OPEN DOOR
By Matthew Richards
Loyola celebrated the opening of the brand new chapel on campus to begin the new semester.
The Chapel of St. Ignatius at the Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center was gifted to the university through a multimillion-dollar donation from Mrs. Benson, and will serve as a replacement for the Ignatius Chapel that was located on the first floor of Bobet Hall.
The chapel will also provide a space for non-Christian students with the inclusion of two secondary spaces for worship in addition to the main gathering space.
“Catholicism, which can mean 'universal,' is similarly welcoming of and seeks to learn from truth, goodness, and beauty wherever they are found,” said Fr. Thomas Ryan, the university chaplain.
Daily mass is currently held in the chapel Monday through Friday at 12:30 with Sunday masses held at 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Photo by Daniel Garces/The Maroon
CAMPUS:
PHOTO STORY
Activists condemn administration at new student convocation, advocate for Palestine
Pro-Palestine students and community members gathered on the sidewalk to chant to an audience of new students, faculty, administration, and parents. Meanwhile, students attended the new student convocation in Holy Name of Jesus Church, then headed to the lawn for a class photo.
Photos by Sophia Maxim/The Maroon on Aug. 15.
“ We are here because for the last year, brave students at Loyola have been fighting for Loyola to disclose their investments, divest from Israeli genocide, and defend Arab and Palestinian students, as well as students' rights.”
ABOVE: Protesters (left) chant from a megaphone on the St. Charles Avenue sidewalk while a photographer takes the class of 2028 photo on the lawn from a ladder.
ABOVE: Loyola student Juleea Berthelot chants while holding a sign expressing dissaproval of Loyola's administration.
RIGHT: Protesters, including students and community members, hold signs in support of Palestine. A Loyola police officer monitors the situation.
A protester holds a sign in support of Palestinian freedom. Another student chants toward the crowd of convocation attendees.
Rory Macdonald, Pro-Palestinian activist
CAMPUS Undergraduate enrollment drops by around 100 students
By Violet Bucaro vabucaro@my.loyno.edu
Undergraduate enrollment went down by around 100 students compared to last fall, with an estimated 600 incoming students.
A delayed roll-out in Federal Student Aid influenced this decline, according to President Xavier Cole, keeping students from filling out financial aid forms until May.
“It turned out to be as bad as we thought it'd be,” Cole said at the annual president’s convocation.
Some students couldn’t risk waiting to hear back on their federal aid packages up until mid-summer and had to go elsewhere, Cole said. He said other universities and students across the country have faced the same predicament.
According to Cole, Loyola strives
to give everyone the chance to the education they seek, and that this was a detrimental loss.
“ It turned out to be as bad as we thought it'd be.”
Xavier Cole University President
Despite low undergraduate enrollment, Cole assured the university’s budget is balanced due to high graduate enrollment in the law and nursing departments, as well as new grants and contracts, Cole said.
In his speech, Cole emphasized the importance of our Jesuit values and advocated for affordable education for all.
Updates from the university president
President Xavier Cole shares plans for 2024-25 year at annual president's convocation
• Loyola’s Interim Provost Dr. Maria Calzada will be going into retirement after this year.
• Loyola is searching for a permanent provost as well as new hires for department deans and vice presidents.
• FAFSA delays & enrollment management:
- 99% of Loyola students receive some sort of aid.
- 41% of students are Pell Grant eligible.
• Despite the drop in enrollment, the school’s budget is balanced, in part due to high law and graduate school enrollment.
• College of Nursing is working to address the high infant mortality rate in Louisiana.
• The Department of Biological Sciences received a $200,000 grant for cancer research.
• Loyola's digital filmmaking facility won a $750,000 grant.
Dorm construction progresses, all floors built
As the new semester begins, construction on Mercy Hall continues. All floors have been built, and the new dorm building is expected to be open for the 2025 fall semester according to
Loyola University president Xavier Cole. Mercy Hall, located on Freret Street towards the back of Loyola’s campus, will be an apartment-style dorm building geared towards
upperclassmen. Once construction is completed and Mercy Hall opens, dorm buildings Biever, Buddig, and Founders will undergo renovations.
Maroon writer wins national award for uncovering 'behind the curtains' of Loyola play
By Eloise Pickering ewpicker@my.loyno.edu
• Once Mercy Hall is complete, Biever and Buddig will undergo renovations.
• Danna Center will begin a two-phase renovation in November through a partnership with Sodexo.
- All carpet will be torn up, the Orleans Room will be expanded, and a Chick-Fil-A will open next year.
“ Chick-Fil-A is coming.”
• Cole went to a seminar in Rome through the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities with 19 other Catholic higher-ed presidents and senior leaders, where he visited the home of Jesuits & St. Ignatius and held an audience with Pope Francis.
• Cole pushes for open, honest dialogue and conversation in class amidst the current geopolitical climate and upcoming election.
Student journalist Kloe Witt was awarded the 2023 Mark of Excellence national achievement by the Society of Professional Journalism for her revelatory article on Loyola’s production of “God Help Them if We Wake Up”.
An original play by professor Ann Mahoney sparked controversy among students and the Loyola community.
“When we heard about the issues going on, I knew it was something we needed to look into,” Witt said.
Witt brought light to students' voices in her nearly 2000 word article, “Behind the curtains: Theatre production sparks outrage and community disapproval.”
“When writing the story, I really was looking to tell the stories of those in the department who felt their voices weren’t being heard. That’s all any of this is about, uplifting those voices,” Witt said.
Witt said that students expressed feeling validated in her article.
“After I wrote the story, I had people coming up to me and thanking me for letting everyone know what they had been dealing with. That’s the most rewarding part.”
“ When writing the story, I really was looking to tell the stories of those in the department who felt their voices weren’t being heard. That’s all any of this is about, uplifting those voices.”
Kloe Witt
Journalism and enviromental studies junior
Upcoming campus events
• C.O.B Events– Octavia Room, Danna Center second floor, on Aug. 25 at 5 p.m.
• Cooking with the Pack–Orleans Room on Aug. 27 at 5 p.m
• Commute to Success–Audubon Room, Aug. 27 at 12:30 p.m.
• Movies in Magis– Magis Lounge, Danna Center, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m.
• SpitualiTEA– RSVP on Howl Connect for location, every Wednesday 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Construction on the dorm building set to take over what was once Mercy Hall continues as students return on campus. Sophia Renzi/The Maroon
President Xavier Cole and other Loyola faculty gather in the Holy Name of Jesus church for the annual new student convocation on Aug. 15, 2024. Sophia Maxim/The Maroon
PUZZLES
STAFF LIST
67-Across conveyance
Milieu for single people
Texter's qualifier
Seconds or thirds
Huffy moods
"The Boys" developer Kripke
Goalie achievement
"__ got your tongue?"
Was in a red state?
Edible purple corm
Graphics Director Cadence Kempf
Layout/Production Assistant Andrea Arroyo
UI/UX Coordinator Daniel Wong
Distribution Managers Sophia Renzi Eloise Pickering
Advertising Coordinators Emily Keller Isabella Castillo
Digital
Digital Director Francisco Esteves
Video Director James Hufnagel
Video Coordinator Christopher Nesbit
Anchor Mabel Regalado-Hernandez
Social Media Coordinator Jordan Higgins
Social Poster Suhita Rachamallu
Audio Director Kloe Witt
Sports Podcast Anchor Matthew Richards
Newsletter Editor Elizabeth Hadley
PR & DEI
Public Relations Director Julia Bueno
DEI Officer Tanesha Taylor
LGBT Inclusion Officer Maria DiFelice
Hispanic Inclusion Officer Emily Keller
Contributors
Writers: Pharrell Every, Alexandra Martinez Ramos, Carmen Tonry, Samantha Guillotte, Myles McWilliams, Dominique Campbell, Ruby Neider, Lonniesha Carroll, Maggie Lewis, Chris Maldonado, Gavin Crehan, Janssen Van De Yacht, Chiara Faircloth, Sydney Piglia, Natalie Thomas, Alexandria Partin, Anna Therapondos, Eleanor Boucher-Ferry, Kaitlyn Gress, William Shepard, James Wyrtzen, Deja Magee, Alana Thompson, Volodymyr Lukianenko, Mary Ella Hastings, Lucy Cromwell, Alyria Pierre, Lily Bordelon, Valentina Russel, Macee Fielding, Mary Ella Hastings, Elise Beck, Adriana Escobar, Em Bay, Christopher Pouncy
Photographers: Rodrigo Delgado Jr., Carmen Tonry, Ryan Talley, Ashlyn Bobb Collins, Sophia Renzi, Sunny Bedford, Gana Mohamed, Sophia Santos, Zoie Jones, Olivia Sanyal, Adriana Escobar, Maria Olivera Arbona
Videographers: Carmen Tonry, Spencer Cody, Jenaleyse Waterman, Daniela Martinez, James Hufnagel, Cecilia Calderin, Gana Mohamed, Macee Fielding, Mary Ella Hastings, Olivia Sanyal, Christopher Pouncy, Maria Olivera Arbona
Graphic Artists: Daryl Casas, Greer Jines, Margo Weese, Lucy Cromwell, Elise Beck
Advisor: Michael Giusti
LOCAL
Tulane faculty vote to unionize
By Myles McWilliams mcmcwill@my.loyno.edu
Tulane professors and faculty unionized after winning a union election in a 146-29 vote.
According to Assistant Professor Patrick Butler, a longtime faculty member, they had to make difficult choices with living expenses.
“My colleagues and I chose to take action for one another this year and formed Tulane Workers United to ensure none of us ever have to choose between which bills to pay that month or face housing and food insecurity again,” Butler said. “Tulane can afford to pay us wages that allow us to live with dignity and care for our families.”
Vice President and Director of Tulane Workers United Richard Minter said these wages reflect a nationwide problem.
“The fact that thousands of deeply invested, talented, university faculty across the country are being paid poverty wages by elite, highly profitable private universities with billion-dollar endowments is a black eye on academia,” Minter said.
According to Tulane Professor Casey Beck, the election win made Tulane Workers United the first higher-education union with collective bargaining rights
“We hope to win a transformative contract that would greatly improve the security of our jobs and our career outcomes at Tulane,” Beck said.
WORLDVIEW: BRIEFS
Given Name Act
The Louisiana Senate recently enacted the “Given Name Act” will restrict Losuainna public schools faculty from using alternate pronouns and names used by transgender and nonbinary students in K-12 without written parental permission. This bill was issued in May of 2024. Teachers and school personnel must use the student’s legal name and pronouns that correlate to their birth sex. The bill allows employers the right to refuse the students if it goes against their religious or moral beliefs. Louisiana is the second state to enact this bill. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a similar bill into law last year.
Hurricane Debby
Tropical storm Debby is the first strike of the 2024 hurricane season. The storm started in Florida and carried through through the Carolinas and Georgia, breaking several decades-old records made by previous hurricanes. Seven people have died. The disaster has led to water rescues in both Carolinas and other states, overtaken roads, and breached dams. Cleanup and rebuilding efforts are underway. The death toll is seven. The hurricane caused over 10 to 28 billion dollars of damage. While no longer considered a tropical storm, Debby is still causing abundant rain in the northeast United States.
Heat advisories
Millions of Americans have been under heat advisories throughout the summer. Large areas of southern Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama continue to face extreme heat risks. Track the high temperatures with the HeatRisk app made by the Center for Disease Control and the National Weather Service.
French Quarter ruled gun-free zone
By Pharrell Every pjevery@my.loyno.edu
NOPD designated part of the French Quarter as a gun-free zone to combat a newly passed law which allows concealed carry of a weapon for Louianians over 18.
Their solution: using part of their Royal Street police station as a training facility to create a new school zone. In Louisiana, you cannot carry a gun within 1,000 feet of a school zone. This zone will affect Bourbon Street and the upper French Quarter area.
Councilmember Helena Moreno spoke out about the new vocational school in an Instagram post.
“The reason for this is that the 8th District Police Station will be utilized as a Vo-tech school for officer trainings. This triggers firearm free school zone laws,” Moreno said.
Signage will be added to the impacted areas clarifying where exactly the “no gun zone” begins.
Ten Commandments in every classroom
A new law by Governor Jeff Landy requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms sparked a lawsuit by Louisiana parents and state officials. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill called the attempt “premature” and urged the lawsuit be dismissed until the law is in full effect.
Louisiana officials presented several poster examples in compliance with the new law. These prototypes listed the Ten Commandments alongside quotes and works by Moses, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
On July 4, 2024, the new law declaring Louisiana a permitless concealed carry state went into effect. Individuals over the age of 18 are now permitted to legally carry a concealed firearm regardless if they carry a permit.
“We’re a city with a gun violence problem, we have far too many victims already…we can’t afford to lose even more because of this new permitless conceal carry law,” Moreno said.
With the new law in place, The French Quarter became an area of concern for NOPD.
NOPD officers underwent training focused on the effects the new law will have on the city.
Other laws on carrying with a permit still remain. It is still illegal to carry a concealed weapon while under the influence or within firearm-free zones around schools.
Illustration by Sophia Maxim/The Maroon
Flood water blocks
section
Dodecanese Blvd at the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, Monday morning,
5, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Fla., as Hurricane Debby passes the Tampa Bay area offshore. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Tips for navigating the local grocery scene Grocery G uide
By Zach Cesarini zmcesari@my.loyno.edu
Rouse’s Market: Freret Faire
4645 Freret St Open 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
A cornerstone of Freret Street and a twenty minute walk from campus, Rouse’s continues the trend of small local grocery stores but with the added benefit of the hot sandwich shop on the side as well as being open the latest of any of the stores on this list. Offering a solid selection of both food and cleaning products, if you need a last minute meal or need to clean up from a last minute spill, Rouse’s has you covered.
Canseco’s
1133 S Carrollton Ave Open 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Small store, vast selection of meats and cheeses, all the grocery store amenities as well as sushi and hot meal plates for $10. If given the opportunity, load up those plates like you're robbing a bank. That can be your food for the day. Depending on the bag, the security guard up front will hold onto it until you exit the store. Accessible by street car with fares being just $1.25, Canseco’s is expensive in comparison to not only big box stores but also local groceries, making it a spot that should not be the sole source of your food and groceries but still worth visiting from time to time.
Langenstein’s
1330 Arabella St
Open 7:00am - 7:00pm (M-Sat) / 6:00pm (Sun)
One of many Langenstein’s in New Orleans, this is easily the smallest grocery location in the city. Fresh produce and (somewhat) reasonable prices while also being a ten minute walk from campus makes Langenstein’s highly accessible. They use paper bags like Trader Joe’s, both durable and reusable. Shopping becomes less nerve-wracking when you won’t have to worry about your bag ripping and you having to wear what’s left of your groceries.
Crescent City Farmers
Market: Tuesday Market
200 Broadway St Open only on Tuesdays 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Produce, produce, produce. If you can find the freetime and muster the inner strength to wake up at 8:00 AM then you will be in for a treat. A green, most likely leafy treat, but a treat still. Many kinds of produce can be easily stored and kept out of the fridge if you’re running low on space, making for simple ingredients that are the base for a universe of meals. Support local sellers and take a stroll through Audubon; the definition of a ‘win-win’.
Whole Foods
5600 Magazine St Open 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Located a mile from campus on Magazine Street, Whole Foods is the big box option of this list. Corporate standards mean high levels of cleanliness and overall quality. Whole Foods has the widest selection of any of the stores on the list, teaming with produce and diet specific foods i.e. vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, kosher, and halal.
Illustration by Isabella Castillo/The Maroon
Seize the opportunity: Study abroad!
Raised in a small southern town, I knew that going away to Loyola would open up opportunities like study abroad that weren’t in the cards for much of my family, and other peers from my hometown who have never left the country. Navigating and adapting to a new place has made me realize that these places are tangible and that experiencing new cultures shouldn’t be intimidating. This experience, although only lasting one month, led me to gain new perspectives both academically and socially. For example, connecting with my Loyola professors in a hands-on way created a real network of mentors that I hope will last for the rest of my time here. I honestly didn’t even realize that the fabulous Dr. Tracey Watts was the head of the English Department before leaving for the program; I gained so much from her lectures and in-depth ‘think piece’ commentary within such an intimate classroom environment.
“ I am now a study abroad poster child at the expense of making it my entire personality.”
Even the head of the travel photography course, Dr. Kevin Rabalais, gave me inside knowledge and advice about different career opportunities to consider. I also met the coolest people on the program that I am still close friends with, and am grateful to have such fun memories with them to look back on. When I came back from the program my world genuinely got so much bigger, and I learned so much about my own capability as an independent person. These values gave me confidence that will translate both as a student and young adult more generally. For example, practicing networking and problem-solving skills through this program is something that will benefit me and my success as a member of a sorority. Last year, I found leadership positions in Delta Gamma intimidating, but being on the phone with a United Airlines customer service rep for an hour until he rebooked my canceled flight across the Atlantic Ocean makes asserting myself and making change feel more possible.
All this is to say I am now a study abroad poster child at the expense of making it my entire personality. Seriously, Loyola is unique in providing such affordable, accessible, and beneficial study abroad experiences for all kinds of majors and concentrations with professors who care. So many post-collegiate people I’ve spoken to like my mom, has said that many people 20-30 years ago simply didn’t know that opportunities like this exist, so this is me telling you that traveling the world in your early adult life with an academic structure and a safety blanket is only one application (+ a pretty reasonable deposit fee with plenty of scholarship opportunities & helpful advisors) away!
Victoria Marino English sophomore Prague summer study abroad student
vgmarino@my.loyno.edu
CAMPUS: PHOTO FEATURE
New chapel embraces contemporary art, architecture
by Sophia Maxim
Photos
Loyola's Amnesty Policy
If you or someone you know needs help due to alcohol, you will NOT be penalized for reporting the incident. To report, call Loyola University Police Department at (504) 865-3434
Once you call, wait for help and cooperate.
Stay safe, Wolf Pack!
Heroin
and
Fentanyl
Overdose Naloxone (Narcan) is carried by New Orleans and Tulane EMS. Supplies have been ordered for LUPD headquarters.
What does it take to be a "real fan"?
By June Fernandez jaferna3@my.loyno.edu
As a child, I enjoyed sports.
Well I guess I need to rephrase that: I enjoyed watching sports. Playing them, not so much. I was more interested in reading and playing video games than going to practice.
Some of my favorite childhood memories were watching basketball and football games on the TV alongside family and friends and going to the Superdome and Smoothie King Center. Supporting my home team was always something special.
I don’t know exactly what happened or when it happened, but sometime in my teenage years, I ended up losing my interest in sports. I am not proud of it, but despite entering my senior year at
Loyola University New Orleans, I have yet to attend a single Wolfpack sporting event. I’ve paid attention to their successes, but I never considered myself a “real fan.”
That, however, completely changed this year. In an effort to find new hobbies to enjoy in my daily life, I quickly found myself hooked on sports, watching games almost every day and watching highlights in my free time. I also began to find myself becoming more and more of a fan of collegiate sports. I began to quickly anticipate and understand my mission as both a journalist and a sports fan: to become s sports reporter for The Maroon. Sports journalism would be a big change from what I was used to, but I knew it would give me a great chance to do something I never did in my college career. It would give me the opportunity
to truly connect with our athletics community and become a “real fan.”
But, what exactly is a “real fan”?
Some might say that you have to watch every game, learn about every stat, and be able to tell someone everything about your favorite coach or player. However, the fans who know nothing about stats are just as much fans as those who attend every game. In that vein, I think everyone can be a fan in that way.
The beauty of being a sports fan is the connection you have with the game, the connection with the team, the spirit of competition, and the opportunity for learning that comes with it.
So, what I want to say to you is that you can be whatever version of fan you want to be. I also encourage you to be a fan of your hometown sports teams, and, most importantly, of Loyola’s teams.
“ The beauty of being a sports fan is the connection you have with the game, the connection with the team, the spirit of competition, and the opportunity for learning that comes with it.”
My goal as a sports journalist is to give you information on the sports, athletes, and events within the Loyola community and beyond. I also hope to make a fan out of some of you who were like me. Sports are a way to connect with your university, community, and friends. If you find yourself becoming somewhat interested in what our athletics programs have to offer because of The Maroon, then I feel like I have certainly succeeded. For those of you who are already a fan of the Wolf Pack, then I hope you can continue to enjoy the content we provide. I look forward to this section being a place for our community to come together through the wonderful world of sports.
Sports Snapshot: Look out for these upcoming games
By Samantha Guillotte slguillo@my.loyno.edu
Heading into the new season, the Wolf Pack has a lot to be looking forward to in the athletics department.
The indoor volleyball team finished 0-4 (Wins-Losses) in the Big Sky Volleyball Challenge in Montana over the summer.
August is a busy month for the volleyball team, playing every weekend once school starts. Their opening debut in The Den will be August 23rd - August 24th, where they will play four games over the weekend. Friday, the Wolfpack will play Embry-Riddle at 3:00 pm and Montana Western at 7:00 pm. On Saturday, they will face off against Webber International at 11:00 am and Texas Wesleyan at 3:00 pm. Tickets are free at the University Sports Center for Loyola students with the use of your student ID. The following weekend, August 29th-31st, the team will head just up the street to Xavier University to face many teams from out of town.
Interested in football? Our neighbors will kick off their season with a home game at Yulman Stadium on Thursday,
August 29th at 7:00 pm. Tulane will face Southeastern University in the Uptown Kickoff. You can purchase tickets on their athletic website starting at $17. There will also be a tailgate on the Berger Family Lawn, starting four hours before the game and ending 30 minutes before kickoff.
Heading into September, the athletic department continues to have a packed season.
The men’s and women’s golf teams will start their season in full swing, traveling all over the south for five tournaments during September.
Volleyball will host games at the Den on September 20th and 27th.
The men’s and women’s swim teams will also dive into their season at Pensacola, FL. They will travel and compete in Florida on Friday, September 27th.
That same weekend, the men’s and women’s cross-country teams will compete in their first invitational of the season. The team will head over to Nicholls State on Saturday, September 28th.
Those are just some of the great sporting events to look forward to this semester. Make sure to go out and support the Pack!
Geaux Pack!
Loyola's volleyball team huddles at a game during the Big Sky Challenge in Montana on Saturday, Aug. 17. Courtesy of Loyola University New Orleans Athlethics
Photo illustration by Sophia Maxim/The Maroon
OPINION 12
EDITORIAL
As
Biden's re-election campaign starts to resemble a farewell tour, Kamala Harris is seizing the moment, capturing the attention of a generation
that’s ready to move on to something new.
By Aaron Covin ajcovin@loyno.edu
Watching two elderly men vie for power isn’t exactly electrifying. It's even less so when you're forced to pick one. For young voters, this election feels like a slow march toward a future that doesn’t seem particularly bright. For many, it's their first shot at voting for president, and the excitement is non-existent. But thenthere’s Kamala Harris—a candidate who suddenly found herself riding a
OPINION
wave of newfound popularity. So, what’s driving this surge? The youth vote has always been a shaky bet, often wavering between indifference and skepticism. Perhaps it’s the relief of not having to back Joe Biden anymore.
At this point, almost anyone else would seem like a fresh option. Yet, Harris isn’t just any option. She’s tapping into the energy that’s been missing, particularly with the younger crowd, finding momentum in the digital world, and even snagging an endorsement from
Charli XCX (though many of us are still trying to figure out what being “brat” entails—but apparently, it fits). Convincing young people to vote has always been a challenge. It's rarely about civic duty; it usually takes a spark of excitement or energy. The usual argument of “the other guy is worse” doesn’t cut it. Kamala Harris, though, presents something different—a fresh voice that’s sharp and articulate, reminiscent of the rhetorical style of the Obama era. This approach stands out,
especially when compared to the debate performances of Biden and Trump, which often highlighted their age rather than their ideas.
The reality is that policy details and political analysis alone don’t energize young voters. According to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, youth voter turnout hit 50% in the 2020 election, mainly because the issues were quickly translated into catchy slogans and social media campaigns. This is the type of environment where Harris seems to have found some traction. Like many others, she understands that mobilizing young voters often requires messages that can be boiled down to something that fits on a bumper sticker, a T-shirt, or a coffee mug.
Social media has become the main stage for this kind of messaging. A 2020 Pew Research study found that 55% of social media users aged 18-29 have engaged with political content online. Harris’s growing visibility on social platforms reflects this shift, offering a mix of substance and style that appeals to a generation accustomed to both. In a political landscape that can feel disconnected from younger voters, candidates who manage to bring a sense of vitality are increasingly rare. Harris happens to be one of those candidates, but the broader lesson is clear: to capture the youth vote, the message has to resonate in more ways than one.
Reflections on Loyola's New Chapel
Tom Ryan University Chaplain tfryan@my.loyno.edu
What a gift to have two dedicated worship spaces on campus!
Holy Name of Jesus Church is inspiring in ways one would expect. It has an elaborate exterior with a bell tower visible for miles. With its high ceiling, colorful stained glass, and lovely marble, its interior reflects God’s glory and generosity. It provides practice in “seeing God in all things.” By engaging all five senses, it affirms the worth of bodies and, by extension, all materiality.
My office is just across the quad from the new Chapel of Saint Ignatius and the Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center, and so I’ve had a frontrow seat as it’s emerged from the ground. What a project! I am grateful to all those who have supported and guided it along the way!
My first impression is of its shape. I know what to expect from a rectilinear structure like Holy Name. It’s clear where one wall ends and another begins. Most churches are rectilinear, but not all. One of the most-visited Catholic churches in the world, the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, is circular and so, like our Chapel, is evocative of God who has no beginning or end.
This shape also reminds me of the icon of the Trinity by 15th-century iconographer Andrei Rublev, a replica of which I have in my office. It recalls the LORD’s appearance, in the form of three men, to Abraham and Sarah. Rublev depicts these three not as men but as angelic and as seated around a table with an opening facing viewers. It invites us viewers into the circle and, by implication, into sharing God’s very life.
Where Holy Name is marked by full-
“ The Chapel’s simplicity—outside and in—is a reminder that God who is mystery can sometimes best be encountered in absence and silence.”
ness and presence, the new Chapel is marked by relative simplicity. This is the case in part because the Chapel is unfinished. It awaits a sculpture, the corpus for the cross, and a lovely new altar. It is also due in part to a spirituality, complementary to Holy Name’s, that cherishes simplicity, even absence.
It reminds me of the 16th-century St. John of the Cross poem “Dark Night,” in which “night” symbolizes such absence and silence that it becomes the privileged medium by which to experience the fullness of God depicted here as the
“Beloved.” “Oh, night that guided me/ Oh, night more lovely than the dawn/ Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover/ Lover transformed in the Beloved!”
I also note the Chapel’s entrance. Wide at first, its sidewalks embrace and welcome all. At its best, Catholicism, which can mean “universal,” is similarly welcoming of and seeks to learn from truth, goodness, and beauty wherever they are found. And so the Chapel has two gathering spaces that are not explicitly Christian and that, in addition to the main sanctuary, are meant to welcome
interfaith worship and all those seeking mystery and spirituality-nourishing silence. For me, it’s not either/or. We need Holy Name’s abundance that reflects God’s extravagance in creation and in the Incarnation. Yet, the Chapel’s exterior color that contrasts with other buildings might be seen as a sign of contradiction that recalls Jesus’s own prophetic stances against exclusion and injustice. The Chapel’s simplicity—outside and in—is a reminder that God who is mystery can sometimes best be encountered
in absence and silence. Its flat roof and shape that has no end are reminders that we can also worship in spaces other than those that are gilded and elaborate. It reminds us that God exceeds expectations and invites consideration of new possibilities, new and more just ways of interacting with our fellow humans and creatures. Finally, its circularity taps into ancient accounts of the Trinity as relationship who longs to draw us in and so be intimately connected with us. I look forward to experiencing our new Chapel!
The Chapel of St. Ignatius opened this summer on Loyola's campus. Illustration by Daniel Wong/The Maroon