find us JCPenney opens
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P 14 THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
P 9
VOLUME 95 ISSUE 19
www.ulmhawkeyeonline.com
February 26, 2018
Adulting 101: Embrace mistakes, do not hide from them P 5
The Vagina Monologues Global movement helps overcome stigma against sexual topics P 10
Survivors take up arms against mass shootings P 7
Greeks spread alcohol and hazing awareness P 6
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 2
February 26, 2018
BRIEFS d
CALENDAR Monday, February 26
Travelling Black Inventions Museum from 11-2 p.m. in the Quad
Tuesday, February 27 Grad Finale 2018 from 10-3 p.m. in the ULM Bookstore
Wednesday, February 28
Yeti Roadie Raffle for St. Jude from 12-2 p.m. in the SUB Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Date Auction from 5-9 p.m. in SUB Ballroom A
'Detroit' movie night from 7-10 p.m. in Malone Stadium
Thursday, March
1
Dance Honors Society Date Night from 5-8 p.m. in SUB Ballroom A/B
2
Friday, March No planned events
Saturday, March
3
Browse on the Bayou from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 4 No planned events
Ouachita Parish
Swartz
Washington D. C.
France
Shreveport’s National Weather Service branch has issued a flood warning for the Ouachita River in Monroe, Louisiana. The Ouachita River’s current river stage is at 30 feet. It is expected to rise more than 12 feet over the next few days. By Tuesday, the river will be at 42 feet, two feet over the flood stage. The areas expected to flood are the Bawcomville, Moon Lake, Forsythe and Lazarre recreational areas. When the flooding begins, these areas will be closed. They will remain closed until the area is safe to use again. The National Weather Service warns residents to not drive vehicles through flooded waterways, use caution when walking near flooded riverbanks and do not wade or swim through flooded rivers and bayous.
Authorities have arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection with a Swartz shooting last Friday afternoon. According to a spokesperson of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office, the shooting happened just before 4 p.m. in the Swartz-Fairbanks area. Saturday morning, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office released the victim’s identity. The victim, 17-yearold Alyssa Neitz, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are not releasing the identity of the 13-year-old involved in the shooting due to his age. He is currently being held at the Green Oaks Detention Center. He was arrested on the charge of negligent homicide. The victim, Alyssa Neitz, was a student at Sterlington High School. As of now, Neitz has still not been charged.
The secret service took a woman into custody after she drove her car into a security barrier near the White House last Friday afternoon. Video footage showed a white van with a Tennessee license plate stopped at the barricade along 17th Street, with its rear window shattered. The secret service said no shots were fired. Immediately after that, the White House was put under a lockdown. The incident occurred during a visit by Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull; President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were also at the White House. The Secret Service said that the car did not break the barrier, and no law enforcement officers were injured in the commotion. Streets around the White House were closed to traffic due to the disturbance.
France's Culture Ministry announced last Friday that they have recovered a painting by the impressionist master Edgar Degas; the painting was stolen more than eight years ago. "Les Choristes," or "The Chorus Singers," was discovered inside a piece of luggage on a coach bus during a security check on Feb. 16. The ministry said that no one on board the bus in Marne-la-Vallee, outside Paris, claimed to own the suitcase. Culture minister Francoise Nyssen was enthusiastic about the return of the artwork. He said the disappearance represented a heavy loss for the French impressionist heritage. Degas is considered one of the founders of the impressionist movement. He is particularly well known for his depictions of movement, especially dancers.
River puts Monroe Teen boy kills White House gate Degas painting under flood watch highschooler rammed by woman found on bus
d
QUOTE
HEY, BATTER, BATTER!
“When you learn, teach. When you get, give."
February 26
Maya Angelou, American poet
Front page credits: Main photo by: Siddharth Gaulee Top sidebar courtesy: Prajal Prasai Bottom sidebar photo courtesy: Myresha Ellis Top left courtesy: Pixieset Top right photo courtesy: Siddharth Gaulee
TODAY IN HISTORY
photo by Prajal Prasai Cade Harper attempts a bunt at last Tuesday's baseball game against Northwestern State at 6 p.m. on Warhawk Field.
1944: Vichy-France makes religious education in school mandatory. 1944: Sue Dauser of nurse corps becomes the 1st female U.S. navy captain appointed. 1954: 1st typesetting machine (photo engraving) is used. 1962: U.S. Supreme Court outlaws race separation on public transportation 1975: 1st televised kidney transplant happens on the Today Show. 1998: Oprah Winfrey found not guilty in beef defamation trial brought by Texas cattlemen. 2004: The United States lifts a 23-year travel ban to Libya. 2005: Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak orders the constitution changed to allow multi-candidate presidential elections. 2013: A flexible battery capable of being charged wirelessly, folded and stretched is developed.
February 26, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
Leadership
PAGE 3
BRIEFS
Student Goverment
SGA discusses plans for future events Elected CAB officers take on NACA Campus activities play a huge role in students’ university life. The recognized student organization, Campus Activities Board, knows this and plans accordingly by finding new ideas to implement in the upcoming school year. This year, the 2018-2019 executive board of Campus Activities Board attended the National Association of Campus Activities in Boston, Massachusetts. The four-day conference was designed for campus activity organizations across America to meet different agencies who provide entertainment for different college events.
The new officers who attended got the chance to meet other students who plan their college events at their respective universities, meet potential artists for concerts and bring back fresh ideas for future ULM events. The students also learned how to plan events more efficiently. This conference makes it easier for the new officers to plan events that they cannot ask for student input from. They are given catalogues that have different attractions that can be used in different campus activities. While there, the students attended different sessions for specific event planning and got a grand tour of the
Boston area. The officers enjoyed themselves and cannot wait to bring back the ideas that they learned and implement them into campus life. The 2018-2019 CAB officers are: President, Sarthak Neupane; vice president, Phillip Vu-Nguyen; secretary, Henry Diaz-Ruiz; treasurer, Pujan Dahal and public relations officer, Siddharth Gaulee. The CAB advisor is Brea Joyner, a 2017 graduate of the university. Their first huge event of the upcoming school year will be Week of Welcome.
The Student Government Association, a recognized student organization who are the ULM students’ representatives, had their weekly meeting last Tuesday. At this meeting, the senators discussed several topics relevant to student life. It was announced that there are two RSO Scholarships left for February and that SGA was voting on one of them tonight. The president of SGA, Bryce Bordelon, announced that Andrew Young would be doing a Guest Speaker Series on Feb. 27th. Bordelon said that SGA would not have meeting that night. Bordelon also announced that Lunch with the President would be
SGA Budget
on Mar. 16th at 11:30 a.m. Lunch with the President is the bi-annual event where where SGA senators and administration members join President Nick Bruno to discuss some of the current issues at ULM along with some ideas to help improve the campus. Sentaror Waldrop announced that "Let's talk Warhawks," one of the traditions of SGA where students have an opportunity to share their ideas for events and campus imporvements also kicked off last Tuesday. The treasurer, Cody Crnkovic, shared that the current budget sits at $68,281.84 pending the costs for Mardi Gras Ball.
$68,281.84
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 4
February 26, 2018
OPINION
HAWKEYE P.O.V.
Brainwashed by social media
Media should only report news The media has a unique way of delivering the news. and it is contributing to a divide in America. Media outlets need to be more aware of the way they generalize groups of people. Mass shooters, who are majority white men, are branded as “mentally ill.” At the same time, young back men are being labeled “thugs” for selling CDs or being killed for having a toy gun. Countries in the Middle-East are bundled together, and the people who emmigrate from there are deemed terrorists, for no other reason than the place they were born. We at The Hawkeye believe that accountability is important. We, and other student publications, have a responsibility to be aware of the phenomenon that is taking place within media outlets and make sure it doesn’t happen in our newspaper. We can’t simply take the news at face value anymore. As readers and watchers of the news, people must remain vigilant and be aware of racial injustice in the media. We are all equal, and the starting point of innocence should be the same. Media outlets have a duty to their audiences, to present the news unbiased and unfiltered, so let’s do so.
Stubbs 131 700 University Avenue Monroe, LA 71209 Editor in chief - Ethan Dennis Co-managing editor design - Siddharth Gaulee Co-managing editor news - Alfonzo Galvan Co-managing editor news - KeEmma Everett Opinion editor - Raven Adcox Freestyle editor - Sisam Shrestha Photo editor - Prajal Prasai Sports editor - Jerimee Washington Writing coach - Kandace Moss Circulation director - Madison Bryan Advertising director - CJ Nash 318-342-5453 ulmhawkeyead@gmail.com
The opinions expressed in personal columns are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinions of the editors, staff, adviser or the university. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The Hawkeye’s editorial board, but not necessarily the opinions of the adviser or the university. The Hawkeye (USPS #440-700) is published weekly except vacation, exam & holiday periods by The University of Louisiana at Monroe, 700 University Avenue, Monroe, LA 71209. Annual subscription price is $15.00. Periodicals Postage Paid at Monroe, LA 71203. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Hawkeye, 700 University Ave., Stubbs 131, Monroe, LA 71209-8832.
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Don’t agree? Let us know! Contact the writers or the editor at adcoxrv@warhawks.ulm.edu
Arohan Rimal Have you found yourself in a situation where you are trying to concentrate on something important but you keep getting distracted by Instagram or Facebook? You are too busy staring at your phone or swiping endlessly, to be productive. Your work sits unattended, staring back at you. Smartphones are common and practical. From planning a friend’s birthday party to the communication of ideas for new group projects, everything is done via smartphones. A person is basically disconnected from the entire world if they do not have a smartphone. On the top of the list of things we do on our smartphones is social media. Research shows that 98 percent of college students use social media. They spend two hours every day on average, swiping, chatting or checking news feeds. It is obvious that social media is a
big part of modern life. The question is: Are we critically engaged with social media? Thought should definitely be put into something we all do so often. Students need to be dynamic and productive to succeed. Social media has clearly hindered this process. We should at least evaluate our productivity when online. Research from the U.K. shows that social sites including Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram have net-negative effects on human health. YouTube was the only site found to have positive effects. Is the use of these sites wrong? Should we stop using them altogether? I don’t think so. Psychologists like to look at social media as a necessary evil. Social media is a place where our idealized self is put up for judgement. Our rewards are the “likes and love reactions,” also called emotional currency. While this system has helped some people, it also has deeper effects on the mental health of others. People are willing to do almost anything for that little bit of dopamine they feel after each like, view and share online. The tide pods challenge is a perfect example. We are now ready to film ourselves ingesting poison just to put it online. Psychologists have also discussed how notifications can be considered as rewards for our emotional investment in social media.
Sometimes, when we do not get rewarded, we become more engaged. This overuse causes lack of sleep. The problem with social media is that we do not realize the effects it has on us, or we deny there are any. Marketing experts at social media companies have made the sites a perfect place for us to get addicted without us even realizing it. According to Cornell University’s Steven Strogatz, social media sites make it difficult for us to differentiate between the relationships we have in the real world and the casual relationships formed through social media. Most of us who use social media would deny we have a problem with time-management on different platforms. When we deny problems, solutions are harder to find. Some of us may not be blindly following the “rewards” online, but that doesn’t mean the problem does not exist. The pill of self-realization is always bitter. Before you check your phone for notifications and likes, try to analyze the effect they have on you. Are you productive online? At this point, we can’t just boycott going online. But, we can definitely reduce the time we spend online and strive for productivity whenever we are. contact Arohan Rimal at rimala@warhawks.ulm.edu
February 26, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 5
OPINION
Adulthood comes with mistakes, experience
Shanta Pokhrel We go through different trials, tribulations and milestones in order to finally become an adult. Along the way, we get additional privileges. In the U.S., you are free (or expected) to move out from your parent’s house by 18-years-old, you can legally drink alcohol at 21 and so on. How much of that really has to do with becoming an adult? Even more, what makes someone an adult? The milestones society has laid in front of us are merely generalizations, not fact. We have all met extraordinarily wise kids and not-so-smart adults. In my opinion, becoming an adult isn’t really a milestone in the first place but rather, a journey. It is a learning experience that every five-year-old and 85-yearold is on, and the train doesn’t stop til we’re gone from this earth. However, as a child matures, he or she learns the important skill of decision-making. The two aspects of which we are most concerned about are: Independence and wisdom. To become a proper adult, we must be able to stand up for ourselves. You will not get the respect an adult deserves if you are still letting someone else make your decisions. Turning 18 is only the beginning of the journey to independence, since we are bounded by laws in many ways until then. The case may not apply to those with overly protective parents who refuse to acknowledge the fact that their kids have grown up. Only being able to make decisions isn’t going to take you very far. Through experience, you must learn to make the right decisions, too. This is where wisdom accompanies independence on our journey. As adults, we must realize that our actions have consequences, ones that not only shape our lives, but the lives of people around us. This is one of the deciding factors on the differences between children and adults. Since children cannot wrap their heads around this, they do and say things that can hurt others. Throughout the journey to adulthood, people learn many things that will help them adjust in a changing society. They learn to socialize, to make a living and to avoid the bad things in life. Adults also learn how to adapt to an ever-changing society and to break free from outdated social norms. An adult also accepts the fact that other adults can momentarily act childish at times. Dealing with children is probably the most difficult skill a person learns in life. This is why so many people face great difficulty during the early stages of parenthood. However, becoming an adult doesn’t mean that you never get to make mistakes in life. It’s actually quite the opposite. There are going to be times when something goes bad, but the important thing is to learn from that experience and move on. So, how far have you come in your journey to becoming an adult? contact Shanta Pokharel at pokharsr@warhawks.ulm.edu
A good leader must be a great follower
Sujata Gautam A leader is a guide. Someone who represents the views, aspirations and goals of their team. When imagining a good leader, we tend to think of politicians and revolutionists. However, good leaders can be found all around us. For example, a father is a leader at home, a teacher is a leader at school and a good friend is a leader in a circle. Self-leadership is the most important quality that a good leader must have. In my opinion, a person has to be able to lead themselves first before leading others. A good leader should have self-assurance, such that they can make right decisions when the time comes. Being bold and confident are also important characteristics a leader should have. A good leader must guide themselves, so that they can lead their team on the proper path. A leader should be motivated to become an example for others to learn from. A good leader should be a source of inspiration to others, someone the team can look up to and lean on. It is important that a good leader has proper communication skills.
One must be able to communicate fluently and listen patiently. A decision concerning a team’s welfare can only be made when a leader knows what’s going on within their team, which is where good communication skills come into play. It is said, “If you are a good listener, you can be a good speaker.” To be a leader means to represent the whole team as an individual. A person needs to listen to their team’s voice and then only speak for the rights of the team. They should be strong enough to speak for their team when the time comes. A good leader should be diplomatic and friendly. They need to keep their team intact, which involves consideration and diplomacy. A leader considers everyone’s views. They need to know everyone’s problems to help reduce them. A leader should also maintain public relations and should be able to communicate outside the team because that’s who they represent. The future president of the Campus Activities Board at ULM, Sarthak Neupane, is one of the most exemplary leaders I’ve met. He designates time for himself and his team, so that he can communicate and know everyone’s views. He is found to be amicable and humble with everyone. A good leader is always committed to his or her team. There are some responsibilities to maintain and promises to keep. As a leader, there should be a clear commitment to keep those promises. Leaders play a big role in the productivity and success of a team. A leader’s dedication and efforts to their team can lead to progress, but their negligence can lead to chaos. contact Sujata Gautam at gautams1@warhawks.ulm.edu
Money can not buy happiness
Kerrion Henry How much money does it take to buy happiness? Money has a way of controlling a person’s emotions, whether it be with good or bad reasoning. Really, there is no amount of money that can buy happiness. Yes, we all have to buy things in order to survive. Clothes, food and shelter are a few examples, but how depressing is the feeling after spending your hard-earned money. Although money is a factor in becoming happy, it’s just a temporary glance. According to society, there are more people living in poverty who are happier than the wealthy. Let’s agree that money helps solve 99 percent of our problems in today’s world. Were you happy when you got your refund check? Student loans paired with TOPS scholarships financially help me through college. I also keep a job for extra money and possible expenses.
Those loans are borrowed money from the government that I will have to later pay back. College is very expensive. Although I’m happy to be in college because of financial support, it won’t be a joyful experience paying it all back. For certain, having more money can also lead to more problems in life. Just like former rapper Biggie Smalls said in one of his biggest hits, “Mo money, mo problems.” Wealthier people may seem happy with life, but investors have concluded that it’s not so prosperous living in luxury, after all. Besides the delightful privilege to afford almost anything there is, with big money comes big responsibilities. Maintaining an expensive household often means increased work hours, which can cause emotional damage. On top of keeping up with bills at home, those who are more financially stable in life are required to pay higher government taxes from their income. Many people dislike this act, because they oppose giving away their money to the government just because they receive a greater income than others. Most people understand that even a person with financial stability can still not be happy with themselves. However, I believe money buys happiness when it is a kind gesture or earned through dedication. The key to happiness is to appreciate what you have, count your blessings and remain humble. contact Kerrion Henry at henrykd@warhawks.ulm.edu
PAGE 6
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 26, 2018
NEWS
State constitution raises Louisiana taxes Tax plan automatically changed by Ashish Dev
The Louisiana Department of Revenue recently adjusted the sum of money to be withheld from employees’ paychecks. Following this adjustment, employers will have to bring the new withholding tables into effect. Louisiana taxpayers can expect to see more money come out of their paychecks this year. According to state fiscal estimates, Louisiana residents are expected to pay about $226 million more in state income taxes than last year. The extra money gained by the state’s tax increase will be used to help deal with its $1 billion budget shortfall. The added money can help avoid cuts to higher education, like the ones seen in previous years. The increase in the state tax rates is due to the linkage between state tax and federal tax laws in the Louisiana’s constitution. This means that any change in the federal tax rates has a direct effect on the state tax rates, without the decision from the Louisiana legislature. However, the effect of this change in tax rates on corporations in Louisiana is unclear. “It doesn’t seem like it’s going to create a burden for many people in Louisiana, but the total amount of money collected from the income tax by the state isn’t going to be its solution for the budget shortfall either,” said assistant professor Anderson of the School of Behavior and Social Science, Jessica Anderson. There are two changes that have gone into effect and will affect taxpayers. Firstly, there will be a decrease in the amount that can be deducted from the state income tax. In Louisiana, an individual or business can deduct the amount they pay in their federal income taxes from their state income taxes. Secondly, the standard deduction people can take from their federal income taxes has increased substantially. This means that fewer people will need to itemize their federal income tax deductions than before. Itemizing is a tax perk typically used by
people with higher incomes who are more likely to have large federal income tax bills. In Louisiana, if you itemize deductions in your federal income taxes, you are allowed to take some of those deductions at the federal level. According to the legislature’s chief economist, Greg Albrecht, fewer people will qualify for those dedections at the state level now that fewer people will itemize deductions at the federal level. This will have a big effect on taxpayers wealthy enough to itemize deductions for home mortgages, property taxes and charitable donations. As shown by the IRS data, about 460,000 Louisiana residents, or roughly 25 percent of photo courtesy Abby Hubbard the state’s taxpayers, itemized deductions in RAISING AWARENESS: Abby Hubbard participates in social media challenge. 2015. Associate professor of the School of Behavioral and Social Science, Joshua Stockley, said, “I am skeptical that this tax reform package will create an economic Stockley cohol-related deaths and the and his friends were driving by Kandace Moss benefit for the United number of hazing-related fatal- under the influence which reStates. Historically speaking, tax cuts have Every year, ULM rais- ities. sulted in an accident that killed a very mixed legacy in actually creating es awareness about alcohol “My sorority is an anti-haz- his two friends and left him the economic expansion and may undoubtedly and anti-hazing. ULM Greeks ing organization. We do not sole survivor. Baldridge’s story lead to large deficits.” and Student Life and Leader- condone it under any circum- left audience members in tears. The increased state taxes will range from ship hosted an entire week of stances.” Mcquarn said that “Kids tend to lose their mind just tens of dollars to a few hundred more for events and activities centered she’s glad her sorority has imple- when they go away to college, each taxpayer, based on their level of income. around promoting healthy alco- mented these rules, because she and that’s fine, but I really hope According to state officials, the increases hol habits and demoting hazing knows that it’s saving lives. they try to make the right deciwould equal just a fraction of the federal tax practices. And there is only one, ac- sions when their parents aren’t cuts, because the state’s top tax rate is only six From Monday until Thursday, cording to state trooper Micheal watching,” Baldridge said. percent. Greek members hosted events Reichardt, one of the speakers at Taylor Witherspoon, sesuch as “Roll over truck,” a social the forum. nior vocal performance major media challenge that challenged Reichardt told the students and member of Sigma Gamma contact Ashish Dev at deva@warhawks.ulm.edu students to take pictures with that one of his responsibilities as Rho Sorority Inc., said that their respective organizations a state trooper is to make death ULM needs to make these foand lawn signs around campus notifications to families of fatal rums a habitual event. She did which featured positive phrases car crash victims. In Ouachita not realize that these issues are and an alcohol awareness/haz- Parish, Reichardt worked eight widespread among college stuing prevention forum. alcohol fatal car crash cases. He dents. First-year pharmacy student had to announce those deaths to “I think college students need Brea Mcquarn said that she real- the victim’s families. At the end to understand that although we ly appreciated that ULM took the of his speech, Reichardt urged feel invincible when we’re drunk time to host these events in an students to act responsibly while and that we can do anything, effort to help the student body. drinking alcohol. Reichardt en- we all need to understand that “Having events and parties couraged the students to make driving under the influence is with alcohol can be fun, but re- the right choices, because “the dangerous and potentially fatal,” alizing that alcohol is a drug and choices you make today will and Witherspoon said. seriously dangerous is super im- can affect tomorrow.” Student Life and Leadership portant,” Mcquarn said. Bill Baldridge, another speak- hopes to have more events like Mcquarn and other members er at the forum, understood how this in the future and hope that of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Al- important choices are and how students take heed to the advice pha Sorority Inc., attended the they can affect lives. Baldridge and warnings. forum last Thursday and were is a double amputee victim due shocked at the number of al- to an alcohol-related crash. He contact Kandace Moss at
Greek organizations learn about anti-hazing, alcohol awareness
Did you know?
The updated withholding tables took effect Friday, Feb. 16. The new federal tax cuts should counteract any increase in state taxes.
mosskv@warhawks.ulm.edu
February 26, 2018
NEWS
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 7
NEWS
Aftermath of Parkland shooting sweeps nation by KeEmma Everett
Almost two weeks after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, conversations about mass shootings continue to buzz. According to the world atlas website, Louisiana ranks fifth as the most violent state. Heated debates about gun control and mental health plaster social media sites and news outlets warranting many to express their opinions about the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment protects American citizens’ rights to bear arms. Firearms are a popular topic after Nikolas de Jesus Cruz used one to kill 17 people in Douglas High School. Speech language pathology graduate student Kelsie Hicks believes, “The process to obtain a gun should be as strict as possible.” School shootings have now hit close to home. Safety ventured into the minds of ULM students after two people were recently shot on Southeastern Louisiana University’s campus. Senior risk management and insurance major Skylar Sterling said, “I’ve always felt secure on ULM’s campus up until now. It’s not ULM’s fault. It’s the world we live in.” Students of Douglas are calling for politicians to reform gun laws. President Trump proposed
an idea to arm teachers with guns to protect students in case of an active shooter. During a news conference with the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, President Trump said schools need “offensive capability as well as defensive capability” to protect students from active shooters. While teachers are hanging in the balance with the proposal, some students feel it isn’t a bad idea. “I believe they should arm teachers or at least the principals,” said senior history major Lauren Cook. “People are less likely to go start shooting if someone in there would be shooting back at them,” Cook continued. Survivors of the Douglas High School mass shooting and their supporters called for a ban on assault-style guns. They have become the face of student activism. Students like Emma Gonzalez and Ryan Deitsch began demanding politicians and businesses refuse funding from the National Rifle Association. They recently hosted a televised town hall meeting with Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Bill Nelson and other politicians. Students have also protested the NRA and supporting companies by walking out of class. According to ULM’s annual security report,
graphic by Siddharth Gaulee
fully marked Segways were introduced to increase the visibility of police officers. ULM PD also have a silent witness program to anonymously report suspicious behavior online. There’s also Warhawk Alerts that inform faculty and students of any criminal activities, extreme weather events and school closures. “Like so many others, I am saddened by the recent violence which claimed the lives of those students recently in Florida,” President Bruno said. He assures that “ULM has been proactive in
Andrew Young February 27 | 7 p.m. Brown Auditorium
Tickets Students, Faculty/Staff - FREE General Admission - $5
Sponsored by: ULM CAB & SGA
providing training to our faculty, staff and students in active shooter response, taking steps to increase student registration on our alert system and continuous training of our police.” President Bruno also urged students to report suspicious individuals and actions immediately. Louisiana is an open carry state that doesn’t require a permit or gun license needed to purchase a firearm. contact KeEmma Everett at everetkn@warhawks.ulm.edu
PAGE 8
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 26, 2018
NEWS FREESTYLE
photos by Alfonzo Galvan
CAREER FAIR: Students meet and mingle with potential employers thanks to Career Connections.
Students prep for 'real world' during career week by Misisipi Bhandari With a series of informative sessions and networking opportunities, Career Connections hosted its annual career fair last week. Career week motivates students to build a successful career in a global world building leadership skills to acquire professionalism. The week featured many events focusing on dressing professionally, nailing job interviews, perfecting resumes and many other things. “We really want students to learn the skills that are required in a professional world so that they become prepared to build a career after they graduate,” said the coordinator of career development, Anna Gasperecz.
Career week’s purpose is to increase confidence in students, helping them find employment by guiding them through resume writing and networking through many seminars. Sessions like “Let Me Buy You Coffee” focused on how to improve your resume. “I got an idea to write a proper resume that basically talks about my experiences that are required for jobs I am looking for,” junior psychology major Amanda Cook said. The students got a chance to talk to the social media and networking assistant from Century Link, Kelsea McCrary. She focused on nonverbal communication and introductions. McCrary talked about how a proper handshake and an elevator speech can project a figure about oneself in front of an employer. She
shared that knowing what you will talk about when meeting with a employer is important. Judgement is made on how you greet and meet new people. She also stressed that social media is a very important tool for employment. She gave tips on how to make Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn appropriate and not too personal, so that employers can get a good idea of who you are. Edward Jones' financial advisor, Wynn Lawrence, taught students about the importance of saving for emergency situations. He recommended establishing a 401k and attaining a benefits package from a company after retirement. Pre-occupational therapy major Sarah Elizabeth said, “I really feel confident after attending the semi-
nar now that I know how social media and budgeting can affect me. The seminar was worth going to, and it's relevant to the students seeking a full-time career.” Students also got the chance to listen to Dr. Emison who served in numerous senior executive roles for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years. He spoke on how a career in non-profit and public service can be more than just a government job, by giving you recognition in society. The Spring Career Fair was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 in the SUB ballrooms where 57 different employers interacted with students in one-onone sessions. Employers informed students of ways they can gain employment or seek internships with their compa-
nies. The fair left students feeling confident about their job search and post-graduation. “I talked to companies like IBM and Century Link, and I believe I will get hired after I graduate. For now, I will be applying for internship there,” junior accounting major Mariana Tarver said. Students like junior psychology major Luke Arsement felt there should be participation of “national, international and global recruiters and not just those looking to hire domestically.” The students also had the opportunity of having their professional headshot taken free of charge by the university photographer during the fair. contact Misisipi Bhandari at bhandam@warhawks.ulm.edu
February 26, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 9
NEWS
JCPenney boosts students confidence with style upgrades by Alfonzo Galvan Career Connections, in combination with retail giant JCPenney, kicked off career week in high fashion, or rather with high fashion, thanks to the sale they put on for ULM students. Sunday, Feb. 18, career week kicked off down the road from campus at Pecanland Mall. JCPenney opened its doors to students from three different universities. LA Tech and Grambling were also present at the event, but the local university (ULM) brought the biggest crowd out. Anna Gasperecz, the coordinator for development in the office of Career Connections, and her staff Gasperecz manned the check-in desk for ULM. “It’s our kickoff event to career week. Students, faculty and staff can bring their ID and get 40 percent off dress attire.” Gasperecz said Isaac Hardman, a senior risk management major, made sure to be at the event early. Career Connections and JCP were kind enough to let students in before the scheduled kickoff time, so they could have an ample amount of time to shop. “I just need to be prepared for any interviews I may have. I’m glad that Career Connections is helping us out with this, because it is hard to find affordable clothes on a college budget,” Hardman said. Preparing for upcoming interviews was on everybody’s mind. A vast majority of students were seniors looking for the perfect in-
STYLING AND PROFLING: A JCPenney associate helps a student find the right fit.
terview appropriate outfit. With the average price of a suit just under the $300 mark and very much over a college student’s budget, JCPenney really did a service to the ULM community with their event. Other than the discount on dress attire, students were also invited to Sephora, inside JCPenney, to be given mini makeovers and a free consultation. Heath Kimball, a freshman biology major, works at Sephora as a product conKimball sultant, and was on hand to guide girls and even guys through the world of make-up. “I show people what will be best for them, in the most general sense possible. We’re here to show them
what’s interview appropriate. We have products for all genders. Guys are welcome to come in, and we’ll even help them out,” Kimball said. Refreshments were served at the event beside the red carpet. Style consultants were on hand for both men and women. They served the purpose of educating students on proper dress attire for interviews and meetings. Career Connections hopes that during and after career week, students gain the abilities and resources necessary to navigate the job market successfully thanks to them. Other than career week, Career Connections hosts events throughout the school year to help students attain a career after graduation. contact Alfonzo Galvan at galvana@warhawks.ulm.edu
photos by Prajal Prasai
SALE: Students were given an extra discount to kick off career week.
March 1st Brown Auditorium
2018
7 P.M. Sponsored by:
PAGE 10
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 26, 2018
FREESTYLE
The Vagina Monologues
Fighting violence against women through shared experiences by Sisam Shrestha “Vagina. Vagina. Vagina.” The word rang through the room, but it was still met with some hesitance. However, at the end of The Vagina Monologues last week , even men like Vu Nguyen are now more familiar with the word and femininity, in general. The seventh annual event was hosted by the School of Humanities and V-Day, a global non-profit organization. Senior pre-pharmacy major Nguyen attended the event as part of a bonus assignment but now happily recommends it to everyone. “I finally understand that The Vagina Monologues is about women being more open to talk about something that they were afraid to talk about,” Nguyen said. According to Nguyen, people who haven’t been raped won’t truly understand the struggles of a rape victim, but the performance tried to “bring to the forefront a glimpse of what rape is like.” The ULM team was selected through auditions and had many returning actors from previous years. “Our cast Tuesday night was composed of faculty, staff and students. Out of that cast, eight of us have dealt with harassment, and seven of us have experienced sexual assault,” said Rebekah Barnes, a second-time performer. photos by Prajal Prasai One of the monologues performed by Barnes UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS: TOP: Terri Honore (far left), Madison Smith (second from left) and was, “The Flood.” The performance told the other students enjoy a performance at The Vagina Monologues. BOTTOM: Rebekah Barnes (left) story of a woman who had stopped addressing performs “Because he likes to look at it” along with Vanelis Rivera.
$10 Tickets: eventzilla.net
Presents
the existence of her vagina due to an apparently embarrassing sexual experience during her youth. “It’s always very hard to discuss difficult and sensitive issues that carry social stigmas, like rape and abuse, to a diverse group of people who do not all share the same viewpoint, but I think that’s why The Vagina Monologues are so important,” Barnes said. For junior accounting major Prakriti Paudel, the event allowed her to openly enjoy a conversation about vaginas without the usual embarrassment. “A lot of the stories in the performance included real events with real people. This made me realize how important it was to aware everyone on the importance of female rights,” Paudel said. Paudel grew up in an environment where talking about vaginas, in general, was against the culture. The event last Tuesday was a “once in a lifetime, unique experience” for her. Tony Award winner Eve Ensler put together the performance by interviewing a series of women from different ages, races and backgrounds. The Vagina Monologues is part of a global movement that advocates against violence against women. Admission to the event was donation based. All the proceeds went towards The Wellspring and V-Day, who provided the script. The Wellspring is a non-profit organization that helps families and survivors of domestic violence in Northeast Louisiana. contact Sisam Shrestha at shrests8@warhawks.ulm.edu
March 3rd
10am-4pm
February 26, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 11
FREESTYLE
5 things that happened this Olympics Local events coming this week
Possibly new friendship The 2018 Winter Olympics at PyeongChang started with Olympians from two of the most unlikely countries marching together. Host country South Korea and its long-time nemesis, North Korea, marched under the same white flag with the map of both countries. However, the countries competed under different flags, wearing their respective uniforms. Many people believe this act might finally ease the tension between the two nations.
Record medals won
Dope cost a medal
History was made this season when Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjoergen became the most medaled winter Olympian of all time. After winning the bronze in the woman’s cross-country skiing sprint, she now has 14 Olympic medals, seven of which are gold. However, she does not have an individual gold this season. Following her with 13 medals (eight gold) is fellow Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.
Dope can be addictive, but addictive enough to kiss your sport goodbye? Russia was banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics because of systemic doping evidence found during different drug tests. However, the International Olympics Committee allowed players, who could prove their innocence, to participate under neutral flags and uniform. Even after the ban and the generous offer, Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky tested positive for using a restricted performance-enhancing drug. Krushelnitsky was found using meldonium, a stamina-increasing drug. The bronze medal Russia won for mixed doubles curling will now be given to Norway who finished fourth in the competition.
Ready to hear engines rumble and trucks tumble down dirt tracks? Head over to the Traxxas Monster Truck Tour this weekend at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for kids and $20 for adults. You can even take pictures with the trucks before the race and get autographs from the racers.
Barak Shrine Circus The 60th annual Barak Shrine Circus is back in town this weekend. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on March 2. You can attend either the 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. show on March 3. There’s also a performance on March 4 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Children can even ride on elephants and ponies before the circus on all three days.
Room for more sports Four new winter Olympics events were added to the list of official Olympic winter sports this season. New disciplines were added to pre-existing snowboarding, alpine skiing, speed skating and curling events. The Olympic committee executive board passed big air discipline in snowboarding, which allows skaters more time in air and thus, more aerial tricks. Mass start speed skating is a shorter version of the old form of speed skating. The two other disciplines added are team event in skiing and mixed doubles in curling. The Winter Olympics also featured six new countries. Ecuador, Nigeria, Eritrea, Kosovo, Malaysia and Singapore all competed for the first time in the Winter Olympics at PyeongChang.
Traxxas Monster Truck Tour
Support from furry friends
Soohorang was the designated mascot for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. According to the Olympic committee, the white tiger appears in Korean folklores and is important to Korean mythology and culture. Sooho means protection in Korean, whereas Rang represents tiger. Soohorang was accompanied by Bandabi, mascot for the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. Bandal, which means half-moon in Korean, represents strong will and courage.
Louisiana Heat Dessert Pairing Competition Wine helps everything, even dealing with hectic college schedules. So why not attend Landry Vineyards’ “La Heat Tawny Lenoir” release party this Saturday at 7 p.m.? Attendees can taste around 10 different desserts and vote for their favorite pairing. Tickets are $25 per person and need to be purchased online.
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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 26, 2018
FREESTYLE
‘Black Panther’ finally hits big screen, doesn’t fail to impress
by Akeyah Boyd
Since the world’s first glimpse in Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War,” the anticipation for “Black Panther” has been high. In its opening weekend, it grossed over $427 million worldwide and has had social media on fire with gifs and popular hashtags like #WakandaForever and #InWakanda. To the rest of the world, Wakanda appears to be a poor third world country, but in actuality, it is the most advanced country in the world, thanks to the vibranium the country runs on. The tribes of the country take special care to keep this secret tightly under wraps to ensure the safety of the world. After his father’s death, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns to Wakanda to assume the throne as the king and go through his coronation ceremony.
He learns that Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), who stole several tons of vibranium years ago, plans to sell a stolen artifact, with the metal, on the black market. In order to preserve the truth about the country, T’Challa and friends travel to South Korea to get it back. After the exchange goes bad, T’Challa discovers one of Klaue’s accomplices has a ring similar to his father’s, meaning he must be related to T’Challa’s father. Upon further questioning of the oldest tribe member, it is discovered that the accomplice is T’Challa’s cousin, Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). Being cousins, Erik has a right to the throne and must battle T’Challa for the throne as well. A battle ensues between the two, and the fate of Wakanda is at stake. Overall, the movie is a must see. The producers put extra effort on visual presentation. It actually pulls parts of real African culture into the film whether it is through the hair, jewelry or costumes. The movie had a good balance of action and humor, especially from T’Challa’s sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright). Other notable cast members include Martin Freeman, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira. Like all Marvel movies, be sure to stay for the credits, as they are known for giving a glimpse of what the next film will be centered around.
contact Akeyah Boyd at boydak@warhawks.ulm.edu
‘Black Panther’: Did it really help point out Hollywood’s racism? Jimmon Felton There has been a buzz around the world that there needs to be more superhero movies with colored leads in them ever since the release of “Black Panther.” The movie was everything I wanted in a comic book. However, I looked at it as just a comic book movie that was long overdue rather than a movie that helped sparked a social movement. Former First Lady of the U.S., Michelle Obama, said, “It allows young people to finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen.”
I completely agree. As an avid movie watcher, I do enjoy seeing people of color as the lead, because it is more relatable. However, there is only so much one can pick from. The problem is not just with superhero movies but also with superhero comics that have white leads for the most part. Growing up, I enjoyed comics more when the race of the character matched mine, which was rare. But the topic of having colored people as leads in superhero movies arose before “Black Panther.” “Green Lantern” featured the least popular Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, instead of the more known John Stewart, the black character who has been the main character since the 1980s. This movie, seven years ago, did cause a social movement demanding for more colored leads in superhero movies.
Maybe Hollywood even tried to make up for the racial disparity by having Michael B. Jordan play “The Fantastic Four’s” Human Torch, a white male according to the comic book. But one cannot just change the color of the character to fill the racial gap on big screens. In Hollywood, 76.1 percent of the actors are white. African American actors come in second with only 9.8 percent. To have a movie where 99 percent of the cast was black and/or African American like in “Black Panther” is a rarity, but not the first one to spark issues of racial disparity in superhero movies. It did help society bring back the topic of needing more colored leads in superhero movies, but chances are, this buzz is going to die just like the rest of its predecessors. contact Jimmon Felton at feltonjj@warhawks.ulm.edu
February 26, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE Crossword
Your friends are trying to guide you in a new direction. They could be offering advice about your love life, telling you to date one person and ditch another. Or they might be pressuring you to move to a new location. The moon says be open to suggestion.
Down 1 Jams 2 Good remark? 3 Plants with sword-
shaped leaves 4 Lombardy’s capital 5 Everyone in Mississippi? 6 Big ring name 7 AT&T, for short 8 Grinder 9 1969 hit with the line “You are my candy girl” 10 Botanist Gray 11 Candy heart words 12 Show one’s face 13 Make amends for 18 Outdo 22 Volume measure 24 Abbr. on some cans 25 Hardly a happy ending 27 Where the Santa Maria sank, nowadays 28 Dined on, biblically 30 Dash warning 33 “I suggest you move on” 35 Pie makeup?
36 Stock 38 Plus 39 Doesn’t exactly help one’s reputation 40 Stunning or cunning 43 One under a tree, maybe 44 Nissan sedan 45 Start of a pitch 46 Fifth-century Roman Empire enemy 48 In a little while 51 1996 A.L. Rookie of the Year 52 Psi follower 53 Needles 57 Org. whose logo features an eagle head 59 6-Across maker 61 Awfully long time 62 Rocks in a bucket 63 “Ideas worth spreading” acronym
Libra It’s important for you to deal with legal and financial structures. Saturn is reminding you to pay your bills on time, live up to your side of all contracts, and do your share of work within your most intimate personal relationships.
Scorpio
Practical Saturn is making you very determined and strong. Use your will to get things done. Trust your vision, because you have some great ideas about what you’d like to achieve and experience. It’s a good week to exert your willpower.
Don’t assume that you can read minds this week. Mercury is creating some moments of misperception. Usually, you’re good at picking up on emotional and social undercurrents. But right now your judgment is likely to be a little off.
You and a sexy someone are experiencing a hot flirtation. The moon is creating some exciting times. You might have met somebody interesting recently, and you’re at the early stages of a relationship. Immerse yourself in the situation and have fun.
41 Hoedown move 42 Taking place 44 Is in store for 47 Pine product 49 Maker of the GreenSaver Produce Keeper 50 Potty-training tool? 53 Absolut rival 54 Explosive letters 55 Collector’s __ 56 Reveals in an unwelcome way 58 Naming 60 Mouthpiece for a Lilliputian horse? 64 Nursery supply 65 Psyche component 66 Hiding __ 67 No longer an item 68 Oversaw 69 Teamed (with)
Courtesy of MCT Campus
Taurus
Gemini
Across 1 Type of hippo 6 59-Down product 9 Color guard accessory 14 Child on TV for decades 15 Virgo preceder 16 “I’m here” 17 Hummingbird feature? 19 Enjoyed Vegas 20 Valley 21 Place to live in Spain 23 Sore feeling 24 Purported ancestor of Ragnar Lothbrok on TV’s “Vikings” 26 Foothills? 29 Crazy scene 30 Call-day link 31 Value 32 Did a cobbler’s job 34 Stain 37 Hot Wheels Volkswagen?
FREESTYLE
Horoscope Aries
PAGE 13
Cancer You’re enjoying your love life, thanks to Venus. Maybe you’ve got into an affair again with a former flame. Or perhaps you and a new associate are enjoying some passionate moments. You could find yourself behaving in wild and frisky ways.
Leo Mars is encouraging you to make a big move. If you’re getting serious in a relationship, it could be time to take the next step. Get engaged, plan to have a kid or get married. Or put a down payment on a house or rent a fabulous new apartment with your sweetheart.
Virgo There’s a full moon in your sign, which will help you bring some things together. You’ll market yourself in a bold way to advance your career. Or you’ll make a sexy suggestion to an attractive friend, and experience some exciting results.
Sagittarius The moon says don’t be too impulsive just now. You might meet somebody fabulous, and you could decide that you’re ready to fall in love. But maybe you’re more in love with the idea of a relationship rather than truly being compatible with this person.
Capricorn Don’t be so hard on yourself. A moon opposition could be making you grumpy, and you need to rest and recharge your batteries. If you’re experiencing a stress or at home, you might benefit from taking a step back and gaining some distance.
Aquarius Be open to unusual or bizarre experiences this week. Jupiter could create some wild moments that carry a special meaning for you. Maybe you’ll randomly encounter someone and strike up a powerful business relationship or personal flirtation.
Pisces An intense full moon is creating some questions and soul searching. It’s good to do some meditating, even if the process is emotional or painful. Take a break if you can from intense personal relationships so you can get your heart and soul aligned.
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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 26, 2018
SPORTS ULM SOCCER
Soccer making a splash in recruiting
Signing day has come and gone, and ULM soccer has at least seven new players coming in. Players from all across the country, and, at times, other countries put pen to paper and signed off on the dotted line. In total, seven players have committed to play in Warhawk Country. These key signings come in time of great need for the soccer program and are just what the team needed.
From what I saw, a proper midfielder and forward are what the team truly lacked this past season. Coach Wheelock likes to describe her team as a “blue-collar” team. A hard working one, they played often times off the ball and waited for key opportunities to strike. It appears we may see a sudden change in style of play come next season though. Out of Wheelock’s seven new signings, she’s gotten three midfielders and one forward. Offense is definitely what she and her staff are looking to improve on. Goals and possession both eluded the soccer team throughout their season. If you would have asked me what the team truly needed from this signing season, yes, mid-fielders and forwards would be top of the list, but there is so much more to it. In midfield, we need a “holding” midfielder, someone to give the game a pause every now and then. To change the pace of a match at will and create a chance or two, recent signee Madi Garza seems to fit that description. An impressive 13 goals and 11 assists in her senior year of high school solidified her call up to the big leagues. Look for this girl straddling the line between midfielder and forward come next
SOFTBALL
season and being central to many of Wheelock’s formations. Goalkeeper, a position held hostage by Scroggins for quite some time, will soon need to be filled as Scroggins like many before her will begin her final season as a Warhawk. Coach Wheelock thought ahead and secured herself her third goalkeeper overall. Lastly, the soccer team has added two defenders to its evergrowing squad. While some may see it as a wasted signing, we still are a defensive team, and having extra legs in the back is never a bad idea. Being a fan of giving younger talent big opportunities, it’s likely these new recruits will see a lot of playing time their first season. With pivotal players like junior defender Alexandria Skidmore and the aforementioned Brooke-Lynn Scroggins set to begin their final year at ULM, the team will have a nice blend of youth and experience. Freshmen standouts, defender Maddie Guerra and forward Taylor Altieri, should be ready and reliable next season. If these girls can help their new teammates learn from their mistakes and adjust quickly, we should be in for a treat next fall. contact Alfonzo Galvan at galvana@warhawks.ulm.edu
TRACK AND FIELD
photo by Siddharth Gaulee
TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK: The team celebratig their dominating win.
Softball makes it look easy ULM post 6 runs in the 6th inning to defeat CSU 16-7 by Jerimee Washington
ULM scored 16 runs on 16 hits to blow out the Eagles in a slugfest. This marks the third time that they have scored 10 runs or more in a game. The game was called in the sixth inning due to the runrule They are now (5-4) on the season in all nonconference games. Home field advantage has been a factor as they are (3-1). The pitching staff was the story for this game. Senior pitcher Paige Murray gave up six hits in 3.2 innings, but she only gave up two runs. Murray was credited with the win and is now (2-2) on the season. Early on, the Warhawks were trailing the Eagles 5-1 at the top of the third inning. ULM posted four runs in the third to tie the game
up at five. After a couple of miscues, the pitching game began to takeover. Consistency was the key to this victory as they went on an 11-2 run. The Warhawks were so potent on offense that the run rule was put into effect in the sixth inning. Redshirt junior catcher Lauren Crouch posted a season-high three hits and three doubles to fuel the 16 runs. Also contributing to the runs and posting a season high was senior outfielder Hunter Hogan. She posted four runs batted in and recorded two hits. “I was really happy with our offensive output tonight,” head coach Corey Lyons said. “We turned it on and really played our type of offensive game. Ten extra base hits in six innings is a great night. I’m glad to get this win behind us and have the opportunity to move on to tomorrow with a win in our pockets.” The Warhawks will look to continue their hot streak of runs when they host Alcorn State. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. at the ULM Softball Complex.
contact Jerimee Washington at washinjd@warhawks.ulm.edu
photo courtesy ULM Athletics
THROW IT UP THROW IT UP: Senior Jemal Parharm standing at the podium for his first place finish at the Sun Belt Conference championship.
Indoor season finishes with flair by Jerimee Washington
Track and field continued the trend of individual first place finishes at the 2018 Sun Belt Indoor Track and Field Championship. To add the icing on the cake, freshman Micaiah Dendy finished in first place in the triple jump. Her personal record was a 12.44-meter jump, but in her fifth attempt, she took the title. “We knew she had some bigger jumps in her after the last two meets, but to bust a foot and a half personal best in the triple as a freshman and collect the win was beyond expectations,” ULM head coach J.D. Malone said, “I’m very excited for her, because she has worked through some hard times this year to get to this point.” As a team in the 4x400-meter relay, ULM placed in fifth. Senior Alton Clay had another first-place finish with a 22.99 meter throw to shatter his old record. He also set the Sun Belt championship and conference record to regain his title from two years ago.
Senior Jemal Parharm Jr. trumped his second-place finish with a 24-08.50-meter jump. This was his best jump of the afternoon. “Alton and Jemal set the tone for our team this week as always,” said Malone. “They scored in both of their events, of course winning their specialty. They have led our team by example.” Senior Brice Chaney also had a great showing by finishing tied for sixth place in the pole vault portion. Overall, the Warhawks had 22 top-10 finishers at the championship meet. The men finished seventh and the women finished tenth. The Warhawks continue to produce quality finishes in their track and field meets. In both mens’ and womens’ action, they are making a name for themsleves and earning national recognition from people all over the country. Their next meet will be the NCAA Indoor Championships from March 9- 10 in College Station, Texas. contact Jerimee Washingon at washinjd@warhawks.ulm.edu
February 26, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 15
SPORTS
NBA trades spark a fire around league
ULM Basketball
Khris Albert
REGROUP: The Warhawks are looking to rebound off of a poor shooting percentage from behind the arc.
photo by Siddharth Gaulee
Troy snaps five game win streak ULM shoots only 25% from field in 73-67 by Jerimee Washington
Shooting from behind the arc was a big factor in Saturdays lost to Troy. Despite junior forward Travis Munnings posting another 26-point game and they only shot 38.5 percent from the field. This loss ended their win streak at five. They are now (14-13) on the season (8-8) in conference. With about 1:46 left the Warhawks were only down by three after consecutive threes from Munnings and senior forward McDaniel. The score was 63-66 before Troy
scored five consecutive points to take a 71-63 lead. ULM tried to battle back but came up short on a couple of three-point attempts. At the start of the game the Warhawks looked comfortable with the overall flow. Points came with ease as Munnings scored nine of their 19 points in the first half. McDaniel struggled in this game. He shot 4-17 from the field and only scored 11 points. From behind the ark he only shot 20 percent. Troy controlled the first half and led 35-29. At the start of the second half ULM was playing catchup. Every time they would score, Troy would answer back. They connected on threes to counter the two-point baskets from ULM. The key to this loss for the Warhawks came from their terrible three-point shooting. They shot 25 percent from behind the arc. ULM is 11-3 at home, but on the road the team is struggling. They are only (310) overall which is a credit to home filed advantage.
Since the new year started the Warhawks are (8-14) overall including the unexpected five game winning streak. With two games remaining the team will try to qualify for the top four spots in the Sun Belt Conference standings. All of the top four teams earn a first round by in the tournament, but all twelve teams will participate. They are battling for the fourth spot with Troy and UT-Arrlington. Troy is now tied with ULM in the fifth spot while UTA is at the fourth spot. In the third spot, Georgia Southern is (9-7) in conference play. So, the Warhawks can make it to as high as the third spot. With two games left on the scheudule, ULM will face teams that they lost to earlier in the season in a back-toback loss. The next home game will be Mar. 1 against Arkansas Little Rock, Tip-off is scheduled for 7 contact Jerimee Washington at washinjd@warhawks.ulm.edu
Trading in the NBA is something that happens regularly. Unlike the other major American sports like football and baseball, the NBA is not afraid of trading players. Every year basketball fans anticipate the trade deadline. Deadline day fell on the Feb. 8 this time around. It lived up to the hype with multiple superstars switching teams. Stars Jimmy Butler, Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, Dwight Howard and Paul George were all traded before the season began. Eric Bledsoe was traded early in the season as well, so fans that love trades were already given quite a good amount. But, you can never have enough of a good thing. This did not stop however with Blake Griffin surprisingly getting shipped to the Detroit Pistons. All these moves before deadline day helped the hype as people were waiting to see what other stars might be on the move. Starting with the Cleveland Cavilers who were extremely busy making three trades. Dwayne Wade was traded back to Miami to rejoin a Heat franchise he helped make popular. Since the trade, the Heat only won one of their last three Solid role players Rodney Hood and George Hill were also traded to the Cavs in a three-team deal. Lastly, amazing scorer Isaiah Thomas was traded to the LA Lakers after playing only 15 games with the team. Cleveland received Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson. Thomas was already traded in the offseason from the Celtics to the Cavs so this move was quite unexpected. After this trade the Cavs have won four of their last five games. LeBron sill led the team in scoring. Some young and growing players were traded for greener pastures. Budding star guard from Lafayette Elfrid Payton was sent from Orlando to the Phoenix desert. He will try and help turnaround the Suns along with young star Devin Booker. Sharpshooter Nikola Mirotic left Chicago and will now play in New Orleans with arguably the best big man in the league Anthony Davis. He will try to fill in the void left by Demarcus Cousins. The trade deadline reshaped the NBA tremendously. The Cavaliers went from a majority thinking they may not go back to the finals, to a young and energetic team led by the best player in the world LeBron James. Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond look to make an excellent pair in Detroit making them dangerous. Isaiah Thomas hopes to improve his stock and get the Lakers back to the playoffs. All in all, the trade deadline injected some more intrigue into an already exciting NBA season. contact Khris Albert at albertkxr@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
STAY FOCUSED: ULM baseball head coach Michael Federico talks to his team about matchups and discusses the gameplan.
February 26, 2018
SPORTS
photo courtesy ULM Athletics
Men soared past pesky demons ULM broke away from NSU in 6th inning to win 11-6 by Jerimee Washington
The baseball team started the season on fire. They continued to stay hot as they faced off against the Northwestern State Demons in a single-game home series. ULM was able to tally 11 runs on six hits to win comfortably, 11-6. The win marked ULM’s third in their first four outings and came just before a fourgame series with the Northern Kentucky Norse. ULM is now 6-1 on the season during their seven game home stand. Four of the Warhawk’s six runs batted in for the game, came after a huge outing from junior infielder Peyton Lacoste. He blasted a three-run homer in the eighth to extend the lead for his first homerun of the season. Lacoste is leading the team with 16 total
RBIs and batting a team high .435 on the season. The Demons were first on the scoreboard after a sacrifice fly ball knocked in the first run of the contest. The lead wouldn’t last long though as Lacoste got things going for the Warhawks. In the bottom of the first on an RBI double knocked in Chad Bell for ULMs first run of the game. After taking the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first, the Warhawks didn’t look back, keeping a solid lead for the rest of the game. Scoring in their next three innings, ULM built a 5-3 lead going into the halfway mark. After a fluke pitching display from Northwestern in the sixth, the Warhawks were able to tack on three more runs to their lead. Two passed balls behind home plate and a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in junior Brendan Jordan pushed the lead to five runs with a score of 8-3. NSU showed a little life before the seventh inning stretch, scoring two runs to bring the lead back down to just three. But, Lacoste’s big bat was on full display as he hit a monster three-run homerun to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning to send the Warhawk’s lead to a game high of six runs, 11-5. The final box score read 11-6 after Northwestern was able to score one more run in
the top of the ninth. The Warhawks have jumped to an impressive start, going 6-1 to start their 2018 regular season. It’s the first time since 2009 that the team has got off to such a great start. All six of their wins have come while at home. They lead their current series with NKU 3-0 after a 21-9 victory Saturday with one game remaining. They have scored over eight runs in their last four games. In their seven games played, the warhawks have scored a total of 70 runs. The home field advantage has kept the team together, and the chemistry is there. The team is currently on a 4 game winning streak before Sunday’s game. After finishing up the series, they will hit the road to face off against Jackson State in a single game series, then travel to Southern Illinois for a three-game series against the Salukis. Their next home game will be against I-20 rival Louisiana Tech. The game will be at Warhawk Field on Wednesday, March 7 at 6 p.m.
contact Jerimee Washington at washinjd@warhawks.ulm.edu
photo by Prajal Prasai