'I
cannot be deported right now'
Students nervous about new green card executive orders
By Alana Frank anfrank@my.loyno.edu
As Loyola University students grapple with new federal policies that could threaten immigrant students' rights, many fear that exercising free speech, especially through protest, could come at a devastating cost.
Several students expressed concerns about recent policies and executive orders that could impact immigrant students’ rights, particularly regarding free speech and participation in protests.
Students worry that universities may have to choose between upholding their values and maintaining federal funding, with some fearing that green card holders could face having their legal status revoked for protesting and that they could find themselves in a situation similar to Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident, under a rarely used immigration law provision. Khalil is currently detained in Jena, Louisiana.
Trump’s executive orders prohibiting antisemitism have been applied to Khalil’s case, with officials arguing that protesters supporting Hamas should lose their right to stay in the U.S.
The order established a task force to combat anti semitism, led by the Department of Justice, to address anti semitic harassment, especially in schools
and on college campuses. It calls for the cancellation of visas for foreign students protesters.
In response to the detention of Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil, student activists organized a protest near the campuses of Tulane
“ If you are able to be in this country, then you should have all the rights available to everyone else in this country.”
Axel Aguilar, Criminology freshman
University and Loyola University, demanding Khalil's release, highlighting concerns over free speech and immigrants' rights.
U.S. Representative Troy A. Carter said that Khalil's arrest coincided with actions by the Department of Education targeting 60 institutions, including Tulane University, for their involvement in pro-Palestinian activities.
This has put pressure on universities to take action against immigrant students involved in protests, specifically protests about the Israeli-Palestinian
war. Some of these policies are to further crackdown on student activism, where federal funding has been leveraged to control campus speech.
Loyola University, a Jesuit institution, has traditionally upheld values of social justice and inclusion. However, like many universities, it faces challenges in navigating federal policies while maintaining its commitment to student rights and diversity.
Criminology freshman Axel Aguilar said he felt sad about the situation and believes these policies and executive orders put universities in a difficult position—forcing them to choose between their morals or risk being defunded.
He said this could have a chilling effect on free speech, not just on college campuses but across the country.
“I think students are going to be more cautious and way more wary of what they're saying because it's an attack on free speech, basically, in terms of immigration status and citizenship status,” Aguilar said. “I know other students are more reluctant to go to protests because they're afraid of what the consequences could be.”
Aguilar said he doesn’t believe green card holders should be at risk of losing their status for participating in protests, regardless of the protest’s focus.
“I believe if you are able to be in this country, then you should have all the
rights available to everybody else in this country,” Aguilar said. “Including free speech.” Aguilar also noted that he believes the order is being used as a scare tactic for the Trump administration.
“I think it is 100% targeting specific groups unfairly, and it puts others at an advantage compared to minority groups,” he said. “I think Loyola should continue sharing a vision where all students are safe and able to express themselves, but I don't think they should be at risk of defunding either, so I think they should be careful.”
Aguilar said universities should focus on being open with students and guiding them in a safe direction while also trying to comply with possible federal funding requirements.
“I think continuing to tell students what is allowed and what isn't allowed is the best way to go about this, so that students aren't lost in terms of what they can and can’t do, and the university doesn't have to double down on everything,” Aguilar said.
Nursing freshman Angelina Nguyen said she feels that universities revoking green cards from immigrants who protest is wrong and inhumane.
By Violet Bucaro vabucaro@my.loyno.edu
Loyola students have been pushing for the university and President Cole’s protection on campus as immigration enforcement inclines nationwide. Students fear the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could potentially enter the campus at any moment. The university has created a task force in response.
In a statement on the behalf of Cole, the university established the task force in February. The immigration task force is composed of university leaders and administration to gather legal guidance and they have met weekly since. The task force was said to “review orders and internal guidelines, collect resources, outline strategies, and gather legal guidance to identify potential impacts and next steps.”
The Task Force is not, however, composed of any student involvement or consultation other than the campus-wide email release. The statement said the university has partnered with other Jesuit institutions and higher Jesuit education as navigation continues.
In the March 20 email from Cole, “Important Safety Update on the Rights and Safety of Our Campus Community,” he advised the community that if a law enforcement agency were to approach a student to notify Loyola University Police Department and wait for an officer to arrive.
In addition, Cole said the university adheres to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which prohibits the release of students’ records to law enforcement without a valid court order or subpoena.
A number of legal and campus resources were suggested in the email for student’s to reach out to. Campus resources included the Loyola’s Law Clinic, Center for Social Justice, and the University Counseling Center. Local resources, Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy, Puentes New Orleans, and Familias Unidas en Acción were listed as well. And national agencies such as the National Immigration Law Center, Informa Immigrant, and United We Dream were listed.
Vice President of Marketing & Communications Aariel Charbonnet responded that Loyola is dedicated to being there for their community
“As a University, we want to reassure the entire Loyola community that we are firmly devoted to the wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff, and to the legal protections upholding their rights,” Charbonnet said.
Further findings from the task force have not been disclosed. Charbonnet said all information regarding the task force has been included in Dr. Cole's emails to the campus community.
Students protest for the release of Mahmoud Khalil on March 11, 2025. Khalil, a Columbia graduate student, is currently being held in jena, Louisiana awaiting potential deportation. Olivia Sanyal/The Maroon
PUZZLES
ACROSS
1. A path across a forest
5. March is _____’s history month
10. Playboi Carti’s “_ __ MUSIC”
13. Olive, rosemary, vetageable, etc.
14. e cherry blossom trees have…
15. Opposite of don’t
16. Harambe’s species
18. World Organization of Natural Medicine, abbr.
20. Initials for Duke Ellington
21. Mr. Worldwide aka ___bull
23. “__ amo”
24. Saying after something cute happens
25. “You're yes, then you're __” by Katy Perry
27. is university mascot is George Washington, abbr.
28. A markup language to build a website
33. Getting injured on the job could make you eligible for this type of pay’s initials
35. Milk that is always out of stock at the Loyola Starbucks
38.” ___ and Jerry”
39. A metric unit of volume equal to 100 liters, abbr.
40. Arabic word that translates to 'permissible' in English, referring to food
43. Horror movie franchise with the little puppet on the tricycle
45. “CHARGE DEM HOES A ___” from Playboi Carti’s new album
46. “__ tu, Brutus”
47. Reduction of Force, abbr.
49. Slang for “no”
51. Initials for Tennessee
52. Only BTS member who is uent in English’s initials
53. University in Troy, New York, abbr.
54. Main protagonist of the “Kung Fu Panda” franchise
55. Relationships and Sexuality Education, abbr.
57. Coming ___ to a theatre near you!
59. A phrase of encouragement: “___ -boy”
61. Rapper Noah Olivier Smith
63. Nickname for Richard
64. Test out of intro classes with these high school exams
65. An additional thought after the main text, abbr.
66. Formula Drift, abbr.
68. Tesla is this type of vehicle, abbr.
70. A synonym for Across #1
72. Scraped your knee, use rst __!
74. ese job positions on campus grant you free housing
75. Sneeze
77. Oak, elm, and cherry blossom are
all types of…(s)
78. __- la-loopsy dolls
80. Winnie the ____
81. What you see at Down 58
82. Opposite of stop
DOWN
1. A frog with warts
2. Bananas become sweeter as you like them _____
3. Found at bars
4. “ e cat __ black!”
5. Lesbian genre acronym
6. e land where Adventure Time is set
7. It’s women’s history _____
8. Former running back for the Dallas Cowboys _____ Smith
9. Initials for Nebraska
11. ese run in between tv shows
12. She birthed you
17. New Orleans Mediterranean restaurant “1000 ___”
19. State with peaches’ initials
22. More than one
26. Animal that hoots
29. French for me
30. Initials for an aerospace company that supplies war materials to the US
31. Jukebox musical comedy drama
tv series
32. ese types of trees are blooming now
34. Rabbits love this vegetable
36. “Come __ You Are” by Nirvana
37. Go out into the sun and ___
39. Male pronoun
41. Get cash from here
42. Fat sucked out of your stomach with this operation
44. Cardi B and Megan thee Stallion song
45. Period of celebration
48. Opposite of start
50. Festival of Colors celebration for Hindus
51. Shop for groceries at ______ Joe’s
56. It’s in 13 Across
57. Lesbian poet from Ancient Greece
58. ey have these in Kenya
60. “Smack that” by ____
62. Company that own the Sims
65. Paid-Time-O , abbr.
67. Carpe ___
69. Genre of music that Playboi Carti produces
71. Ancient Order of Hibernians, abbr.
73. Hank from Breaking Bad works for this government agency
76. Short for company
77. Initials for Tunisia
79. Initials for Algeria
STAFF LIST
Editorial Board
Editor in Chief - Matthew Richards
Managing Editor - Eloise Pickering
News Director - Violet Bucaro
Deputy Campus News Editor - Alana
Frank
Deputy Local News Editor - Mary Ella
Hastings
Worldview Editor - Ecoi Lewis
Life & Times Editor - Isabella Castillo
Assistant Life & Times Editor - Emma Iseman
Sports Editor - Alana ompson
e Wolf Editor - Taylor Falgout
Copy Editor - Kloe Witt
Production
Front Page Designer - Daniel Garces
e Wolf Creative Director - Taylor Falgout
Photo Director - Heidi Herrera-Wanke
Assistant Photo Directors - Sophia Renzi, Ava Dufrene
Chief Illustrator - Daryl Audrey Casas
Distribution Manager - Eloise Pickering, Sophia Renzi
Advertising Coordinator - Emily Keller
Digital & Outreach
Digital Director - Frankie Esteves
Video Director - James Hufnagel
Video Coordinator - Christopher Nesbit
Lead Anchor - Mabel RegaladoHernandez
Social Media Coordinator - Alondra Juarbe
Content Strategist - Andrea Arroyo
Content Strategist & DEIB - Camila Faraudo
UI/UX Coordinator - Daniel Wong
Podcast Anchor - Anna Seriot
PR/Outreach Director - Julia Bueno
PR Manager - Asia Riddle
Crisis Comm Manager - Camila Torres
Contributors
Abigail Schmidt, Alyria Pierre, Anna erapondos, Ashlyn Bobb Collins, Cecilia Calderin, Christopher Pouncy, Dominique Campbell, Eleanor Boucher-Ferry, Alyvia Pierson, Elise Beck, Gavin Crehan, James Wyrtzen, June Fernandez, Lily Bordelon, Macee Fielding, Maleigh Crespo, Mark Michel, Morgan Matteson, Myles McWilliams, Natalie Albers, Olivia Sanyal, Samantha Guillotte, Valentina Russell, Lily Haggard, Rodrigo Delgado, Callie Honeycutt, Janssen Van De Yacht, Alaina Coleman, Jada Mills, Sophia Santos
Student Media Adviser: Michael Giusti
Assistant Student Media Adviser: Gabriella Killett
CONTACT US
Main O ce - (504) 865 - 3535
Business O ce - (504) 865 - 3536
Adviser’s O ce - (504) 865 - 3295
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Max Schweikarth and Kira Phillips/ e Maroon
Loyola Honors Legacy of Expression: University’s first Black student organization plaque unveiling
By Alana Frank anfrank@my.loyno.edu
Loyola University New Orleans hosted an event commemorating and celebrating the making of Expression, the university's first Black student organization, founded in 1968.
The unveiling of a plaque memorial-
izing Expression symbolized the university's acknowledgment of this significant history and its ongoing commitment to diversity and belonging. It served as a moment of remembrance, celebration, and a call to action, highlighting the struggles faced by the founding members, their resilience, and the lasting impact of their efforts on the university and its Black student population.
University President Xavier Cole, Reverend Bentley Anderson, S.J., faculty and alumni members, including three of the founding members of Expression, and current Black Student Union leaders reflected on the historical context of Expression's formation in 1968 during civil unrest and segregation.
The Expression plaque was installed in the Palm Court, where Father Anderson blessed it.
Speakers highlighted the organization's crucial role in fostering community, advocating for Black students on campus, challenging Loyola’s discriminatory practices, and paving the way for greater inclusion and the eventual establishment of the BSU.
The event served to honor the resilience and achievements of Expression's founders, including its co-founder and president Ronald Nabonne, connecting past struggles to today’s challenges and inspiring current students to continue the fight for justice and equity on campus.
Diversity in Journalism: Leaders unite to tackle media bias and future challenges
By Alana Frank anfrank@my.loyno.edu
Amidst growing challenges surrounding discourse of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and bias within the media, three prominent, national journalism associations discuss trials and tribulations within the industry.
Loyola recently hosted the presidents from the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the Asian American Journalists Association to discuss challenges and strategies for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the media industry.
They addressed concerns about attacks on DEI initiatives and the need for continued financial support for their organizations' work. The leaders outlined their efforts to assist journalists facing layoffs and develop pathways
for professionals of color to ascend into leadership positions.
In addition, they highlighted their collaborative work to combat media bias, address harmful stereotypes, and advocate for accurate representation of diverse communities. They also offered advice to young journalists of color entering the field, underscoring their organizations' enduring commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable media landscape.
The discussion covered a range of critical topics, including supporting members through industry layoffs, addressing the lack of diversity in leadership, combating harmful media representation, and ensuring the future strength and relevance of these organizations.
Gregory Lee Jr., extraordinary professor of practice, and Marion M. and John S. Stokes Jr., visiting professor
in Race and Culture in Media at Loyola moderated the forum.
“This is the first time in a long time that all of the presidents of these journalism associations are meeting together,” said Lee, also a former president of the National Association of Black Journalists. “The conversation focused on the current state of DEI in the industry, and what the media’s individual and collective responsibilities are, specifically with regard to advocacy and continued support.”
All three presidents emphasized the importance of proactively building and maintaining strong relationships with news leaders and funders.
NABJ President Ken Lemon discussed their strategy of engaging with media executives during their annual convention to foster lasting connections.
"The first thing that we did is I opened up my suite all day long. We had the president of ABC Music. We had CNN, TNN, the New York Times... What we wanted to do is make sure that we build lasting, strong relationships,” Lemon said.
NAHJ President Dunia Elvir emphasized the relationship between their organizations and media companies is one of mutual need. Journalists provide essential services, and media outlets require diverse perspectives and talent.
"Having this community, understanding that these organizations mobilize hundreds of journalists, they need us as much as we need them," Elvir said.
AAJA President Nicole Dungca acknowledged the challenges posed by attacks on DEI programs but emphasized the strong, longstanding history and support networks within their organizations.
Each president said they remain vigilant and committed to their mission.
"We don't think the support disap-
pears overnight,” Dungca said. “But of course, when we see attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion, we must be vigilant about how that may affect organizations like ours.”
Despite external pressures, they said, many in the industry continue to recognize the inherent value and necessity of diversity at all levels.
"It's surprising that the response we get is that many people believe diversity is necessary at the highest level,” Lemon said.
The organizations are also actively providing resources to members who have been laid off, including hardship memberships and connecting them with recruiters at conventions.
"We're offering memberships to help them be visible in front of recruiters at the convention, both before and during the event, to ensure they are seen and connected,” Elvir said.
The presidents emphasized the importance of having diverse members in leadership roles within media companies and stressed how crucial it is to ensure that layoffs do not disproportionately affect journalists of color.
"We need people in the room thinking about diversity, so that they're aware of how not to disproportionately impact various populations,” Dungca said.
Lemon said NABJ emphasized the importance of understanding industry trends and proactively communicating with members about potential challenges. They also opened their grant process early to assist those affected by layoffs.
"One of the first things we did was not wait for an NABJ grant,” he said. “We opened it up at the beginning of the year.”
All organizations are focused on building a diverse pipeline of journalists, from high school to leadership levels, through various programs and
initiatives.
"One of the biggest things AAJA does is ensure that pipeline exists, because leaders are often tapped for roles based on the great work they’ve done from the very start of their careers,” Dungca said.
NABJ established a leadership academy to equip mid-career journalists with the skills and knowledge necessary to advance into executive roles.
"We have a leadership academy that prepares department heads and vice department heads to be publishers, general managers, and leaders of operations,”Lemon said.
"Last year, we started the Adelante Academy, a cohort for members gaining leadership skills in a six-month, intensive program at Columbia University,” Elvir said.
They have established committees and initiatives to monitor media coverage for stereotypes, inaccuracies, and offensive language, actively calling out instances of harmful representation.
"At AAJA, we have a media watch committee that monitors potentially insensitive terms,” Dungca said.
They are also addressing systemic issues within media organizations that lead to harmful representation, such as problematic automated image selection systems.
NAHJ educates journalists on the appropriate terminology to use when referring to marginalized communities, such as “undocumented immigrants” instead of “illegal aliens.”
Each president expressed a strong sense of resilience and determination to overcome current challenges, and are actively supporting student chapters, like the ones at Loyola providing resources and strategies to help them navigate challenges and develop the next generation of diverse journalists.
Loyola faculty and staff gathered to unveil the first Black organization plaque in Palm Court on March 25. Olivia Sanyal/The Maroon
The plaque commerating the first Black organization "Expression" is unveiled in Palm Court on March 25. Olivia Sanyal/The Maroon
NAHJ President Dunia Elvir and NABJ President Ken Lemon discuss inclusion at the Diversity in Journalism Forum on March 20. Courtesy of Leonard Jackson III.
LOCAL & WORLDVIEW
New Orleans book festival comes to Tulane
By Mary Ella Hastings mlhastin@my.loyno.edu
The New Orleans Book Festival gives students the opportunity to meet authors from all over the country and immerse themselves in the book world.
Cheryl Landrieu, the executive director and co-chair of the New Orleans Book Festival, said the goal of the festival is to bring national authors to Tulane's campus and give students in the area a chance to engage with these authors and learn new things.
Bryan Stevenson, author of “Just Mercy” and founder of the Equal Justice
Initiative is featured in The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane this year as a keynote speaker.
“He is just a preeminent voice in the country for justice and we thought it would be a very appropriate space for him to speak to the students and as well as the community,” Landrieu said.
“I hope that they see something that they hadn't thought of before, that they develop an interest in something new to them, that they develop skills, creativity, and ideas of things that are outside of the university that they're able to bring into their curriculum and into their lives,” Landrieu said.
In conjunction with the book festival, there is an event on Loyola and Tulane campuses called “My Black Country Songs and Stories”. This event features Loyola's college of music and media students as well as New York Times best-selling author and award winning song writer Alice Randall.
The event will honor Randalls new book “My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future,” and conjuction album “My Black Country The Songs of Alice Randall.”
“I’m thrilled to be invited for this conversation and concert,” Randall said.
“‘My Black Country’ is a book about erased Black music history and a history of intrepid entrepreneurs.”
Randall is the first Black woman in history to write a number one country song and write the treatment for an Academy of Country Music video of the year.
“I just want the students to know that this is designed to be an intellectual event but it's also designed to be a fun event and we have a lot of fun things for students built into this festival,’’ Landrieu said.
There are sessions with authors on culture, culinary skills, and music. There
are opportunities to pick up new books and talk to the author about the writing process. Landrieu stressed that this is a very high profile event being held right on Tulane's campus and it is a great opportunity for students to take advantage of.
“Any of the Loyola or Tulane University students don't have to go very far to come in contact with either a national author or a local author who's written something that would have an interest to them,” Landrieu said.
The event will run from March 27-29.
Uptown music venue Gasa Gasa is back, and now 18 plus
By Violet Bucaro vabucaro@my.loyno.edu
A dancing crowd, loud music, and a ladder. One of Gasa Gasa’s first shows boomed on Freret street as the party continued and Micha Burns climbed up 15 feet to fix the club’s low hanging disco ball. Finishing touches were still being made, but it was clear that Gasa Gasa was back.
College loved music venue uptown opened on March 7th, 2025 after a year and a half hiatus.
With colorful face masks, a theremin synthesizer, and the Mexican flag above a large crowd, Cumnio Del Gallo Negro preformed one of the first shows at the re-opened Gasa Gasa.
Owner and general manager, Micha Burns opened the venue in 2013, sold ownership in 2020, which then shut down a few years later due to management complications and the pandemic. After Burns reclaimed ownership, he renovated the club and changed the age requirement back to 18 plus from 21 plus.
“It’s important to me that young people have a place to go to see art and to play art,” Burns said. “The college is right
down the street, it wouldn’t make any sense to isolate those folks, so I’m happy.”
Emma Lincoln, a 20-year-old Loyola music industry junior, booked a gig for her band Across Phoenix.
“It’s like actually one of the best things to happen because literally every venue in New Orleans is 21+, and most of the industry kids who are trying to play shows can’t even play if they aren't 21,” Lincoln said. “A walking distance venue that is going to be 18+ is so big.”
Burns said there’s been several renovations including changing the L-shaped bar to a back wall bar, knocking down a wall to open the floor, adding a greenroom bathroom, enhancing the sound system with sound baffles, and re-doing the patio. The patio will now be open without the requirement of a show ticket.
Along with renovations, Burns has made management changes. He said people who have worked with him in the past, and employees who worked in his interim, are a part of the management. He tried to make it a group of people who are both in the music scene and who are professionals who know the industry.
See Industry, p. 3
Trump admin threatens university federal funding, alleges anti-Jewish bias
By The Associated Press
Colleges nationwide are working to navigate a stream of threats and demands from the Trump Administration regarding funding cuts due to allegations of antisemitism.
Columbia University is the first school in the nation to face aggressive intervention from the Trump administration regarding the White House’s use of federal funding to leverage policy concessions. Dozens of other universities have been put on notice as well, including Trumps alma mater the University of Pennsylvania.
The Trump administration quickly made an example of Columbia as it demands stronger action from universities against allegations of anti-Jewish bias on college campuses. On March 7, 32 days after opening an investigation at Columbia, the Trump administration pulled $400 million in research grants and other federal money from the school, and threatened to cut billions more over the university’s handling of protests against
the war in Gaza and allegations of antisemitism.
Columbia has little precedent to draw upon as it weighs its next steps.
Mahmoud Khalil, a student at Columbia and legal U.S. resident with no criminal record, was detained by federal immigration agents on March 8. He was held overnight at an immigration detention center in New Jersey before being moved to an immigration facility in Jena, Louisiana. The White House has accused Khalil of “siding with terrorists,” but has yet to provide support for the claim. President Trump has described Khalil’s case as the “first of many to come.”
The threats to Columbia escalated last week with a list of demands that Trump officials called a “precondition” for receiving federal money. It told the college to place its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department into “academic receivership,” an uncommon event in which a departmental chair is imposed from the outside when a department is deemed ineffective at gov-
erning itself, and reorganize discipline processes, among other changes.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 allows the Education Department to terminate funding to colleges that violate civil rights laws, but only after taking certain steps. Title VI of the act says the department must first make a formal finding of noncompliance, offer a hearing, notify Congress and wait 30 days before pulling aid.
It appears at least some steps weren’t followed by the Education Department, said Samuel Bagenstos, a law professor at the University of Michigan, who also served until December as general counsel for the Health and Human Services Department.
“There has been no express finding, there has been no record, there has been no opportunity for a hearing,” he said. “This is just dramatically in violation of the procedural requirements under Title VI.”
Federal judge Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ordered on DATE that immigration officials not deport Georgetown scholar
Badar Khan Suri, who was detained by the Trump Administration and accused of spreading Hamas propaganda in the latest battle over speech on U.S. college campuses.
“The Trump Administration has openly expressed its intention to weaponize immigration law to punish noncitizens whose views are deemed critical of U.S. policy as it relates to Israel,” Suri’s attorney wrote.
Suri was accused of “spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media” and determined to be deportable by the Secretary of State’s office, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said late Wednesday on the social platform X.
Suri felt strong solidarity and sympathy for Palestinians, but was not outwardly political on campus, said Nader Hashemi, a professor of Middle East and Islamic politics at Georgetown. Georgetown’s Alwaleed Center said in a statement that Suri’s arrest was part of a “campaign by the Trump Administration to destroy higher education in the
United States and punish their political opponents.”
Suri was later taken to a detention facility in Louisiana, according to a government website.
“The ‘justification’ given for these violations of Mr. Suri’s right to due process is another violation of the Constitution: a blatant attack on the First Amendment,” said Democratic U.S. Representative Don Beyer. Beyer’s district includes the county where Suri was detained.
“Mr. Suri and his family are unfortunately the latest victim of President Trump’s assault on the freedom of speech,” the school said in a statement. “We support our community members’ rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation, and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial, or objectionable. We expect the legal system to adjudicate this case fairly.”
Mary Ella Hastings and Eloise Pickering contributed to this report
Uptown Music Venue on Gasa Gasa reopened on Freret St. March 15 Violet Bucaro/The Maroon.
CAMPUS NEWS
University responds to executive order revoking student’s
By Lily Bordelon lmbordel@my.loyno.edu
Loyola has responded to recent concerns regarding the federal government possibly revoking the green cards of immigrant students who are involved with any protests supporting Gaza within the con ict.
Students fear that because the Trump Administration may force universities to revoke the green cards of any immigrant students who participate in a protest supporting Palestine, Loyola will inevitably face federal pressure in making the same decision.
Vice President of Marketing and Communications Aariel Charbonnet responded on behalf of the President’s
o ce, stating that the university leadership is in the process of gathering information concerning how to educate and protect the community from the impact of federal pressure.
“Loyola University New Orleans remains deeply committed to its Jesuit Catholic mission of welcoming and supporting students from all backgrounds and preparing them for a more just world,” Charbonnet said.
Students from Tulane and Loyola gathered on March 11 to protest in support of Palestine and Gaza following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a student at Columbia University, and the attempt to revoke his green card, which gives him lawful permanent residency in the country.
Khalil was taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security on March 9. He was then sent to a federal immigration detention facility in Louisiana until an immigration judge determined whether he could be deported.
e Trump Administration made a promise to cut federal funding towards any universities that refuse to stop antisemitism by revoking green cards of immigrant students who are involved in these demonstrations.
In the rst weeks of his second term, he ordered federal agencies to use “all available and appropriate legal tools” to end campus antisemitism, including the removal of foreign students and sta deemed security risks.
Although Khalil and other student
Immigration: Trump's order is 'attack
“Why are our fellow students at risk of losing, like, their whole life, their future, everything they have here over stating their opinion?” Nguyen said. “Students can't say what they want to say without feeling like something might happen to them, like their own words could bring danger to themselves.”
Nguyen said she felt uncertain about what the future holds and whether a solution exists.
“If I'm honest, there might not be a way, but I think the safety of students should come rst. At the end of the day, we're all people—money doesn't matter,” Nguyen said. “Money will come back, but lives don’t.”
Marine biology freshman Kaya Biner’ Reynolds said she believes students will not feel comfortable protesting as a result of the order, and there have already been consequences for those protesting on campus.
“I think students that have green cards have worked towards that, and to just get it taken away for protesting—exercising a right that they have—is unconstitutional and inhumane,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said she thinks Loyola should take a stand on this issue, but that the current political and economic climate makes it di cult.
“I don’t know if there's a whole lot they can do, but I think what they can do is make students aware of their rights and emphasize what they can and cannot do,” she said.
International biochemistry senior Carlos Villalobos Galindo said he believes the government shouldn’t have the right to revoke green cards from students who protest the con ict.
“I understand why they're doing it, frankly, they're just trying to save their funding,” Villalobos Galindo said.
He said that although he doesn't agree with the decision, he understands that universities are in a di cult position.
“ e Trump administration is cutting funding to them, and that's why they have
green cards
members of Columbia University Apartheid Divest have denied the allegations towards antisemitism, the protests have involved support towards Hamas and other labeled terrorist groups like Hezbollah.
Charbonnet said the university is constantly evaluating the changing and evolving of federal guidelines and regulations, emphasizing the university’s steadfast commitment to resolving students’ concerns over getting their green cards revoked.
“University leadership is actively evaluating these developments and their potential impact on our community,” Charbonnet said
According to Charbonnet, the uni-
versity’s administration will also engage with other Jesuit institutions including the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and the Association of Catholic Colleges to gure out this matter.
Charbonnet said that the university is committed to continuing the prioritization of student support services and to ensure the academic freedom of our community and the ability to exercise free expression will remain protected.
“Our unwavering commitment is to create a campus environment where every member of our community feels valued, seen, and supported,” she said.
e Associated Press contributed to this story.
on free speech,' students say
to do these things, but I do not agree with it,” he said. “From an ethical standpoint, people should be able to protest.”
Villalobos Galindo said his stance on protesting has changed as an international student living in the U.S.
“What has been happening to people that protest here—they are at risk of having their green cards revoked. We saw this at Columbia University,” he said. “We're seeing this at di erent institutions. I think the University of Pennsylvania got hit pretty hard this week. So, you're seeing these trends.”
As a student planning to pursue graduate school next fall, he said he is worried about the long-term e ects of these policies.
“As an international student, I'm afraid of speaking up for the things I believe in
because of the consequences I might face,” Villalobos Galindo said. “I cannot get deported right now. I recently got accepted to a chemistry program at the University of Chicago, but I’m worried because I don't want to put myself at risk and limit my possibilities of having a better life just because the government is attacking people with di erent viewpoints.”
He said the orders have a ected his approach to the issue of protesting and what he’s willing to put at risk.
“As a person who has worked really hard to get to where I'm at, of course I'm not going to protest, and of course I'm going to save my thoughts on these issues—just to secure my position in the workplace and secure myself nancially,” Villalobos Galindo said. “It’s de nitely affecting how free speech works.”
Industry: Gasa Gasa provides community
Continued from pg. 4
“A lot of the people who I am bringing in have a lot of experience working with me and with the space and also a lot of them are in the music scene in one way or another and bring bands to the table and have other skill sets that make it operate well.”
Madeline Usher, a popular and com-
mercial music industry senior, is the singer and lead guitarist in Swinging Astrid. Usher said it is important for venues to allow people under 21 to expose them to playing professionally.
In the past, venues would make them sit outside before or after shows if they were not 21, which was not a welcoming environment to encourage students, Usher said.
“ e reason why a lot of Loyola students don’t have a lot of music experience at venues, or don’t have a lot of experience at venues until they are over the age of 21 is because we don’t have anywhere to play. Or we didn’t have anywhere to play.”
Rob Florence graduated from Loyola last year in music industry studies, and plays drums in Swinging Astrid. Flor-
He said he doesn’t think it’s right that universities may be forced to make these decisions to maintain their funding.
“I think Loyola is not as a ected as other major institutions, but at the end of the day, they are getting a ected,” he said. “For universities, it’s really hard to comply with the federal government right now while also supporting students who are opposing federal policies.”
Villalobos Galindo said he believes Loyola is doing a good job of following federal and state laws while also trying to be transparent with students.
“We got an email that explained if ICE does come and talk to you, to refer them to the LUPD department,” he said. “So, I think that's good. I think they're handling that really well.”
He also said universities should be
ence was able to play at Gasa Gasa in highschool before the 21 + mandate. He said it was an important space to have while rst playing live.
“For me, like a lot of people, Gasa Gasa was the rst real venue that I ever played at. And it was amazing. at room sounds really good, feels really good.”
For Burns, the community serves as a way to connect with others. He said he’s
prepared to support students if these policies are enforced.
“I believe that the institution, at the end of the day, should follow its Jesuit values,” Villalobos Galindo said. “I think that in the next four years under this administration, Loyola is really going to be put to the test.”
Public health sophomore Chi Chi Umeh said she is trying to be patient and stay informed about Loyola’s responses.
“I think institutions have a duty to protect students in any way possible,” Umeh said. “Like, the letter that was just put out about the task force—it was very safe.” Umeh also said she doesn’t like the implications of the executive order as a regulating tool.
“I think trying to punish anyone for the freedom of speech, especially politically, is not okay,” she said. “ e fact that you even have to worry about that says a lot about our country, our institutions, and who we are as a nation.”
She said she hoped the university would immediately condemn these policies or take action.
“I would hope that we would not comply with it at all—kind of say, at the end of the day, this is not okay. Y'all should not be doing this,” she said. “Students have a right to be here, so just complying, to me, would feel like you don't care. You're providing them with this education, but at the end of the day, you're saying we don’t care enough about you to not comply.”
Umeh said remaining silent is a form of compliance.
“I think that silence says so much, you know?”
She said these issues are not new but have become more blatant and discriminatory.
“Nothing is new with this administration or this crackdown on education,” Umeh said. “ is is the one of the rst things America promises, but yet, they are trying to take it away. It feels like they’re trying to erase all the work that immigrants have given to this country—like, you forget who this country is built on.”
e Associated Press contributed to this story.
glad to be back at Gasa Gasa.
“I really missed the community. I’ve really missed interacting with artists on a day-to-day basis, and booking shows. I just, I love music and I love musicians.”
With anticipation and talk about Loyola's involvement in the reopening of Gasa Gasa around campus, Burns said a partnership deal is in the works but is not yet released information.
A diverse group of Loyola students protesting immigration and discrimination on St. Charles Avenue on March 11. Loyola students responded to Trump's immigration and DEI attacks. Alana Frank/ e Maroon
Continued from front
LIFE & TIMES
'Beyond the Checkout Line'
Ms. Ruby's Compassion makes Loyola brighter
By Eloise Pickering ewpicker@my.loyno.edu
Amidst the hustle and bustle of busy college life, this individual remains a positive light at Loyola University every evening.
Ruby Kennell not only works in the Market on main campus, her warm disposition and kind words help students and employees alike to take a calm moment before resuming their hectic lives.
“Whenever I go to the market and see Ms. Ruby, I will leave in a much better mood,” said August Bay, a Loyola religious studies junior. Bay lives on campus, therefore they see and talk with Kennell often.
Kennell has worked at the university for 19 years, and currently works as a cashier in the Market. Additionally, she was a lead Sodexo staff member.
Although she primarily works the register, Kennell also serves other duties such as stocking and cleaning the popular stop for the Loyola community.
Outside of her day-to-day tasks however, Kennell goes above and beyond to serve the Loyola students.
“It’s more than being a cashier,” Ken-
nell said. “I do this for the kids. The students keep me coming back.”
Kennell acts as a mentor and a trusted adult for students still learning how to navigate the world and the ups and downs of life, according to Bay.
“I can talk to her about the small complaints of my day, whatever album I’m listening to, or if given the time real issues that I want to talk about with an adult,” Bay said.
Melanie Beelman, Loyola’s Sodexo Retail Manager III, is one of Kennells’s supervisors. According to Beelman, Loyola University and Sodexo “strive for all employees to provide exceptional customer service each and every day.”
According to the students, Kennell goes above and beyond the expectations of the university.
“She’s never had to give me advice or try to cheer me up, but without fail she does every time,” Bay said.
On the weekends, Kennell always tries to see and visit with her young grandkids, but during the week she spends much of her time at Loyola.
“I feel like their family,” Kennell said, speaking about how she relates to the students that come through her corner
of the university every day. “I see them more than I see my own family, and I’m sure some of them see me more than they see their own family.”
Sophomore music industry studies major Aria Norman-Gesuelle said that Kennell always makes her day with her wonderful, welcoming smile and kind words.
“When they hurt, I hurt,” Kennell said. “I try to have at least a small conversation with everybody.”
According to Kennell, she doesn’t go out much anymore. She watches TV and movies to relax, in addition to spending time with her grandchildren.
“I always say I have two men: Costco and Sam’s,” she joked. “I don’t go anywhere too much like I used to.”
Kennell is a vital asset to the Loyola community. For nearly two decades, she’s watched students come and go, and has welcomed them with open arms. While the intricate details of her job may go unnoticed, a Loyola without Kennell would be like a lighthouse with a broken lightbulb.
“I think Loyola is a better place knowing that Ms. Ruby is always going to be looking out for us,” Bay said.
Meditate on this: a body scan meditation guide
By Ashley Pailet aepailet@my.loyno.edu
Let’s start by noticing our breath. Is it shallow? Is it deep? Is it fluid or is it hurried? Where does our breath come from? Our diaphragm. We can take a moment to thank our diaphragms for assisting us in breathing. We can take another moment to project gratitude through our bodies and where we are in space. That’s what this meditation will be about scanning your beautiful body to become more centered, more aware. Standing or seated, energetically zip up through your front body and ground
down through your back body. This will become easier with time. Zip up, ground down helps your posture align and throws you into the present moment. Throughout this meditation, we’re going to envision our bodies like a futuristic x-ray machine where we can see every fiber of our being all at once. We’ll move through the body in sections to relax and let go.
Starting with the top of the head, feel your scalp loosen and your hair follicles as they are. Move down to the forehead. Imagine your third eye opening and omitting a white light of peaceful tranquility. Let your eye sockets be felt and
take a moment to thank them for allowing you to see, to absorb this information visually. Move down your nose to your jaw and relax the corners of your mouth. Thank your chin for sculpting the bottom of your face. Inside here is your brain, the control center of your body and the most important part that makes you, well, you. Moving on to the neck, loosen any muscles that might be tight and do a little neck roll in one direction then the other if that feels right to you. From our shoulders to the tips of our fingers, we’re going to imagine both sides of the body simultaneously and energetically feel down our arms and hands where they are in
space. Next, we’ll scan our front body from the chest to the belly. So many important organs are encased in here. Take a moment to feel gratitude for them. Now from the base of the neck, we’re going to feel down our spine in our back bodies. Let the muscles of your back be felt, whether or not they’re in pain in this moment. If you feel any pain or tension here, take a second to wiggle around a bit and free up some stuck space. The tender parts of your body are next: your groin area. Let your trunk and pelvis be felt and release any muscular tension you feel down here. Last but not least, we’ll move down both of our legs and feet reminiscent of how we did with our arms and hands. From the top of your legs, feel a white light budding. Feel that white light intensify as it shoots down your legs from the hamstrings to the knees, then the knees to the calves and ankles, feet and toes. Let that white light shoot out of every bit of your feet and dissipate into the world around you. When we meditate, there are countless benefits for our creativity, sleep quality, stress levels, and mental health overall. Take some time to imagine these benefits happening to you.Thank you for joining me on this journey into you today.
Ms. Ruby working in Loyola's Main Campus Market on March 25, 2025. Ms. Ruby has been working at Loyola for 19 years. Eloise Pickering/The Maroon
Photo Illustration. Emma Iseman/The Maroon
The Maroon March 28, 2025
Sunrise on the Reaping: A relevant story for activists at Loyola
The newest Hunger Games novel, Sunrise on the Reaping, was released on March 18th, and is Suzanne Collins’ newest edition to her literary universe. It revolves around Haymitch Abernathy, a character from the original trilogy.
While we all know Haymitch as the town drunk and the mentor for District 12’s tributes in the trilogy, this book takes a deep dive into his past and explains a lot of questions readers have had throughout the trilogy. Even his condescending comment of “sweetheart” to Katniss throughout the books, which made my skin crawl at first, was explained! I felt the urge to cry when I heard it.
At the start of the book, Haymitch awakes on his 17th birthday to the reaping. This is an annual tradition of drawing two names of children under 18. Those drawn are forced to compete in the Hunger Games, a competition created by the Capitol to punish the districts for an uprising many years prior. The Games pit children against each other, leading them to gory deaths both by their competitor’s hands and the arena,
which is built to kill them in the most entertaining way for viewers.
Unluckily for Haymitch, he ends up being selected as a tribute, and has to fight to return to the only home he’s ever known.
Collins takes readers right back into the heart of District 12, and the earlier Games. She describes the beautiful imagery of the mountains that Haymitch grew up in, the town where he spends his days helping his mother with chores, and the woods where he gets to take a break from the stress of the world and just exist.
Before the Games themselves have even begun, readers are emotionally attached not only to Haymitch but to everyone around him. Haymitch is a completely different person than in the original trilogy, yet his witty humor and secret kindness are still apparent. His closest friends are his younger brother Sid, his best friend, Burdock, And, of course, the love of his life, Lenore Dove, his beautiful songbird.
I loved how we got this new perspective on Haymitch. He was one of my favorites from the original trilogy, despite being a jerk at times. Even knowing he would participate in the Games, I found myself hoping there was a different ending to the story. By the time the reaping came, I was tearing up knowing the horror he would soon go through.
Haymitch’s fellow tributes consist of Louella McCoy, a young girl he sees as a sister, Maysilee Donner, one of the richer folks in District 12, and Wyatt Callow, a young gambler. Together, they fight to make it as far as they can, knowing there is only one victor.
Collins builds each character skillfully, fleshing them out with personalities and backstories. I couldn’t help but root for them all, despite knowing
their fates going into the book (if you’re reading them in release order). I have never cried so much before the Games have even begun. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the whole series. But the raw emotion in Haymitch’s sorrow, leaving home and just praying to not let anyone down, hit really close to home. By page 100, this was by far my favorite book in this literary universe. Maysilee’s humor, Louella’s innocence, and Wyatt’s charm had me grieving in advance for what was coming.
The biggest shock to me was how much sympathy I would gain for the Careers. The Careers are tributes from Districts 1, 2, and 4. These districts are wealthier than the rest, resulting in stronger, more skilled, and more well-
"Students at Loyola are fighting against these very same things."
fed tributes. With higher odds of survival, they tend to win the games.
The Careers have always been the antagonists in the games, the Goliath that the Davids need to defeat in order to survive. They were brainwashed into thinking this is their right to win because of the district they are from. They believe the Hunger Games are just an annual chance to show that they are superior. But in this novel, we get to see the vulnerability and fear they exhibit once they are in the Arena.
One throughline of all the participants is clear though. They are all just kids. Kids who didn’t ask for this.
Collins also emphasized that the damage these Games inflict not only hurt not those forced to play, but the
loved ones they leave behind. Even if you survive, if you somehow step out of line, you won’t be the one to pay the price. Those you care about are made to be your reminder of who’s in charge, and it’s not you.
I’ve loved the Hunger Games since I picked them up at the start of quarantine, and this most recent book was released at the perfect time. As a freshman away from home, somehow returning to something familiar felt good. I picked up the first book near the end of Donald Trump’s first term as President, and I read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes later into 2020.
I think about our own government, and the protests happening on campus. I think about the political climate of the entire world when I read these books.
The use of propaganda and fear as tools to oppress others is Collins’ social commentary on our world today. After all, she has said in the past that she only writes when she has something to say. It feels like we are drawing closer and closer to this dystopian society with every decision those with power are making.
The Capitol and our government make decisions that impact thousands, but all they care about is preserving their own well-being. We are pawns in their games.
President Snow’s edited footage of the Hunger Games throughout the series is a form of censorship, a way to strip hope from the districts that there is any chance of stopping the Games. He uses fear to ensure that no one else speaks up, for fear of their entire community being punished. He bans books that tell the truth, he manipulates the education system to tell the story he wants the citizens of Panem to know.
Sound familiar?
Maybe it’s not a coincidence that this book is released right after the re-elec-
tion of someone so similar to President Snow. Collins knew how to hit us right in the heart with the timing of the release. With President Trump’s recent pushes to get rid of the Department of Education, censoring social media content on platforms such as X through partnerships with Elon Musk, and trying to strip many individuals of their rights, it’s difficult for readers to not see the direct parallels between the two figures.
Not to mention students here at Loyola are fighting against these very same things. Through initiatives like the Little Free Library, pop up voter registration stands, peaceful protests, and the use of social media, they are educating others on what is happening in the world and how to stop it.
Sunrise on the Reaping had me screaming, crying, and throwing up. A dystopian novel with eerily familiar themes to our own world, the book is sure to hit close to home. On our own campus, we see Loyola students protesting upcoming ballots, executive decisions, and more. All of which impact our daily lives and bodily autonomy. Like the young rebels in the books, they stand up for what they know to be right. Haymitch and his helpers (I won’t say who, but you’ll recognize the names when they appear) plot behind the ever-listening and ever-watching Capitol, determined to make sure no more teens have to go through more violence. They want to put a stop to the cycle of violence, grief, and anger which repeats again every single year.
Hunger Games fans are sure to love the book, no matter how tear stained the pages may be afterwards. It leaves them with a burning passion to fight back, and stop the sun from rising on another reaping.
"Snow White" gives us diversity, but the film fails to entertain
Alyvia Pierson Journalism Major atpierso@my.loyno.edu
Marc Webb’s musical fantasy film Snow White hit theatres on March 21, as the seventh live-action Disney princess film. My Tiktok and Instagram feeds have recently been filled with hate towards the film. The internet was abuzz with discontent regarding the film and its casting choices. Zegler was personally hit with racist backlash for being chosen to portray Snow White, as a Columbian-American woman. Social media didn’t see the West Side Story star fit for the role. In contrast, I saw some good reviews from reputable sources. Entertainment Weekly deemed Snow White “Disney’s best live-action remake yet.” Time asserts that the film “joins the
ranks of the surprisingly pleasurable Disney remakes.” As a Disney kid growing up, I’ve always been fascinated by Disney princess films and their effect on the adolescent psyche. In my opinion, animated films promote unrealistic beauty standards and true love. The live action films demonstrate feminism and independence, themes that are relevant to young women today. I was curious to see whether praise or hate was warranted towards Snow White.
The film began with a narration by Dopey, depicting the picture-perfect childhood of Princess Snow White, (Rachel Zegler), until the Evil Queen,(Gal Gadot), seizes sole power of the kingdom, and forces Snow White to work as a maid in the castle. The Evil Queen rules tyrannically, and her vanity grows stronger everyday, thanks to her compliment-dispensing magic mirror. One day, however, the mirror tells the Evil Queen she is not the fairest of them all, as Snow White has taken the top spot. Jealous and consumed with anger, the Evil Queen orders a huntsman (Ansu Kabia), to kill Snow White. Ultimately, the huntsman can’t bring himself to do it and tells Snow White to run away.
Enter the seven dwarves and the charming Jonathan, played by Andrew Burnap. Jonathan is Snow White’s love interest, and he’s not a prince in shining
armor, but a bandit on the run.
The delightful dwarves harmonize in the song “Heigh Ho,” which is followed by the fan favorite “Whistle While You Work,’’ in which Snow White teaches the dwarves teamwork. Back in the kingdom, the Evil Queen sings “All is Fair,” a power ballad, declaring her supremacy. The Evil Queen is informed of the huntsman's failed attempt to kill Snow White and disguises herself as an oldwoman to trick Snow White into eating the infamous poison apple. Snow White is then
rendered unconscious, and Jonathan gives her true love’s kiss.
The film’s tension mounts as the kingdom mutinies against the Evil Queen under Snow White’s leadership. The Evil Queen is then banished into the dark abyss behind her magic mirror as Snow White seizes her rightful place on the throne. The film wraps up with a joyous celebration in the ensemble number “Good Things Grow.”
The upbeat musical numbers carried the film for me, as I found the dry dialogue boring. Die-hard Snow White fans will most likely have noticed differences between the 1937 animated film and the 2025 version. I thought the changes were okay, but ultimately didn’t make me enjoy the film any more. The plot was predictable and there wasn’t anything outstanding about the film. Overall, I left the Prytania theatre feeling the same way I did as I entered: indifferent. Seems as though most of the audience felt the same, as the film grossed a measly $87 million in the box office and earned a 44% on Rotten Tomatoes.
A contributor to the film’s poor performance included the controversial politics of the cast. Gadot, Israeli-born, has been vocal about her support of Israel, while Zegler has announced she supports Palestine in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Adding fuel to the fire,
the film was scrutinized for using CGI to create the dwarves, rather than hiring little people to portray them. I enjoyed the use of CGI. It contributed to the magical realism concept of the film.
Snow White was expected to be a fan favorite along with past Disney princess live-actions. It’s unfortunate that what was supposed to be a high grossing film was slammed for having bad press.
In my opinion, however, the film’s strongest aspect is its diverse cast. With Zegler, a Colombian woman, as Snow White, Gadot, an Israeli woman as the Evil Queen, and Kabia, an African-British man as the huntsman. I was surprised and delighted to see the varying demographics on screen. I would say this was the most notable aspect of the film. Snow White positively demonstrates the importance of diversity in the film industry.
Snow White emphasizes the notion that kindness and inner beauty triumph over vanity and jealousy. I’d rate the film a 5/10.
Valentina Russell English Writing Major varussel@my.loyno.edu
Photo courtesy of Disney
CAMPUS NEWS
Diversity, equity, and inclusion under re: President Cole addresses federal pushback
By Macee Fielding mc eldi@my.loyno.edu
Educational institutions across the country are being pressured to roll back DEI policies, and Loyola University New Orleans is no exception.
University President Cole addresses a “Dear Colleague” letter from the United States Department of Education. He said Loyola is consulting with other Jesuit institutions across the country to process what this letter is implying, and gure out what the possible next steps will be in an email sent to students, professors, and sta members regarding Loyola’s stance on these pushbacks.
“We are con dent our programs and policies are inclusive of all of our students, faculty, and sta and will continue to ensure all members of our community are educated and cared for, as “cura personalis” demands,” Cole said.
While the letter itself does not have the e ect of law, it aims to clarify the already existing objectives under Title IV and Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.
According to the United States Department of Education, the United
States education system, including K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, has discriminated against students based on their race, including lower-income white and Asian students.
Cole’s email on February 20, further referenced the 2023 Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. is decision makes it illegal under federal law to use race as grounds for admission to public universities and private institutions that rely on federal funding. Exceptions must pass “strict scrutiny”, the highest level of judicial review. is Supreme Court decision goes beyond just admissions decisions, it also applies to housing, discipline, administrative support, nancial aid, scholarships, and graduation ceremonies. Universities cannot legally discriminate against students because of their race nor provide advantages.
“At its core, the test is simple: If an educational institution treats a person of one race di erently than it treats another person because of that person’s race, the educational institution violates the law,” states the United States Department of Education O ce for Civil Rights.
e “Dear Colleagues” letter further
explained that the teaching of diversity, equity, and inclusion is a way institutions of higher education push discriminatory policy and the notion that the education system is foundationally racist. It then follows up with, “discrimination of a person based on race, color, or nationality is, has been, and will continue to be illegal,” said the United States Department of Education O ce for Civil Rights.
Aariel Charbonnet, the vice president of marketing and communications, gave a statement to e Maroon on behalf of the university, regarding the letter.
“At a time when federal guidelines and regulations are constantly changing, the university has leaders keeping up with how these changes are impacting our community,” she said. ey have been seeking resources and obtaining legal advice to better educate and keep students, faculty, and sta safe from possible threats.
“Loyola University New Orleans, a Jesuit and Catholic institution of higher education, welcomes students of diverse backgrounds and prepares them to lead meaningful lives with and for others; to pursue truth, wisdom, and virtue; and to work for a more just world,” Cole said.
University and student leaders hold meeting to address campus concerns
By Alana Frank anfrank@my.loyno.edu
University administrators responded to student concerns after receiving a signed letter from student organizations that included a list of demands, calling for a meeting to discuss key issues a ecting the university community.
e university acted promptly, reaching out to the students the following day to schedule the requested meeting after receiving the signed letter.
According to a statement from the President’s O ce, the meeting was held with a small group of student signatories to facilitate a focused discussion with President Xavier Cole, the Interim Provost, and other senior university leaders.
Vice President for Marketing and Communications Aariel Charbonnet emphasized that since the meeting, the administration has been actively planning for continued conversations with students.
e letter presented to President Cole outlined concerns from various student organizations, including Loyola University New Orleans Students for a Democratic Society, Loyola’s National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, the National Lawyers Guild, Students for Environmental Action, Loyola À La Mode, eater for the Culture, LyonPlus+, and the Loyola University Community Action Project.
While the university has not disclosed the speci c details of the discussions, the administration’s engagement signals an e ort to foster communication between students and leadership, according to Charbonnet.
e President’s O ce provided an ofcial response to e Maroon regarding their initial reactions to the letter and the outcome of the meeting, held on March 17, and a rmed its commitment to ongoing dialogue with students.
“We acted promptly upon receiving the students’ letter on Feb. 24. We were in communication with the students by Feb. 25 to schedule a requested meeting, which took place last week. Charbonnet said, "Since that meeting, we have been actively planning for continued conversation with the students.”
As discussions continue, student leaders and university o cials will determine the next steps in addressing the concerns raised in the letter.
e Maroon will continue to follow this developing story.
From life sentence to second chances: Loyola hosts screening of the documentary, 'Commuted'
By Dessadra Tezeno dltezeno@my.loyno.edu
e story of Danielle Metz—once sentenced to triple life in prison for nonviolent drug o enses—had just played out before an audience at Loyola College of Law. A moment later, applause erupted, not just for the lm, but for Metz herself, who sat in the room, ready to share her journey beyond incarceration.
Last week, the Jesuit Social Research Institute and the Loyola Student Bar Association hosted a screening of Commuted, the award-winning documentary that follows Metz’s life after serving 23 years before receiving clemency from President Barack Obama. e lm explores her struggles to reconnect with family, rebuild, and rede ne her future after decades behind bars.
What made the evening even more powerful was the post-screening discussion with Metz. As she spoke, the weight of her words settled over the audience.
“Prison didn’t just take my freedom,” Metz said. “It took years with my children, my mother, my family, but I was determined that it wouldn’t a ect my future.”
Marcus Kondkar, an advocate for criminal justice reform, believes events like these help reshape public perceptions.
“We have a tendency to silence people in prison and render them invisible,” Kondkar said. “One of the consequences of designing prisons to keep people in is that they keep the rest of us out, and the people in them remain an abstraction to us. If we want to understand the experiences of those we have ‘othered’ and make empathetic connections with them, we must visit with them, hear their stories, and see them as whole human beings.”
Audience reactions highlighted the
power of that connection. Annie Phoenix, who attended the screening, recalled a striking moment from a student.
“One of my students was very surprised to see Danielle actually in the building for the event,” Phoenix said.
“For me, that highlights that this isn’t just a movie—this is the story of a real person from our community and the challenges that her family endured in ghting for her freedom.”
Danielle’s presence at the event reinforced the documentary’s central message—the human cost of mass incarceration. Professor Nicole Tuchinda emphasized this point, recalling Metz’s words both in the lm and in the discussion.
“Danielle mentioned in the lm that ‘we are human,’ and after the lm, she said that during incarceration, she and other incarcerated individuals were
treated as if ‘we weren’t human, we were just a number,” she said.
Tuchinda said incarceration dehumanizes individuals and extends harm beyond prison walls.
“ e lm itself, Danielle’s openness to sharing her story, and her presence helped to highlight the humanity of people who experience incarceration, as well as the harmful e ects that ripple widely and deeply from it which a ect their loved ones and their communities,” she said.
e discussion also touched on the harsh realities of sentencing disparities and systemic barriers to reentry. Metz described how she never believed she could receive a triple life sentence for a nonviolent drug crime tied to her husband’s actions.
“It’s unbelievable circumstances,” Phoenix said. “But unfortunately, she
was a victim of a society-wide e ort to criminalize and target Black communities.”
Tuchinda urged attendees to re ect on the larger implications of mass incarceration.
“I hope that students ask themselves what mass incarceration is really doing and whether it is worthwhile,” she said. “I hope that students realized the value of listening to everyone’s story, not just the stories that seem to justify existing law. Everyone’s life matters.”
She also said she hoped the event would inspire students to seek alternatives to incarceration, such as restorative justice, diversion programs, and youth development initiatives.
“Prison is not the answer for any problem,” Tuchinda said, echoing Metz’s own words. “Prison just causes further harm.”
According to Kondkar, Loyola frequently hosts discussions on incarceration and legal reform, including past projects like e Visiting Room Project.
“You can keep up with them on JSRI’s website,” he added.
Looking ahead, Loyola is fostering more opportunities for student engagement in reentry initiatives.
Kondkar recently partnered with Andrew Hundley, director of the Louisiana Parole Project, to create new programs aimed at supporting returning citizens.
“ ey do excellent work,” Kondkar said. “We hope to get things started in Fall 2025.”
Phoenix hopes law students and attendees walk away re ecting on the deeper meaning of justice.
“I hope that students, particularly law students, re ect on the di erence between law and justice. Not all laws are just—and many laws criminalize and devastate communities,” she said. “I also hope they remember Danielle’s family and what they endured in the long 23 years that they waited for her to come home.”
For those looking to get involved, Phoenix encourages students to educate themselves and take action.
“Take criminology and sociology courses; read books; watch documentaries; and get involved. Attend events on campus and in the community,” she said. Events like this serve as a reminder that justice extends far beyond a prison sentence—it’s about rebuilding lives, restoring dignity, and rethinking how society treats those seeking a second chance.
As the event concluded, Metz left the audience with a powerful message: “I lost 23 years, but I refuse to lose my voice. Neither should you.”
Danielle Metz in documentary lm "Commuted"pictured. Courtesy of Danielle Metz.
Maroon March 28, 2025
Loyola cheer reflects on end of season
By Hannah Darcey hgdarcey@my.loyno.edu
The Loyola competitive cheer team wrapped up their 2025 season after competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship in Decatur, Alabama.
The team finished with a new program record, earning the highest score in the history of Loyola’s program.
“We got an 88.4 I believe, at regionals a couple weeks ago which is the highest score that cheer has earned, ever,” mass communications freshman Alyvia Pierson said. “So I would say that's a really big accomplishment, especially knowing that we lost like half of our team and we had some injuries occur.”
This final regional performance of the season was a personal highlight for Pierson.
“We hit the routine clean and it was flawless,” Pierson said. “The energy was high, the vibes were good, all the things, the judges loved us. We had big sportsmanship amongst the other teams that were cheering each other on. It was just like a really good time to be there with everybody in that moment.”
But the road to regionals wasn’t always smooth sailing.
Captain Gabrielle Kliebert is a graduate student, competing in her fifth and final year on the cheer team. Despite challenges that were presented throughout the season, pushing through as a leader was important not only for her to keep going but also for her teammates.
“We started with a roster of like over 20 and we ended with 11,” Kliebert said. “So that's like a big time, like, little time, lots of people leaving. So I feel like keeping myself in it as much as I wanted everybody else to be in it, that was challenging because I wanted to give up sometimes too. But then I had however many teammates looking up to me, so that kept me pushing forward.”
“I
we get to competition season and we start traveling and competing, it'll all be so worth it,”
time say that, I'm like, okay, now I can leave in peace.”
For Pierson, the adjustment of balancing cheer and academics was a daunting task, but one that she figured out how to balance.
“Coming in, having the 5:30 a.m. practices, having most of our weekends taken up, doing volunteer things, recruitment clinics, various different things,” Pierson said. “It was very daunting coming in as a first year, who isn't from New Orleans, who never has been to college before, the first time living on my own. So having to deal with this extra load on top of academics was very daunting to deal with. But I just took it in stride, I just tried to make sure I stayed organized.”
According to Kliebert, the program record wasn't the only notable improvement that could be seen over her years on the team.
“I think that they're highlighting points from last year versus this year, but from three years ago where we had, like, the head coach just for one year, our score jumped from over 20 points, which is insane to me in cheerleading,” Kliebert said. “That's really hard to do, especially in three years. So definitely watch out for Wolf Pack cheer because they're coming and I'm forever going to support them.”
“
So definitely watch out for Wolf Pack cheer because they're coming and
I'm
forever going to support them.”
Kliebert, Graduate student cheer captain
Upcoming games & matches
Beach Volleyball
After overcoming the challenges, Kliebert said she knew the end result would be worth it for the whole team.
told them that, once
Kliebert said. “And then after we went the last time hearing all the freshmen and people who competed for the first
The Wolf Pack cheer team poses for a picture.The team received its highest score in program history. Heidi Herrera- Wanke/ The Maroon
Graduate student cheer captain Gabrielle Kliebert performs at the RAM Showdown on Feb. 13. The team won second place at this competition. Heidi Herrera-Wanke/The Maroon
Gabrielle
The administration must uphold the Jesuit values
1540 Loyola
At Loyola University New Orleans, we are called to live by our Jesuit values. One of these core principles is “Linking Faith with Justice”; a value our students embody daily—whether by advocating for equity among peers, shedding light on social injustices in the U.S., or educating others on global issues.
Loyola is home to students of diverse backgrounds, the Diversity Equity and Inclusion statement declares, “Our faculty and staff represent the diversity of our community, and we prioritize financing and resources to realize our goal of inclusive excellence.”
We implore Loyola’s administration to uphold these same values and provide a sanctuary to safeguard students’ rights and well-being. Our university takes pride in its student body, yet many
“ We ask of you, our students, to take hold of your education, rights, and what you deserve, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, empathy, wisdom, devotion, and self-control .”
fear their social liberties are at risk under the current sociopolitical climate. We are on edge, due to Tulane overhauling their DEI office and the events that occurred in the LBC on Monday, March 17th, 2025. Now more than ever, Loyola must reaffirm its commitment to protecting its students.
While action has occurred by creating a University task force; we ask the administration to put students at ease by reaffirming Loyola’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Cole’s recent email is not enough to comfort students through this uncertainty. If you are “firmly devoted to the wellbeing of our student, faculty, and staff, and the legal protections upholding their rights.” Stand by it! Our students uphold Jesuit values, courageously advocating for justice.
We ask of you, our students, to take
hold of your education, rights, and what you deserve; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, empathy, wisdom, devotion, and self-control. We ask that our faculty and administration do the same. Stand with US. Protect our students. Prioritize our education, safety, and future.
We are who you think we are; we are who you think we are not.
Sincerely, 1540
Threatening green cards proves freedom of speech isn't always free
Cecilia Calderin Journalism Major ccaldera@my.loyno.edu
The recent detainment of students and revocation of green cards and visas across the country due to involvement in pro-Palestine protests has sparked fear and disappointment across college campuses, including here at Loyola, where students have continuously mobilized to support Palestine since October 2023. This becomes an even scarier reality for international students who rely on visas and green cards. Their right to peacefully protest, supposedly protected under the First Amendment, is now threatened.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and legal United States citizen, was arrested on March 8th by several Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents due to his involvement in pro-Palestine protests. His situation is not an isolated event, it’s a warning for what’s to come. Following his arrest and detainment, Columbia students like Ranjani Srinivasan and Georgetown professor Badar Khan Suri have undergone similar treatment.
This insistent targeting of students and scholars based purely on their political and personal beliefs is a clear fear tactic to prevent people, particularly immigrants, from speaking out in ways that the government doesn’t align with. It’s clear that our supposed freedom of speech is not truly free for everyone.
As a Puerto Rican student, I have the privilege of American citizenship by
Georgetown University students hold up a banner in support of Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University professor, demanding his release from a deportation process over his views on Palestinian and the war in Gaza, at Georgetown University in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP
birthright; however, I’m aware that this does not grant me the same rights and benefits as a “first-class” American. The simple fact of being a Latinx student in the States during this time of intense political turmoil makes it so that I am constantly aware of discrimination and racist perceptions just for being a Spanish speaker. Though I could not technically be deported, I, and my fellow Puerto Rican classmates, are aware that discrimination knows no limits, and simply being an American citizen won’t protect me from racist actions taken against me or my peers.
I’m grateful that Loyola has grant-
ed me the opportunity to have a friend group of majority Latinx and Hispanic classmates and it has opened my eyes to the realities that many of my international friends face. The fear of immigration has long been a topic that I have learned about and has been part of many conversations I’ve had throughout the years. Nevertheless, I never had to experience what it truly means to be an immigrant in the United States until I got to college. I know many people who, following Trump’s pledge to detain and deport immigrants, have started to have real fears about their futures in this country.
It’s important to care and have sol-
idarity with our international peers at this moment. Not just because they’re our classmates, but because their fight is also our fight. If we continue to close our eyes in the face of injustice and denial of freedoms, we risk a future where these freedoms may not exist. This threat to the First Amendment protections does not just affect international students; if these protections weaken, they may weaken completely and be erased. If we allow these rights to be taken from some, we risk letting them be taken from everyone.
Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Should Loyola be a sanctuary campus?
Loyola has a decision to make - and a task force has been assigned by President Cole for discussion and deliberation.
As freedom of speech for college students who are legal residents is under attack, a debate surrounding how universities should go about enforcing judicial warrants when delivered by immigration customs enforcement and other law enforcement agencies arises.
Loyola, as a private school, requires any outside law enforcement that wishes to arrest or detain persons on our campus to present a warrant listing probable cause and signed by a judge. Now while the ease of obtaining a warrant by law enforcement can be argued, it is pertinent to mention that as a school, we are not simply complying with any action taken by the local police. But if they do have a warrant, we would allow them to apprehend people off of our campus.
Some argue this should be stopped and Loyola should be a full sanctuary campus and not comply with any warrants. This would mean a couple things. 1) That Loyola would be in contempt of court. 2) That we would be at risk of losing federal funding in the form of federal financial aid which would put many students at risk.
While students would still receive financial aid through scholarships and grants which are funded from our endowment, they would NOT be able to take out direct subsidized or unsubsidized federal loans which many students rely on. This is the course of action which the federal government has used against other universities dealing with similar issues. Whatever decision Loyola comes to, student voices matter
"Whatever decision Loyola comes to, student voices matter here now more than ever."
here more than ever.
When it comes to whether Loyola complies with these warrants or not, it may not just affect international students or students who do not have full citizenship because Loyola’s compliance with warrants to arrest international students for participating in protests has been put into practice twice in New
York City recently, and sets a questionable precedent.
It sets the precedent that protest, especially for college students who are a long time staple at the forefront of social movements, is a punishable offense. And if it can be extended to international students, and non-citizens, at what point will Loyola stop allowing law enforcement to detain students for exercising their first amendment rights? If students who are citizens begin to be detained for protest and free speech, will Loyola decide to no longer comply with judicial warrants? Should Loyola declare itself a full sanctuary campus and risk our students losing access to federal student loans which are a source of financial aid for so many?
Whatever decision President Cole’s assigned task force comes to, it is a decision that will decide the answers to major questions and responses to accusations that the students have towards not just Loyola’s administration but also local, state, and federal government.
Editorial Board
Editor in Chief
Matthew Richards
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Opinion Editor Callie Honeycutt
Reviews Editor
Elise Beck
Editorial Writer Mark Michel
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Francisco Esteves
Photo Director Heidi Herrera-Wanke
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Copy Editor Kloe Witt
HOWLS & GROWLS
HOWL to the Labor Spring
GROWL to ingrown toenails
HOWL to baseball opening day
GROWL to no parking
HOWL to Ms. Ruby GROWL to registration nerves
HOWL to meditation
GROWL to choice paralysis
HOWL to NOLA Bookfest
EDITORIAL POLICY
The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Loyola University. Letters and columns reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of The Maroon’s editorial board.
The Maroon does not represent the opinion of administration, staff and/or faculty members of Loyola.
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