Maroon Nov. 7 2014

REMEMBERING DR. KURT BIRDWHISTELL To read a tribute to Dr. Birdwhistell’s life and statements from his friends, family and students, see PAGE 12

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 93 • Issue 10 • Nov. 7, 2014

THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA

LOYOLA STUDENT

ARRESTED

CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING

By Colleen Dulle

and going home.

NOPD Detective Jerry Devorak showed Correa’s photo to the cab driver who responded to Correa’s Julian Correa, Loyola accounting call. The cab driver stated that he sophomore, was arrested Monday had never seen Correa before. on charges of second-degree kidCorrea has been suspended from napping and simple battery after Loyola, said Mikel Pak, director of a three-week investigation by New public affairs, and he is forbidden Orleans and Tulane police. from entering the university area, Correa was accused of holding a according to court documents. female Tulane student at knifepoint The university will decide what near Snake and Jake’s further action to take at a Christmas Club Lounge disciplinary hearing with around 3:50 a.m. on Oct. Correa, Loyola spokes11. He allegedly forced man James Shields told the woman to walk to the Times-Picayune. another street, where he Correa’s friend and groped her and demandformer Residential Life ed that she remove her co-worker, Lauren Patton bra, according to the poA’14, said this incident lice report for the case. was out of character for Video surveillance “the Julian I knew.” from the 7500 block of JULIAN CORREA “He was always really Oak Street showed Correa Accounting sweet when he’d see me, following the victim, and sophomore like, huge hugs, and he’d it was from this video that always have nice things to a friend of Correa’s idensay to me,” Patton said. tified him to TUPD. Another surCorrea’s bail was placed at veillance video from 1200 Broadway $100,000, court documents show. A showed the perpetrator holding the GoFundMe campaign called “Help victim at knifepoint, according to the Correa Family” was posted to the police report. help raise bail funds for Correa. This Police gained a search warrant donation page has since been taken and arrested Correa at his home, offline. where he identified himself in a still Martin E. Regan of Regan and from the Oak Street video footage, Sandhu, P.L.C. will serve as Correa’s the police report said. lawyer in the case, according to Correa told police that he had no documents from his court hearing recollection of what happened that Tuesday. night beyond calling United Cab

mcdulle@loyno.edu @Colleen_Maroon

LOYOLAMAROON.COM • FB.COM/THELOYOLAMAROON • @LOYOLA_MAROON

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November 7, 2014

THE MAROON

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Vandalism West Road Garage

Oct. 29

12:51 p.m.

Theft/Larceny Nashville Ave, 1100 block

Oct. 29

4:25 p.m.

Theft Danna Center

Oct. 29

6:38 p.m.

Burglary Perrier Street, 5500 block

Oct. 30

7:28 a.m.

Theft/Larceny Saratoga Street, 4900 block

Oct. 31

3:38 p.m.

Vandalism Music Complex

Oct. 31

4:03 p.m.

Theft/Larceny Freret Street, 6400 block

Nov. 1

8:00 a.m.

Burglary Magazine Street, 6000 block

Nov. 2

11:03 p.m.

Theft Carrollton Turnaround

Nov. 3

4:12 p.m.

Burglary La Salle Street, 4900 block

Nov. 3

6:20 p.m.

E ST

IN MAGAZ STAFF

Assistant Editors: Mary Colleen Dulle, Gabriel Garza, Mary Graci, Whitney Woods Staff Writers: Zayn Ali Abidin, Emily Alleman, Raquel Derganz Baker, Emily Branan, Faelynn Carroll, Laura Cordell, Trent Dardar, Nick Ducote, Marley Duet, Lester Duhe, Austin Erwin, Rachael Espaillat, Rachael Falls, Kevin Fox, Marc Goudeau, Erin Hidlebrand, Liz Johnston, Cayla Kelton, Victoria Nachman, Anthony Olanji, Francisco Pazo, Lauren Saizan, Kerritt Saintal, Mary Staes, Rebecca Trejo, Skyllarr Trusty, Jack

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NEWS

November 7, 2014 THE MAROON

3

Hello, my name is

Immigrant minors offered legal council

By Faelynn Carroll fecarrol@loyno.edu @Faelynnember

Loyola implements a new strategic plan with four main goals to give students a “high-quality, experiential and values-based education”

By Colleen Dulle mcdulle@loyno.edu @Colleen_Maroon

The Loyola Board of Trustees unanimously approved its new strategic plan, “Transforming Loyola 2014,” which will guide Loyola through the next six years, according to an announcement from the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J. After 16 months of collaborative planning, the university is implementing a strategic plan that seeks to give students a “high-quality, experiential and values-based education,” Wildes said. He said that such an education will help students discover their careers, incorporate New Orleans culture into the Loyola experience and hold fast to the university’s Jesuit roots.

The planning process for this strategic plan included over 20 collaborative steps, and over half of these steps included requests for feedback from members of the Loyola community.

According to the drafts of the Transforming Loyola 2014 action plans, most of the action items will be complete by August 2015. Some

extend as far as 2022, like the Quality Enhancement Plan, which will increase the amount of experiential learning Loyola students do.

Students can currently see the results of the plan in the addition of two new majors that incorporate the distinctly New Orleanian opportunities into the Loyola curriculum, Mikel Pak, associate director of public affairs, said.

The new degree programs are a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Filmmaking, which capitalizes on the booming film industry in New Orleans, and the Bachelor of Science in Popular and Commercial Music, which “takes advantage of the city’s deep musical roots,” according to a university press release.

According to the Academic Affairs website, the university plans to increase experiential learning by requiring every student to complete at least two experiential learning practices. These practices include group research, community service, internships and international education such as studying abroad.

This is part of the Quality Enhancement Plan that continues into 2022.

The university will also increase its experiential learning by developing a four-year plan for co-curricular engagement that encourages students to get involved.

In this area, the school also plans to consolidate the various academic support services across campus into one central Student Success Center.

Loyola plans to help its students discover their possible careers by improving Career Services to be a “signature program,” according to the draft of the program’s action plan. In addition to this, the university wants to develop Loyola’s alumni network to help students find internships and summer jobs.

The university will be implementing an e-portfolio program by fall 2016 to help students prepare for the professional world.

In addition to these changes, the university will condense academic and non-academic advising into one collaborative model to help “student development, not just progress toward a degree,” according to the action plan draft.

The university currently has a loose plan in place to develop a

model to increase the Loyola community’s engagement with New Orleans, though this model has not yet been developed.

Students will be encouraged to interact with the city through service learning courses and internship opportunities at all course levels.

The university also hopes that its new digital filmmaking and popular music majors prepare students for in-demand careers in New Orleans.

The university will evaluate its Jesuit formation programs and formation programs at other Jesuit universities to determine how to improve those at Loyola. It may develop new programs, like extended orientation sessions, retreats or increased opportunities for participation in spiritual and service programs.

Loyola will also integrate Ignatian discernment principles into its advising system and include Jesuit values in each course’s learning outcomes, as well as showing students different Jesuit organizations they can get involved with.

Wildes said this new strategic plan will be implemented immediately.

Loyola to buy Dominican Sister convent

By Nia Porter naporter@loyno.edu @NiaPorter

Up until last month, 7320 St. Charles Ave. was the location of a convent for the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Now, the sisters are now requesting $2.1 million for the building, and Loyola plans on footing the bill.

The university has its sights on purchasing the convent, also known as the Levy Mansion, which is located next to the Loyola-owned Fabacher Mansion on the Broadway campus.

In an email to faculty and staff on Oct. 16, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J. announced that the 5,973-square foot building offers several advantages, including a strategic location,

an adjacent parking lot with 15 spots and an agreement with the Sisters to give Loyola the “exclusive” opportunity of first purchase.

“This is not an opportunity any forward-thinking business would pass up,” Wildes said in the announcement. “Therefore, the Board of Trustees has approved the university purchasing the building for nearly $2.1 million.”

The university will purchase the building with the expected $3 million they plan to receive from the pending sale of Loyola’s property in Kenner, which Wildes said he expects to come to fruition by the end of this calendar year.

Bernard Cook, a history professor and Loyola historian, said that the land in Kenner was gifted to the university by donor J. Edgar Mon-

roe when Loyola’s former president, Fr. Patrick Donnelly, S.J. planned to move the school there in the 1950s.

The plan ultimately fell through.

“Loyola has been selling the land parcel by parcel at least since the 70’s,” Cook said. “This is something Loyola has profited from over a period of 40 years or so.”

The Sisters have already sought out other living arrangements for those who stayed in the convent, said Sister Judene Lillie A’68, an archivist at the Dominican Sisters’ motherhouse on Broadway.

Lillie said that the leadership of the Dominican Sisters used the building when it was first purchased as a part of St. Mary’s Dominican College. When the college was closed in 1984, Loyola annexed the Broadway campus, but allowed the

Sisters to maintain ownership of the convent.

“When Loyola purchased the college, they also purchased the surrounding land that the building lies on. So, when we decided we weren’t using it, they had a right to request that they wanted to buy it,” Lillie said.

Loyola currently has no set plans for how the building will be used.

“The university is continually making decisions that make sense for Loyola’s future,” Wildes said in his announcement. “As we move forward with long-term plans for the future of the Broadway Campus, the use of this building will be determined.”

The surge of unaccompanied minors entering the United States this year has propelled law professors Hiroko Kusuda and Ramona Fernandez to take action.

Kusuda and Fernandez, head of the Immigration Clinic and Children’s Rights Clinic at Loyola’s College of Law, have teamed up to provide these young newcomers with legal services.

“My youngest client is two,” Kusuda said.

Under current U.S. immigration law, these children have no legal right to a lawyer.

“Children are treated the same as adult people, so we thought it was a very difficult journey ahead because they don’t speak the language. They don’t know immigration law,” Kusuda said.

Kusuda and Fernandez, have about 25 law students working under their supervision. They are able to serve about 40 clients, but the need is far greater.

Unaccompanied minors are five times as likely to be allowed to stay in the US if they have a lawyer than if they do not, according to data from the transactional records clearing house of Syracuse University.

Louisiana is one of the most affected states, due to an increase in unaccompanied minors coming into the United States. In New Orleans, there are an estimated 1,400 unaccompanied minors who have entered the city this year.

The majority of unaccompanied minors in New Orleans are teenagers from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Kathleen Gaseperion, A’95 and immigration lawyer at the Metairie law firm Ware-Gasperion, said that these children are coming into the United States because they need refuge.

“They’re the most vulnerable of our population, and they’re the most vulnerable of the populations of where they’re coming from,” Gasperion said.

Gasperion is a part of the community response to the recent influx of unaccompanied minors that includes the Loyola Law Clinics, Loyola’s interpretation program and Tulane University’s Global Social Work program.

“I think about what it would take for either me to leave my child behind or for me to send my child away and how bad things must be to get to that kind of place,” Gasperion said. “I would hope that somebody would be there on the other end to catch her, and I think that’s our responsibility.”

Sabrina Hernandez, biology senior and project leader for Loyola Immigration Advocacy, said the journey ahead for these children is long and marked by legal processes, learning a new language and integrating into a new society.

“We have an obligation to advocate for their rights and make them feel welcome in a community that immigrants rebuilt,” Hernandez said.

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WORLDVIEW

November 7, 2014 THE MAROON

Off to the races...again Louisiana Senate race proceeds to December runoff

By Alex Kennon agkennon@loyno.edu @alexandrakennon

Three-term Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu and Republican U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy will compete in a runoff on Dec. 6 to determine who will represent Louisiana in the next national Congress.

The state’s next senator could not be determined by the Nov. 4 election due to Louisiana’s unique Jungle Primary system. Rather than holding separate primaries for each political party prior to the election, Louisiana allows all candidates to run on the same ballot. If no candidate receives more than 51 percent of the vote, however, the two leading candidates proceed to a runoff election.

With Mary Landrieu receiving 42.08 percent of votes and Bill Cassidy receiving 40.96% of votes, a runoff is necessary to determine Louisiana’s next senator. Tea-Party candidate Colonel Rob Maness received 13.7 percent of votes and the remainder was split among five other candidates, preventing Landrieu or Cassidy from obtaining an adequate majority for election. This makes Louisiana one of the last few states that has yet to determine who will fill its Senate seat.

According to Sean Cain, professor of political science, voter turnout in Louisiana was above average for a midterm election, and greater than the national average. While only 36.6 percent of voters turned out nationally, 43.9 percent of eligible Louisiana voters made their way to the polls on Tuesday. Cain said that much lower turnout is anticipated for the runoffs, however.

This is not unfamiliar territory to Landrieu, who won two of her previous three elections through runoffs. In her speech Tuesday night, she addressed Cassidy directly saying, “This race is starting tonight,” and implied that her opponent has placed too much focus on her relationship with President Obama.

“This race is not about who the president is, who the president was, or who the president will be, or which party controls Congress. This race is about the future of Louisiana, the bright and strong future that

ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS

Louisiana deserves,” Landrieu said.

She went on to outline issues the debates should cover, which include education, jobs and growing the economy, social security and Medicare, healthcare, energy and the environment and international affairs.

During his speech, Cassidy thanked his supporters for voting for change by supporting him, and thanked Maness’ voters in advance for their transferred support. He went on to reference Landrieu’s support of President Obama.

“You the people of Louisiana tonight have sent the signal that you want a senator who represents Louisiana, not a senator who represents Barack Obama,” Cassidy said.

After thanking the National Rifle Association for their support, Cassidy reached out to voters who did not vote for either him or Landrieu in the initial election.

“For all those others who voted for change but did not vote for Cassidy tonight, if you want a senator who will vote to appeal and replace Obamacare, who will work to get our economy going again by using America’s national resources, who will respect and protect your second amendment rights and who will appreciate the culture of life, if you want a senator who represents you, not Barack Obama, I look forward to getting your vote on December the sixth,” Cassidy said.

Both campaigns have set aside large advertising funds in anticipation of the runoff elections. According to Cain, as of Oct. 15 Landrieu had $1.6 million in cash on hand while Cassidy had $3.1 million available. Fundraising and campaigning are expected to skyrocket over the course of the next month.

Cain said that from a political science theory standpoint, conditions favor Cassidy’s election. This is because Obama currently has an approval rating of below 50 percent, and past elections suggest that voters favor senate candidates of opposite political alignment from second-term presidents with lower approval ratings.

Though conditions favor Cassidy, Cain said that Louisiana is typically unpredictable and Landrieu has won unlikely runoffs in the past.

COMPILED BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scalise keeps first district congressional seat

Richmond maintains second district seat

Edwards continues race for congressional seat

Republicans gain congressional majority

Voters decide on proposed legislations

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise won re-election by 78 percent against three opponents in a district centered in the New Orleans suburbs. Scalise won the seat in 2008 when his predecessor, Bobby Jindal, became Louisiana’s governor.

Incumbent Cedric Richmond, the only Democrat and only African-American in Louisiana’s congressional delegation, was re-elected by 69 percent of voters to a third term in a campaign against four challengers. His district stretches from New Orleans northwest toward Baton Rouge. No Republican entered the race.

Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, a Democrat, earned a runoff spot with 30 percent of the votes against Republican Garret Graves, who garnered 27 percent of votes, in a crowded field of candidates in the Baton Rouge area district. Edwards is seeking a political comeback after serving 8 years in a federal prison on corruption charges.

Republicans claimed at least 52 seats in the next Senate, a gain of seven, with the outcome still to be decided in Alaska, Virginia and Louisiana, which has a runoff election Dec. 6.

House Republicans expanded their majority. They added more than a dozen members and were on track to meet or exceed the 246 seats they held during President Harry S. Truman’s administration.

Nearly 150 ballot measures were decided Tuesday. Oregon and the District of Columbia legalized the use of recreational pot. In Colorado and North Dakota, voters rejected measures that opponents feared could lead to bans on abortion, while Tennessee voters approved a measure that will give state legislators more power to regulate abortion. Voters in four states approved minimum wage increases.

SUDOKU

ACROSS

1. Physicist for whom a speed-ofsound ratio is named 5. Steamers in a pot 10. Post-WWII commerce agreement acronym 14. Toast topping 15. Lose one’s cool 16. Eight, in Tijuana 17. __ and rave 18. Stars, in Latin 19. What winds do 20. Book spine info 22. Acid indigestion, familiarly 24. Snigglers’ catch 26. Not feel well 27. Serious play 28. San Francisco transport 33. Daring 34. Ottoman governors 36. Chip away at 37. Prefix with lateral 38. Auto wheel covers 40. Fishing tool 41. Henry or Jane of “On Golden Pond” 43. Kal Kan alternative 44. 0 45. Area where goods may be stored without customs payments 47. Oozy stuff 49. NRC predecessor 50. Scotch __ 51. Go-between 57. Performed without words 60. Mesozoic and Paleozoic 61. More pathetic, as an excuse 63. Four-legged Oz visitor 64. No longer here 65. Pacific, for one 66. Russia’s __ Mountains 67. “Puppy Love” singer Paul 68. Campground sights 69. War journalist Ernie

DOWN

1. Satirist Sahl 2. Jai __

5

THE MAROON

November 7, 2014

3. Stripe that equally divides the road 4. Detective’s breakthrough 5. Tax season VIP 6. Mascara target 7. Start the poker pot 8. Actress Sorvino 9. Sacred Egyptian beetle 10. Male turkey 11. Rights org.

12. Son of Odin 13. Chrysler __ & Country 21. Nightmare street of film 23. Mah-jongg pieces 25. “Elephant Boy” actor 27. Blood bank participant 28. Washer phase 29. Manager’s “Now!” 30. Early computer data storage term 31. Be wild about

32. Update, as a kitchen 33. Physically fit 35. Israeli diplomat Abba 38. Brownish-green eye color 39. Blog update 42. Scrolls source 44. “Pipe down!”

46. Spotted wildcat 48. Hightail it 51. Million: Pref.

52. Golfer’s choice 53. Unpleasantly moist 54. Medieval spiked club 55. Prayer finish 56. “No ice, please” 58. And others: Lat. 59. Clinton’s 1996 opponent 62. BP checkers

Puzzle answers for October 31, 2014

6

Life &Times

November 7, 2014 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

THAT OLD VOODOO MAGIC

All photos by ZACH BRIEN / Photo Editor

T

he 2014 Voodoo Music Experience, a three-day music festival, kicked off on Halloween at City Park’s brand-new festival grounds. Despite long lines and cold temperatures, attendees flocked to the festival grounds to see music on four different stages. National acts like the Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys, 30 Seconds to Mars and Outkast headlined the festival. Local acts like Bonerama, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Flowtribe, Naughty Professor and Soul Rebels Brass Band also played. Naughty Professor features Loyola alumni A’14 John Culbreth.

Extraordinary music professor celebrated through song

By Ellen McCusker emmccusk@loyno.edu @EllenMcCusker

Though his own resume is impressive itself, Dreux Montegut, assistant professor of voice, said he is most proud of the accomplishments of his former students.

Along with moving on to graduate programs at universities including Manhattan School of Music and Northwestern University, a few of Montegut’s students have also performed with distinguished companies such as Metropolitan Opera and New Orleans Opera.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Roussel Hall, Loyola’s Montage Series hosted a free concert to celebrate Montegut’s two decades at Loyola. The concert included performances by several of Montegut’s former students such as Bry-

an Hymel ‘01, Casey Candebat ‘09, and Angela Mannino ‘03, who have gone on to perform in Broadway shows, as well as at The Metropolitan Opera House.

As for Montegut, besides accompanying long-time friend and professor of voice Amy Pfrimmer, Lillian Gerson Watsky Professor in Voice at Tulane University, on a few pieces, he got to “sit back and enjoy.”

He is proud to have worked with so many talented students who have gone on to lead successful lives as performers, as well as with his recent graduates who are just starting out and making names for themselves. He said he considers many of these students to be close friends.

“I have really enjoyed being able to be a part of student’s lives,” Montegut said.

He also mentioned his former student, Sawyer Nunez, who couldn’t attend the concert because he is currently performing in “Finding Neverland” on Broadway after a run in “Matilda” on Broadway.

As for what has kept him at Loyola for two decades, Montegut credits another group of friends — his colleagues. Some of these colleagues have become particularly close friends, such as Tyler Smith, extraordinary professor of voice, and Betsy Uschkrat, professor of voice, performed for the concert.

With both former students and current and former colleagues performing to celebrate Montegut’s accomplishments, this concert represents this beloved professor’s hard work over the past two decades.

Andrew Leach / Staff Photographer

Extraordinary professor of music, Dreux Montegut (left) plays piano to accompany friend and fellow musician, Amy Pfrimmer. On Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Roussel Hall, Loyola’s Montage Series hosted a concert to celebrate Montegut’s two decades at Loyola.

November 7, 2014 THE MAROON

FICTION

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

Sam hears of extra dimensional parasites

PART TEN

By Adam Albaari akalbaar@loyno.edu “So if none of this is real and if you and this whole building are just some manifestation of some other alien or something, then how do you know so much about me?” I asked.

“If you’re asking about how I was able to get a hold of that picture,” Dr. Wright said, gesturing toward the picture in which she stood prominently beside my second-grade class, “we’d be wasting time getting into it.”

“So when people drink the water out of that water fountain outside, are they drinking you?” I asked.

Dr. Wright laughed. “The structure itself is a part of my dimensional field. However, that water is pumped in through the city’s pipes, so no,” she said.

“I see…” Sam said. “So what about treatment?”

“The forces that have aligned

7

themselves against you do not possess any real power,” Dr. Wright said.

“They use your own insecurities and fears as fuel to bring themselves closer to your dimensional field.”

“I have no idea what ‘dimensional field’ means,” I blurted out.

Dr. Wright smiled again. “Of course. Reality does not consist of a world constructed around you that you can look out into, but more of a field that you generate as you move through space. For this reason, all sentient life forms exist within their own dimensional plane, separate from others. Each of us lives within our own interdependent and self-constructed universe.”

“Okay,” I nodded like an idiot.

“So,” Dr. Wright could tell none of this was actually getting through to me. “Even though it feels like we’re all living in the same world together, we simply occupy the same space, but not the same world; actually quite the opposite. We live in a shared, fundamentally singular space. Each of us perceives that space is wildly different. Now, these forces come from another place in space and attempt to consume or occupy other life forms. By converging on other’s dimensional planes, they are able to control their victim’s reality.”

“They want to possess me?” I asked.

“That is actually a great comparison. Some humans throughout time have called these things demons, jinns, monsters, evil spirits, but in reality they are they are just parasites.” Dr. Wright stopped, noticing that I was starting to understand.

“So they want my space so that they can have control over my reality...how do I stop this?”

“You must conquer your fears and insecurities. You must go into the engine of your mind that creates your subjective reality. In this particular language, it is called the ‘subconscious’ mind.”

“I have to go into my own subconscious? How do I do that?”

“This is the point of my whole practice, Sam. We’ll be going into your own self-created reality and facing down all of your deepest fears. Once we’ve conquered them, the malevolent forces that wish to intrude on your life will have nothing else on which to feed.”

“Okay,” I took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

“Good. Look to your left.” Just as I turned my head, the fireplace in the left corner of the room suddenly erupted with flames.

The flames rose higher and higher until they consumed my entire field of vision. It wasn’t long until I was staring into a giant bright light, then I felt weightless.

NON-FICTION

Silver Linings

By Lauren Savoie lesavoie@loyno.edu

Adjusting the collar of my jacket, I looked around at the buildings occupying one of the busiest parts of New Orleans. I was going to meet my friends at an extremely popular restaurant for college students.

It was technically fast food, but ten times better — what fast food should be.

A line formed indoors. Waiters and waitresses were rushing about and folks were sitting in clusters just inside the foggy glass windows.

A garage door opened its mouth wide to allow the extensive amount of customers to flow out from the main restaurant to the patio, which was graced with benches in shades of blue and black. They matched the shadows cast from the streetlights and the bustling crowd of customers and employees alike.

Christmas lights spread along the edges of the patio lighting up the restaurant’s tables and slightly brightening everyone’s faces. A hot breeze rushed in; the heat of March was not yet ready to leave us.

I walked towards the patio, looking for the group of friends that I had invited out for my 21st birthday.

As I looked past the rushing servers balancing trays of hot dogs and burgers, I spotted them. They were wearing their usual gear: black jack-

ets, sharp haircuts and gleaming black nail lacquer. Greg and Lindsey were about 30 years apart in age, but looked like they were born under the same sign. My friend from high school, just two years younger than me, was leaning her hand against the side of her neck, long nails and slender pale fingertips just brushing her heavy black choker.

“It’s your 21st birthday,” she said, crossing her legs and looking at me curiously. “What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. Get drinks, I guess,” I moved over slightly on the bench to let my boyfriend have some room to sit down. He stood in stark contrast to the two on the other side of the table. Tight red t-shirt, jeans, shaven face, not a piercing or tattoo to date. A future minister. Possibly a future priest.

“C’mon. Anything. We could go to the beach,” she suggested. Greg smiled and put his arm around Lindsey.

“That’s a cool idea. But the beach is really far away. At least five hours from here.”

She flashed a roll of cash at me.

“We can do anything you want. It’s your birthday.”

I sat there, stunned. Recently she had been living a pretty frugal life, having just moved out of her

See NONFICTION, PAGE 12

RELIGION

8

November 7, 2014 THE MAROON

Babaganoush for all at Hillel

By Anthony Zaleski ajzalesk@loyno.edu

DAVIS WALDEN / Staff Photographer (TOP) Tulane psychology sophomore Tyler Fukae prepares a sandwich for a customer at Hillel’s kitchen. (BOTTOM) Tulane’s Hillel Center is located at 912 Broadway Street, across the street from The Palms.

It might be surrounded by Greek houses, but the Tulane Hillel at The Goldie and Morris Mintz Center for Jewish Life is host to more than ordinary social gatherings. Tulane Hillel provides a free Friday night meal for those who partake in the weekly Shabbat ritual. Located just across the street from The Palms Bar and Grill, Hillel’s kitchen prepares an organic and kosher meal that is not only free, but is also healthy and delicious.

The Goldie and Morris Mintz Center for Jewish Life was built in 2009 “to respond to the broadening capacity that Hillel’s Shabbat dinners was experiencing,” Liza Sherman, CEO of Tulane Hillel, said.

Sherman said the building was designed to feel welcoming to the

Jewish students at Tulane, and Loyola students can also check in as visitors at the center.

The Shabbat meal first begins with both conservative and reform services at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. After the prayer services, the dinner, prepared by Chef Harveen Khera, begins around 7:30 p.m. or 7:45 p.m., depending on that night’s crowd.

The average attendance of the Shabbat meal reaches around the dining hall’s capacity with 200 to 300 people. Most of those in attendance are the Jewish students of Tulane, as that was the buildings initial purpose, Sherman said, but they welcome the attendance of Loyola’s Jewish students.

The typical meal at Tulane Hillel on a Friday night usually consists of six different groups: the trio of spreads such as hummus, babaganoush, carrot plate, house-made

Challah, farmer’s market Israeli salad, roasted chicken and potatoes, seasonal vegetables and chocolate cake. The meals each week differ slightly, as some weeks have a theme.

Other than putting on the weekly Shabbat dinners, the Tulane Hillel offers service opportunities for any that are interested in participating.

Tulane Hillel performs various student-led holiday and service programs to serve both the local Jewish community and all of those in need.

Channukah Party at The Palms, Jews and Bros and Thinking Outside the Lox are just some of the programs offered at Hillel.

Compass offers spiritual community for Loyola Catholics

By Abby Perkins amperki2@loyno.edu

Loyola’s Catholic club, Compass, is pointing in a different direction this year with new leadership and a fresh approach to prayer.

Philosophy Seniors Chris Backes and Jensen Quadros have joined forces with last year’s president, Criminal Justice Senior Matterian Zehyoue, to revamp Compass on campus. Along with weekly meetings on Mondays, they have added Eucharistic Adoration which will be celebrated the first Friday of the month.

Zehyou encourages Loyola students to get involved on campus early on.

“Being involved as a freshman was the gateway for finding myself at Loyola,” Zehyou said.

She said it opened her to the communities on campus, as well as to her own faith. She said that she believes it is important to have a Catholic group available to students.

Backes attended Loyola for two years before leaving to join a seminary for another two years. He re-

turned to Loyola last fall and is currently a resident assistant in Cabra Hall.

“In addition to giving talks, meetings also nurture prayer, and I think that has been successful,” Backes said.

Monday meetings are usually an hour long with opening and closing prayers. Quadros and Backes select the prayers that the group will discuss, and often a prayer will be reviewed over the course of a few weeks.

Compass has also had three guest speakers come to their meetings so far. Representatives from the Jesuit Volunteer Core, Louisiana Right to Life and A’13 Stephanie Roca have spoken at regular meetings.

The club has seen an increase in participation from the two or three students that would show up last year to an average of six people per meeting this semester.

The club’s main focus is spirituality and being Christian. It is a group of people that associate with each other due to their shared spirituality. Ideas like sharing God’s love and devoting more time to others are

discussed.

“Compass creates an open environment,” Amy Pirtle, business junior, said. “Modern Catholic youth can discuss and grow in faith together under the support of fellow Catholics.”

Members believe that it is crucial to be present and available to both the Christian community on campus as well as fellow classmates.

“My friends are the reason I’m Catholic,” Pirtle said.

Since most of the club’s members are women, a trip to the Dominican Covent in Nashville, Tennessee is being discussed for next semester.

This would be an opportunity for members to gain an understanding of what religious life looks like for a devoted woman.

The group holds prayer and reflection on Monday nights and Eucharistic Adoration on the first Friday of each month. These events are held at 7:30 p.m. in Ignatius Chapel.

Photo courtesy of Danielle McWhirter Members of Compass pose at their first meeting of the school year. Compass brings together Catholics around campus to share God’s love and plan events for fellow Catholics and the community.

SPORTS

November 7, 2014 THE MAROON

9

AND SO IT BEGINS

Courtesy of Harold Baquet

The Loyola men’s basketball team is off to a solid start this year, taking a win over Carver College on Nov. 1. The Pack, who was picked to place 7th in the SSAC Preseason Poll, beat Carver 101-81, marking the first time they scored over 100 points in a single game since 2009. This also marks the first win for Head Coach Stacey Hollowell, who took over leading the Pack this year. The men will hit the road next week when the travel to Lafayette, La. to play an NCAA Division I opponent, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The Pack will be back in the Den on Nov. 25, when they take on their neighborhood rivals, Dillard University.

ZACH BRIEN/Photo Editor

Lauren Brand (LEFT), Tiffany Walker (MIDDLE) and Becca Burnett (RIGHT) all receive their framed jerseys and a bouquet of flowers from their teammates as they are surrounded by their parents and Coach Angela Franke.

Volleyball seniors say goodbye to the Wolf Pack

By Sarah Szigeti sisziget@loyno.edu @szigeti_maroon

The Pack is down a few wolves after three key-players on the women’s volleyball team donned their Maroon and Gold jerseys for the last time.

Lauren Brand, psychology senior, Becca Burnett, environmental business senior, and Tiffany Walker, political science senior, were honored on Monday night after playing their final game in the Den. The Pack played neighborhood rivals Xavier University and had a clean sweep, winning in the first three sets.

The Pack took off with an early lead, not falling behind once in the first set.

The second set was a much closer battle, as the Pack had to wrestle for the lead with the Gold Nuggets.

The third and final set followed in suit, with the scoreboard tying up on six occasions. When Loyola finally took the lead, they received their final point on an attack error, courtesy of Xavier.

Walker said that the win was only a bonus, because that was not the point of the game. In fact, it was about something much more important, she said.

“I really didn’t care if we won or

lost, I just wanted everyone to give everything they had, and they did. I couldn’t have asked for more,” Walker said.

However, the excitement didn’t come alone, according to Burnett.

She said she could feel the support of the younger players, which created some nerves.

“It was nerve-wracking at first, definitely, just because I feel like there was a lot of pressure on us seniors to play our hardest, and I think we did,” Burnett said.

The three seniors became very close during their time playing together, and Walker said that has shaped her four years here as a

member of the Pack.

“I think as a trio, we’ve been through a lot in these four years, a lot of ups and downs. But I think the way we’ve handled it speaks volumes to our character, and I’m just really proud to be seniors with these girls,” Walker said.

The women said that the key to their success, both on court and off, is the chemistry within the team.

Brand, who led the team on offense with 11 kills, said chemistry is hands-down the most important piece to their puzzle.

“Our team chemistry has grown so much over the last four years.

Leaving this group of girls, I couldn’t

be happier. This couldn’t have been a better end in terms of team chemistry,” Brand said.

Brand said that senior night left her with so much love in her heart and that she only hopes it continues tri-fold even after the seniors are gone.

“I hope the girls take with them that at the end of the day, when you give it your all, good things happen,” Brand said. “There’s nothing better than coming on this court everyday wanting to play. And I think we’ve shown that.”

OPINION

10 IN MY OPINION Students sharing their opinions on various topics

November 7, 2014 THE MAROON

THE POWER OF CONVERSATION The events in Ferguson have shown the power of conversation within a community — by joining these conversations, we help to sustain the movement

MATHEW HOLLOWAY Mathew is a Sociology junior. mbhollow@loyno.edu

Michael “Mike” Brown is a person whose name and story we are all likely familiar with. By story, I am referring to the events surrounding his death: how his body laid lifeless in the middle of the street, uncovered for hours, after he was gunned down at the hands of local police.

His case continues a unique and important conversation about the ways in which many communities of color are over-policed and operate within the context of a militarized state, perpetually suspended in a “state of emergency.”

Historically, there has been a culture of distrust between communities of color, especially the poor, and the police forces that are assigned to serve in their communities. What members of the Ferguson community reveal to the rest of the country that there is a clear difference in the way their community is “policed” as opposed to other communities.

Moreover, the ways in which poor communities of color are policed creates a space in which police officers — operating on prejudices about the community and its residents — are justified in using aggressive force on young black males without the threat of penalty. Officers showed a lack of regard by leaving Michael Browns’ in the middle of busy street in broad daylight However, where there is political oppression, there is also resistance.

The unique feature about Ferguson

is that the community has sustained its opposition in a country where the attention span of its people is second only to the 24-hour news cycle.

The community launched into marches and rallies where they employed widely public social media campaigns that provoked further conversations about the ways in which media representations of African Americans conspicuously recriminalize and perpetuate stereotypical images of blackness. Though their protest was met with tanks, tear gas and fear, the residents of Ferguson kept the Michael Brown’s death relevant in the media, and they are still protesting for justice today.

As a tribute to their courageous efforts and in honor of Michael Brown’s death, the Black Student Union and African and African American Studies department will host “Ferguson Across America.”

This event will be a town hall forum that will engage the Loyola community on the events of Ferguson and its impacts on conversations of race relations, police brutality, militarization of the police, and modern activism. This forum will take place on Nov. 18th at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Charles Room located in the Danna Center.

In addition to this event, the Black Student Union, Brothers for Progress and The Tulane Office of Multicultural Affairs will host “The Power Complex: Who’s Protecting Us?” This will be an interactive discussion featuring George Capowich, professor of sociology, who will explore the factors that contribute to corruption within law enforcement. The event is scheduled for Nov. 11th at 7 p.m.

Be a part of these conversations.

1540 should be held accountable to the Loyola community AMY PIRTLE Amy is a political science junior. apirtle@loyno.edu

I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of the 1540, Loyola’s secret society dedicated to performing “good works” for the school and upholding the Jesuit ideals that it holds dear.

I do not know of any current student who is a member, nor do I have even a clue what position of leadership they may hold in other organizations. I have never had the privilege of receiving correspondence

from 1540. In fact, by making my opinion on the matter known, I will have probably blacklisted myself from ever gaining membership into or receiving tokens of appreciation from this society.

1540 was created in 1997 by Chris Cameron, who was then Vice President of Student Affairs. The organization’s intention was to keep choice individuals in powerful positions under the guise of being a good works organization.

Throughout the years, little news has ever been leaked about the society apart from a corruption case in 2009 in which two SGA justices had to resign upon being charged after being exposed as members of 1540.

Not much is really known about the society aside from what they decide to reveal to the public — which

usually takes the form of mooching off the Maroon for free advertisement, the occasional token of appreciation in chalk writing ,and letters to prominent members of the Loyola community, including a mix of student representatives and faculty members.

Supposedly, the society has paid for past Awakening retreats, but this is something I’m not able to prove or disprove because there’s frankly no way to check, unless the society has financial records they’d like to release. It is said that 1540 has also paid for a student’s plane ticket home, although it is rumored that that student was just a close friend of the organization. This forces me to question the “altruism” 1540 claims to have as its core value The intention of this article is

twofold. Firstly, I hope 1540 is motivated to actually do something beyond writing an anonymous note signed with a cryptic, even pretentious “We are who you think we are.

We are who you think we are not.”

More importantly, I want students to be motivated to demand accountability from the organization or else call for its removal from campus.

Organizations like 1540 are neither necessary nor beneficial to small schools like tLoyola. We are 3,000 students strong, and our SGA has enough trouble getting student participation and interest as it is.

The presence of a secret society on such a small campus only causes a concern for corruption because this group could potentially gain, if it doesn’t already have, a lot of pow-

er on campus. Unchartered organizations like 1540 create an internal hierarchy within the school that corrupts the democratic process by which Loyola SGA and other chartered organizations are run.

A secret society shouldn’t be allowed on campus because it doesn’t have any sort of accountability factor — we don’t know who they are, what they do, and how much influence they have over campus affairs.

So Loyola, I’m urging you. Join the fight to take down 1540 for good.

Their secret ways only inhibit the political process and their good works seem to be more about appearances than real action. Really, how does writing creepy notes and lurking in secret really represent the Jesuit ideals anyway?

EDITORIAL

November 7, 2014 THE MAROON

11

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

IT’S TIME FOR A POP QUIZ, LOYOLA STUDENTS:

HOWLS & GROWLS

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR EDUCATION?

HOWL to post-Halloween candy and costume sales.

GROWL to another month of aggresive political ads.

HOWL to holiday-themed drinks at Starbucks.

GROWL to paper-writing season being upon us.

HOWL to A Series of Unfortunate Events being adapted for Netflix.

GROWL to being too broke to fix your car...or buy food.

HOWL to registering for your last semester of classes.

EDITORIAL BOARD Topher Balfer

Editor-in-Chief

Nia Porter

News Editor

Karla Daniela Rosas Kat O’ Toole Melanie Potter

Editorial Editor Managing Editor

Wolf Editor Life and Times Editor

Linda Hexter

Senior Staff Photographer

Daniela Garcia Schulz Maroon Minute Coordinator Asia Alvarado

Copy Editor

Emily Andras

Design Chief

Katherine Collier

Religion Editor

Lauren Stroh

Copy Editor

Whitney Woods

Social Media Coordinator

Alexandra Kennon

Senior Staff Writer

Sarah Szigeti Devinn Adams

Sports Editor Worldview Editor

Zach Brien Burke Bischoff

Photo Editor The Works Editor

Hannah Gomez Farias Katie Richard

Web Master

Resident Cartoonist

EDITORIAL POLICY The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Loyola University.

Letters and columns reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of The Maroon’s editorial board.

The Maroon does not represent the opinion of administration, staff and/or faculty members of Loyola.

Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and style. Please limit submissions to 400 words. Submissions are due no later than 4 p.m. the Sunday before publication.

Please send all submissions — The Maroon, 6363 St. Charles Ave., Box 64, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Email us your letters — letter@ loyno.edu.

Submissions may also be made online at www.loyolamaroon.com.

Y

ou may be tempted to go for the short and easy answer and state that your professors are the ones responsible for educating you. They’re the ones being paid by the university — or more accurately, by you — to share their knowledge with all of us.

As obvious as this may seem, however, this answer is only partially correct. So we may have to deduct some points from your final score.

You are just as responsible for your education as the individuals who teach you.

As a student, you can’t simply pat yourself on the back for going to class.

So you show up. You probably even take a few notes. You tell yourself that simply by being in the same room as your professor you’re bound to learn something — but unless you’re some sort of hybrid human-sponge creature, this could not be further from the truth.

We get it. It’s a drag having to go to that required philosophy class first thing in the morning, but we say that you should focus on the positive.

Our university is committed to an educational model that focuses on the growth of the whole person — that may read like a line ripped straight from a recruitment brochure, but you’re living proof.

In a world where higher education is becoming more and more

industrialized, we are lucky to attend an institution that thinks it is important that we are exposed to various disciplines of study, instead of a basic one-size-fits-all education. And this is a good thing, because simply going to college isn’t enough anymore. Society needs individuals with multiple skills and a well-rounded perspective.

So care about the ideas you are exposed to. Don’t forget that your access to knowledge is a privilege.

Engage with your professor. Ask them questions and don’t be afraid to challenge what they say.

You may just find yourself changing that one required philosophy course into your major. At the very least, if the subject of free will ever comes up at the dinner table, you’ll be able to keep up.

Feigning apathy about the ideas you are exposed to ultimately only hurt you. Yes, believe us, we know how hard it is to care about those pesky ACC requirements — especially since we’re about to head into the final weeks of the semester and winter break seems so close.

But keep an open mind, ask questions, and most importantly, don’t treat ignorance or a lack of interest toward a subject as some sort of virtue.

We’re already paying an arm and a leg for this education; we may as well make sure our brains get their money’s worth.

November 7, 2014

12

THE MAROON

Professor remembered by students, faculty

By Alex Kennon agkennon@loyno.edu @AlexandraKennon

Kurt Birdwhistell, a much loved Chemistry professor, father and husband, died on Monday morning of adrenal cancer at the age of 57.

Faculty members and students who were close with Birdwhistell, or “Dr. B” as his students fondly call him, say that not only was he an outstanding teacher but that his earnestness, compassion and innovation made him an invaluable mentor and DR. KURT friend to many.

BIRDWHISTELL “Being a staff Chemistry member in the professor department, you get to hear and overhear many of the unfiltered opinions of the students,” Lyle Henderson, chemistry department office manager, said. “The students loved being around him. They loved doing research with him and once they left, they never forgot him.”

Birdwhistell began teaching at Loyola in 1988 after obtaining his Ph.D. in inorganic and organometallic chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1985.

The focus of much of his recent research was green chemistry, and he gave many talks on the importance of green chemistry for a sustainable future.

In his free time, Birdwhistell en-

joyed bike riding, photography and bird watching. He was also very active in the local chapter of the American Chemical Society in addition to leading the student chapter at Loyola.

“He was one of the most passionate professors I have ever had,” Hiba Elaasar, chemistry senior, said.

“He loved his work. He loved talking about his research. In class, it was pretty obvious that there was nothing else he’d rather be doing than teaching. It made his passion for his field of study contagious.”

Vu Nguyen, chemistry senior, said he became interested in Birdwhistell’s green chemistry research after taking his classes and that accepting his offer to be part of his undergraduate research team was one of the easiest decisions he has made in college.

In a recommendation letter for Birdwhistell to be considered for the 2014 Dux Academicus award, Nguyen wrote that, “As a research advisor, Dr. B always challenges me to think critically. He once told me that working hard is not always good, but working smart is, and I took that lesson to heart.”

Many students, including Nguyen, said that Birdwhistell was more to them than simply a professor and advisor.

“My father passed away from kidney cancer when I was 11, so I grew up without a father figure. When I began spending more time with him in class and research lab, Dr. B gradually became the perfect father figure that I never had,” Nguyen said in his letter. “He is always compassionate and understanding. Whenever I have something on my mind and

need someone to talk to, he is always there.”

Henderson, who was hired by Birdwhistell when he was serving as department chair, said that initially he appreciated how upfront and to the point Birdwhistell was, and that in time he developed a close relationship to Birdwhistell and his family.

“Kurt cared. He cared about me as a person and he cared about me as an employee. He took genuine interest in my personal and professional development. He wanted me to be happy and he wanted me to always know I was valued and able to be the best in my job responsibilities,” Henderson said.

According to Henderson, there were many instances in which Birdwhistell demonstrated care and thoughtfulness, but one particular series of events stands out in his mind.

“He knew I liked pastries. He also knew that I was trying to cut back on eating so many sweets. About once a week, he would go to a doughnut shop and purchase one buttermilk drop. He would bring that little white bag, oftentimes placing it on my desk, with my name on it before I made it to the office,” Henderson said. “The mystery was that he somehow knew what day I needed this little ‘pick me up.’”

Henderson said that even after Birdwhistell received a camera ticket on his way to the bakery that made the buttermilk drop cost him $120, he never stopped occasionally brightening his day with them.

Chemistry Department Chair Lynn Koplitz said that she, Birdwhistell, and Biology professor Jim

Wee all accepted positions at Loyola and moved to New Orleans with their spouses in August of 1988, meaning that their families were close and that the loss was particularly devastating to them.

According to Koplitz and other faculty, Birdwhistell was the first person to recognize the need to renovate Monroe Hall when they began working on plans to update the firstfloor chemistry labs in 1992.

“His efforts to renovate and update the chemistry labs taught the rest of us what was possible with effort and determination and helped catalyze renovation of the rest of Monroe Hall,” Frank Jordan, professor of biology, said.

Koplitz said that using funding from outside grants, Birdwhistell personally aquired a number of major teaching and research instruments for these labs, which he maintained himself.

“He was a good listener, supervisor, mentor, friend and human being,” Henderson said. “He will forever be in my heart and the hearts of so many.”

Birdwhistell is survived by his wife Teresa, his son Ben, ’12, and his daughter Kate, a current Loyola senior.

There will be a memorial in his honor on campus on Dec. 6, with details pending.

“We all miss him,” Koplitz said.

“He will be forever in my heart and the hearts of so many.”

— Lyle Henderson chemistry department office manager

NONFICTION, continued from PAGE 7 parents’ house and was not working full-time.

“What do you want to drink?” she said.

I pushed back the sleeves of my leather jacket and studied the wine list attached to the napkin holder as if I knew what half of the drinks were.

“Let me recommend you one.”

She reached over the table for the napkin holder and skimmed through the wines, listing a few more to herself than to me. This was one of her few nights off from hosting AA meetings in the city with Greg.

“How about Pinot Grigio?”

“Hmm… yeah… I think that’d be a good one.”

“It’s a popular one. It’s a common wine, because it’s sweet,” She smiled and looked off towards the street.

I nodded. The drink was $5.75.

She threw me 10 dollars.

Open Mic Night showcases talent

By Davis Walden @DavisWald jdwalden@loyno.edu

For just an hour in Satchmo’s Jazz Cafe, students were able to trade in their pens for microphones at the Residence Hall Association’s Open Mic Night.

Two singer-songwriters, religious studies freshman Cyprien Bullock and music therapy freshman Nikki Morgan, organized the Oct. 30 event in hopes to bring out the musical abilities and talent of Loyola students.

“Cyprien and Nikki did a fabulous job,” Claire McLaughlin, general studies freshman who performed at the open mic, said.

“I think they fostered an environment that encouraged participation from artists and from people who came to watch. It was cool how easy it was to be receptive to other peoples’ talents.”

Bullock and Morgan went to the Residence Hall Association to help them fund and plan the event.

Over 20 artists participated in

the event. Acts included a poem by Charity Mack, physics sophomore, and a cover of House of the Rising Sun performed by Hannah Pico, music industry studies freshman.

“It was pretty exciting. I was a little nervous,” McLaughlin said. “But it was awesome to be surrounded by so many people who love doing what I do.”

Kirkland Middleton, music industry studies freshman, said, “I thought it was a good representation of expression at Loyola. It covered a wide variety and was well organized. It was a medium for people to express themselves.”

Ronald Chavis, theatre sophomore said, “I’m honestly surprised that Loyola has not had more of those. I’m hoping they continue to have them.”

About the chance of upcoming open mic nights, Cyprien Bullock said, “It’s looking pretty good.”

“People actually expose themselves,” Middleton said. “Even though you haven’t met them, you see their faces.”

DAVIS WALDEN / Staff Photographer

Susan Camille takes the stage at RHA’s Open Mic Night. The event, held on Oct. 30, brought together the talent of Loyola in a ‘coffee house’ atmosphere.