Louisiana suit halts Title IX updates
Loyola University New Orleans | Since 1923 | Aug. 30, 2024 | Issue 2 | Vol. 101 | loyolamaroon.com
inter rupted IX TITLE
By Sydney Piglia snpiglia@my.loyno.edu
Updated federal Title IX regulations including LGBT+ protections will not go into effect this school year due to pushback by the State of Louisiana, according to LoyolaTitle IX coordinator Dawn Broussard’s university wide email. Title IX is the federal law that governs sex discrimination claims in higher education. The State of Louisiana sued the federal government over added sexual orientation and gender identity protections and succeeded in blocking the new regulations from taking effect in Louisiana colleges and universities through a court injunction.
Among several new regulations, one in particular caused the legal stop. Sexual orientation and gender identity plans to be protected through federal Title IX standards. The rule protects against discrimination “based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and
sex characteristics,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murill expressed her disapproval of the added protections at a news conference.
“The rules rewrite Title IX, requiring all schools, colleges, and universities that receive federal assistance across the country to disregard the concept of biological ‘sex,’” Murill said to reporters.
In the updated standards, the term prohibited discrimination based on “sex” now has changed to include discrimination on the basis of “gender identity” — a term with disputed meaning by the state of Lousianna.
Some schools receiving federal funding, including Loyola, are complying with previous 2020 Title IX guidelines. The court date to set the regulation has not been set to hear the case.
“Our commitment to providing a welcoming and safe environment to the members of our Loyola community remains steadfast,” Broussard said.
STAFF LIST
Editorial Board
Editor in Chief Sophia Maxim
Executive Editor Matthew Richards
Managing Editor Eloise Pickering
News Director Violet Bucaro
Deputy Campus News Editor Mabel Regalado-Hernandez
Deputy Local News Editor Emma Iseman
Deputy Worldview Editor Ecoi Lewis
Deputy Election Editor Mark Michel
Breaking News Editor Maria DiFelice
Life & Times Editor Isabella Castillo
Assistant Life & Times Editor Micaela Hood
Sports Editor June Fernandez
Opinion Editor Zach Cesarini
The Wolf Editor Elinor Upham
Copy Editors Morgan Matteson
Alexandria Martinez Ramos
Production
Layout/Production Manager Kloe Witt
Front Page Designer Daniel Garces
The Wolf Creative Director Taylor Falgout
Photo Director Heidi Herrera-Wanke
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
Student Media Adviser: Michael Giusti
Across 1. You’ll automatically fail a test getting caught doing this
6. These types of games are played on GirlsGoGames, Roblox, Barbie...etc
12. Don’t say this three times!; ___juice
13. Grocery store on Freret
15. __ mein
16. Flee to Vegas to do this
18. “ __-Re-Mi”
19. Away from keyboard, abbr.
22. Humans come from this animal
23. Before saying “bless you”
26. You were born into the world this way
29. Animal fat grease
30. RuPaul's _____
34. “Nightmare on __ Street”
35. Right now, abbr.
36. Adept
37. Chemical suffix used for naming alcohols
39. ____ of Arc
41. You swipe this at the OR
42. Don’t say this three times!; Beetle_____
43. “Say __” by Doja Cat
44. Confess
47. “Who lives in a pineapple _____ the sea?”
48. DRESS TO ____
50. You say this when a person at the Boot asks for your number
51. #38 Chiefs player L’Jarius ____
52. They check this at the doctor with a cuff abbr.
53. Steamed pork bun
56. Sketch Comedy show on Saturday evenings
57. Capital of Egypt
60. Japanese sweet biscuit stick
62. Atomic element C
63. So-so
64. Nickelodeon show about the lives of babies
68. “You not even the fart” by ____ Spice
69. What Mike Tyson tore off of Evander Holyfield
70. The country with the most medals in the 2024 Summer Olympic games
71. Visco girls used to make this sound Down
1. Leader of a company
2. Male pronoun
3. Steven Spielberg's 1982 film about about an alien
4. __ Capone the American Gangster
5. “ ___ -hee”
6. Don’t like a class? Do this
7. Part of hangman
8. End User Experience, abbr.
9. Social Security, abbr.
10. Selenium on the periodic table
11. “Not Like __” by Kendrick Lamar
12. Before dyeing your hair a lighter color, you have to ____ it
14. Knock on ____
17. Louisiana, abbr.
18. Students who don’t live at home usually live in these
19. Apple vs ______
20. Pop some ores in this machine to get ingots
21. Kilodaltons, abbr.
24. Queen of the Nile’s nickname
25. Harry Potter and the Deathly ______
27. Egypt, abbr.
28. Opposite of windward
31. When your hands are in the water for too long, they look like
32. Body part where your belly is
33. Chlorine on the periodic table
38. Move back the due date
39. 2007 film about teen pregnancy
40. Name Entity Recognition, abbr.
42. Pride month
45. Venezuela, abbr.
46. Operating System, abbr.
49. Commercial printer in New Orleans, ___ Hughes
52. Finishing move F5 Lesnar
53. ___ Model of hydrogen atom
54. Needed to survive the Louisiana heat
55. A must in southern cooking
57. Mojo dojo ___ house
58. Argentina, abbr.
59. Wading birds
63. Who’s doing the crossword right now?
65. Initials for the peach state
66. Rest and relaxation , abbr.
67. Don’t write your essays with this
Crossword by Max Schweikarth
CONTACT US Main Office - (504) 865 - 3535
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Film department receives $750,000 grant
CAMPUS Admissions office credits low enrollment to FAFSA delays
By Sydney Piglia spilglia@my.loyno.edu
Loyola’s student enrollment decreased by around one hundred students this year since last fall, President Xavier Cole said at the annual president’s convocation.
Cole assured the university’s budget is balanced despite this drop. Increased graduate, online graduate, and law school made up for low undergraduate enrollment, he said.
A delay in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid influenced low enrollment, said Anthony Jones, vice president of enrollment. The Federal Department of Education said they would simplify FAFSA in an effort to help low income students and families apply for aid, Jones said. The department pushed back launch dates for the redeveloped FAFSA.
“Windows were closing for universities to send out aid packages to students,” Jones said. “Families in a vulnerable position need a longer window to decide if they’re going to have the money to go to school.”
Loyola applicants did not receive financial aid packages until March or April. Many students were left with one
month to decide until the enrollment deadline in May. Families fell out of the enrollment process, opting to wait for the spring or fall 2025 semesters or commit to lower sticker price schools.
Over 90% of students at Loyola have some form of financial aid, and 40% of students have some form of Pell grant for low-income families, Jones said.
The delay in financial aid packages was detrimental to students who will depend on them to go to school, he said.
"Families in a vulnerable position need a longer window to decide if they’re going to have the money to go to school."
Anthony Jones Vice president of enrollment management
Loyola hired Jones earlier this year to manage undergraduate and graduate admissions, financial aid, enrollment operations, and campus visits.
Upcoming Campus Events
• Magis Movie Night — Friday Sept. 6, 4:45 p.m. at Dana Student Center
• Voter Registration Drive — Thursday, Sept. 19, 5p.m. at Audubon Room
• Chess Club Meeting— Friday, Aug. 30, 4 p.m. at Monroe 412
By Violet Bucaro vabucaro@my.loyno.edu
Loyola's digital filmmaking program will receive $750,000 from Louisiana's Entertainment Development fund. Miles Doleac, chair of the digital filmmaking department, said studio-grade cameras, lighting gear, volume tech, and other equipment will bepossible. Loyola Film's production technology will be an “absolute game changer,” said Doleac according to the press release. Many new installments are planned including a high-resolution “volume wall,” 3-D interaction technology, light-emitting diode panels, motion cameras, and more are planned to be purchased. According to technology coordinator and professor Albert Dupont, new equipment has already been ordered and the fourthfloor camera room now is exclusively reserved for film students. The film will be paid in annual $250,000 installments over three years, according to the press release.
“This grant will take Loyola Film’s production technology to an entirely new level."
Study abroad scholarships
Want to study abroad but looking for a scholarship to cover it? Have the U.S. State Department fund your trip with the Gilman Scholarship, if you are Pell Grant-eligible. There are several scholarship opportunities listed on the Loyola study abroad website. If you are interested in going on a semester abroad, check with the Center for International Education office about options for exchange.
English majors have an exclusive scholarship, the Kendall Daigle scholarship, for summer and exchange programs. The Passport Portal scholarship is for first-time passport holders. And the McCay scholarship is for students in the colleges of music and media and business for the Ireland and Paris summer programs. The J-Term study abroad programs this year include Sicily, London, India, Costa Rica, and Prague. Apply by Sept. 15 for fall 2024 J-Terms. Apply by October 10, 2024 for summer programs.
Jones said his original start was June 1, but he asked to come earlier and help the best that he could with financial aid.
Loyola aimed to clarify the process by communicating with students and restructuring the enrollment staff, Jones said.
“As far as I know, there are no plans to reduce staff or faculty, which is a good thing,” he said.
Loyola also began using a loan repayment assistance program that pays student’s loans if a student makes $50,000 or less after graduation.
“The goal there was to help some students we were on the fence about coming to Loyola to make a decision to be with us,” Jones said.
To address recruitment, the admissions office plans to reach out to more Catholic enclaves across the country and ask faculty, alumni, and students for assistance, Jones said. The team plans to get students more involved in the recruitment process this year, he said.
Jones hopes that the decrease in enrollment will not be a pattern. He expects ongoing conversation within the organization about how to address the situation.
• Soccer Tryouts — Friday, Aug. 30, 6 p.m. at Res Quad
• Ask Panhellenic Tabling — Thursday, Sept. 3, 12 p.m. at Peace Quad
• Delta Gamma’s Do Good Week — Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at DSC Front Porch
• Pi Kappa Phi Tabling — Tuesday Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Peace Quad
The Maroon wins 16 Press Club awards
Ten current and past members of The Maroon won 16 awards at the 66th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards ceremonyAug 24, by the Press Club of New Orleans. Notably, The Maroon was the only college newspaper competing among citywide news organizations such as WDSU and WWLTV.
Best in Print / Ashton Phelps Sr. Memorial Award
Mark Michel - Editorial
Print and Writing Education Reporting 2nd Place
Kloe Witt - “Students Struggle to Enroll in Core and Required Classes”
Best Editorial 1st Place
Mark Michel - “Illegitimi non Carborundum: A Message to Dr. Cole”
Best Critical Review
2nd Place
Mia Oliva - “‘Bottoms’ Review: ‘Superbad’ for Queer Femcels”
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
Best News Photo
3rd Place
Anna Hummel - “Violence Erupts at Protest”
Mabel Regalado-Hernandez
COLLEGIATE JOURNALISM
Best Written News Story
1st Place
Macie Batson - “Loyola’s Only Black English Professor Says His Dismissal Feels Targeted”
Best Written Feature Story
1st Place
Sophia Maxim - “From Exile to Educator: Loyola Professor Fosters Social Justice”
2nd Place
Kloe Witt - “Behind the Curtains: Theatre Production Sparks Outrage and Community Disapproval”
3rd Place
Ava Acharya - “Loyola Program Works to Overturn Wrongful Convictions”
(Above) Current and past Maroon staff stand together at the Press Club award ceremony. (Below) Journalism professor Joseph Duke and Mabel Regalado-Hernandez hug at the Press Club ceremony, Aug. 24. Photos by Sophia Renzi/The Maroon
(Above/right) Steven Nguyen, film student, shows new camera equipment acquired by the grant. Violet Bucaro/The Maroon
Miles Doleac Chair of digital filmmaking
Press Club of New Orleans Scholarship
LOCAL
RTA provides free transportation for youth
By Emma Iseman eniseman@my.loyno.edu
New Orleans Regional Transit Authority will launch a year long pilot program to bring free transit to youth, starting in September.
Residents between the ages of 16 and 24 will be able to obtain a pass that grants them access to free bus and streetcar transportation.
Participants can sign up for their pass at any New Orleans Public Library branch, according to RTA’s website. The Opportunity Pass Program is a collaborative initiative between The New Orleans RTA, the New Orleans
Public Library, RIDE New Orleans and the New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board.
According to Executive Director of RIDE New Orleans Courtney Jackson, the program aims to combat obstacles for youth.
“We heard from youth and youth-serving organizations how vital access to things like school, work, healthcare, and community is to their success,” Jackson said. “This collaborative effort will ensure that we remove an unnecessary barrier.”
The 2.5 million dollar program was approved in 2023 by the New Orleans City Counsel and will be funded by the American Rescue plan.
"We heard from youth and youthserving organizations how vital access to things like school work, healthcare, and community is to their success."
Courtney Jackson Executive Director of RIDE New Orleans
Uptown construction interferes with student routines
By Daniela Martínez dcmartin@my.loyno.edu
Many commuter students are struggling to get to their classes on time due to construction and unpredictable traffic throughout Uptown New Orleans. Multiple streets in the area, including Maple, Broadway, and Calhoun have been under construction for months.
Commuter student Alana Thompson said even though she lives only 20 minutes away from campus, she has to leave an hour before her class starts because of the unpredictable traffic caused by the construction.
“There have been plenty of times when I didn't want to go to class because I didn't want to deal with the traffic,” Thompson said.
Construction projects are taking place on about 200 blocks of road throughout the Uptown neighborhood, according to Nola.com. In an effort to finish before the Federal Emergency Management Agency 2025 deadline, the billion dollar infrastructure plan is expected to be complete by fall 2025. Residents can sign up at roadwork. nola.gov for updates on major construction, road closures, and water shut-offs.
Biden announces $150 million in research grants as part of his 'moonshot' push to fight cancer
By Will Weissert and Carla K. Johnson
Biden announces $150 million in research grants as part of his 'moonshot' push to fight cancer
By WILL WEISSERT and CARLA K.
JOHNSON
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — President Joe Biden is zeroing in on the policy goals closest to his heart now that he's no longer seeking a second term, visiting New Orleans on Tuesday to promote his administration's "moonshot" initiative aiming to dramatically reduce cancer deaths.
The president and first lady Jill Biden toured medical facilities that receive federal funding to investigate cancer treatments at Tulane University. Researchers used a piece of raw meat to demonstrate how they are working to improve scanning technology to quickly distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells
during surgeries.
The Bidens then championed the announcement of $150 million in awards from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. Those will support eight teams of researchers around the country working on ways to help surgeons more successfully remove tumors from people with cancer. It brings the total amount awarded by the agency to develop breakthrough treatments for cancers to $400 million.
Cancer surgery "takes the best surgeons and takes its toll on families," Biden said. He said the demonstration of cutting-edge technology he witnessed would offer doctors a way to visualize tumors in real time, reducing the need for follow-on surgeries.
"We're moving quickly because we know that all families touched by cancer are in a race against time," Biden said.
The teams receiving awards include ones from Tulane, Dartmouth College,
Johns Hopkins University, Rice University, the University of California, San Francisco, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Washington and Cision Vision in Mountain View, California.
Before he leaves office in January, Biden hopes to move the U.S. closer to the goal he set in 2022 to cut U.S. cancer fatalities by 50% over the next 25 years, and to improve the lives of caregivers and those suffering from cancer.
"I'm a congenital optimist about what Americans can do," Biden said. "There's so much that we're doing. It matters"
Experts say the objective is attainable — with adequate investments.
"We're curing people of diseases that we previously thought were absolutely intractable and not survivable," said Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Associated Press
A streetcar drives down St. Charles. Emma Iseman/The Maroon
President Joe Biden listens during a demonstration of cancer research and detection techniques at Tulane University, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in New Orleans. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Road closure sign on Broadway St. Students are frustrated with construction surrounding Loyola campus. Sophia Maxim/The Maroon
Historically black sororities foster service and community
By Eloise Pickering ewpickering@my.loyno.edu
Loyola is home to 16 Greek letter organizations, each with its own unique service-based mission, as well as a mission to promote growth, community, and education.
Some Greek organizations are a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and their mission is to take the meaning of community one step further, and foster a sense of belonging for young black adults. The NPHC is regarded as the unifying council for the nine nationwide, historically black fraternities and sororities, also known as the Divine Nine.
Loyola has six out of the nine Greek NPHC houses, including four sororities. Camilla Johnson, a senior sociology major and black studies minor, is president of Loyola’s NPHC, as well as the treasurer for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1908 to aid women’s advancement through society, and to help women of color build their social standings. This organization was the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority.
“I feel like most black sororities and fraternities were created just to provide a space for us to gather together in community, but also better ourselves at a time where there weren’t opportunities for black people to do so.” Johnson said.
SNAPSHOT
Since their creation, most fraternities and sororities have transformed into major proponents of community service and giving back, while still keeping their original goal of providing a home for black students.
“ I feel like our presence on campus, just overall, helps Loyola be brighter and provides space for black students, especially, to shine in ways that maybe they would not have been able to in other sororities or fraternities.”
Camilla Johnson, Sociology senior
Before graduating from Loyola, Johnson wants to leave a legacy with the backing of her sorority and the other Greek members of NPHC. She wants to revive the black studies minor, as there are only three students in the program, according to Johnson.
“Black Studies is about our history not only as a people, but like history in America and history over the world, and … preserving that,” Johnson said. “I want to do more institutionally… I’m trying to bridge the gap between all the orgs together.”
Other historically black sororities, such as Sigma Gamma Rho hold a presence on campus that are also centered around service and growth, but with slightly different missions. Sigma Gamma Rho puts their emphasis on education and leadership.
Laci Barrow, a Loyola senior and strategic communications/public relations major, was drawn to Sigma Gamma Rho primarily for that reason.
“I felt drawn to the mission of this organization because I feel like education, wherever you go, has a tangible impact in the community,” She said, elaborating on being from a line of female educators from her aunts to her mom to her sister. “When you talk about the impact, specifically on college campuses, it provides that space, that sisterhood, another place for black women to belong.”
While the NPHC sororities are historically and predominantly black, Barrow clarified that these sororities are open to women of all walks of life and all races, as long as they uphold the Jesuit and sorority values.
She described that every Greek house has a certain GPA to maintain, as well as
remaining involved on campus and supporting communities, especially communities of color.
“I feel like our presence on campus, just overall, helps Loyola be brighter and provides space for black students, espe-
Uptown celebrates Midsummer Mardi Gras with flamboyant parade
cially, to shine in ways that maybe they would not have been able to in other sororities or fraternities.” Johnson said.
Isabella Castillo contributed to the reporting of this story.
Anna Seriot abseriot@my.loyno.edu
In eager anticipation of Mardi Gras, Uptown organized the annual Midsummer Mardi Gras parade last Saturday. With costumes, choreography, music and socializing, the parade won over locals and tourists alike. Mardi Gras remains one of the biggest attractions for the city, and what better way to remind us of this than with a parade in the middle of the year? For the occasion, several floats took to the streets, sporting costumes, each crazier than the last, and incorporating themes as wide-ranging as they are fun. Students, locals and tourists of all ages turn out to celebrate and share unforgettable, emotionally-charged moments. After this foretaste, all that's left to do is look forward to the next Mardis Gras summer season.
Members of Sigma Gamma Rho pose at "Letters in the Quad" Greek life event in the Peace Quad on Aug. 26. Over a dozen chapters attended the event organized by CPC President Asia Riddle. Isabella Castillo/The Maroon
Photos by Anna Seriot/The Maroon
PJs and DJs
Alum hosts pajama-themed laundromat rave
By Taylor Falgout tafalgou@my.loyno.edu
Neon lights and a DJ booth replaced the usual hum of washing machines at Black and Gold Wash and Fold in New Orleans. Sofia Bermejo, a recent Loyola graduate, organized the pajama rave, which occurred on Saturday, August 24th, to promote her newest zine, BRNR (pronounced “burner”) Collective, which also featured front cover art of a woman sticking her head in a washing machine by Loyola
and a melty, double-faced illustration by Junior Zach Cesarini.
The rave kicked off at 9 p.m., with over 100 students and party enthusiasts packing the laundromat, inside and out, in pajamas ranging from Hello Kitty onesies to cutesy slip dresses and classic flannel pajama pants. Loyola student Zev Russ, DJ name Zevyman, took the stage with Kenneth Preyear, DJ name Jon Liston, to bounce UK Garage beats.
“What really made the night was the crowd; playing to a packed, energetic dance floor made the difference in how
Jon and I performed,” Russ said. Loyola graduates and founding members of the band St. Ove, Billy Brown Jr. and Steven Wood, finished the long night off with their distinguishable mix of techno electronica and electric guitar.
Attendees praised the creativity of the event, with many noting the novelty of the location as a highlight.
“If you haven’t tried dancing on top of a washing machine, you should try it. It’s not every day you get to rave in your PJs at a laundromat,” Miles Caradine, Loyola junior, said.
“ If you haven’t tried dancing on top of a washing machine, you should try it. It’s not every day you get to rave in your PJs at a laundromat.”
Miles Caradine, Loyola senior
a
a
a
Below, crowd: A crowd of attendees raise their hands during a lively moment on the impromptu dance floor at the Pajama Rave in the laudromat Black and Gold Wash and Fold on 08/24/2024.
Upcoming Events: What to do &
House
After party
Hosted by Alpha Sigma Sigma*
Rave/Party
Sluts Talk About Heaven
Rocky Horror Picture Show The Well-Hung Speakers
Left, disco ball: Partygoers dance under a large disco ball at a laundromat rave in New Orleans on 08/24/2024.
Above, DJ: Zev Russ (left) and Kenneth Preyear (right) share
moment behind the DJ booth during
set at
pajama themed rave at Black and Gold Wash and Fold on 08/24/202.
Photos by Taylor Falgout/The Maroon
Junior Sophia Christ
REVIEWS
"Kneecap": A loud and poignant cinematic bullet fired for freedom
By Chris Maldonado cwmaldonado@my.loyno.edu
Irish rap bursts onto the silver screen in the new semi-biographical dramedy film, “Kneecap,” chronicling the beginning of the titular rap trio and their place within the longstanding troubled political history of Ireland. The film, directed by Rich Peppiatt, provides a wild and deeply enjoyable viewing experience thanks to the effective directorial choices of Peppiatt, the pulsing soundtrack, infectious vibe, comedic elements, the ambitious use of the Irish language, and the exceptionally moving performances of the main cast In their first ever acting endeavor the fiery trio played by the rappers themselves are supported by an effective supporting cast made up of the likes of Michael Fassbender, Josie Walker, and Simone Kirby.
The film weaves historical fact with exaggeration to create a deeply entertaining watch. Set in the late 2010s, the films follows the experiences of lowlevel Irish drug dealers Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh) and Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin). After a run in with the police, they meet mild-mannered school teacher J.J. (J.J. Ó Dochartaigh). The trio grapple with their own sense of identity as Irish men in a country still divided by
"Deadpool & Wolverine": Pure Absurdity
By Zach Cesarini zmcesari@my.loyno.edu
“What the hell am I watching?” I gawked to myself as I threw my hands up in the stagnant movie theater air. Still processing what I had just witnessed and was continuing to witness, I knew that I was in for a hell of a ride. My eyes danced across the screen alongside Ryan Reynolds’ stunt double waltzed and skipped in a bloody euphoria through waves of TVA armed forces, air humping and shattering spines on beat to *NSYNC’s hit hump tune ‘Bye Bye Bye.’ I’m assuming that it was Reynolds’ stunt double and not the man himself, if so, hats off to you my sweet Canadian king. With every slash of his swords and bash of the bones of a certain deceased character with relation to a honey badger, my excitement grew. Reynolds took a step forward with this movie, both writing and producing it. His influence is immediately palpable. His flirty, frenemy bromance coupled with Hugh Jackman’s impeccable performance was a chef’s kiss that would make Gordon Ramsay blush in his little apron.
All glazing aside, the movie was an enjoyable experience. Growing up with the golden age of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made post-Endgame Zach (me) a bit of a party pooper. The multiverse they’ve been haphazardly attempting to assemble leaves me yearning for a reason to care. While this movie does fall in line with other ‘Phase 4” Marvel movies with dimension
form is so fascinating. For me, it made me very interested in learning this language whose presence has largely waned from much of Ireland but whose resilience is appropriate for its country of origin.
hopping and yep, you guessed it, the end of the multiverse and everything and everyone and all things and death and destruction and and and … you get the point.
“ My eyes danced across the screen as Ryan Reynold's stunt double waltzed and skipped in a bloody euphoria..."
While I’m aware and excited when conflicts are on a massive scale, one must shine the same spotlight on the Deadpools, Daredevils, and Misty Knights of the world. This same spotlight is often occupied by the legacy characters that have hundreds of appearances. The Captain Americas and the Iron Mans and Thors of the world. They inspire and engage with everyone, yet are not deeply relatable to anyone as we are not billionaire geniuses or golden gods. Some just don’t deserve to have it. I mean Ant-Man? Fucking Ant-Man? Quantumania has now been added to my ‘Whal Sounds for Deep Sleep’ playlist because of how many times my twelve year old brother had to kick me awake during that movie. I’m thankful his corpse was used the way it was – for those who have seen Deadpool and Wolverine, you get it. The heroes that clean up the streets and help cats
from trees are either unheard of or have made a maddening trajectory towards stardom much like Tom Holland’s Spiderman was forced to in Captain America Civil War.
Continuing with the constant fourth wall breaking of the previous Deadpool movies, ‘The Merc with the Mouth’ was practically watching the movie along with the audience, sitting right next to us as he watches himself kiss the most foulsome dog I’ve ever seen. A painful 45 seconds, but still funny. As we waltz into an age where cameos and shattered fourth walls lay in piles a mile high, Deadpool and Wolverine sit in a space alone, save Phoebe WallerBridge’s masterpiece Fleabag. Crazy comparison, I know, I know, but when it comes to the relationship between the viewer and the media, I can think of no two options that better warp it. And while some of Deadpool’s constant jokes are meant for a kid only having hit puberty minutes before the start of the movie, I realize now that I don’t have to laugh at all the jokes. Let things be funny and laugh when they are.
To quote a good friend of mine, Deadpool and Wolverine falls under the umbrella of “shit I would’ve loved in middle school,” with it being the pinnacle of this genre of film fiascos. As a man trying to allow the little boy within to laugh once in a while, I’m here for it.
4/5
a history of British colonialism with a fierce dedication to survival of the Irish language. They decide to use hip hop as a conduit through which they can fight for their beliefs and give themselves a voice in a society that would rather leave Irish identity while also engaging in astonishing levels of drug-fueled debauchery.
There’s a lot to love in this movie.
Director Rich Preppiatt, who had previously worked on music videos for “Kneecap,” was able to effortlessly transfer the high energy, chaotic, funny, and heartbreaking elements of “Kneecap”’s music to the silver screen and has even made it accessible to audiences who may not be entirely familiar with the politics and culture of Ireland, topics that lay at the heart of the music of “Kneecap.” Some of the trio’s best tracks like “H.O.O.D.,” “Guilty Conscience,” and “C.E.A.R.T.A.” are some of the most memorable parts of the soundtrack and are infectious with their sense of gleeful abandon, political fire, and astonishing blending of traditional Irish, Irish slang, and English which works to make it a truly unique experience. The use of traditional Irish, also known as Gaeilge, goes beyond just the music. The majority of the film is actually recorded in spoken Irish and to hear this language in its full expressive
The themes of Kneecap’s music carry over to the film as a whole. The film is brimming with satire and political commentary about the generational trauma that still exists for many Irish citizens, especially the youth, who find themselves with a fractured sense of identity (whether to recognize themselves as British, Irish, or an amalgamation of the two) and who find themselves struggling to live a fulfilling life in an unstable society whose police forces, who are remnants of British occupation, persecute them over their desire for cultural autonomy from British governance.
All the performances in this film are fantastic which is, in a way, shocking when you consider that for many of the main cast, this was their first time ever acting. The members of “Kneecap” are all played by their actual real life counterparts, and, for first time actors, they all do a tremendous job. The performances of Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and JJ, also known as DJ Próvaí, all exemplify pathos within their characters and can just as easily switch from tugging at your heartstrings to laughing hysterically and even to making you wish that you could go share a pint with them. There’s no sense of chewing the scenery, just the raw honesty of the actors and the genuine bits of truth that they’ve instilled in each of the fictionalized versions of themselves. The supporting cast is nothing to scoff at either . It’s headed by Michael Fassbender, playing Móglaí Bap’s fugitive father in a truly heartbreaking role, as well as Simone
Kirby and Josie Walker, who both bring a wonderfully acted sense of desperation to their roles as women trying to maintain their respective identities as Irish women, albeit on drastically different sides of the political spectrum.
Preppiatt’s direction also shows much to be commended. Many creative directorial risks like using claymation for a hallucination sequence, a penchant for montage, and a willingness to use the format of traditional biopics as a launchpad for political critique and satire are all wonderful when they come together in this film. For Preppiatt’s first actual feature length film that isn’t a documentary, he shows much promise and anything with his name attached to it is definitely worth keeping an eye out for, be it biopic, documentary, or music video.
There are, of course, some minor things that might alienate the audience.
As mentioned before, a lot of jokes in the film are insular to those aware of Irish history, in particular Irish politics. Despite the otherwise large accessibility, this could still leave viewers scratching their heads. Beyond the uniquely Irish humor of the film, some people might have qualms about the thick accents of some characters or, in the case of the reading-averse, the subtitles present during the Irish speaking portions of the film. Beyond these minor and subjective qualms, I can say wholeheartedly that “Kneecap” is one of the most enjoyable film experiences of the year and certainly one of the most important political films of late. It’s a must watch for anyone whose heart beats for those oppressed by the shadow of colonialism in both present and past incarnations. 5/5
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Courtesy of Sony Pictures
SPORTS
Alum goes pro, leaves mark on Loyola baseball
How the former Loyola star's success is following him to the next level
By Matthew Richards jmlrich2@my.loyno.edu
Very few college athletes ever get the chance to play their sport at a professional level. Former Loyola pitcher Stephen Still got to make that dream a reality when he signed with the Grand Junction Jackalopes of the Pioneer Baseball League in May.
“It's a really cool experience for me to transition to professional baseball from Loyola,” Still said. “I got to watch some of my baseball teammates do it and even guys outside of baseball do it like Myles Burns who went professional after winning a national championship here.”
The Baton Rouge native finished his career with the Wolf Pack with multiple school records, including the career wins record, career earned run average, and career strikeout record.
“Anytime one of our players is able to play professionally after college, it’s a great accomplishment for him and for our program,” said head coach Jeremy Kennedy. “Stephen is a home grown talent, a local guy who came here straight out of high school and was able to grow and develop to the point that he’s now getting paid for his baseball ability, which is a very cool thing.”
Still also earned All-Southern States Athletic Conference First Team honors three out of his four seasons at Loyola and credits the culture around the program for his success.
“My time at Loyola really helped me mature and realize that baseball was something I was truly passionate about and realize if I made it a priority, I could see a lot of success from it,” said Still. “Also the culture that Coach Kennedy and players before me helped to create allowed me to be myself and play without added pressure.”
His play also had a major impact on his teammates, recalled senior pitcher Brady Bowen.
“We were playing against Middle Georgia [State] in the conference tournament my sophomore year,” Bowen said. “Stephen started the game and pitched lights out. His energy that he brought to the game was contagious to everyone in the dugout. We needed him to get the job done and he did. After reaching a certain point in the game, I was called up to go in to close it out. It was nerve racking at first, but seeing how effective he was with not just his pitching, but his energy. It made me realize that having that kind of confidence for yourself and your teammates is what leaders like him do.”
And for senior catcher Landon Trosclair, it was a well-deserved moment for one of the leaders of the program.
“Stephen was a dominant starting pitcher for us for four years,” said Trosclair. “I caught him in our regional in the Cumberland’s in what turned out to be his last start. He threw a complete game against Bellevue to help us get the win that day. The last pitch of the game I ran to him in joy, and picked him up to celebrate. He has set a new standard for all pitchers going through this program.”
Across 16 appearances and 12 starts in the first three months of his professional career, Still has pitched a total of 73.1 innings and posted a record of four wins and four losses with an average of 12.6 strikeouts per game for the Jackalopes.
“Professional baseball is much different than college baseball,” said Kennedy. “It's on the individual to go about their daily business in a certain manner. There has to be a lot of individual responsibility, maturity and intelligence in order to give yourself the best opportunity for success.”
Still has relished the move to the professional level so far with new challenges every day.
“Pro ball is a little different than college because there isn’t as much team practice because we play six games a week,” he said. “So you’re doing a lot of work on your own. And my throwing schedule has changed too. In college I pitched every seven days, but now it’s every six days, so I’ve had to change my workout and recovery routines to not feel burnt out as much while playing more and throwing more games.”
And as for his routine, Trosclair knows that it won’t be a major change for his teammate.
“I still remember his exact bullpen warm up,” he said. “He has had the same one since freshman year and I’m sure he still does the same one now. He has such a professional approach to his preparation of the game. It doesn’t matter if he had a terrible outing, or an amazing complete game, he goes right back to the routine. He does the little things right, which makes the big things take care of themselves.”
Still’s accomplishments represent a
“ Having that kind of confidence for yourself and your teammates is what leaders like him do.”
Brady Bown, Senior pitcher
positive step for the Loyola baseball program as he hopes to be an example for the players coming behind him.
“The best advice I could give to my former teammates is that one bad game is not the end of the world and that there will be more opportunities to showcase your abilities,” he said. “So trust the coaches and your process.”
Last season, the Wolf Pack set a new program record for most wins in a season at 37 with Still’s contributions playing a major role.
“As a team, I think it is important that we portray the same kind of leadership as he did,” Bowen said. “To be able to push each other and bring energy the way he did. To support our guys through struggle and success. We can do that, then we can do amazing things.”
If all goes according to plan, the team is looking to have more players follow in the footsteps of their former star.
“Stephen worked incredibly hard to earn this opportunity, and we are all very proud of him,” Kennedy said. “And we hope to have more players turn professional this year as the program continues to grow.”
Wolf Pack volleyball wins first game of season
By Matthew Richards jmlrich2@my.loyno.edu
The Wolf Pack made their first mark in the win column on day two of the Wolf Pack Welcome Tournament with a victory of three sets to one over Webber International University (Fla.) and a game against Texas Wesleyan University to close out the two day event.
Game 1
The Wolf Pack would come out of the gate slow and drop the first set to the Warriors 25-19 before rallying to take the second set 25-16 and tie the match at one game a piece.
Loyola would then take control in the third set of the match and win 25-14
before closing the game in the fourth set with another 25-16 result.
The Pack (1-6) was led by graduate senior middle blocker Amaya Bazemore, who led the team in kills and blocks with 11 and seven respectively, sophomore setter Ellie Connor, who had 21 assists and 4 service aces, and senior setter Gabriella Masiello, who finished with 17 assists and 12 digs.
Game 2
The final game of the tournament saw the Wolf Pack square off against the Texas Wesleyan University Rams, who were also placed in the receiving votes category of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Preseason rankings with Loyola.
The Rams would win a tightly contested first set 25-23 and take control of the game in the second set with a 25-15 victory and would claim a third set 2518 victory to win the match and end the game.
“We were kind of up and down this weekend, but we have a lot of new players on the floor,” said head coach Jesse Zabal. “We've talked a lot about how relatively young and inexperienced we are. But we’re learning and growing, we’re still in our infancy stages and only a couple weekends into the season, so we hope to keep growing as the season goes on.”
The Pack were led once again by senior middle blocker Amaya Bazemore,
who had eight kills and three blocks, and senior setter Gabriella Masiello, who finished with 11 assists, giving her double digit assists in five consecutive games.
This tournament is the second of three tournaments to open Loyola’s season, with seven of the Wolf Pack’s first 12 games coming against teams that are either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA rankings.
“I think that playing a tough early schedule will benefit us later once we get into our conference schedule,” said Zabal. “The level of competition isn’t quite as grueling in conference as it is against these teams we’re playing early, so it helps us to prepare and play at a really fast pace so that we can play our conference games at a much faster pace than our conference opponents might be used to or comfortable with.”
The Wolf Pack will be back in action on Aug. 29 in the Big Easy Blastoff against Marian University (Ind.) at the Xavier University of Louisiana Convocation Center.
Peslie Boswell spikes the ball in a game againt Webber International University. Sophia Renzi/The Maroon
Stephen Still celebrates during a game. Courtesy of Loyola Univeristy New Orleans Athletics Department
OPINION
RFK Jr.'s brainworm deserved better
Mary Palma Freshman
mpalma@my.loynoa.edu
Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial independent presidential candidate, shocked many by suspending his campaign and endorsing Donald Trump.
He announced his endorsement at an Arizona rally after walking out to “My Hero” by Foo Fighters as pyrotechnics blasted behind him. Trump pumped his fist and the crowd chanted his name as he took the stage. His speech can most accurately be summarized by his new slogan—“Make America Healthy Again”— reflecting the environmental and public health related concerns that had initially driven his campaign.
Though this stunt may be surprising to some, this is hardly the most extreme or outlandish act of Bobby Kennedy Jr. He garnered mainstream disapproval for being an “anti-vaxxer,” insisting that vaccines can cause autism, autoimmune disorders, and more in children. He went as far as to call vaccines a “holocaust,” which led to a public disavowal by the Kennedy family. In his personal life, however, RFK Jr.’s hijinks have made him perhaps the most peculiar figure in modern politics.
Aside from his generally “wacky” conspiratorial beliefs, RFK Jr. is also known for his tabloid-worthy escapades. In 2014,
for example, he found a bear carcass on a New York highway. Wanting to skin it, he loaded it into his truck. Soon after, however, the carcass began to decompose.
Upon realizing this, he took the bear out of his truck and left the carcass in the middle of Central Park (with a bicycle on top of it). This was apparently a prank and staged to look like the bear suffered death by bicycle. This incident combined with that of the more well known dead “brain worm” found in his head have been a spectacle over the course of his campaign.
The Kennedy family has been vocally embarrassed by Bobby Jr.’s behavior and campaign. Nearly all living members of the Kennedy clan have expressed their disapproval with varying levels of condemnation, but one family member’s opinion stands out in particular. It seems as though the only Kennedy that could stand up to RFK Jr. is one that can match his eccentricity.
John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, is a Harvard law grad, political correspondent for Vogue, and self-proclaimed “silly goose.” Schlossberg has not held back from criticizing his cousin. Between videos of himself reciting poetry on a hoverboard and moonwalking in a Walmart, he makes scathing criticisms of RFK Jr.’s campaign.
sonal gain and fame,” Schlossberg said in a TikTok. “I’ve listened to him, I know him, I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president…. His candidacy is an embarrassment.”
“He’s trading in on Camelot, celebrity, conspiracy theories, and conflict for per-
Schlossberg has publicly supported the Kamala Harris campaign through-
out the lead up to the election, even speaking at the DNC this month. His main mission is to engage young voters and get us excited about voting. So, inspired by the absurdity and chaos of this past month, get out and vote this November!
Daryl Audrey Casas/The Maroon
Title IX: Loyola has a choice to make
Louisiana has joined a growing list of states challenging the Biden administration’s expansion of Title IX protections to include LGBTQ+ individuals. This lawsuit isn't just about legal technicalities; it’s about whether fundamental protections against discrimination should be universally applied or selectively enforced. The Biden administration’s decision to extend Title IX to cover sexual orientation and gender identity was a direct response
Whether to maintain the current state of Title IX or to find a way to expand its protections to better protect students. Loyola should seek to do more than the bare minimum, part of its principles of magis (more) should include doing exactly that; doing more to protect its students despite the state's stance. As a private institution, Loyola doesn’t have to be limited by the striking down of Biden’s Title IX expansion to implement better protections for LGBTQ+ people.
significant. If Loyola chooses to maintain its current principles and expands its Title IX protections, it will reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity and social justice, sending a clear message that the university stands with its LGBTQ+ community. On the other hand, if Loyola continues to only do the bare minimum, it risks alienating a significant portion of its community and compromising its reputation as a progressive institution. What kind of institution does Loyola
Illustration by Daryl Audrey Casas/The Maroon
