Issue 12_Spring26

Louisiana gas continues to rise, concerning commuter students

By Alana Frank anfrank@my.loyno.edu

Gas prices in Louisiana have climbed to an average of $4.14 per gallon over the

past year, making it more expensive for Loyola University New Orleans students to get to campus and, for some, changing e increase, reported in recent data from the American Automobile Association and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, re ects a steady rise tied to in ation, global oil markets and supply disruptions. But for Loyola commuters, those national trends show up in a much more personal way, weekly gas totals,

to campus or not, I’d probably choose not to go just to save gas,” Andrade said. at tradeo , between saving money and being on campus, is becoming more common as prices stay high. According to AAA and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gas prices have steadily increased over time due to changes in crude oil prices, global demand

“Gas is something I really take into consideration now,” she said. “Even if it’s just to hang out with a friend, I don’t really have the money to just be blowing my gas for no reason.”

She added that com

“I de nitely think twice now before going somewhere,” she said. “It makes you plan your days more and cut back on extra trips.”

your life and be like, ‘yeah, I’m going to come to your event,’ when you’re worried about gas?” Pavon said. “You end up not going because of it.”

yond just money. Andrade said driving

bined with unpredictable

added com muting itself has become morestres ful over

“I have to wake up at least an hour before my class because tra c can take 45 minutes to an hour,” Pavon said. “It’s stressful because you’re worried

e data for this story combines national fuel price reports from AAA and the EIA with interviews from Loyola students about their commuting habits, gas spending and daily routines. Together, the data and interviews show how a national economic trend is shaping the everyday college experience.

As prices remain high, some students are adjusting by limiting extra trips, budgeting more carefully or thinking about moving closer to campus.

Carlos Andrade, a sophomore biology pre-health major who commutes from Chalmette and Maroon social media manager, said he has watched his gas

“I’ve seen my gas go from like $30 or $35 to $42, and the other day it was $52,” Andrade said. “I don’t really know what’s

Andrade drives about 14 miles each way to campus ve days a week. While he said he still comes cause he has to, higher gas prices are starting to a ect

“If I had the choice to come

cause you have to leave earlier, and then gas is high, so it’s just something else you have to worry about,”

Gabriella

more psychology

But for many commuters, the impact goes beyond budgeting, it changes how they experience college day to day.

“Like, how are you supposed to enjoy

Pavon said the impact goes beyond

“Sometimes I want to go to something, but I’ll look at my tank and be like, I don’t really have the money right now,” Pavon said. “It’s not even about if I want to go

Students who live closer to campus experience rising gas prices di erently,

mutes from Kenner, said the cost of gas has doubled compared to

“I miss the days where I could ll up for $25,” Pavon said.

“Now it’s anywhere from like $45 to

Pavon, who drives about 15 to 17 miles each way to campus, said rising gas

By Angelica Pineda acpineda@my.loyno.edu

Tulane’s plans to demolish Ted’s Frostop Diner to build student housing have been temporarily put on hold by the Historic District Landmark Commission, causing con icting opinions among students and residents.

Ted’s Frostop Diner, located along Claiborne Avenue, was established in

1955 and has been a beloved diner frequented by students and residents of the neighborhood over the 70 years it’s been open. But, in late March community members were shocked by the developers of Tulane’s new apartment style dorms, who announced the demolition of the diner.

Zach Smith, the land use consultant for this project, explained why the project has just now been announced.

business and marketing senior at Loyola, said even with a shorter commute, gas costs still add up over time, especially when balancing school, work and other

Madison Kearns, an international senior commute, still add especially when balancing school, work and other every

“Even if you’re not driving far every day, it still catches up to you,” Kearns said. “You don’t really realize how much you’re spending until you have to keep

Kearns said rising prices have made her more aware of how often she choos-

have to keep Kearns have made often

Historic Frostop Diner faces uncertain future as Tulane

“You have folks that don’t want their name associated with the project until it’s actually moving forward. You have folks where any potential variable can come in and kill the deal. So there’s a whole range of reasons why, but it is a standard operating procedure and commercial real estate for folks to be on the [non-disclosure agreement], and it prevents people from making public announcements,” Smith said.

George Rowley, a resident of the neighborhood who has been going to Frostop most of his life, shared his memories in Frostop as well as his opinion on Tulane’s expansion.

“My father says I had my rst hamburger ever here. I come here six mornings a week. Once or twice for lunch also. It concerned me,” Rowley said.

Rowley wasn’t upset with Tulane and its expansion, but for the way the expan-

sion is handling Frostop.

“I don’t have a problem with [the dorms], it’s the business. I have a problem with them feeling they have to remove Frostop to accomplish the investment,” Rowley said.

e developers or business, as Rowley said, are RCR Ventures, who are owned and operated by the

Market chain.

Delta Gamma jams out

By Callie Honeycutt cbhoneyc@my.loyno.edu

The basement of Loyola’s Danna Center filled with music as Delta Gamma hosted its annual spring concert, Delta Jamma, in Satchmo’s Lounge. The event on Thursday featured five Loyola acts performing between 7 and 9 p.m., including sorority members and Loyola musicians.

The concert serves as a fundraiser for Service for Sight, Delta Gamma’s

philanthropy that supports the visually impaired community through the Delta Gamma Foundation.

The event brought together students, performers, and audience members, with live music and crowd reactions carrying throughout the space.

Among the performers was Delta Gamma sophomore Valerie Pioppi, who returned to the stage after first participating in the event as a freshman new member and now as a performer.

“I experienced the event last year as

an audience member, and this year I am a little bit more evolved in my guitar

“I love doing things that build community”

— Hannah Ardolino freshman Alpha Chi Omega member

playing abilities, so I wanted to take the opportunity that was being handed to

me,” Pioppi said. “I mostly was MCing, but I opened the show with an original and then performed a cover of Wide Open Spaces by the Chicks.”

Additional performers from other sororities also took part in the showcase, highlighting collaboration across Greek life organizations.

“I love doing things that build community, so being with different girls in the Greek community that I don’t normally hang out with is really cool,” said freshman Alpha Chi Omega member

Hanna Ardolino. “I like working together with the other sororities and combining things. My favorite thing is seeing women support women.”

Delta Jamma combined student-led performances with a philanthropic mission, drawing a campus crowd for an evening of live music in Satchmo’s Lounge.

PUZZLES

Across 1. Mischief-makers

5. Cauli ower unit

9. "I __ Feeling": Black Eyed Peas hit

14. Biblical ark maker

15. Ivy that was the rst U.S. school to issue a Ph.D.

16. Barcelona bills

17. Killer whale

18. "Journeys" that involve emotional manipulation

20. "Bridgerton" and "Stranger ings," for two 22. Shoe front

23. Watch display

24. Letters between names

27. Vegas venue

30. Sparks happiness in 32. Groovy

33. Cushions for napping on long ights

36. Historic chapters

38. Sombrero, e.g.

39. Sticky strip

40. Statutes that attempt to ensure a carbon-neutral future

45. "Park it!"

46. Split

47. Military gesture

49. Overhead trains

50. Shade trees with oval leaves

53. Dipping bread

54. " is just in!," or what 20-, 33-, and 40-Across are doing?

59. Magic or performance,ventriloquism say

62. Misses the mark

63. Radiates

64. Tiny unit of matter

65. Marvel-ous mutants?

66. Land near 41-Down

67. State bird of Hawaii

68. Sun-kissed shades

Down

1. Aware of, as a secret

2. "Encore!"

3. Treaty

4. Mine passages

5. Personal cleanliness

6. Waters, in French

7. Sought-after party guests

8. New __, India

9. Message on a hospital bouquet

10. For us

11. Pre x with -ceratops

12. Tee or polo

13. Braying animal

19. Marisa of "Spider-Man: No Way Home"

21. Pork cut

24. Words for raising spir its?

25. Collectible doll with the same name as a Japa nese mayonnaise brand

26. ing of value

27. " e O ce" star Steve

28. Wanes

29. Spanish eight

31. PC key near Z

32. Backyard border

34. Actor Penn

35. School support gps.

37. Kendrick Lamar's "All the Stars" collaborator

41. Only mountain taller than K2

42. Rent out again

43. "Someone else did this!"

44. Tedious assignment

48. First in line

51. Like Chichén Itzá

52. Use an ice rink or a roller rink

54. Chomp

55. Cultural legend

56. Humorist Bombeck

57. Small songbird

58. Govt.-issued IDs

59. Doc who might implant a microchip

60. Mate, in Marseille

61. Tease playfully

For weekly puzzle answers, visit our Website via the QR code:

STAFF LIST

Editorial Board

Editor in Chief - Eloise Pickering

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Honeycutt

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Sanyal

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Siddiqui

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Academic women speak in Women’s Resource Center panel

Spotlighting successful women in different fields

By Lily Bordelon lmbordel@my.loyno.edu

Within the Women’s Resource Center’s Annual Empowerment Panel, students were introduced to four women who have strived towards success in their respective fields.

The panel creates a space each year for women to discuss challenges they face in the workplace because of the frameworks built around their gender as well as what they do to empower themselves in this environment. This year is no different, with these individuals analyzing the societal standards that they face individually in their separate careers and together as women.

The panel invited Jess Armstrong,

a USA Today bestselling author of the Ruby Vaughn Mysteries; Dr. Jaita Talukdar, Associate Professor of Sociology at Loyola University New Orleans; Chelsey Richard Napoleon, Clerk of Civil District Court for Orleans Parish; and Dr. Nicole Caridad, CEO and Principal Consultant of Caridad Consulting, who were all asked both general and personal questions about their journeys as women pursuing employment.

One challenge they all agreed interconnected their stories was the fact that people, especially women, are expected to balance everything in a way where we can continuously serve others, even when we may not have the energy to.

“The pitfall of going into passion-driven mission work is burnout,” said Caridad.

She explained how easy it is to reach burnout when one uses themselves as a vessel for others, especially in a career like hers, in which she constantly works with nonprofit organizations.

“You can’t continue pouring from an

empty cup,” Caridad said.

Talukdar, who has pursued sociology due to her curiosity about human nature and her theories of gender and the societal lens women are seen through, explained that young people don’t realize that the lifestyle of constantly pursuing balance is built upon a systemic structure. Ironically, the system that implemented this isn’t even balanced in itself.

“We are told constantly that you can have it all if you balance it,” Talukdar said. However, this mindset is hindering the success of many individuals, and once we free ourselves from it, according to Napoleon, things will make much more sense to us.

“Balance is not a real thing. We beat ourselves up for not having balance, but balance isn’t a real thing,” she said.

Spreading oneself too thin is also an outcome of trying to obtain and master everything at once, they agreed. It is nearly impossible to take care of yourself when constantly prioritizing your work.

“You don’t have to try to be every-

thing to everyone all of the time,” said Armstrong.

Another prevalent issue that women face, according to this panel, is the doubt of whether or not they belong within academia. Unlike men, women have to break the habit of making room for others and quieting down, which Talukdar explained is taught in their early stages of life, so women who strive for success in their fields find themselves questioning their worth within the field.

All of the women in the panel collectively agreed, however, that women’s presence within academia is non-negotiable because of what they have brought and will continue to bring to the table. Talukdar stated that we see this consistently with intersectionality in sociology because it was formulated by women working in the field who were perceptive enough to make connections.

Everyone, Talukdar explained, brings in their life history to their work, which in turn shapes it. Because of this, every person who contributes to a project brings

something inherently unique, which Napoleon builds upon.

“You have a perspective that’s uniquely you,” Napoleon said. Because of this, Napoleon believes people should choose a job that both mirrors their interests and their skill sets because this is where they will truly thrive. People will always have to follow their skill sets, but if they choose a job that doesn’t mirror their interests as well, Napoleon argues that they should “put an expiration date on it.”

This method is how these women were able to take their jobs and build upon them in a way that reflected what they wanted to become. Even if they didn’t start with prioritizing their interests, they worked with what they had and made themselves present in their workforces until they were able to reach success.

“Female empowerment all boils down to choices,” Caridad said.

National Survey of Student Engagement is now live for students

By Eloise Pickering ewpicker@my.loyno.edu

The National Survey of Student Engagement will hit students’ inboxes next

week, with completion entering students into a raffle to win Amazon gift cards.

This survey, which takes about 20 minutes to complete, provides the National Society For Experiential Educa-

Senior Reflection in Monroe Library

Graduating seniors have the opportunity to talk with Career Services about resumes or job questions to prepare them for future endeavors they may pursue after graduation. Students can go through an Ignatian examen to reflect how they’ve grown during their time at Loyola. The event will be held in Monroe Library on Tuesday, April 21, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

tion with information on how to improve and shape the future of Loyola. The email was sent out on April 7, and the survey doesn’t close until May 11. Survey responses are compared to

Communication & Design Masterclass

The School of Communication and Design is hosting their last Masterclass, “How do you handle a scandal?” on Thursday, April 23, with guest speaker John Deveny opening up discussion on the topic of crisis communication and how to master it. The event will be at 12:30 p.m. in the fourth floor studio in the Music and Communications Complex.

other universities to see how Loyola is succeeding, and where the college can do better. NSSE asks questions regarding Loyola’s academics, campus life, and more.

Students who complete the survey will be entered to win one of 10 Amazon gift cards worth $50, or one of two Amazon gift cards worth $200.

Loyola hosts annual Earth Week to commemorate Earth Day

Loyola’s Earth Week kicked off this Thursday, April 16, and will continue until Wednesday, April 22. Next week, Monday will have Plant with the Pack from 11:00 a.m.to 12:00 p.m. in the Peace Quad and KLB Love the Boot from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m in the same location. On Tuesday, there will be a GIS Conference in the Tchopitoulas Room from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and a Nature

Crawl (RSVP required) from 7:00 p.m. to 10:0 p.m. at Jean Lafitte National Park. Wednesday will hold four events: a Wetlands Watchers Animal Showcase and Sustainability fair from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Palm Court, a Greenhouse Gathering with live music from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Azby Greenhouse on the seventh floor of Monroe Hall, and Stargazing from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Students react as Louisiana named most stressed state in the nation

By Pablo Piñeiro Ramy ppineiro@my.loyno.edu

Louisiana was ranked the most stressed state in the United States in a list released by WalletHub.

The methodology used to determine the rankings compared the states across four dimensions: work-related stress, money-related stress, family-related stress, and health- & safety-related stress.

The article attributes Louisiana’s position in the ranking in large part to its high poverty rate. Louisiana residents also find it harder to get access to mental health services than in other states due to its low number of psychologists per

capita, the article added.

Sophomore music industry major Lily Waguespack attributed Louisiana’s position on the list to lack of access to resources, namely healthcare and education.

“We rank really low for things like healthcare and education, so I’m not really surprised that people are very stressed out,” Waguespack said. “Those are kind of basic necessities that all people need, and if that’s a hard resource to come by, then, yeah, it would make people stressed.”

Freshman economics major Juan Andrés Paul said he was very surprised to hear Louisiana’s low ranking.

“I feel like New Orleans especially, I can’t speak for the rest of Louisiana, but it’s a pretty, like, laid back city and people like to have a good time,” Paul said. “I don’t know why Louisiana would be the most stressed out state.”

However, Paul does believe that financial insecurity could potentially have played a role in Louisiana's ranking.

“It’s not a state where people have high wages,” Paul said. “There’s not that much job security and high wages here, and people struggle more to make a living out here. So maybe they’re stressed about financial responsibilities.”

DEMOLITION: Student opinions on historical value of Frostop

They unveiled their plans to also incorporate Frostop into their dorms by having the iconic rootbeer mug and sign featured on the front of the dorm building. Although the building would be demolished, the diner would also be reopened on the first floor of the residence hall. In the time between demolition and construction, Ted’s Frostop would operate through a food truck that would pass through the neighborhood.

Matthieu Robért, one of the developers from the Robért family justified these plans as a way to give Frostop, “A new home that will allow long term viability.”

A business student at Loyola, Maxfield Mabius, agreed with the reopening of Frostop in the Tulane dorm for the same reason.

“Yes it's a part of New Orleans history, but like they (other students) only care about it online. They don’t go there, they don’t support that business. Tulane wasn’t going to completely get rid of Frostop, they were going to include it which would make it

a profitable company. I feel like that's more important, because people don’t care about the building itself but the idea of Frostop,” Mabius said.

Despite Frostop’s planned reopening, residents and students alike agreed it wouldn’t be the same atmosphere that the original building offers.

“Putting Frostop inside the dorm, that's nothing more than a student dining hall with the name Frostop on it. I can’t see the regulars going into that environment. Like would you want to go into a Tulane dorm to eat here? Of course I’ll try it but it's not going to be the same thing,” Rowley said.

Another resident who frequents Ted’s Frostop, John LaGuardia, also enjoyed the familiar feeling of Frostop.

“We come in and we eat breakfast every morning, and we enjoy each other’s company. We discuss things and we have a really nice time for about an hour. Can’t really find that too much anymore, anywhere. This place has an ambiance, and I will miss that,” LaGuardia said.

Other than the demolition, students were also worried about the new

dorm’s location and the safety issues it could pose being along a busy street.

“Who’s going to want to walk across Claiborne to get to class? That doesn’t make a lot of sense. We’re going to have dead Tulane students flying,” Mabius said.

Ava Smith, a Loyola music therapy and public health major, was also concerned for the safety of Tulane students.

“It's close to the stadium, the school’s a lot further down than that. It's an inconvenience for the students, and inconvenient for everyone around them. The reality of Tulane is, there’s going to be stumbling drunk people coming back to their dorms at 3:00 AM, not looking,” Smith said.

These possible issues and attachments were also voiced at both a community meeting on April 6 and then at a City Hall meeting on April 8.

Smith attended this meeting and saw the impact Frostop had on the community and the issues that came with losing it.

“I never fully got the appeal, I’m not from here. But, when I heard it was happening I ended up at the meeting

and I just saw how the community and how many people were upset about it. I didn’t fully understand until I showed up. It just showed me there’s so much history to this place, and there are people who have been here for decades. You can’t just take away a part of someone’s history like that, ” Smith said.

Nicholas Oliver is a political science major at Loyola who also saw the historical value of Frostop.

“My official stance is that it's tearing down a staple of Uptown. That burger spot is so iconic, even if it is kind of overpriced. It's super lame to get rid of it and turn it into a hideous dormitory,” said Oliver.

The Historic District Landmark Commission had come to the same conclusion after two hours of public comment regarding the importance of Frostop, resulting in a unanimous vote to reject the developer’s request for a demolition permit.

Although the HDLC rejected the developer’s request for a demolition permit, it was only a recommendation, not a final decision. Instead, the New Orleans City Council will have the

choice to overturn the decision made by the Commission if the developers appeal within 10 days of the meeting, making their deadline April 18.

With the possibility of Ted’s Frostop remaining open, some tried to be optimistic about the diner’s future.

“There’s a large part of me hoping there’s enough people interested in preserving this iconic restaurant, and that they rethink and redesign their layouts. Seventy years, I knew Ted Steinberger, the original owner. And he is rolling in his grave right now. It's a sad day but we’ll see,” Rowley said.

NIGHT NIGHT SENIOR SENIOR

Dat Dog 5030 Freret Friday May 1st 7 - 10pm

LIVE MUSIC - DRINK SPECIALS - GOOD TIMES

“The

best night of the rest of your life.”

LIFE AND TIMES

e Pitt: Why you should watch it and what's going to happen next

By Callie Honeycutt cbhoneyc@my.loyno.edu

As an avid romance book reader, I never gravitate towards TV, especially medical dramas; I only watched a few episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, and it never did it for me. With that being said, e Pitt is di erent, and that’s because of its structure. Every episode unfolds over one hour, making each season one shift. What sets the show apart? Building intensity through events and the characters' relationships, only to be reminded that this is only one hour, in one day, in one hospital, in one city. ere is a hierarchy in the show, with seasoned doctors carrying the department on their backs, interns trying to be useful in an emergency department on their rst day, and everyone in between navigating the chaos and trying to stay a oat. It’s not just the medicine, it's who can survive e Pitt.

For my fellow Pitt watchers, let’s talk predictions. SPOILERS AHEAD!

With the nale dropping ursday, April 16 (or, depending on when you’re reading this, it could be out), there are a few storylines I need wrapped up.

THE WORKS!

By Alice Larson kaclanto@my.loyno.edu

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

I meet an Australian girl. Her parents meant to come visit. But “the war” makes travel from Australia to Europe too risky.

I see a statistic that some 56% of Americans oppose our war on Iran

I wonder if this is how they felt during Vietnam

We are told again & again we are the best in the world

We have forgotten there is a whole other world

My friends call me “super woke”

A title I hate

I don’t understand why I have to be radical

We all want to be understood, acknowledged, and loved

My Tik Tok For You Page tells me martial law is coming

Epstein might be alive- faked his death somehow

A video of a native woman reminds me pedophelia and rape were long endured by those native to our land ey were little girls ey raped little girls

Su ering isn’t a new America phenomena

We are told a future with rights; Food, shelter, healthcare, and education is a pipe dream.

Who would pay?

We’re the richest country in the world. We’re the richest country in the world.

Yet they cut school children’s lunches last summer.

e biggest question for me: what the hell is going on with Robby? Bringing awareness to mental health and suicide awareness for health workers is on brand for a show that has never shied away from controversial topics, but it makes no sense for Robby to die; He is the Chief Attending.

Up until now, Robby's being suicidal was a mix of character dialogue and fan theories. is last episode con rmed it. I won’t say anything else. Go watch it.

Prediction: Robby won’t go on his sabbatical. He will get close, but too many of his colleagues are aware of his mental state for this death-defying motorcycle trip to be successful. He and Langdon will have a breakthrough, and Landon will talk to him about rehab.

My next storyline is Santos. Are we going to get details on the marks on her thigh, or why she stole a scalpel? Her beef with Langdon (which I agree with), combined with feeling like a ‘social pariah’ and her trauma surgeon hookup dodging her, the buildup on her mental health has to have an explanation.

Prediction: Robby stays, Whitaker doesn’t move out, he discovers her selfharm, and next season we dive deeper into their unique relationship.

ere are a lot of unresolved character arcs I am interested in, but that would be a whole other story.

But I can’t write this and not talk about my favorite character, Langdon. I loved him in the rst season, and when his addiction was outed, I was shocked!

I understand what he did wrong, and if the situation were a woman, it probably would have been handled di erently, but I love him and his growth. I am glad the show didn't show him battling, just him on the other side, showing representation for recovering addicts. Additionally, I want him and Mel together. at's all I will say, look up #melangdon on X.

Prediction: Langdon lied about his wife not leaving him when he went to rehab. He will tell Robby, and it will start a new storyline for Landon, taking over e Pitt, and he and Mel live happily ever after.

No matter what happens, e Pitt has been renewed for a season three, which means not every question needs to be answered this week. I will be seated ursday night, watching with my girls, ready to see which of our predictions hold up and which ones fall apart.

ey tell us there wasn’t enough money! Democrats yell “Fuck ICE” Words alone will not produce change. ey tell us to “stay peaceful” Where has peace gotten us? MLK was shot, and the equal rights act isn’t published in our Constitution e racist pedophile fancies himself King

His throne room decorated with plastic gold from Walmart, the American Dream. Shiny, bright, substanceless- a material driven ruse. He promised poor coal miners in West Virginia they’d get their jobs back. e coals miners need jobs to put food on their tables. ey elected him. In their position I’d likely do the same. e worst parts of our country have always existed. Racism, Colonialism, and imperialism aren’t new. We sit around and debate which president had the best morals. It’s impossible to be an ethical head

of state for a nation responsible for so many deaths. So many deaths.

Beach volleyball duo shines with All-Conference Honors

By Keri Smith klsmith1@my.loyno.edu

For the beach volleyball pair Amaya Bazemore, a graduate student studying psychological science, and Isabella Rodrigue, a junior criminal justice major, being named All-Conference wasn’t just about stats, it was about growth, resilience, and proving something to themselves.

“It’s a big accomplishment,” Bazemore said. “If you asked me two years ago if I’d be doing this, I would’ve laughed. I never even thought I’d be playing beach volleyball.”

Rodrigue's journey carried a similar weight, but from a different angle.

“It proves how much I can overcome adversity,” she explained. “This season, I came in as the underdog. It was even a question if I was going to travel with the team. I had to fight for my spot.”

That sense of perseverance defined their season. Despite being one of the winningest pairs the year before, the two were not initially paired together. The separation brought doubt and frustration but ultimately pushed both athletes to grow individually before reuniting stronger.

“It hurt,” Rodrigue admitted. “I was wondering, ‘Why am I not good enough to play with her?’ But when we came back together, we had to adjust and just play our game without expectations.”

A key part of their success came down

to communication, something both players emphasized repeatedly.

“That’s everything,” Rodrigue said. “That is beach volleyball.”

Their communication, however, didn’t come naturally at first. As close friends off the court, they had to learn how to balance friendship with competition.

“We had to figure out each other’s communication styles,” Rodrigue said. “We’re very different in that way, but once we understood what each other needed, it changed everything.”

Bazemore agreed, adding that growth in communication required intentional effort.

“I’m very intense and competitive, and she’s more emotional. So I had to learn what to say in those moments to pick her up instead of adding pressure.”

Beyond communication, both players highlighted personal development as a major factor in their success this season.

Bazemore focused on refining technical skills like serve receive and setting, while Rodrigue emphasized mental growth.

“I had to work on my confidence and my mental health,” Rodrigue shared. “For a long time, I pushed it aside, but this year I couldn’t anymore. I had to deal with it and remind myself that I belong here.”

That mental shift proved critical during high pressure moments. Whether it meant staying quiet and locked in or reminding themselves of their purpose,

both athletes found ways to stay grounded.

“Sometimes when we’re down, it’s not the other team beating us, it's us beating ourselves,” Rodrigue said. “So we take timeouts, reset, and refocus.”

Looking back, their pride extends far beyond wins and recognition.

“I’m proud of my growth,” Bazemore said. “Not just in the sport, but as a communicator and a teammate.”

“I’m proud of how much we’ve overcome,” Rodrigue added. “Our friendship and partnership have grown so much. Even our families are close now.”

As All-Conference athletes, their journey stands as a testament to resilience, trust, and self-belief. And when asked what advice they would give younger athletes, their message was clear:

“Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do,” Rodrigue said. “Your height, your background doesn't define you.”

Bazemore added a powerful reminder:

“Work hard, but don’t sacrifice your mental health. You have to check in with yourself and know your limits. You are your own advocate.”

Through adversity, growth, and an unbreakable bond, this duo didn’t just earn recognition they built a partnership that will leave a lasting impact both on and off the sand.

Player of the year: built on strategy, driven by growth

By Keri Smith klsmith1@my.loyno.edu

With a calm demeanor and a strategic mind, this year’s Super Smash Bros Player of the Year Malachi Lee, a sophomore business major, has proven that success in competitive gaming is about more than just quick reflexes; it’s about discipline, patience, and growth.

After earning the title, he described the moment with humility rather than ego.

“It felt incredible,” he said. “Honestly, I feel really good about my performances this year, and I was just glad to be nominated and be recognized for that achievement.”

While many top players are known for mastering one character, his approach is more flexible. Though he plays a variety, he identifies Terry as his most prominent choice.

“There’s not a big reason why I picked him specifically,” he explained. “I was originally a Super Mario and Luigi fan, but Terry was just who stuck with me the most.”

What truly sets him apart, however, is not just character selection, it's mindset. He describes his playstyle as patient and defensive, relying heavily on reading opponents rather than rushing in.

“I like to play very patiently and on the defensive side because I like to search for opponents’ mistakes,” he said. “Usually, the more time I’m able to draw out within the game, the more sloppy my opponent gets. I like to use my opponent’s mentality as their weakness.”

That psychological edge became especially important during one of his toughest challenges of the season. Facing a player who uses Cloud, a character in the game known for being a fast aggressive swordfighter, was difficult, but he used the experience as fuel.

“The first time, it was challenging,”

Lee admitted. “But when we went to the playoffs, I had already analyzed how the Cloud was playing, and I was able to quickly demolish [him].”

Beyond individual success, one of Lee’s proudest accomplishments came from leadership. Rather than focusing solely on personal wins, he emphasized his role in helping his team grow.

“I think being able to step up and just lead the team to the championships,”

Lee said, reflecting on his favorite moment. “I have a lot of passion for leadership and mentoring, I was able to help support my team, to encourage growth

and development.”

Over the past year, Lee’s biggest improvement hasn’t been mechanical, it's been mental. Learning to shift from frustration to analysis has transformed his approach to competition.

“One of my biggest issues is complaining in my head about matches,” Lee said. “But instead of complaining I would analyze them and figure out how I could do better.”

Looking ahead, his goals are clear: preparation and continued growth.

“I want to go into matches feeling more prepared,” Lee said. “I think I can

improve a lot on how I prep… and really be able to look for a better game plan going into future matches.”

Even when asked a fun question about adding a new character to the game, his personality showed through.

“I know this will never happen,” Lee laughed, “But it would be funny if they added Batman, I’m just gonna give a biased answer - he’s one of my favorite characters of all time.”

At Lee’s core, though, his focus extends beyond himself. Lee hopes his journey can inspire others, especially younger players.

“I want to inspire people to grow and just continue to develop themselves,” Lee said. “There’s always answers to every problem that you encounter, and how you go about finding those answers really means a lot.”

As he looks toward the future, Lee’s mindset remains focused and driven.

“I’m looking forward to building a more competitive future for myself,” Lee said. “I want to keep pushing for more. I know I can reach greater heights.”

For a Player of the Year, the title is just the beginning.

LIFE AND TIMES

Loyola peace conference amplifies incarcerated student voices

By Elise Beck erbeck@my.loyno.edu

“Going in and out of the hospital, we’d pass Loyola’s campus. I used to point at the campus and say to my mother, ‘that’s gonna be my school one day.’”

These were the words of a Loyola student at Rayburn Correctional Facility on April 13, 2026, shared during a Loyola student visit to the facility for the student peace conference.

The Peace Conference is an annual spring event put on by Loyola’s Student Peace Initiative, which is led by President Isabella McCoy. The conference invites students to present their research related to the topic chosen for that year. This year’s theme was survival in peace and conflict.

Loyola has a program with the Rayburn Correctional Facility that enables students to earn their bachelor’s

degree while incarcerated. This event included a couple of Loyola students incarcerated at Rayburn and one Loyola student from New Orleans presenting their findings to Loyola students as well as students who are enrolled in Northshore Technical Community College and Ashland University at Rayburn.

“Last year was the first time we invited students from Rayburn to submit work for the conference,” McCoy said. “One of our goals is to create space for those voices.”

One Rayburn student, a smiling man dressed in starched, cuffed jeans, spotless white shoes and socks, and a bright blue button-down shirt, said that he was inspired by Loyola student Mallory Philips’ presentation last year, and it made him want to do one of his own.

“I saw the joy in her face, and I knew I

wanted to do it,” he said.

He took a 1930s history class at Loyola, which led to him discovering a collection of black and white Depression-era photographs of migrant workers from the Pontchatoula strawberry plantation.

For each photo, he chose a lesson that he felt could be learned from it. In one of a woman cooking over a makeshift stove, he added text to a slide that said “We have to learn to make ourselves at home.”

Other themes included “we have to look for the good”, as he believed the photographer, Russell Lee, did.

While running a mic around for audience questions after the presentation, another Rayburn student joked, “I don’t know how you trap so much emotional content in black and white photos from the 1930s.”

It was clear that the student

presenting had quite a reputation for his positive attitude around Rayburn, according to his peers.

Terrance Parker, a sophomore studying Psychology and Black Studies at Loyola, gave a presentation on the survival tactics of students in Gaza during the conflict in the Middle East. Students in the audience nodded along, asking questions for Parker in the Q&A section following his presentation. During the mingling time following the presentations, one Loyola student, a pastor at the facility, came to discuss the topic with him further.

Another Loyola student at Rayburn noted of Gaza’s citizens, “I don’t know them, but I love them.”

Another student presented about an education course that taught him about transformative learning theory as well as the principles of growth mindsets, both topics that he critiqued and

explored. The content of the class itself wasn’t what he found hope in; rather, it was Loyola’s program staff.

“I leaned on program staff to understand this sense of myself that had eluded me,” he said.

He also shared some of his creative writing related to living with a disability. The student frequently touched on this theme of feeling that as a wheelchair user, the world was not meant for him. Students in the audience shared similar experiences and how these affect their life as students. In the Q&A session following his presentation, McCoy noted that as someone with Type 1 diabetes, an “invisible handicap”, she understood his feelings of otherness.

Student Peace Initiative members frequently used the Q&A time as well as the social mingling time to connect with Rayburn students and ask questions.

"Euphoria" season 3 bring shock value scenes and a fresh aesthetic

By Amari Winchester abwinche@my.loyno.edu

I honestly thought the last season of HBO’s Euphoria would never see the light of day. The first season came out in 2019, the second season came out 2022, and this one came four years later. It’s striking to see a show so famous for its visuals make a complete pivot from grungy glittery public high school to the warm tones of a Western.

We follow Rue’s misadventures as a drug mule for Laurie in Mexico. The show explores new locations as we watch her encounter a random family farm in the middle of nowhere and interact with the new antagonist, Alamo Brown. Brown is a pimp who buys drugs from Laurie. The first time we see this man, he is wearing a cowboy hat, a robe, and a Speedo.

Mind you, this is also the outfit in which he played Russian roulette with an apple on Rue’s head. So if this doesn’t give Western, I don't know what does. But even with this change, I feel like the show still keeps the aspect of lush visual aesthetics, even though they can be extremely disturbing at times.

The exception of this is when we see scenes that take certain aspects too far. Like when Rue and Faye are getting the balloons out of their system, we see a dog lick the feces off of Faye’s butt, which is not something I thought I would see that Sunday night. Or, seeing Cassie pretend to be a dog for her social media page. With these types of scenes, you can always tell that they are for shock value, and with this show's track record, we are bound to see shocking things. I guess

I just wish that they would happen in a different way.

Now on to the characters we’ve seen in this episode.

First, let's start off with the girl of the hour, Rue. I feel like with previous seasons, we’ve learned that Rue Bennett is always going to get herself into some trouble. This season is no exception. The fact that the money owed to Laurie went from 10k to 43 million, then dwindled down to 100k is still crazy work.

Later in the episode, we see her stay longer at a pimps place than expected, leaving her in an altercation between Alamo and Laurie because of drugs that were laced.

I feel like with the Rue we see now, we know that even with how messed up her life is, she is still trying to improve it. I kinda have to give her props for it. It's nice to see her still have connections with people who care about her, like Ali and Lexi, especially when in previous seasons she hurt them with her actions in some type of way. She is even getting into Christianity, of all things.

You can tell that with this choice that she is trying to find a greater purpose and to be happy. Like the family on the farm that she met.

She saw that they were perfectly content with their lives, and she just wanted to be content too. Christianity is her way of getting that. Do I think that is going to be the thing that sustains her, especially with this new plot line we are about to go through? No. What happens with Rue is that she looks for answers in the wrong places, and that is how she stays in trouble, but maybe when it comes to these odds against her, she

may rise above it (even though I don’t really know how she’s gonna get out of this).

Now let's talk about the lovely couple…

When it comes to the relationship of Nate Jacobs and Cassie Howard, I think that I could speak for the masses when I say I'm upset to see them on my screen together.

I'm truly suspicious of Nate and his behavior this season. Simply because he’s too calm when it comes to his construction issues and the wedding with Cassie. Just a reminder, in the first episode of the series, we see him threatening Jules at a party.

Moving forward, we see him conduct acts of terror to the people around him, especially the women in his life. His warming up to the idea of Cassie and OnlyFans made me raise an eyebrow.

I'm honestly waiting for him to do something; he just seems off to me. Except for him driving a Tesla, now that I understand completely.

Now with Cassie, I’m really disappointed with how they took her character in the first episode. I feel like, with a lot of the female characters in this show, they haven’t really been portrayed in the best way, and I truly think that Cassie is the prime example of this. Having the opening scene of her pretending to be a dog for content was shocking. Then later in the episode, we see her planning a career on OnlyFans, so she could pay for 50K in flowers of all things.

We see that she wants her wedding to be this extravagant thing for it not to be “ghetto” in her terms. But it's not

just that, it's also her wanting the house to represent this specific vision that she has for her life. We see that she is unfulfilled with how her life is, especially after seeing that she stalks Maddy on Instagram, watching the new life she is living.

We see that she keeps wanting more, but I think when she eventually gets what she wants, it's not going to be like what she imagined.

I also think that both Nate and Cassie think about Maddy a lot. What I think is going to happen is that Cassie is going to bring Maddy on as a manager for her social media, and that is going to cause a rift in the relationship between Nate and Cassie. I think it’s going to be clear that they both still think about Maddy in some way. Which is going to cause everything to blow up.

Speaking of Maddy, even though we see her a little bit in this episode, I’m glad she is doing okay. I think the managing job is a good fit for her.

Literally the only problem with this job is that it doesn’t make enough money. Which is why I think she’s going to look for other job opportunities, like more clients. While looking for those clients, she’s going to run into Cassie, which is how I think they are going to reunite in this season. I don’t know what's going to come out of her reuniting with the couple. If she gets revenge in some way, I wouldn’t blame her. If she gets a business opportunity out of this, then good for her. I don't know where this plotline is going to go, but the one thing I do know is that it's going to be one hell of a ride.

Now, to move on with Lexi, I'm glad

that she got a job in Hollywood. I think that with the greatness that was her play, it was bound to happen. We get to see her around people she admires, gain respect from her boss, and maybe a new love interest, too. In the show, Fez got put in jail to explain why we don’t see him this season. We all know that this is because of the passing of Angus Cloud, who played the character of Fez. With this explanation, I think we are going to go through a storyline where we see her move on with what could have been with Fez, and if we do, I hope it's done in the most respectful way possible.

Even though Jules is supposed to be in this season, she wasn’t present in the first episode. I personally think that was to add mystery to her character and what she’s up to now. Especially since Lexi revealed to Rue that Jules is a sugar baby. I hope the writers make her storyline an interesting one, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

This first episode overall feels empty. A great chunk of the cast is not in the show for one reason or another. It kinda feels like we are getting scraps of the story when we got to know a wide cast of characters from previous seasons. I can tell that this last season is going to be entertaining, but I’m not sure that it’ll be good. I truly wonder if this season is going to give these characters the justice of having a compelling narrative, especially since I think that this could be the last season of the show. While I can’t answer if that’s going to happen right now, I do know that I'm going to be seated every Sunday to see if they do.

Before the Gate: The growing frustration with TSA in New Orleans

By Morgan Parker maparke2@my.loyno.edu

If you have flown out of the New Orleans airport recently, you know the drill. Arrive three hours early, get ready to wait, and hope you can make your flight on time. What used to be a routine part of travel has turned into an unpredictable and frustrating situation because of the government shutdown, especially at the Louis Armstrong Airport. This issue poses a problem for students running to catch a flight back home, families traveling with their kids, work that requires traveling, and even flight departure times. TSA wait lines are more than just an inconvenience, they are the reason you may not make it home in time for work, or to see your family. I have been

By Lily Bordelon and Stella Perdue

lmbordel@my.loyno.edu

swperdue@my.loyno.edu

As one of our persistent readers, you may find yourself contemplating what Marooners think of pop cultural events outside of the editorial section. Like, for example, Stella and Lily, what the hell do you think about the Fruit Love Island

in the Lewis Armstrong Airport two times in the past month and I experienced very short wait times. The first time I was in the airport after seeing stories online about the wait times, I got to the airport two hours early and got through security in 15 minutes. This just goes to prove the inconvenience that the inconsistency of the airport caused. I could have made it to my last class if I knew that the lines would be so short, but I just didn't want to take the chance of missing my flight.

Part of this problem is that the lines all depend on the timing of your flight. For example, if you have a flight on a Wednesday afternoon or morning you shouldn't have to worry about the lines being too long. But, if you were flying out of New Orleans on a Sunday morning then you might be in trouble. Most of the videos

that I have seen of the lines outside of the airport were taken on a Sunday morning. It's hard to know when to get to the airport because of the unpredictability of the lines. Sometimes, the lines are super shorthand more quickly while other times you may end up running through the airport trying to make your flight. This inconsistency makes it nearly impossible to plan. Should you get there two hours early? Or three? There's really no way of knowing, which means you either get there early and risk losing a couple of hours of your trip or getting there late and missing your flight. The options are subpar.

For college students, who may already be balancing tight budgets and schedules, missing a flight due to TSA lines can be detrimental. Rebooking fees, transpor-

tation, and lost time are not minor setbacks. The same thing goes for families. Long waits can make the already difficult airport experience even harder with tired kids. People traveling for business are equally affected. Efficient travel is key in a city like New Orleans where tourism and business conferences play a huge role in our local economy.

This is not the first time the government has shut down; this has been something that's happened multiple times during the Trump presidency. During these shutdowns, TSA agents were required to work with no pay which led to people quitting which increased long wait times in airports across the country. This issue isn't just poor staffing - it was a direct consequence of federal employees not being paid.

Fruit Love Island: LET IT ROT

TikTok phenomenon? Prospective reader, we are so glad you asked: we have opinions varying from environmental critiques to commentary on low-brow comedy. Here’s what Lily Bordelon, campus news editor, had to say:

There’s only one thing I have to say about the discontinuation of fruit love island, and it’s ‘thank God’.

This piece of trashy entertainment is exactly that: trashy. It’s not the good kind of trash entertainment either, so why did it climb the ranks so quickly?

I’m certain part of it was because of the sheer irony of just how terrible it was, which I can understand to a certain extent. People watch horrible shows all the time to have a good laugh and indulge, but this has turned into something much more sinister for multiple reasons.

Firstly, the qualitative standards for entertainment are in the pits of hell because of shows like this. I genuinely believe that because of the amount of slop people consume on social media, it has become nearly impossible for said people to critique and analyze films or determine the quality of films. There are

definitely some recent movies and shows that are really, really good and some that are bad. It truly seems that the general public has lost so much media literacy that they criticize good pieces for being “too vague.” Jokes have been spreading across the internet that someone could jingle keys in front of an audience today, and they’d still be thoroughly entertained. I hate that I’m doubting this less and less. Secondly, it is becoming increasingly evident that comedy is becoming more prioritized than cause. I can brush off people being entertained by satirical crap easily, even if I don’t like it, but the fact that there’s something so intrinsically wrong with how it’s being sourced makes it impossible to ignore. Fruit love island was made entirely by generative artificial intelligence - the environment and the communities within it have been facing irreparable damage. AI data centers use insane amounts of water to power their technology, and in most cases, this leaves little to none for the ecosystem around it. Homes near these centers have incredibly low water pressure, and said drinking water is becoming too contaminated to

drink. Why are people willingly ignoring these issues to watch AI fruits get freaky on TikTok? It’s incredibly dystopian.

I believe content like fruit love island is indirectly destroying human connection. Our empathy is going down the drain alongside our appreciation for authentic art. It’s come to the point where we are simply chasing whatever gives our brains a sliver of dopamine, even if the content is horrible in nature.

At the end of the day, if you want to preserve humanity in your life, I highly recommend sticking with trash tv shows like Big Brother. Don’t degrade yourself by watching whatever shit someone scrapes off their shoe.

Now here’s what our other Campus News Editor, Stella Perdue, had to say about the whole situation:

For those who like this kind of “slop”, as it’s been endearingly coined, I do not want to associate with you! That tells me you don’t place trust in human creativity or that you don’t value the environment–or even quality content.

As an actual lover/devout watcher of Love Island UK and USA, I find the fact

So, what could be done? Real-time updates and accurate wait times that are clearly displayed on the website and accurate would be a great way to help travelers plan. Secondly, there should be stronger communication to inform travelers when things like government shutdowns will affect airport operations. Even with staffing during peak hour, it is not enough to fully solve the problem which is rooted in much more than a scheduling conflict.

At the end of the day, traveling is already difficult enough without having to gamble if they are going to make it through security to get to their flight. As New Orleans continues to serve and grow as a travel hub, efficient airport lines shouldn't be a convenience, they are a necessity.

that they are tarnishing the “Love Island” Intellectual Property name to be utterly ridiculous. This just goes to show that you people aren’t patient–why don’t you wait for the next season of Love Island to come out? Or even watch All Stars in the wintertime? Or maybe even, I don’t know, check out older seasons.

Like my dear confidante Ms. Bordelon said, there is actual good, anthropological “slop” out there if you’re looking for it. My personal favorite is any franchise from the Bravo world: Real Housewives, Vanderpump Rules, Below Deck, etc.

As we shift into an era polluted (literally) by artificial intelligence, it is my opinion that human art/creativity carries even more meaning than it did before. It can be an act of defiance or protest to continue creating despite the status quo. It says something. Art has always been political, even when it is AI generated slop. Fruit Love Island just goes to show that we aren’t valuing meaningful creative works, that instead we’re happy with efficient, low quality iterations.

Basically: if you like that shit you’re pretty annoying.

Targeting gender pay disparity in professional workplaces

By Gracie Cousin gkcousin@my.loyno.edu

As culture has progressed to include newfound professional opportunities for women and greater media representation of their accomplishments worldwide, one must ask: when will the economics reflect this increase?

I wonder when the economics will match this increase. Beyond the emotional burden a single mother faces as she works to support her household, the documented gender pay gap causes a limitation of economic growth and damage to social equity. Despite the educational advancements of women throughout the 20th century, there is still a notable disparity in the way we are paid in professional workplaces.

As a young woman at the tail end of her undergraduate studies, I look forward to attending secondary school with the desire to pursue a career that’s considered “white collar”. Statistics from the past 7–10 years show that women earn 20% less globally. Additionally, recent 2024 Pew Research indicates that women earn only 85% of what men earn. I’m deeply disheartened and desire institutional change. The gender pay gap is a multifaceted social problem, and understanding what contributes to it (horizontal/vertical segregation, motherhood penalty, hiring bias) alongside mapping out its historical roots is essential work. Ultimately, research and recognition of the gender pay gap can be informa-

tive, yet it will take long-term policy and legal efforts to institute reform for this structural issue.

The gender pay gap, with its financial damage to working women due to discriminatory practices, also garners empathy in the general public. In sociological studies that measure emotional responses as indicators of empathy, hundreds of university students alongside portions of the general public displayed strong empathy in reaction to a scenario documenting a woman’s experience being unequally paid. Many identified anger on the woman’s part as her seeking autonomy and moving with a sense of righteousness. This study demonstrates the genuine concern many individuals show in response to pay inequality.

The gender pay gap emerged after the Industrial Revolution, with women being confined to lower paying jobs. Their income throughout the 20th century was seen as “supplementary”, and even with more educational opportunities the pay gap was still there. This demonstrates that even as women acquire more skills and degrees, a male with the same qualifications will often be considered for higher paying positions than her. In addition,

horizontal segregation in the workplace concerns women working in different sectors than men.

Most often, women dominate childcare and teaching. These underpaid areas contribute to long-term pay disparity as men dominate higher paying tech and STEM roles. Vertical segregation concerns women and men working side by side in the same fields. Even here, the pay disparity is evident. Women in science, technology, engineering, and math are reported to earn less than male counterparts in recent years. Many identify the “motherhood penalty” as a barrier to salary increase, promotion, and long-term earnings for women. Women face difficulties returning to the workplace after birth, especially in countries with minimal paid leave and subsidized childcare. The predominance of unpaid labor (ex. household chores, pickup/dropoff from schools, cooking for family) can affect workplace participation and inspire higher ups to unfairly evaluate these female employees.

In a recent testimony by MS NOW employee Josie Cox, she details her experience finding out she was underpaid. Cox, after taking maternity leave, reentered the workforce after being hired for a staff job in a media corporation’s newsroom. Though she did advocate for a mild increase from

her previous salary, Cox discovered the male workers she managed were compensated higher than her. Cox experienced fury after processing the fact that instances like these were still occurring in the 21st century. At the end of her testimony she states the importance of enforcing the Equal Pay Act, so scenarios like hers are far and few in between. Facing the reality that women are often underpaid and overworked, women are less likely to negotiate a salary increase due to fear of being seen as “assertive” in the workplace.

So, how can we move beyond simply discussing this issue and actually remedy it?

I believe that with policy implementation and legal regulations longterm sustainable change can occur. Women have made strides since the 20th century in advocating for equal pay, including intersectionality and pay bias being included in conversation due to third wave feminism. The Equal Pay Act of 1963, alongside Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made strides in the legal effort to secure equal pay and equitable workplace treatment. Yet, there are weak points in these acts that allow for pay discrepancy today.

In both the policy and legal realm, proper enforcement of equal pay, compliance in

corporate spaces, better mentorship programs to build female executives, implementing gender quotas, and solid Affirmative Action efforts can create change. Showcasing transparency in compensation and diversity, equity, and inclusion reports, company regulations, and safe reporting systems that detail when pay discrepancy is occurring will also help remedy this social problem. At the university level, I believe that classes which outline the historical journey of gendered pay discrepancy and show statistics over time will help bring about a factual understanding of the issue. Plenty of young college-age individuals feel called to recognize the impact of the gender pay gap and want to work to remedy it. When educated people are armored with factual information, I feel there is a greater chance for actionable change to occur and unity in decision making. College-age women should feel empowered and optimistic about entering the workforce.

The more we have to self-advocate, the less we have time to develop proficiency for our life’s work.

Let’s let the policy and legal frameworks mandate change and encourage our employers to compensate us fairly, and we’ll focus on mastery in our careers.

No more crying in the Winn Dixie dairy aisle

By Stella Perdue swperdue@my.loyno.edu

The last Winn-Dixie in the New Orleans area has closed its doors, raising questions surrounding the consequences of economic shifts in the United States. What used to be a prominent figure–a beacon, I’d say–of cheap groceries and Southern nostalgia, is now simply another chip on the Aldi company’s belt. Though Aldi is also a prolific member of the cheap groceries club, this situation still raises concern about the future of capitalist acquisitions in the US. Store closures and the accumulation of private property are ever-present nowadays. The same issue accelerates repeatedly: the fact that only a handful of corporate conglomerates own practically every company in this country.

Amidst speculation about closure last year, the beloved Winn-Dixie on Tchoupitoulas Street announced its conversion to an Aldi store in late February. Across Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama, over 30 stores have been hit

with closures or full on conversions. The company plans to withdraw from Louisiana completely, aiming to close 220 locations statewide.

Criticism from the closures have sparked, raising questions about how this will impact jobs or low-income communities that rely on the vast amount of product Winn-Dixie peddles. Although Aldi is cheaper comparatively, Winn-Dixie supplies prominent brands as well as a wider selection of household items.

Many New Orleans residents have relied on Winn-Dixie for decades, citing it as the best place to shop for cheap goods rather than places like Walmart or Target. Speaking personally, when Hurricane Francine hit last year, Winn-Dixie was the first place I thought of. Several people across social media complained, citing a loss of nostalgia as an issue.

Trends across the United States have behaved this way forever: a corporation acquires a chain or brand, citing consumer happiness and efficiency as the

framework behind it. Then, only a few corporations own a certain area of the market causing monopolistic competition. With this, less competition can lead to a loss in pressure to lower prices. Yes, Aldi’s business model is centered around discount pricing, but will that be the case forever as they continue to expand?

Socially, these transitions present difficulties among workers. Some will lose their jobs and have trouble finding new ones. Aldi stores are smaller than Winn-Dixie stores, requiring fewer employees. Fewer total jobs can create long-term negative impacts for New Orleans residents. In New Orleans, it is hard enough to find a job, why make it harder? Overall, this change has delivered mixed reviews: it can be exciting to have an Aldi nearby but also it just goes to accentuate the acceleration of late-stage capitalism. Although this may seem like a small change, it correlates to a broader pattern that is quite wearying.

EDITORIAL

from

More than just a campus: preserving culture in New Orleans

College campuses are often framed as spaces of growth, places where institutions expand, students thrive, and opportunities multiply. But too often, that growth comes at a cost that universities are less willing to acknowledge: the erosion of the very communities and cultures that make those campuses meaningful in the rst place.

When the city commission rejected Tulane’s proposal to demolish the historic Ted’s Frostop Diner, it felt like a rare moment of pause.

A moment where growth didn’t automatically win. A moment where history, culture, and community were considered before another piece of New Orleans was erased. But the real question is not just about Frostop, it’s about what happens next.

Because this will not be the last time a historic space is threatened. And if every decision continues to prioritize expansion over preservation, eventually there will be very little left that gives this city, and our campuses, their identity.

At Loyola, this conversation carries even more weight. As a Jesuit institution, Loyola emphasizes values like cura personalis, care for the whole person, and a commitment to building “a more just world.”

But that mission can't stop at the edge of campus. It must extend into the surrounding community. To truly live out Jesuit values means recognizing that the neighborhoods around us are not just convenient extensions of student life, they are living, breathing communities with histories, tradition, and people who deserve respect and consideration.

ere is no doubt that universities need room to grow. More students means more housing and resources. But

growth should not come at the expense of the very culture that draws students

“New Orleans isnt just a checklist o of someone's bucket list, but an experience. Students who go to school here are lucky to have that experine for four years.”

— Editorial Board

The Maroon

here in the rst place. Ask almost anyone who toured Loyola, and they will tell you what stood out to them about New Orleans. e food, architecture, the feeling of a city that is literally like anywhere else in the world.

New Orleans isn't just a checklist o of someone's bucket list, but an experience. Students who go to school here are lucky to have that experience for four years.

And that experience is built on places like Frostop, but also like everyday spaces students come to love without even realizing it. Broadway, Maple, Feret are not just streets. ey are part of the rhythm of student life. e walks to Mint, Dat Dog or Shugs between classes, a late night food run, or just a place to build memories. Years from now when we look back on our time at Loyola, there are the places that will de ne our experiences just as much as any classroom.

But with that experience comes responsibility.

As students at Loyola, it is not enough to simply enjoy the culture of New Orleans, we have a responsibility to respect and preserve it. Yes, many of us are only here for four years. But those four years are not insigni cant. ey are some of the most formative years of our lives, years where we build friendships, develop our values, and shape who we will become long after we leave this city.

How we engage with New Orleans during that time matters.

It matters whether we treat this city as temporary or as something worth investing in. It matters whether we support local businesses or contribute to their disappearance. It matters whether we listen to the concerns of residents or

“Students

come and go in four years. Residents build their lives here.”

— Editorial Board The Maroon

ignore them. Being part of a Jesuit institution means being called to something greater than ourselves, and that includes how we show up in the communities around us.

For many local residents, these changes feel very di erent.

Walk through the neighborhoods surrounding campus and you will see signs posted outside homes: “Stop turning our houses into dorms.” It is a quiet but powerful statement. It re ects frustration from people who feel like their commu-

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Editorial Board

Editor in Chief

Eloise Pickering

Managing Editor for Print

Mary Ella Hastings

Pre-Content Director

Alana Frank

Post-Content Director

Callie Honeycutt

Campus News Editor

Lily Bordelon

Campus News Editor

Stella Perdue

Worldview Editor

Pablo Pineiro-Ramy

Assistant Worldview Editor

Angelica Pineda

Life and Times Editor

Elise Beck

Assistant Life and Times Editor

Olivia Sanyal

Sports Editor

nities are being reshaped to serve institutions rather than the people who have lived there for generations. Students come and go in four years. Residents build their lives here. at di erence matters.

Because when expansion happens without intention, it doesn’t just change buildings, it changes communities. It raises questions about who a neighborhood is for, who gets a voice, and whose history is preserved. And when those questions go unanswered, the result is a slow erosion of the culture that makes New Orleans what it is.

None of this means that change is inherently wrong.

Cities evolve.

Campuses grow.

But Jesuit values call for more than growth for growth’s sake; they call for thoughtful, ethical decision-making that prioritizes people and community alongside progress.

e reality is, these goals are not mutually exclusive. Universities can expand while still preserving the spaces that dene their surroundings. Development can happen in ways that respect both students and residents. It simply requires intention, communication, and a willingness to see the community not as an obstacle, but as a partner.

e decision to protect Frostop may feel small in the grand scheme of university expansion. But it represents something larger: the possibility that growth and preservation can coexist.

And at a place like Loyola, where we claim to value justice, community, and care for others, that balance is not just ideal.

It is necessary.

Kerieyaunta Smith

Opinion and Editorial Editor

Imadnisa Siddiqui

Breaking News Editor

Natalie omas

e Wolf Editor

Laura Welles

Senior Sta Photographer

Sophia Renzi

Assistant Photo Editor

Pharrell Every

Design Chief

Makayla Parker

Social Media Manager

Mabel Regalado-Hernandez

Social Media Manager

Carlos Andrade

Social Media Manager

Maria Touzard

Copy Editor

Mark Michel

Newscast Editor

Christopher Nesbit

Lead Anchor

Dessadra Tezeno

EDITORIAL POLICY

The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and does not necessarily re ect the opinions of Loyola University.

Letters and columns re ect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of The Maroon’s editorial board.

The Maroon does not represent the opinion of administration, sta and/or faculty members of Loyola.

Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and style. Please limit submissions to 400 words. Submissions are due no later than 4 p.m. the Sunday before publication. Please send all submissions — The Maroon, 6363 St. Charles Ave., Box 64, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Email us your letters — letter@ loyno.edu.

Submissions may also be made online at www.loyolamaroon.com.

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