By Elise Beck erbeck@my.loyno.edu
Loyola students have responded to the recent news outbreak of US President Trump’s termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs set in place to ensure inclusivity amongst Americans.
Students have provided a wide range of emotions and responses towards the rollback, feeling a sense of sadness, confusion, anger or are in support of the executive orders.
Examples of these initiative have included sensitivity training, employee resource groups, diverse hiring practices, expanded recruiting e orts, and the use of more inclusive language and communication.
ese policies were implemented to provide equitable opportunities for diverse individuals, including people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Hip-hop and R&B sophomore Austin Troncalli said DEI policies have brought di erent perspectives and contributed to success in workplaces.
“DEI e orts try to level the playing eld, helping organizations tap into a broader range of talent,” Troncalli said. “DEI initiatives are important because di erent viewpoints are helpful and sometimes required for success in the workplace.”
Troncalli said the rollbacks could lead to a decline in diversity of thought.
“With rolling back DEI policies, you will see diversity slowly erode in student life, leading to a more isolated point of view,” Troncalli said.
Some students expressed concerns about the lack of equity that could result
from the DEI rollbacks.
Philosophy freshman Imad Siddiqui said reversing these initiatives will hinder the progress of a more inclusive society.
“I think the DEI rollbacks are a step backward, limiting progress toward a more inclusive and equitable society,” Siddiqui said.
Others worry the rollbacks will reinforce systemic inequalities.
“DEI rollbacks will not only deepen opportunity gaps,” political science freshman Reginald Batiste said, “But also make access to critical resources more di cult for marginalized communities.”
Some critics of DEI programs argue they can make employees feel shamed or lead to the perception that certain co-
workers received their positions solely due to their diversity status.
However, some students support the rollback of DEI initiatives, arguing that such programs can be divisive, lead to reverse discrimination, or undermine merit-based opportunities.
Political science junior Viviana Capasso said these initiatives have caused division rather than unity.
“I rmly believe in meritocracy, where race and sex aren’t exalted or penalized,” Capasso said. “In a country that constantly strives for unity, I believe DEI has only caused more division and employed people based on factors other than skill, rather than valuing hard work and merit.”
Capasso said she does not believe the
rollbacks will impact Loyola’s campus.
“I don’t think the e ects of the rollback will a ect campus because everyone should have equal opportunities based on merit and achievement,” Capasso said. “DEI, in my opinion, is more discriminatory than unifying, and excellence should be measured by skill, motivation, determination, and improvement.”
In contrast, criminology freshman Bryan Hall said he believes the DEI rollbacks will a ect Loyola, particularly its employees.
“I believe the DEI rollbacks will impact our campus, particularly the university’s employees,” Hall said. “We may see a reduction in faculty and sta .” Psychology sophomore Joshua
Fletcher said the rollbacks represent an attack on diversity e orts.
“Instead of addressing the issues with DEI or suggesting an alternative, they completely destroyed these initiatives,” Fletcher said.
Political science junior Viviana Capasso said these initiatives have caused division rather than unity.
“I rmly believe in meritocracy, where race and sex aren’t exalted or penalized,” Capasso said. “In a country that constantly strives for unity, I believe DEI has only caused more division and employed people based on factors other than skill, rather than valuing hard work and merit.”
Capasso said she does not believe the rollbacks will impact Loyola’s campus.
“I don’t think the e ects of the rollback will a ect campus because everyone should have equal opportunities based on merit and achievement,” Capasso said. “DEI, in my opinion, is more discriminatory than unifying, and excellence should be measured by skill, motivation, determination, and improvement.”
In contrast, criminology freshman Bryan Hall said he believes the DEI rollbacks will a ect Loyola, particularly its employees.
“I believe the DEI rollbacks will impact our campus, particularly the university’s employees,” Hall said. “We may see a reduction in faculty and sta .” Psychology sophomore Joshua Fletcher said the rollbacks represent an attack on diversity e orts.
“Instead of addressing the issues with DEI or suggesting an alternative, they completely destroyed these initiatives,” Fletcher said.
Valentina Russell varussel@my.loyno.edu
Loyola has speci c amnesty policies designed to give students a chance at redemption when engaging in danger-
ous substance use. Mardi Gras week is a time when students often choose to consume alcohol and other substances, leading some to le for amnesty. Students have only one opportunity throughout their four years of college to
le for amnesty, and many attempt to do so during Mardi Gras. e university encourages students to report incidents without fear of repercussions. Essentially, the amnesty policy provides protections for students who need medical assistance due to actions that may violate conduct rules, such as drug or alcohol use.
To qualify, students must call for help and wait for responders. Once emergency personnel arrive, students must fully cooperate. ose who decline amnesty may face student conduct actions. Amnesty is intended to be a one-time use per student, though students will not be denied help if needed again. Multiple amnesty lings may result in further support regarding substance use and potential disciplinary action.
Mardi Gras often leads to an increase in student-related incidents. Common reckless behaviors during the festival season include excessive drinking, public intoxication, and impaired judgment. Many students see it as an opportunity to push boundaries and view the amnes-
ty policy as a safety net.
Deputy Chief Patrick Martin of the Loyola University Police Department provided insight into how campus police are preparing for an increase in student emergencies. According to him, amnesty is about health and safety, not punishment. e police department's main priority is ensuring all students remain safe while part of the Loyola community.
“We will increase patrol presence, particularly in high-tra c areas, to ensure safety on both campuses,” Martin said. “ e New Orleans Police Department and Tulane Police Department will be in contact with LUPD to ensure uni ed safety messaging.”
Residential Life will also work with LUPD, focusing on validating IDs and enforcing guest rules.
“It is important to emphasize that regardless of how many times a student les for amnesty, LUPD will treat every call the same way,” Martin said. “Student safety is our priority.”
Once amnesty is documented, it is forwarded to the O ce of Student Con-
duct for evaluation.
Martin also highlighted the Loyola University Alert app as a valuable tool for students.
“LUPD strongly encourages the use of this app, which is free to all Loyola students,” he said. “It has features such as a speed dial to the police department, shuttle tracking, a map of the area, and anonymous tips.”
LUPD encourages students to alternate alcoholic drinks with water and be mindful of moderation.
“LUPD balances the need for law enforcement with the university’s mission to provide a supportive environment for students by prioritizing student well-being, o ering guidance and support, and providing educational interventions,” Martin said.
e department enforces laws and policies fairly while ensuring campus safety.
While Mardi Gras is a time for celebration, Martin and the rest of LUPD urge students to enjoy the festivities safely and to call for help if needed.
By Alana Frank anfrank@my.loyno.edu
As part of Loyola University's Family Weekend, the Monroe Library will showcase rare Mardi Gras archives, which
will be displayed Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. e collection o ers a glimpse into the city’s Carnival traditions from 1870 to 1970. It features vintage ball invitations, Krewe programs, historic postcards, and Loyola memorabilia that highlight how Mardi
Gras has evolved over the years. is event is part of the Second Line Library, a campaign led by Loyola’s Public Relations Student Society of America Bateman Team in partnership with the EveryLibrary Institute.
It is open to Loyola students, families, and the public, providing an opportunity to connect with the past and gain insight into the customs, symbols, and traditions that have de ned Mardi Gras for generations.
Strategic communications junior Meghan Hall said, “ is initiative aims to educate students on library advocacy and accessibility, bridging the importance of historical preservation with modern-day engagement.”
ACROSS
1. Intersectionalist author ____
hooks
5. Initials to the man who had a dream
7. Get free tickets from Iggy for __Nola
10. Local law enforcement agency, abbr.
11. Only fans, abbr.
12. Music genre that originated in New Orleans
15. Baby’s rst word
16. American Economic Association, abbr.
17. Initials of a Jazz pianist from Rocky Mount, NC
18. Start of a laugh
19. What kind of trees are in Audubon park?
21. Barack Obama’s slogan, “Yes We ___!”
22. Initials for this African country whose capital is Luanda
23. Ctrl + Z
25. Initials for “Go Tell it on the Mountain” author
26. To leave out on court records
28. Civil rights activist ___ Du Bois
31. Are you going to the Mardi Gras parades this weekend???!!
33. Short for day
34. African American soldiers served in this division during WWI
35. First of all, abbr.
37. She did not get o the bus
38. e morning
39. Initials for 37 Across
40. Dating app
41. __-ie and Munchie
42. DIY “____-Made” videos
43. First African American employed at the National Archives ______ Pinkett
47. Opposite of against
48. Part of your arm frat boys love to ex
50. Your, in text
51. Completely destroyed
52. Local area network, abbr.
55. Start or beginning
56. Black Student Union is an ____
for black students, abbr.
57. First African American president
61. Country in Asia between ailand and Vietnam
62. “Friday I’m in Love” band
63. e oldest civil rights organization
64. En Route, abbr.
65. Down 49 was put on _____ for false charges of murder and kidnapping
66. African country between Côte d’Ivoire and Togo
67. Excited noise
68. College students always expect their classes to be an ____ _
DOWN
1. February is _____ History… (see Down 30)
2. Greek goddess of mercy
3. “ ___ On” by Major Lazer
4. Where the Dodgers are from
5. Tiktok horror challenge with creepy girl
6. Initials of the actor who played Morpheus in the Matrix
7. Study abroad at Loyola during a _ Term
8. ese exams were the toughest in high school
9. Revolutionary muslim minister and human rights activist
12. Month before Feb
13. Quarantine video meeting
14. Can have cheese or pepperoni, abbr.
17. Total cost of bill at the bar
18. Main character in the Boondocks
20. “I Kissed a Girl” by ___ Perry
24. “Old woman” in greek mythology
25. Initials of the rst African American woman to graduate Yale
27. Journalist ___ B. Wells and founding member of Across 63
28. Windfall Elimination Provision, abbr.
29. Initials of the queen of jazz
30. Finishes Down 1
32. Emergency Room, abbr.
34. “La vie en rose” by Louis (Aka Satchmo) _________
35. Symbol for BHM
36. Getting older
38. __ in the ght for equality
40. ____ extensions
41. Initials for this African country that Mansa Musa once ruled
42. Texas Woman’s University, abbr.
43. National Museum of African American ______ and Culture
Editorial Board
Editor in Chief - Matthew Richards
Managing Editor - Eloise Pickering
News Director - Violet Bucaro
Deputy Campus News Editor - Alana
Frank
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Hastings
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Iseman
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e Wolf Editor - Taylor Falgout
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e Wolf Creative Director - Taylor
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Digital & Outreach
Digital Director - Frankie Esteves
44. American Society of Ceramics, abbr.
45. Do it again
46. Initials for jazz pianist from Canada
48. Strawberry and _______ smoothie
49. Political activist ______ Davis
51. Brother of Down 18
Video Director - James Hufnagel
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Juarbe
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Contributors
Abigail Schmidt, Alyria Pierre, Anna erapondos, Ashlyn Bobb Collins, Cecilia Calderin, Christopher Pouncy, Dominique Campbell, Eleanor Boucher-Ferry, Alyvia Pierson, Elise Beck, Gavin Crehan, James Wyrtzen, June Fernandez, Lily Bordelon, Macee Fielding, Maleigh Crespo, Mark Michel, Morgan Matteson, Myles McWilliams, Natalie Albers, Olivia Sanyal, Samantha Guillotte, Valentina Russell, Lily Haggard, Rodrigo Delgado, Callie Honeycutt, Janssen Van De Yacht, Alaina Coleman, Jada Mills, Sophia Santos
52. ____ Armstrong Park
53. An ordered series in coding
58. What sound sheep make
59. Call them to get a tow
60. Multi-Channel Network, abbr.
62. “Pass the ___yon box”
65. “__ amo”
Student Media Adviser: Michael Giusti
Assistant Student Media Adviser
Gabriella Killett
CONTACT US
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Students crossing Broadway Street in front of construction on Feb 5, 2025. Construction began in the fall of 2021 and has continued for over three years. Rodrigo Delgado / e Maroon
By Maleigh Crespo macrespo@my.loyno.edu u
For sociology senior Camilla Johnson, the ongoing construction of Broadway Street has left her feeling “extremely frustrated and confused.”
e Audubon construction project began in the fall of 2021 with plans to upgrade 38 blocks within the Uptown area.
While these updates may be much needed for some, for others, the roadwork makes it more di cult to get to work, go to the grocery store, or get to class on time.
Johnson said she usually takes Broadway Street to avoid S. Claiborne and Carrollton intersection, but the detour of the construction adds an additional seven minutes to her normal 10 minute commute to her job.
While the added travel time is inconvenient, Johnson said her primary frustration with the roadwork comes from the lack of timely progress and communication.
“I don’t understand what the hold up is,” Johnson said. “I, personally, have seen no progress being made, and it’s additionally frustrating because I feel the answers provided for the length and complexity of the roadwork are vague.”
Johnson relies on the city’s website to get updates and information about ongoing construction.
Tulane senior Rose Barnes, who lives on Broadway Street, believes it’s been more of an inconvenience than an im-
provement.
“I'm really not sure what they're even doing,” she said. “I thought that road was all right before they started working on it.”
According to the City of New Orleans’ strategic engagement and special projects, it’s not uncommon for a road to appear smooth but for the underground drainage, water, or sewer lines to have leaks.
Barnes, whose primary mode of transportation is biking, said the closing of Broadway and Cohn Streets has made the street across from her more and more congested with people taking alternate routes and parking.
“ at road was not meant for that amount of tra c,” she said.
Barnes said there’s also been construction taking place on Audubon Street, which intersects Cohn Street, causing even more tra c.
“ at’s just been kind of frustrating, especially when riding my bike when I have to weave through all these people,” she said.
Barnes said she often doesn’t know when construction has shifted or moved until she tries maneuvering down a street she thought was open, only to have to nd an alternative route, causing her to be late for things.
“Ever since they closed Broadway [Street] down at the beginning of the school year, it's kind of been a big pain,” Barnes said.
By Nicholas Gonzales nbgonzal@my.loyno.edu
Pableaux Johnson was known for his world-renowned dinner parties and documentation of New Orleans culture. e 59-year-old photographer had a heart attack photographing the Ladies and Men of Unity second line.
Buried within the tragedy, Johnson died doing what he had been known for: his passion for photography and exhibiting New Orleans culture.
Loyola English professor Kevin Rabalais was a close friend, fellow photographer, and frequent guest of Johnson’s Monday night dinner parties.
“Getting an invitation to a red beans and rice night at Pableaux’s was enough to make my month,” Rabalais said. Johnson hosted dinners centered around red beans and rice and he said in his article “Whiskey for Dessert” that these were not a dinner party but planned “impromptu” family-style banquet.
According to Johnson, the dinner began when he inherited his grandmother's “maple behemoth” kitchen table.
“No one worked harder,” Rabalais said. “No one had a bigger heart.”
ere were two rules on these Monday rituals: guests were prohibited from bringing food and no phones at the table “to encourage storytelling,” Rabalais explained. Familiar with Pableaux’s work, Rabalais often saw him read and write around the city.
“We should consider ourselves fortunate to have had someone with such great talent, and with such a giving heart, document our world for us,” Rabalais said.
“Louisiana food and culture, our his-
tory and rituals, these gave Pableaux his passion and purpose,” said Rabalais.
Johnson was also known for the Red Beans Roadshow, which were national pop up events introducing the local cuisine traditionally served on Mondays in New Orleans.
“ e tablescape is a glorious, semi chaotic mess,” Johnson wrote in an article for Imbibe Magazine, “bowls scraped clean, yellow crumbs scattered about, crumpled paper towel napkins dotted with melted butter and hot sauce.”
Johnson’s legacy is permanently pho-
" Pableaux was one of those once-in-a lifetime photographers, friends, and sheer good humans.”
Kevin Rabalais, English Proffesor
tographed and displayed on walls and screens. e photographs are exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the country, primarily focusing on second lines and kaleidoscopic costumes of the Mardi Gras Indians. He captured a part of the city's cultural heritage, forged to pay tribute to the Indigenous people who assisted those eeing slavery in surviving the Louisiana wilderness. Shortly before his death, Johnson won the 2025 Louisiana Endowment for Humanities Documentary Photographer of the Year Award.
Johnson was born on Jan. 8, 1966, in Trenton, New Jersey and was raised
in New Iberia, Louisiana. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio, and moved to New Orleans in 2001. Johnson embedded himself in the spirit of New Orleans through his work with photography, writing, producing, and, notably, his charming presence.
In addition to his photography, Johnson was the co-producer and photographer for two documentary lms about New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians.
Johnson’s intrinsic xation on Louisiana's cultivation in uenced both his work and personal life. is passion led him to change his name from Paul to Pableaux, referencing the city’s Latino community and acknowledging his French Cajun roots.
Rabalais usually saw Johnson wearing his signature uniform, a black shirt and blue jeans, with his camera in hand. Johnson generated photos that strived to capture the city’s motto: Laissez les bons temps rouler - Let the good times roll. Johnson was renowned for his humanity. According to Rabalais, Johnson would take photographs and then print them out to give to those in his photographs.
“He told me that each photograph is like a poem and gift,” Rabalais said.
To his family and the community, Johnson’s death was a loss to the eld of documenting New Orleans’ spirit.
Rabalais said that when “someone who has practiced their craft in the most humble, authentic, and exemplary of ways, the world falls temporarily out of balance. Pableaux was one of those oncein-a-lifetime photographers, friends, and sheer good humans. Our world is going to be out of balance for a long time.”
'Mufasa: e Lion King' was a necessary addition to the franchise
By Maleigh Crespo macrespo@my.loyno.edu
After logging my experience watching “Mufasa: e Lion King” on the movie rating app Letterboxd, giving it ve stars, I found that my ranking was higher than most of the lm’s reviews.
e lm starts out by introducing us to Kiara, the daughter of Simba and granddaughter of Mufasa, before we’re transported to the past through a story recounted by Ra ki, detailing the origins of the late Mufasa.
e scene begins with a young cub — Mufasa — who gets separated from his parents, eerily similar to the stampede scene in the original 1994 lm, before nding his way to another pride when he is rescued by another young cub, Taka.
While Taka and his mother readily take in Mufasa, Taka’s father King Obasi sees Mufasa as an outsider and is reluctant to accept him.
To prove his worth, Obasi orders Mufasa to race Taka, believing his own son would defeat Mufasa, but Taka, who always wanted a brother, lets Mufasa win.
Obasi is disappointed in Taka, but keeps his word by letting Mufasa stay but forces him to stay with the lionesses.
As the years pass, Mufasa learns to hunt, unlike the male lions, and he and Taka form a deep familial bond — of which Obasi continues to disapprove.
Taka, who is Obasi’s heir, doesn’t want to be king, despite his father’s wishes. Mufasa, on the other hand, has all the makings to be a powerful leader in his own right, and this is proven when the
two lions are attacked by a group of white lions.
While Mufasa ghts back against the other lions, Taka retreats, showing his cowardice and disappointing his father.
In the ght, Mufasa kills the leader of the pride’s son, waging a war with the Outsiders, as they are called in the lm.
To save their lineage, Obasi tells Taka and Mufasa to retreat, as they knew the white lions were coming for blood.
Over the course of the journey, still being told by Ra ki, coupled with comedic relief from lovable duo Timon and Pumbaa, the audience is introduced to Sarabi, her guardian bird Zazu, and the young Ra ki, who all team up with Mufasa and Taka to nd a rumored land of abundance called Milele.
On their journey, Taka admits to Mufasa that he likes Sarabi, and Mufasa helps his brother by giving him advice that seems to work in the beginning, but Sarabi sees through Taka and knows deep down that Mufasa is the one meant for her.
e two lions share a night together, and unbeknownst to them, Taka had witnessed everything.
Feeling betrayed by his brother, Taka forms an alliance with the Outsiders and reveals their plan to get to Milele.
Once the group arrives in Milele, they are met by the Outsiders, and it is revealed that Taka betrayed them.
In the end, Mufasa gathers the animals of Milele to ght back against the Outsiders, and with the strength of numbers, they defeat them, but not before their king strikes Taka, leaving him with
a deep scar.
Although it is pretty evident from the start, it is nally revealed that Taka is the character we all know as the vengeful Scar.
Many critics say the rift between Mufasa and Scar being caused by a girl didn’t seem plausible, but in the original lm, Scar is seen trying to irt with Sarabi on occasion, so it made for the perfect set-up for the sequel.
Many of the beloved aspects of the original lm were explained with the prequel, such as the formation of pride rock and the way Mufasa became king.
Everything in the prequel lled in a blank that the original lm couldn’t.
Some might complain that those small details didn’t need an explanation, but for others of us, it was a dose of nostalgia.
For me, it brought me back to my childhood when I had rst watched “ e Lion King,” and it was just as impactful.
Other critics, however, were disappointed in the photorealistic animation of the lm.
I think this comes purely from preference because the photorealism present was a factor that didn’t bother me at all. In fact, I loved it.
Another aspect that many people seemed to dislike about the lm was the 7-song soundtrack from none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Unlike the unfortunate soundtrack of “ e Little Mermaid” composed by Miranda, I actually loved the kitschy songs of this lm.
I mean, who hasn’t been singing “I al-
ways wanted a brothaaa” to themselves the past few months?
And sure, “Bye Bye” is not your typical villain song, but I thought it was camp.
And at the end of the day, it’s a movie franchise about lions who sing and dance, so I can never be too critical about any of it.
Gabrielle Stan eld Physics and Musical eater Major gnstan @my.loyno.edu
To understand the importance of Black people, speci cally African Americans, taking up space and celebrating Black History Month, you need at least a drop of knowledge about American history and the treatment of Black people, especially in Louisiana. We all know the fundamentals of slavery and its horrors, but public education often glosses over critical details. And the more history is
glossed over, the more we become desensitized to it. It’s easy to say, “Oh yeah, enslaved people were beaten and tortured for labor,” but that detached view ignores the deeper reality: slavery’s impact did not end with emancipation aka the 13th Amendment passed in 1865. Its talons sank into the systems and mindsets of America, continuing to shape her laws, her policies, and her opportunities for generations. It wasn’t until I came to college that I truly grasped the magnitude of this history, the full weight of the injustice. Shoutout to the amazing Professor Robert Anderson for his brilliant work in Race and Religion in the Trans-Atlantic, a true educator who creates space for us Black folk both in and out of the classroom. We see you! Even after being "freed," Black people were treated as second-class citizens. During early school integration at the college level, Black students weren’t just met with hostility; they were actively shut out of education. Black men were forced to read at broken-down tables in libraries, given food last in dining halls (if there was any left), and even barred from classrooms where their desks were thrown into the hallway, forcing them to
take notes from outside and have an obscure view of information being presented. And yet, despite generational trauma, systemic oppression, and constant barriers, Black people in America have continued to push forward, achieving
“ Black history Month is more than a celebration, it is a necessity.”
greatness in every eld imaginable. at is why Black History Month is more than just a celebration, it is a necessity, especially at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) like Loyola University New Orleans. It is about honoring the legacy of resilience, recognizing the progress made, and emphasizing the progress we still need to make. It is about making sure Black stories are told so that history does not repeat itself! Black history is unique, there is no other story like it in the world. Our culture is rich, the legacy is powerful, and there isn’t anything else I’d rather be.
is is why spaces like the Multicultural Room and BSU Room matter. For so long, Black people were not seen as human, were not treated with civility or dignity, and were denied access to basic freedoms. ese spaces are not some form of “reparations”, they are about reclaiming what was lost, building community, and creating room for Black students to exist unapologetically. So the next time you talk about Black history or Black issues, make sure that "B" in Black is capitalized; because it's more than just a color, it is an identity, it is a history, it is a community.
is is why Black Excellence Week is fundamental. It is about giving owers to those who paved the way, those who de ed all the odds that were stacked against them. Every African American has the capacity for greatness, but not everyone has the same access to resources to get there. First-generation college students, students from red-lined communities, and those from underfunded public schools already start at a disadvantage.
Programs like TRIO at Loyola exist to support these students; rst-generation and nancial aid recipients navigating
the uncertainty and acrobatics of college. But that is why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and a rmative action were so important. It wasn’t just about getting Black students into universities; it was about ensuring that Black students from all socioeconomic backgrounds had access– not just the ones in the same tax bracket as White students. Without these initiatives, the same cycles of exclusion continue, and higher education remains inaccessible for those who need it most.
Even at Loyola, celebrating Black Excellence during Black History Month is about momentum. It is about pushing forward and reminding Black students that they belong and that they are capable, worthy, and powerful. It is about inspiring the next generation to keep going, and keep ghting, because we are not separate and unequal, we are one.
And as the late, great John Lewis once said, "Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." So let’s keep pushing, keep demanding more from our institutions, and keep making room for Black voices, Black stories, and Black excellence. Amen!
Walking krewe marches in Krewe Du Vieux parade on Feb. 15. Sophia Renzi/The Maroon
By Callie Honeycutt cbhoneyc@my.loyno.edu
Every city is exploding with opportunities for its residents, and New Orleans is no exception, but it's up to us to seize the opportunities we want. Two Loyola undergrad students, sophomore Vienna Notarianni and senior Pablo Amat, seized this year's big chance at the biggest stage in sports: Super Bowl 59.
“I started with “My Life” by Billy Joel. I tried to do crowd-pleasing stuff that I thought football fans would like,” Notarianni said. “I then did “I Will Survive,” “Valerie,” and then “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone. I closed with an original song called “TYSM.”
Their Superbowl performance was in the morning before the game, on a stage outside the Superdome's walking area. As Pop and Commercial Music students and members of their own bands, Notarianni and Amat are no strangers to the performance side of their musical world.
“In essence, we played to the Eagles fans. We were set up on the Eagles stage,
and we played to the Eagles fans, and it was a lot of fun,” Amat said. “I performed sing-along songs that I knew, and everybody else knew too.”
Notarianni and Amat got this opportunity from past and current professors in Loyola’s School of Music Industry, Kate Duncan and Mia Borders. Having the opportunity to perform on a stage of this caliber at the ages of 20 and 21 could impact your music career in many different ways, and you never know how a gig like this could go and what will surprise you most.
“I thought we were going to be playing in a parking garage. I didn’t know we had a stage,” Notarianni said. “Being on the stage we were on was a really good surprise, and they provided equipment for us, so I didn’t have to haul my gear.”
According to Amat, his biggest surprise of the morning was the security detail and the energy he felt from his audience.
“I wasn’t expecting the crowd to be as welcoming as they were. They were very warm, and were willing to sing along and to stand there for as long as I was playing and sing along with me,” Amat said. Getting to this level of success with your voice while simultaneously playing the keys is no small accomplishment. According to Notarianni, she has been singing since she could open her mouth. Amat, on the other hand, has been singing and playing the keys since he was 15.
“I did classical piano, and I hated it and I quit,” Amat said. “Once I quit I started listening to Billy Joel and Elton John, all these huge pop and rock stars that played the piano, and I knew I wanted to do that.”
With a new and amazing experience under her belt, looking back at this momentous occasion strengthened Notarianni’s love for her craft. “It didn't change anything for me, but it did reinforce that I want to work on crowd interaction,” Notarianni said. “I want people that have never heard me before to turn their head and pay attention.”
By Alana Thompson anthomps@my.loyno.edu
The Loyola beach volleyball team has begun preparing for the start of their 2025 season, being ranked No. 9 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics preseason polls.
Under third-year head coach Robert Pitre, the team achieved a top 10 ranking for the first time in program history. Pitre attributed the team’s high ranking to the work that they put in last season.
“It's something we've been working really hard for for the past three years,” Pitre said. “You know, we put in a lot of work and a lot of effort, and we had a lot of experiences that have contributed to that.”
Although the team is ranked high in the preseason poll, Pitre said that the team is focused on improving their relationship with each other and communication.
“So we're really working on team culture right now, really buying into each other and supporting each other and being there for each other,” Pitre said. “Learning one another a lot, much better than what we do know at this point in time.”
Coming into this season, four new players were added to the team. Junior mass communication major Samantha Guillotte has entered her second year on the team and mentioned that practicing the basics and helping others has been a way for newcomers and returning players to prepare for the season.
“I think just like using my experience my knowledge to help them out the best
that I can,” Guillotte said. “So like Amaya [Bazemore] is a blocker on our indoor team. Hey, that’s something we connect on. She hasn’t played a lot of beach. That’s something I can help her out with like doing the little things and not just that but like a big encourager.”
Junior psychology major Juliet Petruzelli mentioned that the team’s rapport and chemistry has become “pretty natural” for everyone. The third-year player said that the team’s bonding has made the team closer before the start of the season.
“All of the girls are amazing,” Petruzelli said. “We’ve had team lunches, team meetings, and a lot of bonding time while we drive to practice in the Loyola vans. I think we will only become closer as the season progresses and we travel together more!”
The Wolf Pack has decided to go into the year with goals different than last year. Pitre mentioned that last season the team’s main goal was to win a conference championship which “put too much pressure on ourselves.” However, Pitre mentioned that this season the team’s focus is on themselves, not just winning and losing.
“What are our relationships like as a team, and regardless of win or lose, if we accomplish those goals, we're going to feel really good about where our season finishes, whether that be again in a quarter final or semi final or in a championship,” Pitre said. “Those wins and losses don't determine what our team culture is like and what our team success is like.”
With the season beginning next week, players mentioned that they are
looking forward to conference matches.
“It’s always a lot of fun and there is good competition,” Petruzelli said. “I’m excited to create new, fun memories with this group!”
Like Petruzelli, Guillotte expressed wanting to compete in conference matches, specifically against the Uni-
versity of Mobile Rams. Last season, the Wolf Pack lost to the Rams 3-2 which ended their season. Guillotte said that she wants the team to redeem themselves.
“I want to prove that that was just like a fluke,” Guillotte said. “Even though they are a good team, like we had beat-
en them before and that game was just a fluke so going in and just proving that we’re more than that and we’re good ‘cause we are.”
The Wolf Pack’s first match is against Berry College on Friday, Feb. 28 in Gulf Shores, Ala.
By Anna Seriot abseriot@my.loyno.edu
For the Loyola men and women’s golf teams, they have begun preparing for a season full of tournaments, matches, and competitions.
The women’s team entered this season ranked No. 17 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Players expressed that this ranking has motivated them to compete in the 202425 season.
Psychology freshman Aaliyah Achary mentioned that the team’s program and high ranking was a reason why she chose to come to Loyola.
“This is my first semester and when I started looking for a university, it [was] one of the reasons that made me want to join Loyola,” Archary said.
Despite this being her first season competing with the team, Archary said the ranking is not getting to her head.
“I don't think I feel any pressure because of it,” Archary said. “If anything, it only motivates me. It makes me feel like we're one of the best teams and gives me extra confidence.”
Within the men’s team, freshman business major Cole Haase said the team has a chance at being competitive in the conference”.
“I think we have a chance if we all train hard and get good results and have high-quality training sessions,” Haase said.
However, the tournament Haase said he is most looking forward to is the tournament against Division 1 opponents.
“For me, I'm really looking forward to the one that the University of New Orleans is organizing because it's a Division 1 tournament,” Haase said. “Then also obviously the conference and hopefully the national championships.”
Going into the season, the men’s team is focused on each player improving in-
dividually. For Arthur Mijic, a business senior, the team has set specific goals for the year.
“Everyone has to try to be the best person they can be,” Mijic said.
Business Entrepreneurship senior Michael Bullock agrees with this vision of the team's objectives, revealing a psychological aspect that is essential for this sport.
“I expect the team to focus on the mental aspect of golf this season and, hopefully, also produce results on the physical level,” Bullock said. “Try to be better every day.”
For both golf teams, the players said they are motivated and positively pushed by their third-year head coach Cory Amory.
“I feel like our coach is a major factor and that he wants us to be at the top and that he wants us to have greater ambitions and aspirations,” Archary said. “He is a great motivator for us.”
By Elise Beck erbeck@my.loyno.edu
As arti cial intelligence is steadily advancing, some have called into question the e ects of this new technology, specifically its impact on the environment.
Loyola’s ecology and environmental sciences professor, Sonny Bleicher, explained arti cial intelligence’s issues aren’t black and white.
“ is technology is extremely energy-demanding. So that’s the negative side of it, right?” Bleicher explained.
“An example of something that’s a part of AI is cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency requires extreme computing powers and extremely large server farms that are doing the computational needs of that form of AI.” Bleicher said before he went on to talk about a speci c example.
“I can give you an example from my grandparents’s farm in Iowa. It was bought by Google, because it was near a power plant. [Google] needed the energy capacity to be able to support the computing power. is is why they bought the farm. is gives you an example of how much that land was then used for Google’s purposes.” Bleicher explained.
However, arti cial intelligence can be used for positive environmental measures as well. Bleicher cited an example of this through the work of his colleague, Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf, who is the Director of the Translational Data Analytics Institute at Ohio State University. Berg-
er-Wolf co-founded Wildbook, a program that harvests data from photos and videos that tourists upload to the internet from their vacations.
Researchers used Wildbook to track endangered species, as the arti cial intelligence in the program could identify micro traits from photos of animals. e program identi ed genetics and herd dynamics in a way humans could not.
“Can I look at a zebra and say, ah, look at the patterns of these stripes on the back; that’s the baby of these two individuals?” Bleicher questioned. “No, but the AI can.”
Bleicher went on to explain the genius of AI’s problem-solving techniques.
“It has the ability to gure out patterns that we’re not even thinking about,” he said. “It can predict next steps and generate hypotheses based on observations. It’s able to predict what factors in uence carbon dioxide and methane emissions.”
Bleicher said that he used AI in his research, by using software to analyze his work.
“I have computational powers for which I don’t have myself,” he said. ' at is not a small tool to have.”
Bleicher mentioned that he’s an advocate for using AI in the classroom, but only in speci c ways.
“Using AI to generate assignments for you and to think for you is the wrong use of AI,” he said.
“It’s a bad use of AI and it is academ-
ic misconduct. At the same time, if you use it correctly, it will make your work so much better. You can go into ChatGPT and say, ‘Hey, I’m writing this article for this journal about the following things. What would be good questions?’ at’s absolutely ne.”
Bleicher said the environmental impacts of AI would be more correlational than causational.
“More people using technology means more environmental impact,” he explained. Yet, Bleicher considers AI “fundamentally and foundationally” dangerous due to students’ reliance on it.
“You do not know how to think if you rely on these tools too much,” Bleicher said. “We are in a real crisis.”
Bleicher is concerned that the overuse of AI causes an inability to think critically, and if students can’t think critically, they won’t be hired. Bleicher claims that most students going into med school are going to fail, as they rely too much on AI.
“Ask any people teaching in a med school right now? e last generation of the past ve years going into med schools are going to fail because they do not have the skills needed to survive in med school,” he explained.
“So, is it worth your $100,000, $150,000 of student loans?” Bleicher said. “I wouldn’t pay $150,000 to get a degree to ll things out with AI and not have to think.”
By Pharrell Every pjevery@my.loyno.edu
Almost immediately upon taking the oath of o ce, President Donald Trump began to sign an onslaught of executive orders. Some aimed to roll back Bidenera policies, some at immigration, and others attacked diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
According to NBC 4 New York, Trump signed 20 executive orders the night he took o ce. Additionally, he also signed a urry of memoranda and proclamations, both of which do not require judicial review, national media reported.
Below is a list of some of the executive orders reported by national media.
• Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization
• Securing Our Borders
• Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety
• Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service
• Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing
• Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government ese orders have sent shockwaves across the country.
Many of those orders drastically im-
pact the country's social, economic, and political landscape, and their rami cations have already been felt.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement o cers have been sighted throughout the country, showing up at schools, jobs, and places of worship to detain illegal immigrants, with universities nationwide preparing for ICE ocials to show up on their campuses and working on ways to protect and inform their students, according to national media.
Economically, Trump proposed tari s on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, putting the United States at risk for increased nancial hardship, media reports details.
ese tari s would cause the price of imported goods from both countries to dramatically increase.
Socially, the Trump administration has attacked diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Since the inauguration, inclusive language has been removed from scienti c reports. e words removed include but are not limited to gender, genders, gender diversity, and female, according to multiple reports.
As we continue to watch these policies and their rami cations unfold, the country remains attentive to the next policy changes that will come from Capitol Hill.
e Associated Press contributed to this report.
21, 2025
The story of the United States cannot be told fairly or accurately without African-Americans being a vital part of it, a topic that has been debated alongside diatribes about the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, the elimination of affirmative action legislation, and a time where even the mention of the words “critical race theory” can spark heated arguments in classrooms, parent-teacher meetings, and on social media platforms across the country.
As Americans grapple with the questions of what should and shouldn’t be taught in public schools, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of the reality of this social climate and Loyola’s place in it.
Black stories are key to understanding where we’ve been as a nation, where we are, and where we could be headed, but it requires us to not just keep retelling the stories of some of the more prominent Black figures throughout history like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Jackie Robinson, and Barack Obama, but to broaden our lens to stories of people like Crispus Attucks (the first person
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killed during the Boston Massacre, the event that kickstarted the American Revolution), Madam C.J. Walker (America’s first female self-made millionaire), and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (the first doctor to successfully perform open heart surgery) are some of the stories that deserve just as much space and care given to them in the story of America and its notable Black forerunners.
We as a community are lucky to find ourselves as part of a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff who elevate and enhance the educational opportunities that we can explore, but as federal legislation threatens to curtail some of those opportunities, it’s on us to ensure that we keep our community a safe space for everyone, but especially for the Black students here.
Organizations like the Black Student Union, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Caribbean and African Student Association, and historically Black fraternities and sororities on campus allow for Black students on campus to find their voices and shape their communities.
By providing opportunities to debate
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and find like-minded peers to engage with in collective action to make a difference in the world through programs and events like Black Excellence Week, voter registration drives, and community round tables, these organizations do vital work in giving agency to its members. Currently, The Wolf Pack are led by a Black president of the university in Xavier Cole, a Black Student Government Association president, a Black president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council on campus, and a Black Editor in Chief here at The Maroon. When given the space to succeed, Black students have shown that they can not only hold their own, but thrive here at Loyola, a goal that was evident from the time the first Black students stepped on Loyola’s main campus in the 1960s and founded the group Expression, which today is known as the Black Student Union.
By creating organizations like BSU, NAACP, and the CASA, and Lemon Pepper on campus, along with programs like the Black Studies minor, Loyola has made significant progress in giving black students the space to learn, create, and thrive while reaping the rewards of do-
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ing so.
While the Trump administration has called for the elimination of all DEI related programs, it's important for Loyola to assess the potential intellectual capital and cultural diversity that makes this university so special that we risk losing. We must carefully consider all the potential repercussions of this policy decision and how it will affect our outlook and profile socially, financially, and politically.
The battle Black students are fighting is to reclaim and sustain the bonds, history, and knowledge of those who came before them. So much was sacrificed to earn these rights and pave the way for generations like us, so we must do our part to aid in that struggle by continuing to maintain and support the importance of the structures we have put in place to help our university feel like a place where Black students can continue to thrive and be excellent.
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