Mental Health, Football and

Here are some interesting articles about N.O. from different papers:

1. There's a really good new mental health study highlighted in the NYT, though oddly the T-P did not include it (as far as I can tell). The Columbia University study says that as of September 2007, 46,000 children on the Gulf Coast are struggling with "serious" mental health problems. The children most at risk are not the ones who haven't returned home yet. Instead, the ones most at risk are the ones who have returned to their home but in a very unstable situation. Kids are living with grandparents, cousins, older siblings, or other families instead of the normal family dynamic. They are living everywhere from trailer parks (though not for too much longer) to houses that have only recently been gutted. As Dr. David Ward says at the conclusion, "The fabric of the family has splintered. Who is going to take care of the kids after school, or draw them into becoming musicians?"



2. Onto happier things. This story seems straight out of a Disney movie--and not a mediocre Disney sports movie like The Rookie but a really good one like Miracle or D2. The South Plaquemines Hurricanes will be playing for the Louisiana State title this weekend on the Superdome. To say that the families living in Plaquemines Parish have struggled is a huge understatement. Katrina made landfall in the parish south of New Orleans, and you can imagine the struggles that encompass the community. The Times-Pic has a fairly good article on it, but the New York Times has somehow hit the jackpot in covering this story: they have been following the team since September 2006 in a series by Jere Longman. The details of these stories are so finely picked that you can never forget them: the team's new locker room is their old, flooded gym, untouched since the storm. The team has fathers trying their hardest to raise a kid, go to college, and continue playing in order to maintain their sanity. Everyone down there declared a "mandatory Hurricane evacuation" for the parish, to come to New Orleans this weekend for the game.
   If you have an hour or more to kill during finals, and you want to cry about how amazing sports/people are, read some of these articles.



3. Some highlights from today' Maroon
   
   • An editorial rightfully takes the Debate Commission to task for their "specious reasoning"
   • Jordan Hultine writes a pretty well-balanced, informative look at the loyno.info "blog" on which faculty discuss issues stemming from Pathways. There is one particularly interesting "comment" on the article that delicately addresses the blog-ish characteristics of the .info message board.
     

That's all I've got. Have a good weekend, stay sane through finals.
bob

Break Free!

"But it is what all the downtown bleachers and uptown brownings and Jamaica Whites don't say that they all seem to want most deeply. That is to be something other than poor ad black."

I would suggest, in relation to that quote you take a look at this pdf.

After reading that, next time you are at a grocery store or a wal-mart, take a loot at the ethnic products section and see what you fine.

I'll leave you all with this Tancredo campaign video, you can judge what this means, I don't even need to add my own opinion.

Maroon coverage of Monday's meeting

The online edition of the Maroon is out, and an article covering Monday's LUCAP meeting that focused on LUCAP's potential relocation was featured on the front page.

I think that the article is pretty thorough, though I don't think its title ("LUCAP asked to leave office temporarily: Move suposed to make way for renovations") embodies the controversy of the meeting, or the article. Otherwise, I feel like LUCAP was well-represented.

Unfortunately, the article doesn't end with any conclusion. But that isn't Lauren LaBorde's fault; that was the nature of our meeting. I think she sums it up well in saying "the pervading sentiment among the group seemed to be that of uncertainty."

Let's hope tomorrow's meeting with Chris gives us some direction.

Mental Health in New Orleans

Check out this article on post-Katrina mental health.

LUCAP's final home still uncertain

First, thank you to all the LUCAP and community members who came to our Monday meeting with Chris Cameron regarding our office and the Danna Center revisions. There was a large Freshman presence at the meeting, as there has been at all our events this year (y'all are awesome).

Below is a quick summary of the discussion that unfolded:

Mr. Cameron began with a slideshow of the proposed renovations of the Danna Center. It was full of beautiful visuals showing the renovated spaces around the building. Cameron said that in redesigning the building, the new student center should "reflect the core values of our institution." He explained that the process for renovating the building and assigning space has been entirely fluid and that there is no cohesive plan yet for the building. Cameron emphasized that "its not like there is some evil plan to be sprung on (LUCAP) and no final plans have been made."

Cameron first asked LUCAP what our needs are. Many LUCAP students spoke and explained how our space fosters critical reflection, offers a safe space, provides us with a place for our constant meetings, and has fostered LUCAP's growth. LUCAP said that our dedicated space is critical to our functioning and isn't optional. Afterwards, Cameron summarized our points to ensure nothing was misconstrued. Staff members expressed their dismay with the lack of communication between LUCAP and the administration during the planning process which Cameron will attempt to address by forming a committee to collect student input.

LUCAP stated that it opposes a move to a final space that isn't a space of our own with "four walls and a door." Cameron declined to promise LUCAP a dedicated space as it requested. When LUCAP asked who we could appeal to to secure our space, Cameron could not provide a definite answer beyond himself.

Mr Cameron committed he'd find the answers to our questions and meet with us again on Friday.

LUCAP is scheduled to move to the New Student Orientation office as a temporary space.  The move will occur December 15.  A final space has yet to be determined.

NOLA News from Today's Papers

Hey all. Here are some interesting articles about New Orleans from the last few days of papers:

1. Brad Pitt is starting his project of rebuilding the Ninth Ward with his "Make It Right" project of 100 green houses in the area wiped out during Katrina. It seems like a very good project, that is well funded through Pitt's wealth. For now, in order to raise some awareness, Pitt has installed a "pink city" to symbolize where the houses will be. Take a look at the pic from the T-P, which has the Claiborne Avenue bridge in the background. If you've been in the 9th Ward over the past 2+ years, you have to feel good to see this area at least have a little construction.


2. The NYTimes has an insightful article summarizing the rental shortage in New Orleans, time pegged to the announcement last week that FEMA was clearing out all trailer parks. The money quote here comes when a FEMA spokesman tries to justify the policy of kicking out residents without helping to provide housing:
   

   “We know it’s a tough decision, and that’s not lost on us,” he said, but “more and more housing becomes available every day, that’s a fact. The sooner you begin the process, the better. You want to start early and pick what’s right for your family.” He added: “We’re very sensitive to the fact that this isn’t an easy move. But it’s a necessary move.”

3. The NYT also ran an Arts article about the recent performance of Waiting for Godot in the Gentilly and the Ninth Ward about a month back. Though the article focuses on the artist himself for my tastes, it discusses what was supposed to be a great piece of art done in our city. The article was in the top-10 read at the site most of the weekend, which is good, as many people from around the country were reading and emailing it to their friends. The Times has been giving some very expert, nuanced coverage to relevant issues down here in the past few weeks.


4. Finally, a little more info about flood protection. There were a number of agencies investigating the levee breaches after Katrina, but the independent groups from the University of California and LSU are now alleging that their investigations were purposely disrupted by the Army Corps of Engineers. Read more about it at levees.org, which has nearly single-handedly kept the issue on the agenda.

Try out the comments section below. I'd love to get some discussions going.

That's all for now,
Bob

Important LUCAP meeting Monday: Danna Center Renovations

Just to catch everyone up...

This past Wednesday LUCAP was informed that we would have to move out of our current office by December 15th (or earlier) and move into the old New Student Orientation office along with Christian Life Communities (CLC). We were told that these changes were necessary in order for Danna Center renovations to remain on schedule.

At least three problems are evident in this plan: First, we were given very short notice during a time in the semester that is already extremely busy with finals and other end of the semester preparatons. Secondly, we have not been invited to be a part of the discussion and decision-making with the regard to our needs for spaces. Finally, LUCAP has yet to be given any assurance that we will have our own space in the future in order to operate as we do now.
That said, Chris Cameron, director of Co-Curricular programs, has agreed to meet with us during our meeting time this Monday at 5 in order to discuss these plans with us. I would like to say that LUCAP has not agreed to any course of action and will not do so until after this discussion has taken place and some of our questions are answered. I would like to invite everyone in LUCAP to be a part of this discussion, ESPECIALLY any underclassmen who will be part of LUCAP in the future and will be most effected by these changes.

I realize that these changes came as a surprise to many, and I am sorry for any additional stress that this process has caused. Please, feel free to post a comment on this blog or e-mail me at if you have thoughts or questions on this matter. Thank you for all that you do everyday to help LUCAP and Loyola at large, and I look forward to seeing you all on Monday.