Food festival serves flavors of the world
Students win $61K at business plan competition P 6
P 11
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
VOLUME 101 ISSUE 11
www.ulmhawkeyeonline.com
Opinion: Campus should no longer be alcohol-free
International Week embraces campus diversity, inclusion P 10, 11
April 11, 2022
P 4
SGA under new leadership after election P 7
Football previews season at Spring Game
P 16
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April 11, 2022
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
BRIEFS CALENDAR
11
Monday, April
AWS Walk Against Sexual Assault, 5:30 p.m., the quad
12
Tuesday, April
Let’s Talk Warhawks, 11 a.m., SUB
13
Wednesday, April
Sexual Assault Prevention Workshop, 4 p.m., Student Center 170
14
Thursday, April
Equalizer: Women’s Self Defense, 5:30 p.m., the Hangar
Friday, April
15
No events planned
16
Saturday, April No events planned
17
Sunday, April No events planned
Texas
US
Pakistan
Health care facilities face staffing shortages
Woman faces murder charge for self-abortion
1st private misison arrives at space station
Prime minister ousted from office after vote
News Star- Nursing homes and assisted living facilities suffered rampant worker shortages as a result of the COVID pandemic, facing both increased demand from more patients and decreased supply when workers fell ill. While staffing levels have not yet fully recovered, they are slowly climbing back with varying degrees of success. The omicron variant contributed to a rise in cases with nursing home residents and staff during the months of December 2021 and January 2022, according to a study conducted by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.
MCT- A Texas woman faces a murder charge after authorities say she performed a “self-induced abortion.” Lizelle Herrera, 26, was arrested Thursday in Rio Grande City. The Starr County Sheriff’s Office told KVEO-TV that Herrera was taken into custody after authorities learned she “intentionally and knowingly caused the death of an individual by selfinduced abortion.” Herrera was being held in the Starr County Jail, with bail set at $500,000, KVEO reported. It is unclear whether she has an attorney. The arrest comes after Texas’ Senate Bill 8, one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, took effect in September.
MCT- The crew of the first entirely private mission to dock with the International Space Station arrived on Saturday after a flight of more than 20 hours, live images from NASA showed. The Ax-1 mission blasted off on Friday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in a Crew Dragon space capsule, boosted by a Falcon 9 rocket. It carried the first wholly private crew, made up of Spanish American astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, U.S. entrepreneur Larry Connor, Israeli entrepreneur and pilot Eytan Stibbe and Canadian investor Mark Pathy. The mission is run by private spaceflight company Axiom, NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
MCT- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted from office after losing a no-confidence vote, becoming the first elected leader in the country’s history to be removed by parliament. A total of 174 lawmakers from a united opposition voted against the premier, more than the 172 required to remove him from office, said opposition lawmaker Ayaz Sadiq, who presided over parliament as the ruling party’s speaker and deputy speaker had resigned shortly before the vote. Khan’s party caused multiple adjournments through the day to delay the no-confidence motion by repeating claims that the U.S. wanted to oust his government. d
QUOTE
Louisiana
RACING FOR HEALTH
“The worst enemy to creativity is selfdoubt.”
TODAY IN HISTORY
April 11 1868: The Shogunate is abolished in Japan.
Sylvia Plath, author
1968: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act. 1966: Frank Sinatra records “Strangers in the Night.”
Front page credits: Main photo: Paul Ware Top left photo: InspHIRE HR Top right photo: Paul Ware Top sidebar photo: Ethan Estis Bottom sidebar photo: Carley Nail
2015: Barack Obama and Raul Castro meet in Panama, which is the first meeting of U.S. and Cuban heads of state since the Cuban Revolution. photo by Calli Sinclair
ULM hosted its annual Poor Man’s Run last Saturday to raise money for St. Vincent DePaul Community Pharmacy.
PAGE 3
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
BRIEFS
Campus Event
Wine Over Water raises money for scholarship
graphic courtesy ULM Alumni Association
The ULM Alumni Association will host its 15th annual Wine Over Water fundraiser on April 21. Wine Over Water is an elegant on-campus party with food, wine and beer tasting. Proceeds from the event go toward The Spirit of the Warhawk Scholarship, the Alumni Association and alumni chapters and clubs. The Spirit of the Warhawk Scholarship is a scholarship for incoming freshman, established by the ULM Ouachita Parish Alumni Chapter. Tickets for the Bridge Party, which begins at 7 p.m. on Bayou Bridge, are $60. Tickets for the
Patron Party, which begins at 6 p.m. on the seventh floor of the library, are $125 and include admittance to the Bridge Party. The Bridge Party will serve food from many local restaurants, wine from Southern Glazer’s and beer from Marsala Beverage. Boat rides on Bayou DeSiard will also be provided by B&L Marine, and the No Idea Band will perform. The Patron Party will offer complimentary hors d’ouvres, event wine glasses and entertainment. This is the first Wine Over Water since 2019, as the pandemic prevented the event for the past two years.
Academics
3 students to receive new fellowships this week Three fellowships will be presented this Thursday at 3 p.m. on the sixth floor of the library . The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will award the Dr. Alex John, Sarah McCoy and Alma Sewell fellowships. The recipients will be the first-ever recipients of these fellowships. The recipients will assist in research development, conduct research and create or refine policies to promote equity and inclusion at ULM. The fellowships are for one academic year and include stipends. Pamela Saulsberry, the executive director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said that the contributions of John, McCoy and Sewell helped transform Northeast Junior Col-
lege into Northeast Louisiana State College, then into Northeast Louisiana University and finally into ULM. “These pioneering fellowships represent the core areas of the university and honor the pioneering individuals who made major contributions in these areas,” Saulsberry said. John was the first Black dean at the university. He became a faculty member in 1971 as an instructor of psychology, and was an early champion for diversity and inclusion at NLU. McCoy was the first Black student at the university. She was denied enrollment in 1960 and sued the school in 1964 and won her case. Sewell was the assistant to the vice president of student affairs and worked at ULM for 45 years.
graphic by Chloe Chapel
PAGE 4
April 11, 2022
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
OPINION
Academics
Honors Program is a waste of money
Cameron Jett I’m in my fourth semester of the Honors Program at ULM, and I can honestly say there is no difference between the average student and myself besides the fact that the
average student is $45 richer per year. If you’ve fallen for the lie that the Honors Program is academically stimulating, I don’t blame you. A 27 composite score on the ACT is required for automatic admission. Other students can be admitted with solid grades and two well-composed letters of recommendation. Honors students are lured in with perks like priority registration, exclusive housing and scholarships available only to honors students.The priority registration is nice. Out of all the things about honors, I enjoy it the most. The scholarship opportunities are extremely limited, which is understandable. Meanwhile students can get access to the
HAWKEYE FAREWELL
Thank you to our seniors The returning staff of The Hawkeye will have big shoes to fill as we lose three graduating seniors—Loryn Kykendall, Chloe Chapel and Sunil Bishwokarma. Kykendall has worked as the opinion and news editor, and as editor-in-chief. She will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in communication. Kykendall has made sure that all of the editors stay on task and grammatically correct during our long hours in the office. Chapel has worked as opinion and news editor. She will also graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in communication. Chapel has filled the office with smiles and laughs in times when the work seemed too much. Bishwokarma served as the art director during his time at The Hawkeye. He will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in art. Bishwokarma always made sure to make the most impressive graphics possible, even if it was 3 a.m. During their time at The Hawkeye they have stayed committed to ensuring free speech among students. Their work has helped keep The Hawkeye in print, and their articles have kept campus events covered through the voice of students. As they move on from The Hawkeye, those that are still here will remember the foundation they have laid for us to continue the work we do at the paper we love. We wish them well in their endeavors past ULM, and The Hawkeye will always be here when they need a reminder of home.
“exclusive housing” without being in the program but must have a higher GPA than for standard housing. That’s where the perks dry up. The program is upfront about the requirements to stay in. Students are expected to pay a $45 fee every year. Once I pay my dues, I forget I’m in the program. That is until the mandatory banquet at the end of the year. Make sure you’re free during finals week because there are no exceptions except a work conflict. Students are required to take a certain amount of honors core classes, which are alternative classes taught with slightly different curriculums. Then there are the dreaded honors
contracts. They are a handful if not properly managed as each one should be equal in work to a 10 to 15 page paper, and six are required to graduate with honors. Contracts are an extra project that must be approved by a professor in your major. Once again, it’s honors, so extra work is expected. I wish I could say there were exclusive opportunities to participate in research or connect with internships, but it just feels like nerdy version of Greek Life. The club pushes socials and gatherings way more than anything of academic value. So if you are an incoming freshman reading this, save your $45 and don’t join the Honors Program. contact Cameron Jett at jettcm@warhawks.ulm.edu
Politics
Legalize marijuana in US
Maggie Eubanks Legal adults choosing to smoke a blunt in the safety of their own home should be the least of our concerns. The American legal system is overrun with cases of marijuana use and possession. According to Pew Research, in 2018, 40% of all drug-related arrests were for marijuana offenses with 92% of those arrests being for possession. This is insane. And many of those cases predominately affected African-American males. We have a duty to fix the problem of oversentencing in the legal system and help keep people out of the prison system for something as small as possession of marijuana. Contrary to what more
conservative parties would have you believe, marijuana is not a gateway drug. The American Addiction Center says that while some people do use marijuana first before using other drugs, it is more likely that the first drug someone encounters is alcohol or tobacco. These drugs are already legal and regulated. Marijuana should not run rampant in the streets, but it should be legalized and put under the same rules and regulations as alcohol and tobacco. America has bigger drug problems on its hands than weed. According to the CDC, nearly 500,000 people died from an overdose involving opioids from 1999 to 2019. In contrast, there has never been a recorded overdose from marijuana usage. While legalizing marijuana would give thousands of people and the court system some ease, there is also a large economic market for marijuana. According to NBC, in 2021 $3 billion was generated in tax
revenue across 11 states from marijuana sales alone. As much as some wish it was not true, the fact of the matter is that people want marijuana. People want the experience of getting high, and they will pay for it. Medical marijuana is already legal in Louisiana. Why not make it legal for everyone over 21 to use and make money in the process? Currently there is a bill in the U.S. Senate that, if passed, would take marijuana off the list of federally banned substances, according to CNN. If this bill is passed, it would make it easier for states to legalize marijuana and would allow for interstate commerce on the drug. States would be able to ship their product across the U.S. and treaties could even be made with other countries to sell the drug internationally. We have to legalize marijuana. In the hands of legal and safe adults, marijuana is a safe drug that has many uses and it should be legalized nationwide. contact Maggie Eubanks at eubanksml@warhawks.ulm.edu
PAGE 5
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
OPINION
Netflix
‘Bridgerton’ should stick to the script
Carley Nail Dearest reader, after the latest magnificent season of the wellknown series “Bridgerton” released, the ton has been stirring with controversy over the previous season’s love match—Simon and Daphne. Lady Whistledown might not be able to weigh in on this dispute, but I certainly will. “Bridgerton” should continue
production despite increasing opinions that the show shouldn’t air anymore. The show needs to learn from the audience and listen to their perspective on Simon and Daphne, but the show does not need to be shut down. Many fans of Netflix’s “Bridgerton” have strong opinions about a scene between Simon and Daphne from the first season. According to Daily Mail, the scene shows Daphne refusing to stop having sex with Simon despite his requests to. Daphne’s actions were completely wrong and inexcusable. She should have never done anything Simon was uncomfortable with. Netflix should add a trigger warning to the episode where this forceful scene happens. It could be very harmful and triggering for someone who has endured something similar to what the scene
portrays. But “Bridgerton” is based on a book series. The show simply followed what happened in the books. They could have changed the show and made the scene never happen, but that would be changing an important part of the story. The show would no longer be based on the books. The scene did not have to be as graphic as it was. They could’ve filmed the scene differently to show the audience what was happening but also left some aspects up to the imagination. The viewers of “Bridgerton” have legitimate concerns. The producers should listen to their suggestions and implement them in the show’s coming seasons. contact Carley Nail at nailcn@warhawks.ulm.edu
Campus
Drop alcohol-free title on campus Olivia Jeansonne ULM promotes itself as an alcoholfree campus, yet they sell alcoholic beverages on campus at sporting events and events with a cash bar. The issue here is that selling alcohol at any event defeats the purpose and negates the “alcoholfree” title when you are promoting yourself as such. Students, regardless of the event or circumstances, should be allowed to purchase and store alcohol on campus as long as they are of legal age to do so. This way, students could enjoy the
benefits of their age in a safe and monitored environment, such as a well-kept campus where they can be safely assisted if needed. In regard to younger students, teenagers are very commonly exposed to alcohol before they even reach a college campus. This means that they’re mature enough to handle themselves around the older students who can purchase alcohol. ULM should not be an alcohol-free campus because it impedes on the freedom of the students who can legally enjoy alcoholic drinks and shelters the underage students who cannot. Although these students are under the legal age to consume alcohol, they are legal adults who should abide by the law. The campus police can also monitor the sale of all drinks sold to students on campus, and RAs can monitor the storing of alcohol in each building and room. Just
as there are consequences for breaking policies for students already set in place, there should also be consequences for those who store and purchase alcoholic beverages underage. At the very least, ULM should be consistent. If they’re going to keep the alcohol-free policy, they shouldn’t let any alcohol be sold or consumed on campus no matter the event or the age of the patrons. ULM needs to change their status as an alcohol-free campus and be clear about the rules students must follow. It is not fair for the student body to have to abide by rules that are not followed on the entire campus. If I am allowed to buy a beer at a football game, then I should be allowed to have a beer in my fridge on campus. contact Olivia Jeansonne at jeansonneo@warhawks.ulm.edu
photo courtesy MCT Campus
Stubbs 131 700 University Avenue Monroe, LA 71209 Editor-in-Chief - Loryn Kykendall Co-managing Editor News - Chloe Chapel Opinion Editor - Maggie Eubanks Arts & Entertainment Editor- Carley Nail Sports Editor - Cameron Jett Multimedia Editor - Niraj Shrestha Co-managing Editor Art - Sunil Bishwokarma Photo Editor - Calli Sinclair Ad Director - Stanislava Prosvietova
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 712098832.
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 eubanksml@warhawks.ulm.edu
PAGE 6
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
NEWS
Business
photo by Bidhan Phuyal
photo courtesy ULM Photo Services
90-SECOND NEGOTIATION: Teams selected one member to conduct a 90-second elevator pitch that explained to judges what their business are and why they’re important.
Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup awards students $61K by Chloe Chapel
In just 90 seconds, three students and one faculty member’s lives were changed for the better. What started as a business plan ended in entrepreneurial opportunities and $25,000. ULM partnered with alumnus Dhu Thompson to found the Entrepreneur Pelican Cup, which is an academic business plan competition. To enter the Pelican Cup, students had to form teams of three to six undergraduate or graduate students from ULM or VCOM with at least one faculty advisor. The competition started with 15 teams but was narrowed down to six finalist teams after oral presentations. The six finalists—Gaea Environmental, GeauxGas, Southern Green Solutions, RapidReceipts, spotiT and Virtual Hut—then competed in an elevator pitch competition for a chance to win prize money. First place prize was $25,000, second was $15,000 and third was $10,000. The team member that presented during the elevator pitch and won the most votes by the audience got $2,000. Faculty advisors from the top three teams won $3,000 each. Thompson said he didn’t have any set of traits or requirements that would make one team win over another. Teams just needed to be passionate. “Everybody is an individual, and they all contribute at their own levels,” Thompson said. “If you’re passionate, you’re going to succeed.” Paurava Thakore, the team leader of Gaea Environmental,
has been passionate about his business idea for over a year, and the wait finally paid off. Thakore and his team placed first with their business at the Pelican Cup. In second place was Virtual Hut, third was spotiT and Tama Washington, the team leader of RapidReceipts, won an award for being the audience’s favorite elevator pitch. Gaea Environmental is a full-service consulting firm focused on the acquisition and analysis of remotely sensed imagery via drones, according to the Pelican Cup website.
Never lose sight of the true lessons that’ll be learned through your failures. Dhu Thompson, ULM alumnus and founder of Delta Plastics Thakore said his team came up with the name Gaea Environmental because Gaea is “the personification of Earth in Ancient Greece,” and they wanted to show that they are “grounded and focused on applications that relate to natural resources.” Thakore is happy that the judges could tell his team was passionate about Gaea Environmental because he recruited
people who are driven and could add a lot of value to his business. Thakore recruited Gannon Malone, a graduate biology student, and Prabin Basnet, a junior computer science student. “Gannon is the best field biologist at ULM hands down. We have taken a number of courses together and I’ve seen him at work,” Thakore said. “We recruited Prabin through a friend as we were looking for a computer science major. I’m glad we were able to meet as he is incredibly smart and driven.” President Ronald Berry said the students in this competition were a direct reflection of one of ULM’s mottoes—“We are the best in the world at what we do.” “The obvious question is what do you do? We change lives, that’s what we do,” Berry said. Not only will the competition change the lives of students who won, but the businesses students created have the potential to change the lives of people beyond ULM. Virtual Hut has the power to impact students across the world by allowing them to take campus tours through a digital replica. William Smart, an orals final round judge, said he chose to be a judge because he knew the impact it could have on many communities. “It inspires people to think outside the box,” Smart said. “Also, it encourages young people to look at different ways to better serve our state and community.”
contact Chloe Chapel at chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
NEWS
Student Organizations
SGA’s new leadership plans to connect with students by Chloe Chapel
ULM’s Student Government Association is under new leadership, which plans to take SGA in a new direction. With former President Lauren Fee and Vice President Jay Parker graduating this May, their spots needed to be filled by students with the same passion and drive. Ethan Estis and David Hernandez both wanted to take on the challenge of filling Parker and Fee’s shoes when they ran for president and vice president, and it paid off. Estis was voted in by students as SGA’s president and Hernandez as vice president. Estis’ campaign was called “The New Direction,” which he said will bring “more clarity, optimism, inclusion and accessibility amongst our SGA.”
photo courtesy Danielle Hernandez
photo courtesy Ethan Estis
NEW DIRECTION: David Hernandez (left) and Ethan Estis (right) are two of the new SGA leadership.
“We should have more clarity in what we are implementing, optimism about the future, inclusion in our organization and everyone in our organization must be accessible,” Estis said. Hernandez ran with a similar campaign. His was titled “Change
Begins with Students.” He plans on listening to students’ needs so they aren’t afraid to speak up and be the catalyst for change. “I firmly believe that our students are the driving force to build a stronger road to a brighter future, and that’s why I also
included that we need to begin promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in our own community,” Hernandez said. “By promoting inclusion, we can learn about all aspects of our diverse campus and unite together to drive forward.”
Estis and Hernandez plan on connecting with students by going around campus and listening to how students feel and what changes they wish to see. The first project Estis plans to work on is ensuring that students understand where their student fees are going and how they’re being used. Hernandez also wants to focus on being more transparent by highlighting underrepresented parts of student life such as RSOs and cultural groups. Hernandez said he hopes this transparency will allow for change so students can “look back at this campus when they graduate and notice the beauty of change compared to when they left.” contact Chloe Chapel at chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu
Campus Event
Flag raising ceremony, international mapping highlights culture, diversity by Chloe Chapel
For Umme Habiba, the Bangladesh flag is more than just a piece of cloth used as a symbol of her country. It’s an emblem of victory and freedom. “The red dot symbolizes a red sun rising over a country and the blood of the martyrs who gave away their life to bring the foundation of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,” Habiba said. “And the green background symbolizes the green landscape and youthfulness of the country, which is renowned for having the world’s largest mangrove forest.” For many international students, seeing their flag flown on campus is powerful because it represents the respect ULM has for their home country and the diversity at ULM. Last week was International Week on
campus, which was kicked off by the Flag Raising Ceremony. This was one of the first events because it started the week with a visual representation of all the cultures here at ULM. Davially Frans, a marriage and family therapy graduate student, said she enjoyed International Week because she got to share her culture with the student body. “International Week is one of the most important weeks to the international community on campus. During this week, we celebrate our differences as well as our common interests,” Frans said. “It unites and educates everyone involved by merging all cultures.” Manish Katuwal, a sophomore computer science student, said seeing Nepal’s flag on campus reminds him of home. “A flag is a unique identity of a nation,”
Katuwal said. “It makes me proud and reminds me of my values and my home.” After the flag raising, students headed to the quad and placed pins on their home countries on a world map. By the end, the map had dozens of pins. Some of the countries included Nigeria, Nepal, Bonaire and Ukraine. Habiba said combining the Flag Raising Ceremony with the mapping activity ensured that people got a chance to see the wide range of cultures and international students at ULM. “It is important to show students the flags and maps of international students because it is a powerful visual representation of one of best strengths of a university’s diversity,” Habiba said. contact Chloe Chapel at chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu
contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu
photo by Calli Sinclair
FLY HIGH: Manish Katuwal raises the Nepali flag as students, faculty and administration cheer him on.
PAGE 8
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
NEWS
Fundraiser
Poor Man’s Run raises money for local non-profit pharmacy by Chloe Chapel
Most people’s ideal Saturday doesn’t include running a 5K at eight in the morning. Although the idea of running in the wee hours of the morning might seem miserable, the satisfaction of helping thousands of people have access to health care outweighs the lack of sleep. The College of Pharmacy hosted their fifth annual Poor Man’s Run last Saturday. Directly after the Poor Man’s Run was a jambalaya cookoff. Both events raised money for a local nonprofit pharmacy, St. Vincent DePaul Community Pharmacy. SVDP is one of over 1,200 free health clinics that the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics has created across the country. It has filled more than 230,000 prescriptions and reached over 7,200 patients, according to the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Mr. ULM, Jared Anders, said between donations and sales, the race raised over $8,500. After race expenses are subtracted, the remainder of the money will be donated to SVDP. “At SVDP every $1 donated is equivalent to $14.50 worth of prescription drugs,” Anders said. “No one should have to choose between keeping their lights on and taking their medicine, so that is where SVDP is able to make such a huge impact.” Many of the 5K winners agreed with Anders that people should not have to choose between having their medication and basic life necessities, which is why they raced in
the first place. Baylor Picard, the first place overall male winner, said he decided to participate because “there are a lot of people that are in our area who need medicine that they cannot afford.” Jambalaya is not usually a breakfast food, but racers enjoyed $5 all-you-can-eat jambalaya made by fellow students and members of the community. Even though the cooks were competing against each other, they had fun sharing their recipes while raising money for a good cause. The College of Pharmacy awarded two winning teams. Judges’ Pick was won by Taylor Pollard, Andy Boothe and Jeremy Boothe. The People’s Choice award went to ULM student Blair Guillory. Guillory said he participated in the event because SVDP helps him with his nonprofit, so it only felt right to give back to them when he had the chance. Guillory’s nonprofit, Freshe Environment, helps collect and redistribute test strips to people who are diabetic and can’t afford them. “[SVDP] helps Freshe Environment by allowing us to use their facility as a drop off location for diabetic supplies. They also help with donation collection and storage for my test strips and lancets,” Guillory said. “The money raised will go beyond measures and potentially save a patient’s life, and to me that’s the most important thing when it comes to having events such as the Poor Man’s Run.”
photos by Calli Sinclair
contact Chloe Chapel at chapelcb@warhawks.ulm.edu
5K ALL DAY: Students and members of the community ran in the 5K and raised over $8,500.
PAGE 9
April 11, 2022
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
NEWS
RSOs
New political organization comes to campus next semester by Loryn Kykendall
graphic courtesy Turning Point USA at ULM
Free markets, limited government and the principles of freedom—This is what Turning Point USA is about, according to Marty Sandel. Sandel, a sophomore political science major, is the president of Turning Point USA at ULM. TPUSA is a national nonprofit on more than 3,000 campuses that educates students about fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government, according to their website. While TPUSA is not yet an official RSO on ULM’s campus, it hopes to become one by next semester, according to Ethan Estis. Estis, a junior political science major, is the campus coordinator Sandel for TPUSA. He said the organization works to promote the morals and principles that the Founding Fathers believed in. “The Constitution, limited government, the power invested in the people—These are all values that our Founding Fathers instilled in this country, and that is what this organization stands for,” Estis said. Sandel said the mission of TPUSA is to identify, educate, train and organize students to promote these
core values. “Turning Point USA believes that every young person can be enlightened to true free market values,” Sandel said. “I would love to be able to [show students] those values and the advantages of them and have civil conversations with people,” Sandel said. Estis said that the interesting thing about TPUSA is that it’s not exclusively Republican or Democrat, although fiscally it leans conservative. “Our members are tired of the two-party system,” Estis said. “They want to promote free individual thinking, they want to be able to have unbiased teachings in our educational institutions, and of course they want to be sure that our government is limited, and the power is invested in we the people.” Executive members of the organization will travel to Tampa, Florida in July to attend the Student Action Summit. Estis said the conference will give members the guidance they need to come back to campus and promote their message. “Once we come back in August 2022, we plan to hit the ground running like never before,” Estis said.
contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu
Service
Sororities partner to donate over 360 lbs of peanut butter by Loryn Kykendall
The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana held their fifth annual Spread the Love Peanut Butter Drive from Feb. 1 to March 31. According to the food bank’s website, more than 66,000 people in Northeast Louisiana struggle to put food on the table for their families, and peanut butter is a much-needed item at food banks because it’s packed with protein and enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Four sororities at ULM decided to help out with the drive this year. Kappa Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Kappa Beta Gamma and Phi Mu collectively raised about 360 pounds of peanut butter. Allie Hamby and Kristin Finley, both members of Kappa Delta, were excited for their
chapter to participate this year. “Not only are we giving back to our own community, but we are helping those who are in need,” Hamby said. “It makes it better knowing that it is a local drive so we know where the peanut butter is actually going.” Shelby Whitney, a member of Kappa Beta Gamma, said her chapter hopes to do it again next year. She said she encouraged all her sorority sisters to bring at least three jars and they went above and beyond, with one member bringing 10 jars. “The peanut butter goes to the food bank, and they sometimes make weekend boxes of snacks for kids or elderly that are in need,” Whitney said. contact Loryn Kykendall at kykendalllk@warhawks.ulm.edu
photo courtesy Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana
CAUTION: MAY CONTAIN NUTS: Four sororities partnered to donate peanut butter to the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana.
PAGE 10
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
International Week closes with pingpong, soccer by Maggie Eubanks
Each international student brings with them their own unique culture. From food to games to music, everyone’s culture deserves to be celebrated and learned about. The International Student Association chose to wrap up International Week with a game night at the International Student House. Gina White, the director of International Affairs, said she was excited to have the house open so students could enjoy what they have to offer. “We wanted everyone to come and enjoy the international student center, play on the video games, soccer, pingpong, whatever your game of choice would be,” White said. White said the event allowed students an opportunity to blend their cultures. “We know food is a common cultural thing along with games and music. They get to sit around, enjoy each other and talk in fellowship,” White said. The international house hasn’t been able to host many events because of the pandemic, but this was a great way to start things back up. Attendees had to the opportunity to join students playing pingpong, or they could venture outside for a game of cricket or soccer.
Though the rain tried to interfere with the outdoor festivities, the fun did not stop. Subash Sabtoka, a freshman representative of the Nepalese Student Association, said he was excited to come to an event like this that celebrates diversity at ULM. “I think the international house is working for us and developing a more diverse culture and bringing unity among [students], which is a good thing for a multicultural university like ULM,” Sabtoka said. ULM has always made sure to host events that value the international community. Hieu Mai, a Vietnamese marketing major, said he loves to attend events where he can meet new friends and learn about their cultures. “I went to the food festival on Tuesday. It was crazy and fun. The food was very nice, and I got to meet some new friends during International Week,” Hieu Mai said. He said that it is great to see how much ULM supports international students and creates a supportive community. “ULM really greatly supports international students. I have so many opportunities,” Hieu Mai said. “ULM is really a place for international students like me.” photos by Samir Gurung
contact Maggie Eubanks at eubanksml@warhawks.ulm.edu
CULTURE ACROSS THE TABLE: Students play pingpong and soccer to conclude International Week.
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Food festival brings culture, students together by Beau Benoit
Welcomed by enticing aromas, many students had the opportunity to enjoy food and drinks from around the globe at the International Food Festival. Countries such as Ukraine, Bangladesh and France were represented, among many others. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., delicious cuisine was available to anyone with an appetite. The Ukrainian table had items such as borscht, which is a beet soup, and kompot, which is a mixed berry beverage. Junior kinesiology major Vincent Tran said the Ukrainian food was his favorite. “I would totally come back again,” Tran said.
Other favorites at the festival include the Brazilian brigadeiros, which are fudge balls made from condensed milk, and Nepalese panipuri, which is hollow flatbread filled with broth. It’s difficult to imagine anyone who entered Bayou Pointe leaving with an empty stomach given the sheer number of scrumptious selections. Freshman biology major Diane Dial said all the food was great. “I don’t usually go to campus events because I’m busy, so coming to this one I actually had a good time,” Dial said. While anyone dining had a fun experience, those serving food enjoyed the festival as well. Charlotte
Fourdraine, a sophomore business administration major, ran the table for French cuisine. She served crepes with whipped cream and caramel, as well as fondant chocolat, which is a traditional chocolate cake. “It was very nice,” Fourdraine said. “I could share my culture with all my friends and people I didn’t know.” With her decadent desserts, Fourdraine was left with only crumbs as the festival came to a close, a similar outcome to many of the tables. The festival was so popular that many tables ran out of food before the 1 p.m. closing time. Even those contact Beau Benoit at benoitbb@warhawks.ulm.edu
photo by Calli Sinclair
SERVING UP CULTURE: Students serve Ukrainian cuisine to others at the International Food Festival.
Holidays
Cultural celebrations around the globe
Bastille Day Bastille Day is celebrated in France on July 14. The holiday marks the anniversary of the falling of the Bastille in Paris, which signaled the beginning of the French Revolution. Fireworks and parades are often part of the celebration.
Ukrainian Unity Day Ukrainian Unity Day recognizes the anniversary of western and eastern Ukraine becoming unified. Both sides of Ukraine signed the Treaty of Unity on Jan. 22, 1918. Ukrainians celebrate by flying their flag. There’s usually a large flag unfolded in Kyiv, the nation’s capital.
Nepali New Year Nepali New Year is recognized on April 14, which is the first day of Bikram Sambat—the official calendar of Nepal. Parties and family gatherings are held in celebration of Nepali New Year, where people exchange good wishes and fortune for the coming year.
Carnival The Carnival celebration starts on Nov. 11 in Germany. Big parades are usually held, and it is a pre-Lent holiday. People might refrain from eating meat or drinking alcohol. One of Germany’s biggest Carnival parades occurs in Braunschweig on Carnival Sunday.
The Hung Kings Festival The Hung Kings Festival in Vietnam celebrates the anniversary of the death of the Hung Kings from the eighth to the 11th day of the third lunar month each year. The festival commemorates Hung Kings’ part in establishing the modern nation of Vietnam.
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Recommendations
Recently released TV shows to binge
‘Bridgerton’ “Bridgerton” tells of the heartache, love and duties of a royal family. The Bridgertons are respected members of the ton, but the weight of their royal duties are often a hard burden to bear. Each season centers around a different child from the Bridgerton family. The first season was about the oldest sister, Daphne, and how she finds love where she least expects it. The second season just released on Netflix and revolves around the oldest Bridgerton son, Anthony.
‘Inventing Anna’ Who is Anna Delvey? This is the big question that everyone is trying to answer in “Inventing Anna.” Anna Delvey is a criminal from Europe that moves to New York. There she poses as a wealthy socialite in hopes of stealing millions of dollars from New York’s upper class. Although she comes to New York with no connections, she manages to make a name for herself. Delvey has multiple charges against her, but her story is just beginning to be told.
‘Abbott Elementary’ “Abbott Elementary” follows a group of teachers working in one of the worst schools in the country. It gives a different perspective on the public school system. “Abbott Elementary” is a comedic, light-hearted show where teachers have to overcome the obstacles thrown their way. These teachers might be underfunded but they love educating their students. “Abbott Elementary’’ introduces a mix of optimism and realism regarding the education system.
‘The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray’ Ptolemy Grey is a man with dementia who has many things to do before he forgets. Grey is taken to a special doctor after he fears he is forgetting too much. This doctor agrees to perform a surgery where Grey’s memories would return. The drawback is that the treatment can only be done once. The treatment works and he remembers everything from his life, including that his uncle stole some treasure the he needs to recover.
Awards Show
‘The Cleaning Lady’ A mother will do anything to protect her child. Thony De La Rosa was one of the best doctors in Manila, but she had to come to the U.S. and work as a cleaning lady to get medical treatment for her son. The system fails her after they realize she is an illegal immigrant. But after witnessing a murder, she is forced to clean the gory scene. She’s given the opportunity to continue to be on call to clean crime scenes and in return her son will receive medical treatment.
Grammys is average, avoids controversy by Simanta Ghimire
The most magical night of music has finally fallen upon us. The 64th annual Grammy Awards was held April 3 and welcomed several artists awaiting the results. Comedy Central star Trevor Noah hosted the show and managed to make jokes without getting slapped. He lightened the mood by making a promise at the start of the show that the attendees would keep each other’s names out of their mouths. Some aspects of this year’s ceremony could have been better. But given how low the bar was set by the Oscars the week before, the Grammys danced their way into “good” status
without causing outrage. This year’s award show reported slightly more viewers with nine million compared to last year’s alltime low of eight million. The ceremony went off without a hitch, providing spectators with a fast-paced, performance-driven show. Silk Sonic, the throwback soul act comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, won the night’s big prize. “Leave the Door Open,” their smash single, was named song and record of the year. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak are an R&B duo that collaborated on a nine-song album last November.
They kicked off the night with the album’s thrilling entrance track, followed by the hit “777.” There were performances from artists of many different genres. Jon Batiste won Album of the Year and Olivia Rodrigo won Best New Artist, which was no surprise. Kanye West received Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Hurricane,” featuring The Weeknd and Lil Baby. This year’s Grammys may have not hosted an amazing show compared to others in the past, but they made it by without a major controversy, and I’d call that a win. contact Simanta Ghimire at ghimiresi@warhawks.ulm.edu
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April 11, 2022
THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Crossword
Horoscope Aries Romantic obstacles could interrupt the fun. Handle responsibilities and obligations. Prioritize practicalities. Don’t make impetuous moves. Adjust your schedule to adapt around recent changes.
Taurus Make domestic repairs and upgrades. Reinforce foundational support structures. Don’t rush or risk breakage. Take it easy. Clean and organize. Enjoy the results with family.
Gemini Study a tricky situation. You can solve a puzzle. Strengthen basic structures. Prepare communications carefully to clarify your message. Share resources and talent. Across 1 Bar passer: Abbr. 4 Donkeys 9 Silly 14 Heckler’s word 15 Kind of milk one shouldn’t cry over 16 Luxury watch 17 CPR expert 18 Petite Mattel doll with her own Netflix TV series 20 Put on a peg, as a golf ball 22 Carp in a pond 23 WWII subs 24 Rich as Croesus, e.g. 26 Lire replacers 28 Person, place or thing, in grammar 30 Irish or English dogs 34 Guy featured in “Practical Principles of Plain and Perfect Pronunciation” 38 MSN competitor 39 Ooze with 40 Silent assent 41 Main blood
vessel 43 World Wide __ 44 Porky’s girlfriend 46 Wand symbolizing royal authority 49 Snow pea holders 50 __ & Young: accounting firm 52 Places for belts 56 Séance contact 59 Firepit residue 61 Avoid completely 62 Animated feline in Inspector Clouseau films 65 “... butterfly ... bee” boxer 66 Broadway backer 67 Road one-eighty 68 Dangerous tide 69 Aptly named novelist 70 Digital units 71 Second addendum to a letter ... and a hint to 18-, 34-, 44- and 62-across
Down 1 Aids in illegal activity 2 Actress Marisa 3 Tribal symbol 4 Cleopatra’s snake 5 Did not remain silent 6 Cylindrical barn neighbor 7 Kimmy Schmidt player __ Kemper 8 Hog’s home 9 Will Smith film suggested by an Asimov classic 10 Free, after “at” 11 __-Seltzer 12 Nair rival, once 13 Phone no. go-withs 19 More pristine 21 Had an evening meal 25 Stuff of legends 27 Depleted 29 NorCal NFL team 31 Wyatt of Dodge City 32 Naan relative 33 Refinery by-product 34 Church benches 35 Corp. bigwig
36 Boob __: TV 37 “... like the __ calling the kettle black” 41 Verdi opera set in Egypt 42 Watering place 44 Prefix for “five” 45 Remote area known for its middle? 47 Livened (up) 48 Almost a homer 51 Badly worn 53 Musical symbol 54 Dutch flower 55 Little scissors cuts 56 Box for practice 57 Tree with needles 58 “Young Frankenstein” Fräulein 60 Close, as a door 63 Well-worn pencil 64 OR attendants
Cancer Adapt plans around an unexpected twist or last-minute change. Disagreement requires compromise. Avoid trouble or expense. Simplify plans for ease and savings.
Leo Take extra care. A little self-pampering goes a long way. Avoid impetuosity, controversy or noise. Recharge and allow yourself time to process recent changes.
Virgo Investigate all options. Distractions abound. Find a quiet space to sort out your thoughts. Plan carefully to reinforce structural elements. Determine what’s wanted and needed.
Courtesy of MCT Campus
Libra Friends come to your rescue. Unexpected changes require adaptation. Let others know what’s needed. Social connections lead to the perfect solution. Reach out.
Scorpio Work takes priority. Listen to intuition. Strengthen the basics with a professional project. Don’t launch before it’s ready. Plan, prepare and polish your presentation.
Sagittarius The answer is not in the book. Others respect your growing wisdom. Complications could arise. Build strength and endurance. Heed the voice of experience.
Capricorn Changes necessitate budget revisions. Plan strategically with your partner. Join forces for common gain. Avoid impulsive moves. Prioritize practicalities. Strengthen basic structures.
Aquarius Patiently clarify things with your partner. Unexpected changes could disrupt. Don’t get pushy. Avoid arguments or misunderstandings by listening carefully. Coordinate and adapt.
Pisces Slow to avoid pitfalls or slippery slopes. Prioritize work productivity without stressing. Reschedule what you can. Recharge with nature, exercise, good food and rest.
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
SPORTS
Soccer Feature
photo courtesy ULM Athletics
photo by Niraj Shrestha
photo courtesy ULM Athletics
ALL ROADS LEAD TO MONROE: Santana Pressley (left) departed from Coastal Carolina to join ULM and her new teammate Gabby Felix (middle), who is a former LSUE Bengal.
Same game, different nest for 2 new transfers by Beau Benoit
Changing schools is never an easy transition. It’s an extreme adjustment to make. Student athletes form tight bonds with their teammates, coaching staff and even some fans. Imagining themselves in another school’s colors could seem impossible. Nevertheless, many athletes make the switch every year, sometimes to their benefit. ULM’s soccer team received two new athletes toward the end of the Fall 2021 semester—Gabby Felix and Santana Pressley. With only a few months of practice, the two have cemented themselves as viable, if not integral starters for Warhawk soccer. Both players have started in every ULM spring soccer match. Making the change from a junior college to a four-year university in the world of collegiate
athletics is a major step. Not only are you facing tougher opponents, but the crowds and coverage are even bigger. Felix made that transition. She came from Louisiana State University Eunice as a junior. But Felix is not a typical transfer. After playing at a junior college she had to start the recruiting process all over again. She made her decision to come to Monroe to continue her soccer career after hearing about ULM from her previous coach and looking at different schools. “I had a couple other places that I was looking at, but this was the place that stuck out the most to me for sure [...] I came on a visit, and I just like really enjoyed it here,” Felix said. “You kind of get that gut feeling where you’re like, ‘I feel like I could be happy here.’ I kind of got that when I came here.” With her tenacity and drive, it’s easy to see why her addition to the team is crucial and
just how integrated she already feels. “It’s definitely been a great experience,” Felix said. “It’s a very different style of play, so there’s still a lot of adjusting for me to do, but overall, it’s been really fun”. From “Chants up” to “Talons out,” Santana Pressley from Coastal Carolina University has had a great impact on ULM’s team so far, continuing with her Sun Belt spirit. A junior from Marietta, Georgia, Santana played various positions for the Chanticleers and had 41 starts. Pressley has found stability with ULM, cementing herself as an attacking midfielder, as opposed to the do-it-all role she filled back in Conway. “I played everywhere. I played center-back, holding-mid, attacking-mid. I was kind of all over the place,” Pressley said. “Coming in, [Fraser] told me that I was going to play a different position than what I was playing
[before] so I kind of was like shocked about it, but I definitely like it more than I thought I was going to like it.” As a part of the Sun Belt Conference, Santana had the opportunity to see ULM play when the Chanticleers hosted ULM in a late September match, which ended in the Warhawks winning 6-1. After making the transfer in December, she learned more about her previous opponent and joined the team that gave the Chanticleers so much trouble before. “When [ULM] played against us at Coastal, it was definitely a shock to see how good they were, so it’s nice to be a part of that team,” Pressley said. “I’m glad to be a part of it and not against it.”
contact Beau Benoit at benoitbb@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
SPORTS
Softball
Victory over Texas State marks 1000th win by Jonah Bostick
The ULM softball team opened the week with a fourgame losing streak. They were only four games above a .500 percentage mark. Despite a rough loss last Tuesday, they closed out convincingly and gained the 1000th win in program history after Friday night’s win. The first game of the week featured a matchup versus instate rival Louisiana Tech. The Lady Techsters jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning after a home run and an RBI double. The Lady Techsters would add on more runs in the second and third inning to go up 9-0. ULM would never recover and wound up getting run ruled. “We need to have better starting pitching and we have to take care of the ball,” head coach Molly Fichtner said. “We hit the ball pretty well, but it was right at people and we are going to find those holes eventually. The Warhawks showed they made the proper adjustments in their next two contests. In the series opener versus Texas State, the game started out in a defensive affair. In the bottom of the fourth inning
after being down 1-0, ULM would tie the game on a Texas State throwing error. In the bottom of the fifth, the Warhawks scored four runs to take a 5-1 lead. Despite a three-run inning by the Bobcats in the seventh, ULM held on to win 5-4. Kinsey Kackley collected the win and pitched a complete game. “[Kackley] did an unbelievable job inning one through inning seven and she came through,” Fichtner said. “I’m really proud of Kinsey”. In Saturday’s game, the matchup would start off close, with both teams heading into the fourth tied 1-1. Texas State would take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. ULM responded with four runs to go up 5-2. The Warhawks repeated their performance in the next inning with four more runs scored to go up 9-2. After a sixth inning that saw a 1-0 score in favor of the Warhawks, ULM secured a run rule victory over the Bobcats 10-2. photo courtesy ULM Athletics
contact Jonah Bostick at bostickjm@warhawks.ulm.edu
LOCKED IN: Kennedy Johnson proved to be the boost ULM needed.
Baseball
Troy takes 2 in series over Warhawks at home by Jonah Bostick
photo courtesy ULM Athletics
FIX IT UP: Coaches and players meet up during a rough outing against the Trojans last weekend.
Momentum was on ULM’s side last Monday as they chopped down the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. ULM transformed the game into batting practice as they tallied up 20 hits in their 15-6 win over SFA. This momentum did not travel with ULM back to Monroe. Instead of making noise in the Sun Belt against a conference opponent, ULM dropped the series to Troy. Going into the series, the Warhawks were 10-16-1 overall, however they were 4-4-1 in conference play, and had a chance to obtain a winning record with a series win. In Friday night’s game, the Warhawks started out defensively strong, as they held a 1-0 lead through the fourth inning. At the top of the fifth, Troy would take the lead with an error by the ULM defense. Troy would extend their lead in the six to 5-1. At the bottom of the eighth inning, the Warhawks scored on a bases loaded walk, but could do anything
else. With this result, the Warhawks would lose 7-2. The Warhawks could not hit, having two hits all game compared to the 11 hits Troy produced. In Saturday’s game, the Warhawks were dominated in the first five innings of the game. With home runs and base hits, the Trojans went up 10-0. Mason Holt would then hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. However, Troy would respond with a two-run homer the next inning. The Warhawks would fight back in the next few innings and would cut the game to five runs. In the end, the 10-run deficit was too much to overcome and the Trojans would take game two and the series. The Warhawks would show signs of improvement as they culminated 11 hits and showed their offensive firepower.
contact Jonah Bostick at bostickjm@warhawks.ulm.edu
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THE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE
April 11, 2022
SPORTS
Football
IN BLOOM: Wide receiver Boogie Knight (left) gets a block and runs upfield. Wide receiver Justin Kimber (right) is brought down by a slew of his teammates.
photos by Carley Nail
Spring game highlights growth, needs 2022 roster, schemes showcased in intrasquad exhibition by Cameron Jett
Last Saturday’s spring football game gave a glimpse into the Warhawks we will see in the fall. Head coach Terry Bowden is entering his second season at ULM, and he has his coaching staff restocked after last season’s offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez cleaned house in his departure. Some would expect there to be a setback with having to rehire a staff, but Bowden feels that things are moving better than they were this time a year ago. “This year we are practicing a lot more guys that will be playing on Saturdays than last year,” Bowden said. Two familiar faces that have been hard at work in spring training are quarterbacks Chandler Rogers and Jiya Wright. Rogers and Wright have split first-team reps under center leading into the game. Both have similar skillsets that plays into the scheme of offensive coordinator Matt Kubik. Both were also sent out on the field unexpectedly last season. Rogers filled in for an injured Rhett Rodriguez and Wright saw action in some of ULM’s lopsided losses. “Coming into the spring semester there is definitely a learning curve we had to get over going from coach Rodriguez’s offense to coach Kubik’s offense,” Rogers said. “There is a lot more passing and a lot more progressions.”
Rogers took the field with the first team for the spring game. He picked up a rushing touchdown by going untouched for 20 yards on the opening drive. He later found the end zone on through the air, but he was intercepted in the red zone.
I think you’re going to see created, continued competition at [the quarterback] position Terry Bowden
ULM head coach “Learning a brand-new offense and kind of getting thrown into the fire to play—it’s a lot to wrap your mind around, Wright said. “This spring, things go kind of slow. We’re not playing anyone on Saturday anytime soon so you kind of get to dive into the offense and under what Kubik wants out of it.” Although Wright had limited production in the game, he says his confidence is “through the roof.”
In the case off both quarterbacks, their performances were hindered at times by the offensive line. The offensive line took some losses to the transfer portal, and they currently have just 10 players on the o-line. Deep routes were forgone for the quick scramble or an early progression. When the line held up, the quarterbacks had plenty of targets to choose from. Ten of the 11 receivers with a reception last season are still on the roster. But blaming offensive struggles entirely on the front five would discount some solid defensive players and the game plan of defensive coordinator Vic Koenning. Monroe native and former Ouachita Parish High School Lion Carl Glass Jr. has emerged as a standout linebacker. Glass transferred to ULM after playing at Harding University and is already making positive impressions on players and coaches alike. “[Glass] runs so well for a linebacker,” Bowden said. “He gives the type of speed that I know coach Koenning wants on his defense” Glass has made some adjustments to his playstyle. Due to injuries on the team, he has moved from his natural position as an outside linebacker to a middle linebacker. This move has been a success for the team and Glass. “Coach Vic [Koenning’s] defense is more relaxed, “Glass said. “It allows you to move around and make plays. contact Cameron Jett at jettcm@warhawks.ulm.edu