NOEW brings entrepreneurs to Loyola
By Lily Bordelon lmbordel@my.loyno.edu
New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week consisted of panel discussions, entrepreneurship showcases, founder stories, and a career fair aimed at introducing students to multiple connections and insights across the business world, according to NOEW officials.
NOEW hosted their summit on Loyola’s campus March 27 and 28, where multiple entrepreneurs were able to display their companies to Loyola students and provide insights for students who plan to focus on career innovation.
Samantha Bongiovanni, an entrepreneur that came to campus, created Pixie Dust Biodegradable Glitter after she was unable to find any glitter that wasn’t made of microplastics, encouraging her to make a sustainable alternative that is plant-based.
“The shops weren't carrying any sustainable glitter, and nobody really knew what I was talking about,” Bongiovanni said. “I kinda saw that there was, you know, a need for it because we really like to wear it on our faces.”
Being a part of NOEW gave her the opportunity to showcase the sustain-
ability of her product towards Loyola students, leaving a positive impact on her business.
“People are super interested in the sustainability aspect, and we get a lot of people who still don't know that an alternative exists,” she said. “So it's always fun in any setting, sharing that and seeing how much joy it brings to people.”
"It was really interesting to listen to all the different perspectives and to think about how I could implement their strategies into my own work."
Remi Grady, Music Industry freshman
Amber Bonner, co-founder and CEO of Zokyo, came up with the idea of a device that promotes positive bathroom behavior after her own two daughters were having trouble with using too much toilet paper when go-
ing to the bathroom.
The Zokyo device dispenses toilet paper from a swipe in front of its motion sensor, and after a certain amount of swipes, it stops to prevent excess usage.
Bonner brought her first prototype to NOEW in hopes of raising capital for her product and gaining insight from university students and other entrepreneurs.
“I just want to get more traction and get Zokyo out there a little bit more, so we can potentially not only be able to schedule more pitches with one-onones,” she said. “But also get feedback from potential students or other innovators or investors to just figure out if there's something that we may need to modify.”
Entrepreneur Heather Cascio founded her app My Air Spa, which can connect salon spa health and wellness professionals with customers, either for services at their location or the customer’s home, online. Cascio said she attended NOEW in order to network with investors, which could spark potential partnership opportunities.
She produced this app as a means to make the process of booking more comfortable for both the client and the
Loyola hosts inaugural Bloom Festival
By Elise Beck erbeck@my.loyno.edu
On April 1, 2025, Loyola hosted its first annual Bloom Festival to honor former Loyola student Kendall Daigle, who passed away in 2014 at age 19. Daigle was an English student who adored art and poetry.
The Bloom Festival was organized by Daigle’s family and Loyola staff and was held in front of Monroe Hall, around the tree sculpture erected in Daigle’s honor. Students read poetry and performed original music, and food was provided by Empanola. Several crafting tables were set up throughout the event, all decorated in pink to match Daigle’s poetry book posthumously created by her parents. Attendees could print a design on their very own Bloom Festival t-shirt, as well as make collages, poems, friendship bracelets, and prints. The festival was free to attend, and student volunteers helped with every aspect, from the tech crew for the soundstage to the setup and takedown of various craft tables.
Attendees could take free copies of Daigle’s book from the tree sculpture, as well as small pink journals with prompts on every page.
customer.
“A lot of Gen Z people are more comfortable going places where their mom's a hairdresser, or a hairdresser may not be comfortable going to people's locations,” she said explained when describing some examples of people who may benefit from an app like My Air Spa.
Music industry freshman Remi Grady, and a member of NOLA Sound, a student-run audiovisual company, ran sound for the event in Miller 114, the founders stage, where business founders shared their testimonies.
“It was really interesting to listen to all the different perspectives and to think about how I could implement their strategies into my own work with Nola Sound was pretty meta,” Grady said.
A banner promoting New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week hangs on a lightpost on campus. Rodrigo Delgado/The Maroon
Photo of the 2025 Bloom Fest schedule outside Monroe Hall. Olivia Sanyal/The Maroon
PUZZLES
ACROSS
1. is Louisiana rapper was recently released from jail, ___ Youngboy
3. is is 3 hours for a one-credit class
5. Trump passes a lot of these, abbr.
6. Mischievous beings
12. Notorious Chicago rapper who allegedly is a serial killer King ___
13. Fictional character with the famous line, “Why so serious?!”
14. A large ornamental vase
16. A-_!; gotcha
17. Outlook Express, abbr.
19. An assistant for the professor in Across #3, abbr.
20. Jason William plays this role for the New Orleans legal department,abbr.
22. Reverend, priest, minister, etc.
26. Alongside
31. “Nobody puts ___ in a corner”
32. ___ meeny, miny, moe
33.” __ shucks”
34. Alert and oriented, abbr.
36. Willy ___
37. Field o cer, abbr.
38. Be mistaken
39. __-___ tokens (digital certi cate), abbr.
41. Dawdle; idle
42. Element with atomic number 17, abbr.
43. Facebook, abbr.
45. A young sheep
49. ___ and cons
52. “Come here” in abbr. text slang
54. You prank people on this day!!
58. Gifted senses
60. Loyola dorms still don’t have this :( 61. Dwindles
63. __-ypt
64. Common frat boy reply after trying to do an April Fools
DOWN
1. e capital of this state is Carson City
2. What to say when scaring someone
3. Mike the Tiger roams there
4. Don’t slip on a ______ peel!
7. Jersey shore is lmed here, abbr.
8. ____ aid man
9. Arcade game ___ ball
10. __-eHee
11. T.V. series (1994)about the inner life of Cook County General Hospital in Chicago
15. Public Transportation agency for the NOLA streetcar 18.
21. Universal Recipient Blood Type
22. A __ scan of the brain
23. Rubidium atomic symbol
24. Naruto character who controls sand and is son of the fourth Kazekage
25. “__ Girl” by the Temptations (1965)
27. “ e __ & Stimpy Show” animated T.V. series
28. Used as an expression of alarm
29. ___ -retentive
30. P-__-ch!
33. Old instant messaging; “You’ve got mail”
35. North Carolina Rams, abbr.
36. _____ cushion (*fart*)
37. __-o Rida
38. Exempli gratia, abbr.
40. Pink birds that have a shrimp-centered diet
43. e state where Disney World is located, abbr.
44. Sheep noise
45. Jack-___
47. “Do not go over the school speed limit of 25 ___”
48. Homie AKA…
49. Hash, keef, ganja…etc
50. Caviar
51. Outgoing Longwave Radiation, abbr.
53. Universal serial bus, abbr.
55. Stephen King’s clown called “__”
56. Long Wave, abr.
57. “__-la-la-la”
59. e most loved sandwich in America, abbr.
62. Prestigious New York University with Otto the Orange mascot, abbr.
63. A “rough” cell organelle with attached ribosomes, abbr.
For weekly puzzle answers, download e Loyola Maroon Mobile App
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 Editors - Lily Bordelon
Dessadra Tezenzo
Assistant Life & Times Editor - Emma Iseman
Sports Editor - Alana ompson
Opinion Editor - Callie Honeycutt
Reviews Editor - Elise Beck
Editorial Writer - Mark Michel
Copy Editor - Kloe Witt
Production
e Wolf
Falgout
Creative Director - Taylor
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, Gavin Crehan, James Wyrtzen, June Fernandez, Lily Bordelon, Alyvia Pierson, Macee Fielding, Maleigh Crespo, Mark Michel, Morgan Matteson, Myles McWilliams, Natalie Albers, Olivia Sanyal, Samantha Guillotte, Valentina Russell, Lily Haggard, Rodrigo Delgado, Janssen Van De Yacht, Alaina Coleman, Jada Mills, Sophia Santos, Natalie omas, Sky Pele, Deja Magee, Em Bay, Nicholas Gonzales, Anna Seriot, Pharrell Every, Gabrielle Stan eld
Assistant Student Media Adviser
CONTACT US
Main O ce - (504) 865 - 3535
Business O ce - (504) 865 - 3536
Adviser’s O ce - (504) 865 - 3295
Correspondence - maroon@loyno.edu
Letters to the Editor - letter@loyno.edu
Advertising - ads@loyno.edu
Website - www.loyolamaroon.com
Twitter - @loyola_maroon
Facebook - e Maroon
Instagram - @loyola_maroon
Our o ce is in the Communications/ Music Complex, Room 328.
Send mail to: e Maroon, Loyola University, Campus Box 64, 6363 St. Charles
Student Media Adviser: Michael Giusti
Gabriella Killett
Crossword by Max Schweikarth and Kira Phillips/ e Maroon
Apple Store
CAMPUS NEWS
Loyola’s New Provost: Meet Thomas A. Chambers
By Lily Bordelon lmbordel@my.loyno.edu
omas A. Chambers was appointed as the university’s next provost and senior vice president of academic a airs. Chambers plans to focus on giving the Loyola community the necessary resources they require to achieve their goals of research and work, in a creative and practical manner.
Chambers has a Ph.D. in American history, and is set to begin this role in June before the fall semester.
He said he sought out Loyola due to its Ignatian pedagogy and Jesuit values, valuing the core mission of Jesuit education. Additionally, he found that Xavier Cole held a strong role as Loyola’s president and believed the school was going in a good direction due to his leadership and the contributions of the dean’s group.
“Meeting the folks there really got a strong sense of what Loyola New Orleans was like, it seemed like a place that I feel I would t in well,” he said.
Chambers has worked in an educational environment for 20 years at Niagara University and most recently at Canisius University in Bu alo, New York, another Jesuit school.
His career in higher education began as a history major undergraduate, but after nishing graduate school, he became increasingly interested in becoming a professor. After working as professor, he was inspired to contribute towards making his university better.
“I loved being a teacher, loved being a department chair, and then there were just opportunities to help make my institution better and overcome some of its challenges,” Chambers said.
By connecting with administrators and professors, he has been able to shape his role as a reliable academic advisor.
“You needed to know people, you
needed to know professors, you needed to know other administrators,” he said. “So relationships are always really, really important.”
He said he had to problem-solve nancial struggles at previous universities, and worked to nd creative solutions for funding.
“ ere's a new strategic plan coming, and the president's going to help put that in place,” Chambers said. “And so that is going to be the real key is how do we implement that to keep us in good shape going forward.”
He said he plans to work with the president to evaluate how to strengthen the academic vision of the institution and continue the university’s success by addressing the problems that students or faculty members come to him with at hand.
“I think, how do I help this person at this moment,” Chambers said. “And how do I understand what they need and what their interests are?”
Chambers said many students in academic trouble like probation or dismissal come to visit him due to his role, so he constantly attempts to address these situations at face value while also treating the students with respect and sincerity.
He also plans to dive deeper into analyzing the data of student success and acknowledge which classes seem to cause more students to struggle aca-
demically, and intends to pinpoint why this is happening.
He said he will take the disparities of certain groups and backgrounds into consideration as well before contacting the departments and discussing what can be done to increase student success.
“Looking also at disparities between di erent socioeconomic groups, whether it's a lot of students, students of color, rst generation students, eligible students,” he said. “So where are there gaps? Where are there places that we know these courses are, causing challenges for di erent groups of students?”.
To make sure he grows connected with Loyola’s community, Chambers stated he will attempt to be active on campus as much as possible, which includes walking around and interacting with both students and faculty.
“ ere's an old saying that you shouldn't eat lunch alone in your rst couple months on the job,” he said. “So I'll be visible, I'll be out there. I'll try to go meet people wherever they want to meet me. And if not, I'll just go up and introduce myself.”
To follow the Jesuit mission, Chambers also expressed the necessity to emphasize diversity in the courses and hire as diverse a faculty as possible as a means of reaching out to all kinds of students at the university.
“People probably want to make sure that they're at the forefront. So we have to do it. We continue to do it,” he stated.
Chambers also stated his desire to implicate more online and hybrid courses into the curriculum to be able to keep up with other universities in an innovative manner, allowing other students, like adult students, to be able to access an education easier.
He emphasized his intention to advocate investigating the latest technology, including arti cial intelligence, to ensure Loyola’s students are able to adapt to the progressive landscape the world is constantly undergoing.
“You know, there's the technical stu and we want to increase enrollment, and we want to have more programs,” he said. “You want to have, you know, a higher academic pro le, those kinds of things. But really, we just want people to say, I love Loyola, New Orleans, and I'm proud to be part of that community. I think that's the biggest thing.”
Chambers said he has a desire to create an institution that students are happy to graduate from.
“I'm really, really excited by the opportunity to come down. It's a good place, and I'm happy to be able to contribute and help make it better,” he said.
Loyola honors the founding of Expression, it’s first Black student organization
By Matthew Richards mlricha2@my.loyno.edu
In 1968, a group of 25 students got together on Loyola’s campus in the middle of a world of chaos and launched Expression, the rst organization composed of mostly Black students in Loyola history.
To commemorate the moment, 57 years later, Loyola honored those individuals and their e orts by unveiling a plaque commemorating the group’s founding and dedicating a pair of benches on campus to them.
“We are looking at times not so dissimilar to the times of the Civil Rights movement, which all of these folks we’re honoring this evening traversed, and came through on the other side of,” said University President Xavier Cole. “And it doesn’t mean that their work wasn’t meaningful, or didn’t work at all. And I hope this plaque can be a representation of not only their struggle, but also their resiliency and victories along the way.”
One of Expression’s co-founders and its rst president, Ronald Nabonne, believed the group was needed at Loyola when he rst arrived in 1965, so he wanted to be a part of creating a community for Black students at the school.
“ ere were only four other Black students here when I got here,” he said. “Loyola was considered to be a school in a bubble from the outside world. ey had no idea and didn’t really care about what was happening in the community around them. So we came, and we weren’t always welcome, but I think we tried to help Loyola grow as an institution and let them know about some of the struggles that we were facing in the
larger world.”
It was important to the students that by being the rst organization geared toward Black students, the message remained the most important aspect of the group, rather than its name, which is why they chose to name it Expression over the Black Student Union.
“We didn’t want the term “Black Student Union” to be an excuse or distraction from the message we were trying to send, which was pushing freedom of expression and freedom of thought,” Nabonne said. “We weren’t ashamed of being called a Black organization, but we didn’t want our name to distract from our message. Because everytime we raised a moral issue related to segregation or civil rights to the administration, we wanted to be able to say, ‘this is what our group is about, our purpose and mission, not just our name.’” e dedication included the blessing of the plaque by Father Bentley Anderson, S.J. and a toast by President Cole.
“ ese students did not allow the troubles of their day to stop them from creating a community, building up one another, and giving each other hope for a better tomorrow,” said Anderson. “In the day and age where diversity and inclusion are viewed with suspicion and contempt, we had to remind ourselves that Loyola is an expression of God’s love for all of his children including the ones we are honoring here today.”
One of the group’s founding members, Carol Bebelle, was appreciative that the ceremony was taking place during a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion programs nd themselves under threat by the federal government.
“I hope that the symbol of what this
means is something that we can hold onto when you nd yourself angry or hopeless,” she said. “ e times that we are living in now are very reminiscent of the ones that we were in at that point in time and the fact that we’re here should be evidence that we are able to make it through those kinds of things, so I hope that’s part of what everyone is able to get out of this experience. I have chosen a platform of hope, because if everything else can be radical, I think hope can be radical too.”
e event was co-sponsored by the Black studies department at Loyola, which appointed two new co-chairs this year in Dawson McCall and Patricia Boyett after going without one for multiple years.
“We were able to host a panel with some of the organization’s founding members this past fall, and that was the rst event the Black Studies department had put on in a while,” said McCall. “And this event is one in a long thread of events and actions that started with the founding of Expression, and it’s another step in the process of making sure this story gets told.”
A story that has resonated with Black students who are currently attending Loyola like the current president of the Black Student Union, English literature sophomore Pharrell Every, and feel it’s important that the group was recognized in this way.
“ eir courage, resilience, and vision gave rise to what has now become BSU,” he said. “ rough their dedication, we now have a platform to uplift and empower Black students and their voices, to celebrate our culture, and to address the issues that impact our community.
Because of them, we have a space here at Loyola where we can express ourselves, foster unity, and make a meaningful impact on this campus.”
For Cole, it was important to be able to express gratitude for the moment.
“It’s our honor to be able to do this and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without all of their e orts and struggles,” said Cole. “So to everyone here and those who couldn’t make it, know that we love you, bless you, adore you, and thank you. at this is your moment, this is your home, and you are welcome back anytime.”
Photo courtesy of omas A. Chambers.
e plaque commerating the rst Black organization "Expression" is unveiled in Palm Court on March 25, 2025. Olivia Saynal/ e Maroon
A yearbook photo of the rst Black organization on campus "Expression" taken in 1969. e Maroon Archives.
NEWS
LOCAL & WORLDVIEW
Loyola students and staff express frustration over execution
By Pablo Pineiro ppineiro@my.loyno.edu
Many members of Loyola’s community are expressing frustration with the recent execution of Jessie Hoffman, Louisiana’s first state-sanctioned death in 15 years. Hoffman spent more than 25 years at Louisiana State Penitentiary, and was executed on March 18.
Lindy Brasher, Loyola university minister for social justice, knew Hoffman personally, and said the execution challenges core principles of Catholic social teaching, such as the inherent dignity of the human person and the call to restorative justice.
“Pope Francis and his predecessors have emphasized that even those who have committed grave crimes must not be excluded from the possibility of redemption,” said Brasher.
Annie Phoenix, the head of the Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola, said the reason for the 15 year long pause is that it has become increasingly difficult for the state to find the lethal injection drugs used to carry out the executions.
“Drug companies do not want to be associated with the death penalty,” she said.
In February, however, the state of Louisiana approved a protocol for executions by nitrogen hypoxia, which would allow the state to continue carrying out death sentences.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who campaigned as a proponent of the death penalty, expressed his approval of the execution in a press release.
“For too long, Louisiana has failed to uphold the promises made to victims of our State’s most violent crimes,” he said.
Louisiana became the second state in the U.S. to use nitrogen hypoxia as a method for execution, with the first be-
“Nicki”
ing Alabama last year.
“Nitrogen gas is being marketed as a more ‘humane’ option, but it hasn’t been thoroughly tested, and critics argue it’s experimental,” said Brasher. “The shift in methods might give the illusion of prog-
ress or ethics, but at its core, it's still the state taking a life.”
Political science freshman Xavier Buckley said he thought the method of execution was inhumane and immoral.
“It is torture and then execution,” he
state-execution
said. “It is sadistic execution.”
Psychology freshman Molly Helton said she did not agree with the execution, nor with the use of the death penalty in general.
“I’m not excusing what he did, and I’m
not saying that he shouldn’t have been in prison, but I believe that the power of life and death should only rest in God’s hands,” she said.
Trump announces sweeping new tariffs to promote US manufacturing, risking inflation and trade wars
By The Associated Press
President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced far-reaching new tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners — a 34% tax on imports from China and 20% on the European Union, among others — that threaten to dismantle much of the architecture of the global economy and trigger broader trade wars.
Trump, in a Rose Garden announcement, said he was placing elevated tariff rates on dozens of nations that run meaningful trade surpluses with the United States, while imposing a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries in response to what he called an economic emergency.
The president, who said the tariffs were designed to boost domestic manufacturing, used aggressive rhetoric to describe a global trade system that the United States helped to build after World War II, saying “our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered” by other nations.
The action amounts to a historic tax hike that could push the global order to a breaking point. It kickstarts what could be a painful transition for many Americans as middle-class essentials such as housing, autos and clothing are expected to become more costly, while disrupting the alliances built to ensure peace
and economic stability.
Trump said he was acting to bring in hundreds of billions in new revenue to the U.S. government and restore fairness to global trade.
“Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years,” he said. “But it is not going to happen anymore.”
Trump declared a national economic emergency to levy the tariffs. He has promised that factory jobs will return to the United States as a result of the taxes, but his policies risk a sudden economic slowdown as consumers and businesses could face sharp price hikes.
Trump was fulfilling a key campaign promise as he imposed what he called “reciprocal” tariffs on trade partners, acting without Congress under the 1977 International Emergency Powers Act. But his action Wednesday could jeopardize Trump's voter mandate in last year's election to combat inflation. Several Republican senators, particularly from farm and border states, have questioned the wisdom of the tariffs. U.S. stock market futures sold off sharply overnight in anticipation of the economy weakening, after having already dropped since the start of this year.
“With today’s announcement, U.S. tariffs will approach levels not seen since the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which incited a global trade war and deepened the Great Depression," said
Scott Lincicome and Colin Grabow of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
The president's higher rates would hit foreign entities that sell more goods to the United States than they buy. The administration essentially calculated its tariff rates to raise revenues equal in size to the trade imbalances with those nations. Trump then halved that rate in act that he described as “very kind.”
The White House says the tariffs and other trade imbalances led to an $1.2 trillion imbalance last year. Administration officials suggested it could take an extended set of actions by other countries to bring down the new tariffs their imports now face, and retaliatory tariffs by those countries could make the situation worse.
Olu Sonola, head of U.S. economic research at Fitch Ratings, said the average tariff rate charged by the United States would increase to roughly 22% from 2.5% in 2024.
“Many countries will likely end up in a recession," Sonola said. "You can throw most forecasts out the door, if this tariff rate stays on for an extended period of time.” The new tariffs will come on top of recent announcements of 25% taxes on auto imports; levies against China, Canada and Mexico; and expanded trade penalties on steel and aluminum.
Trump has also imposed tariffs on countries that import oil from Venezuela and he plans separate import taxes on pharmaceutical drugs, lumber, copper and computer chips.
Canada and Mexico would not face higher rates on what they're already being charged by Trump in what he says is an effort to stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling. As of now, goods that comply with the USMCA North American trade pact would be excluded from those tariffs.
But the 20% charged on imports from China due its role in fentanyl production would largely be added to the 34% announced by Trump. The specific products that Trump is tariffing, such as autos, would be exempt from the tariffs unveiled Wednesday, as would products such as pharmaceutical drugs that he plans to tariff at a later date. None of the warning signs about a falling stock market or consumer sentiment turning morose have caused the administration to publicly second-guess its strategy, despite the risk of political backlash.
Senior administration officials, who insisted on anonymity to preview the new tariffs with reporters ahead of Trump's speech, said the taxes would raise hundreds of billions of dollars annually in revenues. They said the 10% baseline rate existed to help ensure compliance, while the higher rates were
based on the trade deficits run with other nations and then halved to reach the numbers that Trump presented in the Rose Garden.
The 10% rate would be collected starting Saturday and the higher rates would be collected beginning April 9.
Trump removed the tariff exemptions on imports from China worth $800 or less. He plans to remove the exemptions other nations have on imports worth $800 or less once the federal government certifies that is has the staffing and resources in place.
Based on the possibility of broad tariffs that have been floated by some White House aides, most outside analyses by banks and think tanks see an economy tarnished by higher prices and stagnating growth.
Trump would be applying these tariffs on his own; he has ways of doing so without congressional approval. That makes it easy for Democratic lawmakers and policymakers to criticize the administration if the uncertainty expressed by businesses and declining consumer sentiment are signs of trouble to come.
Associated Press writers Anne D'Innocenzio in New York, Rob Gillies in Toronto and Didi Tang, Paul Wiseman and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.
Continue Reading on apnews.com
Bridget
Scott, rings an anti-death penalty bell on March 17, 2025 at a rally protesting the
of her cousin, Jessie Hoffman. Members of the Loyola community were present at the rally. Eloise Pickering/The Maroon
Lawyers of Jessie Hoffman speak to their final moments before execution
By Matthew Richards mlricha2@my.loyno.edu
As Louisiana prepared its first execution in 15 years, a team of lawyers from Loyola Law were working to save Jessie Hoffman’s life.
“I was a young lawyer three years out of law school, and Jessie was almost finished with his appeals at that time, and my boss told me we needed to file something for Jessie because he’s in danger of being executed,” Kappel said.
Kappel and her boss came up with a civil lawsuit to file that said since they
wouldn’t give him a protocol for his execution, he was being deprived of due process, and the lawsuit was in the legal process for the next 10 years.
The state eventually dismissed the lawsuit, citing that they couldn’t get access to the necessary drugs to carry out an execution until an execution warrant was filed for Hoffman in February.
“A lot of people in Jessie’s situation have stuff going on in court for a long time, but for whatever reason, just bad luck I guess, he didn’t have anything going on or pending in court outside of the civil lawsuit we had filed,” Kappel said.
“So I knew that he was at risk a lot more than anyone else on death row because of that.”
Emeritus Professor at Loyola Law Bill Quigley, who along with Kappel and three others, was able to see Hoffman the day of his execution, was also struck by the suddenness of the decision.
“No one was calling for executions to restart after 15 plus years. The Governor and Attorney General waited until after the Super Bowl and then announced they were pressing forward to execute three people,” Quigley said. “One was still in his rightful appeals process and that one was stopped. Another was already dying in the hospital and died before the state could murder him. So Jessie Hoffman was the only one left, and he was going to be the person.”
When she went to deliver the news, Kappel got a reaction she wasn’t expecting.
“I was really struck by how calm and how grounded he was in that moment,” she said. “He had a message for me that number one, he was okay, and number two, that he wanted to make sure that everyone else was okay. He wanted to make sure his family was good, his wife, and his child, and he wanted to enjoy every minute he had left. That’s how he was.”
For Quigley, the logic behind the decision had nothing to do with Hoffman at all.
“The victims were not asking for this murder,” he said. “The Governor and AG kept saying in talking points that they were murdering Jessie Hoffman for the victims. The facts show that is not true.”
A take that Kappel agreed with.
“This was not for the victims,” she said. “This was a political move by Jeff Landry and his people. He has been trying to execute somebody for 10 years, and he finally got his chance. And it wasn’t about,
you know, what’s good for the family, or the prison staff, because it only hurt all of those people.”
The order for execution also came after Hoffman had been denied the chance to meet the family of the victim, according to Quigley.
“Jessie Hoffman committed a brutal senseless murder,” he said. “But he was remorseful and tried repeatedly to express that to the victims and it was the State that barred him from doing that.”
Leading up to the day of execution, Kappel often found herself overwhelmed by the situation she found herself in.
“It was… terrifying,” she said. “We tried to make a plan, then we had a plan, but unfortunately, the system is rigged, and it wasn’t in our favor. I tried really hard not to cry around him, because he said he wasn’t having that and didn’t want me to. He wanted us to fight for him until the very end and not give up, but he also didn’t want anyone’s pity.”
When the day came, Kappel said she saw a change in Hoffman as he reckoned with what was about to take place.
“Jessie actually kept us all grounded throughout this process,” she said. “But he was really angry leading up to it because he said he had been fasting for 2 days, but the guards weren’t letting him eat anyway. That kind of pissed him off.”
In the midst of that moment however, Quigley said, Hoffman was able to lean on his religious conviction for comfort.
“Jessie was a practicing Buddhist,” he said. “At the end he was praying along with readings from Thich Nat Hanh on love, kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity.”
That was a significant moment for Kappel, and served as a lasting reminder of the man she knew him to be.
“He had a right to be angry, because he was about to be murdered by the state, but he was able to just kind of re-
lease it,” she said. “It was kind of amazing to see because, obviously I wasn’t feeling anywhere near calm myself, but I tried to channel my inner Jessie.”
That evening, Hoffman was executed by way of nitrogen hypoxia, making him the first person in the state to be executed in that way, and the second in the nation after the state of Alabama executed Kenneth Eugene Smith using the method in 2024.
Hoffman’s execution occurred despite numerous attempts to ask for a stay of execution, or protest the execution entirely, both by the public and from his defense team.and according to Kappel, capped a whirlwind of a month for everyone involved.
“The people that were tasked with killing Jessie are the same people that were tasked with keeping him safe and caring for him in prison for all those years,” she said. “They announced that they wanted to kill Jessie on Feb. 10, and he was gone by March 18. It happened that fast.”
Kappel is choosing to use this moment as a guiding experience for her, one that drives her to make sure what happened to Hoffman doesn’t happen to anyone else.
“Experiences like these create a tidal wave of harm,” she said. “And it showed me that we have to be ready at all times for what could come next. Because Jeff Landry and Liz Murrill could just decide that they want to kill someone, and they can just do it. So we have to be building everyone’s cases up immediately to try and be better prepared for this and prevent another tragedy like this from happening again.”
Loyola to host conference on 'Entrepreneurship, Vocation, and the Common Good’
By Alana Frank anfrank@my.loyno.edu
The free and public conference will have entrepreneurs Luke Burgis and Andreas Widmer as the keynote speakers and highlight how entrepreneurship can be a vehicle for both economic success and social impact.
Burgis is a three-time founder and author of, “WANTING: The Power of
The Center for Ethics and Economic Justice will host a seminar titled “Entrepreneurship, Vocation, and the Common Good” on April 11. The event will bring together students, business leaders, and scholars to explore the intersection of ethical business practices and personal vocation, according to Brian Boyd, the director of the center.
Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life” and is a professor at The Catholic University of America.
Widmer, a former Swiss Guard, and author of “The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship,” leads the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at The Catholic University of America.
The conference includes thought-provoking discussions on vocation and ethi-
cal leadership, emphasizing that careers in business, especially in social enterprise, can serve a greater purpose.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to celebrate Mass with Fr. Mark Thibodeaux, an author of Ignatian Examen and discernment.
“This event invites students from across Louisiana to reflect on the question, ‘How will my gifts change the world?’” Boyd said. “Our students have a passion for change and the desire to be a force for good, and the speakers we've invited are world-class experts in helping to translate good intentions into successful action and profound growth.”
Student Government Association candidates announced, elections set for April
By Valetina Russell varussel@my.loyno.edu
Loyola’s Student Government Association is holding elections this month. Positions up for election include president and vice president, chief of staff, senators, and senators at large. The voting period opens April 21 and closes April 23 at 11:59 p.m. These positions greatly influence decisions that affect the entire student body, according to Commissioner of Elections Angel Martinez. Students will be able to vote through HowlConnect through Single Sign On. Nicholas Keen, who will be a senior in the fall, is a music industry studies major with minors in marketing and business administration, and is running for president. Jessica Valerio, who will also be a
senior in the fall, majors in biology and minors in forensic chemistry, and she is running for vice president. Both students are running unopposed.
Each individual college has its own candidates for senator at large and senators to represent them. The colleges consist of Arts & Sciences, Music & Media, Business, and Nursing & Health.
Candidates for senator at large are Angel Luxúria, Heaven Haney, Za'Kiyah Merritt, Angelina Nguyen, Emma Ridge, Paris Hayes, and Ana Beatriz Paz.
The College of Business senator candidates are Morgan Prevost and Violette Worley. The College of Arts and Sciences senator candidates are Benjamin Chehebar and Sarah Ford. The College of Music and Media’s candidate is Taylor Griffin.
Senators from SGA’s 2024-25 school
year can reapply for their positions for the fall 2025 semester.
The mission of SGA is to better the campus in multiple ways, such as “promote student welfare, establish an effective and representative student leadership body, exchange transparent ideas between students and the administration,” according to their page on Loyola’s website. They also encourage students on campus to be educated about larger world issues and to be involved in the community. They act as the voice of the student body to advocate for the needs and interests of all.
They operate separately from the university and work to give students insight about decisions that the administration makes that affects the entire campus.
SGA consists of multiple branches, such as the executive, legislative, and
judicial.
Committees that fall under the executive branch include the finance committee, equity & inclusion committee, communications committee, and the university programming board.
The legislative branch oversees the allocation of funds to student organizations and the budget that SGA is given. They work to create an inclusive community within Loyola by addressing issues such as campus policy. This branch consists of the Senate, which includes the Speaker of the Senate, senators at large, and college specific senators.
The judicial branch works on interpreting the student government bylaws and constitution. They are also known as the Court of Review and are in charge of Iggy’s Cupboard, an initiative that provides students with free essentials such
as canned goods and hygiene products.
The SGA President is the head of the executive branch, acting as the main form of communication between the university administration and all of the committees.
Several upcoming events will give students the opportunity to meet the candidates and ask questions about their plans for the student body.
The Candidate Meet and Greet will take place April 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Peace Quad.
The Town Hall Debate will be held April 11 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Monroe Hall 610, giving candidates a chance to discuss their platforms and answer questions from students.
Woman holds up a Ten Commandments sign at an anti-death penalty rally on March 17, 2025. The rally was held to protest the execution of Jessie Hoffman, whose legal team members work at Loyola. Eloise Pickering/The Maroon
LIFE & TIMES
Joseph Duke: The One-Man Band
Communications professor
By Callie Honeycutt cbhoneyc@my.loyno.edu
Reporter, photographer, assignment editor, News New York Bureau Chief, CBS Director of Recruitment, husband, friend, and professor are just some of the hats that Loyola professor and broadcast journalist Joseph Duke has embraced in his career and life.
With his lifelong career, Duke has reported and experienced earthquakes in Guatemala, meetings between the Ku Klux Klan and Civil Rights groups, Baton Rouge Board of Education meetings, and, of course, journalistic censorship and political pushback.
“On my very first day, they sent me to cover the East Baton Rouge School Board Meeting. I didn’t know anything about what was going on, nothing,” said Duke. “This is a disadvantage but also an advantage because you have to ask questions, you can’t just accept anything anybody tells you. I just fell completely in love with it within the first week.”
Duke graduated from college with an English degree but soon started working at WBRZ in Baton Rouge. From there, he hopped around from Baton Rouge to Lafayette, then New Orleans, then Houston. Finally, he finished his broadcast career and retired in New York City.
“I retired in February 2010, as a matter of fact,” said Duke. “I was mostly drinking wine and playing golf. I retired in New York, but I knew I was moving home, I knew I was moving back to New Orleans.”
Nowadays, Duke spends his time teaching young journalists the art of his craft at Loyola, enjoying time with his wife, “the lovely Therese,” and golfing
shares his life experience as a journalist
with his mates every Saturday at 6:55 a.m.
Duke has been in the journalism game since the 1960s, so he is no stranger to censorship and adversity. With the current state of our government allowing the broadcast and journalism space to be under fire, Duke had expected this mistreatment of public media.
“I suspected it was gonna happen, but I don’t like it. The media has a role, and if you keep me from covering a story, you are keeping the people out,” said Duke. “It’s not me you're keeping out, it’s the
people I report for.”
A lot of the contempt facing journalists nowadays comes from the political space, as journalists highlight the highs and lows of our government.
“There has always been friction between public officials and the media. They are sort of necessary for one another, but they are going to be at odds,” said Duke. “Public officials don’t often like the way you report a story, they often take offense at it. When I first got into the business, an old news person once told me: ‘Respect everybody and revere
no one’. Respect all voices, but don’t fall in love with anybody.”
Since every mass communications major that goes through Loyola has to take Professor Duke's communications writing class, he has a large fan base among Loyola’s students.
“I vividly remember in one class he asked us to stand up and talk about someone we love the most and why. It was such a moving experience, and I think the activity bonded everyone in the class”said senior journalism major Alana Thompson. “A lot of people, my-
self included, got emotional while we were talking about our loved ones. This moment sticks out to me the most because I think Professor Duke created a comfortable environment for us, which allowed us to feel safe being vulnerable and speaking about those dearest to us.”
Duke created a safe space for many students to learn and explore their talents. He currently teaches two classes at Loyola: On-Camera Performance and Communications Writing.
“Getting feedback on assignments from teachers can sometimes be daunting, but one of my favorite parts of having Professor Duke as a teacher was getting feedback from him.” said senior journalism major Hannah Darcey. “His constructive feedback on assignments always motivated me to put my best work forward and reassured me that I am in the right field as a communications major.”
Duke has traveled the world with his career, meeting people from all different backgrounds and reporting for the voices that can’t be heard. He has allowed numerous viewers the knowledge of their community and taught his peers and future generations what he loves, journalism.
“Being a journalist puts you right in the middle of everything. You are living historic moments, but you are not in charge of them, and you are not a part of them ordinarily,” said Duke. “You are covering them. You're an observer. So we are often not the most guests at the banquet, but that's our job. Our job is to be the uninvited guest. To report to people who can't be there, what happened. That's vital.”
Comparing life on campus and off campus: The student housing experience
By Francisco "Frankie" Esteves
fmesteve@my.loyno.edu
For college students, one of the biggest decisions they face is whether to live on or off campus. At Loyola University New Orleans and neighboring Tulane University, this choice can greatly affect cost, lifestyle, and access to campus life.
Tulane senior Isabel Souffront has experienced both.
“I lived on campus my freshman and sophomore years, and then I moved off campus,” Souffront said.
Tulane only requires students to live on campus for their first two years, and many, like Souffront, make the switch after that.
While off campus living offers more privacy and independence, it also comes with additional costs. Souffront pays $1,400 a month for rent, plus utilities.
“It might be more expensive overall because I pay for my own groceries and everything,” Souffront said. “You feel more like an adult when you’re living off campus.”
Loyola freshman Mary Ella Hastings, who lives in Biever Hall, offered a different perspective.
“I like living with so many people and building community,” Hastings said.
Despite dealing with maintenance issues, like leaks and inconsistent hot water, she appreciates being so close to everything.
“Even if we’re not in the same room, it’s nice to be able to just run back to my room if I forgot something,” Hastings said.
Mary Ella’s main concern, however, is the quality of the facilities.
“The ceiling in my bathroom was literally leaking this week," said Hastings. “I think the school can’t expect everyone to pay that much for that low quality.”
Resident Assistant and senior Maleigh Crespo has lived on campus all four years. As an RA, she sees both the benefits and behind-the-scenes challenges of campus living.
“I think when people start to see how much the staff cares, they become more
empathetic,” said Crespo, referencing maintenance delays and the portable showers provided during the recent hot water outage.
Crespo emphasized the convenience of on campus living as well.
“It’s really easy to be fully present here,” said Crespo. “My classes, my friends, The Maroon, everything is here.”
Still, she acknowledges that living on or off campus isn’t one-size-fits-all. It often depends on a student’s year, finances, and lifestyle preferences.
“I would say live on campus for at least two years,” said Souffront. “It kind of sucks sometimes, but it’s something everyone should experience.”
Whether it’s dealing with roommates, learning to cook, or submitting maintenance requests, housing in college is a learning experience on its own. For students at Loyola and Tulane, the choice between on-campus and off-campus life shapes not just their day-to-day routines, but how they connect with the larger university community.
Courtesy of Loyola University.
Parent helps student move into Francis Family Hall dorm. Eloise Pickering/The Maroon
Endless possibilities —just down the street.
The same personalized support. The same hands-on learning experience. All new possibilities for your career.
Explore versatile programs at Loyola College of Law.
· ·
Juris Doctor – full time, part time, and evening programs
Master of Arts in Environmental Law
Master of Arts in Health Law & Administration ·
Kaitlyn Manning ’22, JD ’27 and Kathryn Manning ’21, JD ’28
BA in Criminology and Justice Graduates Current Loyola Law Students
REVIEWS
Grande lets the light in via "eternal sunshine: brighter days ahead"
Frankie Esteves Journalism Major fmesteve@my.loyno.edu
In “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead”: Ariana Grande lets the light in When Ariana Grande released “eternal sunshine” last spring, she invited us into her most vulnerable and reflective work yet. It was an album of heartbreak, reckoning, and eventual emotional clarity. A year later, she returned with “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” a seven-track expansion that acts as both an epilogue and an evolution. Where the original album asked difficult questions about love, identity, and self-worth, the deluxe version begins to answer them. The title says it all: brighter days ahead doesn’t ignore the pain, but refuses to stay in the darkness. Grande picks up the emotional threads of the original and sews them into something softer, warmer, and more grounded. The
Valentina Russell English Major varussel@my.loyno.edu
Abby Barlow Psychology Major aebarlow@my.loyno.edu
result is a more hopeful and emotionally expansive listen that stands on its own merit.
“intro (end of the world) [extended]” takes the original track and adds a dark twist at the end. The stark transition between the original version and the newly added verses is scarily detailed and deeply personal. Grande sings about wondering if her ex-partner would still be into her, and whether he was sure when he proposed. She closes the song by admitting that she grieved the relationship first, which somehow made her the villain in the narrative. This is a powerful reflection on how emotional timing can shape perception.
“twilight zone” echoes the emotional atmosphere of “we can’t be friends “(wait for your love),” but this time, Grande is sure she’s over her ex. Still, the surreal nature of what happened left her in disbelief, as if she’s stuck in a loop of emotional deja vu. This haunting confusion is what lands her in the “twilight zone.”
“warm” brings a softer, sweeter energy. It’s about feeling content on your own but also acknowledging how much nicer it is to have someone by your side. When she sings, “it’s warmer in your arms,” it feels like an intimate exhale—a moment of peace amid all the emotional chaos.
"dandelion" feels like Grande channeling her thank u, next era with a mature, empowered twist. She sings about her partner being lucky to have her, promising to give him everything he could want as long as he doesn’t mess it up. Backed by trap-influenced beats and
a standout saxophone arrangement, the Max Martin production shines. It's confident, cheeky, and a definite highlight. "past life" arguably features the best production on the entire deluxe. It's emotionally rich and sonically layered, dealing with the idea that some relationships belong to another lifetime. Grande acknowledges that we outgrow people not out of cruelty, but out of necessity. It's graceful and honest, and its dreamy instrumentation helps deliver that message with clarity.
"For college students who might feel pressure to have it all figured out, this track is a gentle, beautiful nudge that it's ok not to."
"hampstead" is a deeply reflective track and a personal favorite. It feels like the thesis of the entire deluxe project. Grande pleads to be seen not as a flawless celebrity, but as a human being capable of mistakes and growth. It's a reminder that we all deserve that grace. For college students who might feel pressure to have it all figured out, this track is a gentle, beautiful nudge that it’s okay not to. Most of us are still learning.
The expanded edition is accompanied by a 26-minute short film titled Brighter Days Ahead, co-directed by Grande and Christian Breslauer. The film absolutely blew me away. You can tell acting is one of her passions. It effectively bridges the original album and the deluxe, fleshing out the full story she set out to tell. As a continuation of the "we can't be friends" music video, it brings Grande’s character “Peaches” back into focus and carries us through a journey of memory, emotional reckoning, and
ultimately, healing. Visually stunning and emotionally resonant, it's one of Grande’s most ambitious creative efforts to date.
More than a re-release, Brighter Days Ahead functions as a final chapter in Grande’s latest storytelling era. The deluxe tracks, coupled with the visual narrative, reinforce Grande's place not just as a pop star, but as an evolving artist deeply invested in how her personal story connects with broader emotional truths.
Loyola flim club performs "Rocky Horror" for second year
Loyola’s Film Club put on a shadow cast production of the cult classic movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, this past week. Tickets were sold for the performance on Friday while Thursday’s was for friends and family. It was performed on the 4th floor of the communications building.
The show follows Janet and Brad, a recently engaged couple, who get a flat tire on their way to meet a friend. To escape the downpour of rain, they follow a light coming from a giant castle.
Do they question the fact there is a castle in the middle of nowhere? No. But common sense is not Janet or Brad’s strong suit.
The castle is full of eccentric, lively characters, such as Columbia, Magenta, and her brother Riff Raff. It’s soon revealed that the castle belongs to Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who is working on building the perfect man. Rocky, his creation, is his pride and joy… for about two songs.
Frank’s seductive and charming nature has the entire
Located at the corner of Pine and Perrier street and just a 5 minute drive and 18 minute walk from Loyola, Tartine is a cozy French restaurant founded by New Orleans native and Loyola graduate Cara Benson. Founded in 2010, Tartine offers affordable breakfast and lunch options with quick service. The restaurant is small and cozy with French, old-timey decorations reminiscent of a cafe in Paris. Most people sit outside, where the outdoor patio has many seating options.
Ordering was quick and easy; you pay for your meal at the counter and find a spot to sit. The menu offers many options such as aioli and pistou sand-
audience falling for him, despite his VERY questionable actions. Janet and Brad get roped into all of his hijinks, much to their pleasure- I mean dismay.
Loyola students spent weeks memorizing their lines, making costumes, learning the calls that appear throughout the show, and putting on an amazing performance. The cast was amazing, making everyone in the audience laugh and have an unforgettable night. One of my favorite parts was seeing Frank and Rocky, who were played by Grayson Gustin and Zach Van
wiches, mediterranean salads, and classic French foods such as quiches and stuffed baguettes. Even on a Sunday morning, service is fast and the staff were friendly and attentive by ensuring our meals arrived quickly and checking in to make sure we enjoyed our food.
Given the name of the restaurant, I had to try their signature Tartine. For $7.50, I enjoyed a toasted baguette served with jelly, butter, and cheese on the side, which made for a great appetizer to share. However, I was under the impression that a Tartine would be more filling, and wasn’t entirely satisfied with the tartine alone. For an extra $4, you can add eggs and bacon, which I’d
Zandt, perform “I Can Make You A Man”. The chemistry and use of handmade pops, such as weights, made the number very enjoyable.
One of the amazing things about Rocky Horror shows is the audience participation that is a part of it. Viewers are given a prop bag with seemingly random objects, yet each one helps immerse you into the strange and wonderful world that is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. There is a newspaper to cover your head with as Janet and Brad walk through
recommend next time for a more substantial meal. As an entree, I ordered baked eggs and brioche. This was a rich, filling, and delicious breakfast, buttery and flavor-filled. While delicious, it was quite rich, and left me feeling stuffed. Both meals were served with a bean casserole on the side. I’m usually not a beans-for-breakfast person, but the cold
"This was a rich, filling, and delicious breakfast. "
the rain, noisemakers and hats to celebrate Rocky’s birthdays, and rubber gloves to snap at the same time Frank snaps his. If I could do the Time Warp and see this show again, I would! This is an annual fundraiser for the Film Club, so check it out next year to support your local film kids and have a good time! You can follow them on Instagram at loyno_filmclub.
casserole was great and refreshing in the hot weather, while pairing nicely with the brioche.
Overall, Tartine was a lovely and affordable breakfast experience. Their cozy outdoor seating, quick service, and unique menu made for a great way to start the day. Next time, I hope to try one of their signature sandwiches, and opt for coffee for the free refills, instead of a latte. Whether you’re a Loyola student, a local, or just passing through New Orleans on a trip, Tartine is worth a visit!
Photo Courtesy of Apple music
Men's and women's tennis preps for final matches
By Alana Thompson anthomps@my.loyno.edu
The Loyola men’s and women’s tennis teams have entered their final stretch of matches in the 2024-25 season.
The women’s team is currently ranked No. 8 in the most recent National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics polls. With a 10-3 record, the team has won four of their last five matches. Sixth-year head coach Matt Llewellyn
said the team’s success is attributed to their energy, creating a positive team environment, and focusing on what they can control. With their success, he mentioned that each player plays a significant role on the team.
“Every player on our team contributes to building our program and culture,”
Llewellyn said. “We need each player, every day, to make positive contributions to our team both on and off the court.”
Despite the team’s losses to Dillard,
Southeastern Louisiana, and Middle Georgia, Llewellyn said it was a learning experience for them to grow from.
“We learned we need to play more aggressively in bigger moments,” Llewellyn said. “When we have opportunities to close out opponents we need to raise our level and confidence.”
For the men’s team, they are ranked No. 25 in the national poll with a 6-6 record. Llewellyn described the team’s progress this season as “great” and men-
tioned that like the women’s team, the positive environment plays a significant role. In their upcoming matches, Llewellyn said the team could improve upon building their confidence when facing different opponents.
“Play with more confidence and belief that we are a good team and can beat every team we play,” Llewellyn said.
With championship matches approaching in April, and a stretch that includes four matches in 10 days, Llewel-
lyn mentioned the “fun, energetic, and positive” culture they cultivated motivates the team down the stretch.
“We want to enjoy this season from start to finish,” Llewellyn said. “We have really solid people on both teams. I want them to make memories together that last well beyond this season. I believe that has and will keep us motivated until the end.”
Baseball eyes conference title
By Matthew Richards mlricha2@my.loyno.edu
As the regular season winds down, Wolf Pack baseball finds themselves ranked outside of the top 10 in the most recent National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics poll coming in at No. 12.
After their most recent series victory against Dillard University, the team has a record of 26-9 with a 13-5 record in Southern States Athletic Conference play, which puts them third in the conference behind #7 William Carey and #13 Faulkner University.
“Our goal going into the Blue Mountain series was to start to find a new identity,” said head coach Jeremy Kennedy. “We have dealt with some injuries that have changed our roster so we are working to build a new identity on the field and find out what this group can and cannot do.”
Offensively, the Wolf Pack have been performing well, ranking in the top 25 nationally in batting average, total runs batted in, hits, and walks drawn.
“I think our team is in a good place mentally,” Kennedy said. “This is a resilient group who is focused on the task at hand.”
With matchups against both Faulkner and William Carey still left on the schedule, Kennedy realizes that the Wolf Pack’s second ever conference title is still within reach.
“If we just focus on doing what each individual is capable of and nothing more, we will give ourselves a shot,” Kennedy said. “If we have a shot going into the last two weekends, that’s all we can really ask for. We want a shot to get it done on the field at the end.”
Led by veteran players like graduate
student Cole Romero, who went on a 29 game hit streak and leads the team with nine home runs, and marketing senior Brandon Mooney, who leads the team in hits, runs scored, and doubles, Kennedy said he trusts his team to push forward with the goal of making the World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.
“It’s a veteran group who understands where we are and what needs to happen over the next few weeks,” he said. “They have done a great job of holding each other accountable and leading themselves first.”
Kennedy said the team is making sure to not look too far into the future and controlling what they can control.
“We are just really focused on getting better and becoming the best version of ourselves,” Kennedy said. “Wherever that leads, it leads.”
Graduate student Remus Hebhang-Balan prepares to hit the ball. The men's tennis team was ranked No. 25 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Atheletics polls. Abigail Smith/Loyola University New Orleans Athletics
Graduate student Cole Romero prepares to bat. The team won three games in a row. Ava Dufrene/The Maroon
OPINION
OPINION
Locked in: a screenagers generation
Ella Jupiter Political Science Major ecjupite@my.loyno.edu
I will be the first to admit that I am addicted to my phone. I am not proud to admit that I am addicted to my phone, but ultimately, I am a product of the 21st century environment. A teacher
once asked my class, “Do students stay on their phones during class because they’re afraid they are going to miss something?” His question made me think: Why do students use their phones in class?
As adults, we have the option to be active in class or to be in class at all. I am ex-
tremely guilty of using my phone during a lecture. This does not make me or you a bad student, but rather, this makes us students who are products of our generation. Our professors have had to learn to adapt while teaching students in the age of technology. On top of that, COVID made learning
"Our exposure to constant media has made it nearly impossible for us to put down our phones during a lecture."
harder for everyone. We became accustomed to high levels of screen time in a short window. If I am being candid with you, and honest with myself, most of my class periods consisted of a muted Zoom while I was on my phone scrolling. As a result, in-person learning has forced us to re-hardwire our new normal.
In my personal opinion, I believe our attention spans have become so short that for many of us, it is hard not to immediately look at our phones when we receive a notification. It is a common trend to blame COVID for so many societal changes in such a short period, but I believe there are reasonable explanations as to why learning looks so different these past few years.
To answer the question my teach-
er asked my class, I do believe that our generation suffers from an extreme case of FOMO, or fear of missing out. Our exposure to constant media has made it near impossible for us to put down our phones for a lecture.
All of that being said, I am not here to persuade you to not use or to use your phone while in class. I believe that while in class, we should be present and engaged in a way that works best for the individual. Our notifications, social media scrolling, and access to screentime are not disappearing while we are in a fifty-minute class.
I won’t speak for every college student, but I do believe my words might resonate with a few students on our campus. We should give our professors some grace as they are learning to teach in a technologically-centered generation, but we should also give ourselves grace in recognizing that we are also learning self-control in terms of media. I am not a perfect student by any means, and will probably remain a victim of phone usage in class again, but we should challenge ourselves to give up some screen time in exchange for a more engaging class experience.
OPINION: Are unpaid internships ethical?
Mark Michel History Major mamichel@my.loyno.edu
As college students, we are all familiar with internships and their importance, and many of us are, sadly, intimately familiar with applying for unpaid internships. The concept seems like it makes a lot of sense: get paid in experience while you’re in college and build your resume while you’re studying. In reality, college students, with so many expenses, deserve to be fairly compensated for our labor no matter whether we’re in the middle of our academic careers or not. If we’re not getting paid our fair share for our labor, then that makes the internship unethical. Which is why all unpaid internships are unethical- to not be compensated for one’s labor is the definition of exploitation. While the federal government does not consider all unpaid internships illegal, there are strict rules for unpaid internships that the government mandates employers to follow. Sadly, many employees are not aware of these rules, and many employers actively ignore them for their own benefit. The
"If we're not getting paid our fair share of our labor, then that makes the internship unethical. Which is why all unpaid internships are unethical - to be not compensated for one's labor is the definition of exploitation."
Department of Labor sets down certain guidelines for unpaid internships to be legal- “The extent to which the intern and the employer clearly understand that there is no expectation of compensation. Any promise of compensation, express or implied, suggests that the intern is an employee—and vice versa.
The rules are as follows:
The extent to which the internship provides training that would be similar to that which would be given in an educational environment, including the clinical and other hands-on training provided by educational institutions.
The extent to which the internship is tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.
The extent to which the internship accommodates the intern’s academic commitments by corresponding to the academic calendar.
The extent to which the internship’s duration is limited to the period in which the internship provides the intern with beneficial learning.
The extent to which the intern’s work complements, rather than displaces, the work of paid employees while providing
significant educational benefits to the intern.
The extent to which the intern and the employer understand that the internship is conducted without entitlement to a paid job at the conclusion of the internship.”
These requirements alone represent the vast majority of unpaid internships, which often don’t follow these guidelines, don’t offer academic credit, and displace paid employee work rather than complement it, are illegal. Beyond that, most unpaid internships argue that they pay in experience and resume building, but as most know, experience doesn’t pay the bills, and your resume
doesn’t help you make monthly loan payments. Also, if you feel like an unpaid internship that you’ve accepted fails to follow these guidelines, or that your employer isn’t paying you your fair share (withholding tips, failing to pay for overtime) it is your right to file a complaint with the local Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Part of their responsibilities are enforcing the federal labor laws, which are meant to protect employees from exploitation by their employers. We need to understand what our rights are as workers and that the federal labor laws exist to protect us from exploitation by our bosses. With these laws on the books, it becomes our
responsibility to help our fellow workers by ensuring that our bosses are following the law rather than violating it or being negligent towards it and us.
Loyola University hosts New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week. Rodrigo Delgado/The Maroon
Student visits Loyola University Website. Laci Barrow/The Maroon
4, 2025
Stand Against the Industrial Canal Renovation
As far as government offices that can’t be trusted in New Orleans go, the Corps of Engineers is at the top of that list. The gross negligence that occurred when constructing the levees is what made Hurricane Katrina so devastating, and the Army Corps of Engineers is planning to reconstruct part of the Industrial Canal and residents are against it. And as a Loyola community, we should stand in solidarity with them against this renovation.
The Canal Will Kill website lays out the facts of why this is a threat to citizens here. Currently, the Corps of Engineers plans to renovate the lock in the Industrial Canal located in the 9th Ward. This would cost millions of taxpayer dollars. It would stand only to benefit national shipping and barge companies and those at the very top who profit off of New Orleans’ maritime trade.
Specifically, according to The Canal Will Kill NOLA organization, The Corps estimates the construction project will cost $951 million and endure 13 years, but recent reports are showing that the cost will be upwards to $1.4 billion.
The project will disrupt not only local traffic, but local economies on both sides of the canal, causing daily traffic jams for more than 50,000 people and putting those same people at serious risk during hurricane season. Some res-
idents will need to “temporarily” move and only $58 million dollars has been set aside for massive relocation.
An interim bridge will be built during construction of a new bridge, destroying the nationally significant lock and landmark St. Claude Bridge. Not to mention
"As always the only people who will profit are the wealthy CEOs who only see New Orleans as the place that holds their profit margins. "
the problems that have been caused recently by the gutting of the federal government and budget means that the Corps of Engineers will most likely be looking to cut costs, and they take no responsibility or liability when their projects have failed.
Can the government be trusted to take care of New Orleans? Historically, no. Can a government led by Trump and supported by the Landry administration be trusted? No, there is nothing to suggest from the past 2 years of Landry’s gubernatorial term and the past 3 months of Trump’s presidency that suggest they will do anything of benefit for the city or people of New Orleans.
As always the only people who will profit are the wealthy CEOs who only see New Orleans as the place that holds their profit margins. There are no benefits to the people of New Orleans. It will only be months and months of unnecessary construction, holding up people going to jobs, schools, and emergency services, especially when the bridges are up, which the Corps says is going to happen more after this construction. People’s homes and businesses will be uprooted all for increasing a profit margin and an executive’s salary.
As a Loyola community, we need to understand that being against this unnecessary government intervention in our city is a social justice issue, and it is imperative that we fight against this and support The Canal Will Kill NOLA campaign in fulfillment of our Jesuit values.
Editorial Board
Editor in Chief Matthew Richards
Managing Editor Eloise Pickering
News Director Violet Bucaro
Campus News Editor Alana Frank
Local News Editor Mary Ella Hastings
Worldview Editor Ecoi Lewis
Sports News Editor Alana Thompson
Life & Times Editors Emma Iseman, Dessadra Tezeno, Lily Bordelon
Opinion Editor Callie Honeycutt
Reviews Editor Elise Beck
Editorial Writer Mark Michel
Digital Content Director Francisco Esteves
Photo Director Heidi Herrera-Wanke
The Wolf Creative Director Taylor Falgout
Copy Editor Kloe Witt
HOWLS & GROWLS
HOWL to no on all 4
GROWL to tariffs
HOWL to Bloomsfest
GROWL to losing hot water again
HOWL to Uptown Throwdown
GROWL to OR nacho inconsistency
HOWL to nearly summer
GROWL to pollen
HOWL to Thomas Chambers
EDITORIAL POLICY
The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Loyola University. Letters and columns reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of The Maroon’s editorial board.
The Maroon does not represent the opinion of administration, staff and/or faculty members of Loyola.
Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and style. Please limit submissions to 400 words. Submissions are due no later than 4 p.m. the Sunday before publication.
Please send all submissions —
The Maroon, 6363 St. Charles Ave., Box 64, New Orleans, LA 70118. Email us your letters — letter@ loyno.edu.
Submissions may also be made online at www.loyolamaroon.com.
A Loyola sign sits bathed in sunlight outside Marquette Hall.
