Maroon Sept. 19 2014

M

For a greater Loyola University • New Orleans • Vol. 93 • Issue 5

THE MAROON

Loyola’s secret ‘Batman’ 1540 is a secret society on Loyola’s campus that performs anonymous acts to better the Loyola community

SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

By Alex Kennon

GEARING UP FOR CHANGE

Katie Richard / Resident Cartoonist

University Senate recommends new academic structure

By Alex Kennon agkennon@loyno.edu @alexandrakennon

The University Senate voted last week to send their first proposed model for academic structuring onward to Provost Manganaro.

Manganaro will consult with University President the Rev. Father Kevin Wildes, S.J. before they take the recommendation onward to the October Board of Trustees meeting for approval.

A 75 percent majority of the University Senate voted to recommend the first model that is outlined in the Senate report titled “Models for the Reorganization of Loyola University New Orleans.”

Like Loyola’s present structure, the approved model includes five colleges and a library.

The model includes a College of Business and a College of Law, like the university’s current school structure. New colleges that will be formed are a College of Liberal Arts

and Sciences and a College of Music, Media, and the Arts.

Robert Thomas, professor and director of the Center for Environmental Communication, said that he spoke for the “vast majority” of Mass Communication faculty when he argued that merging the School of Mass Communication with the current College of Music and Fine Arts would hinder the school, particularly in light of its recent accreditation.

“It took us 2 solid years of a lot of data and analysis, so we aren’t taking this frivolously,” Thomas said.

“We ask the administration, and we’ve asked our colleagues to reexamine this plan and to reevaluate where they’re going to put us.”

Following Thomas’ statement, Janna Saslaw, music professor, proposed an amendment to the model that would allow the School of Mass Communication to become an independent unit rather than being merged with the new College of Music, Media, and the Arts.

Barbara Ewell, English professor, argued that while many programs have the potential to flourish as independent units, in the interest of consolidation the structure should be recommended as it stands.

“Schools and colleges at this university are more or less parallel, and what we’d be doing basically is creating an additional college,” Ewell said. “And I really resist that. I think we need to have a structure of colleges with schools included within them.”

The amendment was voted down by a 73 percent majority, though Manganaro reminded the Senate that the structure may still be altered prior to implementation.

“There are a lot of moveable parts that we will work to resolve over time,” Manganaro said. “There’s not an expectation that we’re going to necessarily settle all those specifics and bring those to the board, but bringing the basic model is extremely important.”

Manganaro stressed the importance of timeliness in finalizing the structure to allow for implementation as soon as possible.

“Because as we get through to the middle of this academic year, we’ll be looking at this implementation in the fall of ‘17,” Manganaro said.

“This is my big concern.”

Manganaro said approving a structure for recommendation has been at minimum a 15-month process that is still ongoing.

For more on restructuring, see AMENDMENT STRUCK DOWN BY SENATE in News, PAGE 3

PROPOSED UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES BY SIZE All data gathered from the 2012 edition of the University Online Fact Book.

1,558

514

822

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

COLLEGE OF MUSIC, MEDIA AND THE ARTS

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME? If the plan passes the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J. and the Board of Trustees, students will see the biggest change in the size of their new colleges. The College of Social Sciences will divide. Sociology, Political Science and Criminal Justice will join the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Mass Communication will join the College of Music, Media and the Arts. Nursing will join the newly-formed graduate college.

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

agkennon@loyno.edu @alexandrakennon

“Hello, Alexandra. This is a representative from 1540. You have been chosen to retrieve a scroll located in the library, second floor, section B 1540. This letter needs to be published in this week’s Maroon. Please pick it up promptly and in secret.

Thank you.”

That was all the voicemail said.

At that point, all I knew about 1540 was what I had heard from an upperclassman during freshman orientation.

I was told that, allegedly, there was a secret society on campus called 1540 and that if I heard anything about it during my time at Loyola, I should tell that upperclassman because he was still trying to figure out whether or not it was real.

That was over three years ago, and as a senior who had still never heard anything else about the organization, I assumed that it simply did not exist.

After retrieving the scroll and speaking with several students and faculty members about the secret society, I discovered that this is far from the case.

Robert Reed, assistant vice president for student affairs, said that the number 1540 refers to the year the Jesuits were officially formed. He said the society was founded under the advisement of his predecessor Chris Cameron in 1997 with the blessing of then-president of Loyola Fr. Bernard Knoth, S.J. “There are very few records about it, but as I understand, it’s a group of student leaders that want to remain anonymous in the sense of doing good deeds on campus and recognizing good deeds on campus, but not wanting to receive recognition for it,” Reed said.

He said that 1540 is made up of student leaders, but not necessarily those one might expect. While the group often consists of resident assistants, student athletes and prominent members of Greek life, Reed says that this is not always the case.

“At this point in time, if I wanted to guess who was in it, I couldn’t even possibly guess because there’s no way to know,” Reed said.

While Cissy Petty pointed to Reed as 1540’s faculty advisor, Reed says that the title is somewhat misleading.

“I can describe it like this: you know in Batman, there’s Commissioner Gordon? And Commissioner Gordon has some way to get in touch with Batman, but doesn’t know all the details? It’s somewhat like that,” Reed said.

Director of Mission and Ministries Kurt Bindewald, who says he has also been accused of being 1540’s secret moderator, believes that the society has a positive influence on the university.

“As far as looking out for the

See 1540 in News, PAGE 3

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September 19, 2014

THE MAROON

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Assistant Editors: Mary Colleen Dulle, Gabriel Garza, Mary Graci, Whitney Woods Staff Writers: Raquel Derganz Baker, Emily Branan, Faelynn Carroll, Lester Duhe, Rachael Espaillat, Marc Goudeau, Lauren Saizan, Mary Staes, Skyllarr Trusty Sales Manager: Alisha Bell Business Manager: Stephen Cooper Distribution Manager: Emily Andras Art Director: Enjoli Gilbert

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@loyola_maroon

Burglary Jefferson Ave, 2800 block

Sept. 13

9:17 a.m.

Vandalism Monroe Libary/Danna Center

Sept. 13

9:43 a.m.

Theft Biever Hall

Sept. 13

11:40 a.m.

Theft Biever Hall

Sept. 13

1:12 p.m.

Vandalism Biever Hall

Sept. 13

2:17 p.m.

Theft Burdette Street, 300 block

Sept. 13

7:15 p.m.

Burglary Broadway Street, 1500 block

Sept. 14

2:55 a.m.

Vehicle Break-In/Theft Pearl Street, 7700 block

Sept. 14

9:52 a.m.

Theft Freret Street, 6400 block

Sept. 15

2:55 a.m.

Theft LUPD Headquarters

Sept. 15

10:47 a.m.

Burglary Walnut Street, 300 block

Sept. 16

7:57 a.m.

Theft Magazine Street, 6000 block

Sept. 16

2:30 p.m.

Our office is in the Communications/Music Complex, Room 328.

Send mail to: The Maroon, Loyola University, Campus Box 64, 6363 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118 The Maroon is published every Friday. Unless otherwise noted, all content is copyrighted by The Maroon. All rights reserved. First copy free to students, faculty and staff. Every additional copy is $1.00. The Maroon is printed on 30 percent postconsumer recycled content.

NEWS

September 19, 2014 THE MAROON

Amendment struck down

by Senate

3

Fresh start for commuter students

By Maroon News Team The decision to consolidate the School of Mass Communication and the College of Music and Fine Arts into one unit has been met with some resistance.

At a Sept. 11 meeting, the University Senate voted in support of a new, restructured college model involving five colleges and a library.

This new model calls for the consolidation of the School of Mass Communication and the College of Music and Fine Arts into one unit — a College of Music, Media and the Arts.

However, a last minute amendment to stop the consolidation made its way to the floor and was rejected by 73 percent of Loyola’s University Senate members. Janna Saslaw, an associate professor in the College of Music and Fine Arts, put forth the amendment.

Sonya Duhé, director of the School of Mass Communication, said she believes that, as a standalone unit, the School of Mass Communication will be able to further improve the university’s enrollment.

“We already have a great School of Mass Communication,” Duhé said. “We believe that a stand-alone unit would assist the university in increased enrollment, national visibility, increased fundraising and student success.”

Duhé said that the top accredited schools of journalism and mass communication across the country are their own stand-alone units, and because of this, they have been able to double their enrollments and dramatically increase their fundraising.

The College of Music and Fine Arts is also the only Jesuit university with its own stand-alone college of music.

Robert Thomas, the director for the Center of Environmental Communication, said that he believes the faculty in the School of Mass Communication is doing everything they can to further improve the university, including following the 2012 strategic plan put forth by the Rev. Fr. Kevin Wildes, S.J. “We just got two major accreditations. We’re doing everything in the new strategic plan that the provost shared at our college meeting.

We’re on top of it,” Thomas said.

“We’re always doing something new, renovating, giving talks at national meetings and we’re in the papers all of the time. So it doesn’t make any sense to us that we run the risk of being diminished.”

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Marc Manganaro said he wants to make it clear that the model voted on by the University Senate is only a proposal. That proposal, he said, still needs to be approved by the Board of Trustees and ultimately by the president.

Thomas said that the School of Mass Communication is not against the growth of other departments, but there is still cause for concern.

“In no way is this school anti-growth of other departments, but in a big way, we’re concerned about it when it diminishes our resources directly,” Thomas said. “We are very supportive of growing the student body of the university and the wellbeing of students. We do it everyday.”

LINDA HEXTER/Senior Staff Photographer

Hamzah Khan, economics sophomore, promotes the Commuter Student Association in the Peace Quad during Commuter Student Appreciation Week on Sept. 16. The Commuter Student Association has revamped their organization and hopes to get more commuter students involved on campus.

By Lester Duhe laduhe@loyno.edu @lesterduhe3

As of fall 2013, there are more undergraduate Loyola students who commute to school than those that live in the residence halls.

According to the Office of Academic Affairs’ enrollment statistics for the fall 2013 semester, 1,721 undergraduate students lived off-campus compared to the 1,289 who chose to live on-campus.

The Commuter Student Association, which has been re-launched this year, is geared toward helping commuters make friends on campus and making them feel more at home during their time at Loyola.

Victoria Jones, mass communication junior, is president of CSA. Jones says CSA was chartered last year by Student Government Association and has been around offi-

1540, continued from page 1 well-being of the entire Loyola community and doing so through acts of generosity and gratitude, I think 1540 is a great organization upholding Jesuit, Christian values,” Bindewald said.

According to Bindewald, some of 1540’s actions have included financially assisting students in need and sending letters of thanks and support to members of the Loyola community.

Bindewald personally received a “top secret” message from 1540 several years ago while at a national Campus Ministry Directors’ meeting in New York thanking him for his work and for representing Loyola at the conference. Such messages of thanks, he said, are not uncommon from the group.

“I do know that 1540 has anonymously paid for students to attend our Awakening Retreats for individuals who had financial concerns,”

cially since January of 2014.

“Several people tried to start it out before, but now it is an official organization,” Jones said.

Courtney Williams, associate director of co-curricular programs, said that the club didn’t have trouble starting in the past; it was just difficult to get students involved in it.

“It took a while to get interest from students,” Williams said.

However, Jones said that the organization has some great people this year and believes that CSA will last a long time.

She said she believes that CSA is here in order for commuters to get the most out of their college experience.

“Most of these commuters hangout in The Hub, which is a place where commuter students come together,” Eric Picou, psychology junior, said.

The Hub, located downstairs in

the Danna Center, is a place set up for commuters to spend their down time. It is filled with desks for SGA officers, CSA officers and commuter assistants, as well as other furniture for regular commuters.

However, Jasmine Nikdast, biology junior, compares The Hub to a “dungeon.” She said she prefers to not spend most of her time in The Hub like other commuter students.

Nikdast said she believes The Hub needs more seating now that all of the desks seem to be taken up by SGA, CSA and commuter assistants.

Courtney Williams said that people do have desk assignments, but he encourages commuters to sit in the common areas.

Jones said she wants The Hub to be comfortable enough for commuters to come in and talk to CSA members.

However, Mariana Macia, mass communication sophomore, said

that not a lot of commuter students even know The Hub exists.

“I have no idea what that is,” Macia said.

Williams responded by saying that some students do and some don’t.

“We have worked hard to raise awareness to it because there are so many people there,” Williams said.

To get more commuter students involved on campus, both Nikdast and Picou have suggested better food options for students along with better communication about what CSA is.

Nikdast said the CSA should work on improving The Hub’s Wi-Fi because it can sometimes be unreliable. She also recommends new furniture for the space that commuters can actually use.

Bindewald said. “I am also aware that 1540 once paid for emergency airfare for a student to return home to attend a family member’s funeral.”

Reed says that the society funds these actions with membership dues, much like a sorority or fraternity.

“Now, how else they make money — I can’t tell you,” Reed said.

“Probably some contributions. But the money is spent on good acts and supporting the university.”

John Puma, A’14, said that while serving as president of Beggars fraternity, he received an email from 1540 thanking him for his work in Greek life and asking his organization to write a letter of thanks for the Sodexo staff.

All emails and messages that 1540 sends out close with the message, “We are who you think we are. We are who you think we are not.”

While Puma believes that the secret society is absent from Greek life, others assert that this is not the case.

“1540 has been known to have agents embedded in certain powerful organizations such as the frats and sororities to make sure those with the money, wealth and power don’t corrupt the school,” Francis Salamanca, recent music industry studies graduate and SAK member, said.

Associate Provost Cissy Petty said she agrees that 1540’s contribution to Loyola is a positive one.

“Their acts of kindness, good service are anonymous… often leaving behind a note with 1540 as signature,” Petty said. “They operate in such a way that, to others, they remain anonymous ‘do-gooders.’”

Despite 1540’s acts of good will, the group has been criticized because of its secretive nature and lack of charter.

“The ‘secretive’ nature of the 1540 Society has led some students in the past to develop conspiracy theories as to the exact nature of what 1540 is really about,” Bindewald says.

In 2009, for example, the Maroon

reported that two SGA court justices were asked to resign after administration confirmed them as members of 1540. The two students in question denied their involvement in the society, which then-SGA president Sarah Cooper cited as cause for concern.

“I know it makes people feel uncomfortable and it even makes me feel uncomfortable somewhat that they’re secret,” Reed said. “But I think I can understand why they want to be behind the scenes and not out in the limelight.”

Loyola students and faculty seem to agree that as long as 1540 continues to support the mission of the university by assisting those in need and recognizing the under-appreciated, their cryptic identity is not an issue.

“They’re secret, and that’s fine with me,” Reed said.

To see 1540’s scroll, see PAGE 7

4

WORLDVIEW

September 19, 2014 THE MAROON

FEMA grants city $24.6 million to fund constuction of sidewalk ramps

New Orleans develops plan to improve accessibility and mobility around the city

By Rachael Espaillat

By Emily Branan

rmespail@loyno.edu @Rachael_Maroon

embranan@loyno.edu @embranan

The large cracks and jutting roots from trees make what should be a simple stroll through New Orleans a constant struggle for English senior John Watson, who must navigate these uneven surfaces in his wheelchair.

“New Orleans streets are terrible and only some of the street cars are accessible,” Watson said.

Nearly a decade after Katrina, the government has begun working toward improving streets and sidewalks, so other residents like Watson can get around New Orleans easier.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has decided to award the city of New Orleans with a $24.6 million grant to construct new sidewalk ramps.

Julie Bradford, external affairs specialist of FEMA’s Baton Rouge office, said that it was not until this past May that the agreement was made.

“On May 6, 2014, FEMA, the city of New Orleans and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness entered into an arbitration agreement,” Bradford said.

Bradford said that FEMA and the city of New Orleans entered the Arbitration Agreement to speed up the process to improve living conditions in the city.

“The agreement provides funding for the installation of Americans with Disabilities Act curb ramps at corners and median-divided areas where other damages to city of New Orleans streets, curbs and sidewalks from Hurricane Katrina,” Bradford said.

The agreement says that FEMA will be responsible for funding the ramps to be placed at corners and other mainland areas throughout the city that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

A staff member from Senator Landrieu’s office said that although financial support has been a long time coming since the storm, the state government has been looking for ways to rebuild and make sidewalks more accessible for disabled citizens.

The new sidewalks and ramps are to fall within the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to assure its accessibility.

“According to city of New Orleans, the ramps will be completed as part of the city of New Orleans’ current road repair construction schedule,” Bradford said. “City of New Orleans’ schedule currently runs through 2017.”

Mayor Landrieu said he hopes that fixing up the roads will make all of the city’s attractions equally accessible for the elderly and disabled and will strengthen the community, according to a press release from city hall.

City officials have created a plan to make New Orleans streets and buildings adhere to guidelines set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The city’s Department of Public Works developed the Americans with Disabilities Act Public Right-ofWay Transition Plan to improve accessibility throughout New Orleans.

Colonel Mark Jernigan, director of the city’s Department of Public Works, said he hopes the plan would “make it the city we’ve always wanted it to be.”

Repairing curb ramps and sidewalks is the main focus of the plan, but it will also work to improve other obstacles that people with disabilities might encounter in New Orleans.

The procedure also looks to help those with sight impairments by working to make sidewalks free of furniture, uneven surfaces and utility poles. The initiative includes audible and vibrotactile warnings at intersections to further aid the blind.

Vibrotactile warnings work by having the person keep their hand on the button at the crosswalk until it starts to vibrate, letting the person know it is safe to cross.

Jernigan said the plan not only looks at where the city currently stands in regards to accessibility, but it also shows what changes need to be made so that the city and its facilities meet both ADA and federal guidelines.

Page McCranie, New Orleans’ ADA administrator, said the city’s ADA worked on this document with the Department of Public Works to meet both their budget and the ADA’s requirements.

“It is the law, but it is really about taking care of citizens,” Jernigan said.

Jernigan said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is helping New Orleans to implement the plan. FEMA gave $24.6 million to improve intersections that did not comply with ADA regulations.

Jernigan said the Department of Public Works takes the responsibility of improving accessibility seriously and that the ADA guidelines affect every project the city begins.

McCranie said the goal is giving people easier access to the city. She cites the broken concrete and damage from tree roots as two examples of obstacles people might face in New Orleans.

She said the plan hopes to help those people with disabilities that require them to carry an oxygen tank, as well as helping people with disabilities that may not be visible, such as heart conditions.

McCranie said the city owns 357 buildings and they all must comply to ADA standards as well. These would be buildings such as the fire department, the police department and museums.

The objective of the plan is to make New Orleans more accommodating to the diverse people that come here.

“New Orleans is host to different people. I think it is important that it is accessible to everyone,” Jernigan said.

Where the

sidewalk ends

Officicals work to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities

SARA FELDMAN/ The Maroon

This Jefferson Avenue sidewalk near Isidore Newman School has uneven cement tiles and is adjacent to a road undergoing construction. City officials are working to improve sidewalks, roadways and intersections to accomodate individuals with disabilities.

THE MAROON

September 19, 2014

ACROSS

1. Expensive 5. GUM rival 10. Conference with UVA and UNC 13. Guthrie at Woodstock 14. “__ Unchained”: 2012 Tarantino film 15. Arctic explorer John 16. *Butcher’s appliance 18. Not just some 19. Square peg, socially speaking 20. Sharp-eyed hunter 22. Time for fools?

24. *Prankster’s balloon 28. Ride the wind 29. Lip applications 30. Persons 31. Ready to be driven 33. “Cagney and __”: ‘80s cop show 35. Newspaper filler 36. Fruit that can be the source of the starts of the answers to starred clues 38. “No more details, please!”

41. “Right?!”

42. Ruined, as hopes 44. Picture on a screen 47. Fast food package deal 49. Sock part 50. *Allowance for the cafeteria 52. “A Change Is Gonna Come” singer/songwriter Sam 53. Catch on the range 54. Time to attack 56. Bass brew 57. *Monet work 63. Pewter component 64. Sings like Rudy Vallee 65. Biblical reformer 66. Hazardous curve 67. More than unpopular 68. Start a hand

DOWN

1. Amateur radio operator 2. Fury 3. Nice duds

4. Start the wrong way?

5. “The Song of Hiawatha” tribe 6. Operated 7. “Your point is ...?”

8. T size 9. Tree-damaging insect 10 Catherine’s home 11. “I hope to hear from you” 12. People people 14. Dr. with Grammys 17. Salon supply 21. “About __”: Hugh Grant film 22. Oman locale 23. Fishing spot 25. “It’d be my pleasure” 26. Eliot Ness, e.g.

27. Pre-euro Iberian coin 29. Rodeo horse 32. Comic strip cry 34. Greek vowel 37. Ring-tailed scavenger, to

Crockett 38. Formulate a possible explanation 39. Overly compliant 40. Doing nothing 41. Cartoonist’s supply 43. Called out 44. Behind-schedule comment 45. Viagra alternative 46. “Full House” twins 48. Manually 51. Freeloader 52. Put one over on 55. “__ Master’s Voice” 58. Nest egg item, for short 59. Auction unit 60. Mystery master 61. Piece corps, briefly?

62. Hoedown participant

SUDOKU

Puzzle answers for September 12, 2014

5

Life &Times

6

September 19, 2014 THE MAROON

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

All photos courtesy of Graham Blackall (ABOVE) Pictured above is Blackall’s Banoffee Baked Donuts (BOTTOM LEFT) and his Pistachio Yogurt Cake with Rosewater Glaze is pictured below. (BOTTOM RIGHT) ”These are the best sugar cookies, which is essentially my secret recipe that I decided to share, inspired by the hundreds of sugar cookies I ate at the mall as a child,” Blackall said. Blackall is a mass communication junior with a blog titled “Glazed and Confused.”

Loyola blogger is Glazed and Confused

By Whitney Woods wtwoods@loyno.edu @whittwoods

Graham Blackall, mass communication junior, has an affinity for baking and all things fashion.

He is the creator of “Glazed and Confused,” a hybrid blog featuring fashion, homemade dessert recipes, and all things Graham.

Blackall’s initial love for baking started during his childhood holidays in the kitchen with his mother.

“Every Christmas, I would help my mom out with holiday baking — she does none of it now — and loved making peanut butter cookies from one of my children’s cookbooks,” Blackall said.

In high school, his passion for baking continued and he began to bake exclusively from scratch.

“During my senior year, I began to bake every week and took it upon myself to better understand the fundamentals of baking,” Blackall said.

Blackall said that each week he would create a new dessert and take his dozens of baked goods to his theater rehearsals for everyone to enjoy.

“I became obsessed with being in the kitchen and giving people good, homemade desserts. It’s a great way to make friends,” Blackall said.

When he began his journey at Loyola, Blackall said his inspiration to take his talents to the web stemmed from advice given by a

mass communication professor.

During his sophomore year, he met with his adviser and visiting professor, Andrew Nelson, about his interest in creating a blog.

“I brought up the idea of starting a blog to him, and he pretty much told me I’d be wasting my passion not starting one,” Blackall said. “A week later, I purchased the domain name and web-hosting service.”

“Glazed and Confused” began in September of 2013 and has been flourishing ever since, garnering “tens of thousands of views per month,” Blackall said.

“I initially wanted a hybrid baking and fashion blog. The name ‘Glazed and Confused’ came to me while scrolling through Instagram

and the first two photos in my feed were of a Dazed & Confused fashion editorial and a box of glazed donuts.

I put them together, didn’t hate the way it sounded and the rest is history,” Blackall said.

All of his blog content is original.

Every post has been has been styled, shot and created by Blackall. Currently, he is interning with the Besh Restaurant Group in New Orleans.

While working for Besh, he has shot for different food publications such as Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, the Black Card Magazine, USA Today and Dessert Professional.

“I’ve been learning so much about my craft as a food photographer and getting so much experience shooting for food publica-

tions,” Blackall said.

Blackall said he ultimately wants to continue his blog and pursue his dream job as an editor for a food publication, but for now he will continue to intern for the Besh Restaurant group.

He also just began a new series on his blog entitled “Eating New Orleans” in which he has created “crazy concoctions” inspired by quintessential New Orleans desserts.

“If you ever see me walking around campus with a basket full of cookies, please stop me. Yes, you can have one! Or two or three!”

Blackall said.

Visit his blog at www.glazedandconfused.us.

September 19, 2014

7

THE MAROON

Absurity takes the stage in Loyola’s “Endgame”

By Mary Graci

megraci@loyno.edu @megraci_maroon

Sitting in a trashcan for 90 minutes was the last thing Travis Daigle expected to do when he stepped on campus for the first time.

But now that Daigle, theatre arts freshman, has been cast in the leading role of Loyola’s production of “Endgame,” he is doing just that.

“When I heard that Loyola was doing ‘Endgame,’ I jumped at the opportunity to audition,” Daigle said. “I thought, ‘I’m going to audition, but she’s not going to cast me.’

It’s a tough show. But coming basically bursting onto the scene here was such a new experience that I was so readily excited for.”

“Endgame,” by Nobel Prize Winner Samuel Beckett, will premiere in Lower Depths Theatre on Sept.

26 and runs through Oct. 4. Laura Hope, associate professor of theatre arts, is directing the tragic comedy to kick off the 2014-2015 season.

The four-man cast has been preparing for the production since the first week of school and is working to present an accessible and meaningful show to the public next weekend.

Beckett’s script for “Endgame” paints an apocalyptic landscape coursing with dark humor and symbolic meaning that Hope said provided a platform for her New Orleans-inspired vision.

With Beckett’s plays finding their home in the theatre of the absurd, Hope embraced “Endgame’s” themes and found a contemporary mirror to reflect New Orleans’s current concerns, specifically focused on the environment.

“When Beckett wrote ‘Endgame,’

he was looking at a post-World-WarII, rise-of-the-Cold-War landscape where many cities had been flattened, environmental destruction had been huge, bombs had been dropped all around the world and the absurdity of why would we want to do that,” Hope said.

Keeping Beckett’s inspiration in mind, Hope said she found her own inspiration a little closer to home.

“I think we’re in a very different situation now, where the absurdity is there’s all this science out there and we have all of this everyday evidence to show us we’re losing a football field of land every day.

Louisiana’s no longer shaped like a boot, yet we’re all in denial about it.

To me, that’s absurd,” Hope said.

Hope said she has always found the “absurdity” of current environmental issues on par with Beckett’s vision, having made a similar connection back in the spring of 2010 when Loyola’s theatre department put on Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” centered around the theme of the then-recent BP Oil Spill.

Hope said she wishes to continue that reflection in this production of “Endgame.”

“We set ‘Endgame’ in the future where the whole place isn’t underwater yet, but between this perfect storm of what we have done to our environment and then global warming,” Hope said. “I think what Beckett was trying to do was, in pointing out the absurdity, he was hoping that people would wake up.”

Despite Beckett’s reputation as being difficult to interpret, the cast has worked with Shelby Kirby, theatre arts junior and the production’s dramaturge, to make the show accessible to everyone in attendance.

Artwork by TERRANCE OSBORNE “Through the Streets,” a painting by New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne, is being used to promote Endgame. The characters exist in a painting of the possible future, a future where much of the Gulf Coast is underwater. Director Laura Hope likes Terrance Osborne’s work because “of the way he grapples with life along the Gulf Coast post-Katrina, knowing full well that we continue to poison our environment, and knowing there will be more storms.”

“Even though we are presenting our very unique ideas and our unique setting, there’s a degree of interpretation allowed for the audience members,” Kirby said.

“They’re going to see what we are presenting and make of it what they will. Then they can come away from it maybe realizing something about themselves or about the world they live in that they didn’t quite see before.”

Hope said her production of “Endgame” is not meant to be a co-

medic portrayal of actors in trashcans speaking absurd lines, but rather an opportunity for the audience to walk away with an idea that the environmental issues that surround us are ever-present and need to be addressed.

“I think that by presenting the daily routine of this world in all of its absurdities, the hope is that you take a moment to look around and say, ‘This is actually a problem that we all need to be a part of the of the solution for,’” Hope said.

1540’S LETTER TO LOYOLA

At the end of the day, Daigle said he is hopeful and excited about his first time on stage here at Loyola.

Being a long-time fan of Beckett, he aspires to give a performance that will leave the audience thinking.

“It is such a heavy show that’s so metaphorical, and I hope the audience takes the time after the show to stop and really think about what they just watched because there’s a whole other level below the literal meaning and beyond what is said on stage,” Daigle said.

RELIGION

8

September 19, 2014 THE MAROON

All students welcome at Awakening Sign-ups are open for first Awakening retreat of the year

By Lauren Saizan lesaizan@loyno.edu @Lauren_Maroon

Courtesy of Heather Malveaux

Ignacio Volunteer Coordinator Heather Malveaux poses in front of Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, the southern-most point in Africa one can stand at. Malveaux went to South Africa last summer for two weeks to do research and plan for a new trip that will start in May 2015.

Iggy Vols announce South Africa trip

By Syed Ali Abidin saabidin@loyno.edu

Loyola is introducing a new Ignacio Volunteer Program in Cape Town, South Africa called The South Africa Experience.

The program is set to take place from July 23 to Aug. 8, 2015 and is designed to help students learn about the culture of South Africa, specifically in Cape Town.

A goal of the program is to educate students on issues related to the apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa.

Heather Malveaux, coordinator of international immersion programs at Loyola, said the program would allow students to see the world in new ways.

“We’d be exposing the students through the program to the culture of Cape Town, the history of South Africa and apartheid, also how the HIV/AIDS pandemic has affected the citizens, more specifically children,” she said. “It allows

students to see the world with their heart and not just their head.”

While in Cape Town, students will have the opportunity to work with five different organizations that are currently working to improve the lives of many impoverished and HIV/AIDS-afflicted children and adults.

The organizations that the program will be working with are Nazareth House, New Kids, Fikelela, St. Georges Home for Girls and Eliso. All of these organizations have been formed to provide for orphans of varying ages who are either homeless, suffer from HIV/AIDs, or have been victims to sexual or physical abuse, Malveaux said.

Students will also take part in different cultural activities on the trip. These include taking nature tours and visiting the District Six Museum that relates to one of the biggest forced removals of inhabitants by the apartheid regime, Malveaux said.

Amy Pirtle, political science junior who is planning to take part in this program, said, “I know the history of South Africa and how they are rebuilding after apartheid, which was obviously a very destructive period, so I would love to have a hand in the rebuilding effort.”

Victoria Williams, psychology and sociology junior, previously participated in the Ignacio Volunteer program in Jamaica, which she described as being a “lifechanging experience.”

“I look forward to learning about the people and the way of life in South Africa. I look forward to opening my heart, and I know the return will be better than anything I can expect,” Williams said.

Recruitment for the program will start in late September, and the applications will be due by mid-October, followed by interviews with the eligible candidates.

11 students will be selected for the program, including two team leaders.

“It allows students to see the world with their heart and not just their head.”

— Heather Malveaux, coordinator of international immersion programs

This fall, Loyola students will gather together at the new permanent home for the Awakening retreat: Fountainebleau State Park in Mandeville. The bi-annual Awakening retreat this year is held from Oct. 3 to 5 and will host about 100 students.

Marion Boreros, psychology and Latin American studies senior, is a retreat leader who has attended five past Awakenings.

“Awakening is a celebration of God’s love through community. We explore that theme the entire weekend with fun skits, talks given from students, as well as a few surprises!”

Boreros said.

While each Awakening is different, meeting new people and making new friends are always a part of the retreat.

“The entire retreat is run by students for students, so we get a lot of freedom in deciding how things will go. Each different group of staffers and retreaters brings something interesting and worthwhile to the retreat,” Boreros said.

Kayla August, mission and ministry intern at Loyola, used to attend Awakening retreats as a Loyola student and now helps plan them as a staff member for University Ministry.

“Awakening was one of the experiences that most shaped my spirituality,” August said. “It showed me the beauty of seeing God in others and hearing how each of us lives out our faith in different ways.”

Terri Zehyoue, criminal justice senior, has attended six Awakenings and will be co-leading the retreat this semester with Boreros.

“There are a lot more young people involved, like a lot more freshman and sophomores taking on leadership roles than in the past.

The community grows and gets stronger every year,” Zehyoue said.

Tabling sign-ups continue in the Danna Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays until Friday, Sept. 26, which is also the last day to sign up and pay for the retreat.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AWAKENING WHAT IT IS Awakening is a biannual retreat that is spiritual but nondenomenational.

HOW TO SIGN UP You can sign up at the tables in the Danna Center or on Loyola’s website.

WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE Awakening staff will be tabling in the Danna Center from Sept. 15-26.

IMPORTANT DATES The final day to sign up for Awakening Fall 2014 is on Friday, Sept. 26.

Courtesy of Heather Malveaux

Children in Cape Town covered in face paint pose for a picture taken by Heather Malveaux. Cape Town is a large city in South Africa that is more developed than others, but still needs the volunteer work that Iggy Vols is planning to provide starting next summer.

COST AND OTHER CONCERNS The cost of Awakening is $40, including meals and activities. Financial assistance is available if needed.

SPORTS

September 19, 2014 THE MAROON

9

CROSS COUNTRY IS ON THE MOVE

By Mark Robinson mtrobins@loyno.edu @_mtrobin

The cross country season is underway, which means lots of ice, plenty of time on the trainer’s table and, of course, an increase of practice hours.

Last weekend, the Loyola Wolf Pack Men’s and Women’s Cross Country team put their weeks of training to the test in the 6th Annual Wolf Pack Invitational at Lafreniere Park in Metairie.

The women placed third, and in spite of a strong showing from the men’s side, Paul Freese, history senior, said he believes that there is still much work to be done if the Pack wants to claim a top spot in their respective conference.

One of their biggest opponents, Emmaneul College, has left their conference, and players believe that will work

in their favor.

“I think the conference is wide open since Emmanuel left. If everyone keeps their stuff together and puts the work in during the season we can compete for that top spot,” Freese said.

For Freese, there are other factors that play into the overall success of the team this season. Since injuries to key athletes played a crucial role in last year’s standings, Freese said that they have been resting certain runners to avoid last year’s problems. He was one of the three athletes who did not compete for the men.

“If we can stay injury free, we could get top three in conference. From there we can really start to build and drop times,” Freese said.

For the Pack, the new season came with a new head coach, Matt Shelton, who the team said has been strategic in

implementing changes to the program.

“So far, Coach Matt has done a really good job of building into heavier stuff instead of throwing it all at us at the beginning of the year. I think everyone is doing a good job of getting into the flow of the season,” Freese said.

Shelton said he is already working to establish a mindset of his own.

“I’m trying to establish consistency and unity. With those two, it’s the best recipe for success,” Shelton said.

While serving as an assistant coach last season, two of his runners qualified for nationals. Still, Coach Shelton said he is still seeking major improvement from last year’s success with the right focus.

“I feel our expectations have increased dramatically. I think we are a better team than what has been listed on paper. If we focus on the mental side of training, instead of the athletic, I feel that

we can achieve our goals,” Shelton said.

But keeping everything in the right perspective will be another major component for the team’s success this season, Emma Larson, visual arts senior, said.

“It’s about having the team aspect and pushing myself, because at the end of the day, I’m not going to the Olympics.

I still want to push myself and push my team. It’s more about the group effort than being a superstar,” Larson said.

Along with the power of a tight-knit group and a never settle attitude, Larson said she sees no reason why this year’s team can’t compete for the ultimate prize.

“Let’s go for it. Let’s go for conference.

A lot of years we’ve had plenty of chances and we’ve tried our best. All we can do is push each other and once we get to that meet, just do our best,” Larson said.

Courtesy of Denise Powell

Loyola’s Cross Country team competed against eight teams when they hosted the 6th Annual Wolf Pack Invitational at Lafreniere Park in Metairie on Sept. 6. All four of the men’s runners completed personal best times; two of them even broke school records. The women’s team ranked third overall, while Xavier University took home the gold. The team will compete again on Sept. 20 at the Louisiana State University Invitational in Baton Rouge.

Volleyball team blocked by Mobile

ZACH BRIEN / Photo Editor

Eva Allen, mass communication junior, spikes a ball to the women on the University of Mobile’s team. The Pack lost 0-3 in this conference game, leaving them 1-4 in the Southern States Athletic Conference. As of Wednesday, they stand 3-8 overall.

WOLF PACK STATS VOLLEYBALL

CROSS-COUNTRY

AUG. 29: L (2-3) University of St. Thomas AUG. 29: W (3-1) St. Gregory’s University AUG. 30: W (3-0) Texas College AUG. 30: L (0-3) Oklahoma Wesleyan University SEPT. 1: L (0-3) Fisk University SEPT. 5: L (0-3) Bethel University SEPT. 6: L (2-3) Martin Methodist University SEPT. 9: L (1-3) Spring Hill College SEPT. 12: L (0-3) Coastal Georgia College SEPT. 13: W (3-0) Brewton-Parker University SEPT.16: L (0-3)

MEN’S 5K RESULTS

University of Mobile Next home game: Sept. 19 Next away game: Sept. 26

Toren Arnold: 15 mins 50 sec (8th) Jonathan Malbrue: 16 mins 20 sec (10th) Alexander Morano: 17 mins 7 sec (14th) James Bock: 17 mins 18 sec (18th) WOMEN’S 5K RESULTS Jessica Williams: 22 mins 6 sec (10th) Emma Larson: 23 mins 1 sec (16th) Ashleigh Sparks: 23 mins 6 sec (17th) Julia Sweeney: 23 mins 48 sec (20th) Next: LSU Invitational 8:05 am, Baton Rouge, LA.

OPINION

10

September 19, 2014 THE MAROON

IN MY OPINION Students share their opinions on various topics

TRAGEDY FOR THE SAKE OF TRAGEDY Photo illustration by Zach Brien

As mass media cashes in on sensationalizing the news, we as consumers are responsible for the lack of in-depth news coverage

CHARLES WHITAKER Charles is an English junior. cbwhitak@loyno.edu

You may have noticed the news has been particularly depressing as of late.

Then again, it seems it’s been that way for the past 10 years. As we’re conditioned to absorb the headlines with a shudder or a shrug, with each new wave of tragedy the 24-hour news cycle gladly cashes in

on distorted facts and speculation, favoring marketable punditry over responsible analysis.

Domestically, Ferguson’s killings will soon fade from the spotlight as viewership slips for CNN, Fox News and other media outlets.

Internationally, the Israel-Palestine conflict will probably have to wait through another cease-fire to fulfill its potential for ratings.

Ukraine’s war still seems a little too distant and lukewarm for Americans to take interest.

And only recently have the ISIS and Ebola crises earned proper attention.

How are we supposed to react when calamity after calamity is delivered casually through the unstop-

pable machine of the 24-hour news cycle?

Unless you’ve had the time to personally dig through decent sources and dissect these events, chances are you’ve been restricted to major news conglomerates’ peripheral commentary and haven’t learned much at all, except to feign requisite horror.

The news has pumped out stories of violent terror and widespread looting in Ferguson, but conveniently avoids confronting what’s directly in front of them: a justice system that consistently imposes a racist disposition and reacts to protest with a militarized police force.

As mainstream media goes on trying to shock people’s already

dulled senses with conjecture and rabble-rousing, the complexity of the issue is reduced to a headline and investigative reporting is pushed to the margins.

Regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, Fox News and NBC, among others, take sides and attempt to oversimplify a conflict with information that reeks of rhetorical propaganda. Seldom does their coverage care to discuss American support of Israel or the world’s largest ghetto, Gaza.

Of course, the manipulation of the public by mass media is nothing new. The difference is that now, the public has its own form of media — social media. At its best, social media can represent democracy at its

most efficient and fair.

In the digital age, information takes precedent over knowledge.

Likewise, modern media — where everyone has a say — has a penchant for broadcasting every bit of information possible, while rarely transcending the superficial.

Yes, social media can be a powerful in leveraging the public’s voice.

But too often does this voice perpetuate the very problem that corporate media initiates.

As much responsibility the mainstream media shuns, its observers-turned-mediators are just as culpable. Until this generation of thinkers figures out how to use social media to their advantage, it is a mostly useless innovation.

This November, vote for the candidate who cares about students’ issues BLAKE CORLEY Blake is an Mass communication junior. becorley@loyno.edu

How many of us can turn on the TV without seeing one ad after the next telling us that Mary Landrieu is wrong for Louisiana? Commercials continuously tell us who we should vote for during this very important U.S. Senate election in November.

However, as students, we rarely hear anything that truly speaks to us. Politicians need to discuss issues that matter most to our generation and the struggles we face.

How many of us are buried in student loan debt or rely on Pell Grants to attend college? How many of us are worried about the fact that when

we graduate, we are faced with a scarce job market where the outdated minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour, even though the cost of living continues to rise? This doesn’t even include the fact that women are still paid significantly less than their male colleagues for the exact same jobs.

It is important that we have a fighting and realistic chance in this world. We don’t want any favors. We simply want a fair shot.

It is unrealistic to think we can have a fighting chance to be successful as the cost of college continues to rise, student debt increases and the minimum wage in the country remains at an unlivable wage.

Senator Mary Landrieu is the only candidate to have actually delivered results to students, not just talking points. She has proposed the “Passport to the Middle Class,” an initiative which would nearly double the Pell Grant award in or-

“Politicians need to discuss issues that matter most to our generation and the struggles we face. “ — Blake Corley Mass communication junior

der to offset the rising cost of college. Her plan includes the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Act that allows both borrowers with private and federal undergraduate loans to refinance at 3.86 percent. This should be music to the ears of the nearly 600,000 Louisiana residents that have taken out a student loan.

Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, one issue I hope we can all agree on is that women and men should be paid the same wage for the same work. Louisiana, however,

suffers from the second worst wage gap in the nation. When legislation came to the floor to fight against this senseless inequality, Bill Cassidy voted against Louisiana women.

As the election nears, we will continue to see commercials paid for by super political action committees funded by billionaires from outside Lousiana that tell us who we should elect to represent us. What they don’t get is that we can’t be fooled.

These special interest political action committees have one thing on their mind and it’s not what’s best for Louisiana — it’s protecting themselves from independent leaders like Mary Landrieu. They want another rubber-stamp politician in Washington who doesn’t protect the interests of Louisianans.

We should be proud to have an independent and tireless leader such as Mary Landrieu representing us in Washington. The nonpartisan Congress.org has ranked Senator

Landrieu as the 10th most effective Senator in the U.S. Senate, and she represents us.

We don’t need anyone to pay for a television ad to tell us that Bill Cassidy is wrong for Louisiana. Anyone who has voted to cut Pell Grants for Louisiana students as the cost of college continues to increase, against efforts to help Louisiana residents struggling with student loan debt and against equal pay for equal work isn’t just wrong for students; they are completely out of touch with our values and the state we’re proud to call home.

I urge everyone to register to vote here in Louisiana and vote this November. This may, in fact, be the most important election we’ve had the honor of participating in.

EDITORIAL

September 19, 2014 THE MAROON

11

OUR EDITORIAL

The majority opinion of our editorial board

HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to Third Fridays.

GROWL to the sound of coughing and sniffling all over campus.

HOWL to the New Orleans Burlesque Festival this weekend.

GROWL to the weird taste and smell of the city’s water.

HOWL to the first Saints’ home game of the season.

GROWL to the new U2 album infiltrating our iTunes.

HOWL to DerpyCon South.

GROWL to toxic caterpillars.

EDITORIAL BOARD Topher Balfer

Editor-in-Chief

Nia Porter

News Editor

Karla Daniela Rosas Kat O’ Toole Melanie Potter

Editorial Editor Managing Editor

We have a duty to ensure that New Orleans is accessible to all its residents

B

efore you read this any further, we’d like you to take a walk.

Make your way to the nearest set of stairs and simply stare at them for a few seconds.

As we move through the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, rarely do we pause to think about mundane things like stairs, sidewalks or doorways. Mundane as they may seem to some of us, for people with disabilities, they can present a real barrier.

Loyola community, it is necessary that we value and promote accessibility services throughout the city of New Orleans.

We should do this not because we pity people who have disabilities.

On the contrary, our advocacy must come from a place of solidarity and respect.

Our Jesuit ideals demand that, at the very least, we commit ourselves to service for, and with, others. The dignity of the human person is not an abstract concept from which we can distance ourselves once we’re out of class.

As part of the Loyola community,

we have made a commitment to advocate for our fellow person.

We feel the need to draw attention to this in light of the recent announcement by Senator Mary Landrieu that the city of New Orleans would receive $24.6 million in grant money from FEMA. That grant money is to be used by the city to build sidewalk ramps that will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. We first would like to commend Senator Landrieu for her initiative and determination in acquiring this grant for the city.

We feel joy in knowing that we reside in a city where real efforts are being made to accommodate our disabled residents.

We are also glad to note that earlier this year, our state approved a $24.6 billion budget that will increase spending on services for the disabled in both higher education and public schools, according to the Associated Press.

The fact that our state is choosing to focus more attention on students with disabilities means that we’ve come to think of access to public ed-

ucation as a right and that we must do whatever we can to ensure that right is available to all.

Furthermore, it indicates that we as a society are moving farther away from a time when these individuals existed in near-isolation.

Though these two events are certainly good, by no means are we anywhere near finished with our efforts to accommodate all of our residents.

How does our community go about this? We make our political decisions in consideration of how they will affect people with disabilities. We can also become involved with local organizations that work directly with the city’s disabled community.

Last year, several of our students worked with the Touro Synagogue to build viewing stands so that children in wheelchairs and other disabilities could view Mardi Gras parades.

Actions of this sort are exactly what we should expect of ourselves as members of the Loyola community. We must work to ensure that all our city’s residents have access to all that New Orleans has to offer.

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.

Photo illustration by Zach Brien

THE W RKS

12

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

FICTION

Sam remains hesitant about Wright Clinic

PART FIVE

By Adam Albaari akalbaar@loyno.edu

“What kind of licensed clinical therapist turns someone away who looks like that?” Sadha, my brother’s wife, pointed her finger directly at my face. “He looks like a zombie!”

“That’s why he came here.” Michael passed Sadha their swaddled newborn as he sat down at the kitchen table across from me. “He says it’s for the better.”

“It is,” I interjected. “I was wasting both of our time. Dr. Wright could tell I was overwhelmed, so she insisted that I come back when I’m more comfortable explaining myself.”

I was secretly surprised at how well I could explain the reason that I struggled so hard to understand just a few hours ago.

“Sam, I know some real professionals who can help you,” Sadha assured me. “My cousin lives in Long Island. You

September 19, 2014 THE MAROON

should go see him.”

“The help I found him is fine!” Michael seemed to get more agitated than I expected. I realized this was probably not the first time Sadha had suggested her cousin in Long Island.

“You don’t know anything about this woman, and yet you send your brother to her?” Just as Sadha and Michael were on the verge of a marital meltdown, their newborn baby began wailing.

“Take Alvin in the other room, Sadha.

Please,” Michael said, holding his head in his hands. Sadha retreated with baby Alvin and left Michael and I alone, sitting at his cluttered kitchen table.

“Listen man, this is a lot of stress for you,” I started, but Michael puts his hand up.

“Shut up, Sam. You’re not getting me out of this. I’m going to help you, whether you like it or not,” he said.

“I’m just saying. If Sadha has a suggestion that will make our lives easier, then maybe we should take it.”

“You didn’t even give my suggestion a chance. How do you know the Wright Clinic isn’t the right clinic?”

I remain silent.

“Just give it a try. Go back there and if you still don’t feel comfortable, we’ll give Dinesh a try.”

“Dinesh?”

“Her cousin in Long Island.” Michael closed his eyes and massaged his temples. “I’m starting to think I’m getting in-

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Arms of Aspiration

“Dr. Wright could tell I was overwhelmed, so she insisted that I come back when I’m more comfortable explaining myself.” somnia like you, man.” I wanted to point out that he had no idea what he was talking about, but instead I sat there with a concerned expression.

“So, how did you find the Wright Clinic?” I said.

“Research,” Michael said bluntly.

“Research?”

“Yeah, I searched for someone who treats your symptoms and I found a hit.”

I could feel my blood pressure spike.

“You searched for a treatment clinic by typing in my symptoms on Google?”

“Well, how else do you find a mental health clinic?”

“You seek professional help. You inquire. You don’t Google symptoms.”

“Dude, this isn’t the ‘90s. Google works. How would you have done it?”

“I would’ve searched for ‘reputable health clinics in New York’.”

“So you would’ve used Google!” Michael smiled. “See? You admitted it.”

“You know what? You’re right.” I throw up my hands and surrender.

“Just go back there. I told you I would pay for it all. Check it all out, really make sure it’s not the place for you, and if it isn’t, leave.” Michael said.

As if it were that simple.

By Bob Thomas, Ph.D. rathomas@loyno.edu @DrBobNatureNote

“Arms of Aspiration” Austin Taylor Hummel, economics junior / August 2014

Los Angeles-based Jesuit mixes gangsters and God Homeboy Industries brings gang members closer to God

By Colleen Dulle mcdulle@loyno.edu @colleen_maroon

Photo courtesy of Bob Thomas A venomous pus moth caterpillar sits on a bench outside Ignatius Chapel. The caterpillars have been found in the cement area beside Bobet Hall.

TOXIC CATERPILLARS FOUND IN PEACE QUAD BEWARE THE VENOMOUS PUS MOTH CATERPILLAR The pus moth caterpillar, locally called “buffalo,” is the larval stage of a nondescript brown moth. The species is native to our area and common, sporadically appearing through the summer and early fall.

The caterpillars are triangular in cross section, and their colors range from whitish to dark brown, with the most common color being tan.

IMPORTANT

DO NOT TOUCH THEM.

They are covered with relatively thick hollow “urticating” hairs that contain venom. If the urticating hairs penetrate the skin, the venom can cause a reaction that, depending on the person’s sensitivity to insect venom, ranges from stinging discomfort to a medical emergency requiring a trip to the emergency room.

They will not attack, but you must be careful where you sit and place your hands when they are present.

Pus moth caterpillars are presently abundant on walls, benches and the sidewalks outside Ignatius Chapel at the paved circle.

USE CAUTION.

The Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J., known among his homies as “G,” spoke at Loyola Monday night about his experiences working with gang members in Los Angeles.

Boyle shared stories of his 30 years working with gang members in the crime-ridden Boyle Heights neighborhood. He spoke about developing the eight Homeboy Industries businesses, which range from the original Homeboy Bakery to the brand-new Homeboy Food Truck. These businesses train and employ former gang members in order to prepare them to enter the work force.

Over 200 people attended the lecture in the St. Charles Room, where Boyle spoke about compassion and service.

“The measure of our compassion lies not in our service of those on the margins, but in our willingness to see ourselves in kinship with them,” Boyle said.

The Rev. Fred Kammer, S.J., director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute and co-organizer of the lecture, commended Boyle’s empathetic approach.

“It’s the best foundation for working for social justice anywhere,” Kammer said.

Boyle’s empathy has given him deep ties with Homeboy’s trainees and his

stories of his relationships with them brought the audience to laughter and to tears.

Boyle shared one story of a kindhearted homie named Mario who, after having suffered the trauma of gang life, found a job through Homeboy Industries. Mario joined Boyle on a speech at Gonzaga University where a woman asked Mario what advice he had for his teenage children.

“I just don’t want my kids to turn out like me,” Mario said.

The woman, who was sobbing, asked Mario why this was the case.

“Why wouldn’t you want your kids to turn out to be like you? You are kind, you are wise, you are loving, you are gentle. I hope your kids turn out to be like you,” she said.

The Gonzaga audience gave Mario a standing ovation.

Boyle’s stories were not all so heartwarming, though. He has buried almost 200 young people who have died due to gang violence.

Naomi Yavneh Klos, director of the University Honors Program and co-organizer of the lecture, described Boyle’s speech as “transformative.”

“It’s Los Angeles, but really, it could be New Orleans,” Yavneh said. “There’s a lot that we can learn from those stories.”

Boyle also commented on Loyola’s Jesuit heritage.

“We are all called to ‘find God in all things’ and to stand where Jesus stood: with the demonized, so that the demonizing will stop,” Boyle said.

“The measure of our compassion lies not in our service of those on the margins, but in our willingness to see ourselves in kinship with them.”

— The Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J. founder and director of Homeboy Industries