ULM welcomes new women’s basketball coach P 15
Natural history museum expands to new space P 9
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
www.ulmhawkeyeonline.com
VOLUME 96 ISSUE 26
April 29, 2019
P 5
Opinion: Sexual harassment is genderless
Astro Motel plays at Ouachita Live P
10
Apps to help prevent domestic abuse P 12
P 8
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
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April 29, 2019
BRIEFS d
CALENDAR 29
Monday, April So Sweet MondayZ, 11 a.m., Hangar Overhang
30
Tuesday, April
Reading to the Kids, 3:30 p.m., ULM Child Development Center
Wednesday, April
1
Stress it out, 11 a.m., Quad
2
Thursday, April
Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, 6 p.m., Food Bank
3
Friday, April
Spring Dance Fusion, 7:30 p.m., Brown Auditorium
4
Saturday, April
Stars of Tomorrow - Souls of the Delta, 7:30 p.m., Brown Auditorium
5
Sunday, April 2nd Breakfast, 6 p.m., Wesley Foundation
Red Cross to install 100,000 smoke alarms According to News Star, the American Red Cross plans to install 100,000 smoke alarms in 100 cities nationwide over the next three weeks as part of their second annual Sound the Alarm campaign. The campaign includes installing smoke alarms and providing home fire escape plans and education. On Wednesday, the American Red Cross of North Louisiana kicked off the campaign. Mayor Jamie Mayo provided a proclamation to representatives from Red Cross supporting the initiative. The first local stop is scheduled for April 30 in east Monroe neighborhoods. On May 2, volunteers will travel to north Monroe. South Monroe's installation day is scheduled for May 4. Volunteers can sign up and learn more about the event at SoundtheAlarm.org/Louisiana.
Ouachita Parish
Illinois
Sri Lanka
According to KNOE, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office have arrested a man accused of a string of burglaries in western Ouachita Parish and the Jones Road area. According to investigators, the burglaries of several residential and camp areas were reported in August 2018. The suspect, Cassidy Mckoin, who was caught on surveillance during the burglaries, subsequently fled the parish. Investigators said they eventually learned that he was in the Abilene, Texas area. They notified authorities there and the suspect was arrested. Mckoin is being held in Texas pending extradition to Ouachita Parish to face several burglary charges.
MCT-The parents of 5-year-old Andrew "AJ" Freund were charged with murder on Wednesday, hours after authorities said found the body of the Crystal Lake boy wrapped in plastic in a shallow grave near Woodstock. JoAnn Cunningham, 36, and Andrew Freund, 60, both face multiple charges in the death of the boy, who was reported missing by his father on April 18. At a news conference Wednesday announcing the charges, Crystal Lake police chief James Black said both parents provided information that helped close the case. Freund and Cunningham were charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated domestic battery and failure to report a missing child or child death. Freund was also charged with concealment of a homicidal death.
MCT- Police in Sri Lanka have found 15 bodies after multiple explosions in a house raid east of the country, over suspicions of a link with last weekend's deadly Easter bombings. Three of the dead were women and six were children. A few hours before the encounter, police arrested seven people and detected a large quantity of explosives from cities near the capital. In the capital Colombo, police arrested three men carrying a kilogram of explosives near a railway station. According to intelligence reports cited by police, Islamic fundamentalists were also planning to strike mosques from the Sufi branch of Islam. The suicide attacks on three churches and three luxury tourist hotels on Easter Sunday left 253 dead, according to the health ministry. Among those killed were 40 foreigners.
Easter bombing unveils Suspect arrested Parents charged for multiple burglaries with 5-year-old's murder terrorism threats
d
QUOTE
Ouachita Parish
TODAY IN HISTORY
SO GREEN!
April 29
"The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference." Elie Wiesel, writer
Front page credits: Main graphic: Prajal Prasai Top sidebar photo courtesy: Northeast Louisiana Art Council Bottom sidebar graphic: Prajal Prasai Top left photo: Prajal Prasai Top right photo courtesy: ULM Museum of Natural History
photo by Prajal Prasai
Spring is returning to ULM after a cold winter. With all the trees coming back to life, the campus premise is starting to look more beautiful than ever.
1942: Jews forced to wear a Jewish Star in Netherlands & Vichy-France. 1945: U.S. Army liberates 31,601 in Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, Germany. 1975: U.S. begins to evacuate its citizens from Saigon in Operation Frequent Wind in response to advancing North Vietnamese forces, bringing an end to U.S. involvement in the war. 1983: Harold Washington sworn in as Chicago's 1st African American mayor. 1991: Croatia declares independence. 2002: The U.S. is re-elected to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, one year after losing the seat it had held for 50 years. 2015: German Measles is declared eradicated from North and South America- first world regions to do so.
April 29, 2019
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 3
NEWS
Farewell
Severe Weather
The Hawkeye sends off staff member
After eight semesters, Sisam Shrestha’s time working for The Hawkeye is up. The senior atmospheric science major from Nepal, spent three consecutive semesters as the paper’s freestyle editor before finally taking the reigns as the current Editor-in-Chief. She will be graduating in May. While at the paper, Shrestha took pride in giving ULM’s students a weekly paper worth reading. Before and after classes, Shrestha could be seen carrying a stack of papers to pass out to anybody who would take them. Shrestha will continue her educational journey on the beaches of Miami, Florida, where she will be getting her PhD in atmospheric science at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. In graduating, Shrestha will become one of only a handful of students to have continuously worked for The Hawkeye from her first semester at ULM to her last. A feat made more remarkable given the fact that journalism was a hobby to Shrestha, not a field of study. Although excited for what the future holds, she is sad to be leaving the place she’s called home for four years. She will take with her an underlying pride for the university that gave her so much. Done are the late nights working on the paper. Also, done are the times working on a “catchy” phrase to write on a sign in support of her beloved men’s basketball team. The only thing awaiting Shrestha now is a walk across the stage to shake hands with President Nick Bruno.
photo courtesy LA Tech Softball
WEATHER DAMAGE: The LA Tech Softball Complex was among the many properties destroyed by the EF3 tornado early Thursday morning. The tornado also claimed two lives. Several local organizations and businesses have since set up donations and volunteer events to help rebuild the community.
Community comes together in wake of tornado damage by Sisam Shrestha
The EF3 tornado that ripped through Ruston on Thursday resulted in two deaths and several property damages. Among the effected was the LA Tech’s softball field. The Lady Techsters had six more games left in their regular season when the tornado destroyed their home field. Upcoming tournaments for the season have since been moved to the ULM softball field, where the Lady Techsters played their first game after the tornado against Conference USA leader Western Kentucky on Saturday. According to Molly Fichtner, head coach of ULM softball, the use of the ULM field was not even a question. “Our home is their home. We are competitors
on the field, but neighbors in the real world. And that’s what matters the most,” Fichtner said. “What happened to LA Tech softball and the rest of the community was tragic. I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through and what they will continue to grow through over the next several months. I am blessed to work for a university that will do everything they can to help during this time,” Fichtner said. According to an interview in KNOE, head coach of LA Tech softball, Mark Montgomery said he is thankful for the offer to use the ULM field after Thursday's tornado. “The most important part of it has been the team and its concept and its character. We are going to continue that, and we’re going to play hard this weekend,”Montgomery said.
The disaster has brought together different local and regional organizations. According to Rex Lofton, the general manager of the Office Depot in Ruston, many local organizations that weren't affected by the storm are helping by handing out supplies and food for free in the area. "I have also been impressed with the amount of police presence around the buildings that were not able to properly secure their merchandise due to the damages," Lofton said. As of this past weekend, the Office Depot in Ruston was operating on cash only basis while the shopping center waited for the powers to come back on. contact Sisam Shrestha at shrests8@warhawks.ulm.edu
Graduation
Gov. John Bel Edwards to speak at Spring 2019 Commencement Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards will be the keynote speaker at the Spring 2019 Commencement on May 11, 2019. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. "We are honored that Gov. John Bel Edwards has agreed to be our commencement speaker for our May ceremony," said Dr. Nick Bruno in a press release from ULM. "We make every effort to have a distinguished
speaker at each of our commencement ceremonies to share their individual perspectives and knowledge to our graduates as they begin their professional careers. Gov. Edwards has been a champion for all of education,” Bruno said. Edwards was the seventh of eight children to sheriff Frank Jr. and Dora Jean Edwards, a Charity Hospital nurse. He grew up in Tangipa-
hoa Parish. He was sworn in as the 56th governor of Louisiana on Jan. 11, 2016. Edwards was elected by the people of House District 72 to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2008 and served eight years. He was then elected as governor of Louisiana in November 2015.
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
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April 29, 2019
OPINION
Letter to the students
Coach Richard thanks basketball fans Dear Students, I want you to know how much I appreciate your attendance and enthusiasm at our men’s basketball home games this past year. It truly was one of my most enjoyable home seasons since I have been your head coach over the last nine years. We played well at home all year, but as the spring semester started and the conference home games were happening, your involvement in our competition was very instrumental in our home success. Each game, the student sections, along with our great band, got better and louder all the way to the CIT home games, which were off the charts. Our players loved playing in front of you and for you. It was special watching the connection between you and your team and your school spirit at ULM. So once again, on behalf of my staff, myself and the men’s basketball team, thank you for a fun home season and let’s do it again next year. Sincerely, Keith Richard Head men’s basketball coach
Stubbs 131 700 University Avenue Monroe, LA 71209 Editor in chief - Sisam Shrestha Co-managing editor design - Prajal Prasai Co-managing editor news - Ethan Dennis Opinion editor - Alfonzo Galvan Freestyle editor - Kaitlin Maness Multimedia editor - Samrat Dhakal Photo editor - Miles Jordan Sports editor - Nate Nasworthy Copy editor - Ashlyn Dupree
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.
Students’ Safety
Improve weather alerts at ULM
Alex Melancon We’ve entered severe weather season. Dozens of people have already lost their lives to weatherrelated hazards this year. ULM is not doing enough to help us be ready for this. ULM has posted some guidelines for tornado preparedness - two paragraphs, 12-point font, singlespaced, on sheets of paper taped to walls in the halls of various academic buildings. They are easily overlooked compared to other fliers posted in the same areas. As a result, many students and faculty have little to no knowledge of what to do in order to protect themselves in a tornado. While ULM itself was spared, damage was reported across Ouachita Parish and most of north Louisiana as a whole due to some
Faculty adviser Dr. Christopher Mapp 318 342 5454 mapp@ulm.edu
Don’t agree? Let us know! Contact the writers or the editor at galvana@warhawks.ulm.edu
contact Alexander Melancon at melancam@warhawks.ulm.edu
Don’t rush to leave Monroe
318-342-5453 ulmhawkeyead@gmail.com
Feedback 318 342 5453 newsroom 318 342 5452 fax ulmhawkeye@gmail.com
as information is filtered through the administration officials responsible for these messages, an entire hour is unacceptable. In the event of a tornado or other weather hazard, every minute of advanced warning could make the difference between someone making it to safety or not making it at all. As a senior in ULM’s atmospheric science program, I have extensively learned about these hazards and the importance of properly educating and warning people about them. ULM has an entire department dedicated to the weather that is full of people willing to help others prepare for events like this. The administration should seek and take guidance from them next time our area is threatened. With their assistance, the university can be better prepared to issue safety precautions as well as determine when campus closures are and aren’t necessary. Until then, stay weather aware by keeping the local emergency alerts feature active and the ringer volume up on your smartphone during potentially hazardous conditions.
Community Service
Circulation director - Emerald Singh
Assistant director Kristin Nieman 318 342 5450 nieman@ulm.edu
of the recent storms. At the time of this writing, nine people across the southeast had reportedly lost their lives to recent severe weather, and dozens more were injured. These storms were not unexpected - the National Weather Service along with local news outlets began highlighting them days before the event. ULM attempted to warn students during a recent storm and told us to “shelter in place” if an incident occurred on campus. While their effort is commendable, this advice is misguided. In the event of a tornado, you should move to the lowest floor of your building into a windowless interior room and put as many walls between you and the storm outside as possible. For the hundreds of students living on the second, third and fourth floors of the residence buildings on campus, sheltering in place is the wrong plan. If the campus had been struck by a tornado, these students would have been caught in some of the most dangerous places to be. The Monroe area was placed under a severe thunderstorm warning at 1:57 p.m. on April 13, as a line of storms approached. A “Warhawk Alert” message was sent out an hour later at 2:57 p.m. While it is understandable to have a delay
John Radcliffe Move in Mania is one of the most eventful weekends of the school year. All sorts of campus organizations gather together to reach out to the students. However, you rarely see any of those organizations staying behind to help those moving out. When winter break came into session, many students like myself had to stay around campus for an extra couple of hours because their bathroom had mold or their room was not entirely clean. Sometimes, it is easy for others to turn their back on the school with the sweet release from finals on May 10. It is easy to blow this all off and say, “Oh well I had to fend for myself, so
why should I help everyone else?” Maybe the mentality we all should share is, “I understand how hard it was for me to do it alone, so I want to help.” I know that when I was moving in, I made most of my friends in that first day of school just because of the interaction I had with those helping me move in. What started off as moving in with strangers turned into a lunch date, then into a late night movie and then boom, a friendship. These last minute, first impressions may leave a student thinking about how amazing that group of students were that helped them move off of campus. Another perk of staying behind an extra couple of hours or days is that the campus will be crowded with students trying to move out at the same time. Waiting out the storm will help you stay clear of annoying school traffic. Remember the first day of school when parents were all lined up around campus to drop off their new freshmen babies?
Now, a year without their children, parents will be at ULM, at the crack of dawn, asking their kids about their new friends or about the best place to eat near campus, all the while you are trying to weave your way through traffic. It’s a nightmare, and it could easily be avoided by just sticking around your dorm for an extra hour. The last perk for not rushing out of Monroe is to do all the last minute things that you didn’t have time to do during the school year. ULM has a beautiful campus, and spending a day kayaking on the bayou or just having a picnic in the park can be the best way to kick off summer. Grab a day to yourself and your friends before you have to go home for the summer. Then, maybe it is time for you to hit the high road. But before you leave, ask yourself, “What’s the rush?”
contact John Radcliffe at radclijp@warhawks.ulm.edu
April 29, 2019
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 5
OPINION
Sexual Harassment
Equality
Boys, girls should Suffering is universal, be treated same intimidation is genderless
Vanelis Rivera Boys will be boys. That’s what I heard growing up. Whether my brother left his Legos out, carelessly cleaned his room or threw a tantrum, his behavior was often easily explained, though not always tolerated. While my parents held my brother and I accountable for misbehavior, often his bouts of primitive insolence were justified. Whatever surly things little boys are “made of” was embedded into his genetic code. “Poor, baby angel! He couldn’t help it.” At the time, I didn’t understand the destructive repercussion of those four words. It seemed an easy enough equation: boys can be aggressive and hot tempered, and everyone else just needs to help them and teach them to be better. But is there ever a point that we get to stop saying, “Boys will be boys” ? I’ve discovered that this phrase teaches boys and girls that some behavior should be
taken lightly, and quickly forgiven. Boy slaps girl on the butt at a bar—“He’s just being a guy. He was drinking. He’s just an idiot. No need to correct the behavior. No need to get that upset. No need to report it.” That phrase, and phrases like it, teach complacency. It assumes that one gender is predisposed to inappropriate, immoral and often illegal behavior. It assumes that it is the responsibility of more upstanding individuals to enlighten the misguided. It illogically cements certain behaviors into the cultural fabric of manhood, and expectations into the cultural fabric of womanhood. What results is a vicious cycle of oil in water. Boys will be whatever we say they will be. Boys will say whatever we let them say. Boys will do whatever we let them do. It may not be our job to educate boys who haven’t learned what kind of men they want to be, but we do need to enforce accountability. We shouldn’t be passive observers, silently shaking our heads at what often becomes dangerous habits. Our voice in the matter should take the form of reconstruction—stabilizing the shaky foundation of the old guard. Let’s ascribe other character traits to this overused phrase. Let’s take charge of filling in the blank: Boys will be _________.
guest column written by: Vanelis Rivera, English instructor at ULM
Sexual harassment is more common than most people assume. It happens every day and sometimes it even happens in front of you. It’s not even a problem specific to women. It happens to everybody. Sexual harassment is a behavior characterized by the making of unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances. It can be as innocent as a shoulder rub to a coworker or unsolicited sexual messages to a friend. The problem seems one sided at times. Statistics lean more towards women experiencing sexual harassment than men. Men suffer from sexual assault and harassment too. I’m not saying that women don’t. I’m just saying that a lot of times we overlook the males because it isn’t as prevalent. We don’t even know it is happening because we don’t know how to identify sexual harassment. Take this for example, I’m home alone late at night and I get a text from a close friend. The person really wants to see me and come over. They make
their intentions known, and I politely say no and try to avoid the topic. They become persistent and make me feel uncomfortable. That, my friends, is sexual harassment. It’s not “shooting your shot” or “making a bold move” like some of us say. It’s wrong and inappropriate. A study by Quinnipiac University found that 60 percent of women have been victims of sexual harassment and nearly 75 percent of those said it took place at work. Statistics for males are hard to find. Usually, the statistic will focus on women and point towards men as the perpetrators. To be fair, men do seem to be doing the majority of the harassment but you can’t say they can’t be victims themselves. While statistics like the one mentioned earlier like to focus on, male on female sexual harassment, the act knows no genders. It can be male on male or female on male. It doesn’t matter. Sexual harassment is sexual harassment. A girl can’t send a guy unsolicited naked pictures and just assume because he’s a guy he’ll be okay with it. Consent goes both ways. Now, in order to stop sexual harassment on males we need to do a few things. First, we must acknowledge the fact that the problem is real. Put the manliness aside and accept that you too can be a victim. Second, educate yourself on what sexual harassment is and how to spot it. You can’t stop something you can’t identify. And third, encourage victims, especially males, to come forward and speak about their issues. We can’t keep quiet forever. It’s okay to be a guy and use #MeToo. contact Alfonzo Galvan at galvana@warhawks.ulm.edu
Health
Break before burning out this summer Ashlyn Dupree After a stressful semester of constantly worrying about assignments, grades and a social life, summer is coming and we can finally take a break, soak up some sun and have some fun. Well, that’s not true for all of us. Many students will be hard at work all summer trying to make some extra cash to pay for student loans or tuition. For those who will be working
this summer, here’s a piece of advicetake a break before you burn out this summer. According to the Psychology Dictionary, a burnout is a state of extreme physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. Summer is supposed to be a time for you to take a break, not burnout even more after the semester is over. Once the semester ends, I always end up working the whole summer with long shifts at my job. Actually, I worked during the whole spring break. And working the whole spring break was not one of my best ideas. There was no time to relax, sit back and enjoy the day. While I think it is a great idea to fill your summer with busy work whether that be work, summer classes or fun beach trips, it’s also a good idea for you to sit at home and take a break from a
busy schedule. Burnout can play a role in the summer too. By constantly being busy doing something, you go into the fall semester as tired as you were at the end of the spring semester. And whether you have a stressful back-to-school job or a laid-back job, burnout can still happen. In a study done by Gallup, 67 percent of employees reported feeling burnt out either very often or sometimes. According to a study conducted by Yale University, one in five employees feel high engagement and high burnout. Instead of having a miserable summer and wishing for it to be over because you are burnt out from trips, work and school, communicate with others about the burnout you feel. Communicate with your manager about the break you need. They’ll
understand and will most likely work with you to help you feel less burnt out. Understand that you shouldn’t spread yourself thin. Burnout affects you mentally and physically. In 15 studies conducted by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 13 out of the 15 studies showed that burnout was associated with cognitive deficits. Not only does burnout cause cognitive deficits, but also problems in the regulation of the body’s neuroendocrine system, according to Association for Psychological Science. Take a break this summer and enjoy the simple things in life. Go hammocking and enjoy nature. Take a group of friends to the lake for a fun day trip. Sleep in as late as you want. And I understand, some people have to work in the summer to be able to provide for themselves and pay for school. But you should also be able to
have “you” time. Since you may have to work every week, make sure you have one day off every week. Take that day to do whatever you feel like doing and don’t overwork yourself. Go get a snow cone. Enjoy a book on the couch. Go see a movie with your friends. You are only young once so be free and do whatever you want to do this summer. You can be responsible at your work, but still have a great time this summer. Enjoy your summer and don’t burn yourself with work you’ll have. You have the rest of your life to work. College life is right now and you should be able to enjoy your summer to the fullest.
contact Ashlyn Dupree at dupreeaf@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 29, 2019
NEWS
Community Fundraiser
photos courtesy ULM Alumni Association
LIVELY ATMOSPHERE: Tickets to the Bridge Party were $60 per person which included complimentary wine glasses, wine and food. Wine was provided by Southern Glazer’s Wines and Spirits, and beer was provided by Marsala Beverage Company.
Wine Over Water raises money for scholarship by Ethan Dennis Local community members often use Bayou Desiard for photo opportunities or the occasional stroll, but Thursday gave them the chance to enjoy limitless wine alongside the sparkling bayou. The ULM Alumni Association’s annual event, Wine Over Water, provided the community a chance to help invest in the future by giving back to ULM and its students while enjoying food from over 30 local vendors. This chance came in the form of raising money for “The Spirit of the Warhawk” scholarship. The scholarship helps support students in and around Ouachita Parish. This is why 31 Ambassadors graduate assistant Nirali Patel worked this event for the fourth time this year. “There are so many students that benefit greatly from those funds and by working this event, I am able to show how thankful I am for continuous community support to the university and its students. They are the reason why the event is able to grow and in turn, aid more students,” said Patel, a public administration graduate student. Wine at the event was provided by Southern Glazer’s Wines and Spirits, and beer was provided by Marsala Beverage Company. The wine table, as usual, saw many
patrons return again and again throughout the night. Tickets to the Bridge Party were $60 per person which included complimentary wine glasses, wine and food. Raegan Wilson looks forward to Wine over Water and chose to work it for 31 Ambassadors again this year. “I always have a super fun time getting to spend time and make connections with ULM alumni and staff. My favorite part about the event is getting to visit each of the local vendors’ tables and truly getting a taste of what the Monroe area has to offer,” said Wilson, a junior biology major. Before the Bridge Party, there was a pre-event Patron Party that took place on the seventh floor of the library as usual. Entrance to this party was $120 per person and included access to the Bridge Party, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine and performances by Rod Allen Payne and Trevor Davis. Ultimately, Wilson summed up the entire event by saying, “It really brings the whole community together. The fun atmosphere and enthusiasm of everyone attending definitely makes working Wine Over Water one of the highlights of my spring semester.” contact Ethan Dennis at dennisec@warhawks.ulm.edu
POUR IT UP: Patrons at the Bridge Party refill their glasses at Bayou Pointe Event Center instead of on the bridge over Bayou Desiard where the party is usually held.
April 29, 2019
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 7
NEWS
New Funding
Campus Renovation
Risk management insurance receives $50K grant by Ashlyn Dupree
clair, the coordinator of Student Activities. However, the space is not limited to just the previous usages and the gaming usage; the space can be used in whatever format. “We have to collaboratively work on this, because we have a whole separate group of people who will come,” said Emily Essex, the director of Student Life and Leadership. The space took over a year to complete and required custom-made furniture for the space as well as three separate TVs.
Money, money, money-that’s what all the talk is about at ULM’s risk management and insurance program. The program received a $50,000 donation from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Louisiana on April 15. With such a large amount of money, Christine Berry said she was grateful that the program was able to receive this donation. According to the ULM News Center, the program director and professor of RMI Berry said, Berry “We are extremely honored by this commitment to continue to support and grow the ULM RMI program.” Students like risk management and insurance major Milan Katuwal said he hopes the money can be used to help further the education of the students. “I hope the fund will fully be used for the betterment of the program such as strengthening the faculty, publicity and student scholarships,” Katuwal said. The donation was made by Johnny Beekman III, the president of the IIABL Board of Directors, because he said that this will help further the education of students. According to the ULM News Center, Beekman said, “Education is a personal goal of mine. Education is the key to the future.” Not only will this money help further the education of students, but it is also helping faculty as well, according to Hunter Henson, a junior risk management and insurance major. “The money goes toward our student and industry coordinaHenson tor’s salary who is the incredible Deja Peppers,” Henson said. No matter if the money is spent on salaries or students, both Katuwal and Henson were grateful for the donation the RMI program received. “I’m very grateful for this donation, because Deja does such an amazing job for the program,” Henson said. ULM’s RMI was ranked 11th largest in 2017 and is now the ninth largest for 2018 in the nation by the Business Insurance, according to the ULM News Center. With the ULM risk management and insurance program rapidly growing, this donation can help provide better opportunities for students in it. And with better opportunities presented to the students through donations, Katuwal said that those involved in the RMI program need to stay accountable for these donations to continue. “I am hopeful that ULM RMI Katuwal program will continue to produce diligent, disciplined and proactive manpower for the risk management and insurance industry worth more and justify all the faith that our donors have upon us,” Katuwal said.
contact Miles Jordan at jordanm1@warhawks.ulm.edu
contact Ashlyn Dupree at dupreeaf@warhawks.ulm.edu
photos by Miles Jordan
GAME ON: Recreational Services director Brandon Bruscato discusses the perks of the Activity Center's new game room, The Nest, with Student Life and Leadership director Emily Essex and students. The biggest perk is students now have the ability to bring their video game consoles and play with friends.
Activity Center welcomes new presentation, game room by Miles Jordan
The entirety of ULM’s campus has been upgrading this semester. From the beginning stages of the new medical school to the library’s second floor upgrades, the university has been adding. The Activity Center is no different with the opening of a new game room, The Nest. The Nest is located directly to the left after walking into the AC. It’s previous purpose was as a meeting space as well as a place to hold events. The upgrade of the space becomes a gaming environment for the gamers on ULM’s campus. ULM students will have access to the space but will have to bring their own gaming systems to play. The TVs also allow access for people to study and pull up power points. “You can actually build power points on the screen here and you can see how they look for your presentation,” said Brandon Bruscato, the director of RecreBruscato ational Services. The space will contin-
PLANNING: Student Activities coordinator Joel Sinclair (right) and Campus Activities Board Secretary Henry Diaz (left) discuss the new game room while sitting at The Nest's new, custom-made furniture.
ue to be used as an event space as well. “Sororities can still do their events in here. We’re not doing away with the current usage of the space, just adding to it,” Bruscato said. The space will also be a useable space for intramural gaming to add to the AC’s wide array of intramurals. “Students love showcasing their talent. We’ve had multiple tournaments from Mario Kart to ping pong and a soccer tournament out in Bayou Park. It was a moderate showing, but I think with this being such an attractive place, we can use it,” said Joel Sin-
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 29, 2019
NEWS
Greek Life
photos by John Radcliffe
DIVE INTO EDUCATION: Members of the Lambda Rho chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. listened in order to learn how to stop domestic violence, increase their awareness of HIV and STDs and prevent sexual assault at their open event on April 15. This event featured community members including representatives from the Wellspring and the Monroe Police Department.
Sorority hosts panel addressing violence, sex Sexual assault, domestic abuse, STD awareness raised on campus by John Radcliffe
Every nine seconds someone becomes a victim of domestic violence. For Jeslyn Lewis, this experience is something immeasurable, especially if those who are victimizing you are your family. For years, Lewis let her husband physically and emotionally abuse her. “Any abuse is too much,” said Lewis, a Wellspring outreach coordinator. Lewis was one of the speaker's at Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.'s “Love Doesn’t Hurt” informational. April is the month devoted to sexual assault awareness, so now is as good of a time as any to inform the community on what the difference is between true and tainted love. “Love is not being unhappy. Love is not controlling. Love is not demanding or demeaning. Love is not isolating. And, love is certainly not abuse” said Marzetta Scott, the Lambda Rho chapter president of Delta Sigma Theta. Scott herself may not have been a victim of domestic violence, but she has been a bystander to those who have. Scott said that recognizing what love truly is puts oneself in control of how they are treated.
“There is not a preparatory class to protect against domestic violence, however, when it strikes; we love,” said captain Sylvester Taylor, a returning speaker. During last year’s event, Taylor shared his story of how his brother murdered his father and mother. This year, his wife, Carlie Taylor, shared her side of the story as a witness away from the scene. Carlie received a call one night on a trip in Michigan; the call had left her shaken and confused. Never would she have expected that her brother-in-law would’ve done such a thing. “He was one of the sweetest people I knew,” Carlie said. However, the pain from that one night still haunts her and her family. “It’s been five years since the incident. The pain never goes away,” Carlie said. Lewis also recalls specific moments in her life where she felt the weight of domestic violence. One incident was when she was having a normal conversation with her friend about how her friend’s husband was being insistent on not matching outfits with her. All Lewis was able to focus on during that time was how the pain of her toxic marriage was weighing her Lewis down. “If color coordinating were our only problem, then I’d be so happy,” Lewis said. Being that domestic violence is the number
DELTA DELIVERS: President Marzetta Scott addresses the audience of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.’s “Love Doesn’t Hurt” informational panel. Scott provided information about the dangers of staying in unhealthy relationships.
one cause of injury to women and children, “Lambda Rho wants to be able to give as much back to the mind, body and spirit as we can,” Scott said. Those who worked the event made it their duty to stay behind to make sure that anyone who needed helped received the appropriate contacts to ensure their safety. Monroe Police Department detective Lisa Quillar, Lewis of the Wellspring, Gwendolyn Guidry of GOCARE and Curtis Sanders, a
Bastrop-based obstetrician and gynecologist, attended the event to provide students with the information that could one day save their lives. For those who were not able to attend the event, it is not too late to ensure your own safety. Contact the following hotlines to talk to real people about your situation: Domestic Assault Hotline at 1-888-411-1333 or Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4613). contact John Radcliffe at radclijp@warhawks.ulm.edu
April 29, 2019
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 9 NEWS
Campus Innovation
photo courtesy ULM Museum of Natural History
photo by John Radcliffe
ANCIENT ARTIFACTS: ULM’s Museum of Natural History houses hundreds of artifacts from many different cultures. Located in Hanna Hall, six million fish, a half a million plant specimens, dinosaur bones and replicas, rocks and minerals can all be found throughout this museum which has already started expanding.
Natural history museum to expand by Ethan Dennis Although its relics inside haven’t changed for decades, ULM’s Museum of Natural History will soon see an innovative expansion. The bulk of the museum materials will still be displayed on the first floor of Hanna Hall, and the rocks, minerals and artifacts on display cabinets will remain on both the second and third floors of Hanna Hall. The museum expansion will include new, hands-on exhibits in order to encourage active engagement by visitors. “We are working with multiple departments to acquire an augmented reality sandbox. We have spoken to computer science faculty about developing computer station kiosks Tolson that deliver educational information with the touch of a keystroke. Atmospheric sciences faculty and students are working to build us a tornado machine,” said Kim Tolson, the director of ULM’s Museum of Natural History. The museum, which has existed since 1962, showcases displays of zoology and plant speci-
mens, geoscience exhibits from around the world, rocks and minerals. Hillary May, a former student worker at the museum, still finds time between studies to visit once or twice a month and is excited for the expansion. May, who loves the museum’s live fish, said the museum expansion will be amazing and beneficial for the ULM community. “Although student visitation is little, there are more visitors from elementary students and parents who want to expose and explore with their children. It’s a fun experience for everyone,” said May, a senior biology major. Some students, however, are required to interact with the museum. Many ULM programs use this museum for class assignments and the artifacts inside as display material in lab exercises.Some professors mandate visitation of the museum. There is even a special sign-in book for students with class assignments in geoscience and history. Tolson said she hopes the expansion will bring more faculty and student use of the facilities by non-science disciplines. “I would love to host an English class looking for inspiration to write or an art class looking for inspiration to paint or draw,” said Tolson,
reminding that all classes of all disciplines are welcome to use the facilities. Expansion began in fall 2018 when the administration gave the director of the School of Sciences, Anne Case-Hanks the okay to move into the space the bookstore used to occupy on the first floor of Hanna. According to Tolson, the goal is to have a ‘soft opening’ some time in the fall with an opening program and reception. “We are hoping to get this space ready for occupancy and begin moving some displays in this summer,” Tolson said. There is no foreseeable end date to expansion in the near future thanks to the
efforts of the College of Arts, Education and Sciences’ dean, John Pratte, who is committed to working with the ULM Foundation to find donors and sponsors for the expansion. Thanks to Pratte, “The uni- May versity has provided movers to help us clean out the new space, along with carpenters to make minor repairs and staff to replace broken ceiling tiles. The majority of the physical work associated with the expansion is done by faculty, student workers and volunteers,” Tolson said. However, Case-Hanks and Tolson are still searching for grant opportunities and writing proposals to programs that would support the museum. “The plans are to keep the museum dynamic by rotating displays, bringing in special loan materials and continuously upgrading our facilities,” Tolson said. This is in special thanks to Case-Hanks, who has worked with the administration to get the expansion approved and implemented. contact Ethan Dennis at dennisec@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 29, 2019
FREESTYLE
Live Music
photo by Killian Hicks
PREACHING THE BLUES: Local favorite, Astro Motel, performed during Ouachita Live, a concert series held by the Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group. Ouachita Live occurs on the last Friday of each month from now until October.
Astro Motel shines at concert series by Raven Adcox
Astro Motel is a group of guys whose passion for music transcends boundaries, and they bring together all types of people for one reason—a great show. Astro Motel, which formed in 2014, describes their music as “trash boogie,” a mix of rockabilly, the blues and psychedelic with a little something extra thrown in there. Astro Motel consists of five members: lead vocalist and guitarist Joel Jordan, vocalist and bassist Jacob Lofton, vocalist and guitarist Tyler Martin, better-known as “Slick Rick,” vocalist and guitarist Asa Stone and drummer Brad McCormick. They performed as the headliner of this month’s installment of Ouachita Live, which is a a new event for the Twin Cities but one with endless potential. Posey The concert series is set to run from March to October with a new show on the last Friday of each month. The event is from 5:30-8 p.m., next to Miss Kay’s Sweets & Eats in downtown West Monroe, which gives people the opportunity to get off of work and still make it in time to enjoy live music. ULM graduate student in exercise science, Seth Posey, said he thought the show was great. “I wish more people would have shown up, because I’d like to see this become a much
bigger event,” Posey said. The crowd truly adored Astro Motel’s performance. Their cheers were enthusiastic, despite some technical difficulties early on. The band was determined not to let anything stop their performance. Posey said that he enjoyed their choice of covers and also, “really loved their energy throughout the show.” Songs like the crowdfavorite “Delhi” from their first album, and “Brother Shamus,” a song about a crooked Laban preacher, highlight what’s so unique about Astro Motel—their rough and ragged sound. It is exciting to watch the band play, because the longer they are on stage, the more they let loose. Their passion spread and enveloped the entire audience. Karen Laban, co-chair of the Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group, said that their vision in creating Ouachita Live was to strengthen the city’s social and economic vitality by celebrating inclusivity, engagement and accessibility through music. Each concert will feature a different genre allowing for a varied crowd each month. The Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group is a community organization created to stimulate the downtown development and revitalization in historic downtown West Monroe. “We have been working on Ouachita Live since October 2018. There is currently no
photo courtesy of Northeast Louisiana Arts Council
TRASH BOOGIE: Astro Motel was the headliner of Ouachita Live Friday evening on Antique Alley near Miss Kay’s Sweets & Eats. The band performed original songs and covers.
free concert series of this length in this area. Our 2020 season will be held in Alley Park, which is currently under construction, and will include food trucks and street vendors,” Laban said. The kids danced to Astro Motel’s set at the front of the stage, as their parents caught up with old friends. Once the sun began to go down, everything started to come together in a way that can only be described as fate. All that was left to do was sit and enjoy. The sound was loud but tight, each member delivering on their promise to make this a great show. Jordan even attempted one of his infamous handstands towards the end that had the crowd going wild. Lofton smiled as he talked about his experience at Ouachita Live after the show. “We
are used to playing in bars, so this is a new experience for us. Some of us have families now, and it’s nice that they can come and enjoy the show.” Astro Motel will be celebrating college graduates at Enoch’s Irish Pub & Café on May 10 at their “Graduation Pregame” show. The show starts at 9 p.m.—don’t miss out! Ouachita Live’s next event will be on May 31, same time and place. Stream and/or download Astro Motel’s new album, “Holy Hot Wax” on all major services, including Spotify and Apple Music. Follow their Facebook page for more information on the band and for future events. contact Raven Adcox at adcoxrv@warhawks.ulm.edu
April 29, 2019
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 11 FREESTYLE
Recreation
Travel
3 affordable vacation destinations After a stressful semester, most college students want to enjoy a summer vacation but many can’t because of expenses. However, there are several ways to plan a trip without spending an excessive amount of money. Everyone loves a vacation but a cheaper vacation is even better.
Camping trip:
photos by John Radcliffe
DANCING TO THE RHYTHM: DéAntonia Jackson taught a ‘90s themed hip hop dance class in Brown Annex Studios with the hopes of giving
students a good time and inspiring them to take dance classes during the fall semester.
Hip hop class encourages dance course registration
Light up a bonfire and roast smores as you enjoy a night under the stars with your friends and family. Pack a tent or rent one for about $30 to $40. Then, get in your car and drive to a campsite. There are several state parks in Louisiana that are the perfect places to have an inexpensive camping weekend. Fairview-Riverside State Park is always welcoming campers. The only charge is an entrance fee which is $3 a person or free for senior citizens and children under the age of three years old.
by John Radcliffe
Motownphilly by Boyz II Men played throughout Brown Annex Studios as students followed DéAntonia Jackson’s ‘90s hip hop choreography the best they could. Beads of sweat dripped down participants’ foreheads while smiles spread across their faces. “If it is any genre of music that our generation can relate to, it’s the ‘90s,” Jackson said. Jackson aimed the class toward a variety of students by varying the difficulty of the dance moves. “The class was geared toward both experienced dancers and beginning dancers because it was not meant to be a 1-2 step, but you could still make it your own and have fun with it,” said Geuntraveous Lewis, dancer and winner of 2018 ULM’s Got Talent. This was a refreshing event for many students who wanted to either push themselves to learn something new or just have fun. Freshman vocal performance major Hanna Atsedewoin has Jackson not danced since high school, and was concerned that attending the event by herself she would feel out of place. However, Atsedewoin said she found herself
Beach getaway: Believe it or not, you don’t have to leave Louisiana to spend a couple of nights at the beach. Louisiana beach trips are often cheaper because of less traveling. Many beaches allow camping on the shore or have rental houses close to the beach. Holly Beach and Rutherford Beach both allow camping while Cypremort Point Beach has rental cabins. The North Beach is also a great spot with its boardwalks and many parks for a cheap summer get away.
BREAK IT DOWN: The class was choreographed in a way that participants with or without dancing experience could follow along.
feeling at home among the other participants. “My favorite part of the night was being surrounded by people who love to dance and radiate a supportive spirit,” Atsedewoin said. Whether it be dancing, getting in shape or having fun, ULM’s Chi Tau Epsilon Dance Honor Society has been providing its best efforts to bring students together and dance. This was one of the last dance classes of the year, but Jackson hopes it will encourage ULM students to register for an actual class in the fall. Maybe students like freshman Hawkline
dancer Kennedy Boston-Woods will reconsider registering for a class after having a good experience during Jackson’s class. “I came to the class because hip hop is my absolute favorite, and with it being ‘90s themed, I was excited to participate in the dance,” Boston-Woods said. Hopefully, efforts like the ‘90s hip hop class will encourage students to continue attending dance classes during the fall semester. contact John Radcliffe at radclijp@warhawks.ulm.edu
City Weekend: If you aren’t looking to spend a night on the beach or the woods, you can plan a trip to the famous city of New Orleans. Walk around tourist spots in the city while spending little to no money except on food and housing. Many attractions in New Orleans are cheap such as exploring the French Quarters or the famous Bourbon Street. contact Chelsea Terrell at terrellcl@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 29, 2019
FREESTYLE
Movie Review
‘Avengers: Endgame,’ perfect conclusion by Kaitlin Maness On April 26, Marvel fans lined up at theaters across the world to see one of the most anticipated movies of 2019, “Avengers: Endgame.” At Cinemark in West Monroe, the line began inside but continued to grow until it was outside as well. Nearly every person waiting in line was wearing Marvel merchandise and discussing their personal theories for the plot of “Endgame” with other fanatics. The theater’s atmosphere was filled with excitement but also a little bit of sadness. Like its title suggests, “Endgame” was the end of the beloved Avengers series. This was the last time Marvel fans would ever get to see the Avengers together on the big screen. For some fans, seeing “Endgame” was like saying goodbye to your high school best friends before leaving for college. Before you stop reading, know I won’t dare spoil the movie for those
Rating: PG-13 Time: 182 minutes
of you who haven’t yet been brave enough to enter the crowds of fans and watch “Endgame” for yourself. However, I might spoil “Avengers: Infinity War” so read at your own risk. “Avengers: Endgame” follows Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner who survived Thanos’ snap in “Infinity War.” The movie shows how the remaining Avengers deal with the loss of their loved ones and 50 percent of the universe’s population. “Endgame” was the perfect conclusion to such a popular series. The
Avengers managed to captivate the minds of millions of people for seven years. Much like the original “Star Wars” trilogy was for our parents, the Avengers series defines our generation. Many of us will always remember the first time we saw the Avengers and the last time we saw it. We will tell our children about the line we waited in just to see “Endgame.” We will tell them of the tears we cried and they will look at us as if we are ridiculous until they experience their own version of “Star Wars “or the Avengers. When the lights came on at the end of the movie, everyone got out of their seats and clapped. Some people even had tears rolling down their cheeks. “Avengers: Endgame” will leave Marvel fans yearning for something that couldn’t even compare to the past seven years of content. contact Kaitlin Maness at manessk@warhawks.ulm.edu
Prevention
Apps for domestic abuse victims
Aspire News This app shows headlines for stories going on around the world, for sports and entertainment news. But if you go to the help section of the app it has resources for victims of domestic violence. In the help section, the app provides articles on determining whether you are in an abusive relationship, gives a quiz to determine if you are in an abusive relationship and gives an exit action plan for leaving the relationship. If your partner comes unexpectedly you can also tap an x button at the top of the screen to go back to the news.
Noonlight
If you ever feel like you are in an unsafe situation, noonlight is the perfect app to get. Just hold the button whenever you feel uneasy and release the button when you have reached your destination. You enter your four-digit pin if you have reached the destination safely. If you do not enter your pin, the local police are notified of your location and emergency. Some of the free features included with the app are being able to text instead of talk on the phone during a situation and receiving help even if you can’t talk or text.
myPlan
ICE BlackBox
This app, it can help you determine if you are in an abusive relationship and gives tips and information if you are. MyPlan was designed based on research with female survivors of relationship abuse and their friends. The app helps determine what your top priority is and how to make decisions based off of it. MyPlan creates an action plan based on the results of the danger-assessment quiz. It also offers a 24/7 support live-chat. The app, is password protected so your partner cannot open without the password.
BlackBox automatically sends your audio, video and GPS information to the ICE BlackBox’s server where it remains for a record during threatening situations. The video cannot be deleted from the device and prevent someone from forcing you to delete it. You can not only send videos to 911 emergency responders, but also school officials and law enforcement through text or email. If you dial 911 using the app, it will send a video of what is happening and your location to your emergency contacts.
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 29, 2019
PAGE 13 FREESTYLE FREESTYLE
Crossword
Horoscope Aries Settle into a peaceful spot with privacy for contemplation. Review your plans, dreams and visions. What’s on your bucket list? An interesting opportunity sparks your curiosity.
1 Britannica ref. 4 Singer LuPone 9 Baseball hat 12 Classic grape soda 14 Sarge’s command 15 Put into play 16 Advice columnists Ann and Abby, e.g. (AL Central) 18 “If I may digress ...,” in texts 19 Sprinted 20 Jackie’s Ari 22 __ one’s time: didn’t rush 23 Sharp-tasting 24 King’s tenure 27 Tiered Asian temple 30 Apt.’s sleeping area 33 “Bro!” 35 Hitch, as a ride 36 Commit perjury 37 Monarch’s selfreferential plural pronoun (AL Central) 39 Shop __ you drop 40 “The Giant” of
Down
1 __’acte: intermission 2 A novice in 3 Trouser material 4 Kid brother, at times 5 Colony crawler 6 2000s teen drama set in California 7 Rutabaga, e.g. 8 Tryst-confirming words 9 Preteens in a pack (NL Central) 10 Italian wine hub 11 Chapel seats 13 Bring up to speed 14 “__ the season ... “ 17 Sushi bar drink 21 [Ah, me!] 23 “Furthermore ... “ 25 Altar promise 26 Five __: burger chain 28 Key with one flat: Abbr. 29 With dexterity 30 “How dull” 31 Enjoy fine food 32 Warnings of serious
danger (NL Central) 34 Wells sci-fi race 37 Performs in costume, as a Civil War battle 38 Typist’s meas. 41 KOA patron 43 Nitpicks 45 Consequence of an absence of pain, in an exercise mantra 47 Mexicali’s peninsula 49 “Rigoletto” composer 51 “To wrap up ... “ 52 Proficiency 53 Frat party garb 54 Tinted 55 Makes haste, oldstyle 56 Swing voter: Abbr. 57 Cold shoulder 60 Quick swim
Brilliant ideas spark in conversation between friends. Share information, ideas and resources. Take another’s idea, and give it a perfect twist. Create new possibilities.
Enjoy the game without taking expensive risks. You may find yourself holding a fabulous hand. Relax, and engage with talented players. Have fun.
Cancer Get out and explore. Wander, trek and investigate. Discover unexpected treasure. Friends help you advance. Share your journey with someone fascinating. Visit a loved one.
Mobile Access
Sagittarius A domestic vision can be realized. Imagine your place the way you want it. What would it take? Assess family needs and desires.
Capricorn Creative inspiration sparks when least expected. Take an idea, and run with it. Get advice, but make your own decisions. Express your vision.
Leo
Aquarius
Take advantage of a golden opportunity for a rewarding benefit. Collaborate for shared gain. Together, you can pull in a nice harvest. Save for something special.
Extra silver becomes available. Stick to your budget and plan. Keep your objective in mind. Tap into a secret source. Discover nice perks and benefits.
Virgo Talk strategy with someone you respect and admire. An intriguing idea warrants attention. What could be possible? Come up with a coordinated plan.
Say Hello to Checking That Changes Everything Visa Debit Card
Keep to your physical and health routines. A dream seems within reach. Luck follows good work. Practice to provide the best results you can.
Scorpio
A professional opportunity surprises you. It includes a test or challenge. You may discover an insider advantage. Follow an elder’s sage advice. Envision winning.
wrestling 42 Food for hogs 43 “Ohio” quartet, initially 44 St. Peter’s domain 46 “The Lion King” hero 48 Chinese PC giant whose name is partly derived from the Latin for “new” 50 Hertz rival 53 Faddish pursuit, after “all” 55 Carefree antics 58 “The Fault in __ Stars”: 2014 film 59 Pride or greed, e.g. (NL Central) 61 Obtain 62 Neatened (up) 63 Chekov bridgemate, in “Star Trek” 64 GEICO specialties? 65 Little cuts 66 Org. in which the start of five answers is a “central” player
Libra
Taurus
Gemini
Across
Courtesy of MCT Campus
Remote Deposit
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Pisces Take charge. You’re energized and ready to make changes for the better. Good planning increases your holdings. Completion leads to new status. Power on.
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 14
April 29, 2019
SPORTS
Football
Player Highlight
Beesley knocks it out of park
ULM will be in conference championship
by Nate Nasworthy
Miles Jordan Year three of head football coach Matt Viator’s tenure at ULM was the most successful yet. The Warhawks finished third in the West division of the Sun Belt Conference with a 4-4 conference record. ULM became bowl eligible for the first time under coach Viator as well as finishing 6-6 overall, but was left out of a bowl game. The Warhawks were in the conference championship conversation throughout the whole season before back-to-back conference losses to Arkansas State and ULL put the Warhawks from first to third. This year, though, the Warhawks will win the West division and will be in the Sun Belt Conference Championship. The Warhawks schedule creates a possible scenario like ULL last year, where the Ragin’ Cajuns finished 7-7 overall but 5-3 in conference play. Admittedly, the Warhawks will have to have strong conference play with two difficult nonconference road games versus Florida State and Iowa State. The rest of the non-conference play is a tad bit easier with an opening weekend home game versus Grambling and Memphis. What matters for the Warhawks is the conference play. The first two conference games may make or break the season with back-to-back road games against Texas State and conference champion Appalachian State. Beyond the conference play, the play of senior quarterback Caleb Evans and the defense matter most. Evans is expected to put on a show after two straight solid campaigns. The defense is the ultimate wild card. If the defense can jump from middle of the pack last year to fourth or fifth, the Warhawks could be scary. The one big question mark on the defensive side of the ball is will Kerry Starks be on the team? With Starks, the Warhawks can potentially dominate other offensive lines. However, without Starks, the defense will have to take the “next man up approach” to match his success. The Warhawks are coming off a solid season and a season just missing out on the goal of a conference championship and bowl game. This season will change that. contact Miles Jordan at jordanm1@warhawks.ulm.edu
photo by Miles Jordan
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior Andrew Beesley enjoying his time before a ULM baseball game. Beesley was named a Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week.
Junior outfielder Andrew Beesley steps up to home plate. The pitcher winds up and hurls the ball toward the plate. Sweat drips from Beesley’s brow. With his eyes on the ball, Beesley loads up and swings with all of his might. The bat connects. That’s a home run for one of the Sun Belt Conference Players of the Week. Beesley grew up in Natchez, Mississippi, and hoped to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. His grandfather was fortunate enough to play baseball at Mississippi State while his father played for Delta State. Athletics came naturally for Beesley. He played football and baseball in high school, but size would be the biggest deciding factor on which sport to focus on. “I was a pretty good football player for a high school team, but I never would have been able to play in college with my size,” Beesley said. The pressure was always on Beesley in high school. His father was his baseball coach. But his mom was his harshest critic. “She’s competitive,” Beesley said. “She’ll be at every game and she’s always on me about getting better. It’s all in good nature though. She just wants me to do the best I can.” Beesley decided to take the junior college route coming out of high school. He ended up at Hinds Community College where he was a standout star on the baseball team. After his time at Hinds was up, Beesley made his way to Monroe and was forced into a transition from being the big fish in a little pond to just a fish in a pond.
NFL Draft
“Back at Hinds, we had quality players, but you have more of them here, so every day you have to compete. In junior college, you have one guy that’s just the dude. Here, everybody is that guy,” Beesley said. But Beesley quickly made a name for himself. In April, Beesley was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week for April 1 to April 7. “It was a great feeling. That’s a big honor and being the first one this year, it’s just a huge honor and I’m really proud of it,” Beesley said. Beesley is averaging .364 at the plate with 56 hits, 27 RBIs and three home runs. Beesley has started all 41 games. However, just like the rest of us, Beesley enjoys his time alone and away from the pressure. During that time, you can usually find him outdoors hunting or fishing. “I love being outside, just being in the woods. It’s kind of peaceful,” Beesley said. Beesley is most proud of the nine-point, 151-inch buck that he killed his sophomore year of high school. However, he has a hard time convincing people about his prize fish. “You’re not going to believe this, but I caught a 13-pound bass when I was 12 years old. Yeah, it was big,” Beesley said. Beesley wants to follow in the footsteps of his family by coaching baseball and teaching. “It’s all I’ve ever known. I want to make an impact on kid’s lives. Keep the game going in the right direction,” Beesley said. No doubt about it-Beesley has kept the legacy alive and is going in the right direction. contact Nate Nasworthy at nasworna@warhawks.ulm.edu
Baseball
Warhawks take on Green drafted by Atlanta Falcons Alcorn State this week ULM standout wide receiver Marcus Green was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2019 NFL draft with the 203rd pick. Green was named All-Sun Belt First Team in 2017 as a return specialist and all-purpose player, and again in 2018 as a wide receiver and all-purpose player. Green led the Warhawks this past season with 50 receptions, 855 receiving yards, eight touchdowns and 1,518 all-purpose yards. Green has the posibility of being used at running back as well.
ULM baseball will come back home on Tuesday after a three-game road stretch against Arkansas State to take on Alcorn State. The Warhawks are 1823 on the season and 7-11 in Sun Belt Conference play. Alcorn State only has 11 wins for the season and the Warhawks are coming off of a 11-4 victory against Arkansas State. ULM is led by home run king Chad Bell, who has 10 home runs and 31 RBIs on the season. Pitcher Trey Jeans has also been strong for the Warhawks this year. Jeans has pitched 57 innings and has an ERA of 3.61.
April 29, 2019
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
PAGE 15
SPORTS
Coach Highlight
photo courtesy McNeese Athletics
photo by Prajal Prasai
IN CHARGE: New head women’s basketball coach Brooks Donald-Williams was announced at a press conference to the community. Williams is the winningest coach in McNeese women’s basketball history and has spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama.
Meet new head women’s basketball coach by Miles Jordan Every new head coach usually has the same response when they are asked what they want to do with their new team: change the culture. However, each coach has their own way of changing the culture. New head women’s basketball coach Brooks Donald-Williams has a very simple philosophy. “I’ve got a three-year-old and a husband and we’re trying to buy a house with a living room big enough for the team. We want an outdoor area big enough for them to be a part of our family. That’s who we are,” Williams said. Williams has finally come full circle and come back to Louisiana. The Jennings native grew up playing basketball, but knee injuries cut her career short. However, a family tradition of attending Mississippi State kept her motivated to keep going, even with her injury. Williams stuck around Mississippi State and learned from some of the best coaches in the country. But that wasn’t her first stint at coaching.
Williams had started coaching and teaching fundamentals as young as a freshman in high school. “When you were in high school, you coached the nine and 10-yearolds. And when I was playing AAU in Lafayette, I was coaching some of the younger AAU teams,” Williams said. Williams’ first head coaching job came at a young age and she was tasked with a huge undertaking. She was hired at McNeese State and asked to turn the program around. It wasn’t easy. “That first game, there weren’t 50 people in the stands. And that’s if we counted the pep band,” Williams said. Williams went home that night and tried to think of ways to turn things around. She didn’t want her team to go out there and not play in front of people. By the end of the year, the team was playing with a new life. Williams went on to secure a record of 161-130 at McNeese State and became the winningest women’s basketball coach in the university’s history. She also had four 20-win sea-
sons, reached the the NCAA tournament, the Southland Conference tournament on several occasions Williams and was named the 2011 Southland Conference Coach of the Year. “I didn’t really understand then how big it was,” Williams said. “If I could go back and do one thing, it would be to stop and really enjoy the experiences.” After a successful career at McNeese, Williams felt that it was time to take on a new challenge. Williams accepted the position as the assistant coach at the University of Alabama under ULM alumni Kristy Curry. In her three years at Alabama, Williams helped lead three players to 1,000-point careers and was known as a prolific recruiter. As Williams puts it, recruiting is both easy and difficult. “We’re looking for people with great character, integrity and great work-ethic. And sometimes we have
to decide if we can teach that workethic. If the risk is too great and we’re ok playing against them, we’ll play against them. If we don’t want to play against them, then we better find a way to get them here,” Williams said. When the ULM job opened up, Williams had a strong draw to the university. Williams had worked with football head coach Matt Viator at McNeese. He was a strong selling point. “Coach Viator really talked about how things felt different here. And he was right. I felt that. Once I met the administration and saw the passion and fire that they had to want to be great here, it really turned things for me,” Williams said. On April 9, 2019, Williams was named the new head women’s basketball coach. “Something drew me to this opportunity. And that’s what it is-a great opportunity. These student athletes looked like they were just in need of something,” Williams said. Williams is committed to bringing a new spark to this team and bringing new life to the program without mak-
ing things too complicated. “I hate to burst everybody’s bubble, but it’s not about that perfect play. It’s more about what’s in that kid’s heart. Can they run through that brick wall and do they think they can?” Williams said. The expectations for the first season are simple on paper, but can be an undertaking if the right person isn’t in charge. “If we can work daily on setting a strong foundation and getting our culture in place, that would be a huge accomplishment,” Williams said. “Until you do that, you can’t do anything else.” Like most adults, building trust can be difficult. We can be hesitant and need time to build respect. However, Williams is ready to take that challenge head on. “It’s not a job. It’s never been a job. As much time as we all spend together, being a family is the only way I’ve known it to work,” Williams said. Williams will be ready to hit the ground running with her new family. contact Miles Jordan at jordanm1@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 29, 2019