open endorsement of your earlier campaigns is telling. This organization won a landmark Supreme Court case legalizing unlimited corporate spending for politicians. Since the ruling, we’ve witnessed massive increases in political spending that have corrupted our election process, and rendered our democracy significantly less equal. It has served as a powerful tool for the wealthy few at a time when wealth inequality is greater than any other time in our country's history.

As a conservative, a lawyer, and an American, it’s disgraceful that you pushed baseless election fraud conspiracies simply because you were unhappy with the result. You attempted to overthrow the United States government and our sacred democracy to subvert the people’s will. It was a coup in search of a legal theory that lacked any competence, diligence, or ethical standards on your part as “the people’s lawyer.” Most egregiously, your attack on our democracy lacked any evidence whatsoever.

We are not fooled. We see how you have forsaken your duty to the legal profession in exchange for your desperate, political ambitions.

As a Loyola alumnus, you have a special responsibility to uphold our Jesuit values in spirit and in practice. Upon graduating from this institution, we are all expected to uphold these values through our practice of intellectual and moral excellence, service to others, and the pursuit of justice. This is how we reflect the values and traditions of this institution and reflect our own personal values and commitments to these principles. Most importantly, the practice of our Ignatian philosophies contributes to a more just and compassionate society.

As a Catholic and someone who received your Juris Doctorate from a Catholic institution, you have a responsibility to your faith. Jesuit teachings emphasize the importance of serving others and promoting justice, likewise, lawyers follow similar

obligations in their administration of justice. Jesuit, and more broadly, Catholic teachings stress the importance of recognizing the inherent dignity of all people and treating them with respect. Your adherence to moral and ethical standards consistent with our Jesuit traditions is not only a professional obligation, but a personal duty.

These standards promote justice, the common good, fairness, and public trust in the legal system. Catholic doctrine encourages lawyers to strive for excellence in their practice, to act with integrity and impartiality, and to use their legal knowledge and skills to serve the poor and marginalized. You have promised the people you would play a pivotal role in maintaining the rule of law, and in promoting peace and social harmony in line with our Catholic mission.

It is past time that you fulfill your promises and stop using our principles for your political capital. Your political career thus far has tarnished the reputation of Loyola and its law school with a blatant disregard for the principles and philosophies of this institution. Your lack of integrity is underscored by your contempt for the education you received from this fine institution.

And to the Loyola staff, students, and alumni, as our state looks to the new class of candidates running to be the next governor of Louisiana we hope you think on this:

If Jeff Landry has already abandoned the principles so foundational to his education, faith and professional career, how can he be trusted to not abandon the promises he makes to the people during this gubernatorial campaign?

The core philosophies of this institution are representative of the culture we strive to create: one that cares for the marginalized, respects the dignity of all people, and puts God in all things.

HOWLS & GROWLS

HOWL to finding yourself

GROWL to the printer

HOWL to student workers

GROWL to cheaters

HOWL to foam fingers

GROWL to allergies

HOWL to Homecoming week

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