Full Issue 09/20/2021

Alumni fund Dr. Alex John Jr. scholarship

LGBTQ suicide rates higher than average

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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

VOLUME 100 ISSUE 5

www.ulmhawkeyeonline.com

September 20, 2021

Federal worker vaccine mandate is excessive P 5

Warhawks thrash Tigers in home opener P 16 Bayouval raises funds for VAPA scholarships P 10

Celebrities wow with wild Met Gala looks P 10

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September 20, 2021

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

BRIEFS CALENDAR Monday, September 20 Hazing prevention forum, 6 p.m., the Hangar

Tuesday, September 21 Moon festival, 6 p.m., SUB ballrooms

Louisiana

Texas

U.S.

Haiti

News Star- The Louisiana Department of Health is now operating six federally supported monoclonal antibody therapy (mAb) treatment sites and is on track to open seven additional sites through the end of next week.

Two of the new sites will open locally, Saturday in Monroe and Monday in Bastrop.

Each site will be open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with an ability to serve more than 150 patients daily per site.

The Monroe site will be located at the State Farm Building at 24 Accent Drive, and the Bastrop site will be at Moorehouse General Hospital, 323 W. Walnut Ave. Louisiana received its first allocation of monoclonal antibodies on Nov. 12, 2020 and began administering to positive, symptomatic patients immediately.

MCT- Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that aims to further ban critical race theory from Texas classrooms.

This comes after educators and advocacy groups fought against the move for months.

The new law, signed Friday without fanfare, prohibits teaching certain concepts about race.

It also develops a civics training program for teachers.

The law largely bars schools from giving credit to students for advocacy work.

It also urges educators to teach only that slavery and racism are “deviations” from the founding principles of the United States.

It aims to strengthen Texas’ law passed in May that seeks to eliminate critical race theory from schools.

The new law goes into effect Dec. 2.

MCT- President Joe Biden is holding private talks Friday morning with world leaders—part of a last-minute push to convince other nations to commit to deep carbon emissions cuts before the upcoming United Nations climate summit.

Like the climate summit held earlier this year, this gathering of world leaders is virtual.

A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Biden intended to use the meeting to press for stronger action from leaders of countries that are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases and to talk about how to help poorer countries pay for emissions cuts.

Administration officials have so far offered no details on which world leaders are taking part, including whether China will participate.

A month after a deadly earthquake devastated communities along Haiti’s southern peninsula, many of the urgent humanitarian needs continue to go unmet, with some people yet to receive any aid, the United Nations said Thursday.

Of the 800,000 people estimated to have been affected by the powerful 7.2 temblor, which damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, schools and churches in three regional departments of southern Haiti, about 400,000 are still in need of some initial assistance.

They either have not received aid because they live in remote areas, lack access to potable drinking water or need to return to school, said Bruno Lemarquis, the U.N.’s resident and humanitarian coordinator in Haiti.

“The resilience of the Haitian people has really been pushed to the brink,” he said.

Gov. Abbott signs anti- Biden discusses climate 400,000 still waiting for earthquake relief sites to open locally critical race theory bill with world leaders

Wednesday, September 22 Antibody treatment Pie a Poodle, 11 a.m., the Quad

Thursday, September 23 No events planned

Friday, September 24 Miracle Man, 7 p.m., Bayou Pointe

Saturday, September 25 VAPA presents "The Glass Menagerie," 7:30 p.m., Spyker Theatre

Sunday, September 26 No events planned

d

QUOTE

GAME DAY GLORY

"I would rather die of passion than of boredom."

TODAY IN HISTORY

September 20 1933: The Pittsburgh Steelers make their first appearance in the National Football League.

Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter

1973: Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes tennis match at the Houston Astrodome.

1984: A suicide bomber in a car attacks the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 22 people.

1995: The U.S. House of Representatives voted to drop the national speed limit. This allowed the states to decide their own speed limits.

Front page credits: Main photo: Saugat Shrestha

2011: The official US military policy of "don't ask, don't tell" ends.

Top sidebar photo: Calli Sinclair Top left photo: ULM photo services photo by Saugat Shrestha

ULM beat Jackson State 12-7 last Saturday in the first home game of the season.

2013: iPhone 5s.

Apple

released

the

September 20, 2021

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

PAGE 3

BRIEFS

RSO

Campus

Health Occupations Students of America to host first meeting

ULM recognizes hazing issues during prevention week

Health Occupations Students of America will host their first RSO interest meeting Monday at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

The meeting is open for any prospective students who think they might like to join the RSO. HOSA is a global organization that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The organization aims to help future health professionals become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration and experience.

Students who participate have opportunities to enter competitions, receive scholarships and get training in leadership.

Students in HOSA receive training that goes beyond techincal training. Students learn how to be people-oriented. They also learn how to be leaders and members of health care teams.

The link for the Zoom can be found on Wingspan.

Hazing prevention week will be recognized this week with informational events and antihazing demonstrations on campus.

The theme this year is, "Only you can prevent hazing."

The week starts off with a hazing prevention forum Monday at 6 p.m. in the SUB ballrooms.

“These hands don’t haze” boards will be at the SUB overhang every day this week, where students can put a handprint on a board to take a stand against hazing.

Both events are hosted by the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability.

Tuesday, ULM Police will host “Do-nut haze with UPD” at the

SUB overhang from 8-10 a.m.

Officers will hand out donuts and tell students about the dangers of hazing and the repercussions it can cause.

Kappa Beta Gamma will also hand out goodie bags from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the SUB overhang.

The Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability will host “Stick it to hazing with OSAA” Wednesday from 12-2 p.m at the SUB overhang.

Thursday, Chi Alpha will host “Cool it on hazing,” from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and it will also be at the SUB overhang.

For more information about hazing please visit hazingprevention.org.

photo courtesy Michaela Bell

THESE HANDS DON'T HAZE: Anti-hazing events will be held throughout the week to inform students about the dangers of hazing and to give them the tools to fight against it.

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

PAGE 4

September 20, 2021

OPINION OPINION

Gun Laws

Concealed carry permits help make Louisiana safe

Rabin Bhattarai Over the summer a proposal that would have allowed Louisianans to carry a concealed handgun in public without passing a background check or attending a weapons safety course rapidly moved through the state legislature.

Even though the bill introduced a 60-minute gun safety training course, it was not required training.

However, Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed this bill. I agree with the decision. Any person who wishes to maintain a hidden weapon should have to get a permit.

Having a permit helps minimize illegal activity by giving investigators

Stubbs 131 700 University Avenue Monroe, LA 71209 Editor-in-Chief - Loryn Kykendall Co-managing Editor News - Chloe Chapel Opinion Editor - Carley Nail Freestyle Editor - Uchechi Owunna Sports Editor - Cameron Jett Multimedia Editor - Saugat Shrestha Co-managing Editor Art - Sunil Bishwokarma Photo Editor - Calli Sinclair

the ability to track criminals down quickly.

Gov. Edwards issued a statement when he vetoed the bill and said our current system works well to ensure that people can own guns while also keeping reasonable permitting and training processes in place.

According to Louisiana law, anybody who applies and has no felony convictions on their record will be granted a license.

The first step in getting a license is the concealed carry course. On the Louisiana State Police website you can locate a concealed carry educator or look for upcoming classes online.

Many companies provide the course as part of their training offerings in Louisiana.

After passing the course the teacher will provide you a certificate with their instructor ID number. Then you can continue onto filling out a concealed carry permit application.

After completing the application, which can be printed from the LSP website, you will find a list of required papers within.

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.

You can send the application and certificate to the LSP Concealed Handgun Unit. This procedure takes three to six weeks to complete and you will get your permit through the mail.

Any person with a working understanding of firearms can acquire the permit since the procedure is not too complex.

This process must continue to be required. People with little to no knowledge of guns can endanger the public.

The removal of the training requirement would result in an influx of untrained gun owners on the streets.

When a permit is not needed or when permit requirements are low, anybody who lacks a basic understanding of guns can carry concealed weapons in public.

They pose a danger to themselves and other people. Because of this, Louisiana’s laws about concealed carry must stay in place and be upheld. contact Rabin Bhattarai at bhattarair@warhawks.ulm.edu

Online Living

Dependency on social media is not healthy

318-342-5453 ulmhawkeyead@gmail.com Assistant Director: Courtney Collins 318 342 5450 ccollins@ulm.edu Feedback 318 342 5453 newsroom 318 342 5452 fax ulmhawkeye@gmail.com

Don’t agree?

Let us know!

Contact the writers or the editor at nailcn@warhawks.ulm.edu

photo courtesy MCT Campus

Abisha Dhakal Social media has become a huge part of people’s daily lives and is a useful outlet for meeting friends, expressing thoughts and making professional connections.

Although social media allows us to stay in touch with friends and family, it has become a waste of valuable time.

According to TechJury, 83% of all internet users were engaged with social media between April and September of 2020. Of these users, only 24% found it has a positive effect on their work.

This increased dependence on social media is not a good thing and we must combat it.

Gradually, social media begins to affect mental, emotional and psychological health and leads to social media addiction.

According to McLean Hospital, social media platforms are designed to be addictive and are associated with anxiety, depression.

Social media finds its space by filling a lonely void in a person’s heart and providing a feeling of comfort.

It can show people what they want to see even if it isn’t reality. This causes people to become obsessed with social media.

A social media obsession can force people to correlate their selfworth with the number of likes and comments on their posts.

This just wastes time that you could spend doing something more productive like school work or learning a new skill.

I understand social media has great benefits.

Without social media during the nationwide lockdown last year, we wouldn’t have been able to stay in touch with many of our friends and family.

While social media dependency was a problem before COVID, the pandemic has heightened it.

Last year everything was online, even classes and appointments, and people were constantly judging and rating themselves by monitoring activity on social media.

But if you spend too much time on social media now, you may find it difficult to interact with people in person when you have to do normal social things like go to job interviews.

Social media undoubtedly has some great qualities but it also increases anxiety levels and can make people feel depressed and desperate.

Too much of a good thing is a bad thing.

contact Abisha Dhakal at dhakalab@warhawks.ulm.edu

September 20, 2021

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

PAGE 5 OPINION

Vaccine

New worker mandate is excessive

Kassidy Taylor When it comes to COVID vaccines, the elephant in the room is whether to take it or not to take it. And with case numbers soaring to new highs, government officals are stepping in with new regulations.

The vaccine mandates are increasingly taking the choice away from the working American.

According to the Associated Press, as many as 100 million individuals will be affected by

Biden’s recent vaccine mandate.

It is for all federal workers, including contractors that work for the federal government.

This federal worker vaccine mandate is unnecessary and excessive. Rather than keeping workers safe, it is causing havoc in the workplace.

Employees should not be forced to take a vaccine that is so newly established. It will take years to see if the vaccine is truly safe.

Many people do not want to take the vaccine due to the risks involved.

According to the CDC, some cases reported a risk of blood clots with low platelets with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This is a dangerous form of blood clot that can affect major blood vessels in the body.

This side effect is rare and not as severe as contracting COVID itself.

Other side effects could arise from the vaccine that, while similar to blood clots, are more dangerous.

There is also a vaccine mandate in effect for businesses with 100 or more employees. Luckily there is an option to reject the vaccine. One can be exempt from the mandate with written dissent or a physician’s statement.

Workers who refuse the vaccine are being forced to have weekly tests done.

The downfall to this requirement is that it demands valuable time and effort on the workers’ parts.

Some are seeing this requirement as more motivation to bite the bullet and get the vaccine.

Others are viewing this alternate option as excessive and annoying.

Those not complying with the mandate will either lose or quit their jobs. This will significantly increase unemployment and negatively affect business and federal operations.

Weekly tests will also cost businesses more money forcing them to keep vaccinated employees and fire those that are unvaccinated.

Good, hardworking individuals will lose

their jobs over a vaccine that is not even 100% effective.

Because some military personnel refuse to cooperate with the new mandate, they are being discharged.

The CDC said all COVID vaccines are currently approved or authorized in the United States.

I do not discredit the role that COVID vaccinations play in keeping our population safe.

While reducing the likelihood of someone contracting COVID and the severity of the disease, COVID vaccines should not be forced or incentivized.

To mandate a vaccine is not the most efficient way to ensure people’s safety.

The people should have the right to decide whether or not they feel the vaccine is a viable option for them. contact Kassidy Taylor at taylorkad@warhawks.ulm.edu

Fashion

Met Gala is important, should be respected

Olivia Jeansonne The Met Gala is an event created for designers to show off their latest creations on a publicly known model.

It also allows celebrities to mix, mingle and network all at once. Most celebrities in attendance are paired with a designer who chooses their look for the night.

To many, it may seem like a party for celebrities to dance and drink with no purpose.

But to those at the gala, it is much more than a party. It is an amazing business opportunity for the designers and models alike, and it should be respected as such.

In the media business, networking and collaborations are crucial for a person’s career.

This event provides creators with a space to network and enjoy a night of fashion.

Because many of the fans are not in a media driven business, they may not understand the importance of what looks to be a party for the rich and famous.

When a celebrity promotes a designer’s brand from the gala, the fans of said celebrity

might buy from the designer because of their adoration for the celebrity.

Another important opportunity at the gala is for creators and artists to share beliefs and make statements through their outfits.

An example of this is NikkieTutorials’ dress to honor Marsha P. Johnson, a gay liberation activist and a prominent figure in the Stone Wall Uprising.

The creator herself is a trans woman, which magnifies the statement made through her clothing. The designer created a piece perfectly matched with the figure who wore it.

For designers, the Met Gala offers a place to show off their designs to other colleagues and potential partners.

For example, designer Thom Browne paid for the seats of Pete Davidson, Amandla Stanberg, Lil Uzi Vert and Erykah Badu so he could dress them in his designs for the gala.

The Met Gala is a much more complex event than many people seem to realize. A business dinner or an important meeting with a client is to regular people as the Met Gala is to designers and celebrities.

It also offers publicity for every guest and designer in attendance.

Although it may look different and unimportant to a retail manager, a designer or an aspiring designer would jump at the chance to be a part of such a famous and respected event.

The Met Gala may not be important to every person on the streetbut it is very important to the designers and celebrities who attend the event. It should be respected like the important and professional event that it is. contact Olivia Jeansonne at jeansonneo@warhawks.ulm.edu

photo courtesy MCT Campus

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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

September 20, 2021

September 20, 2021

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

NEWS

NEWS

Community Service

In Honor

Ouachita Green cleans up Bayou Desiard

by Chloe Chapel

photos by Calli Sinclair

SHAPING THE FUTURE: Through fundraising by dedicated ULM alumni, 53 donors contributed to the Dr. Alex John Jr. endowed scholarship. Last year, it reached and exceeded the $25,000 endowment minimum. Gerald McHenry, president of BULM, successfully championed the initiative.

Diana John remembers her husband as a kind, gentle person who believed in humanity. Many others remember him the same way.

That’s why the BULM Club of the ULM Alumni Association decided to honor him by naming a scholarship after him—the Dr. Alex John, Jr. Endowed Scholarship.

BULM presented the scholarship check for $25,000 to the ULM Foundation last Saturday. The scholarship is for full time undergraduate students and special consideration will be given to marginalized or first-generation students.

Alex John was not only a graduate and a professor of ULM, but also the first Black man to hold an executive position at ULM. He was also an advocate for Black students and encouraged them to persevere in their quest for a college education.

John received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from McNeese State University. He then earned his Doctor of Education from ULM, which was then known as Northeast Louisiana University.

He became a psychology instructor at NLU in 1971 and later on became a tenured professor. In 1980 he became the dean of the Office of Public Relations before leaving the university in 1982.

John died in 2018.

BULM, which was formerly the Black NLU chapter of the Alumni Association, started the scholarship fund in 2012 with only $2,100.

Gerald McHenry, who became a member of BNLU several years ago and is now the president of BULM , championed the initiative and received support from fellow BULM members.

53 donors contributed to the fund over the years and by 2020 the scholarship exceeded the $25,000 endowment minimum.

McHenry said John was a supportive presence on campus who was dedicated to helping Black students succeed.

While John was at the university there were not many faculty or administrators who were African American.

"He was that person you could go to for guidance,” McHenry said. “He would always have an open door and an open ear. He was like your standin dad. Dr. John changed the lives of many students by being always willing to help.”

One contributor to the scholarship, Rev. William Gipson who received his bachelor’s from NLU in 1979, referred to John as a “saint.”

“There are literally thousands of testimonies from the students he helped and advised,” Gipson said. “His influence will last for generations to come.”

Speakers at the check presentation included President Ronald Berry and Vice President of Student Affairs Valerie Fields.

Diana said her husband was a pianist and that taught him discipline and commitment, because playing the piano is all about discipline, detail and caring.

"He emulated that in his life,” Diana said.

She said this scholarship, along with the legacy of her husband, will encourage young people today to see that others came before them and helped change the future.

“He believed that if given an opportunity, each person could learn what they needed to learn, and succeed,” Diana said. contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu

“The Best on the Bayou.” This phrase is displayed across the outside of the library and can be heard time and time again at campus events.

Many of ULM’s qualities such as the students, buildings and history give the university the title, “the Best on the Bayou.”

But what about the bayou itself?

With other duties to be completed around campus, the bayou can often be abandoned, which leads to a buildup of trash.

To help clean up the bayou, members of Ouachita Green joined together to volunteer in keeping the bayou beautiful.

Ouachita Green is a non-profit organization that plans, promotes and participates in community enhancement projects intended to clean and preserve Ouachita Parish, according to the Ouachita Green website.

Ouachita Green has held many events at the university and across Ouachita Parish that encourage students to volunteer their time to clean up litter.

photo by Calli Sinclair

LITTER BUG: According to Treehugger, every American produces 4.4 pounds of trash every day on average

Billy House, a freshman prepharmacy major, said he felt volunteering to clean up the bayou was a great way to pass the extra time in his day and encouraged other students to do the same.

“There was trash all along the

bayou, and I wasn’t going to use the time I had, so I volunteered,” House said. “Offering volunteer hours for organizations that need it is a good way to help out.”

Students like House spent three hours walking around the bayou

and riding in kayaks in order to clean most of the area.

John Radcliffe, a senior mathematics major, said he enjoyed getting to kayak and look at the animals while helping out.

“I really enjoy kayaking, so to just take that stroke down the bayou and clean trash along the way was fairly enjoyable,” Radcliffe said. “You [also] notice turtles, ducks and frogs, so by cleaning the bayou we can preserve the beauty in nature and provide a home to these small creatures.”

Michelle Manuel, a board member for Keep Ouachita Parish Beautiful—an organization affiliated with Ouachita Green said there are many benefits to keeping the bayou clean besides the aesthetics.

One benefit is “the health of our waterways, which is very important to wildlife here,” Manuel said. She also said it “teaches you to give back to your community.” contact Chloe Chapel at chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu

Finances

Alumni fully fund Dr. Alex John Jr. endowed scholarship

by Loryn Kykendall

PAGE 7

Banking workshop teaches budgeting

by Loryn Kykendall

photos courtesy ULM photo services

ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY: John was an early champion for diversity and inclusion at ULM. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was one of the few people encouraging Black students in their quest for education.

You ate out every day this week.

You bought new clothes you didn’t need. Now you’re avoiding checking your bank account.

Every college student has been there. That’s why the Zeta Theta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha hosted a workshop last week teaching students how to be smart with money.

Making small lifestyle changes is one way to save money. This can include walking instead of driving on campus or eating at the cafeteria or at home instead of eating out.

Erika Oby, a sophomore biology major, suggested cancelling subscriptions to streaming services as a way to save money. Another attendee suggested subscribing to services like Netflix or Hulu jointly with your friends and sharing an account to make it cheaper for everyone.

Averyona Williams, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, said apps

like Intuit Mint are a great way to keep up with your finances. The app allows you to budget your money and see how much you’re spending versus saving.

You can budget your monthly amount to spend on things like groceries, gas, bills and credit card payments.

Jayla Thomas, a senior elementary education student, said she added an emergency fund to her budget.

“I feel like as soon as I start saving, something bad happens and then I don’t have any money for it,” Thomas said.

Another student suggested budgeting some of your money for traveling in case you ever want to take a trip.

Williams also gave a few tips on credit. She said everyone should check their credit score often and avoid signing up for multiple credit cards.

Loans were another important topic at the workshop because many students take out loans to attend school.

photo by Chloe Chapel

BYE BYE BILLS: Alpha Kappa Alpha teaches students how to gain freedom from financial stressors with money managing workshop.

Williams said it is important to make all of your loan payments on time and avoid taking out the maximum amount of a loan unless it is necessary.

“You will have to pay this back

in the long run,” Williams said.

“So you don’t want to spend your whole life in debt trying to pay this money back.” contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu

Life Skills

Students learn to transition into early adulthood

by Loryn Kykendall The transition from high school to college is a big one. You go from living in your parents’ house, following their rules and going to school seven hours per day, to living in a dorm with no parental supervision. All of a sudden you’re an adult.

Everyone who’s made that transition knows it can be difficult to acclimate to a new life in a new place.

The Counseling Center hosted a workshop last week to give students ways to deal with this transition into early adulthood.

Cole Thornton, a counselor at the Counseling Center who hosted the meeting, Thornton mentioned transitioning into college will not look the same for everyone. Some students may have planned their lives out in childhood and pursued their dream. Others may feel unsure about what lies ahead in college and what they want to do for a career.

Thornton recommended setting goals when transitioning into adulthood.

“Set realistic goals that are going to serve you and those that are within reach. Break it down to smaller goals that are specific and within reason,” Thornton said.

Thornton said one of the most important things to remember is to keep a check on your mental health.

He said college is often a time when mental health can decrease. He explained that during college many mental disorders such as anxiety and depression can appear because of the shift in lifestyle, responsibilities and expectations.

“It’s really important that we take care of ourselves whenever we’re not doing so high, which is unfortunately the time when it is the hardest to take care of ourselves,” Thornton said.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have a diagnosable mental illness.

Thornton suggested self-care as an option to prevent mental health issues from arising. Selfcare can vary from buying an item from your Amazon wishlist to taking a hot bubble bath.

It can also mean taking a mental break from school work or something you enjoy because it’s become exhausting.

“You need to treat yourself how you would treat others as well,” Thornton said.

Setting boundaries with family is important in transitioning into college life, according to Thornton. He said students must navigate who they are while still being attached to their family. Staying close to family while processing what you want to be helps make the transition easier.

contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu

PAGE 8

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

September 20, 2021

NEWS

Mental Health

LGBTQ youth at increase risk of suicide

by Chloe Chapel

One in three LGBTQ youth report being physically or verbally harassed in their lifetime due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a 2020 study

by The Trevor Project.

The harassment LGBTQ individuals face can range from being called derogatory names to physical abuse experienced at school.

Even though it may not seem like it, the abuse and harassment LGBTQ individuals face daily can have a lasting impact.

According to IMPACT, each instance of LGBTQ victimization increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior in LGBTQ individuals by 2.5 times on average.

On top of physical and verbal abuse, many LGBTQ individuals struggle with other mental health problems such as generalized anxiety disorder, depression and suicidal thoughts.

A combination of decreased mental health and abuse can lead to LGBTQ individuals contemplating or even attempting suicide.

According to Newport Academy, LGBTQ individuals are 3.5 times as likely as their heterosexual peers to attempt suicide.

William McCown, the director of

graphic by Soonil Bishwokarma

SUFFERING IN SILENCE: Nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth didn't receive wanted mental health care due to concerns related to the LGBTQ competence of providers, according to The Trevor Project.

the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, said he believes LGBTQ individuals are often pushed to their breaking point and feel they have no other option but suicide.

“LGBTQ people still too often endure blatant harassment and violence,” McCown said. “Over time, research suggests, marginalized

people just become worn down by this constant strain.”

LGBTQ individuals also experience many other life strains that heterosexual individuals do not such as rejection by friends or family, homelessness and stress around therapy.

According to McCown, there

can be a disconnect between LGBTQ individuals who need counseling and counselors providing services to LGBTQ individuals.

“Improving mental health services for LGBTQ+ individuals is a demonstrated, successful intervention,” McCown said. “Unfortunately, some places make it difficult for

people, especially LGBTQ+ people, to access mental health treatment.

Many people still view seeking counseling as a stigma.”

Mallory Grayson, the president of LAMBDA, agrees with McCown and feels that creating safe spaces for LGBTQ individuals can drastically improve their quality of life.

“We [should] strive to create spaces that are more accepting and understanding,” Grayson said.

“This might be an inclusive club, a clinic with trained staff that is open to seeing LGBTQ patients or an LGBTQ support group.”

Support groups and other services for LGBTQ individuals are offered in many different forms at ULM. From counseling workshops to support groups, there is always a place on campus for LGBTQ individuals.

While these all sound like great opportunities, McCown acknowledges that counseling can be intimidating for LGBTQ individuals because it may be viewed as shameful.

However, he encourages society to change this perception together.

“Counseling can help everyone, from every community,” McCown said. “Seeking counseling is always a sign of strength.” contact Chloe Chapel at chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu

Update

News you might have forgotten about

ULM

In April, Seetharama Jois, a Ph.D. and College of Pharmacy professor, received a $1.65 million grant from the National Institute of Health for lung cancer research. The first year of research is usually about gathering hires and setting everything up. According to Jois, since there has not been much time since the grant was accepted, so far they have only hired a student and a post-doctoral research associate, purchased chemicals and biochemicals and set up accounts for collaboration. Jois said they have started “doing some controlled experiments and making the compound” that he has designed. This is only the beginning of a long process.

Louisiana

In 2020, Louisiana was ranked the state with the highest STD risk by the Louisiana Department of Health. In 2021, not much has changed. According to Innerbody Research, in May 2021 the infection rate of STDs in Shreveport went down from ninth place to 21st in terms of the cities with the highest STD rates.

But New Orleans went up from 24th to 11th. In 2021, Louisiana also ranked top 10 for most cases of STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and many others. The risk of catching an STD is five to eight times higher for Black people and three to five times higher for American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians than for white people, according to Innerbody Research.

United States

President Biden supported $10,000 worth of loan forgiveness for students in March. At that time, no legislation had been introduced. Despite President Biden promising loan forgiveness in his campaign, no reference to broad loan forgiveness was made in the President’s Budget for the 2022 fiscal year, according to the White House’s website.

The budget included an increase in pell-grants and free or lowered tuition fees for students. Sydni Ryland, a dental hygiene major said, “Having government help to decrease loans would make life after college so much easier. I could put the money I’m making towards a house rather than paying loans off.”

September 20, 2021

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

PAGE 9 NEWS

Violence

photo courtesy Associated Press

TOO CLOSE TO HOME: According to Al-Jazeera, over the past year since George Floyd was murdered, police killings decreased in 25 states, increased in 19 states and seven states had the same number.

Louisiana was one of the states with an increase in police killings.

Investigation uncovers buried police videos Associated Press finds evidence of police bruatlity in Ouachita Parish

by Chloe Chapel The deadly arrest of Ronald Greene by Louisiana State Police shocked people all across the state.

Cases of police brutality were becoming all too familiar, but never were they this close to home.

Many people were stunned by not only the proximity of the incident but by the police’s ability to cover it up for over two years.

Once video footage of Greene’s death was obtained and released by the Associated Press, a federal investigation was opened to look into state police misconduct.

Throughout this investigation, AP obtained at least a dozen videos that show acts of police misconduct and brutality by Louisiana State Police troopers.

According to AP, in one of the videos, a state trooper slams a Black man against a police car after finding marijuana in his car. The officer then proceeds to throw the man to the ground

and repeatedly punch him, all while the man community. was handcuffed.

Jailyn Ivy, a junior political science major, Allegedly, Louisiana State Police troopers and said she was not surprised by these incidents their bosses purposefully concealed evidence because they are a part of her reality. of beatings, deflected blame and impeded “It really doesn’t change my opinion on the efforts to root out misconduct. They allegedly area because being Black, it is my reality. Alomitted uses of though, it is upforce and setting to see claimed this happen suspects in my own were backyard,” violent or Ivy said. escaping, Blaine Warwhich conren, the vice tradicted president the video of College footage.

Democrats, A majoragreed that ity of those it is racially beaten motivated in cases but feels the obtained blue curtain

by AP phenom*Mapping Police Violence* were Black enon is also individuto blame. als. This Warren said the revealed a pattern that goes along with the blue curtain phenomenon is when police ofagency’s own tally that 67% of its uses of force ficers are taught to value their own well-being have targeted Black people. over the well-being of suspects, civilians and This pattern of racially motivated incidents criminals. did not come as a shock to many students even “You are taught to assume your colleagues though some incidents were here in their own have perfect judgement and need to be sup-

Did you know?

There have only been 10 days in 2021 where police did not kill someone.

ported no matter what,” Warren said.

No matter what is causing the incidents, students believe change needs to happen now.

Ivy said the changes need to happen before police even enter the field.

“I think mandatory psych evaluations and racial sensitivity training would be a big help,” Ivy said.

Trinity Williams, a junior political science major, feels the best way to fight police brutality is by holding people accountable.

“There’s no reason someone should get away with threatening someone’s livelihood especially without valid reasoning,” Williams said.

“Hold people accountable.”

Many police departments have put in an effort to educate their officers on police misconduct and brutality and racial inequalities.

In April ULM’s officers were trained through a program called Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement, which aims to reduce force incidents, improve officer wellness and reduce errors.

While this is the beginning of change, Williams believes the problem will never be fully fixed.

“I do not think there will be an end to police brutality,” Williams said. “[There will] just be a very rebellious future for all of us.” contact Chloe Chapel at chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu

PAGE 10

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

September 20, 2021

FREESTYLE

Campus Events

Bayouval unites Warhawks in festival of music

by Calli Sinclair

Smooth jazz and delighted chatter echoed throughout Bayou Pointe's lobby while the aroma of red wine wafted into the hallways.

As each guest entered the elegant venue, they were welcomed with the sight of painted canvases, sculptures and other works of art in the lobby along with an abundance of food and drinks.

Toward the front and center, a well-lit stage awaited each performer scheduled to entertain the festival's many eager attendants.

As the room began to fill up with guests, its energy grew.

Several couples took to the floor and began to dance.

Last Saturday was ULM’s first Bayouval music festival. The money raised from ticket photos by Raphael Akinpelu JAZZ IS NOT DEAD, IT JUST SMELLS FUNNY: Warhawks and musicians poured their hearts out as they sales will go toward funding scholarships for visual and performing arts students. performed various genres of music from folk to jazz pieces.

Derle Long, the director of VAPA, said he believes embracing music is an essential part of being human, especially for college students.

"We work so hard and persist because we want to perform," Long said.

Long also gave his thoughts on the pandemic’s detrimental effects on music and performers.

"Despite the damage many musicians dealt with during the Long pandemic, musicians and performers must persevere," Long said.

Along with many others, Long said he hoped

to see Bayouval become more widespread in its future.

“We would love to have Bayouval across campus and even the Monroe community,” Long said.

Gabby Ballew, a senior communication major and member of ULM Concert Choir, also said she hopes to see Ballew Bayouval expand.

"I believe it is very important to support musicians especially during these trying times of the pandemic," Ballew said.

The festival featured talented bands from the community like Code Blue & the Flatliners, Lisa Spann, Hallie Yarbrough, Leah Reitzell, Joe Holyfield and Joe Jacobs.

The Sound of Today, concert choir and jazz ensemble also performed.

Hallie Yarbrough, a ULM alumna and Louisiana State Fiddle Yarbrough Grand Champion, said she’s proud of VAPA and Bayouval.

“Performing at the Bayouval Festival means I can give back to ULM for all the opportunities and experiences I was able to get," Yarbrough said.

contact Calli Sinclair at sinclac@warhawks.ulm.edu

Fashion

Celebrities dazzle at 2021 Met Gala fundraiser

by Morgan Andrews

The Met Gala—It’s a night of glittering beauty and fashion at its finest.

Designers dress celebrities in outlandish garb and they walk the red carpet while photographers capture the spectacle.

The gala is a fundraiser that is famously known to have a guest list of 600 elite people and is one of the most anticipated fashion events held every year. It is treated as highly as the Oscars.

That fundraiser is the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala also known as the Met Gala.

The gala was established in 1948 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert to raise money for the opening of the Costume Institute in Manhattan, New York.

Since then, the people in attendance have been known to be highly recognized in the arts, fashion, film and music worlds.

The first gala was $50 per ticket.

Now it is at least $30,000 per ticket and between $200,000 to $300,000 for a table where they are served drinks, dinner and are entertained.

Each year the Met Gala gives the attendees a theme to dress by and the guests are expected to choose their outfits to match the theme of the exhibit.

The most iconic attire worn at the Met Gala was in 2015.

The theme of the night was “China: Through the Looking Glass.” Rihanna wore a golden floral headdress and an imperial yellow, fur-trimmed cape dress that was embroidered with beautiful floral scrolls. The dress was hand-made by Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei. This year’s theme was named “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” The outfits worn had to represent what modern vocabulary in American fashion meant to each attendee.

According to the Cut magazine,

the exhibition aimed to “present a diverse range of perspectives on how fashion reflects the evolving notions of identity in the country.”

Musician Billie Eilish wore a light peach-colored dress made by Oscar de la Renta and Lil Nas X was layered in three outfits made by Versace.

Fashion model Iman outshone all the guests quite literally by wearing a Dolce & Gabbana x Harris Reed custom brocade bustier, gold pants paired with a tiered, gilded feather cage overskirt and a matching angelic-like headpiece.

Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman and Naomi Osaka all co-chaired this year's event.

They were chosen by Anna Wintour, Vogue's editor-in-chief, to help host and make sure that the Met Gala ran accordingly while also strutting the red carpet in their themed attire. contact Morgan Andrews at andrewmr@warhawks.ulm.edu

September 20, 2021

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

PAGE 11 FREESTYLE

Recommendations

Explore Hispanic culture with popular books

My Time to Speak by Calderon This is an enthralling autobiography of a well-known American journalist Ilia Calderon. The story follows her journey from her humble beginnings in Colombia to her present role as one of the top news anchors in the United States. Her story is spiced with exciting stories of her experiences as a reporter traveling to all the hot places across the world.

“A lady needs to be like a violet, the more subtle, the more loved and desired,” Ilia's mother once said. Her mother meant that she doesn't have to be loud and stylish to be noticed, but inner strength and intellectual ability screams louder than anything. I love that she shares a point of view from an Afro-Latina.

Afterlife by Julia Alvarez

This love-laced story is an introspective narrative about a woman's sadness over the loss of her spouse as well as her sense of self without him. The book emphasizes the need to be needed and family affection, especially the profound love between the main character and her sister despite their own quirks. It's about immigration as well as mental illness. The author discusses a variety of thought-provoking topics including how to pick up the pieces of your life after losing a loved one, sisterhood dynamics and learning to put your needs first while also listening to the needs of others. This perfect writing helped me learn a lot about situations I would normally have no idea about. So I suggest you go once through it. You will love it.

Children of the Land by Castillo

Marcelo Hernandez Castillo discusses growing up as a young man in this poetic autobiography. He was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, but moved to California with his family when he was young. He talks about his tense relationship with his demanding father as well as his yearning to reconnect with his ancestral home.

He explores his growing feeling of responsibility for himself, his siblings and his parents in the face of adversity. Castillo demonstrates that living in the United States without documentation is a life laced with dread of deportation punctuated by half-truths, silences, grief and a glimmering hope just out of reach. It is about the struggle of the young man and his family in a nation that denies their existence.

Daughters of the Stone by Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa

The story begins with Fela, a lady who was taken from Africa to Puerto Rico as a slave. The novel is a magical blend of realism and historical fiction. It includes at least a dozen strong and assertive female characters who are motivated to live and it focuses on a generation of women from a Black Puerto Rican family. This story helps the reader learn about the history of Puerto Rico and the contribution made by Africans to Puerto Rican communities. I especially love this book because it shows the importance of women and their legacies that are still evident in today’s cultures.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

This book deviates from traditional storytelling by narrating Esperanza’s attempts at self-discovery in brief vignettes. These vignettes tells the story of a girl attempting to figure out who she is and how to exist in the world around her from her home on Mango street in Chicago. She wishes she could be baptized under a new name, a name she believes truly reflects her As you read, you follow Esperanza’s desire for self-love from wanting to look like Sally, "The girl with Egypt-like eyes and smoke-colored nylons," to realizing she is not Sally and she cannot push herself to be more like her. Ultimately the novella's journey of acceptance helps her to learn how to embrace herself and culture.

Recreation

Activity Center launches revamped weight room

by Morgan Andrews

When students set foot in the improved Activity Center, they are presented with freshly painted walls, different flooring, more efficient weight and cardio equipment and a new track that makes you feel like you are running with a purpose.

Renovating the Activity Center has been in the works for the past 10 years.

Michael Bruscato, the director of Recreational Services, wanted to surprise students returning this semester with a brand new Activity Center.

“We wanted the students to have a wow factor of emotion whenever they walk into the building,” Bruscato said.

“We wanted to do something for the students in the Activity Center that they can see and be proud of.”

According to Bruscato, a Bruscato functional room was highly requested to fit more fitness

classes by students as well as more spacious gym rooms.

Cecil Delphin, a junior business major, said the renovations in the weight room gave him more options Delphin with his workout routine.

“I think the functional room is great because I can switch up my workout routine and do some calisthenics instead of just the weights,” Delphin said.

One of the first initiations of the upgrade was creating the gaming lounge into The Nest. The Nest is mostly used for e-sport gaming and table tennis, but it is also designed for students to work on group and school presentations.

“Students can come here and use The Nest to work on their PowerPoints and school projects," Bruscato said. "You can just connect to the TVs wirelessly and fully utilize the area.”

Nautica Jones, a senior biology major, said the changes encourage her to visit

the center more often with the raging pandemic.

“I like the changes a lot, especially because of the pandemic. We have more rooms available so we can spread out. It makes me feel more comfortable coming to the gym,” Jones said.

During the winter break, the Activity Center will also refurbish all of its hardwood floors and update the ULM floor logos and lines.

There will also be an addition of volleyball courts because of the high demand for the sport from students and the Monroe community.

Thomas Handy, a junior risk and insurance management major, said the Activity Center's new look keeps him returning to the center to exercise.

“I’ve enjoyed it so far. I started working out here before the renovations and I was only going to go here for about a month," Handy said. "But after the renovations, everything looked clean and up to date. So, I’m going to stay here now.” photo courtesy ULM recreational services

contact Morgan Andrews at andrewmr@warhawks.ulm.edu

BRAND SPANKING NEW: The new and improved weight room offers students a plethora of machines and contraptions.

PAGE 12

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

September 20, 2021

FREESTYLE

Career

Tips on how to decide your professional path

by Subash Sapkota

Bibek Bhandari could have talked all day about how he wanted to build his own house to anyone that would listen to him. He was fascinated with architecture and wanted to become an architect one day. But after two years at ULM he began to question his path toward career success.

Everyone has their own way of defining career success. Some focus more on the financial aspect of it while others care more about personal fulfillment.

But a lot of college students struggle with finding fulfillment and confidence in their chosen career path.

Many students are overwhelmed with the decision of choosing a career out of the millions of opportunities available to them.

Even after choosing a career, many still struggle with knowing whether it is the right career path.

Bibek Bhandari, a senior computer science major, got an insight into what career path was suitable for him through volunteering in campus activities and working with professors.

“After getting involved in various campus activities, I realized I was not interested in working in crowded places,” Bhandari said. “I

liked working with small groups of people on a particular task.”

When you start to focus on personality, you start to learn what your strengths are and what you have to improve on to be successful.

Paying attention to your likes and dislikes will make you more aware of yourself and what you may be interested in career-wise. Personality will always play a role while you look for a profession.

Colm Bourke, a career coach at the Career Center, emphasized the importance of initiative when deciding a career path. He said it is important to take advantage of the resources around you while determining what career path you want to take.

“I have found that the students with the most success have been students that get involved in the university and their community,” Bourke said. “Organizing events with other people builds teamwork while helping you develop skills and knowledge that will not only make you more marketable to employers but will also help you realize what your strengths Bourke are.”

graphic by Sunil Bishwokarma

Go for experience rather than prestige. Treat every experience as a valuable asset rather than a waste of your time and energy.

Getting a job at a smaller firm rather than at a big firm might not seem as impressive now, but it might help you figure out what type of environment you work best in.

“Those who have great initiative and can identify the value in the resources available around them are

more successful than those who are too confident or are busy looking for the opportunity of their lifetime to seize those resources,” Bourke said.

Bhandari said that figuring out what you want to do is a process that takes time and effort.

“I spent two years figuring out little details of the type of life I wanted while factoring in what my strengths and weaknesses were.

This helped me decide that the field

of coding and programming would be more fulfilling for me,” Bhandari said. “One key thing to never forget is that the possibilities are endless.”

You can visit the ULM career center in Sandel Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Fridays for more career advice. contact Subash Sapkota at saptokasu@warhawks.ulm.edu

Pandemic

Ways to deal with pandemic stress

by Kylie Cichocki

Living in fear of contracting a dangerous virus and being kept within the same four walls of your household has caused a spike in mental health problems in the past year.

According to the Washington Post, an online therapy company called Talkspace reported a 65% increase in clients since midFebruary of 2020.

Being surrounded by only family and friends for long periods can have bad effects on relationships. Other people’s ways of thinking and doing things start to get irritating in a way they didn’t before.

Something I have found that has worked is spending time outside and reflecting on the situation at hand. Meditating is helpful too.

There are several types of meditative practices. One easy way to meditate is to take a seat somewhere comfortable and

quiet to reflect on the day you are dealing with.

Brittina Johnson, a counselor at the Counseling Center, said conflict is completely normal but when you are forced to spend time in your home or dorm room with people, unpleasant situations can arise with others.

“Things to consider when managing a conflict: Remain calm and take a deep breath before responding,” Johnson said.

“When the other person is speaking, listen to understand, not to respond.”

Being calm and understanding during a conflict is the most important tool. The pandemic lockdown might have caused you Johnson significant stress, but you must realize that it caused the same amount for everyone else

too.

Maggie Mercer, a junior psychology major, said that during quarantine people were forced to come face to face with their mental health struggles.

“Without the Mercer distraction of work, I began to realize issues that needed to be worked on and I attended therapy when restrictions started to lift,” Mercer said.

Therapy is for everyone and a fantastic tool to help with your issues. There isn’t anything to be ashamed of about going to therapy.

You can visit the ULM counseling center from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7-11:30 a.m on Fridays. contact Kylie Cichocki at cichockikb@warhawks.ulm.edu

graphic by Sunil Bishwokarma

September 20, 2021

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

PAGE 13 FREESTYLE FREESTYLE

Finance

Crossword

Note: S&P 500 index fund is a market-capitalization-weighted index of the 500 largest publicly-traded companies in the U.S. Disclaimer: This is not financial advice.

Student Short Story

A flight to remember

by Abisha Dhakal

Across

1 Simon __: kids’ game 5 Not for kids, moviewise 11 Small amount 14 Shopper’s memory aid 15 Aviator Earhart 16 Skating surface 17 “I had no __!”

18 It follows 35-Down 19 Milk grain 20 Imitative bird 22 Pioneering game consoles 24 Reaction to a strange object 28 Lengthy tales 31 e__: online instructional guide 32 Shoot well under par, in golf lingo 36 App purchaser 37 Serious criminal 39 Actress Anderson 40 Everest and K2: Abbr.

41 Out of practice

42 Lender’s claim 43 Stick-in-the-__ 44 Make like new, as old furniture 46 Tater __: deepfried potato morsel 47 Parisian season 48 Semiannual occurrence that begins 18- and 66-Across 49 Opposite of WSW 50 Showed again 52 Bandage brand 53 Less adulterated 55 Summoned, as the fiddlers three 58 Comfy shoe pad 61 With milk, as café 65 Crystal ball gazer 66 In 2021, it begins September 22nd 70 Place to de-stress 71 Turkey neighbor 72 In twos, like socks 73 Nosh 74 Fathers’ boys 75 Gets hot on Twitter 76 Many pop-ups

Down

1 Lose one’s footing 2 Musical based on an opera 3 Belgian river 4 Movie with R2-D2 5 Dreads sporter 6 Excite, with “up” 7 Thrice, in Rx’s 8 New Haven alum 9 Kitchen dweller of song 10 Motley 11 Designer Christian 12 Smoothie berry dubbed a superfood 13 Wagers 21 “I see” words 23 Ring-shaped reef 25 “Same drink as always” 26 Semi-annual occurrence that begins 28- and 35-Down 27 Black-and-white, e.g.

28 It precedes 66-Across

29 Sharp-witted 30 Word with role or identity 33 Hang around 34 Common soccer deadlock 35 It follows 66-Across 37 MHz measure 38 “Eli’s Coming” songwriter Laura 44 Kidney-related 45 Describes in detail 51 Squirrel’s haul 54 Web address letters 56 Jumped 57 Widely known 58 Wife of Osiris 59 Fiddling emperor 60 Actor Connery 62 Away from port 63 Apple tablet 64 Body art, casually 67 Former Mideast org.

68 Deadlock 69 Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian __”

I sat beside my dad trembling as the plane shook vigorously for what felt like an eternity but was only a few minutes. It did not help that the flight attendants were also terrified. I kept thinking that if the professionals were this scared, we must really be in trouble. I had heard various news of plane crashes, but I did not think much of the news at the time.

Funny how the things that we often overlook come back to haunt us. Suddenly, I was staring at myself screaming from the window of a plane engulfed in flames.

I thought back to the day my dad called and announced that he got an offer from his company to visit Thailand with one family member. I had never flown before, so I was excited upon hearing the news. As soon as my dad got home, he asked me if I wanted to share a trip with him while we were having dinner. I immediately replied that I wanted to be on a flight so bad. He

smiled at me and agreed.

The night before the anticipated day, I could not even sleep because I was so jittery with excitement.

I woke up at the crack of dawn that fateful morning, in the best mood to the most beautiful day I had ever lived. Like a crescendo, it was as if the other days had been building up to this day. The sun was shining brighter than other days and birds were singing more melodiously. We got ready and after waving goodbye to my family members, we left for the airport. After checking in, we were told to wait at our gate befoe boarding, after which we were called to board the plane and we found our seats.

After some time, a flight attendant announced that the plane was about to take off. Right at that time, my heart started pounding and my legs trembling. Still, I was enjoying my first flight and animatedly asking my dad a billion questions. Then suddenly I heard a loud, distinct sound and I felt

weightless—I realized I was flying for the first time. The trembling in my legs calmed down and I was finally enjoying the scenic beauty of Nepal from the sky. After about 30 minutes, I drifted into sleep.

When I woke up, I was gripped with terror and grabbed my dad’s hand very tightly. The weather had suddenly gotten worse, and it had started raining heavily. Because of the storm, we could barely see out our windows and the entire plane was trembling like a leaf. The flight attendants were desperately trying to calm the passengers down while doing their best to figure out what was going on. But all the passengers, like me, were very petrified and confused.

Even though the crew members were finally able to calm us all down till we landed safely in Thailand, that trip remained the most memorable trip I have ever been on. contact Abisha Dhakal at dhakalab@warhawks.ulm.edu

graphics by Sunil Bishwokarma

PAGE 14

September 20, 2021

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

SPORTS

BRIEFS

Soccer

Men’s golf finishes in 6th place The ULM men’s golf team moved up two more spots on the final day of the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate to place sixth, while sophomore Cody Winkler and junior Otto Van Buynder each finished in the Top-15 Tuesday at Squire Creek Country Club.

The Warhawks shot a final round 1-over-par 289 to finish at 1-over-par 865 (294-282-289) for the tournament. LSU won the tournament at 23-under-par 841 (285281-275). Louisiana Tech’s Sam Murphy won the individual title at 13-under-par 203 (68-68-67).

Winkler moved into the team lead on the final day with a 2-under-par 70 and placed 11th at 3-under-par 213 (74-6970). He drained four birdies on the day.

After picking up an early birdie at the par5 second, he birdied three of the final five

holes on the par-4 14th, par-4 15th and par5 17th. He added 12 pars.

Van Buynder joined Winkler in the red on Tuesday with a 1-under-par 71 to finish 17th at 2-under-par 214 (74-69-71). He had a steady front nine with seven pars and birdies on the second and par-5 ninth.

He added a birdie on the par-5 11th and earned an eagle for the second consecutive round, this time on the par-4 14th. He had three pars on the back nine.

Junior Jacob Agerschou finished with a final round 1-over-par 73 to conclude his tournament at even-par 216 (70-73-73). He opened the round strong with birdies on the second, par-3 third and par-4 fourth. He tallied 12 pars.

Golf returns to action Sept. 27 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Warhawk named player of the week

photo by Raphael Adesola

RETURN THE BALL: Janet Stopka keeps the ball in play in the Warhawks’ 7-0 route of the Devilettes.

ULM soars into SBC play

by Maggie Eubanks

Few things are harder to stop than ULM’s offense. The Warhawks have outscored their opponents 24-2 this season. The offense and defense have been firing on all cylinders setting the team up to be a dangerous opponent moving into Sun Belt Conference play.

With the 7-0 win last Wednesday against Mississippi Valley State, the Warhawks have pushed their record to 6-0.

After breaking the school record for best start to a season last Sunday after beating Southern, each new win garners a new school record.

ULM put out a dominant performance against the Devilettes. Beating MVSU 61 shots to 1, the Hawks put up a new single game record for most shots on goal with 31.

ULM started the offensive onslaught early with junior Courtney Marten scoring her sixth goal of the season off an assist from senior Theoni Zerva in the fourth minute.

This goal was followed quickly when freshman Inge Konst scored a quick goal off an assist from junior Lucia Lobato in the 16th minute.

The third goal for the Warhawks came when Zerva converted a penalty kick in the 22nd minute.

Marten continued her hot streak scoring her second goal of the game off an assist from junior Efi Brame in the 42nd minute.

In the second half, ULM was able to bring out some starters and let younger players get some game experience.

This allowed freshman Peyton Pipes and sophomore Louise Atkinson to score their first career goals in the 76th and 77th minute respectively.

Although the Warhawks have put on an impressive showing in their first six games, head coach Sean Fraser says there are still places for the team to improve.

“I was pleased with the amount of shot creation in the team, but our decision making on when to shoot, pass or dribble needs a little work,” Fraiser said.

ULM travels to Georgia State to continue their Sun Belt Conference play on Thursday.

contact Maggie Eubanks at eubanksml@warhawks.ulm.edu

ULM junior forward Courtney Marten has been named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week as announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon.

Marten came off the bench to tally four goals last week, including the seventh hat trick in program history in a 7-0 win over Alcorn State on Friday. Marten scored in the 45th minute before adding back-toback goals in the 68th and 70th minutes against the Lady Braves. She then capped the scoring in a 6-1 win at Southern on Sunday with a goal in the 74th minute.

Marten leads ULM with five goals on the season and has eight goals in her career.

She is the first Warhawk to be named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week since Jenna Pillon on Sept. 10, 2013.

Marten joins junior goalkeeper Hailey Hillock as SBC weekly award winners this season after Hillock was named Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 31.

The Warhawks are 6-0 for the first time in program history.

Marten joined the Warhawks in 2020 as a transfer from Missouri Southern State.

This season, Marten has set her careerhighs for shots with seven, shots on goal with six and goals with three.

Marten has been a key part in the Warhawks turnaround from the 2020-21 season. The Warhawks already have more wins than they had for all of the previous year.

Volleyball rallies in home opener ULM volleyball hosted rival Louisiana Tech last Tuesday for the Warhawks’ first home game this season. What looked to be another sweep over ULM turned into a highly-competitive five set contest with ULM winning 3-2 (18-25, 25-27, 25-22, 2624, 15-10).

This victory snapped a seven game losing streak dating back to Sept. 3 against McNeese State.

Leadership and youth collided with senior Cali Assaley scoring 28 kills and freshman Avery Cole scoring 26 kills.

Junior Mariana Volponi e Giordan set her teammates up with 34 assists. Junior Madeline Hogan led her team with 26 digs.

The Lady Techsters went up with ease in the first set 25-18. Tech stole the lead

from the Warhawks in the second set. Cali Assaley’s return to the court nearly sparked a ULM comeback in the second set, but the Warhawks were stopped 27-25.

ULM carried the momentum from their late set surge into set three. They survived a great defensive game at the net to take their first set of the game 25-22.

Tech gave a final solid effort and extended the fourth set. Assaley ended the set with her 24th kill of the night.

With all the momentum in their corner, ULM went on a scoring streak late in the fifth and final set to beat the Lady Techsters 3-2 in a comeback victory.

September 20, 2021

THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

PAGE 15

SPORTS

Volleyball

Opinion

Football earns hype it receives in South

Maggie Eubanks

photos by Mackenzie Triche

SERVE UP: Two Warhawks go up for a block attempt (left). Cali Assaley looks to send the ball down for a kill (right).

Offense stalls out in 3-game tournament sweep Volleyball lost 9 matchups in 3-0 losses this season

by Jonah Bostick The ULM volleyball team traveled to Nacogdoches, Texas to participate in the Stephen F. Austin Invitational in their final non-conference tournament of the season.

The Warhawks came into the tournament with losses in seven out of their last eight matchups. Their only win came against Louisiana Tech in the previous match.

ULM’s offense has struggled with consistency all season. They are last in the Sun Belt Conference in kills per set.

The first opponent for the Warhawks was

Houston Baptist. The Warhawks were swept in the series 3-0 by the Huskies. This included a 25-13 first set in which the Huskies would finish with a 13-1 run. The second set would be a much closer affair but would end in a 25-22 defeat. The Huskies ended up dominating the third set, winning 25-10.

The Warhawks would then face in state opponent Grambling State. After losing their first set in a close loss, the Warhawks would go on to win their next two sets, with scores of 25-12, and 25-19. However, Grambling would respond, and would win the final two sets 25-22, and 15-8. This loss to the Tigers brings the all-time series to 19-2 still in favor of the Warhawks.

The Warhawks would end their stay with a series against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. The Warhawks would start the first set with a 9-8 lead, but would allow eight straight points to SFA, and would lose 25-16.

The second and third sets were controlled by

the Ladyjacks, and ULM would lose 3-0 in the series.

For the third time this season, the Warhawks were swept in a tournament, and it will be the ninth time this season that the Warhawks have been swept in a series with the loss to SFA. Some standout performances for the Warhawks include senior Cali Assaley, who had 37 kills overall, freshman Cameron Rogers, who had 23 digs vs. Grambling and junior Darby Fisher, who had 25 assists vs. Grambling State.

The Warhawks fall to a 4-12 record on the season after the tournament. The Warhawks are 1-10 after a 3-2 start.

The Warhawks start their conference schedule when they host Georgia State Thursday, Sept. 23 at Fant Ewing Coliseum. contact Jonah Bostick at bostickjm@warhawks.ulm.edu

Football is a uniquely American sport. Whether it be the tailgates or the stadiums, the culture surrounding football is not seen anywhere else in the world. But is football overrated?

I don’t think so. Some mark the seasons changing from summer to fall by temperature changes or pumpkin spice lattes. But in my family fall is marked by the return of football. I knew growing up that, during football season ESPN was on the TV, and I would spend my Friday nights at the field.

Many people see football as overrated due to the fanfare that surrounds it. The culture is so ingrained in the sport that coaches and leagues have made sure not to overlap. You can watch high school on Fridays, college on Saturdays and NFL on Sundays. No other sport ensures that people can watch it at every level.

There is also the aspect of pep rallies, fantasy leagues and large paychecks that encompass the sport. While I believe that we should not treat football athletes like royalty, this pageantry is part of what makes the sport great.

People watch football for the drama and the skill that it takes to play the game. Athletes will train and work for the majority of their lives to be able to put on a show under the lights. There is nothing more beautiful than a last-minute comeback or perfectly crafted play that can turn the tide of a game. Football is also a sport that brings people together. Spending the day rooting for your favorite team is a Saturday night specialty in most college towns.

Football has also had significant societal impacts. Here in Louisiana, the entire state came together after Hurricane Katrina to watch as Drew Brees and the Saints gave everyone a much-needed win in the 2010 Superbowl.

In recent years, athletes have begun to use the platform of football to express political opinions and start protests against injustice in the country.

From police brutality to kneeling during the national anthem, athletes have spoken out against issues that are important to them.

While the media coverage and attention that football garners can seem excessive, the sport is a part of American culture. contact Maggie Eubanks at eubanksml@warhawks.ulm.edu

PAGE 16

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

September 20, 2021

SPORTS

Football

photos by Saugat Shrestha

WILL YOU FIGHT OR WILL YOU QUIT?: The Warhawks kept pressure on key playmakers Shedeur Sanders (left) and Warren Newman (right) to take them out of Jackson State’s game plan.

Malone sweet home: Defense shines in home opener Takeaways push ULM past Jackson State at home

by Cameron Jett

Warhawks football (1-1) earned a hard-fought victory over Jackson State (2-1) 12-7 in their home opener.

Head Coach Terry Bowden’s team scored the first win in his tenure at ULM due to a relentless defense and excellent special teams play.

This victory ended a 12-game losing streak that stretched over three seasons.

Kicker Calum Sutherland nailed four of six field goal attempts—the most by a Warhawk since 2006. The defense forced three fumbles to go along with an interception. ULM’s offense controlled the ball well and didn’t commit any turnovers.

“Our offensive guys did well against a defense that was playing in cover one or cover zero almost every play,” Bowden said.

ULM scored their final field goal with under two minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Jackson State had one final chance to take the lead. A strong hit by cornerback Adam Spark forced the Tiger’s return man to fumble and the Warhawks recovered.

Well-placed punts and storming gunners on the return kept Jackson State’s lethal return specialists from fielding the kicks.

The Tigers lead D1-FCS football in yards per return and already had one touchdown this season. ULM kept the Tigers from returning a single punt.

“We had to play with the mentality that they can’t score again,” linebacker Zack Woodward said.

Woodward recorded an interception that set up Sutherland for another field goal.

The first half of play saw two offenses searching for an identity.

ULM’s rushing game was nonexistent.

Wide receiver Boogie Knight gave the offense a needed spark with a 20-yard reception to set up Sutherland for his first field goal of the game.

Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders found wide receiver Josh

Lainer in the end zone for the game’s only touchdown. ULM trailed going into the half 7-3.

Coming out of the half, ULM benched QB Rhett Rodriguez in favor of Chandler Rogers.

Rodriguez had 150 passing yards but was constantly under pressure and he was sacked twice.

The offense changed with Rogers under center. Rogers only attempted four passes but he fit the adapted game plan.

Rogers took off on designed runs while running backs Andrew Henry and Kayden Roach helped wear away at the Tigers’ defense.

ULM’s defensive front forced Sanders to drop back and pass for much of the contest.

The Tigers were held to 26 rushing yards and the Warhawks sacked Sanders three times.

Malone Stadium was home to a crowd of over 21,000 people on Saturday. The Warhawks will stay home to defend the nest against the Troy Trojans (2-1) next Saturday. contact Cameron Jett at jettcm@warhawks.ulm.edu

ZONED IN: Head coach Terry Bowden watches his team with great interest.