Maroon1_25_19 by Loyola Maroon

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 97 • Issue 16 • January 25, 2019

THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA

New SGA chiefof-staff hopes to take “behind-thescenes” approach By India Yarborough

students lose university medical coverage

ARIEL LANDRY/The Maroon.

By Cristian Orellana ceorella@my.loyno.edu @ceorellana8

Just weeks into a new semester, mass communication junior Christian Wilburn opened her email Jan. 14 to find, among spam and mass emails, a notification that she no longer had health insurance. Sixty-three other Loyola students read the same email. They all had received health care from a Loyola partnership with the Student Educational Benefit Trust and now lacked medical coverage, as the trust had filed for bankruptcy, according to the email from the university. Loyola started offering the health insurance plans last semester in hopes of providing college students with accessible medical coverage. For Wilburn, who is also a member of The Maroon staff, the news was not only sudden, but it left her scrambling to afford her daily medications. “My prescriptions are well over $300 if I don’t have insurance, and

I haven’t been able to get my prescriptions for a month,” Wilburn said. While students were notified of issues with their insurance on Jan. 14, Loyola was made aware of the trust’s bankruptcy in “late December,” according to Alicia Bourque, director of student affairs. Bourque said that the university then transferred students to another insurance carrier through Loyola's broker, Gallagher Benefits, soon after. “We were immediately signed on to another insurance carrier, and then we unexpectedly learned that carrier was not going to meet the needs of our students last Friday,” Bourque said. “Since then, we have worked tirelessly to figure out how to get our students access to acquire insurance.” Wilburn and other students said they were not notified of the change. Dylan Ritter, political science junior, said that the university should have notified affected students sooner that their medical coverage was in jeopardy.

“They gave no warnings that they were going under and didn't give us any time to find alternative insurance,” Ritter said. The university told the affected students that the loss of their insurance constitutes as a qualifying event that will allow them to enroll in the public exchange, which guarantees a student can obtain insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions effective Feb. 1. Students must enroll by Jan. 31 for their coverage to begin on Feb. 1. “Our insurance broker Gallagher Benefits has helped us get a new insurance plan as soon as possible,” Bourque said. “They are ready to help students walk through that process.” Students were urged in the email to contact Gallagher Benefits, who can assist them in getting a new policy. Additionally, The university also said Loyola representatives are available at the University Counseling Center to help.

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iayarbor@my.loyno.edu

The hole left in SGA’s cabinet after an unexpected resignation last semester has been filled, according to Sierra Ambrose, Student Government Association president. Ambrose has chosen Derrick Ransom, history sophomore, to serve as the chief-of-staff, following the Dec. 11 resignation of former Chief-ofStaff Fallon Chiasson. Ransom was appointed to the position Dec. 12. “He came on. We worked over break. And he’s pushing forward,” Ambrose said. “It’s almost like nothing has changed.” Ambrose said Ransom approached her before Chiasson resigned to ask how he might become more involved in student government. “He was still on a university standing committee,” Ambrose said. “Being that Joann (Cassama, SGA vice president,) and I interviewed Derrick before and we knew he was a great candidate — it was actually between him and Fallon that we were trying to decide — I decided to give him a call.” Ambrose said Chiasson and Ransom both applied for the chief-ofstaff position via OrgSync during the spring 2018 semester. “Derrick and Fallon were both strong applicants, and I do not regret appointing Fallon or Derrick to this position,” she added. Ransom said he is excited to continue his work with SGA and described the organization as one with the ability to impact a large number of people on Loyola’s campus. He noted that as chief-of-staff, though, he will take on more of a supporting role. “Of course, there’s a lot of involvement with some front-line things here and there, but the gist of it is more behind-the-scenes,” Ransom said. “It’s what people don’t see in terms of helping to keep everything on track and on pace. What I really desire to do is adapt to the members that are already on the cabinet.” Ambrose previously told The Maroon she and her cabinet failed to fulfill their diversity and inclusion initiative last semester. Ransom said he hopes to help change that outcome by engaging in more conversations with students in a variety of campus organizations. “SGA is for the campus. SGA is for the students,” he said. “That means we should at least know what the students want, what they think can change.” Ransom said he does not yet have specific plans in place for how he will tackle the duties of his position. For now, he intends to build stronger relationships with his fellow cabinet members and gauge what campus issues most need to be addressed. “I can make plans, but if I’m making plans around things that have already been addressed … then it’s not doing much,” he said. “I’d rather look at what is in front of me, and then start figuring out from there.” Ransom’s role as chief-of-staff is set to last until a new cabinet is sworn in later this semester.

January 25, 2019

THE MAROON

CRIME MAP

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Shoplifting 700 BLOCK OF S CARROLLTON AVE

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STAFF

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The “It’s Not Like I’m Drunk” Cocktail 2 oz. tequila 1 oz. triple sec 1/2 ounce lime juice Salt 1 too many 1 automobile 1 missed red light 1 false sense of security 1 lowered reaction time

Combine ingredients. Shake. Have another. And another.

Never underestimate ‘just a few.’ Buzzed driving is drunk driving.

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NEWS

January 25, 2019 THE MAROON

Name, fee and resource changes coming to the College of Music and Fine Arts By Erin Snodgrass eesnodgr@my.loyno.edu @erinsnod

into place starting next fall, according to Maass. Laptop Requirement

While the university works to balance the budget and maintain retention, the College of Music and Fine Arts is on the brink of some major changes. Increased Major Fees At a university budget committee Oct. 1, the committee unanimously passed a motion made by Kern Maass, dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts, to increase the college’s major fees to $250 per student per year. Last year, the School of Mass Communication was realigned under the College of Music and Fine Arts, making the college a threeschool model. The new structure of the college will include a school that houses mass communication, design, art and film; a school of music that will also be home to theatre and dance; and a music industry school. The new names for these schools are expected to be released in February, according to Maass. The new fee policy will affect programs merging with schools that already have fees, as well as those that don’t, including art, design, and theatre and dance. However, the course fees for those programs will now be encompassed by the major fees. Maass said he proposed the increase in fees in order to balance the inconsistency that results from varying major and course fees and to help facilitate fair budgeting among the schools. Current major fees range from $100 per semester for communications to $200 for music and film majors. “It was really hard to have parity for who was getting what, so this makes it so much easier and consistent across the board,” Maass said. These updated fees will be put

At the meeting, it was proposed that all mass communication, digital filmmaking, and design and art students be required to have their own laptop computers upon entering their first courses. The committee voted unanimously to approve the concept of the proposal before specific details of implementation, according to the committee’s minutes. However, Sonya Duhe, director of the School of Mass Communication, said the proposal is in its recommendation period for fall 2019, meaning incoming freshmen would only be encouraged to follow the laptop guidelines. Duhe said the requirement would hopefully be phased in for the fall of 2020. The requirement will affect 395 students, according to the minutes. Every three years the computers in the labs are updated with the latest software for programs like Layout and InDesign. The laptop requirement would allow funds to be directed toward maintaining only two computer labs with the highest-powered equipment, instead of the ten labs that are currently maintained across all the majors, according to the senate minutes. “Our labs are equipped with higher-end computers that are truly cost-prohibitive. We may have a few of those, but we don’t need one for every person,” Duhe said. However, Maass said it is likely that more than two labs will continue to be kept up-to-date with the most recent and effective hardware. According to both Duhe and Maass, most students are already coming into college with a laptop and parents of incoming students often ask what types of laptops professors recommend for a typical course load. “We also know students like to do

A computer lab on the third floor of the Communications/Music Complex sits empty and awaiting students. The College of Music and Fine Arts is considering phasing out the labs in favor of an individual laptop requirement. CHRISTIAN RILEY / The Maroon.

work in their dorms,” Duhe said. The laptops students bring would need to be equipped with the proper hardware and programming ability to facilitate certain classes and projects. The tech committees are in the process of working on a list of recommendations and requirements for laptops in each department, which should be done by late March or April. “Oftentimes students will get a graduation gift from their parents and it might be a laptop for them to take to college. And maybe they won’t even purchase it until right before they go to college,” Duhe said. For students concerned about the increased cost of bringing the proper laptop, Duhe said once the laptops are a requirement, they will be covered under student loans and Parent PLUS loans, as well as potentially being included as part of a fi-

nancial aid package. “We know that computers break, and there may be some for whom this would be a major struggle financially, so we would probably look at having some that could be loaners,” Duhe said. Name and Layout Update Among the changes soon going into effect, starting in February, the three schools, as well as the College of Music and Fine Arts, will have new names, according to Maass. He said he was unable to release those new names at this time. “The school names were done 90 percent of the work at the college level, and then we took those names to academic affairs and the president and we made final decisions,” Maass said. Maass said he also spoke with

student advisory committees about the names before winter break. “It’s really critical that our internal stakeholders, meaning our students and graduates, hear about the name before it goes out to the world. We want to make sure that our graduates and alum see this move as a very positive move,” Duhe said. One of the major changes for the current School of Mass Communication is that the journalism, advertising and public relations sequences have been changed to departments. “Students’ degrees will stay the same. Their degrees will not change,” Duhe said. “This really is an opportunity for synergies between majors and courses and to grow the opportunities that we offer in the school.”

University Senate endorses idea for associate degree program By Rose Wagner rmwagner@my.loyno.edu @rosemwagner

The University Senate approved a motion Jan. 17 to endorse the concept of City College and the possible development of online associate degree programs. City College was an adult and continuing education program that was abolished post-Katrina. The new concept, presented to the senate by Maria Calzada, interim provost, would potentially include the creation of online associate degrees in psychology, communications, interdisciplinary studies, criminal justice and business. All of the proposed programs already have corresponding online bachelor’s degrees that are offered

through the university. “We can bring them up with almost no initial investment because they are the same courses we are already offering,” Calzada said. She added that the two-year associate degrees would allow students

to transfer directly into four-year programs at Loyola either online or on campus after the completion of the 60-credit-hour program with a liberal arts core. During the meeting, Calzada cited research the university had gathered which indicated a 74 percent growth in associate degrees conferred between 2000 and 2016. Calzada said the resurrection of City College would hopefully provide an increase in revenue for the university in the wake of Loyola’s financial probation and low spring registration numbers. The motion to endorse passed with 22 votes in favor, nine votes against and three abstentions. Some faculty senators, including Nathan Henney, senator for the Department of Languages and Cultures, voiced concerns about the

university’s focus on online and not physical classes. “We’ve been waiting patiently to begin to see resources aimed back at where they are desperately needed which is in our on the ground classrooms. We’ve been told the dawn is coming. We’ve been told the budget is secure. (Acting Chief Operating Officer) Paul Pastorek said ‘mission accomplished,’” a representative for Henney said in a statement on behalf of the Department of Languages and Cultures. “This program will again divert resources. We would suggest that perhaps we have a more detailed conversation on this topic prior to official endorsement.” Calzada said she understood faculty members’ frustrations but that the creation of more revenue is a prerequisite to the hiring of more faculty and accumulation of more

resources for classes. “We know we are all working several jobs and we have waitlists in classes. We know that we have to as soon as we can reinvest in traditional classes,” Calzada said. “But it cannot be done with the existing resources.” Calzada said the university still needs to conduct a price study about the cost of the programs and that the faculty must approve the curriculum for the online courses. The board of trustees will discuss the proposal in March.

WORLDVIEW

January 25, 2019 The Maroon

Local colleges join for MLK Day of Service By Hannah Renton harenton@my.loyno.edu

as get valuable community service experience. Volunteers were separated into groups, to spread across the city and help as many people and communities as possible. Some of the tasks given to students included gardening, painting, trash pick up and Mardi Gras bead sorting. Some of the organizations that were served on Jan. 21 include Pontchartrain Park Neighborhood Association, Child Advocacy Services, and Arc of Greater New Orleans. The day ended with hundreds of smiling faces and a jambalaya lunch provided by UNO.

A group of University of New Orleans baseball players helps out the local community by cutting pieces off of an overgrown bush. HANNAH RENTON / The Maroon.

Students from Tulane, Loyola and Dillard were shuffled in on buses, bright and early Monday morning, to the University of New Orleans campus to come together and serve various parts of the local community. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, UNO hosted local universities to participate in the MLK Day of Service on Jan. 21st, 2019. This day of service is an opportunity that allowed college students to see different parts of the city as well

Adaeze Uwaezuoke, University of New Orleans student, raking a local woman’s yard for the Martin Luther King Day of Service. HANNAH RENTON / The Maroon.

Cheryl Daniel, Dillard University sophomore, paints the outside of a house. HANNAH RENTON / The Maroon.

Opioid crisis rises across the United States By John Casey jecasey@my.loyno.edu

Despite national efforts to create awareness and curb the problem, the opioid crisis facing everyday Americans continues to worsen. A new report from the National Safety Council shows Americans are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose than in a car accident. The study reveals one in 96 Americans die from opioid overdose, while one in 103 Americans die in a car accident. That makes such overdoses the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. The results of the report mirror the bleak situation in New Orleans, where the number of opioid-related deaths has risen substantially over the past three years. The coroner’s office reported that in 2015, a total of 81 people died from opiate overdoses. That number rose to 166 in 2017, reflecting a 105 percent increase. The increase in opioid-related deaths correlates with the heightened use of a low-cost and highly lethal opiate called fentanyl. Only 13 opiate-related deaths in New Orleans involved fentanyl in 2015, but 87 deaths occurred in 2017 as a result of the same drug. That trend, however, is not exclusive to New Orleans; it’s national. “Deaths from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, fentanyl analogs and tramadol are growing at the

This Aug. 29, 2018 photo shows an arrangement of prescription Oxycodone pills. In a report released on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, health officials are looking into a possible link between opioids and a birth defect called gastroschisis. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

fastest pace,” said Kathy Balcazar, spokeswoman for the National Safety Council. “The fentanyl category of opioids represented a 48 percent increase in deaths from 2016 to 2017.” That increase sits in stark contrast to heroin-attributed deaths, which increased by less than one percent over the same time period. The presence of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids is becoming increasingly apparent and may largely be due to one reason, according to Debbie Webber, spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Agency in New Orleans. Webber said fentanyl’s low cost and high toxicity make it a prime way for drug traffickers to maximize profits. “Years of over-prescription of analgesic painkillers left many Americans with an opioid addiction, and drug trafficking networks capitalized by opportunistically flooding communities with cheaper and

more potent heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl-related compounds,” Webber said. The DEA estimates the going price for a kilogram of fentanyl will wholesale at approximately $80,000 with a potential retail price of around $1.8 million. The DEA estimates fentanyl is more than 20 times as profitable as heroin. Traffickers have taken notice of the opportunity to boost profits. Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol reported near non-existent numbers of fentanyl coming into the United States a decade ago. However, they detained 1,485 pounds in 2017, and only five months into 2018, border security had found more than 1,000 pounds. The New Orleans DEA reported that the vast majority of fentanyl in the city is trafficked from clandestine laboratories in China and that there are no known local production centers.

Opioids can change life forever in a matter of seconds, and not just for those who use them. In November 2016, the life of Will Harrison was permanently altered after his father George ventured to New Orleans for a trip with his girlfriend. George was no stranger to the streets, having spent many days of his life exploring New Orleans before moving to Georgia. He was ready to join New Orleans’ party once more. However, after returning to his room one night, George didn’t wake up. That was the night Harrison lost his father to an accidental overdose, and neither he nor his brother had graduated high school. “It’s so unfortunate, one good time with small bad decisions for someone in New Orleans can lead to a son without a father the next day,” Harrison said. Harrison’s story is becoming more common, as the total number of preventable opioid overdos-

es surpassed 43,000 nationwide in 2017 — more than 600 percent higher than in 1999. It seems New Orleans is lacking the necessary requirements to help curb the crisis. A new Odyssey House facility on South Broad Street plans to add 47 new medically-supported detox beds, but that brings the total number of detox beds in the entire city to a meager 65. “We have several substance use disorder programs, including a medically supported detox, inpatient residential and intensive outpatient with housing services. These programs are often near capacity due to overwhelming need in the community,” said a spokesperson for the Odyssey House. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards started a campaign in 2016, following his election, to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions in the state. His campaign has seen tremendous success. As of Nov. 2018, the state had reduced the number of opioid prescriptions by over 40 percent. Despite the development of new facilities and efforts by state and local officials to create awareness and pathways to recovery, the crisis continues to worsen as the death toll climbs each year. Those struggling with addiction are encouraged to call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

THE MAROON

January 25, 2019

C R O S S W O R D

Across 1 Dip with a kick 6 Highest 9 Video segment 13 “A Lesson From __”: Fugard play 14 Electronic music effect 15 Helper 16 Social media buzz about Alfred E. Neuman? 18 Labor 19 Montgomery-to-Macon dir. 20 Founded 21 Tie feature 22 Fiscal exec 24 Removes from the exchange 26 It’s not an equine 31 Directed 32 Forceful 34 “There’s many __ ’twixt the cup and the lip”: old proverb 38 About one-third of Earth’s land area 39 Slyly disparaging 41 Monopoly pieces 42 Tops 44 Like some posters 46 Windows competitor 48 Big name in auto racing 49 Chicago mayor since 2011 53 Addams cousin 54 Actress Helgenberger 55 Case, often 58 Hanoi holiday 61 Radar readout feature 62 Jalopy that still works? 65 “Frozen” princess 66 Grandson of 33-Down exiles 67 Grade describing the four longest puzzle answers? 68 Marsh plant 69 Case, for example: Abbr. 70 Permissible Down 1 Matching 2 Jackson of country 3 Pay dirt 4 Holding-on period? 5 49-Down remnant

6 Expos, now 7 Rough material 8 Taking more time, probably, as a test 9 Vegan regimen for a willowy look? 10 Ford Field team 11 Nitwit 12 Trapper’s collection 14 Athletic org. founded by Billie Jean King 17 Ends prematurely 22 Trysting place? 23 Pro 25 Mike Trout’s team, on scoreboards 26 Swedish auto 27 Latin I verb 28 Craigslist caveat 29 Sloth and the like 30 Musical narrated by Che

33 Paradise 35 Rhythmic cadence 36 Tracy Marrow’s stage name 37 Salon offering 40 Outcome 43 Trifling amount 45 Old PC monitor 47 Marsh plants 49 Eventual 5-Down 50 “Atlantic City” director Louis 51 Stand 52 More than a little silly 56 Angels Landing’s national park 57 Nation borders? 58 Soothing application 59 Notions case 60 Acid __ 63 Half of D 64 Hudson Riv. engineering school

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SPORTS

January 25, 2019 The Maroon

Loyola’s cheer team lines up for the national anthem before the women’s basketball game versus William Carey on Jan. 21. The cheer, dance and swim teams have spent three years as a part of the athletic department at Loyola. ANDRES FUENTES/The Maroon.

Cheer, dance and swimming programs excel three years in By RoSha’e Gibson rlgibson@my.loyno.edu @RoRodagreat1

The freshmen of 2016 were both excited and nervous to start their journey on Loyola’s campus. For three sports programs, they faced the same emotions as they were welcomed to The Den. The Wolf Pack welcomed the cheer, dance and swim programs in the fall of 2016, marking the first time the sports have ever been performed on a competitive level. Athletic Director Brett Simpson said that enrollment played a factor in the addition of the new sports three years ago. “We added those sports to increase enrollment through intercollegiate athletics,” Simpson said. “The opportunity to compete in college athletics often influences a student’s decision to attend an institution. We had the facilities to support these sports and felt that they would be great additions to our department.” With the new additions, Simpson admitted that there were some challenges when first establishing the programs and getting students excited about being a part of the Pack. Simpson said, “You were recruiting student athletes for a team that didn’t exist yet. We had to sell a vision to those recruits and their families; that they would be a part of something unique and special for those inaugural seasons.” Despite the initial recruiting struggles, Loyola’s athletic department has seen both national and academic success from the three programs. “Competitively, the results are pretty obvious as we have seen great success on a national level,” Simpson said. Last year, the women’s swim team ranked sixth in the country, the men’s team placed ninth in the nation, the competitive dance team finished 11th in the national competition while also racking up their second consecutive conference title and the cheer team has finished as high as second place on the conference level.

Cheer and dance head coach Rickey Hill addresses the dance team before a basketball game. ANDRES FUENTES/The Maroon.

“Academically, the average GPA for those programs is 3.234, so they are exceeding expectations in the classroom as well.”

Cheer and Dance Teams Cheer and Dance Head Coach Rickey Hill said that the that teams have grown a lot in talent and size over the years, but both programs dealt with inexperienced athletes in the beginning. “It was the first year,” Hill said. “A lot of these student athletes had not been coached the way I coach so it was a little stressful here and there.” Since then, Hill said that he’s been recruiting hard and the addition of dance coach Tiffany Willis this year has made the growing process easier. “We’re getting a lot more talented athletes,” Hill said. “It helps now that we have that experience. We have juniors and seniors who have been under me for two years and they know exactly how things need to be done and there pushing people in the right direction.” Hill said he’s always had a passion for cheerleading as he was one himself in high school and college. He has done camps, choreography, and traveled across the U.S. as well as Germany and Australia. Despite being around for such a

short time, Hill prides himself on making both of the programs stick out from the pack. “We try to think outside the box,” Hill said.“You know, we don’t want to be like every other team. We want to have a few unique things of our own.” Hill said that he has pushed creativity in both programs by getting input from the athletes and also bringing people from outside to do clinics as well. Hill also credits the welcoming aspect of the athletics program as key to cheer’s and dance’s success. “The student-athletes are like one big family,” Hill said.“The basketball team supports the cheer team and the cheerleaders support golf. We all come together as one like a family and I think that’s what helps us.” Music industry junior Beth Cohen shared her feelings of coming to Loyola’s new dance team upon entering college. “It was real exciting,” Cohen said.“When I first got to Loyola as a freshman, I was a little bit nervous to be entering a brand new program because I didn’t know what to expect.” Cohen said that the growth of the program has been a main factor of the increasing success of the program. “Now, being a junior and having a leadership role on the team, I feel that we’ve done a really good job in growing the program,”she said.“I

feel really confident that it will continue to succeed even after I graduate. I think that we add a different aspect to the basketball games and that people will come away from the performances they see from us, entertained and hopefully excited to see us the next time that we do perform.” As for biology junior Kristen Williams, she questioned cheering at first, but saw an opportunity that would eventually lead to her decision. “I really didn’t think that I wanted to cheer in college, but when I heard about the beginning of the program and the opportunity to be a part of the competitive team, I felt drawn to choose Loyola and chose to cheer,” Williams said. Williams said she felt proud of the athletics department at Loyola since not many schools recognize their cheerleaders as student-athletes. Williams also enjoys the relationships she has developed while cheering on the sidelines. “I’ve been able to make a special bond with members of the team that have been a part of the team since the beginning,” Williams said.“I think it makes us understand how hard we have worked to progress and appreciate the team and the coaching staff even more.” Williams said that she hopes that the program will continue to flourish and compete against some of the most talented teams in the nation.

“As I leave Loyola, I look forward to hearing the growth and success of the team and hope to have left my mark on the team and at Loyola,” Williams said.

Swim Teams Loyola’s swim program has found just as much success as the cheer and dance teams in their three years on campus. Warren Massimini, business analytics junior, has been a member of the team since it was established back in 2016. He is grateful to have taken the opportunity to join the team when he did. “The opportunity to start at a first year team and be able to build and watch the team grow, knowing you helped contribute to that growth was a really unique and a ‘hard to pass up opportunity,’” Massimini said. Massimini also mentioned how the uniqueness of the program has played into the team’s success. “The swim program is obviously unique due to the age of it,” Massimini said.“Otherwise, we are one of the only girl/guy teams who do every practice and event together which makes a close knit group of now roughly 30 swimmers. For a group that size to function as well

See Programs, Page 7

A Loyola swimmer competes in a swim meet in Loyola’s atheltic comlex. ANDRES FUENTES/The Maroon.

January 25, 2019

The Maroon

A Loyola cheerleader cheers on the women’s basketball team on Jan. 21. The cheer team has seen top-three conference placings. ANDRES FUENTES/The Maroon.

Biology junior Lauren King cheers on the sidelines at a men’s basketball game on Jan. 21. The dance team has won two back-toback conference championships and appeared in the national meet. ANDRES FUENTES/The Maroon.

Swim Head Coach Thomas Natal coaches international business sophomore Andrea van den Berg at a Loyola swim meet. Both swim teams have found national success in the past few years. ANDRES FUENTES/The Maroon.

Programs see success after three years on campus as we do is quite unique and welcome.” The team featured 14 All-Americans from both the men’s and women’s teams as well as the national rankings last year, all of which are improvements from the previous two years. Head Coach Thomas Natal has been a major factor in the team’s success. As a New Orleans native, he

found it difficult to pass up the opportunity to coach a new team from the ground up. Natal said, “When the opportunity came to work at a school with as good of education and values as Loyola, I was very excited to bring a new program here.” Natal said that some of the struggles came with laying down traditions for a new program. However,

one of the main successes for the team is the addition of swimmers over the years. “We’ve gotten very lucky with great young men and women for the first class,” Natal said. “Every class since just has had really dynamic young men and women” Natal plans on continuing the the success around the culture, that he himself, the coaching staff, and the

athletics program have built over the past three years. “Our goal is to always be successful in the classroom and in the pool,” Natal said.“I think with that and putting in the hard work we have everyday, I think we set the bar as high as we can and we take each day-by-day.” The overall achievements of all three teams has been impressive in

many aspects. Simpson said that he expects the success to continue for the programs as “The future is very bright for all our athletic programs,” Simpson said. “We strive to improve each and every day in an effort to perform at a high level both in the classroom and competition.”

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Life &Times

January 25, 2019 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

Cosplayers bring their favorite characters to life By Andres Fuentes aafuente@my.loyno.edu

Just like the caped heroes that they dress up as, there’s more to cosplayers than the costumes and outfits they don at comic conventions. Everything from sewing, painting, makeup and hairstyling to the more difficult tasks such as woodworking, metalworking and leatherworking, there is a lot of skill and work that go into the typical costume a cosplayer creates. “It takes a lot of planning and dedication and sometimes can be very overwhelming,” Kris D’Arcangelo said. “It’s not just wearing a costume.”

D’Arcangelo has experience in dressing up for conventions. Her outfits have ranged from simply a grey tank top and blue yoga pants that she bought herself to modifying and assembling pieces to create the “Overwatch” hero, Mercy. Whether creating and designing a costume from scratch or buying pre-made pieces, the skills involved in dressing as the latest video game character or the protagonist of a cartoon show takes its time to develop. “Whenever I first started cosplay, I knew nothing about the craft,” Dillian Lang said. “I just found something that I liked and I wanted to express my interest in it.” Lang was first introduced to cosplaying by his brother as a freshman in college and he quickly found the hobby he needed to help de-stress from his school work. Through YouTube videos and online tutorials, he eventually learned how to sew and do foam work and other necessary skills. However, the base of all costume design starts with the drawing board. Lang said, “It begins with drawings, sketches.” D’Arcangelo also said how key the beginning stages really are to the final product. “Designing a costume does take

some planning, and actually making a costume could take anywhere from a week or two, to a year,” she said. The creation process can take some time but the sense of satisfaction cosplayers get after creating their favorite characters is what drives them. “Dark Magician is a character that resonates with me,” Lang said. “I think (cosplayers) fully enjoy dressing as their characters. I think that whenever these conventions happen, you see these people going as all these random characters, but it’s something that they truly like and people will resonate with it.” Lang says that the characters don’t only affect the creators but other fans of the shows, movies, comics and video games. “Going as Dark Magician, I let people know I have a genuine interest in Yu-Gi-Oh! and it’s a little easier for us to have a conversation,” he said. “There are a lot of people who don’t normally have conversations going to these events. They’re very introverted. So whenever they see similar people or something that strikes their nostalgia, it’s not a ‘Nice to meet

you,’ feeling it’s more of a ‘Nice to see you again,’ feeling.” D’Arcangelo agreed with Lang, saying there is something special about bringing a character to life. She said, “Oh it’s absolutely magical. I’ve been so excited to finally bring a costume together, but it’s also extremely satisfying to have other people see me and get excited because that’s their favorite character too.” Despite the cost, time commitment and labor involved in cosplaying, D’Arcangelo believes it is all worth it in the end. “For me, cosplaying is a big part of my life. It’s helped me build confidence, creatively express myself and motivates me to be more active,” she said. “I’ve made so many incredible friends by doing this and it’s helped me socialize with a lot of different people. It’s absolutely time consuming and can be very frustrating and expensive. While I don’t think everyone would enjoy it, I’m very happy with where I’m at in life and the friends I have because of cosplay.”

(Above) Kris D’Arcangelo dresses up as Mercy from the video game, “Overwatch. “ D’Arcangelo says she finds a welcoming community within cosplayers. (Right) Dillian Lang dresses down in his Dark Magician costume. Lang spent five months creating the costume of one of his favorite characters. ANDRES FUENTES / The Maroon.

Iggy Vols returns to Kingston, Jamaica By Tess Rowland tmrowlan@my.loyno.edu

While most college students can be found returning to their hometowns for winter break or partaking in a vacation, last month one group of Loyola students participated in a 10-day cultural immersion and service program in Kingston, Jamaica. The program, Ignacio Volunteers, nicknamed Iggy Vols, offers the opportunity for students and staff to take part in an immersion opportunity that also does service in international communities. The idea of these trips are for students to practice Ignatian ideals. From selling milk and cookies at the library to charging other students for rides to and from Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, students fund raise pay for the trip. Upon arrival in Kingston, the students were divided into groups to work at sites such as Mother Teresa’s,

a home for the destitute and dying, Missionaries of the Poor Bethlehem house, an orphanage for physically and mentally disabled young people and Jacob’s Well, a shelter for mentally and physically disabled women, said Andrew Harper. The students’ jobs were to help residents in any way possible. The volunteers did chores such as feeding or bathing disabled individuals, or just talking to them, explained Will Hsu. After the end of each work day, the students reflected on their work by sharing their experiences in an open discussion and relating it to their own spiritual and individual growth. Will Hsu, community director of Carrollton Hall, worked as a staff member during this trip. He volunteered alongside students and also assisted in leading reflections. The trip is meant to be eye-opening, and for Hsu, it was. Hsu said he was pushed out of his

comfort zone, particularly by working with individuals who were mute or missing limbs and trying to figure out what they needed. “I remember helping put a resident to bed and he began opening about his life story,” Hsu said. “On the last day, when I was parting ways with the individual he began to pray for me wishing me the best on my journey, and suddenly he began to cry. I don’t consider myself someone to be particularly religious, but seeing them cry - I began to cry myself, and I never thought that I could connect with an elderly individual in that way.” His experience caused him to reflect on his own life, and to connect with a paternal grandfather whom he had lost touch with over the years. Andrew Harper, environmental biology senior, had a similar life-changing experience. He decided to do the trip last minute, inspired by it being his senior year

and wanting to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. Harper said one of his favorite moments was visiting Jacob’s Well. “It was the first time the group was split up so I was feeling very anxious, but the second we opened the doors, there were many women cheering and happy to see us,” Harper said. “Immediately I was comforted and realized how great it is to be with others and serve our community. It speaks to our core Jesuit values of truly being ‘for and with others,’ and it forces us to do just that.” Ten students and two staff attended the Kingston trip, other trip options include the New Orleans immersion trip. More information on how to apply can be found on the Loyola website.

UPCOMING EVENTS Sean Hobbes + The Hi Res The Howlin’ Wolf hosts Loyola band, Sean Hobbes + The Hi Res on Saturday, Jan. 26. The doors open for the 18+ show at 8 p .m. and is a $5 entrance fee.

2019 King Cake Festival The annual King Cake Festival will be held on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Nonna Mia Cafe & Pizzeria and will feature the cheesecake king cake.

Yoga + Cupcake Social From 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., The Cupcake Collection on Magazine St. is hosting The Ohm Well’s first yoga and cupcake social on Monday, Jan. 28. Reserve a spot for $5 by emailing theohmwell@gmail.com.

January 26, 2018

The Maroon

Gillette advertisement cuts into toxic masculinity By Tyler Wann wtwann@my.loyno.edu

Gillette’s new advertisement has left its consumer base divided, and some local experts are saying its too soon to tell whether the commercial was a good move or if it will leave the company burned. The commercial “Best Men Can Be,” which was released on Monday, addresses issues related to toxic masculinity, such as bullying and harassment towards women. Some have reacted to the ad with threats to boycott the company entirely. But for lifelong buyer Jake McDonough, music industry senior, the commercial only gives him another reason to love the brand. The 21-year-old college student said that he’s glad the company is addressing issues that often get swept under the rug. “It is an issue of toxic masculinity, where you’re supposed to beat on your chest and ‘be a man,’” he said. “That’s embarrassing behavior, and this is finally bringing light to that and saying ‘this is not ok.’” McDonough said he thinks that the commercial acts as a mirror, and that those who are critical of it don’t like what they see. “If you are somebody who feels offended by that video and you

take it personally, then you are the one who Gillette is talking to,” he said. Rae Taylor, Loyola sociology pro-

for the National Center for Men, said he thinks that the commercial may be doing more to hurt gender relations than to ease them. “I think it’s hate speech,” said Feit. “To say that any group is toxic, to single out any group of human beings and to say that they’re somehow morally inferior to any other group of human beings is bigotry.”

“The people who are upset about movements to end violence against women and movements toward equality are people who feel “To say that any group like they have something to is toxic, to single out any lose.” group of human beings — Rae Taylor Loyola sociology professor and to say that they’re somehow morally inferior fessor, agrees with McDonough. “The people who are upset to any other group of huabout movements to end violence man beings is bigotry.” against women and movements toward equality are people who feel they have something to lose,” she said. According to Taylor, much of the backlash towards the commercial comes from people who fear losing “the freedom they have to abuse others.” “People who are decent do not have a problem because they do not view themselves as entitled to power and control over other people,” she said. However, Mel Feit, the director

— Mel Feit Director for the National Center for Men

Feit said he thinks that the commercial goes against the principle that all people are created equal, and that singling out men in particular is going to foster resentment. “We can all do better. Men can do better, women can do better. We all have problems,” he said. “But the minute you put that burden

onto one group, it becomes counterproductive.” Feit doesn’t agree with the commercial’s implication that the issues being addressed in the ad are more attributable to men than women. “Men and women love each other equally and they hurt each other equally,” he said. “There’s just a difference between encouraging people to be better and saying any one group of people are more responsible than another for being bad.” Though Feit doesn’t agree with the message, he said that it’s their first amendment right to say it, and it’s the right of the consumer to decide not to buy their products. Though Adam Mills, Loyola marketing professor, said that it’s still too early to tell whether the commercial will boost or hurt sales overall, the commercial did succeed in building Gillette’s brand. “A brand is a story, a reputation, a perspective on the world, that we’ve attached to a product or service,” said Mills. While some critics have accused Gillette of using a social issue to boost sales, Mills thinks that, even if that is the case, their intentions seem genuine. “My own perspective is that Gillette has done a fantastic job of

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authentically joining and bringing attention to an important social conversation, and the public reaction is evidence that they’ve catalyzed the conversation they intended,” he said. Mills said he thinks that their efforts have been made easier by the strong associations between Gillette’s products and the issues being addressed. “Part of growing from a boy to a man is starting to shave,” he said. “Gillette is a brand associated with this rite of passage and this deeply personal ritual, and they are leveraging this metaphor to speak to something bigger, which is learning how to be, and what it means to be, a man.” At the time of writing, Gillette has yet to comment on how the ad has affected business, though Mills predicts a brief flurry of abnormal sales activity followed by a return to stable sales volumes in the long term. “It takes courage for a brand to do this, because it’s easier and safer to remain socially neutral,” said Mills.

EDITORIAL

January 25, 2019 THE MAROON

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

Why did Loyola keep students in the dark when their healthcare changed?

HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to new jobs and new opportunities GROWL pass interferences and NFL conspiracies HOWL king cake season GROWL to hot-n-cold weather HOWL to the Boycott Bowl GROWL to 2 missed paychecks in the government shutdown HOWL to JC, our foreign correspondent Have a howl or growl? Tweet us at @loyola_maroon to be featured each Friday!

EDITORIAL BOARD Riley Katz

Editor-in-Chief

Madison McLoughlin Managing Editor for Print Anderson Leal

Managing Editor for Electronic Properties

Will Ingram

Maroon Minute Executive Producer

Ariel Landry

Design Chief

Cristian Orellana

Photo Editor

Rose Wagner Catie Sanders Illustration by Ariel Landry

Tyler Wann Cody Downey

For many members of the Loyola community, the email sent out to the student body on Jan. 14 was one to skim and discard. It’s message consisted of only four sentences and kept it simple: the Student Educational Benefit Trust, the program that had provided students university-sponsored healthcare, was filing for bankruptcy and had not been functional since the end of 2018. But for sixty-four students who were receiving healthcare from the university’s partnership with the Student Educational Benefit Trust, the news was startling. Loyola had been partnering with the Student Educational Benefit Trust to provide medical coverage to students through the Student Health & Wellness Benefit Program. Until this e-mail and the following one sent from the office of student affairs, those enrolled had no knowledge that the status of their healthcare was up in the air. For those who rely on healthcare coverage to provide them routine medications and services, losing healthcare can be a difficult ordeal. Transitioning from one form of

coverage to another takes research, time, and care. Thus, the hasty announcement from the the Student Educational Benefit Trust and Loyola of the program’s termination begged the question: how long did Loyola know about this, and when were they planning on telling students? According to Alicia A. Bourque, the Interim Director of Student Affairs, Loyola had been aware of the trust’s bankruptcy since late December. In response, Loyola transferred the students onto another insurance carrier soon after. When they realized the new carrier couldn’t provide all of the services needed, they sent out the email explaining that the the Student Educational Benefit Trust had gone bankrupt and students needed to apply for a new insurance policy. The steps taken were ideal: they maintained healthcare coverage for as long as they could before asking students to apply for a new policy. However, what was missing here was a communication to those affected. Members of the Maroon staff

were affected by the loss of university-sponsored medical coverage. It comes as a shock to us to know that Loyola not only had knowledge that the trust was bankrupt, but that they transferred students to another insurance carrier without notification. If we had been notified, students may have chosen to continue receiving coverage through the Student Health & Wellness Benefit Program on the new carrier. Students also may have chosen to seek out a different healthcare provider from the countless that operate in New Orleans and the greater area. What is questionable here is not the bankruptcy of the the Student Educational Benefit Trust. That was unavoidable on the part of Loyola. What is questionable is the fact that we were kept in the dark when our insurance carrier went bankrupt, and furthermore, we were not notified when we were switched over to a new one. We were robbed of a choice — and the choice of medical coverage is an important one that deserves clarity. In the aftermath of the trust’s bankruptcy, students have been

provided the opportunity to apply in the public exchange and receive new insurance starting Feb. 1, regardless of pre-existing conditions. The time between the notification sent out by the university and this deadline gives students little more than two weeks to make decisions about their healthcare. It appears the sixty-four students who received university-sponsored healthcare will ultimately be provided the best possible service in this transition. Still, Loyola failed to disclose to those affected their knowledge of the Student Educational Benefit Trust’s shortcomings, the transition of students to a new insurance carrier and the shortcomings of the second carrier. When it comes to healthcare, a deeply important matter for the livelihood of individuals, there is a necessity for transparency, communication and timely notification. Hopefully, Loyola can learn from this in the future and consider the needs of the students who had trusted the school with their medical coverage.

Andres Fuentes

News Editor Life & Times Editor Wolf Editor Worldview Editor Sports Editor

Kaylie Saidin

Editorial Editor

Kaylie Saidin

Opinion Editor

India Yarbourough Andrew Lang Erin Snodgrass Hannah Renton Anderson Leal

Copy Editor Copy Editor Senior Staff Writer Senior Staff Photographer Director of Public Relations

EDITORIAL POLICY The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Loyola University. Letters and columns reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of The Maroon’s editorial board. The Maroon does not represent the opinion of administration, staff and/or faculty members of Loyola. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and style. Please limit submissions to 400 words. Submissions are due no later than 4 p.m. the Sunday before publication. Please send all submissions — The Maroon, 6363 St. Charles Ave., Box 64, New Orleans, LA 70118. Email us your letters — letter@ loyno.edu. Submissions may also be made online at www.loyolamaroon.com.

OPINION

January 25, 2019 The Maroon

Erin Haynes, pictured above, poses in major European cities. A New Orleans Native, Erin describes her experiences and impressions of Paris and London in the travel essay below. ERIN HAYNES / The Maroon.

Southern girl meets European world erin haynes Mass communication Junior erhaynes@my.loyno. edu

“Nothing is better than the Big Easy.” This famous saying would soon be challenged as I hopped off the plane from New Orleans and immersed myself in the enchanting continent of Europe. New Orleans is special. It is fueled by the welcoming, creative, passionate and food-lovin’ people who just want to enjoy themselves and live their lives “easy.” Once I was pulled from the comfortable bubble of my familiar city, I found myself in a cinematic-like dream. I was engulfed in the romantic ambiance of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Gone were the low and squat

ceilings of intimate New Orleans homes. In their places stood beautiful figures painted on aged domes. Colossal and striking paintings set the tone for Paris, where every corner is enlivened with glamour and beauty. This realization overtook me as I dined at the first of many charming little bistros. The word “atmosphere” came to mind, as many bistros had three signature qualities: dainty characters, delicious food and interiors bathed in golden light. While abroad, eating became an experience. In picturesque Paris, I made a point to minimize trivial distractions, focusing instead on my meal and surroundings. Once I finished dining, my world was electrified by Champs Élysées — a chic avenue exemplifying Paris’ station as the fashion capital of the world. Louis Vuitton and Chanel stores sat on every corner. It appeared as if I was seeing the height of French culture, that is until I reached the Palace of Versailles days

later. “Louis XIV is the King of kings,” I repeated as I waltzed through the ornate rooms of the chateau. As I entered the celebrated Hall of Mirrors, it struck me that the French do not seem to own pretty things as a form of vanity. Rather, their culture is built on the idea of appreciating life’s beauty. This concept became more evident as I admired the numerous gold statues lining the outer edges of the room. Gold statues, it turned out, were a modest feature of the more tamed but equally extravagant London — the next stop on my European adventure. Though the British people’s apathetic attitudes and practical behaviors are not as alluring as the French, British nature is echoed in their posh society. This seems to be due to the Queen and her central role in preserving the country’s image. The red road to Buckingham Palace acts as a central nervous system through which the monarchy sets a tone of

well-mannered behavior. The monarch’s command stretches across the London. For example, the employees inside Buckingham Palace carried themselves with matter-of-fact attitudes without missing any details. They were fearless in correcting anyone who was wrong. It was then that I discovered the truth about Southern charm as I gazed around the ancient city and felt the foreign coldness radiating from its people. Rather than shrink from the undoubtable snobbishness, though, I basked in the opulent world I did not find at home as I sipped hot tea at a teahouse in SoHo. The Mini Coopers, red double-decker buses and black cabbies raced along the too-narrow streets. Down below, the “tubes” (that’s British for subway cars) glided along their tracks, transporting passengers to their destinations. Some cars helped Harry Potter fanatics catch the Hogwarts Express, as J.K. Rowl-

ing’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter leapt from the pages and into life. Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station created a spellbinding effect that would leave any reader enchanted with excitement. Although London had space for the old, rich and magical, it managed to leave room for its artsy city dwellers on Shoreditch High Street. From tea with lemon biscuits to ordering cereal at a café cleverly named “Cereal Killer,” Londoners here unravelled from their usual stiffness. They wandered the trendy outdoor markets selling unique vintage items. London, though not as inviting as Paris, had proven to account for all walks of life. The day of my departure, I felt myself yearning for home. Home was no longer only New Orleans, despite my love for the city. Home is where the heart is, and my heart is fullest when I travel.

No occupation is free from real-world problems andres fuentes Mass communication Junior aafuente@my.loyno. edu

Since I was in the fifth grade, I have wanted to report from the sidelines of sports games. There is no harm in being a sports reporter. There is no hard investigating, and sports reporters do not often run into trouble talking to sources. Their audience is huge and growing, and there are so many creative ways to tell a sports story. I guess I am trying to say that, ever since I was a kid, I saw sports

reporting as my dream. A dream without the stresses and responsibilities of other forms of journalism. It’s just sports. What can go wrong? That perception changed fast over the summer. Of the five pronounced dead after the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis, Maryland, one of them was sports reporter John McNamara. Following McNamara’s death at the hands of a crazed gunman, the profession I thought was easy and nearly stress-free turned into another job with the possibility of fatality. How was I ever supposed to have guessed that? I’ve kept that moment in my mind ever since the summer. “Am I ready for this career?” and “Can I

handle this profession?” constantly ring through my head. It’s not just the shooting that has me spinning. Working in a professional newsroom has opened my eyes to what lies beyond graduation. The inevitability of being mocked by viewers, harassed by readers, stressed by deadlines and hammered with coverage are all things I have come to realize. I was warned about many of these in my classes, so I wasn’t so shocked seeing it first hand. But what isn’t talked about in the classrooms is how to cope with the mental exhaustion of the workload, the constant state of being villainized and mocked by the public, the anxiety of trying to live off a small

paycheck, the constant fear of being laid off and the depression from a hard day’s work without any recognition. And let’s not forget, the possibility of a gunman entering the newsroom and shooting you and your colleagues dead. None of that was explained by a professor, to students in any major or program. I have friends focusing on subjects in a variety of majors at other universities who struggle from this ignorance about their futures. The fear, stress and sense of hopelessness are never laid out until it’s too late, until a diploma is in hand and the profession hits you like a brick wall. It’s scary to devote such a long

time chasing a profession only to not be fully aware of what that profession entails. Maybe you can’t fully handle it. Maybe the anxiety and stress is too much for you. Maybe the time commitment is too much of a hassle. Whatever it may be, it’s important to talk to professionals about their professions. Talk to recent graduates about how they manage life while pursuing their careers. Ask them about their health and well being. Ask them how they endure. If you see yourself in their shoes one day, it’s important to know how big those shoes you aim to fill really are.

THE MAROON

Faculty and Staff

Catfish Friday returns to Loyola Friday, Jan. 10 in the Freret Room from 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM

$10.5o at the door or One meal Swipe The Freret Room is the former Faculty and Staff Dining Room Accepting Cash, Wolf Bucks and Credit Card

January 18, 2019