Maroon3_29_19 by Loyola Maroon

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 97 • Issue 21 • March 29, 2019

THE MAROON For a greater Loyola

A projected balanced budget has left the university feeling

Cautiously Optimistic

Looking ahead to the end of the year, administrators foresee a $920,000 surplus By Erin Snodgrass eesnodgr@my.loyno.edu @erinsnod

After three months of financial probation, Paul Pastorek, interim chief operating officer, thinks Loyola’s chances of being taken off of probation, come December, are likely. “I think the true options for us are that we get off of probation – and I think our chances are very good – there is a small possibility we could stay on probation.” Pastorek said. “And I think there is zero chance of anything bad happening.” In December, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges placed Loyola under financial probation as part of the ongoing monitoring of the university’s budget. As the university works to balance the budget, there are a number of requirements Loyola must meet to comply with the association’s conditions for accreditation. Balancing the Budget “We’re tracking very well. We were very pleased at the beginning of this year when we adopted a balanced budget. But, a budget is just a budget,” Pastorek said. “It’s not what actually occurs.” Pastorek spends his days com-

paring how Loyola actually spends money against how they plan to spend money – and he said the actuals and the planned are still matching up well. For the first time in a few years, Loyola is projected to end the fiscal year positively. “We had budgeted to have about a $1.3 million surplus at the end of fiscal year 2019 and right now, we are tracking to about a $920,000 surplus,” Pastorek said. “So, we are a little short, but we are still where we want to be, which is in the plus column.” Pastorek said this is a crucial development, since one of the requirements for being taken off of financial probation, is ending the year with a positive balance. Another condition Loyola is aiming to meet, is a positive balance sheet, which is a snapshot of the university’s finances showing everything the university owes and owns. “Because of our deficits, our balance sheet has been negative for the last few years.” Pastorek said. “Our projected balance sheet will be positive, but we are making some adjustments.” In order to secure that positive balance sheet, Pastorek said the university is looking to convert some university-owned, non-revenue-producing real estate into consistent, revenue-producing estates.

Veritas, Saint Mary’s and the Sacred Heart building on the Broadway campus are three examples Pastorek gave for potential transformations into office spaces or residential real estate. “One of our trustees is well familiar with the real-estate-development business, and he is helping us build a plan that we can actually go to building developers to talk to them about how they might develop these properties which would generate income to the university, in a more sophisticated way,” Pastorek said. Remaining Obstacles Despite Pastorek’s high hopes for the upcoming year, there are still places where Loyola can continue to improve. In an attempt to increase revenue, Loyola began pioneering online classes and programs. However, according the University Budget Committee meeting minutes for Feb. 4, the university did not hit its target for January enrollment. Pastorek however, said the problem had less to do with enrollment, and more with lower than expected revenue. “The enrollment was pretty strong, but the anticipated revenues were based upon an average of two courses being taken during an eightweek period,” Pastorek said.

See BUDGET, page 3

Wolf in the Ring Loyola baller trades sneakers for boxing gloves By Andres Fuentes aafuente@my.loyno.edu

(ABOVE) Computer science junior Joseph Ruzevich fights in the ring versus Quincy Jackson. A look at Friday Night Fights from above.(LEFT) The amature boxing event draws in spectators from across the metro area. (ANDRES FUENTES/The Maroon.

The lights were beaming, the crowd was screaming and the tension was high. A Loyola basketball player competed in his sport, but not in The Den or on any court. Computer science junior Joseph Ruzevich had his chance in the boxing ring, exchanging blows and dodging punches with a local fighter.

See FULL STORY, page 8

Loyola’s grad rates ahead of national numbers By Erin Snodgrass eesnodgr@my.loyno.edu @erinsnod

When freshmen step onto campus, they dream of walking across the stage to grab a diploma. At Loyola, they have generally been doing that more than their peers across the nation. Loyola’s graduation rates have been above average or on par with national six-year completion rates for the last seven years. However, there is still work to be done when comparing Loyola’s graduation rates with its peer group. In general, students graduate at a higher rate when you just look at four-year, private, non-profit universities, and Loyola administrators say they are committed to bridging that gap. The most recent data for both national graduation rates and Loyola graduation rates points toward common trends found in the past seven cohorts of college students, beginning with the cohort of students who began college in 2006 – the fall after Hurricane Katrina. The six-year national graduation rate for all colleges for the cohort of 2012 was 58 percent, according to a study done by the National Clearinghouse Research Center, while Loyola’s cohort of 2012 graduated at a rate of 61 percent, according to the Loyola Fact Book – five percentage points higher. But, the total completion rate for students who studied at private four-year universities and started the same year, was 76 percent – 15 percentage points higher than Loyola’s rate. The same pattern follows for previous years. Cohort Year

National Grad. Rate

Loyola Grad. Rate

4-Year Private Grad. Rate

2011 2010 2009 2008

56.86% 56%

76.04%

54.8%

55%

71.5%

52.9%

66%

69.1%

52.9%

62%

71%

Faye Huie, a research associate at the National Student Clearinghouse who works on the annual completing college report, emphasized the importance of tracking graduation rates to set national benchmarks for institutions to compare and evaluate themselves against. “The educational community has always been, and always will be, interested in outcomes. One of the major goals of post-secondary institutions is to ensure that their students graduate with a degree,” Huie said.

See GRADUATION, page 4

THE MAROON

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STAFF

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news

March 29, 2019 The Maroon

Father Ted announces year-long sabbatical By Tess Rowland tmrowlan@my.loyno.edu @TessrowlandTV

The Rev. Ted Dziak, S.J., announced that he will be taking a year-long sabbatical as well as stepping down as vice president for mission and identity after 10 years in the position. According to Dziak, Jesuits do not typically take sabbaticals. Usually this is an opportunity open to a lay faculty person who is taking time off not only to relax, but to also focus and do deeper study by reading, writing and researching within their field. As of now, his plans consist of revisiting his spiritual roots. “Part of it will be centered around Ignatian spirituality, partly because I love it and I still have so so much to learn. I am teaching in Belgium with the study abroad program, and then after I am done I hope to officially start my sabbatical in Europe,” Dziak said.

“His devotion to Loyola students, faculty and staff and growing their faith is evident in everything he does.” — Alexander Christian Lucas Musical performance senior

He said he also hopes to connect with his family’s history as well as that of the Jesuit Order. “My grandfather from my father’s side was from a small town in Poland, and my mother’s side was from a small town in Italy, and I am going to visit my heritage. I would like to see the Chiesa del Gesù, Rome, Italy where Ignatius Loyola is buried, and all of the Jesuit sites in Rome,” He added. “When you study something, it is always important to go through and experience it, in realizing you are a different person at different stages of your life.” Father Ted has been a key figure in founding programs at Loyola like the Ignacio Volunteers and the Department of Mission and Ministry. But that’s not what he considers his biggest accomplishment. “The most important thing about my role as vice president was not serving on all these committees,

Budget, continued from page 1 “And what we’re seeing is students are taking less than two courses in that period. According to the minutes, the projected online revenue is now $2.2 million, down from the originally expected $3.5 million. A better than expected experience on expenditures by departments across the board saving money, has balanced out the shortfall of online revenue. Another issue that had to be dealt with was the management of some financial aid funds meant for student fees. According to the minutes, the missed fee total for the incoming class of 2018, last fall, was about $2

The Rev. Ted Dziak, S.J., sits in his office in the Department of Mission and Ministry on March 26, 2018. Dziak announced that he will be going on a year-long sabbatical as well as resigning from his role as Vice President for Mission and Identity. JAWDAT TINAWI/ The Maroon.

but trying to inculcate the mission of the school in a way where faculty, staff and students made it their school. It doesn’t belong to a group of eight or 15 jesuits. It is up to the students, faculty and staff to foster our identity, and it’s not solely spirituality,” Dziak said. Charlie Seiter, economics senior, had the opportunity to attend Dziak’s mission trips to Belize and helped with the fundraising, community building and lesson planning processes. “Father Ted’s spiritual direction has been invaluable to me. He helps me to see and really understand the depth of situations,” Seiter said. “His practical, down to earth application of Ignatian spirituality has helped me a lot in discerning future million, with financial aid at 60 percent, leaving about $1.2 million not budgeted. But, the issue was not discovered until January. The issue was dealt with by reaching into reserve funds with other scholarship money that had accumulated thanks to donor pledges and donations. The issue originated in the Student Financial Aid Department. Pastorek said the mistake was able to go unnoticed for the first semester because the reporting system in place had only been reporting what was actually approved in financial aid and not everything that had been promised. The tracking system is being revamped to avoid the same issue arising in the future.

plans, relationships and many other things. He guides me and provides different perspectives so that I can make informed and free choices.” Alexander Lucas, music senior, regularly visits Dziak’s office for spiritual guidance and confession. He credited the reverend as being a key factor in helping him get a Magis Grant enabling him to study abroad in Germany at the International Performing Arts Institute. “It’s going to be hard not having him around. He does so much for the faith community at Loyola that no one knows about. His devotion to Loyola students, faculty and staff and growing their faith is always evident in everything he does,” Lucas said. Payton Alexander, biology soph-

What Comes Next As the fiscal year comes to a close on July 31, Pastorek is hopeful that the university will be taken off of probation by the end of the calendar year. The university must then provide the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges an audited statement. They will come to campus to review those statements during the early fall and then will make another decision in December. While the organization could technically take away Loyola’s accreditation, the more likely two options are that the university be taken off of probation, or given one more year of probation.

omore, took two trips to Belize with Dziak. The 14-day trip was his first time out of the United States and he was without a cellphone, internet and running water. “Father Ted immediately took me under his wing and told me to trust in him, trust in the leadership, trust in God and go out of your comfort zone,” Alexander said. On the trip Alexander got an emergency call that a friend had attempted suicide. “Father Ted pulled me aside and told me some things I will never forget. He told me to take a few deep breaths and just focus on being thankful for my life and everything around me,” Alexander said. “And that call made me realize how precious life is and to not take any-

thing for granted. He pushed me in a direction in my faith life that, ultimately, whatever is going wrong in my life to be thankful for the experience.” As for whether Dziak will be returning to Loyola, the question still lingers. He will be using the Ignatian process of discernment, aligning the head, heart and spirit to help make that decision moving forward. If he does return he says he does not want to do administrative work. “I want to be available to students, faculty and staff in growing their faith. Whether it’s creating different variation of the Ignatian exercises, or even community outreach,” Dziak said.

“Our expectation is that we would successfully meet these objections that I’ve mentioned, and that SACSC will give us a favorable ruling and take us off of probation.”

opportunity, Pastorek said chances are good that the university will meet the target enrollment count of 800 students in the fall of 2019. “If the incoming class is lower than expected, then it will mean less revenues, and I’ll have to do some other things to address that issue,” Pastorek said. “I don’t think we’re looking at anything right now to be worried about. Pastorek also emphasized the importance of tracking projected expenses and controlling expenditures as ways the university has begun to get on steady footing, financially. “Right now, we’re all cautiously optimistic,” Pastorek said.

“I don’t think we’re looking at anything right now to be worried about.” — Paul Pastorek Interim Chief Operating Officer

Looking toward the future, Pastorek believes systemic and necessary changes will put the university in a strong position to continue growing. In another important revenue

C R O S S W O R D

THE MAROON Across 1 Another name for hopscotch 6 Naysayer 10 West Coast salmon 14 Curly-tailed guard dog 15 Brought into being 16 Intl. oil group 17 Develop hives 20 Golden years group 21 Wedding invite request 22 Wedding vow word 23 Tablecloth material 25 Snake, periodically 26 Part with a gesture 31 Red __ 32 Inexperienced, as a recruit 33 “I should add ... “ 37 Easter beginning? 38 Glittery bit on a dress 42 Uber info 43 Like Tommy, in the rock opera 45 “That hurt!” cries 46 Swell up 48 Be a second-stringer 52 Eucharist plates 55 Hops-drying oven 56 Protestant denom. 57 Close buds 59 Spanish hors d’oeuvre 63 2002 Spielberg film ... and a hint to the start of 17-, 26- and 48-Across 66 Cuatro times dos 67 Red Sox star Big __ 68 Phased-out Apple messaging tool 69 Takes in 70 Vane spinner 71 Lecherous looks Down 1 Bygone sunscreen ingredient 2 Fried side with a po’boy 3 Organization chart level 4 Fastening gadget 5 Chatter 6 One taking advantage of privilege

7 Rule during homework time, perhaps 8 Word with road or side 9 Traveler’s rest 10 Toyota compact 11 Dizzying pictures 12 State bordering Bavaria 13 Orangy-yellow 18 Seal predator 19 Object of a mil. search 24 Siesta hrs. 25 Cry weakly 26 Beauxbatons Academy coat of arms symbol, in Harry Potter 27 With 28-Down, hand lotion ingredient 28 See 27-Down 29 Dadaist Max 30 Bit of a tail flip 34 Boxer Spinks

March 29, 2019

SUDOKU

35 Legato’s opposite, in mus. 36 Hand-on-the-Bible promise 39 Vanilla containers 40 Leave dumbstruck 41 Drops off 44 Paintings on wet plaster 47 Salad green 49 Go very slowly 50 Go on foot 51 “Slow down!” 52 Rio Grande tributary 53 On the double 54 10% donation 57 Steady guy 58 Places for patches 60 Yoga aftereffect, perhaps 61 Carson predecessor 62 Little scurriers 64 Rd. efficiency stat 65 Engine need

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Cont: Loyola outdoes national graduation rates but sees room to improve GRADUATION, continued from 1 And according to Elizabeth Rainey, director of student success, Loyola is always working to improve graduation rates. Loyola’s Graduation Services “First of all, graduating students is everyone’s job,” said Rainey. And in the past few years, that message has been emphasized across all departments, culminating in a variety of new and revamped services to help students transition first from high school to college, and then from college to careers. Loyola’s new Pan-American Student Success Center opened last June, housing five points of service located in one centralized space to help students succeed and attain a degree. Students can find advising and tutoring services, study places, and educational workshops within the center, located on the second floor of the Monroe Library. One of the newest offerings is a first-year advising team as well as a success coaching team. Both place a focus on first-year students but work with other students by request. “I would point to advising being a critical component to graduation rates, because getting the right advice about the courses you have or the options you have from the moment you enroll is critical to an ontime graduation,” Rainey said. When it comes time for advising, many students are left in the dark while advisors are still working off handwritten degree program course listings. So, academic affairs is launching a new advising program called Planner, which will allow students to map out their courses elec-

tronically and will secure that information in one easily located place. “It shows you the hypothetical and it’s really getting technology aligned with our systems so students can understand what they need to take and have more autonomy and a role in their planning,” Rainey said. While Rainey doesn’t think the previous methodology of academic advising is necessarily responsible for graduation rates, it can be a factor for students who come in undeclared and unsure of what they want to study. Another way the Student Success Center is aiming to improve graduation rates is by providing career development services. For students who are uncertain of which major to pursue, career services allow them to explore majors and internships. “When students bounce around different majors, sometimes that can delay graduation unless you are very thoughtful and strategic,” Rainey said. Rainey said that while there is no collective focus or committee primarily working on graduation rates under Project Magis, the strategic planning process aiming to financially stabilize the university, it’s more of an infused process. “I think it should be direct. I do think we should be talking about retention along with graduation,” Rainey said. “But sometimes the data look different.” Retention And while Project Magis hasn’t specifically set its sights on improving graduation rates, one thing the

administration has been emphasizing is improving retention rates from freshman to sophomore year. “We always imagine that retention is just the start. Talking about who comes back is just the beginning of having a larger conversation. I don’t just care about someone coming back. I care that they graduate,” Rainey said. And according to Huie, Rainey isn’t wrong to possibly think that there is a correlation between the two. “When graduation rates go up, retention rates also go up. Institutions generally want to retain their students so that they eventually graduate,” Huie said. “However, this ultimately depends on the goals of the students. Not all students who enroll in college may want to earn a degree. In the last seven years, the cohorts with the three lowest retention rates between first year to second year also had the three lowest six-year graduation rates.

Cohort Year

Loyola Cohort Retention Rate

Loyola’s Grad. Rate

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006

80% 74% 77% 82% 80% 73% 78%

61% 56% 55% 66% 62% 55% 59%

At a Project Magis meeting in fall of 2017, Cissy Petty, former vice president for student affairs and associate provost said retention rates had been set for the following three years – at 82 percent in 2018, 84 percent in 2019 and 88 percent in 2020. The cohort of 2017, surpassed the original goal with a retention rate of 85 percent, according to the Common Data Set. Acceptance Rates Another area in which universities can compare their graduation rates is with universities that have similar acceptance rates. Typically, universities with the lowest acceptance rates have the highest graduation rates, and conversely, those with open admissions tend to have the lowest graduation rates, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. For the seven most recent years of data, Loyola acceptance rates have fallen in the 50 to 74 percent acceptance rate category, hovering around an average of 60 percent acceptance. Only once in those seven years, was Loyola’s graduation rate higher than the average graduation rate for all universities with acceptance rates between 50 to 74 percent – the cohort of 2009, the highest graduating cohort at 66 percent versus the national average of 62 percent. The cohort of 2007’s graduation rate was nine percentage points behind the national average for universities with similar acceptance rates – 55 percent versus 64 percent. But while Loyola struggled to keep up with universities in the 50 to 74 percent acceptance rate range,

the university no longer falls under that category. As the university aims to significantly improve class sizes to help with budgetary problems, Loyola has jumped up two categories to universities with acceptance rates of 90 percent or more. The acceptance rate in 2017 was 69 percent. In 2018? Almost 95 percent, according to the Common Data Set. “Certainly, there is concern that if students enroll who don’t have the right academic background or don’t have the financial plans to be here or the interest or commitment to be here, that can impact your graduation rates,” Rainey said. “It’s a fine balance. We do want to create access and openness in our education, but do so, so that these students will go on to graduate.” Rainey also emphasized Loyola’s commitment to providing a learning space for students from different backgrounds. “You can look at numbers. You can look at some schools and they don’t have nearly as many students who come from backgrounds of financial need,” Rainey said. “More than 30 percent of our students qualify for Pell Grants. Lots of our peer institutions, that number is below eight.” The implications of Loyola’s higher acceptance rate on graduation rates won’t be known for another six years but despite how acceptance and graduation rates continue to fluctuate, Rainey takes pride in Loyola’s community. “We educate students, and want them to graduate with a degree they’re proud of,” Rainey said.

WORLDVIEW

March 29, 2019 The Maroon

Column: Brexit, explained by an ‘American Idiot’

[Left] A pro-Brexit protester holds onto placards as he demonstrates near the House of Parliament in London. [Right] Anti-Brexit protesters hold onto their flags and placards as they demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London. British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government says Parliament’s decision to take control of the stalled process of leaving the European Union underscores the need for lawmakers to approve her twice-defeated deal. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

JC CANICOSA Mass communication senior jccanico@my.loyno. edu

Welcome to a new kind of tension. On Saturday March 24, over a million people took to the streets in central London in protest calling for a Brexit deal to be put up to another public vote. According to The Guardian, an online petition asking British government to revoke Article 50 and remain in the European Union has reached over five million signatures. Brexit, the shorthand name for the United Kingdom’s departure of the European Union, has stirred up a lot of political tension in the United Kingdom. But why? How did the United Kingdom end up here, and what does it mean for them going forward? Parliament started moving ahead with Brexit after the people voted to leave the European Union in a referendum. A referendum is a direct

vote among the electorate on a particular proposal, according to gov. uk. Referendums under the Constitution of the United Kingdom are not legally binding however, only advisory, meaning Parliament can back out of Brexit entirely if they choose to. However, Theresa May, prime minister of the United Kingdom, has ruled out revoking Article 50, which would cancel Brexit, according to a BBC article. But in June 2016, Britain voted to leave the European Union by a slim 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent margin, setting Brexit officially into motion, according to a BBC article. Brexit was initially set to take place on March 29, 2019, but Parliament voted to extend the deadline by at least two weeks, as members of Parliament remain gridlocked on how they want to enter the Brexit transition period. Members of Parliament have already rejected Theresa May’s proposed deal to leave the European Union twice and voted against holding a second referendum. Early into her prime-ministerial term, May outlined what she believed a Brexit deal was. She has remained headstrong in those beliefs ever since, as she has not been wiling to listen to alternative ways of moving forward

proposed by members of the opposing Labour Party or more centrist members of her own Conservative Party, according to John Street, a professor of politics at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. “Although she talks about conciliation and reaching out and so on, she hasn’t done that,” said Street. “She’s in a very difficult position if she were to try and compromise, but it’s about the only way anything more rational can be achieved.” Street acknowledged how Brexit may not seem to make sense to American spectators, but in the context of its culture and history, the decision to leave the European Union starts to make sense. “I think from the outside, (Brexit) might look a bit odd. This is a globalized world, you can only make things work in alliance with others. So why would you, as a relatively small state choose to cut yourself off from it? What is it you think you’re achieving?” said Street. “But on the other hand, I think Americans understand that federal organizations, resisting it is something that’s deeply enshrined within the American constitution.” Britain has historically tended to look across the Atlantic to the

United States rather toward Europe culturally and geopolitically when it thinks about itself and its position in the world, according to Street. “The idea of being dictated by Washington that people don’t happily agree to, so it is too in Britain. We don’t like to be dictated by Brussels.” said Street. Brussels is the capital of the European Union. Britain has always had an ambivalent relationship with Europe, which is in part fueled by patriotism and Britain’s celebrated history as an empire, according to Street. This kind of nationalism is what makes Britain less willing to be led rather than lead. Though the Brexit issue cannot be split between the traditional ideas of liberal versus conservative, as members of both parties stand on either side of wanting to leave or remain in the European Union, according to Street. Actually, a stark way to distinguish sides of the Brexit political spectrum would be by age group. In fact, about 82 percent of 18-24 year olds would vote to remain in the European Union in a second referendum as opposed to around 66 percent of 65+ year olds who would vote to leave, according to a BBC

survey. Megan James, a first-year student at the University of East Anglia, had multiple friends attend the protests in London on March 29 and signed the online petition to hold a second referendum. James was not old enough to vote in the 2016 referendum, and described her frustration of having the older generation decide her generation’s future for her. “I feel with young people, you’re thinking about your future and how the world’s getting more connected. Meanwhile, we’re just taking ourselves out of the EU. Let’s get rid of free trade. Let’s get rid of free movement, and make it harder for ourselves,” said James. “With older people, it seems like ‘oh, let’s just go back to how things used to be and we’re going to save the country’ even though we’re the ones that will have to deal with it when Brexit actually happens.” Brexit is scheduled to happen on April 12, 2019, so by then either some version of a Brexit deal passes Parliament, no deal passes Parliament when Brexit happens or British government calls for a second referendum to leave the European Union.

Louisiana pancreatic cancer rates are higher than national average By Tyler Wann wtwann@my.loyno.edu

Approximately 1.6 percent of people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in their lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute. Game show host Alex Trebek recently announced that he is among that number, with a diagnosis that the cancer had already reached stage four. Though he said in an announcement that he plans to beat the illness, the odds are stacked against him. According to the National Cancer Institute, only about 8.5 percent of people diagnosed survive past five years. For some people diagnosed, it

can be a matter of months. “We knew we had time with her, but the million-dollar question was always ‘how long?’” said Therese Duke, who recently lost her mother to the illness. “In her case, it was two months.” According to Duke, her mother, Gloria Sehrt, was diagnosed when she noticed that something was off with her blood work. After a follow-up appointment, she received the diagnosis. “It was a shock to all of us. Mom was 91, you know something’s going to happen at some point. But we had no idea it was going to be pancreatic cancer,” said Duke. “You never expect you’re going to be without your

mom, no matter how old you get.” According to William Robinson, the director of the Office of Clinical Research at the Tulane Cancer Center, pancreatic cancer is so deadly because by the time it’s caught, it’s often too late. “There really is no good screening test for it. And, unfortunately, most of the symptoms that are associated with it don’t occur until the disease is fairly advanced,” he said. “We don’t usually find it until it is grown or advanced to the point where it is extremely difficult to treat successfully.” According to Robinson, there isn’t a specific risk factor associated with the disease.

“Most people who get pancreatic cancer have no family history, no genetic markers for it. Not that we know of, at any rate” he said. “So, unfortunately, it’s mostly sporadic.” In 2016, Louisiana had the fifth highest rate of pancreatic cancer instances in the U.S., according to a report from the Louisiana Tumor Registry. While it’s hard for Robinson to say exactly what’s causing these high rates, he said that the state’s high rates of smoking and drinking aren’t helping. “We don’t know specifically. One of the potential risk factors is actually alcohol use. Louisiana is right up there in its use of alcohol per capita. That may be a part of it,” he said.

“We also have a higher risk of smoking than most states. While that’s not a major risk for pancreatic cancer, it is a minor risk factor for lots of different cancers.” According to an annual report from the United Health Foundation, 27 percent of people 18-44 smoked, above the national average of around 19 percent. The rates of binge drinking were also slightly higher in Louisiana than the national average.

Life &Times

March 29, 2019 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

Crowds headbang at the barricades during the Excision performance. SIDNEY OVROM / The Maroon.

BUKU rocks New Orleans Music styles ranging from electronic to R&B returned to the central business district for the sold out 2019 Buku Music + Art Project. Lana Del Rey, Kevin Gates and A$AP Rocky headlined the festival which is now in its seventh year. Unlike VooDoo Festival, which was met with rain and mud, the two-day-long Buku festival saw sunny skies and breezy nights followed by late night after-parties at all the local venues.

R&B artist Dounia performs on the Switchyard stage, marking the singer’s first ever festival. SIDNEY OVROM / The Maroon.

Playboi Carti gives an energetic performance on the Ballroom stage at the Buku Music + Art Project. Tickets were sold out for the festival which saw its seventh year with 2019. SIDNEY OVROM / The Maroon.

Review: ‘Apex Legends’ is the new champion of battle royales By Sam Lucio salucio@my.loyno.edu

Following the latest craze of battle royale games in a world dominated by “Fortnite,” Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts take their own shot at the hottest genre in gaming with “Apex Legends.” Since “Apex,” as the community refers to it as, first released on Feb. 4, the game has dominated gaming headlines around the world. Within the first month, “Apex” had reached over 50 million total players, according to a tweet from the developers, crushing the record “Fortnite” held which took several months to reach. After spending countless hours playing “Apex” for nearly two months along with millions of others, it does not seem like “Apex” is fading away anytime soon. Gameplay “Apex” is a battle royale game, meaning that you fight in an arena against countless others while avoiding a storm that can kill you until there is one team remaining who is then crowned the champion. Unlike in “Fortnite” where each game is comprised of 100 players, games in “Apex” only have 60 total players. Also, in “Apex” you can only play in teams of three, whereas in “Fortnite” you can either play solo, duo or in a team of four. “Apex” also features “legends,” characters each player chooses to play as, which will

be discussed later. Every battle royale game begins with the player jumping out of some type of ship. “Apex” is no different, as players jump out of a drop ship, but “Apex” also changes up the formula. In every squad of three, one player is designated as the “jumpmaster.” The jumpmaster is in charge of deciding and controlling where the squad lands. “Apex” emphasizes teamwork which is made abundantly clear in the game’s “ping” system, a feature which is widely considered one of the main reasons for “Apex’s” success. The ping system is used to communicate with your teammates no matter whether you are on mic with them or not, a feature “Fortnite” lacked but eventually added to the game due to the enormous success in “Apex.” The ping system is used by tapping the right shoulder button on the controller. The ping system has a wide array of uses like pinging a location you want to explore so your teammates know where to head next as well as pinging weapons and ammo which alert your teammates to items they might want or need. The ping system in “Apex” is one of the more refreshing aspects of the game that really set it apart from “Fortnite.” The combat in “Apex” is also a refreshing change of pace from “Fortnite.” One of my main issues in “Fortnite” is that there’s too much stuff. Every battle in “Fortnite” relies on how well you can build while dodging attacks from other players

using “Fortnite’s” myriad of wacky weapons. In “Apex,” all you have is armor, guns and grenades. Killing other players in “Apex” is based more on skill and aim instead of whatever wacky item you have. Legends What sets “Apex” apart the most are its characters, called “legends.” Before you start every game, you and your team are shown a list of all nine of the legends and each player chooses which legends they want to play as. Each legends has their own unique traits and special abilities only they can use. The legends are Bangalore, Bloodhound, Caustic, Gibraltar, Lifeline, Mirage, Octane, Pathfinder and Wraith. Bangalore is a professional soldier whose abilities allow her to run twice as fast while being shot at, a smoke launcher to blind enemies and an air strike that stuns enemies when hit. She is one of the more popular legends and is perfect for those players used to first-person shooters. Bloodhound is a mysterious technological tracker whose abilities allow him to briefly reveal hidden enemies and traps, see tracks left behind by enemies and an ultimate ability that allows him to move faster while highlighting enemies. Caustice is a toxic trapper whose abilities allow him to throw toxic gas traps, being able to see through his gas and a gas grenade. He is great for settling down and defending an

area. Caustic is also one of the more annoying characters to fight against. Gibraltar is a heavy tank character whose abilities allow him to throw down a shield to protect your teammates, a personal shield that deploys when you aim down your gun and an airstrike that obliterates your enemies. Lifeline is a combat medic whose abilities allow her to deploy a drone that heals your teammates, an ability that allows her to revive teammates faster and a care package she can summon that gives teammates special items. Mirage is a comedic trickster who can send out a holographic decoy, go invisible for five seconds and can send out multiple decoys to escape. Mirage constantly makes jokes but it mostly comes off as conceited and annoying. Octane is a high energy speedster who can use an ability to move faster for 30 seconds, heal himself and deploy a jump pad to traverse large distances. Pathfinder is a quirky robot who has a grappling hook, an ability to see where the next safe circle will be and a zipline for your teammates to use. Wraith is an interdimensional skirmisher who can phase to avoid enemies, hear voices that warn the player of danger and can place a portal to help teammates escape. Wraith is one of the most popular legends due to her mobility and all around usefulness. “Apex” offers a diverse cast of

legends that the player can choose depending on their play style. Depending on the characters you and your team choose, your squad can pull off cool combos with complimentary abilities. Respawn Entertainment also said that they will continually add new legends to “Apex.” Battle Pass The latest addition to “Apex” is their battle pass, a service that allows you to level up and gain new cosmetic items for $9.50. The battle pass is possibly the weakest part of “Apex” simply because it takes an extremely long time to level up and the rewards you receive seem more like a consolation prize as opposed to something you really want to work toward. The battle pass in “Apex” is more of a lazy effort to copy the battle pass in “Fortnite.” Verdict “Apex” is an extremely fun game especially when played with friends. The fast-paced intense action is a welcome change from a more robust combat system in “Fortnite.” I was very impressed with the range and scale of abilities with the legends and the amount of times I felt like a great player. “Apex” is wildly entertaining and the with a player base of over 50 million players, “Apex” is arguably the new champion of the battle royale genre.

March 29, 2019

THE MAROON

Faculty and Staff

Catfish Friday returns to Loyola every Friday 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

SPORTS

March 29, 2019 THE MAROON

Worry About Her Defense Senior reflects on historic career By Jillian Oddo jmoddo@my.loyno.edu @jill_oddo After four years of swats and boards, one star baller is saying goodbye to the Wolf Pack with her name in the record books. In her final season in maroon and gold, psychology senior Megan Worry proved to be a defensive leader for the women’s basketball team, leading each stop, press and coverage throughout the season. “Coming in freshman year, I knew I would have to play a big part for the team, but I never expected myself to make the impact I did this year,” Worry said. Worry hangs up her sneakers as Loyola’s all-time leader in blocks with 134 rejections. Her 68 blocks this year was nearly double the

amount totaled her junior year. Despite her talent on the defensive side, being a part of history was never on her mind. “If you asked me my freshman year if I would be in the record books here at Loyola my answer would be no,” Worry said. It was not always easy playing on such a high level. Worry said she struggled with the game her freshman year, but Head Coach Kellie Kennedy helped boost her confidence. “I have developed my defensive game in many ways. I have become stronger and faster. Therefore, allowing me to move my feet quicker and stay in front of people,” Worry said. Despite her accolades, Worry was not always a strong defensive player. She was a guard for about a year with the Wolf Pack, but she moved to stretch forward for the past three seasons. “My play style has changed from when I was in high school to now. I have to be a consistent rebounder. I have learned to take the ball to the hole more instead of just being an outside shooter,” Worry said. Rebounding is something the Texas native does well. The senior was second in career rebounds among active players last year and was still at the top for her final season. She is also 7th in Loyola history for career rebounds. “My game has visibly changed so

(ABOVE) Psychology senior Megan Worry (23) has been an anchor on Loyola’s women’s basketball team for the past four

years. (BELOW) Worry shoots a shot at the Holy Name of Jesus parking lot. SIDNEY OVROM/The Maroon. much since I first started here. Coming in, I knew that I had many things to work on, but looking back I have improved on areas that I didn’t even know I needed,” said Worry. Worry has improved her game from freshman year and her stats show it. “I try and lead my team by example. Since I am a senior I do believe that some of the younger ones look up to me and see what I do with myself and how I handle situations,” Worry said. During her early years, she looked up to Caroline Gonzalez, A’17, who was a stretch forward before her. Worry said Gonzalez was a good rebounder and could shoot the ball

well, which were both aspects she wanted in her own skill set. “I knew it would be some big shoes to fill but I wanted to take on the challenge, which in my opinion I think I did well,” Worry said about taking Gonzalez’s position. Out of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Worry is ninth in defensive rebounds per game and 11th in total rebounds through 33 games this season. Her efforts also won her an All-American honorable mention. “It is such a crazy thing that I have accomplished so much at my time here and I couldn’t thank my teammates and my coaching staff enough for the opportunities they

gave me all throughout the year,” Worry said. “It has been a blessing playing here and I would not have wanted to share all of our accomplishments over these last fours years with any other senior class.”

Loyola hooper steps off the court and into the ring By Andres Fuentes aafuente@my.loyno.edu

Standing at 6’5 and 210 pounds, Joseph Ruzevich is used to stepping back, scoring left and dodging swipes and blocks, but Loyola’s small forward turned into a South Side Sensation when he traded his sneakers for a pair of boxing gloves. Ruzevich, computer science junior, took a chance in the ring as a part of Friday Night Fights, an outdoor amateur boxing showcase in the heart of Central City. Crowds flocked around the ropes to catch a glimpse at burlesque dancers, fire performers, Loyola rappers and fighters from across the world. The boxing series featured longtime veterans, semi-pros and upand-comers, such as the Wolf Pack’s junior baller. Ruzevich got his start with the sport from August through September of 2017, due to Loyola’s then-president, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., reaching out to Head Coach Stacy Hollowell about any interested boxers. “I was the only one that said, ‘Let me go box with Father Wildes,” Ruzevich said. “(He) brought me out to workout, spar a little bit.” From there, Ruzevich would leave boxing for more than a year, but Mike Tata, Friday Night Fight’s founder, did not forget about him. Ruzevich said, “A month before the fight, Mike calls me up and says,

‘I need a Loyola kid to fight in the show. Do you know anybody interested?’ There’s really no one at Loyola that fights.” With the lack of any suitable fighters, Ruzevich took advantage of the situation. “(Mike) called me back up three weeks before the fight and said, ‘Do you have a Loyola kid to fight?’ And I said no, and he said, ‘Do you want to fight?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, why not?’” The Chicago-native hopped in the ring for three weeks worth of training, preparing for the March 22 date. The show would feature New Orleans Police Department officers squaring up against each other, international stars facing local legends, city champions going headto-head and the seasoned Quincy Jackson going against the rookie Wolf Pack baller. Despite being his first time, Ruzevich held on, absorbing left hooks, right jabs and landing a few punches of his own. Loyola students rallied behind their fellow classmate and Ruzevich’s mother and sister cheered him on in the crowd through three full rounds of ducking, dodging and punching. However, it was Jackson that won by decision, going home with the medal, but Ruzevich learned from the experience. “I was expecting a ‘W’ but I went the distance,” Ruzevich said. “For my first fight, I was happy being

(ABOVE) Computer science junior Joseph Ruzevich takes on Quincy Jackson on Friday Night Fights on March 22, 2019. (BELOW) Ruzevich rests between rounds during Friday Night Fights. ANDRES FUENTES/The Maroon.

able to take a couple of hard hits and stay up. I’m excited to get rid of this headache.” Despite his loss in his first amateur match, there’s still a lot of fight left in him. “I’ll be back,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll be back anytime soon but I might go back to Chicago after I graduate and try to fight there.”

March 29, 2019

The Maroon

EDITORIAL

March 29, 2019 THE MAROON

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to Father Ted GROWL to him leaving HOWL to free movie screenings on campus GROWL to cancelled meetings HOWL to Cheese Day in the OR GROWL to the stress of finding a lease for the next year HOWL to graduation coming up Have a howl or growl? Tweet us at @loyola_maroon to be featured each Friday!

Empy bottles and cups sit atop a trash can on Bourbon Street in the New Orleans French Quarter area. Bourbon Street is a bustling street popular with tourists and locals alike for its vibrant bars and binge drinking opportunities. ANDRES FUENTES / The Maroon.

Safety and awareness is crucial for students living in New Orleans

Another Mardi Gras has come and gone. Around this time of year, freshmen students may be relishing the feeling that they’ve finally adjusted to living in New Orleans. Sophomore students may be considering leases and searching for off-campus housing throughout the city. And as spring begins and the weather gets warm, we enter the golden period before extreme humidity closes it’s jaws over the region. This is a time of year in which we exhale, sit back and agree: it’s good to live in New Orleans. But feeling comfortable doesn’t mean we should get lazy with our awareness and safety. In recent months, there have been a disturbing number shootings on Bourbon street, a place col-

lege students and tourists frequent often. Just this last weekend, someone opened fire on a motorist in the French Quarter. The night before, three people – including a teenager – were robbed at gunpoint in the same few blocks. A Loyola student made public on his Facebook account that he was wounded in the foot earlier this month when shrapnel from a stray bullet hit him. New Orleans is a city with a party culture that creates a unique college life. There is nothing wrong with having fun, but it is imperative that we take measures to keep ourselves safe. Many of us know people that don’t lock their doors when they leave their houses. Some students may opt to walk home alone late at night in lieu of an expensive Lyft

ride. Others may get too drunk in the French Quarter and wander around alone. As college students, we should be aware that crime is relevant in our city and that we are often easy targets. Many of us are not as familiar with the city or safety precautions. In places like Bourbon Street – or even our own local bars – we must be aware of our surroundings and the situations we’re in. It’s true that there is a laissez-faire attitude to both our city and being a young adult. But laissez-faire doesn’t mean you should put yourself in situations where you are likely to become a victim. For students currently in the process of searching for off-campus housing or finding a lease, ask

yourself: is this in an area I would feel comfortable at night in? When moving in, be sure to keep a watch on your things – a lot of furniture and boxes piled in the driveway, unattended, is an easy setup for petty theft. Make sure that you or your roommates are entering a living situation in which you will feel safe. It is ideal to be safe but still have fun in New Orleans. As students, it is vital that we create a balance of both these things. There are many ways to protect ourselves and our fellow community members from crime, and they involve taking proper precautions and being aware of our surroundings. As we become comfortable living here, we ought to be certain we are maintaining these efforts.

EDITORIAL BOARD Riley Katz

Editor-in-Chief

Erin Snodgrass

Managing Editor

Anderson Leal

Managing Editor for

for Print Electronic Properties Will Ingram

Maroon Minute Executive Producer

Ariel Landry

Design Chief

Cristian Orellana

Photo Editor

Rose Wagner Catie Sanders Tyler Wann Cody Downey

News Editor Life & Times Editor Wolf Editor Worldview Editor

Andres Fuentes

Sports Editor

Kaylie Saidin

Op-Ed Editor

Andrew Lang

Copy Editor

Emma Ruby

Copy Editor

India Yarborough Hannah Renton

Senior Staff Writer Senior Staff Photographer

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

March 29, 2019 The Maroon

Setting the record straight on SGA By SGA Cabinet Members Fallon Chiassion, Troi McClure, Sophia Rataj, Rebecca Driever and Joann Cassama We are here to speak our truths. This past school year was not by any means easy. We joined an executive team with two leaders who had no prior experience in the Student Government Association. We were excited, a little scared but, most of all, ready. We knew that we were capable of being in these positions and welcomed the challenge with open minds and open hearts. Over the summer, our cabinet attended the National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. It was an opportunity for our cabinet to bond, get to know each other and learn from other student leaders from Jesuit universities all over the nation. We learned about each other and from each other, and noticed where we might encounter an issue — that being the leadership style our President took at the conference. After the conference, we came back refreshed knowing that we — the appointed cabinet members and Joann — were going to work well with each other. We came into the fall with a new structure of student involvement, new advisors and a new groove. The Department of Student Involvement became the Office of Student Life and Ministry. People we thought we were going to report to changed. We adjusted, and we got to work. We listened to the frustrations and desires of the student body and attempted to address them in ways most appropriate for our positions. Rebecca balanced the budget, recruited people for the finance committee and even took the initiative to require the finance committee to have two financial-wellness initiatives per semester after hearing concerns voiced at a town hall. Fallon recruited over 40 first-year students to join First Year Council so they would have the opportunity to learn about the ins and outs of student government. She also submitted an opinion piece to The Maroon in October citing the summer and fall accomplishments of the cabinet that was never published — so the lack of communication with the student body must also be attributed to a failure by the main source of student news to report on information

You shouldn’t judge a piece of art based on who created it CRISTO DULOM English freshman csdulom@my.loyno. edu

Students listen as the Student Government Association discuss their responses to President Sierra Ambrose’s list of vetos. The vetos become a major point of contention. CRISTIAN ORELLAN/The Maroon.

provided directly by this administration. Sophia and her executive team of the University Planning Board began planning for Wolf Pack Wednesdays, Third Fridays, the new #Being events in accordance with the administration’s goal of increasing diversity and inclusion and many of the other events hosted on campus. Troi began making goals to have students get more engaged with our social media and rolled out marketing initiatives to get the Loyola community aware of and excited about our new university president. Culminating in the Instagram page reaching the 1000 plus followers milestone. Rana appointed justices to the court of review and began making plans for social justice initiatives every month, started to address the food insecurity issue on campus by providing food care kits over holidays, all while helping launch Iggy’s

Cupboard. Joann held senate meetings every Wednesday night and saw them create legislation such as the execution of Homecoming, National Kindness Day, and Slice and Serve, while also chartering over 15 student organizations such as Lemon Pepper, SELF and Women in STEM, in addition to allocating money to provide campus resources like pet disposal stands, rain ponchos, blue books and scantrons, and so much more. By the end of the fall semester it was clear how much our (cabinet) communication and collaboration has probably been better than ever before, as we all work together to help support each of our respective committees and duties. Some examples of this collaboration that the student body may not be aware of include but are not limited to: Senate allocating funds from their budget to help the court of review stock Iggy’s Cupboard and distribute food

care kits; court of review and finance committee working together to fund diversity and inclusion events put on by student organizations using a combination of each committee’s financial resources; allocating a portion of the budget to sponsor SGA communications; senators working at social justice initiatives; a bill passed by Senate to ensure all colleges are represented on the finance committee; and much more. We did our jobs and we served the student body the best we could in the circumstances we were in. It is not fair nor equitable to lump this administration into one opinion because of what one leader has said and done (or not said and not done). One person does not by any means represent the great work our cabinet has done. We urge the student body to remember SGA this year by the great work we have accomplished.

As the dust settles from HBO’s “Leaving Neverland” documentary and Oprah Winfrey’s after show, “After Neverland,” I believe it is time for us to review our opinion of Michael Jackson as a person and as a musical artist. The four-hour documentary featured the stories of Wade Robson and James Safechuck who are now coming out with their stories of how Michael Jackson sexually abused them as children. Their stories are frankly harrowing. I felt sick to my stomach many times as I watched both parts of the documentary. How could Michael Jackson, a superstar that has made such an enormous and lasting impact on pop culture, have committed such grotesque acts against these young children? As more people came to feel the same way I did after watching the documentary, I noticed that many radio stations stopped playing the King of Pop’s music. This is where I began to feel uncomfortable about society’s reaction to the confessions of Robson and Safechuck. I fully believe the stories they have told about Michael Jackson and his sexual abuse, but his personal life and career as a musician are very different and separate. Because these two lives are different, they should be judged differently.

To read the rest of this opinion piece, visit www.loyolamaroon. com

Pi Kapps brought art to the community with Blue Dog By Robert Prasso and Juan Bu With an emphasis on creativity, individuality and community, Loyola’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi partnered with the George Rodrigue Foundation for the Arts to create the new member class’ project a reality. The project’s main focus was to bring creative expression and academic development to students at St. George’s Episcopal Elementary School. Over the course of the two-day project, the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi visited the local school and met with a cheerful third grade art class. The sponsorship of the foundation provided the materials that were crucial to executing the philanthropic initiatives of the fraternity.

Through the foundation’s children’s book, “Why Is Blue Dog Blue?”, the brothers brought to life the values both the organizations, and created an opportunity to give back to the community. This initiative was guided and inspired by the city’s iconic “Blue Dog” art legacy. The foundation and Pi Kapp’s initiative provided a space for young students to develop their critical thinking by connecting the presentation of the foundation’s values and artistic inspirations of New Orleans famous “Blue Dog” art. The children had a memorable experience of being able to artistically express themselves with no limitations on what they could create. This experience led us, the broth-

ers of Pi Kappa Phi, to want to continue to live our fraternity’s philanthropic values but still go beyond the call of duty. Giving back to our community can be through small actions that may very well just be overlooked. Seeing the joy in children learning about a New Orleans icon and being inspired by a painting was undoubtedly an authentic and rewarding experience for our members. We hope to continue to live our fraternal and Jesuit values, and uphold the effort to give back to our community.

Robert Prasso, new member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, reads children’s book to students at St. George’s Episcopal Elementary School. Courtesy of Pamela Skehan.

March 29, 2019

THE MAROON

The Environment Program Presents:

CAPSTONE POSTER SESSION THURSDAY APRIL 4, 2019 12:30-2:00PM MONROE 3RD FLOOR HALLWAY FOOD AND DRINK PROVIDED LOYOLA ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM @LOYNOENVA @LOYNOENVIRONMENT

Questions? VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR EMAIL US AT KJKAHN@LOYNO.EDU