find us
LA ranks 5th highest opioid prescriber
Track athletes shatter personal records P 16
P 11 THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
VOLUME 95 ISSUE 17
www.ulmhawkeyeonline.com
February 5, 2018
Opinion: Group projects teach us cooperation P 4
MONROE MARDI GRAS Annual pet parade, drag show entertains citizens P 8, 9
P 14 Pederson follows football father’s foosteps P 15
Clark ‘kick ball changes’ to New York P 12
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 2
February 5, 2018
BRIEFS d
CALENDAR Monday, February 5 CAREER WEEK: Open house from 8-11 a.m. in Sandel 139 CAREER WEEK: Lunch and Learn with a Professional, 12-1:15 p.m. in SUB Ballrooms
Tuesday, February 6
CAREER WEEK: Young Professional/ Career Fair Panel, SUB
Wednesday, Febru-
7
CAREER WEEK: Open house from 8-11 a.m. in Sandel 139 CAREER WEEK: Lunch and Learn with a Professional, 12-1:15 p.m. in SUB Ballrooms
Thursday, February 8
Mardi Gras Ball from 9-1 a.m. in ULM Event Center
CAREER WEEK: Lunch and Learn with a Professional, 12-1:15 p.m. in SUB Ballrooms
Friday, February
9
Check page 15 for sports events
Saturday, February 10 Check page 15 for sports events
Sunday, February 11 No planned events
West Monroe
Bastrop
Los Angeles
Egypt
A West Monroe man is now charged with video voyeurism and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile after authorities found video of the man engaging in sexual relations with an underage relative. From Tommy W. Manchester’s residence, investigators seized a laptop, two DVR recording devices, two cell phones, two thumb drives and a micro SD chip in December of 2017. A search of one of the DVR devices revealed that Manchester was having sexual relations with a relative who, at the time, was 15 years old. Court records also show that Manchester was listed as a suspect in a July 2009 case in which he was accused of having another inappropriate relationship with a relative who was 16 years old at the time.
A Bastrop mother and child were taken into custody following an incident at Bastrop High School. The child allegedly pepper sprayed his principal, according to Morehouse Parish Schools superintendent, Hazel Sellers. The mother was removing the child from the school when the incident happened. The pair exited the high school when the principal, Chris Broussard, was sprayed. The juvenile suspect is facing one charge of battery of a school official. Shortly after the arrest, the teen was transported to Green Oaks detention center, pending a hearing. Brossard received medical treatment as a precautionary measure and is recovering. Because the mother was removing the child from the school, no disciplinary action from the district is pending.
A 12-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm after a shooting injured her fellow middle school students last Thursday. Two students were reportedly shot, but five were injured at Sal Castro Middle School. One student was shot in the head, while the other was hit in the wrist. The one shot in the head is in critical but stable condition. The girl was taken to the Los Angeles County Central Juvenile Hall after her arrest. Robert Arcos, a deputy chief with the Los Angeles Police department, said it is too early to determine a motive in the shooting. The shooting may have been accidental.
Archaeologists have discovered a 4,400-year-old tomb at the Giza Plateau outside of Cairo. According to the Antiquities Ministry, authorities hope this discovery will revive Egypt’s tourism sector. The tomb was found in one of Giza’s ancient cemeteries; tombs from the old kingdom are often found here. The tomb likely belongs to a woman known as Hetpet, an individual close to Egyptian royals of the Fifth Dynasty. The tomb, released to the public Saturday, consists of mud brick and wall paintings that depict Hetpet observing different hunting and fishing scenes. The area of discovery is close to a new museum under construction that will house some of Egypt’s artifacts, including items that belonged to the young King Tutankhamun.
Man charged with Juvenile pepper Girl injures fellow Ancient tomb crimes against youth sprays principal students with gun found in Giza
d
QUOTE
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER
February 5
Martin Luther King Jr., American activist
Front page credits: Main photo by: Prajal Prasai Top sidebar courtesy: Siddharth Gaulee Bottom sidebar photo courtesy: Kachi Eke Top left courtesy: Pixabay Top right photo courtesy: ULM Athletics
TODAY IN HISTORY
photo by Ethan Dennis Local drag queen Dextaci dances with parade goers after Corner Bar's Mardi Gras show downtown last Saturday.
1909: Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland developes the first synthetic plastic. 1972: U.S. airlines begin mandatory inspection of passengers and baggage. 1974: U.S. Mariner 10 returns first close-up photos of Venus' cloud structure. 1990: Notre Dame becomes the first team to sell its game to a major network (NBC). 1996: British supermarkets sell their first GM food-tomato puree. 1997: Japan's Ministry of Finance announces plans to cut import tariffs on crude oil and most petroleum products. 2013: The U.K. House of Commons votes in favor of same-sex marriage. 2013: The U.S. Postal Service announces the cessation of Saturday first-class mail delivery from August 2013.
February 5, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 3
BRIEFS
Women perform voodoo ritual, burn young child Crime
photo courtesy Pacunam
Lasers uncover new Mayan structures Discovery In the jungles of northern Guatemala, archaeologists have discovered tens of thousands of structures built by the Maya over a millennium ago. Not far from popular tourist sites that house structures like the towering temples of the ancient city Tikal, laser technology uncovered about 60,000 homes, palaces, tombs and even highways in the humid jungle. By shooting lasers down from planes, researchers pierced the thick foliage, painted a 3-D picture of the ground below and found the structures. This technology is known as Light
Detection and Ranging, or LIDAR. Essentially, the lidar technology allows researchers to spot bumps and grooves in the landscape.This method has been used elsewhere, but this particular project is the largest ever undertaken. More than 800 miles of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala’s Petén region has been mapped, according to a report by National Geographic. The project was started by Pacunam, a Guatemalan nonprofit organization, and carried out with help from the National Center for Air-
borne Laser Mapping, which is based at the University of Houston. With help from supporters, Pacunam has spent more than $600,000 on this first phase of the LIDAR project. The organization hopes to use the laser technology to map the entire Maya Biosphere Reserve. The Mayan culture was known for its sophisticated approach to agriculture, arts and astronomy. The peak era for the civilization, which some archaeologists refer as the classic period, is generally considered to have lasted from around A.D 250 to 900.
Two Massachusetts women are facing several charges after tying down and burning a 5-year-old girl in a voodoo ritual. Voodoo refers to the religious practices developed centuries ago by enslaved Africans in the Caribbean, primarily in Haiti. The two East Bridgewater sisters, identified as Peggy LaBossiere and Rachel Hilaire, allegedly blew fire over the young girl’s face and cut her arm and collar area with a needlelike object to draw blood, the girl’s 8-year-old brother told police. The women also allegedly poured a substance over the girl’s eyes which caused them to sting and threatened to cut off the young brother’s head with a machete. The ritual was requested by the girl’s mother who was LaBossiere’s hair stylist. The mother has not been charged in connection with the crime, but
she is receiving mental health treatment. The two women pleaded not guilty on Jan. 29 to the charges against them, which include mayhem, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a child with injury, indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 and threatening to commit a crime. They also denied injuring the girl and threatening the brother. The sisters told police that they have performed this ritual for family and friends in the past and sometimes, children do get burned. The girl suffered a third-degree burn across her face that will leave her permanently disfigured, police said. She was treated at a hospital and taken into custody by state welfare authorities, along with her brother.
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 4
February 5, 2018
OPINION
Learn to love group projects
Himani Poudel Waking up and immediately checking online sites to find out if there are any job vacancies is something most college students are used to doing. Now, imagine that the roles are reversed. You are an employer looking for the best candidates. With increasing workforce diversity, organizations are recruiting people from all over the world. Employers want people who are different, people who have a unique way of dealing with problems and most importantly, people who have different working styles. Having different ways to solve the same problem is looked at as a strength, not a weakness. However, people’s differences can cause conflict in the workplace. It is because of this that the most obvious and highly demanded qualification for an employee is to be a team player. Yes, a team player. Look around your classroom and observe the people. Globalization has done an amazing job in bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures onto a single campus.
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 Multimedia editor - Connor Hatten 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
During your time as an undergrad, the classes you take will often have the same familiar faces in them. Those fellow students may become your friends. They may not. However, one thing is certain…you will have to work with them on a group project. We all have the same initial reactions when it comes to group projects. Some may dread the day they get paired with their group, knowing they will be doing most of the work. Others get excited because they know group projects mean an easy “A”. When everyone puts in different amounts of work, conflict is bound to arise. We would rather cast blame on others than self-reflect to see if there was anything we could have done to help more. Our pride often hinders us from being team players. Of course, no one would want to do the majority of any group project, but who wants a bad grade? Maybe you are an introvert and aren’t good at public speaking. Your partner notices and offers to speak more on your behalf. To pay them back for their help, you write the outline for the project. All along, your partner was bad at writing and didn’t know how to balance the workload. Now you both are better off, and the work is done. A compromise took place, and the group didn’t fall apart in the process. The best groups are ones that choose positions, rather than having them assigned. The best groups are those that meet often and work together to reach their goal, which is a good grade. This is the turning point where your group becomes a team and the group project has changed into a team project. You’ve reached the utmost level of integration. When everyone shares the responsibility and can overcome
obstacles, the outcome is successful. You have developed the capability to work in a diverse group and have learned to adjust as needed. This level of integration is what I seek when I personally work in group projects. Group projects are an opportunity to learn how to deal with different types of people having different levels of dedication to work. Not always will you become very close to group members, but group projects slowly teach teamwork. They help to understand how to deal with people who have different personalities than you. Group projects are an opportunity to learn and enhance managerial skills and shouldn’t be defined as a means of earning grades. Working in diversified pools of people doesn’t just help to gain better ideas, but it can promote good qualities like leadership skills and team spirit. Being able to work as part of a group is almost a mandatory requirement to beat the growing competition in the millennial workforce. The employer will look at grades and extracurriculars when searching for a potential employee. It’s true. They will look to see how good a person is at time management. However, the biggest factor in determining who gets the job, in my opinion, is the person’s ability to work in a group. So, the next time your professor tells the class there is going to be a group project coming up, don’t immediately get upset or annoyed. Use the opportunity to work on your leadership skills or speaking voice. Try to keep in contact with the members of your group and encourage each other when stressed. Group projects aren’t going anywhere. We may as well accept it. contact Himani Poudel at poudelh@warhawks.ulm.edu
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 graphic by Siddharth Gaulee
February 5, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 5
OPINION
Procrastination station: Learn how to manage your time efficiently
Obesity: Common, costly
Ashish Dev
Sakhila Bista A bunch of assignments are always a problem for students. It becomes a serious one when the due date for the assignment is near but you haven’t started it. Eventually, you do it the night before. The looming due date puts you under a lot of pressure. The fear of not completing an assignment causes you to panic and finish knowing it is not as good as it could be. If anyone out there has this problem, you should know that you are a victim of procrastination. Procrastination is the action of avoiding work or delaying work that needs to be done. Even though you know you’re going to have to do it eventually, you still save it for the last moment. By this time, the excuses are endless but you’re ready to go. There are many definitions for procrastination. A neuropsychologist calls it a failure of executive function. A social psychologist sees it as a problem related to emotional regulation. An evolutionary psychologist thinks it could be partly genetic. But, the conclusion is that it is not so great for us. Procrastination can happen at any time. When you start an assignment, you might realize that you don’t have enough materials and put off your work until next time. People put things off every now and then, but procrastinators do it chronically. This nature of pilling up work destroys your time and long-term goals. A 2015 study from the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that serial procrastinators had trouble managing high blood pressure and heart disease. This means that procrastination has physiological consequences as well. Although it always starts with an attempt to avoid bad feelings, it will definitely come back to haunt you later. There aren’t many studies detailing how to overcome procrastination. This is disappointing because it is such a huge problem for people. However, there are ways to work through your lack of determination. Procrastination can be avoided if you accept those feelings of stress, laziness or whatever it is keeping you from work and recognize that they are not going to just disappear. Self-discipline is needed to rationalize your mindset and convince yourself that it is the same you that must complete the work. The realization that the work must be completed sooner or later helps a lot to beat the tugs of procrastination. Researchers recommend accepting the feeling rather than using it to avoid your work and understanding that getting things done is a way of reducing stress. Everyone has their own perspective on procrastination and how to remedy it. One universal way to fight against procrastination is to use self-motivation and self-regulation to get rid of it. Say no to procrastination and if you are reading this article to procrastinate on something, go get started!
contact Sakhila Bista at bistas@warhawks.ulm.edu
Among the biggest health problems in the world, one has been gaining a lot of attention from people and the media. Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. Meanwhile, in the U.S., 36 percent of the adult population is now obese. With such drastic increase in its prevalence, obesity is becoming a major health concern. Obesity is linked to stroke, diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure and different types of cancer. Obesity is common and serious. Being physically unhealthy not only affects the individual, but also decreases the working potential of their country. The further deterioration of adult health in the workforce is definitely troubling. Obesity is also very costly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008. Two of the main causes of obesity are improper food consumption and lack of physical exercise. Food production has skyrocketed in modern times. There’s a fast food place on every corner making food more available than ever before. This phenomenon has tempted people to eat more than they actually need. But it’s not just a problem of how much we eat but also what we eat. Experts recommend that we eat plant produce for half of every meal. This will help to maintain a healthy weight. However, a very small portion of American diets come from plants. Big food also plays a role in the obesity epidemic.
Out of 600,000 food items in the U.S., a staggering 80 percent have added sugar. With the growing popularity of low-fat food, the food industry came up with adaptive methods to re-engineer their food to low-fat. But low-fat food has a really bad taste. Hence, food companies started adding sugar to their products to make them taste better. Adding sugar to most food we consume paired with a continuous decline in the habit of eating homemade food has caused a big calorie spike in our diet. However, it is important to remember, “all calories aren’t created equal.” For instance, in the Netflix documentary “Fed UP,” it explains that 160 calories worth of almonds come with a healthy dose of fiber. This boosts digestion and keeps blood sugar levels from spiking. 160 calories worth of soda, however, are absorbed straight into the liver, causing a “sugar rush” and the immediate conversion of sugar to fat. Both options may be 160 calories, but they cause completely different reactions within the body. So, we need increased awareness in the food we eat and the amount of sugar it has to avoid unhealthy eating habits. Another reason for obesity spikes is the lack of physical activity. Technology makes our lives easier and faster. However, because of this fact, our net physical activity per day has been decreasing for decades. Most jobs are done sitting at a desk or working on a computer. Plus, due to the popularity of cars, the average American walks less than the average European. Because of out lack of physical activity, we burn less calories compared to what we consume. This creates an imbalance. The extra calories get stored as fat in the body and can very often lead to obesity. Obesity is preventable if we become more mindful of the amount and quality of the food we eat, and the amount of physical activity we do.
contact Ashish Dev at deva@warhawks.ulm.edu
Coffee makes the world go round
Shrill Shrestha Coffee is the all-time favorite drink for most of the student-body on campus. Whenever you’ve got an exam or need to finish an assignment by 11:59 p.m. on a Friday, coffee is a great companion for most students. Coffee is not just a drink, it’s a habit for many. It can create bonds between people and help those struggling to finish strong. Coffee has its benefits and drawbacks. From a scientific point of view and with all the research that has been done, coffee has been proven to be
beneficial… if used wisely. One of the main ingredients in coffee is caffeine, which acts as a stimulant to the nerve cells. This is the reason why you feel suddenly awake and can somehow focus on your work. It also works as an energy drink. Current studies have shown that the energy from 64 ounces of cola is equivalent to 16 ounces of coffee. According to WebMD, coffee beans contain disease-fighting antioxidants called quinines, which along with magnesium, helps to reduce the risk of high blood sugar levels. Coffee also lowers your chance of getting diabetes. Research has shown that coffee can reduce the risk of gallstones, Parkinson’s disease and liver disease by remarkable figures. On the other hand, excess coffee won’t make you healthy either. 78 percent of freshmen consume more than the recommended amount of caffeine per day. This includes coffee too. It’s not so surprising when you have Starbucks and POD’s on campus.
We are lured in by the endless options of drinks. When your coffee intake is more than your body can change into proper nutrients, it can cause insomnia, irritation, high blood pressure and make your bones weaker. When it comes to lowering your coffee intake, it’s kind of hard because you can get addicted to it. With so many benefits, coffee can be a sound choice for many. Compared to soda full of sugar, coffee can be a better choice. It can be the excuse you need to hang out with your friends. The taste blended with it’s sweet aroma creates a different atmosphere fit for any situation. Rather than using coffee as a “wakeme-up” potion, it will be healthier and wiser to plan out a place and time for coffee in your diet. When it comes to coffee, knowing your limit is the key to staying healthy. contact Shrill Shrestha at shrest5@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 5, 2018
NEWS
Webster faces religious lawsuit by Anish Subedi
graphic by Siddharth Gaulee
School shootings raise campus safety concerns 138 school shootings in last eight years worry students by Rachel Abadie Recently, three school shootings occurred in the US. Schools in Kentucky, Texas and California have been the targets of the most recent acts of violence. The recent school shootings have increased concern among ULM students about their safety on-campus. In many of the school shootings the assailant was actually a student of the school. While the majority of the student body feel relatively safe at ULM, many have stated they’ve at times felt unsafe Toler on campus. “I remember living in Commons my freshman year and when there were no parking spots, I had to park in the dark areas and I was very scared,” Allie Toler, a sophomore Speech Language pathology major said.
A Texas high school student walked into the cafeteria on Jan. 22 and began firing a semi-automatic handgun. The shooter injured one 15-year-old girl. He is being charged with two counts of aggravated assault. Another school shooting transpired in Kentucky a day later. The shooter, also a student of the school, shot sixteen people resulting in Bridges two deaths. The shooter is being charged with two counts of murder and 12 counts of first degree assault. In 1990, the Gun-Free School Zones Act was enacted prohibiting weapons on any school property. However, there have been 138 school shootings since 2010. Of those shootings, 44 were on college campuses. Those statistics sparked many debates on the efficiency of the gun control laws. Gun sales skyrocket after mass shootings like the Las Vegas one in late 2017. While some point to gun control laws, others point to bullying. A study in 2014, conducted by Mother Jones found that, “15,000 American high school students found that victims of bullying are
nearly twice as likely to carry guns and other weapons at school.” There are multiple ways to prevent the increasing number of school shootings. Here at ULM, faculty and staff are not only trained to prevent violent situations but they are also trained to deal with them. Psychology professor Mary Elizabeth Bridges believes training is necessary. “I recently participated in the Active Shooter Training for faculty and staff and honestly think everyone on this campus should be required to attend,” Bridges said. Jessica Alamond, a senior risk management and insurance major, said “More cops patrolling around campus on foot would increase the safety on campus.” Madison Smith, a freshman prepharmacy major said the police are doing the best they can. “I always see them patrolling and I know if I ever called and needed an escort or them to do anything they would be right there.” With more school shootings and violence happening today, students and faculty are beginning to understand how to avoid those situations and if all else fails, how to deal with them. contact Rachel Abadie at abadierj@warhawks.ulm.edu
Prayer in school has always been a touchy subject and a battleground for those who are for it and those equally against it. Recently, a student from Sibley, La., sued her school because of their use of prayers throughout the school day. ULM students applauded the young girl for her actions while others disagreed with her stance on prayers in school. Just like any other school, students at Lakeside high school in Webster, La., started their day out with the pledge of allegiance. Afterwards, the students remained standing reciting Christian prayers. Bible verses were also broadcasted. This sudden “push” to pray led Kaylee Cole, a student at Lakeside Junior-Senior high school, to be uncomfortable and even get upset. Kaylee Cole had enough and with the help of her mother sued the school system. “I believe that prayer is a good thing, but I don’t believe that my beliefs should be forced onto another person. The school in question is a public school and there are laws in place that prevent systemic proselytization,” said Mollie Yorks Yorks, a graduate student in gerontology. Forcing a religion on another is something the ULM community has grown accustomed to dealing with. At different times throughout the semester students gather to protest Campus Ministry USA, a group of preachers led by Brother Jed Smock that identifies itself as Pentecostal. The group of preachers insult students and ridicule their religious beliefs that don’t align with what they
deem acceptable. Sophmore elementary education major Haydan Cadiere added, “Sex, religion, race, etc. none of that should matter. We are all humans. We should be working together to build a better future, but instead we are fighting against everyone.” Cole said there’s no getting away from prayer at her school. “Football games, they have prayers in them, our pep rallies, sometimes they have prayers in them, any sorts of ceremony,” Cole said 17-year old Cole didn’t want her day to begin like this. However, during the first day after Christmas break when Cole walked into her classroom, she sat down and waited for the prayer. Something different happened. Students rose and said the pledge of allegiance and then nothing. No Lord’s prayer, just silence. It was the first time in a long as anyone in Webster parish can remember. Kaylee Cole and her mother, Christy decided to take on the school system by filing a lawsuit alleging there is systematic official promotion of religion at Webster parish schools. They felt it was in violation of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Cole and her mother filed a federal lawsuit against the district in Shreveport with attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Cole was raised as a Baptist and she deeply values her religious beliefs. Her experience of school’s religious practices has made her depressed, exhausted, and distraught, leading her to practice agnosticism. However, she felt relief when silence replaced the broadcast player after the pledge that day, a sign her lawsuit was acknowledged. contact Anish Subedi at subedia1@warhawks.ulm.edu
Did you know? According to the Supreme Court, “The Bible may constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion or the like.”
February 5, 2018
NEWS
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 7
NEWS
Net neutrality: Possible new monthly bill by Arohan Rimal
It’s been over a month since the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal the net neutrality rules. The discussion on net neutrality is far from dead. The internet and the media are flooded with news and remarks on the death of a free internet. While most members of the ULM community have yet to pick a side, the majority can agree that little is known about the issue at hand which is a problem. While politicians try to fix the problem with political strategies, fast-food company Burger King had a different approach to communicating the idea of net neutrality. They explained the principles of net neutrality with a social experiment dubbed Whopper Neutrality. The fast-food chain company uploaded a video in which they pranked real customers by setting up access plans for the whopper sandwich. There were three different access plans. Whoever paid the most got the fastest whopper. In the video, the customers appeared furious when they realize they need to pay extra for the same whopper. Freshman computer science major David Hagensee, believes that we can still make a difference and get a neutral net back by ap-
pointing the proper officials whom can appoint the proper FCC to overturn this reclassification of internet provision. “This move may restrict students like us, in our internet queries. If an ISP was so inclined, they could limit our college servers to not allow sites of political parties they dislike or sites of other ISPs for example, Hagensee added. He said that by reminding students that with net neutrality gone, our money and internet freedom will be at stake, we can persuade them to keep informed and protest the new rules. Activist Rob Bliss also had his own way to protest FCC’s moves. Bliss fixated on the FCC chairman Ajit Pai’s idea of letting “innovators change the way millions of people live, without asking anyone’s permission.” He created a ‘slow lane’ in the street in front of the FCC office by setting up cones and biking slowly. Bliss had a “faster lane package” to allow the drivers to access the faster lane which would cost them five dollars. His actions, obviously, were obstructed by the D.C. police. However, his mockery of the FCC chairman’s remarks gained him a lot of media attention. “People who want to advocate for net neu-
graphic by Siddharth Gaulee
trality principles can act locally by petitioning their state representatives to require internet providers follow net neutrality guidelines to be eligible to enter into contracts with the state,” an assistant professor of communication Joshua L. Comer said. Comer says that the change in net neutrality rules can bring benefits only to big businesses and hurt startups. These benefits will come at a cost that the consumers will have to pay. “Montana’s governor recently signed an executive order to that effect, and the legislatures
of other states are working on bills along similar lines,” Comer added. The death of net neutrality could restrict internet users from visiting their favorite sites or pay a higher premium for content. Consumers may have to purchase different packages for music, social sites, videos and office apps. Without net neutrality, the internet could become another utility bill. contact Arohan Rimal at rimala@warhawks.ulm.edu
Student Government association presents Cash Bar
Live DJ
MARDI GRAS Ball 2018
Feb. 8
9 p.m - 1 a.m
ULM Event Center
PAGE 8
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 5, 2018
FREESTYLE FREESTYLE
photos by Prajal Prasai
LIFE OF PETS: Family walks with their dog at the 12th Krewe of PAWS Pet Parade in West Monroe.
Pet parade continues Mardi Gras tradition, promotes local shelters by Sisam Shrestha
TOO SMALL FOR A FLOAT: An owner carries her puppy for the parade.
Mardi Gras brings with it all sorts of unimaginable, exotic costumes and fancy floats. Pet Assistance Welfare Society of Northeast Louisiana’s special twist to the celebration just adds to the list of bizarreness, but in an adorable way. The non-profit organization teamed up with Twin Cities’ Krewe of Janus to host the twelfth annual Krewe of PAWS Mardi Gras Pet Parade last weekend. Unlike traditional Mardi Gras parades, the event featured more than 100 pets dressed up in Mardi Gras colors with their own mini floats. Yuki KC attended the parade with her parents. KC, a database analyst at the ULM scholarship department, volunteered to lead the parade by holding banners for PAWS. “Being an animal lover, I really enjoyed the event. People dressed up their pets in 80’s outfits, and I got to see so many different breeds of dogs and other pets,” KC said. Until last year, the parade featured many farm animals like pigs, raccoons, opossums
and roosters. This year’s parade, however, was mostly made up of dogs. Nonetheless, one could not miss the dolledup longhorn steer that walked amongst other pets at the parade. “We came with PIKE to work community service, and they assigned us to walk with the bull. I’m pretty used to it and not nervous about it all,” said Reily Holloway, member of the ULM Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. According to KC, the event brought together people from all walks of life to share a common bond through their love for animals. “It is also a great chance for local animal shelters and rescues to advertise about their organizations,” KC shared. One such organization was the Bayou Bully Rescue. According to Cinnamon Grant, member of the non-profit rescue organization, the dogs were brought to the parade to increase their chances of Grant getting adopted. “It’s a need for them to be adopted, because
this isn’t their final stop. Getting them out of shelter and vetted is great, but we’re not home. We’ve got to find them a home,” Grant said. Bayou Bully Rescue houses around 55 dogs at a time. Although all of them are labeled as pit bulls, the dogs look like anything from a Dalmatian mix to a cur mix. This was the organization’s fourth year participating in the parade. Brandy Thomas attended the event with Poppy, her Chihuahua-Dotson mix. “He’s never competed before. It has always been just for fun,” said Thomas. This was Thomas’s fourth time attending the parade. Registration for the event was $20 for the first pet and $10 for each additional pet. Owners could also register their pets for the best costume and best float contests for an entry fee of $5. Apart from the parade, the family-oriented event featured tents for pet supplies and game stalls and face painting for children. All the proceeds went towards PAWS of Northeast Louisiana. contact Sisam Shrestha at shrests8@warhawks.ulm.edu
February 5, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 9
FREESTYLE
Drag queens entertain Mardi Gras crowd by Ethan Dennis Women on a corner are usually seen as something inappropriate, but the drag queens of Corner Bar proved they can perform on a stage, or in the streets. Performers Beyoncea Black and local favorites Danity and Dextaci are female impersonators who entertained the Monroe community shortly before the start of the Mardi Gras parade last Saturday. Every year on Mardi Gras, Corner Bar hosts an outdoor Drag show in its parking lot. Tina Anzalone, part owner of Corner Bar since 1999, said when they found out the parade was going to pass right in front of the bar for the first time, everyone was excited. “Then we were like ‘oh my God’. It’s going to be so crazy, busy, packed, and then we were like ‘this might be bittersweet,” Anzalone said. The parking lot was packed with people of all ages making this show the bar’s biggest and the selected performers feel especially honored. Danity, portrayed by Dorien Hall, is Monroe’s current reigning Miss Corner Bar Drag Idol and Miss Corner 2017. For Hall, being Miss Corner Bar gave her the opportunity to show others "it’s ok to be who you are." “To me, being Miss Corner Bar allows me to just be myself and encourage others who may not be too comfortable performing,” the former ULM student said. Hall knows he is “very personable with people,” and he wants to
LIPSYNC QUEEN: Dextaci collects a tip from an audience member.
give people who may be too shy an extra push to get into something they will enjoy. Anzalone shared that she’s not even sure if any other gay bar in the state had drag shows in their parking lot. She knows that Mardi Gras is a busy and fun time of year, and as expected, quite a few people were in attendance. Dollar bills were flinging everywhere as the crowd tipped the performers. For Liam Morrison, his favorite performance was Danity’s second number to the song “Candyman” by Christina Aguilera. “I loved it, because it not only featured a local drag queen, but also featured two awesome ULM
dancers,” the sophomore communications major said. Another former ULM student, Dex Poindexter, performed as Dextaci. Poindexter has won 12 different pageant crowns since he started drag. Poindexter is the current reigning Miss Gay Louisiana USofA at Large and is also a three-time top 5 finalist of Miss Gay America. “Especially in Monroe, La., usually [called] the ‘buttcrack’ of the bible belt,” Poindexter said, being able to perform in Corner’s Mardi Gras show while TV shows like “RuPaul’s Drag Race” make drag more mainstream meant the world to him. contact Ethan Dennis at dennisec@warhawks.ulm.edu
photos by Ethan Dennis
MARDI PARTY: Corner Bar patrons dance to Zydeco music after the show.
5 life savers for NOLA Mardi Gras
Keep track of the parade Bundle up to catch beads Step before you pick
Plan for nature's call
Protect the toes
Keeping up with parades in New Orleans can be difficult, especially for first timers in the city. The WDSU parade tracker app has all the updated parade routes. It even gives traffic updates and shows how far a parade is based on one's current location.
Around 90 percent of Mardi Gras arrests are made for public urination. Some restaurants and bars along the parade routes sell bathroom passes for a dollar per visit. One can also download the Airpnp app to locate the nearest available bathroom.
Parking spots during Mardi Gras can be as far as five blocks away from the parade route. Put on comfortable walking shoes to avoid sore toes at the end of the day. Also, getting dirt or foot stamps on designer shoes is a fashion faux pas.
New Orleans in February can get very cold. Always remember to grab a jacket or a poncho before going out for a parade. It even helps to pack some hand warmers to protect the hands, while they're not busy reaching out for beads.
Courtesy is the least of concerns when the entire crowd is fighting for the best beads or doubloons. Step on a doubloon before picking it from the floor. Doing so, not only helps claim the prize but also creates a space for one to reach down to.
PAGE 10
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 5, 2018
NEWS
Tallulah water crisis becomes serious
HELPING HAND: Monroe barbers gather bottled water for Tallulah residents.
by Misisipi Bhandari The town of Tallulah, La., has dealt with several weeks of low pressure or no water since the freezing temperatures came along. The cold weather, pipe bursts and major malfunctions in the water plant of the city led the town to rely on a short supply of water in the town as well as surrounding Madison Parish. A state of emergency was declared on Jan. 5. The 70-year-old plant had finally stopped working. Residents and concerned citizens were not happy. “ It basically empties my bank account just to buy that basic need,” said Sharvette Lashay Miles a senior psychology major. Tallulah is a small town east of Monroe that many students call home. Its residents were left with little to no water in January. Hospitals and local clinics were hit hard and were the number one priority for water. Schools also had a hard time operating with a lack of water. Every aspect of everyday life from household chores to health maintenance and education were severely affected by the catastrophe. The local businesses Miles struggled to keep up with their customers’ demand for water. On top of all of this, the power outage in the city on Jan. 24, 2018 left the control panel at the water plant without power further interrupting the water service in the city. Residents grew frustrated at not being able to take care of basic needs due to the outage of water.
“It was hard on everyone. Turning to the mayor for answers, he constantly said that things would get back on the right track shortly if the citizens would just be patient. Hours turned into days and days into weeks but still, a permanent solution to the problem has not been found,” said sophomore pre-medical laboratory science major Zekendra Long. The locals were happy that people from all over showed love and support to Tallulah by buying cases of water and delivering them to those in need. One Monroe native, barber Christopher
“The water in some households still shows brown coloration which should not be neglected at all."
Sharon Meyer, Toxicology Department
Doyle, charged his clientele a pack of water instead of money for his services to help out the people of Tallulah. Working non-stop from opening to closing Chris amassed over 100 cases of water to be distributed to the people of Tallulah.
It’s been reported that water pressure is up and running in the town which draws the crisis to an end. Yet the water is still not clear. Locals are skeptical about drinking and showering with the water. The Long town was under a boil advisory. After the water samples were collected and sent to state, they arrived back clear and safe to use. The boil advisory has been lifted. Many residents have gone on to claim the water is still not clear in their households. Sharon Meyer a toxicology professor said, “Our situation in Tallulah can be related to the situation in Flint. though the boil advisory had been uplifted recently, the water was suspected to have sewage contamination. The water in some houseMeyer holds still shows brown coloration which should not be neglected at all. ” With attention having to be paid to the water, it is reportedly safe for people to use. Since the contamination in Flint had also started by the discoloration of water, people are still hesitant to use the water until proper research is done. What’s certain is nobody wants Tallulah and the nearby Madison Parish areas to be the next version of Flint. contact Misisipi Bhandari at bhandam@warhawks.ulm.edu
photo courtesy Christopher Doyle
photo courtesy Christopher Doyle
GIFT OF LIFE: Water en route to Tallulah.
February 5, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
LA dangerously depends on opioids
State’s average prescription ranks fifth nationally by Shanta Pokharel According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Louisiana ranks as the fifth highest prescriber of painkillers. Opioids are a class of drugs derived from opium that help to relieve pain. Some of the most well known opioids are morphine and heroin. They are also sold under brands like Vicodin® and OxyContin. According to CDC reports, there were 98.1 opioid prescriptions per 100 people in Louisiana alone. Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee led the opioid epidemic in ranking of prescriptions. The prescription rate has gone down by 11 percent from 2007 to 2016. However, the Louisiana Department of Health has reported 155 deaths with opioids in the year 2012. The number has since increased to 305 in 2016.
Several sets of unregulat- careful with what they prescribe ed laws in the previous decade, to patients and try holistic methalong with the modern social ods of healing instead of pain norms, have made it somewhat meds,” Lakaron McGee, a first easier for people to fall victim to year pharmacy student, said. opioid abuse and addictions. Several studies have concludThe current healthcare system ed that some people are more also makes it easier for people to prone to becoming drug addicts buy pills rather than using alter- because of their genetics. native therapy systems. A child of a drug abuser is likeEven more surprising is the ly to get easily addicted to drugs, fact that almost 50 percent of the if exposed to them. deaths caused by opioid abuse In recent years, the opioid were from prescription opioids. crisis has been accepted as an “Sometimes in cases of epidemic, and many experts high volume pharmacies like have tried different mechanisms Walgreens or Walmart, your to reduce this problem. pharmacist might mistakenly The recent Medicaid policies give you incorrect dosage of pills limit the patients to a strict 15because of unclear doctor’s pre- day prescription limit along with scription,” Susan Egbert, a third a limit of 120 mg of morphine or year pharmacy student, said. equivalent per day. Opioids can have all sorts of “We have to properly go health problems ranging from through the patients’ records to addiction to death. ensure controlled medication Mixing alcohol and opi- before sending them off with any oids leads to conditions like pills,” Egbert added. hypoventilation. Louisiana is now funding for The body cannot perform reg- more naloxone, a medication ular respiratory gas exchange. that is used to wear off the effects This causes of an opioid in case of intoxicacarbon dioxtion. ide toxicity This has been proven to be which can be very helpful in the hands of first fatal. responders who report to calls of Medicaopioid overdose. tions like Several agencies have also Tylenol that Mcgee contributed by spreading awarecontain ness in this matter by providing opioids can also lead to liver education to locals. toxicity over time. “Addiction is a disease and I contact Shanta Pokharel at think doctors should be more pokharsr@warhawks.ulm.edu
NEWS
Logan Paul makes unexpected return to YouTube channel by Arohan Rimal
photo courtesy MCT Campus
PAGE 11
Logan Paul has resurfaced on YouTube after disappearing from the internet for the better part of January. His return is marked with yet another video on suicide prevention and awareness. Paul’s absence from YouTube comes after he released a video to his channel containing the body of an alleged suicide victim. Freshman general studies major Robert Brown, said he can’t take Paul seriously for two reasons. “It’s not cool to post a video of a corpse on YouTube, that’s very disrespectful to them and their family. The other reason is the appalling things he did while he visited Japan,” Brown said. His recent video was initially meant to promote suicide awareness, but a large majority of the public were both angry and confused by Paul’s choice to keep filming. The controversy caused by the video led Paul to take a break from filming daily vlogs. Paul’s new video titled, “Suicide: Be Here Tomorrow” has reached over 23 million views and was the number one trending story on YouTube at the time of its release. In the video released Jan. 24, Paul talks to many experts on the subject of depression and suicide. He says in the video that he can’t solve the problem himself but, “can be a part of the solution.” The video begins with some serious statistics on suicide. Approximately 800,000 people worldwide die from suicide each year, meaning that one person commits suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide activist and survivor, Kevin Hines meets with Paul to discuss the moment that changed his life forever. He tells of the time he jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and survived. Hines was 19-years-old at the time and felt he had nothing left to live for. He recalls the moment he stepped off the ledge of the bridge saying that he immediately regretted his decision. The video then transitions to a discussion between Paul and rehabilitation counselor, Bob Forrest. Paul is visibly shocked by the different statistics dealing with suicide and says that his ignorance on the subject was part of the problem. Paul travels to New York City, where he
speaks with the director of the National Suicide Prevention lifeline, Dr. John Draper. The lifeline is a free 24/7 support line for those facing suicidal thoughts or struggling with depression. Draper tells Paul that the first thing people should do when struggling with these issues is to reach out.
Did you know? Logan Paul’s YouTube channel gained over one million new followers since his controversial suicide video. He then gives Paul five steps to take in order to help someone in this position. Draper says that people are being more open about their struggles than ever before, but that doesn’t mean suicide and depression aren’t still issues. “For every one person who commits suicide, there are 287 other people that think seriously about it, but don’t,” he said. Draper says it is important to reach out and connect with others because you never really know what a person may be dealing with. Paul has pledged to donate $1 million to various suicide prevention organizations including a $250,000 donation to the National Suicide Prevention lifeline. Paul even links the numbers for the suicide lifeline below his video. Whether or not Paul’s new video will help to rebuild his reputation is uncertain. After what happened during his time in Japan, many are hesitant to forgive the famous influencer. “Everyone deserves a chance to right their wrongs. This is his chance,” semester one nursing student Lexus Eskina said. The comment section of his new video is filled with endless debate on the topic from both fans and the public. It seems that the verdict is still out on the future of Logan Paul’s career.
contact Raven Adcox at adcoxrv@warhawks.ulm.edu
PAGE 12
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 5, 2018
FREESTYLE
Madelyne Clark dances her way to New York City Local by Kandace Moss It takes a combination of passion, talent and excellence to take a leap out of one’s hometown. Monroe native Madelyne Clark, who always wanted to take her dance career to the next level, took the leap and got accepted into Alvin Ailey Dance School in New York City. Clark, a kinesiology graduate from ULM, always had a knack for dancing. “I always thought dancing was beautiful, ever since I saw ‘Barbie in the Nutcracker,” Clark said. She began her dancing career at the young age of four and started dancing competitively by the age of six. Clark spent most of her life dancing at Linda Lavender School of Dance, a local dance studio. She then went on to become a feature performer for the Twin City Ballet Company. Her dance career truly began only after joining ULM for kinesiology. Throughout college life, Clark struggled with her decision to either pursue a career in kinesiology or give it up completely and take up dance. However, when she came across kinesiology professor Dr. Tommie Church, she was motivated, more than ever, to pursue a dance career. Church, a dancer herself, was one of the main supporters for Clark’s dance career. The duo would discuss the pros and cons of professional dancing while waiting to apply to physical therapy school at the same time. Not only did the professor-student
duo share the same dance fever, they also happened to dance at the same dance school. Church was a former member of the Twin City Ballet Company. She saw Clark perform at the company’s annual dance show and invited Clark to choreograph at her dance studio. “Madelyne demonstrates in her teaching, choreography and performance of dance, her true passion and love of dance,” Church said. Church describes Clark as a whole package when it comes to dancing. Although kinesiology was an alternative plan, the young dancer never treated her major as any less important. “I knew she was something special when I first met her my freshman year,” said Maiah Hardin, Clark’s best friend. According to Hardin, Clark had a God-given talent. “I remember seeing her attend 8 a.m. practices in the morning, hear her obsess over every arabesque and pirouette and then turn right back around to bust an A on a practical,” Hardin said. Not only was Clark an accomplished dancer, she also maintained a 4.0 GPA and graduated a year early. Clark did not go through the dance program at ULM or participate in any dance-related organizations. However, she did compete in the Miss Black and Gold Pageant, a scholarship pageant sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Clark danced for the talent round and eventually won the pageant. by Raven Adcox
Gallery crawl supports local art
People weren’t fazed by the evening chill last week as they converged at the Downtown Gallery Crawl for the sake of art. The event was sponsored by the Downtown Arts Alliance, a nonprofit organization of volunteers that promotes new art and artists. According to their website, the galleries “provide a free and fun environment for the community and surrounding areas to interact with, observe and learn about fine art.” Artist Caroline Youngblood was at the crawl presenting a solo exhibition of heirloom portraits. Born and raised in Louisiana, Youngblood uses her work to show her strong connection with her southern roots. Whether it be an old family photograph on a slide or a still from an uncovered home movie, Youngblood recreates them and turns them into
events coming this week
Beer and Bards photo courtesy Madelyn Clark
TOES ON POINT: Clark at the National Choreography Intensive in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Working with Madelyne was very rewarding, and her talent amazed everyone,” said Issac Hardman, member of Alpha Phi Alpha. According to Hardman, “Her competitiveness, work ethic and overall personality will take her far in life.” Clark spent an entire year practicing for Alvin Ailey’s audition at
Dallas, Texas. Her ultimate goal is to graduate from Alvin Ailey School of Dance and become a feature performer for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. Clark starts her new dance adventure in NYC in the fall of 2018.
works of art. She shared that her art was inspired from her grandparents’ memorabilia. Regular attendee Chelsey Goodwin enjoyed her time at the art crawl’s tenth anniversary last week. “My favorite part of the crawl was being able to take time away from the busyness of life to spend time with my closest friends and enjoy the beautiful diversity of the art,” said Goodwin, a psychology senior. She shared that although it was freezing, she and her friends managed to make it to all nine galleries. While the majority of the galleries were in Monroe’s downtown area, a couple of galleries were also open across the Ouachita River, in West Monroe. Golf carts were on standby to help visitors commute between the different galleries for free. The furthest gallery to get to was the Garrett House. Run by ULM’s art
professor Brooke Foy, the gallery witnessed many Warhawks enjoying their fellow peers’ works. The School of Design of LA Tech University also had its graduate artists’ works on display at the Downtown Gallery. The space was filled to the brim with attendees watching artists describe the thought process behind their works. There are many different approaches to art, and all were on display at the crawl. One building held an array of wire sculptures, while the other featured nothing but felt-pen drawings. The Downtown Spring Art Festival, a type of art crawl, will be held on Mar. 24. As always, artworks will be on display along with food vendors, live music and fundraisers for different local organizations.
Head over to Enoch’s Irish Cafe and Pub this Thursday for an evening of literature and beers. Literature enthusiasts from all walks of life share their poems and short stories to go along with the chilled beers. This event is a pleasant change if one’s bored of going to the few clubs in Monroe every week.
contact Kandace Moss at mosskv@warhawks.ulm.edu
contact Raven Adcox at adcoxrv@warhawks.ulm.edu
Mardi Gras Cookoff The Twin Cities will be hosting its fourth annual Steak and State Championship BBQ Cookoff this weekend, right here on campus. The event starts Friday at noon and will also feature live entertainment. Sampler tickets will be available on Saturday for visitors to taste test their favorite steaks.
February 5, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 13
Crossword
Horoscope Aries As a passionate Fire sign, you’re not always comfortable with compromise. Right now, Mars is enhancing your need to be aggressive and assertive. It’s OK to express yourself strongly, but avoid being too manipulative with your sweetheart.
Down 1 Spanish appetizers 2 Texas mission
3 Every cloud’s silver feature? 4 Somme summer 5 Soft mineral 6 “Ah, me!” 7 What you pay 8 Half a guy-gal argument 9 Infantile 10 Had dinner 11 “For Dummies” bookstore section 12 Reduced-price event 13 Harbinger 18 Drive and reverse 22 Stockholm’s land: Abbr. 25 Lady in the 1965 sitcom pilot episode “The Lady in the Bottle” 27 Pot for clams 29 “__ better to have loved ...”: Tennyson 30 How half-shell clams are eaten 31 Eel, at sushi bars 32 Land in la mer
33 Silent agreement 36 Knight’s title 37 Cubes in a bucket 38 Wheels on the links 40 Mohawk-sporting actor 41 Biennial games gp. 44 Advanced college course 46 “Golly” 48 Cat’s coat 49 Like capitalized nouns 50 Legendary football coach Knute 53 Cake serving 54 Like the idiomatic beaver 55 Civil rights org. 56 Online dialogue 58 __ contendere:
court plea
59 Leatherworking tools 60 Down Under greeting 63 “__ got it!” 65 Director Reiner
Your romantic partner might urge you to be more adventurous in the bedroom. The sun says don’t let your relationship grow stale by neglecting to give your honey enough quality attention. Turn off the phone, the computer and the TV, and get focused.
Scorpio
A romance is going through a transformation, thanks to Venus. If you’re in a long-term relationship, you’re thinking about taking things to the next level. Or if you’ve been fighting too much with your honey, you might decide to call it quits.
You’ll experience a nice breakthrough this week. Lucky planet Jupiter is blasting you with some special vibes. Maybe a job you applied for ages ago will suddenly come through. Maybe that hot guy or girl will finally agree to go out with you.
With Mars opposite your sign, take extra good care of yourself. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and eating decent food. Taking some vitamins wouldn’t be a bad idea, either. Enlist your partner to start working out or hiking with you.
from the bullpen 51 Thigh bone 52 Feel around in the dark 55 N.C. State’s conference 57 Early metalworking period 61 Hush-hush fed. org. 62 Centrally managed store group 64 Explosive situation 66 Metamorphosis stage 67 Scat legend Fitzgerald 68 “__ upon a time ...” 69 Speak 70 Optimistic 71 Brew found in increasing quantities in the ends of 17-, 28-, 47- and 64-Across
Libra
Taurus
Gemini
Across 1 Story 5 Gauge on a dash 9 Lowest opera voice 14 Landed on the runway 15 Sunburn soother 16 Starting squad 17 Window material 19 Beauty at the ball 20 French friend 21 Rapture 23 Marshland 24 Legendary skater Henie 26 “If it only could be” 28 “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas” author 34 Indian or Chinese, e.g. 35 Nametag greeting 36 Harbinger 39 Hindu guru 42 Imitated 43 Images on a desktop 45 Bride’s beloved 47 One coming in
Courtesy of MCT Campus
Cancer A friendly moon is enhancing your charm. You could attract the attention of a sexy new friend or acquaintance. If you are in a situation where you are meeting strangers, you’ll handle yourself with confidence and ease.
Sagittarius You’re in the mood to get into trouble as you feel the influences of a mischievous moon. If you’re single, you could make a saucy proposal to someone when he or she least expects it. If you’re in a relationship, you could treat your honey to a fun night out.
Capricorn Venus says it’s important to be open to innovation. At work, maybe you need to put in extra hours to pick up some fresh skills so you can stay current with what’s happening in your profession. At home, try out some new chore routines and social schedules.
Leo
Aquarius
You and your honey are sharing a frisky, sexy vibe. You’ll want to spend intimate time with your sweetheart and to celebrate your relationship. Cook a romantic dinner. Recite love poems. The moon says indulge in all those sweet, sappy things.
Someone might try to woo or seduce you, courtesy of romantic Venus. Maybe a neighbor has a crush on you and he or she will finally make those feelings known. Or perhaps a former flame suddenly wants to get back together with you.
Virgo Thoughtful Jupiter is giving you inspiration about how to handle your career in a new way. You’ll come up with a plan to change your situation and increase your cash flow. Dare to dream big. Make sure your partner understands how busy you are.
Pisces You and your partner are getting along well, but don’t invest 100 percent of your time and energy in your relationship. Try to remain balanced. Jupiter is reminding you that you have a lot going on right now, and you need to divide your time evenly.
PAGE 14
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 5, 2018
SPORTS Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
THE DRIVE: Junior guard Jessica Harris penetrating the defense through the lane.
photo by Prajal Prasai
Women fall to ULL photo by Prajal Prasai
RISE UP: Junior guard Brandon Newman goes up for a contested layup.
Cajuns too spicy to handle for warhawks by Tristan McGowen
ULM hosted the league leading ULL Ragin Cajuns Saturday evening, looking to keep their conference winning streak alive. But ULL would prove to be too much for the Warhawks as they lost 80-59. ULM played well in the beginning, but struggled to connect on good looks from behind the arc. The Warhawks struggled to get on the board in the opening minutes of the first half falling to an early 8-0 deficit. Senior guard Jordan Harris knocked down the first basket for the Warhawks, but threes were already coming in bunches down on the other end of the court. ULL shot three of four from behind the arc in the opening half. ULM quickly turned things around as the offense began to heat up. A quick basket from Harris followed by a fast break and one for senior guard Marvin Jean-Pierre accounted for five points to push the score to 8-11. An amazing defensive display from the ULL starters kept the Warhawks on their heels and made scoring inside tough. Their big man, Jakeenan Grant, gave his best Dikembe Mutombo impression by tallying four blocks within the first ten minutes of play. ULM managed to keep a steady pace as their inside presence picked up, going on a 6-0 run to bring them within four. The Warhawks found their way to the basket more mid first half but ULL continued to
score on the other end by shooting 50% going into the locker room. Despite the hot shooting from the Cajuns, ULM only trailed 33-38 at the half. The second half was an uphill battle for the Warhawks as they tried to shoot their way out of the hole. They came out hitting only three for 12 field goals and going zero for five from three-point range to start the second. The Cajuns continued their shooting showcase however, going on a 21-5 run capped off by a monster dunk by guard Malik Marquetti. The run gave them their biggest lead of the game at 21 points with a little over 10 minutes left in regulation. After the huge momentum swing things seemed to fall apart for the Warhawks. They were unable to get anything to fall from deep in the second half, going zero for eight. They turned these rebounding opportunities into points, connecting on 60% of the shots they took in the second half. This shooting performance from ULL made it hard for the Warhawks to get back into the game. The Cajuns took their largest lead by 28 points with about four minutes left to play, and by that time, the lead was too great to overcome. The Warhawks will look to bounce back on Thursday, Feb. 8 when they welcome UT-Arlington to Fant Ewing Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. contact Tristan McGowen at mcgowetk@warhawks.ulm.edu
The Warhawks’ losing streak was extended to seven after falling to Louisiana Lafayette on Saturday, 76-48. The 28 point victory is the largest for Lafayette over ULM. It was also ULM’s eighth straight loss against Lafayette, dropping the Warhawks record to 4-17 (1-9 in conference). ULM was able to keep pace with the Cajuns in the first quarter shooting a healthy 63 percent in the first quarter. The teams traded baskets for much of the quarter and the Warhawks took a one-point lead to the second quarter. An 8-0 run in the second quarter gave Lafayette the lead back and it proved to be the last lead change of the game. The Warhawks were still within striking distance and needed to come out inspired in the second half. The third
period was more of the same with ULM playing extremely hard, but werent able to get over the hump. Lafayette remained poised in the quarter stretching its lead to 13. Turnovers became the theme of the second half. This led to easy points for the Cajuns. Things got ugly in the fourth as ULL began to outscore the Warhawks 20-5 in the quarter. Defensive intensity became too much for the Warhawks to handle and this was proven by a poor 2-15 shooting effort. The Cajuns went on a 14-1 run to end the game and won by a comfortable and record-breaking 28 point margin. The Warhawks will look to snap their losing streak when they host Sun Belt opponent UTArlington on Thursday, Febuary, 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Volleyball
New captain in town for ULM volleyball by Jerimee Washington
ULM named Russ Friedland as its 11th head volleyball coach in an announcement by athletic director Nick Floyd on Tuesday, Jan. 30. The hire of Friedland is still waiting approval from the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. At 34 he was making a name for himself as one of the best up and coming assistants while at East Carolina. At ECU in 2017 they finished (2211) overall with a single season record of 13 wins in the American Athletic Conference. “I’m excited to see what coach Friedland will bring to this program and I hope the fresh energy he brings will continue to increase our level of play,” said senior outside hitter Jennifer McClendon. In 2013-2015 he spent three years at UNLV as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, the team went 58-34 with three straight winning seasons. Friedland has also coached at George Washington (2009), America (2008), Daniel Webster College (as the men’s and women’s
head coach, 2007), Endicott College (2006) and UConn (2004). “We’re excited to welcome Russ Friedland into the Warhawk family,” said Floyd. “Russ has an outstanding background in volleyball, and he really made a positive impression on everyone he met with during his on-campus visit.” Friedland had a great 2017 season as ECU won six straight conference matches from Oct. 1-20. He also lead them to win seven of their nine AAC games at home. The team posted a .385 hitting percentage in a 3-0 win at Memphis which marked the highest in an AAC match. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to step in and lead the ULM volleyball program,” Friedland said. “I’d first like to thank Nick Floyd, Lisa Varytimidis and Todd Dooley for giving me the chance to advance the volleyball program. Beach volleyball will start their season on Friday, February 24 at home against Florida International. The match is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. contact Jerimee Washington at washinjd@warhawks.ulm.edu
February 5, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
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SPORTS Athlete Feature
PEDERSON LEGACY CARRIED ON BY JOSH by Jake Snyder
There is nothing better than the bond between football, a father and his son. Football is a game that teaches many life lessons, and a father teaching his son these lessons will help them last a lifetime. Now the world knows the father, an NFL head coach, who took his team to a super bowl. That’s Doug Pederson. The one you may not know is the son, Josh Pederson. One of Josh’s goals is to help this program get back to its former glory. Josh is one of the most well known guys on the team. He is fun to be around, and not one person on the team can find a negative thing to say about him, said head coach Matt Viator. He was a tall athletic built kid, who grew up bouncing Viator around at his father’s job. Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Josh has lived in Monroe, Shreveport, Kansas and New Jersey three times and that’s where his family lives now. Moving around has helped Josh become the person he is today. Moving around means constantly having to make new friends and be able to quickly adjust to your settings. With his dad’s job, it also meant learning to be ready to pack up and move at any time. This is evident in the young man Josh is today. Growing up, Josh was always bigger than most kids. He played multiple sports and was at an advantage because he had the help of his dad. However, Coach Pederson didn’t even coach Josh in that sport.
photo by Siddharth Gaulee
He helped him the most in baseball. Josh also tried out basketball and golf, which still plays a roll in his life today. In high school, Josh didn’t start playing football until his junior year. He was extremely athletic but didn’t quite have a home on the field. He had tried out the quarterback position, but as Josh has said, the one thing he didn’t get from his dad was the ability to read defenses well. So his high school coach, realizing Josh was too athletic to not be on the field, settled him in as a tight end/ wide receiver. Coming out of high school he had the option of Kansas State, as a walk on, or the University of Louisiana at Monroe, to play tight end on scholarship. Josh’s dad was a former quarterback at the old NLU. Coach Pederson was part of the 1987 championship and 1990 Southland Conference championship team. Coach Pederson got a chance to watch his son play college football for the first time this past fall, and it was a joyous moment. “I don’t think it was the fact he was playing at my Alma mater,” said Pederson. “But it was that he was fulfilling his goal to play college football.” The ability to watch his son play for Pederson the same university he did brought great pride to him. In his free time Josh enjoys golfing. He hits the course any chance he gets and has even been seen crushing golf balls in front of his apartment complex.
“One of my best memories growing up was when we were living in Wisconsin,“ said Josh. We were going to the Packers indoor facility to meet up with Brett Favre. “When we got there, Favre was in there smashing golf balls. After that, he and my dad drove the gator around, and I got to sit in the back and pick up the golf balls.” That moment as a young boy helped sparked Josh’s love for the game. He started to take the sport serioulsy in the sixth grade. Josh started playing in tournaments, and eventually, he worked to becoming a state runner-up in his high school career. Outside of the sports world Josh likes to be just another guy. He says when he introduces himself to people he usually leaves out his last name, and who is dad is so that people just get to know him first. His roommate/teammate Tyler Lamm describes him as a great guy who likes to have fun with his friends. “When he is with his dad he lives it up, but when he isn’t, he just hangs out and acts like a regular guy,” Tyler said. Any time something big happens in their lives or when things are looking bad, Tyler says Josh will blare some music, and the two will just go crazy.
Moments like these are when people really get to see who Josh really is. He enjoys being part of something bigger. But then again, he loves being able to hang out with no pressure and no fame. A humble guy who would do anything for his friends. His days at ULM will help shape him into an even better person; however, his time at ULM will also help shape a family legacy that will remain strong and remembered well for many years to come. contact Jake Snyder at snyderjt@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
February 5, 2018
SPORTS
photos courtesy ULM athletics
SOAR: Left: Domnique Allen gets ready to unleash a throw in the shot put. Top: Jemal Parharm leaps to land 2nd best result in the conference.
Track and field tossing old records by Jerimee Washington
The ULM track and field team is throwing their way into the national spotlight. The Warhawks are ranked 21st in the NCAA in mens shot-put. At the Ted Nelson Invitational, seven Warhawks finished in the top 10 in their individual events. Senior Alton Clay Jr. set a weight throw personal and meet record with a stat of 68-0 (20.74). “My coaches and I knew I could break the school record. They have all been very supportive in my race towards a national title,” said Clay. I came in as the underdog and worked my way to the top and I feel my efforts can show them all that its not about how you start, its about how you finish. The Warhawks also placed first in the long jump from a great performance by senior Jemal Parham. At Texas Tech, Parharm slid into the rankings at number two in Sun Belt and number 29 in the country after a (7.55) meter jump. The team recorded eight personal best at the Glliam Indoor Track Stadium. “We had only three practices before this season-opening meet, so it went about how we expected,” ULM head coach J.D. Malone said. “The kids competed well, but we still have a lot of work to do. We’re very excited for Alton and Jemal.”
The recent success from the seniors on the team have led to some personal records from the freshman and sophomore class. Freshman Ava Paul (9.17) and junior Kourtni Russell (8.92) set seasonal bests, and Russell finished in second place. Alton moved up to the fifth spot in the nation for weight toss and first in the Sun Belt after his 22.5 meter throw. He placed first in the event and broke the ULM school record. On Jan. 31 he was named the Sun Belt conference athlete of the week. Alton went off at the Texas Tech Classic by setting the school record in the weight throw at (21.74) meters. He also posted a personal- best in shot put at (16.8) meters. “I’m very excited about moving forward to the conference and national meets,”said Clay. God has placed all of these opportunities ahead of me and I plan to take advantage of each and every one. Senior Domonique Allen set a personal record of (16.87) meters in the weight toss. The women were tied for first and second place at one point in the competition. The Warhawks will look to continue this great run in their next meet at the Samford Invitational in Birmingham, AL. The competition is scheduled for Feb. 19-20. contact Jerimee Washington at washinjd@warhawks.ulm.edu
2018 Schedule LSU Bayou Bengal Baton Rouge, LA Feb. 2
Samford Invitational Birmingham, AL Feb. 9-10
Sunbelt Championship Birmingham, AL Feb. 19-20
NCAA Championship College Station, TX Mar. 9-10