Warhawks exercise, safely socialize
P7
Alumna launches sign language website P 6
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
VOLUME 98 ISSUE 3
www.ulmhawkeyeonline.com
September 14, 2020
Did ULM choose the best candidate for president? P 3
Students, faculty volunteer to clean after hurricane P5 Ronald Berry named university president P 4
ULM loses opener at Army West P 8 Point
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
September 14, 2020
BRIEFS CALENDAR Monday, September
14
Career Fair panel, 2 p.m., online via Zoom
Tuesday, September 15 No event planned
Louisiana
Wednesday, September 16 Interviewing skills workshop, 3 p.m., online via Zoom
Thursday, September 17 Construction GUILD drive-in movie, 7:30 p.m., construction building parking lot
Friday, September
18
No event planned
Saturday, September 19 No event planned
Sunday, September
20
No event planned
QUOTE
Louisiana
California
Lebanon
Governor announces Hurricane devestates Current fire largest limited Phase 3 Lake Charles in state history
Another fire errupts in Beirut port
KNOE- Governor John Bel Edwards announced Thursday, Sept. 10 that Louisiana will move to Phase 3 of the White House’s plan for reopening the U.S. economy starting Friday, Sept. 11. The announcement was made during a news conference held Thursday. Gov. Edwards did not give many specifics about what his new proclamation would allow, but did say the statewide mask mandate would remain in place through Phase 3. He was quick to clarify that Phase 3 is not a lifting of all COVID-19 restrictions. Gov. Edwards said it was “extremely important” for residents to continue to practice mitigation measures such as wearing masks while out in public, social distancing, practicing proper hygiene, limiting activity in public and staying home when sick.
MCT- A large fire broke out in Beirut's port Thursday, filling the skies of the Lebanese capital with thick black smoke and raising fears of a repeat of the cataclysmic explosion that devastated large swaths of the city last month. Raging flames engulfed a warehouse in the duty-free area of the port. The warehouse contained oil and tires, according to a statement by the Lebanese army. Michel Murr, a spokesman for the fire department, said by telephone that the fire began after workers were cutting metal near the warehouse. Last month's explosion is suspected to have been caused by materials catching fire after welding and maintenance work. On Aug. 4, a stockpile of 2,755 tons of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that turns explosive when mixed with accelerants, detonated inside the port, killing nearly 200 people.
NEWS-STAR- Despite progress clearing roads and restoring access to power and water, southwest Louisiana still has a long way to go in its recovery from Hurricane Laura. In Cameron Parish, where the Category 4 storm made landfall nearly two weeks ago, residents remain under a mandatory evacuation order as parish officials continue debris removal and rebuilding of basic infrastructure, including power and water. The Lake Charles area continues to recover, with about half of Calcasieu Parish still without water. Mayor Nic Hunter said the search-and-rescue phase of the recovery has largely ended, and now the city is looking at long-term recovery and asking for the nation's help.
MCT- The massive August Complex fire is now officially the largest blaze in California history, burning more than 471,000 acres, another grim milestone in what is already the state's most destructive fire year on record. The fire burning north of Sacramento has now surpassed the 2018 Mendocino Complex fire, which burned more than 459,000 acres back in 2018. The August Complex is burning in a remote area in and around Tehama County and has destroyed 26 structures. One fatality has been reported. That makes it the largest fire by size but far less destructive than other recent fires including the Camp fire in 2018, which burned 18,000 structures and killed 85 people in and around Paradise. The August Complex started as more than 30 separate fires in the Mendocino National Forest and was caused by lightning.
TODAY IN HISTORY
BIKES ON THE BAYOU
"We cannot succeed when half of us are held back."
September 14
Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani female education activist
1752: Britain and the British Empire, including the American colonies, adopt the Gregorian calendar. 1936: First prefrontal lobotomy in America performed by Walter Freeman and James W. Watts at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. 1939: World’s first practical helicopter, the VS-300 designed by Igor Sikorsky, takes flight.
Front page credits:
1956: IBM introduces the first computer with a hard drive that uses magnetic disk storage, the RAMAC 305.
Main photo: ULM photo services Top sidebar photo: ULM photo services Bottom sidebar photo: ULM athletics Top left photo: Bidhan Puhyal photo by Bidhan Puhyal
Top right graphic: Tracee Albert
A student resting before participating in ULM's Bikes on the Bayou.
1960: Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela form the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
September 14, 2020
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
OPINION
Campus Politics
Is Ronald Berry the right choice for ULM? Yes
No
Loryn Kykendall It’s no secret ULM has money problems. The pandemic and uncertainty about sports this semester haven’t helped. So, what’s the answer to this problem? Have a leader who knows how to get us out of this rut. Thanks to the UL system board, we now have that leader—Ronald Berry. As someone who’s dedicated 25 years of his life to this university, Berry has a deep understanding of the problems we face, and is equipped to handle these problems. In fact, he already exhibited his fundraising skills in the past. He and Christine Berry previously travelled the country raising money to fund programs that help students afford internships. As of today, they have invested over $200,000 sending students across the world. Not only that, but Berry also has ideas
Stubbs 131 700 University Avenue Monroe, LA 71209 Editor-in-Chief - Kaitlin Maness Co-managing Editor Design - Sunil Bishwokarma Co-managing Editor News - Loryn Kykendall Opinion Editors - Loryn Kykendall, Kaitlin Maness Freestyle Editor - Uchechi Owunna Circulation Director - Ashlyn Dupree Ad Director - Chelsea Terrell
about how much we, the students, pay to be here. At a student forum before he was elected, he told students that they’re spending too much money to attend ULM. He shared that he’d like to find ways to lower the cost of attendance or a way to reallocate funds so that students are paying for things they actually care about. But that’s not the only thing Berry has done to help students. As a professor and the dean of two colleges, he has been helping students get their education and find their way for years. Of course, many people think that instead of Berry, Katrice Albert should have been elected. And it’s true, Albert was a qualified and well-rounded candidate who could have been a great leader. But, that doesn’t change the fact that neither Albert nor the other finalist, Jeannine Kahn, had ever worked at ULM and did not have the extensive knowledge of this university that Berry does. To solve a problem, you first have to understand it. Ron Berry understands our problems, because he was here when they were created. He’s proved that he will stick with this university no matter what and he’s willing to do what it takes to improve it. contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu
Kaitlin Maness ULM has a racist past full of yearbooks with “black face” photos displayed in them and blatant appropriation of Native American culture evident around every corner. However, ULM also has a racist present. Last June, two ULM professors were exposed by students for posting racist comments online. A few days after the posts surfaced, ULM made an official statement “condemning racism,” and later organized a diversity, equity and inclusion forum. Yet, it wasn’t until July when direct action was taken. One professor was fired while the other left the university before the termination process could begin, as she was tenured. But I want to ask ULM, what about its future? Will it be racist too? The university could have taken a step in the right direction if Katrice Albert had been
elected president instead of Ronald Berry. Not only is Albert a woman of color, she is a woman of color with experience in fighting for diversity and racial justice. Albert was the executive vice president of inclusion and human resources at the National Collegiate Athletic Association. She also is a founding member of Third Eye Consulting, a diversity management consulting firm. Her career has been focused on the importance of diversity and that is just what ULM needs especially after the racist scandals this summer. ULM claims to take pride in its diverse body of students, even using the campus’s diversity as a marketing point when bringing in freshmen. Yet, the university’s faculty is overwhelmingly white. Who will represent the students of color? The answer could have been Albert, but instead the university chose Berry. Berry has worked at ULM for many years. He knows the ins and outs of the university already. To some, that might seem like a good thing, but it can be dangerous. I have always heard that you can’t heal in the same environment you got sick in. Well, ULM is stuck in a rut and voting in a president with a new perspective could have led us out. contact Kaitlin Maness at manessk@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 kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu
graphic by Sunil Bishwokarma
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
September 14, 2020
NEWS
Campus Politics
Ronald Berry elected 9th president of ULM by Loryn Kykendall
On Sept. 3, Ronald Berry was elected the ninth president of ULM. The UL system board of supervisors voted after interviews of the three finalists in Baton Rouge. The other finalists were Katrice Albert and Jeannine Kahn. Berry has worked at ULM for 25 years. He began as an assistant professor and eventually worked his way up to dean of the college of business, before becoming dean of the college of business and social sciences. Acording to Berry, the question of whether or not he would ever run for president started coming up 10 or 15 years ago. He said it definitely crossed his and Dr. Christine Berry’s minds before. “For both of us, I think the opportunity to serve and make a difference in other people’s lives is what drives us,” Berry said. “When this opportunity came up, it was a nobrainer for us.” As for his first few weeks in office, Berry said his first priority will be to listen. Although he’s been here for 25 years, he said there’s a lot of amazing people on this campus and he wants to hear from them. “We were very fortunate to have the support of really the commu-
photo courtesy ULM photo services
NEW BEGINNINGS: Ron and Christine Berry beam with happiness after being elected president and first lady of ULM following the finalists’ last day of interviews.
nity at large and the campus,” Berry said. “They inspired us and they have a lot of great ideas.” Janelle McDaniel was a member of the presidential selection committee, which was tasked with selecting the three finalists that the board would choose from. She voted for
Berry to become a finalist. “His enthusiasm for building the future of ULM was evident during the interview process,” McDaniel said. “He clearly demonstrated that he could work with everyone to achieve a better university and a better Northeast Louisiana.”
McDaniel saw Berry as the best choice for president because of his “strong history of leadership, commitment to diversity and equity, and engagement with the community.” She said that in the future, she hopes Berry will support the de-
velopment of ULM’s efforts to be a collaborative, diverse and inclusive institution. Another committee member was senior SGA president, Olivia Bailey. While she was not a voting member, she voiced her strong opinion that Berry was the best choice for president. She said that he excels in both fundraising for the school and community support. “He really cares about students’ futures and is centered around every ULM student,” Bailey said. “He is the epitome of a servant leader.” Bailey also mentioned Berry’s commitment to connecting with students. She said that over the years, he’s been known to eat in the SUB and wait in line with students, being visible and building relationships with them. For any students who are unfamiliar with president Berry and don’t know much about him, he said he wants them to know that he’s an authentic and caring person, and that caring for and serving others is who he is. “I don’t know how to be anything other than myself,” Berry said. Berry officially takes office Sept. 14. contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu
Academics
Elevator pitch teaches vital speaking skills by Uchechi Owunna
Imagine having ninety seconds to talk about all your skills and unique qualities that make you who you are. At job fairs, most applicants only have about ninety seconds to promote themselves. During this time, they have to list their stellar qualities and convince the recruiters that they are the right fit for the job. Last semester, the career center introduced the elevator pitch competition. This competition is meant to help students learn how to present themselves in a way that convinces job recruiters of their competence. The contest is judged by professors that are selected based on their public speaking experience. Kristin Chandler, director of the career center, explained there are two aspects of the competition, one targeted toward job interviews and the other targeted toward presenting a business idea.
She also said that there will be two versions of the event. One will be virtual for the online students while the other will be face-to-face. This is to provide inclusivity for the event. “This competition is beneficial to all majors since everyone will have to network or interview for a job position one day,” Chandler said. “In addition to helping students with their public speaking skills, this is also an opportunity for students to identify and develop their brand.” One of the faculty that judged the competition last semester was Kelsey Bohl, executive director of marketing and university communication. She expressed her enthusiasm for the chance to help students develop outside of classroom learning. “As a judge, we were looking for a clear and concise pitch that is convincing to us with sound technicalities,” Bohl said. “We also pay attention to the body language of the competitors and look out for those that are leaning on crutch words.”
graphic by Sunil Bishwokarma
Raphael Akinpelu, a junior computer information systems major, who is competing in this semester’s competition, said he did not hear about the competition last semester, but is looking forward to competing this time around. “This is a good experience and a good way for me to learn how to pitch and sell out my ideas to potential investors,” Akinpelu said. “It also allows me to recognize my abilities and limitations so I can work to improve them.”
At the competition last semester, Toni Corso came in first with Justin Paul in second and Asja Jordan third. Bohl said that she enjoyed seeing the creativity of the competitors last semester. “I commended their courage to be able to put themselves out there and engage in public speaking,” she said. “I encourage all students to participate in these events.” contact Uchechi Owunna at owunnaud@warhawks.ulm.edu
September 14, 2020
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
NEWS
Service
Volunteers band together, clean yards after hurricane by Loryn Kykendall
After days of living in a hotel, Lindsay Wilkerson and Kathy Spurlock drove up to their home the week after Hurricane Laura, to find their yard spotless, as if it had been untouched by the storm. But that’s not how they’d left it. They’d had to leave because of the power outage, and while they were gone, volunteers from ULM had cleared all the debris out of their yard. “When we drove up to our home on Monday afternoon after learning we had power again, our yard was spotless, with all the yard debris neatly stacked on the curb,” Wilkerson said. “My wife started to cry and I was speechless. It was truly heartwarming.” In the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, ULM banded together to clean up the community. The hurricane hit Monroe on Thursday morning, Aug. 27. The following Monday and Tuesday, ULM students, faculty and staff went out and helped remove debris from people’s yards. Over 160 people volunteered to help during those two days, according to Julia Letlow, executive director of external affairs and strategic communications. They were split into different groups and went out to clean yards of ULM faculty, staff and other community members. Letlow said approximately 45 homes were cleaned. They were mostly homes of ULM employees and alumni, but there were also homes of other community members in need whose names were provided by United Way. “When our community hurts, we all hurt,” Letlow said. “It becomes clear how we are all one when students and staff have the opportunity to serve in times of need.” One of the volunteers, Jayden Mount, vol-
photo courtesy ULM photo services
A HELPING HAND: ULM students, faculty and staff clear debris from homes of community members in the week following hurricane Laura.
unteered because she believes, “One of the most precious gifts you can give is your time even though you may never get paid back.” The exercise science masters student said she wanted to help out the community that has had such a great impact on her. “It is important for us to help around the community in times like this because I believe love is putting others before yourself,” Mount said. “We all came together to serve others and I’m just so blessed to have this wonderful opportunity.” Dylan LaBoeuf was another student volunteer. His home is only 30 minutes away from
Lake Charles, an area that was severely hit. He said that he wanted to help his community in Monroe like his father is doing in DeRidder. He and his brothers from Pi Kappa Alpha were able to remove debris from 25 houses altogether, and he said that the clean-up was an opportunity for ULM to connect with the community. “It’s apparent that Monroe and ULM are two separate entities just coexisting,” the junior pre-pharmacy major said. “Thanks to Dr. Litolff, we were able to reach out to our community and help those people.”
Letlow said that she, also, was thankful for Litolff’s leadership, as the initiative for the community clean-up was brought forth by him. “I could not be prouder to be a Warhawk,” Letlow said. “The turnout of students, faculty, and staff who were willing to lend a helping hand and who would not stop until the work was done was inspiring.”
contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu
Career
How to build an effective resume as a student by Shreeyasha Pandey
Building a strong resume could be the deciding factor in landing your dream job. When done right, a resume can give that good first impression you need to seal the deal with the employers. As important as it is, students often don’t know how or where to get started when building their resume. ULM provides students with several resources to help with this problem. A recent workshop, “Acing Your Resume,” hosted by the counseling center, aimed to do just that. Colm Bourke, the vice president for student affairs, was the speaker. According to him, one of the biggest mistakes you can make on your resume is forcing it to be a one-size-
fits-all. “Your resume should be tailored to fit each job application that you make,” said Bourke. “Identify the language used in the job description, that is your checklist—and utilizing it is essential to getting hired.” The standard resume structure includes a header, professional summary, skills, education and work experience. The header should enclose personal information like your name, address, phone number, email address and LinkedIn URL. As the name suggests, a professional summary is an outline of what you are professionally, roughly summarized in four to five sentences. It should include your degree, concentration and classification.
All of your skills should be integrated into either your professional summary or work experience. It’s important to highlight particularly those skills that are mentioned in the job description. The education section should mention your GPA and any relevant courses. Additionally, it is a good idea to provide proof of the skillsets mentioned in your resume through your work and volunteer experiences. This follows a chronological order with the most recent and relevant experiences listed first. According to Emma Brunel, a junior majoring in political science, having a great resume not only gives a sense of what the student has accomplished, but also sheds light on their best qualities. She shared that her go-to
resources are the templates available on the career center’s website. “The way we organize our resume and present information can give a strong idea of the person we are,” said Brunel. Despite following all the rules and
etiquette of resume writing, students still have one shared concern: How can their resume stand out from a pile of a thousand other applications? The key is to avoid using generic terms, reflect on your strengths and highlight the unique skillset you will bring to the workplace. Having said that, you could also use specific keywords to match your resume with what the employer is looking for. Not only is this a selfcheck that your application fits the job description, but it will also increase your odds of ranking higher in applicant tracking systems that most companies use to electronically scan and sort applicants. contact Shreeyasha Pandey at pandeysh@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
September 14, 2020
FREESTYLE
Feature
ULM alumna creates website, teaches Monroe community sign language by Kaitlin Maness
Growing up, Tracee Albert didn’t realize how unique her lifestyle was. She didn’t realize learning American Sign Language before learning how to talk was untraditional. She didn’t realize being raised by two deaf parents was not normal. It wasn’t until Albert started going to school that she noticed the differences between her and her classmates. “At first, it was hard,” said Albert, ULM alumna. “When I started making friends at school and going to their houses I realized my parents couldn’t hear, they couldn’t speak and it wasn’t really normal.” But Wendy Albert, Tracee Albert’s cousin, said she believes those experiences are what made her into the woman she is today. Tracee Albert always Tracee Albert wanted for more people to be able to speak with and understand her parents. So, in August 2020, she launched a website, Feel Seen, with that same idea in mind. Feel Seen’s goal is to “bridge the gap between the hearing and deaf communities.” “Everyone has the right to be seen and to feel heard,” Tracee Albert said. “So, even if some-
one has a disability, it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be able to communicate.” Since Tracee Albert is pursuing a career in occupational therapy, she doesn’t have time to teach face-to-face ASL lessons. So, she thought creating a website would be a great opportunity to teach through prerecorded videos. Feel Seen offers ASL lessons for $30 an hour. Each lesson includes a set of instructional videos and outlines to help with studying. The idea for Feel Seen came to Tracee Albert in late 2019 just as coronavirus started to emerge. So, while others were learning how to bake bread and binge-watching Netflix originals, she was learning how to create a website and start a business from scratch. Along with the website, Tracee Albert established the Feel Seen Scholarship Foundation. Three $1,000 scholarships will be given to college students in 2021. To raise money for the scholarships, Feel Seen sells merchandise like t-shirts and face masks with clear panels to help deaf people be able to read lips during the state-issued mask mandate. Tracee Albert is certified to teach sign language through Baby Signs, a program created to teach ASL to babies. She learned about
photos courtesy Tracee Albert
MASKING TO FEEL SEEN: Tracee Albert designed these masks to help deaf individuals read lips during the mask mandate.
Baby Signs during her time in ULM’s occupational therapy program. Wendy Albert, a Feel Seen team member, said that eventually Feel Seen wants to be a global initiative. But for now, Feel Seen is focusing more on local ASL education and awareness. Tracee Albert is in the works of organizing an in-
person ASL workshop to be held in a park in the near future. “For Tracee to launch Feel Seen, it is a great win for our family,” Wendy Albert said. “We are so proud of her using her talent to help educate others for a greater purpose.” contact Kaitlin Maness at manessk@warhawks.ulm.edu
Holiday
Labor day: More than a break for students by Uchechi Owunna
graphic by Sunil Bishwokarma
Students often look forward to that day at the beginning of the fall semester where they get a day off school and relax or catch up with family. Fall break is not until far into the semester and Thanksgiving does not come around until the very end. Labor day holiday provides the much-needed escape for students away from the bombardment of college responsibilities. However, the purpose of the holiday is not to give people a break from life but to honor the workers that have labored to make this country what it currently is. Labor Day is a day set aside to honor the labor movement and appreciate its achievements. These achievements include normalized benefits like insurance, paid vacations, having the weekends off and social security. Labor Day is a federal celebrated
on the first monday in September in both America and Canada. Dr. Leigh Hersey, an assistant professor of political science, who is an advocate for active civil engagement, explained the need to respect this holiday. She explained the heightened significance of Labor Day this year because of all the front-line and essential workers who have continued to work during the pandemic. “It is also important to consider the linemen and recovery workers who have responded to our needs after Hurricane Laura hit the state. Even the students and volunteers that continue to help laborers clean up after the storm,” Dr. Hersey said. Chiemeka Onyemechara, a junior prepharmacy major, appreciates the holiday although it is new to her. Onyemechara said that even though
labor day was not celebrated while she was growing up, she recognizes the importance of the holiday because both her parents worked in their career field for the majority of their lives. “There are many ways students can show their appreciation and gratitude towards our everyday, hardworking citizens. Students could volunteer to help out around their communities through organizations like Rotaract. They could also volunteer in different departments of the university to show their appreciation for the work that is being done,” Onyemechara said. Dr. Hersey also emphasized the importance of international workers because they have been crucial in building this country. contact Uchechi Owunna at owunnaud@warhawks.ulm.edu
September 14, 2020
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
FREESTYLE
Campus Event
Exercise, socialize on the bayou by Uchechi Owunna
Students and professors were seen riding their bikes through ULM’s campus, on Tuesday evening. At the canopy set in the parking lot of Brown Gym, the riders were given water and food to refresh them before and after the ride. Throughout the ride, the ULM police department followed the riders on their scooters to offer protection and guidance. The idea for this event was introduced by the interim president of the university, Dr. Edward Litolff. He said that the idea first came to him when he noticed how many people were buying bikes from stores despite working remotely. Because of this, he introduced Bikes on the Bayou. The first ride happened a week before the commencement of the fall semester. “This is an occasion for the students, staff and the Monroe community to get together and socialize. Aside from health benefits, bike riding is also a fun exercise. The event also made it possible for the participants to socially distance while enjoying themselves,” Dr. Litolff said. A lot of faculty were spotted cruis-
ing the campus on their bikes like Dr. Pamela Saulsberry, Dr. Leigh Hersey along with her husband and Brooke Foy, who attended with her two daughters. Dr. Pamela Saulsberry, the director of the School of Behavioral and social sciences, said that she attended the event because she loves bike riding. She also said that the event provided the participants with an opportunity to be educated outside the classroom. “This event gives the students a chance to see the university’s administration as the human beings that they are and recognize their need to socialize. There should be a variety of events like this that reflects the diversity of our campus in all aspects like drive-in theatre as a kind of throwback set,” Dr. Saulsberry said. Asja Jordan, a communication advocacy graduate student, said although she arrived late, she enjoyed her limited time at Bikes on the Bayou. “I love how the university is still continuing to find ways to get the
campus and the community involved in a safe and socially distanced way despite the current pandemic situation,” Jordan said. Asja said she would love to see similar events that involve outdoor physical activities, in the future, to promote the health of the campus.. Dr. Litolff suggested that it would be great if this event took place more frequently and that the event has the potential to be increased from a sixmile ride to a more challenging fifteen or twenty-mile ride. In that case, the school could also adopt a way to supply the students with bikes so those that do not have bikes but still want to participate in the event can do so without limitations. He also acknowledged that because of the hurricane, the shutting down of the university for a week and insufficient promotion, the turnout for students was lower than expected since a lot of students thought the event was canceled. photo by Bidhan Puhyal
contact Uchechi Owunna at owunnaud@warhawks.ulm.edu
CRUISING HAWKS: Warhawks pedal their bikes at the start of the six-mile ride down the bayou.
Quarantine Entertainment
Classic movies to rewatch during the pandemic
The Godfather trilogy
The Shawshank Redemption
Pulp Fiction
Outbreak
The Godfather trilogy has everything that a good film should: Love, loyalty, family and murder. The story revolves around a family in organized crime and shows how the hierarchy progresses, keeping the family business at its peak. It is unpredictable and keeps firsttime viewers at the edge of their seats. But it is never boring, no matter how many times you re-watch it. For me, “The Godfather” and its trilogy are hands down the best mafia movies ever made because of its excellent cinematography.
This movie has a simple yet amazing plot that makes it one of a kind. It follows the journey of a man struggling in prison for a crime he did not commit. His tenacity, patience and wit keep him sane throughout the years and give him a will to live. The strength of the movie is Morgan Freeman’s iconic narration. The depth of his narration hooks you, making you both laugh and gasp in disbelief. The movie teaches a story of hope friendship, patience and freedom through the two friends who find themselves in prison.
This movie might not sit well with everyone, but for those who can take it, it’s a masterclass in film making. It is engaging and entertaining showing three stories involving numerous criminals that are connected on some level. The mixture of violence and comedy is rare, but the movie shows brutal visuals along with funny situations and dark humor, making it even more interesting. The lengthy and witty conversations between John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson are what make the movie funny and enjoyable.
If you are looking to watch a pandemic movie, I suggest “Outbreak.” This 1995 movie is based on an Ebola-like virus that originates from monkeys and spreads to be a global pandemic. The scene where someone coughs in a movie theater and particles of their spit floats through the air and into someone else’s mouth will make you want to wear a mask daily, which is not a bad habit to pick up right now. The classic good guy versus bad guy storyline and the cool stunts make it a worthwhile pandemic movie.
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
September 14, 2020
SPORTS
Football
Warhawks lose season opener to Army West Point by Mitchell Raley
The Warhawks’ first meeting against Army West Point’s Army Black Knights did not go as gloriously as they were hoping for. ULM went into the game as the underdog, missing two defensive starts and other key contributors. Army started out strong by scoring two different times before the Warhawks picked up their first down, and by halftime, Army felt they had the game under control. Unfortunately, the Warhawks’ woes would continue into the second half going three-and-out and getting fooled by a fake punt that gained 47 yards. Army scored four plays later making 24-7. ULM’s new defensive coordinator, Scott Stoker, was not ready for Army’s triple option. Their defensive allowed 436 rushing yards and stayed on the field an astonishing 37 minutes, 40 seconds. Army was led by the fullback, Jakobi
Buchanan, who put up a whopping 106 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Army’s quarterback, who left the game in the second quarter, ran 21 times for 95 yards and two scores. ULM’s defensives were not all doom-and-gloom as they were led by Traveion Webster, who had 11 tackles, and nose tackle Mason Husmann, who had six stops and a fumble recovery that was brought by safety Keilos Swinney. “The big thing we can take out of this is we didn’t stop as a unit,” Webster told the News-Star. “We may not have always gotten off the field, but we played with intensity and that’s something we can build on.” ULM’s Colby Suits started out slow, but he would eventually find his rhythm by scoring the lone scoring driving with a six-yard touchdown pass to Malik Jackson. Suits completed 73% of his passes, passing for 148 yards, and one fumble in his first career start. Jer-
emy Hunt would enter the game for three series and finished 2-of-5 for 15 yards and a single interception. Entering this game, ULM was hoping its special team would have improved from last year, but it seems it picked up where it left off. The special team allowed a fake punt from its own 35-yard line, lineback Catoe Wilson ran to ULM 18-yard line. The special team’s misery continued with Army blocking a field-goal atte,mpt from David Hughes in the first quarter and a block punt in the third quarter. When things seemed to be on the right track, ULM kept tripping over their own feet. They would block a field-goal attempt by Army to negate the play with a timeout. Army’s Landon Salyers went on to make his second attempt from 40 yards. photo courtesy ULM athletics
contact Mitchell Raley at raleym@warhawks.ulm.edu
TALONS OUT: ULM head coach, Matt Viator, helping Warhawks prepare for the game against Army West Point’s Army Black Knights on Sept. 12.
Football
Stoker steps up as ULM’s defensive coordinator by Jeraveya Foster
photo courtesy ULM athletics
MOVING FORWARD: Scott Stoker is now the ULM football team’s defensive coordinator after Mike Collins decided to leave the position.
With the 2020 football season kicking off Sept. 12, there are recent changes to ULM’s football team staff. Scott Stoker, the previous linebacker coach for the Warhawks, has replaced Mike Collins, the previous defensive coordinator. Matt Viator, head coach, said the decision to promote Stoker wasn’t difficult. “I played against Scott a lot of times when I was on the offensive side of the ball and he was on the defensive side of the ball,” Viator said. “He certainly knows what he’s doing, and as tough a day as it is to lose Mike, the easiest thing I’ve had to do is move Stoker up.” Collins announced his resignation before the start of the season. Stoker has 30 years of collegiate coaching under his belt and was the defensive
coordinator at the University of Texas at El Paso from 2013 to 2015 before coming to ULM. During Stoker’s time at UTEP as the defensive coordinator, the Miners improved drastically on the defensive side of the ball lowering the allotted points per game from 39.3 to 28.1. In 2015 the Miners recorded 65 tackles for loss, including 22 sacks and 12 takeaways. They also improved in defense by more than 100 yards per game, surrendering 368.1 yards per game in 2014 versus the 468.3 yards in the earlier seasons. Not only did Stoker improve the defense, he also coached UTEP’s linebacker crops. Prior to working at UTEP, Stoker was the defensive coordinator at Sam Houston State University for four years where he gained backto-back Southland Conference
Championships and made multiple appearances in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Championship Subdivision game. In 2012, the Bearcats ranked sixth nationally in rushing defense under Stoker’s instruction. SHSU led the Southland in all five defensive stat categories including scoring defense and turnover margin. For Stokers efforts in 2011, he received NCAA FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop.com. In 2010, his defense unit ranked eighth in rushing defense at 100.1 ypg and 17 in sacks with 2.7 ypg. Along with the incredible stats put up by his defense unit during his time at SHSU, fourteen of his players combined earned all-conference honors 22 times. contact Jeraveya Foster at fosterjn@warhawks.ulm.edu