Maroon 12 5 14 by Loyola Maroon

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 93 • Issue 13 • Dec. 5, 2014

THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA

Man of many photographs Twenty-five years and thousands of pictures later, university photographer Harold Baquet announces his retirement By Colleen Dulle mcdulle@loyno.edu @colleen_maroon

University Photographer Harold Baquet is retiring from Loyola after 25 years of capturing images of students from their Wolfpack Welcomes to their graduations. Baquet said that he hopes to enter private practice, do commercial and fine art photography, show exhibitions of his documentary photography from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s and write. He also said he looks forward to finally having time to go fishing. Baquet said his time at Loyola was an extremely positive experience. “I had an opportunity to participate and contribute to an extraordinary community. It’s the community I’m going to miss the most,” Baquet said. Baquet said that Loyola has been an amazing place to work. “Everyday, someone will come up to you and thank you, or tell you they’re praying for you, tell you they love you in exactly those terms,” Baquet said. Baquet touched the lives of many members of the Loyola community, including university president, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J. “Harold’s photographic eye can see things that many of us miss as we rush through our lives,” Wildes said. “Harold’s photographs, a conversation with Harold, always makes you see the world in a new way.” James Shields, communications

director, said that the university is planning a celebration to honor Baquet next year and will announce the plans as soon as they are finalized. Zach Brien, mass communication sophomore and photo editor of The Maroon, said Baquet has inspired him as both a photographer and a person. Brien said the most important thing Baquet taught him about photography was to just “keep shooting.” This philosophy of perseverance is something Baquet has exemplified in his battle with cancer, which he has faced with a positive attitude. “His attitude has inspired me,” Brien said. “Even before I knew that he was sick, he was just always so excited to see you. That makes me want to be a nicer person to be around, because you say, ‘I talked to Mr. Baquet; my day’s better,’” Brien said. Brien said that he wants to be able to have the same effect that Baquet has on people. Leslie Parr, mass communication professor, said that she has been friends with Baquet during his time at Loyola. Parr said that after the death of French photographer Eugene Atget, one journalist wrote that without him, nobody could really see Paris. “Without Harold Baquet, will we still be able to see Loyola?” Parr asked. “Who else will be able to capture the moments, the personalities, the feel of this place? It’s hard to see Loyola without him.”

Loyola professors organize “Silent March for 1,111” By Alex Kennon agkennon@loyno.edu @alexandrakennon

Two Loyola professors travelled to City Hall the morning before Thanksgiving to apply for a permit to hold a demonstration of protest on the streets of New Orleans. Theatre Arts Professor Laura Hope and Psychology Professor Erin Dupuis, outraged by the inspector general’s recent reports describing NOPD’s lack of proper investigation into sex crime and child abuse cases, are organizing a citywide protest called the “Silent

March for the 1,111”. According to Hope, the number 1,111 represents the total number of cases outlined in the report that went without proper investigation. “In a three-year period, 840 rapes were basically ignored, and 271 were not properly investigated. Add those two numbers together and you realized that 1,111 victims went without justice,” Hope said. “Basic humanity and decency requires the citizens of our city to stand up and say that this is unacceptable and to demand change.” The march will begin on Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. at the First District

police station and travel to City Hall, where a rally in support of the survivors and demanding change will be held. One survivor who has joined forces with Hope and Dupuis to make the demonstration as effective as possible is Maria Treme, the woman who awoke with a stolen car and an unfamiliar bottle of lubricant near her bed the morning after she believes she was drugged and raped at The Country Club restaurant in the Marigny. “I was very happy when Laura contacted me with their rally details. I feel like I can get plenty

of warm bodies out there, but have never organized anything like this before, and have learned to ask when I need help,” Treme said. Treme said that NOPD did not take her to the hospital to get a rape kit until late the following night, and that she and her lawyer have still not heard back about DNA results or whether video from the parking lot where her car was taken was found. “They just seem to have had a sloppy free for all investigation policy and at this point don’t know how to even use common sense,” Treme said.

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While Treme says she is heartened to hear that NOPD is finally working to develop a protocol to handle sex crime cases, Hope said that this is only one of the many steps NOPD needs to take to remedy their behavior and restore the community’s faith. “This is not just a case of a few rogue officers not doing their job. This is a systemic cancer within the NOPD and it needs to be dealt with as such,” Hope said. The primary goal of the march, according to Hope and Dupuis, is a full-fledged external investigation of how NOPD handles sex crimes

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Assistant Editors: Gabriel Garza, Lauren Saizan, Starlight Williams, Kameron Hay Staff Writers: Asia Alvarado, Sarah-Anne Smurlick, Jessica Molina, Raymond Price, Taylor Ford, Haley Pegg, Daniela Leal, Marie Simoneaux, Nick Ducote, Lester Duhe, Sidney Holmes, Jamal Melancon, Syed Ali Abidin, Skyllar Trusty, Davis Walden, Kristen Stewart, Barbara Brown, Raquel Derganz-Baker

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Motor Vehicle Theft Pitt Street, 5400 block

Nov. 30

9:13 a.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft State Stree, 2200 block

Nov. 30

12:52 p.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft State Street, 2000 block

Nov. 30

2:13 p.m.

Motor Vehicle Theft Joseph Street, 1200 block

Dec. 1

9:03 a.m.

Vandalism West Road Garage

Dec. 1

2:07 p.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft Audubon Blvd, 100 block

Dec. 1

3:34 p.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft Fern Street, 600 block

Dec. 1

4:20 p.m.

Theft/Larceny Freret Street, 7300 block

Dec. 1

5:28 p.m.

Theft/Larceny St. Charles Avenue, 6800 block

Dec. 1

5:59 p.m.

Theft Communications/Music building

Dec. 2

12:31 p.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft Upperline Street, 2300 block

Dec. 2

11:41 p.m.

Send mail to: The Maroon, Loyola University, Campus Box 64, 6363 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118 The Maroon is published every Friday. Unless otherwise noted, all content is copyrighted by The Maroon. All rights reserved. First copy free to students, faculty and staff. Every additional copy is $1.00. The Maroon is printed on 30 percent postconsumer recycled content.

news

December 5, 2014 The Maroon

Students protest Ferguson decision

SILENT, continued from page 1 and a complete overhaul of their current system. “We also want our city government and the NOPD to know that the citizens of New Orleans care about sexual assault and we demand better,” Dupuis said. Hope said that anyone can look to rape statistics, particularly on college campuses, and realize that this is an issue that affects all of us and that it is our responsibility to stand up for change. “When you think about the numbers, you realize that whether you have a conscious knowledge of it or not, you absolutely do know somebody in the city of New Orleans who has been raped,” Hope said. “On those grounds, it should be a very personal issue for all of us to make sure the people we care about are treated properly by the police and that they see justice.” Though Hope and Dupuis’ Facebook group about the march currently has 389 members, they hope to have a much larger turn out on Dec. 13. Treme said that people who accept NOPD’s behavior as what is expected is damaging to the New Orleans community. “I really think if we all join together and raise our voices we can be part of something that will literally change our world here.” Hope and Dupuis anticipate the permit to cost at least $400, and have set up a fundraising site at GoFundMe. “We can and will make a difference,” Treme said. “We have to.”

news briefs Loyola to hold memorial for Professor Birdwhistell

ZACH BRIEN, MARY GRACI AND DAVIS WALDEN/ The Maroon

Students march through the Loyola and Tulane campuses protesting the Ferguson grand jury’s decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson for the shooting of Michael Brown. The protest gradually gathered over 100 students and was led by Ferguson native Etefia Umana, mass communication junior. Umana negotiated a silent protest through Tulane’s Howard-Tilton Memorial Library after the library authorities denied protestors entrance. The protestors also held a “die-in” on McAllister Drive, where they traced their bodies in chalk and wrote messages of protest. For more information and photos on this story, visit The Maroon’s website at loyolamaroon.com.

SGA improves communication with students By Lester Duhe laduhe@loyno.edu @LDuheMaroon

Loyola’s Student Government Association is reaching out to students in a whole new way this year. SGA is using social media, the Weekly Howl , and word-of-mouth to inform students about what is happening in SGA. When SGA President Bud Sheppard and Vice President Nate Ryther were elected at the end of last school year, they said that social media was not being utilized to its full potential. “When I took over the Facebook page when I was elected president, we had around under 800 Facebook likes, and now we are around 1,400 Facebook likes,” Sheppard said. Allison Rogers, SGA’s director of communication, believes that social media has helped SGA to better engage with the student body. “This year we made a really big

push to try to get more people engaged with our Facebook page, and it’s worked,” Rogers said. Rogers said she is also amazed at how many people are tuning in each week to the Weekly Howl and subscribing to SGA’s social media accounts. The Weekly Howl is the one minute video SGA posts each Monday to inform Loyola students about what is happening in SGA and around campus. It is formatted like a news broadcast with Sheppard as the anchor. “People want to see what the SGA president is going to do, and at the same time, the message gets across that I’m trying to inform students about what is happening that very week,” Sheppard said. Rogers said that this year SGA is using Twitter, Instagram and other forms of social media to engage students as well. Each week, SGA posts a #WolfOfTheWeek and #WhoDatFriday to highlight different stu-

dents and members of SGA. “Having people know who their representatives are and who is working for them is one of the most important things about having an SGA,” Rogers said. She said that these social media outlets are helping increase SGA’s visibility. W.H. “Butch” Oxendine, executive director and founder of the American Student Government Association said that other universities’ SGAs are not fully engaged with social media. “Many have Facebook groups and post to Twitter, but few students are really paying attention,” Oxendine said. Oxendine said that the best way to engage students on a college campus is in person. He suggests that SGA members survey one student a day for 10 minutes. “It gathers information about what the students want and need, plus is the ultimate public relations

tool to spread the word about SGA and show students, faculty and staff that SGA really understands the pulse of campus,” said Oxendine. Although the Senate is small right now, Rogers said the senators are “engaging their students by word of mouth and conversations, in addition to everything we’ve been doing with social media.” Even with all the changes that SGA has made, Rogers said there is room for improvement. “I think we can only improve from here and kind of go at it with a heavier force from what we’re already doing,” Rogers said. Students like Mariana Macia, mass communication sophomore, are noticing SGA’s changes in transparency and are becoming more informed. “It’s awesome to be able to look on SGA’s Facebook page and to know what exactly is happening on campus,” Macia said.

A memorial service for the late biology professor Kurt Birdwhistell will be this Saturday, Dec. 6, in the St. Charles Room. The service will start at 11 a.m., but family, friends, colleagues and students are welcome to gather starting at 10 a.m. Free parking is available in the West Road Garage, and avoidance of Freret Street and the Freret Street Garage is recommended due to the Tulane football home game that day.

Loyola makes it Sneaux

Loyola’s annual Christmastime event, Sneaux, was held on Dec. 3. The university brought in an ice machine to create snow on the Marquette Lawn. Students played in the snow, took photos with Santa, made s’mores and ate cookies while listening to Christmas music. The Maroon’s photos from the event are available to view online at loyolamaroon.com.

University Ministry holds Mardi Gras Mass and Pancakes

University Ministry is hosting Mass and Pancakes this weekend, an end-of-semester tradition. The event will be Sunday, Dec. 7. Mass will be held at 9 p.m. with a Mardi Gras-themed late-night breakfast in the Olreans Room directly afterward.

WORLDVIEW

December 5, 2014 THE MAROON

BATTLE FOR THE SENATE: ROUND TWO As the battle for the hotly contested Louisiana Senate seat comes to an end, Senator Mary Landrieu and Congressman Bill Cassidy are both said to be the best choice for university students By Emily Branan embranan@loyno.edu @Embranan

When voters head back to the polls for the runoff election, the winner of the Louisiana Senate seat will impact college students in Louisiana and around the country. Incumbent Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu and Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy will face off once again on Dec. 6, each arguing that they are the best candidate to represent the concerns facing all voters. Landrieu said in an email that she is committed to helping college students be better able to afford college and has worked toward that goal in her previous terms as senator. “I have dedicated much of my work in the Senate to helping college students attend and graduate college without huge sums of debt,” Landrieu said. Landrieu said Cassidy voted to cut Pell Grants, financial aid she sees as vital to students. She introduced her Passport to the Middle Class initiative this year to double the highest award of the Pell Grant and lessen student loan debt. If passed, students would also

be able to join homeowners and businesses in receiving low interest rates on their loans. “In Louisiana, there are 60,000 individuals with an average student loan debt of $22,000,” Landrieu said. “My initiative would save the average Louisiana student loan borrower $8,000 over the life of their loan.” Kirstin Alvanitakis, communications director for the Louisiana Democratic Party, said she believes the senator has been and will be an asset for college students. “Her re-election will mean Louisiana college students have someone fighting for them in the U.S. Senate, someone who will always stand up for them no matter what political party is in control or who is in the White House,” Alvanitakis said. For Alvanitakis, Landrieu’s legislation is also important because Landrieu was instrumental in helping the state after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by sending more than $50 billion to help rebuild. Kelly Coyle, assistant staff writer for the Congress Project and Ballotpedia, said that Cassidy is also concerned with helping students. Coyle said that Cassidy helped introduce the Truth in Tuition Act of 2013. The act would require universities to give students either a multi-

year tuition schedule or an estimate of how much their schooling would cost after financial aid. Raffi Williams, deputy press secretary for the Republican National Committee, said he sees Cassidy as the “definite better choice”. Williams said one of Cassidy’s main concerns is creating jobs, something from which many recent graduates would benefit. “Cassidy will make the American dream possible for our generation,” Williams said. Coyle said that Cassidy addressed his concerns towards college students in a debate for the primary election, stating he is also concerned with creating higher-paying jobs for graduates. “In the Oct. 15 debate, Cassidy blamed the economy for college students being unable to pay off their student loans,” Coyle said. Williams said this is an important election for Louisiana. He said he believes it will give the state the opportunity to confront Obama on his policies, especially economic ones. “This is really an election to enhance Louisiana’s standing in the Senate,” Williams said.

Cartoon illustration by Katie Richard

Midterm elections garner low youth voter turnout By Starlight Williams slwillia@loyno.edu @star_lightw

As Louisiana awaits the results of the runoff elections for the senatorial seat on Dec. 6, candidates still face the struggle of getting young voters to actually go out and vote. Young voters, especially college-aged students, have been traditionally notorious for not showing up at the booth to cast a vote. The Campus Vote Project said that approximately 1.9 million voices went unheard in 2012 because many student voters were unregistered, apathetic towards elections, or didn’t know where to cast their vote. Kristen Muthig, communications

and policy manager at Fair Elections Legal Network, said students fail to realize that the best way for their voice to be heard is to vote for the right candidate to represent their viewpoints and to be an active participant in their community. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a nonpartisan civic research and engagement organization also known as CIRCLE, 45 percent of voters between the ages of 18 and 29 did not vote in the 2010 midterm elections because they were not interested or not involved in politics. Felicia Sullivan, senior researcher for CIRCLE, said that young voters have multiple reasons to be interested in voting for their elected of-

ficials. “Many policies affect young voters and their younger non-voting friends and family members – education, student loan debt, criminal justice, foreign policy and defense, workforce training, employment opportunities, affordable housing are all issues that affect young voters often more so than older voters,” Sullivan said. Voters that fall into the 18 to 29 age range make up 21 percent of the voting population, according to Campus Vote Project, a campaign created to help young voters connect with local election officials to make voting easier and overcome voting barriers such as residency laws, registration deadlines and strict voter ID requirements.

Despite campaigns like Campus Vote Project, Muthig said most of the time voters are unwilling to vote because they believe that their vote will not make a difference. “Midterm elections’ historically low student turnout has created a vicious cycle,” Muthig said. “Because turnout is typically low, candidates don’t focus on the issues that concern students. Because students are ignored by candidates, they don’t vote.” For the 2014 midterm elections, Louisiana had a turnout rate of 23.1 percent of 18 to 29 year old voters elections compared to the national average of 22.2 percent, according to CIRCLE. “We did find that states like Louisiana that had competitive Senate

or governor’s rates in this last election did have a higher youth turnout than non-competitive states,” Sullivan said. According to the Campus Vote Project, there was a slight increase in youth voting from the midterms in 2010, but the number of people coming out to vote remains low. Meg Casper, Louisiana Secretary of State press secretary said that voting is essential to make an impact in the community. “All voters, not just young voters, can’t make a difference if they do not register to vote and then vote,” Casper said.

THE W RKS

December 5, 2014 THE MAROON

The Maroon's section of student art. Contribute at letter@loyno.edu

FICTION Original stories written by Loyola students

Sam has a corporate meeting with his worst fears

PART THIRTEEN By Adam Albaari akalbaar@loyno.edu

I swung the door open and walked into a well-lit and nicely furnished boardroom. The hallway I walked out of was pitch black and the difference in lighting made me squint for a moment. When my eyes adjusted, I found myself standing at the end of a very long table. At the end of the table, I saw myself sitting in the executive chair in a grey suit. I only recognized it as me because of the similar proportions and facial features. What made us different was the fact that the man sitting at the end of the boardroom was significantly taller and had reptilian scales covering his skin. And claws. “Hey Sam,” Lizard-Me said cheerfully. “Took you some time to get here.” I swallowed the knot in my throat and attempted to speak, but nothing came out. He smiled as he noticed me trembling, and I noticed he had very long, pointed teeth. “It’s okay, man.” He got up, revealing his towering height, and a long, thick tail behind him. “You don’t have to push yourself anymore than you already have. If it’s any consolation, we really didn’t expect you to get this far.” He paused and laughed. “Well, let’s face it, if it weren’t for that ‘doctor’ helping you, you wouldn’t have gotten anywhere.” “Lizards!” I yell. “My fear is lizards!” I say, and then realize how ridiculous I look. “Lizards? You think this is about

lizards!” Lizard-Me laughed even harder. “This really is too easy.” He began to walk closer to me. “Don’t come any closer!” “You think this is the only time we’ve done this, Sam? I’ve been to every conceivable reality that you exist in. There hasn’t been a single Sam that I don’t end up eating in the end. Do you know why?” He stopped inching towards me for a moment. “Because you’re weak, Sam. You’re a weak, hopeless person who can’t take ownership of himself. And do you know what happens to people who are as weak and pathetic as you? They get eaten alive by their own fears. It’s the circle of the universe, pal, and it’s time to get acquainted.” He positioned himself for his final lunge, and his talons rose in the air as he prepared to kill me, and then I realized something. “Wait!” I yelled. He stepped back. “What?” “You said that I’m a person who can’t take ownership of himself.” “Yeah, so what?” Lizard-Me replied. “That’s pretty specific. Any reason why that came up?” “What are you talking about? It was just an insult.” I smiled, laughing in the face of the nightmarish creature that stood two feet taller than me. I realized what was going on. I finally understood what Dr. Wright was trying to tell me. “You just ousted yourself,” I said, still smiling. “You just told me what you are!” I remembered what Dr. Wright told me before we went into my subconscious: ‘The parasites have no power of their own’. I walked right up to Lizard-Me and looked right into his crocodile eyes. “You’re not even original.” I pushed him and he fell backwards. “You’re supposed to be scared!” he roared back. “At what? Myself? I know who I am. And yeah, you’re right, I’m a little weak-minded sometimes.” I pause. “Well, most of the time. But

not anymore. I’m taking control!” I exclaimed. Lizard-Me stood back up and grabbed me. He effortlessly lifted me up in the air and threw me across the boardroom. I slid across the long table and hit the wall on the other end of the room. I felt the air evacuate from my lungs at the moment of impact. “You don’t get to shake me off that easy, Sam.” His voice was much more hoarse and distorted. I could see his features shifting more towards the lizard end of the spectrum. He ran towards me and I stood my ground. I suddenly felt something heavy in the inner pocket of my sports coat. I pulled it out. It was a snub-nose revolver. I realized that my subconscious was helping me overcome my fears. I had to act. Lizard-Me saw the gun in my hand and sprinted forward. I sidestepped him with unnaturally quick reflexes. I pointed the revolver at him. “I’m done being scared of uncertainty. I’m tired of living life on autopilot. I hate math. I hate accounting and I hated the choices I made out of fear.” I pulled the hammer back on the gun. Just before I could pull the trigger, Lizard-Me ran at full speed and threw me off of my feet. I fell backwards out of the window with him still on top of me. I felt the cold rain and whipping wind, I heard both of our screams, and I saw myself speeding towards the concrete. Then I lurched up out of the loveseat in Dr. Wright’s office. I was back in waking reality. “Sam!” Dr. Wright ran up to me with a glass of water. “Here, drink.” I took it and gulped it down. I was still hyperventilating and shaking. “It’s alright, Sam,” she said with a smile. “You did it! You conquered your worst fear.” “I did?” I said between deep breaths. “Yes! Don’t you remember? You went flying out of the window. It was

KATIE RICHARD / The Maroon

quite a spectacular sight, actually. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a breakthrough as dramatic as that.” Dr. Wright replied. “So, it’s over?” “You conquered the fear that the dimensional parasite was getting most of its energy from. You’ve expelled it from your life.” I smile. “I can’t believe it. That was all so real! I was sure I was going to die.” I stood up in excitement. “I can finally live my life again!” I felt a sudden euphoric sensation. “Thank you, Dr. Wright.” I turned to her and said, but then I realized Dr. Wright wasn’t celebrating with me. “Sam, there’s something I haven’t told you,” she said as she watched my smile fade. “What is it?” “We’ve done this before. On different planes. Sometimes you don’t make it, sometimes — like this time — you do. But the fact still remains that you’re susceptible to this

again.” I feel the familiar sense of terror come over me instantly. “You mean, this could all happen again? I could get attacked by another parasite?” “Well, in some versions of this particular reality, you do this only once. In others, you end up devoting your life to helping others overcome similar issues. It’s hard to say which one this will be.” I collapsed back into the loveseat. “Then...” I trail off, feeling a wave of despair hit me. “You shouldn’t let it stop you from living a full and enriching life, Sam. You now have the tools to beat it. You can be the Sam that overcomes all of his fears,” Dr. Wright replied with her signature tone of affectionate concern. “What do I do if it happens again?” I asked. Dr. Wright laughed. “Sam, that’s what therapy is for.”

Still

Kid on 43rd Street, NYC

“Still” Austin Hummel, Photograph, February 2013

“Kid on 43rd Street, NYC” Zach Brien, Photograph, July 2014

Life &Times

December 5, 2014 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

TEACHERS AFTER HOURS A peek into what professors do after class

Professor’s play sweeps away critics By Mary Graci megraci@loyno.edu @megraci_maroon

After decades of writing success, one accolade after another, and a bookshelf full of published works, John Biguenet shines in the critic reviews of his latest play, “Broomstick”. “Broomstick”, currently traveling the country and recently named one of the Los Angeles Times Critic’s Pick, is a play about the confessions of a witch and is composed entirely of heroic couplets. An enchanting, merciless tale that rhymes every other line, Loyola professor and chair of the English department, Biguenet, said he is most proud of his use of literary devices and manipulation of language to create the works that are so uniquely his. With a Master of Fine Arts in poetry and seven published books, a series of plays inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and a nonfiction book on the nature of silence currently in the works, playwright is far from the only hat this writer wears. “I found that poetry was very limiting because in the end, the experience of the poet is very often the subject of the poem,” Biguenet said. “But if I turned to fiction, then I could write about other people. And in the process, I could write about the things that concern me most as a parent, as an adult, as a citizen, as a teacher.” His father taught him from a young age that a good carpenter doesn’t just learn to make furniture; he learns to build the whole house. So when Biguenet decided writing was his talent and passion, he applied the same logic to his work, mastering just about every literary form of the written word. “Teaching and writing have sort of gone hand-in-hand for me from the beginning,” Biguenet said. “Part of that was being a Loyola student, just a sense of responsibility toward others.” His students see him as a mentor and say his teaching style allows for even the quietest of students to be heard. Enrique Galvan, English senior said that as a professor, Biguenet is the best. “I always took his advice. I’m usually a soft-spoken student, but in that class, I felt very comfortable expressing my ideas and opinions,” Galvan said. Ryan Williams, theatre junior said that Biguenet inspires and challenges his students just as he does his audiences. “Professor Biguenet is a skillful professor with an arsenal of knowledge and experience,” Williams said. “Not only does he push his students toward success, but he also gives them the tools and insight needed to get the job done.” Writing since the age of ten, Biguenet has spent his life guiding other young writers to their successes and continuing his own.

Christmas in NOLA

If you plan on spending Christmas in New Orleans, you won’t have to go far to get in the Christmas spirit. From betting on racing Santas to Christmas-themed circus shows, there are a number of things to do around the city for every age and budget By Jack Vanchiere jtvanchi@loyno.edu @jackvanchiere

RUNNING OF THE SANTAS Join the migration as thousands of Santas run from Barcadia to a bouncing holiday party at Generations Hall with costume contests and good times galore. On Dec. 13, find the starting line at Barcadia at 601 Tchoupitoulas St. The music starts at 3 p.m. and the run starts at 6 p.m. General admission is $15 and VIP is $75. CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS One of the largest light shows in New Orleans with 25 acres of light displays, Celebration in the Oaks in City Park has been attracting

visitors since it first began in 1987. Be sure to check out the Who Dat tree to say some kind words to our Saints. From Nov. 28 to Jan. 3 (closed Dec. 1 through 4 and 24 through 31), the event is open Sunday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are $8.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE BUILDING COMPETITION This annual event raises funds for restorative New Orleans organizations including Build Now, Project Homecoming, Project Home Again, and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. The winner of the contest will receive a $200 cash

prize. From Dec. 4 through the 6 at 9 p.m., join the New Orleans Healing Center at 2372 St. Claude Ave. Adult tickets are $20 and child tickets are $10.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS TOUR Get in the holiday mood with a double decker bus tour of New Orleans’ most beautiful light displays. From Dec. 4 through the 21, Thursday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m., hop on over to 501 Basin St. for a tour of the city. Adult tickets are $30 and child tickets are $10. CIRQUE DE NOEL Watch as the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cirque de la Symphonie present the music of

the holiday season with daring acrobatics, defying aerial flyers and quick-handed jugglers. The performance will be held on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Saenger Theatre located at 1111 Canal St. General admission is $20 and student admission is $10.

NEW YEAR’S EVE IN NEW ORLEANS What better way to cap off the year and usher in the blank slate of 2015 than with the annual ball drop, a high-powered display of aerial dominance. It’s free and open to the public at Jackson Square on Dec. 31.

Music department spreads holiday spirit through song By Ellen McCusker emmccusk@loyno.edu @ellen_mccusker

Christmas time is here and Loyola’s music department is working hard to get everyone in the spirit. This year, the Loyola Chamber Orchestra, Loyola Chorale and Chamber singers and the Loyola Brass Ensemble will perform at Holy Name Church on Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. For over 22 years, Loyola’s music ensembles have come together to perform Christmas songs for the Loyola community and beyond at the “Christmas at Loyola” concert. Dr. Meg Frazier, associate professor in the college of music and fine arts and director of the chorale and

chamber singers, said that the concert has a history. “People drive in from all over the place just for this concert,” Frazier said. However, they are not the only acts in the program. Everyone in the audience will be invited to participate in sing-alongs throughout the concert, and the Christmas music draws a number of people. “The church fills up, it packs, which is not all that common for a classical concert,” Frazier said. So get there early, grab a seat and get into the Christmas spirit with Loyola’s music department before heading back home for the holidays. The Maroon

Crowds squeezed into Holy Name Church for an evening of music and good tidings. “Christmas at Loyola” brings the holiday spirit to campus again this year on Dec. 7.

THE MAROON

December 5, 2014

SUDOKU

ACROSS

1. Sherman Hemsley sitcom 5. Newhart or Barker 8. Founding host of NBC’s “Today” __ Garroway 9. “Breaking __” 12. Gave a traffic ticket to 13. George Burns and __ Allen 14. Cauldrons 15. Will __ of “The Waltons” 16. “__ About You” 18. Particle of soot 19. “__ Make a Deal” 20. “__ the Explorer” 21. __ Sher of “The Middle” 23. “The Full __”; hit movie starring Robert Carlyle 24. “Days of __ and Roses”; film for Jack Lemmon 25. Alan Alda sitcom 26. Drink served warm 28. “Zip-__-Doo-Dah” 29. Ladd or Thicke 30. “Daddy Day __”; Eddie Murphy movie 32. “Now I __ me down to sleep...” 35.“...__ the season to be jolly...” 36. Actress Sheedy 37. Up to the task 38. “National __”; Liz Taylor movie 40. Classic sandwich cookies 41. “__ the Tiger”; theme song for “Rocky III” 42. Actor Bruce __ 43. Roll-__; stick deodorant alternatives 44. Cooking herb

DOWN

1. “Bye, Pedro!” 2. Role on “Chicago Fire”

3. Arden and Plumb 4. “__ and Stacey” 5. Exposes 6. Sharif or Epps 7. Pen name 10. Actor on “The Big Bang Theory” 11. “The __ Is a Lonely Hunter” 12. Expert financial auditor, for short 13. “__ Smart” 15. Rayburn of “The Match Game” 17. “One __ at a Time” 19. Singer __ Horne 20. Medicinal amount 22. Singer Celine __

23. “__ of Honor”; Patrick Dempsey movie 25. “__ Poppins” 26. Felix or Garfield 27. Popeye’s love 30. Treble __; musical symbols 31. Model and actress Carol __ 33. “Home __”; film for Macaulay Culkin 34. “__, Dear” 36. Cosmetics brand 37. __ code; start of a phone number 39. __ G. Carroll of “Topper” 40. Drug tragedies, for short

Puzzle answers for November 21, 2014

RELIGION

December 5, 2014 The Maroon

Courtesy of the Ignacio Volunteers Mass communication senior Katie Collier and Mayleen Cabral A’13 work with and teach children on last year’s Ignacio Volunteer trip to Belize. Students fundraise each year so they can continue to travel to the country and serve the local people over winter break.

Ignacio Volunteers get ready for service By Abby Perkins amperki2@loyno.edu

For many of the Ignacio Volunteers headed to Belize over the Christmas holidays, fundraising plays a vital part in achieving their mission. The trip to Belize costs $1,500 to attend, which is not a feasible price for many students. Loyola does not want this to inhibit any students from participating, so fundraisers are held in order to ensure that all interested parties have the opportunity to serve. Individual and group fundraisers are held throughout the semester so that money can be raised for the trip.

T-shirt sales over the course of the semester are the largest and most profitable tactic for the Ignacio Volunteers’ fundraising. The group collectively decides on the design of the shirt and then all volunteers have the opportunity to sell them. This year they are offering t-shirts for $10 and tank tops for $12, with half of the proceeds going to the students. Biology sophomore Lindsey Mixer spearheaded the design process. “We wanted something that would look cool and represent Loyola and New Orleans, which is why I did the front of Marquette and the fleur de lis, a prime symbol of NOLA,” Mixer said. Along with the t-shirt sales, the

group recently had a fundraiser on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at Crêpes à la Cart, where 10 percent of the proceeds went to the group. There was a thrift shop held during the window on Oct. 30, and they have also sold Krispy Kreme donuts in the past. Psychology senior Rodney Davis said that fundraising teaches students the importance of solidarity. “It brings you and your team closer together so that when you do go on the trip everyone is a strong cohesive unit,” Davis said. Mixer said that all of the volunteers support one another through their fundraising. “We all work together, and if someone is behind, we are all behind,” Mixer said.

Biology junior Diana Nguyen has not found fundraising for Ignacio to be hard or stressful work and said that it has been a chance for the group to bond. Individuals are encouraged to do their own fundraising towards the goal. Everyone has a letter and brochure that they send to family members, friends and businesses about the trip, which asks them to help by donating. Mass communication sophomore Edwin Unzalu has been reaching out to donors and convincing people to invest in the mission. “The more doors you knock on, the better chance you have,” Unzalu said. Criminal justice senior Kayla

Students can volunteer over winter break By Raquel Derganz Baker rsdergan@loyno.edu

The season to be jolly is right around the corner, and for many students, a great way to spread holiday cheer is by volunteering their time. For Kayla August, University Ministry intern, charity is an important part of the holidays. “At Christmas, we are more aware of the gifts we both have and receive, not only the material ones but also gifts of kindness, charity and simply time to those we care about,” August said. LUCAP chair Agustin Crespo said that he is all for volunteer work. However, there won’t be any LUCAP projects over the winter holidays be-

cause the project leaders will also be on break. “Individual organizations that project leaders partner with may still be doing service during Christmas break, but people must get in contact with them directly,” Crespo said. Crespo said that students can contact organizations like Ozanam Inn and Downtown New Orleans Shelter, which are a part of LUCAP’s Hunger Relief, or The Uptown Shepherd Center which is a part of LUCAP’s SMILE program. Crespo said that students’ options are not limited to those organizations. “If these organizations and service locations are too far, and if you can’t get involved for some reason, look into getting involved in your

neighborhood,” Crespo said. University Chaplain for Service and Justice Programs and LUCAP advisor Joseph Deegan said he advises students looking for holiday volunteer opportunities to go to the HandsOn New Orleans calendar. “The holiday season is a time of great joy for many, but for some it is difficult,” Deegan said. “By volunteering people can help make the season meaningful for others.” Laura Alexander, assistant director of university ministry said that Christmas is a time to celebrate the ultimate gift of God becoming human. “I think the best way that we can celebrate that gift is by participating in that generosity in whatever way we can,” Alexander said. August said that she enjoys vol-

unteering her time all year round but especially during the holiday season. “I want those who may not have someone to remind them they are loved, to see that they are cared for through my actions and my time,” August said. “I want a glimpse of the glory and love of Christ to be made manifest if even for a short while in the love we share during the holiday season.” If students walk past the Monroe Library and look on the ground they will see Loyola’s Jesuit ideals on the walkway. One of these ideals is the university’s commitment to service. “Sometimes, a simple gesture of genuine care can be the greatest thing you can do all year,” August said.

Mitchell has been emailing politicians, city councilmen, alumni, her high school and the school board asking for donations. “It’s hard to know who’s socially acceptable to ask,” Mitchell said. In her opinion, this is what makes individual fundraising difficult, whereas the challenge with group fundraising is the division of profits among a group of people. The group’s last fundraising event took place on Saturday, Nov. 22. The volunteers were out on the residential quad for a late-night cookout. Plates with hamburgers or hotdogs and chips were sold for $5. This was the group’s final push for fundraising before they depart for Belize on Dec. 26.

Religion brief Clergy protest decision in Ferguson case CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — Clergy and others who blocked morning traffic in the St. Louis suburb where the Ferguson grand jury decision was announced ended their protest without any apparent arrests being made. About 100 demonstrators assembled in downtown Clayton, Missouri, shortly after sunrise Nov. 25 and spent several hours blocking intersections, singing spirituals and chanting, “This is what theology looks like.” They also observed a 4.5 minute moment of silence to mark the four and half hours that Brown’s body remained on the Ferguson street before it was removed. Many protesters wore orange reflective vests identifying themselves as clergy.

SPORTS

December 5, 2014 The Maroon

women’s team off to blazing start By Mark T. Robinson mtrobins@loyno.edu @_mtrobin We are only a month into the women’s basketball regular season and the team has already broken a number of team records. On Nov. 29, the team scored 113 points against Brenau State in the Den, topping their previous record of 112 points scored against Coastal Georgia on Nov. 21. Along with averaging 93.5 points per game, the team has yet to lose a game, their record sitting at 8-0 so far this season. For head coach Kellie Kennedy, it’s all about the depth of the team. “We have depth that we never had in the past. We could have two starting line ups if we wanted,” Kennedy said. “Our ability to sub players in and out of the game has really helped us this season.” Kennedy said that the transition game has also frustrated a number of their opponents at the start of the season. One of the questions for the team coming into this season was their ability to play in the post after

the departure of Jasmine Brewer, who averaged 14.2 points per game and 7.5 rebounds for her career with the Pack. However, Kennedy said that the post play of sophomore Meghan Temple has been key to the team’s success thus far. “She’s been huge with her added playing time this season. She is so tough to guard in the post and she draws double teams that really open up the offense for us,” Kennedy said. The added responsibility she is experiencing as the center position is something that Temple said she was expecting coming into the season. “With Jasmine leaving, I knew I would have to contribute more than I did last year,” Temple said. “I didn’t think I’d fill into this role this easily. It has been exciting.” The sophomore is averaging 11.3 points per game and is leading the team in rebounds at 11.1 per game. In spite of her individual success, Temple said that it has been a team effort. “Scoring has been spread out across the board. We’ve all been scoring double digits every game. I

don’t have to score double digits every night, but when I do it’s a bonus for our team,” Temple said. Among the history tallied by the team this season, senior Janecia Neely recorded 1,000 points for her career on a recent Georgia road trip. With the team winning at the rate that it is, Neely said that this milestone is that much more important. “It’s really awesome. I’ve watched a ton of amazing players hit that 1,000-point mark during my time here. Hitting that mark for me is an amazing accomplishment,” Neely said. Neely is leading the team in scoring and assists at 16.1 and 4.8 respectively. The important goal for Neely is getting beyond the conference tournament by taking each game one at a time. “Coach Kennedy has really emphasized to us that each game we play is our most important game. Getting to the Elite Eight really showed us what we can do. It is important for us to stay in the moment and work hard each game,” Neely said.

AUSTIN HUMMEL / The Maroon

Adrienne Sloboh (ABOVE), Shayne Charles (LEFT), Janecia Neely (MIDDLE) and Rebecca Greer (RIGHT) have all made a tremendous impact on the team’s 8-0 start to the regular season.

Sports briefs Women’s team undefeated during Thanksgiving break Over Thanksgiving break the women’s basketball team won two games, extending their winning streak to eight games. The team defeated Middle Georgia State 69-54 on Nov. 28, then the very next day defeated Brenau University 113-51. The 113 points

scored against Brenau was the most scored by the women’s basketball team in Loyola history. The team’s next game is at home against Talladega College on Dec. 4.

Men’s team finishes strong during Thanksgiving break During the week of Nov. 24 the men’s basketball team played three home games, going 2-1 during the stretch. On Nov. 25 they defeated Dillard

University with a score of 72-61. Three days later they defeated Middle Georgia State with a the score of 85-65, a game in which they also picked up a conference win. The very next day they defeated Dalton State, the preseason number 15 ranked team. Their overall record is now 4-4.

Freshman claims player of the week honors Nick Parker, a guard on the men’s basketball team, was named the Kentwood Player of the Week for the

week of Dec. 1 through the 5. Parker, a freshman from Port Allen, LA., averaged 15.7 ppg while shooting 50 percent from the field in Loyola’s past three games. In a 85-65 win against Middle Georgia State, Parker went 11-16 from the field and poured in a career high of 30 points and nine rebounds.

Ray Rice reinstated into NFL NFL player Ray Rice was recently

reinstated into the league immediately after winning his appeal of suspension by commissioner Roger Goodell. The 27-year-old running back was suspended for two games after he was involved in a domestic abuse case where he struck his then fiancee, Janay Palmer, inside a casino elevator. Immediately, teams showed interest in the now free-agent, including the Indianapolis Colts.

OPINION

December 5, 2014 The Maroon

IN MY OPINION

Loyola’s best asset is its community

Students sharing their opinions on various topics

EMILY ANDRAS Emily is an English writing senior. elandras@loyno.edu

Courtesy of OLIVIA WELLS

Loyola, social justice university, favors irresponsibility LAUREL TAYLOR Laurel is an English literature senior. lctaylor@loyno.edu

This past August, Loyola hired former New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Ronal Serpas as a tenured professor of criminal justice. His employment at our university was met with contempt due to Loyola’s recent widespread layoffs and budget cuts. Now, in light of the shocking reports released by New Orleans Inspector General Ed Quatrevaux, we should be outraged that Loyola would hire a man whose carelessness allowed 1,111 sex crimes to go uninvestigated and now refuses to take responsibility.

The audit, released Nov. 12, investigated five Special Victims Section officers — roughly one-third of the detectives in that department. It found that these five detectives did not write investigative reports for 86 percent of the 1,290 cases they were collectively assigned over a period of three years. In other words, the NOPD essentially ignored hundreds of forcible rape, sexual assault and child abuse complaints under the supervision of Ronal Serpas. Serpas claims to have been unaware of the extent of these problems, but that seems incredibly difficult to believe. Considering his nine-page response to the Inspector General’s performance audit back in May, which addressed the NOPD’s misclassification of forcible rape cases, the issue certainly must have been brought to his attention. In spite of the incriminating report, he defended his leadership:

“In the four years I was chief, the number of sexual assaults reported increased by 60 percent compared to the four years before… So I think we were clear on our message, obviously, by the increase in reports, that we want the facts,” Serpas said. Despite this upsurge in reported rapes, Quatrevaux’s findings show that despicable trends continued through Serpas’ time as superintendent. There is no disputing that sexual assault and child abuse complaints were misclassified at alarming rates, resulting in altered crime statistics and improper investigations. As I approach graduation in May, I am concerned that I will look back in scorn at my alma mater. Loyola is a school that prides itself on values, including justice, service and a concern for the oppressed. By hiring the shamefully irresponsible Ronal Serpas, Loyola turned its back on the values that

it imposes on its students. Ronal Serpas’ position as police chief contributed to the prevalence of danger in our community. Because of his inability to effectively carry out his role as representative, leader and supervisor of the NOPD, over one thousand women and children’s voices have been silenced. The fact that this man is walking our halls, enjoying a fat salary and sitting pretty in his claimed ignorance is repulsive. It is important that the student body be aware of this and essential that we do something about it — starting with demanding an explanation from our beloved university. To get further involved, I suggest joining the Facebook group, “Silent March for the 1,111,” and joining in the march and rally on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 10:00 a.m. I look forward to seeing you there.

Holiday shoppers take note: retail workers have families too STEPHANIE BENITEZ Stephanie is a psychology junior. sabenite@loyno.edu

Early last week, I got a confirmation e-mail that my store was opening at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving night. Working at the mall, this e-mail was not really surprising, aside from the fact that we were set to open two hours earlier than the previous year. Not much earlier, I was told that I was going to be opening manager that night, which also was not surprising. Retailers have been slowly creeping up on the holiday to cash in on eager holiday shoppers. According to a recent poll by Huffington Post, roughly 20 percent of people in a low-income household had a family member working on Thanksgiving. Major retailers

like Macy’s and Target have been offenders of the holiday sale creep, with Best Buy opening as early as 5 p.m. that evening. Target even ignored a petition with over 350,000 signatures aimed at getting the company to push back their hours. I am the first to tell people that I am not a very family-oriented person. I am not big on holiday cheer and I do not get that excited feeling of being around family that everyone else gets so thrilled about at this time of the year. However, that does not change the fact that I love my family and my family loves me. My family loves to see me for the holidays, and this time around, I did not even have time to so much as set the table before heading off to work. Since the store was set to open at 6 p.m., I had to be there at least two hours ahead of time to find parking and make sure everything in my store was perfectly folded and marked for holiday shoppers. That meant that I had to leave home at around 4 p.m. to get to work.

Having four households to visit, these new holiday hours only gave me time to see one set of family members for lunch. I honestly never found working on the holidays to be problematic; I have worked on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. I have even worked some of those shifts back to back. My family has never even really been all that upset about it either — we all reschedule and regroup accordingly, so I do not have to miss out on all of the holiday festivities. But now it is getting to the point where rescheduling is just not cutting it and my family will not get to see me for the holidays. I have already not seen my dad in months due to my work schedule and status as a full-time student. I understand that holiday shopping has become a family activity to get excited about. I understand that the sales are an added bonus to the fun of staying up late to be at the mall and running around wildly

for the presents that you saved for and planned to surprise your loved ones with. I truly understand it and I love to see all of your happy faces shopping around and telling me about all of the great finds you’ve purchased. But I want to urge you to shop online this holiday season. I know these sales events are chances for everyone to purchase goods at the price they feel the items are worth, and that sometimes it is the only time a person can afford anything extra, but at the end of the day, family comes first during the holidays — even for little grinches like myself. There is not one holiday manager that I have met so far that has not come to me frazzled about what they will do when their company confirms their holiday hours. Holiday workers should get to be home for the holidays.

I have a recurring nightmare. I have had it for about two years now, maybe a little longer. In it, I sit by myself in a white room. There aren’t any doors or windows or any other features besides four close walls. In front of me is a white table and on that table are stacks of papers, all of which say: “$100,000.” It’s the price tag of the education that I have been so privileged to receive. I am very aware of that price tag. I woke up from that first nightmare and I thought: I’m selling my future, dollar by dollar, to be in this place at this moment. It was a thought that haunted everything I did, and I was miserable because of it. Last Christmas break, I very sincerely thought about not coming back, about just giving up and going somewhere else, somewhere that could be better for me. But no matter how angry I was, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. And I wondered: why? Loyola thought I stayed for certain reasons: its small student-teacher ratio or its Jesuit ideals or its location in the heart of New Orleans. Maybe I stayed for experiential learning or service or its history. Loyola cites all of these reasons as being worth the price tag. They are listed in all of the university’s glossy brochures, its annual reports. But I’m not graduating from Loyola because of any of that. I stayed at Loyola for the people. The best asset Loyola could possibly have — and the one you won’t find in that list up there — is the people who spend their time making this campus a worthwhile place. If there was a different staff running those programs, or different students in my small-sized classes, it may not have been worth it. It says something, the fact that Loyola was able to attract people who are so downright incredible that I faced my nightmares — literally — to be with them. That’s worth selling my future for. To my professors, to my fellow students, to the incredible staff who keep the school going: thank you. It would have been a very different — and a much shorter — experience without you. I wouldn’t have learned how to face challenges, how to succeed in spite of obstacles or how to take a hit and keep on going. As I pack up my dorm room for the last time, I have to take breaks to keep myself from tears. I am moving away from a home I didn’t expect to have. It’s not one I’ll be able to come back to completely. Sure, campus is still here. But campus was never my home. My home will stay with all of you. I could not have done this alone; I wasn’t strong enough to do this without you. You kept me coming back here until the end. You made a family for me here, and I loved that family more than I feared the cost. I owe you everything for that.

EDITORIAL

December 5, 2014 THE MAROON

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to Girl Scouts selling cookies online later in the month. GROWL to finals starting on Wednesday. HOWL to Christmas shopping. GROWL to diminished Wolf Bucks. HOWL to 70 degree weather in December. GROWL to waiting in line for the elevators in Monroe.

EDITORIAL BOARD Nia Porter

Editor-in-Chief

Alexandra Kennon

Managing Editor

Karla Daniela Rosas

Design Chief

Burke Bischoff

Senior Staff Writer

Colleen Dulle

News Editor

Devinn Adams Lauren Stroh Mary Graci Melanie Potter Mark Robinson Emily Branan Zach Brien Linda Hexter Adam Albaari Mary Staes Whitney Woods Ellen McCusker

Worldview Editor Editorial Editor Life and Times Editor Wolf Editor Sports Editor Religion Editor Photo Editor

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Senior Staff Photographer The Works Editor Maroon Minute Coordinator Social Media Coordinator Web Master

Katie Richard

Resident Cartoonist

Brian Reaney

Copy Editor

Jack Vanchiere

Copy Editor

EDITORIAL POLICY The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and do 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.

common thread in the testimonies given by the 16 women who claim to have been sexually assaulted by Bill Cosby is that many felt uncomfortable coming forward with accusations for fear that they would be blamed or that no one would believe them. However, despite victims coming forward with accusations as early as March of 2000, it took Hannibal Buress, a male comedian, making a joke about the number of results that appear upon Googling ‘Bill Cosby rape’ rivaling the number of results that appear upon searching for his own name for media frenzy and public scrutiny to ensue. This editorial board thinks it is alarming that these victims’ testimonies were not grounds enough to evoke public disdain for Cosby, and that it took another male drawing attention to the issue to incite public fury. We also believe that it is shameful that these women were silenced by a culture that blames victims for their assaults and routinely asks them to question what they could

have done differently in the first place. This editorial board thinks it is important to note that the Cosby controversy is not an isolated incident, but a small sliver of evidence of an overwhelming culture of sexual assault. We believe that this example is one of many similar cases and that the presence of a cultural attitude of normalizing sexual assault can be found immediately relevant to the Loyola community. Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action, a report compiled by the White House Council on Women and Girls and the Office of the Vice President, stuns with a statistic citing that nearly 1 in 5 women are raped during their lifetime. There are 14 women on our editorial board. Statistically speaking, nearly three of us are survivors of rape. Yet there still remains a stigma about coming forth with accusations of rape and sexual assault. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network claims that 60 per-

cent of rapes go unreported to the police. Even when rapes and sexual assaults are reported, many cases are mishandled or remain uninvestigated, as was the case with the five New Orleans Police Department detectives who failed to follow up on 1,111 sex crime cases, according to an internal NOPD investigation. Universities also routinely find themselves responsible for underreported and mishandled sex crimes, The Center for Public Integrity reports. On Nov. 21, the University of Virginia suspended all fraternities until Jan. 9 in response to a recent Rolling Stone article that detailed an account of a student’s gang rape at a Phi Kappa Psi party in 2012. After this report surfaced, many other victims came forward and testified to having been victims of similar crimes, just as others did with allegations of sexual abuse on behalf of Bill Cosby. However, instances of rape and sexual assault on colleges are not restricted to campuses far away from the New Orleans area, as was

revealed in recent reports of sexual assault in the Tulane and Loyola communities. We live in a culture where victims of sexual assault and their stories are continually undermined, belittled, silenced and ignored. Today we invite you to no longer stand idle in lieu of these devastating and destructive attacks. Openly discuss these issues with your peers. Remove the taboo of being open about these crimes so that the stigma that comes with reporting them is ultimately eradicated and this culture of apathy and assault is stamped out. Share your opinions, your beliefs, your thoughts and your support. Do not let these victims be passively silenced and pushed to the wayside. Demand justice. Participate proudly at the March to Support Survivors, led by Loyola professors Laura Hope and Erin Dupuis, on Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. from the NOPD’s First District to City Hall to protest NOPD’s mishandling of 1,111 sexual assault cases.