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Explore a featured selection of my writing work below.
The Maroon •

The White House media ban raises questions

The Trump administration’s restrictions on CNN, MS NOW and Politico have raised questions about government control, press access and the public’s ability to receive information, while the legal dispute over the outlets’ access to the White House continues.
For Lisa Collins, a professor of practice in journalism at Loyola University New Orleans, physical access is an important part of reporting.
“If you’re not there, you can’t ask questions. You can’t find out why this is happening or why is this...
The Maroon •

Belén Puche reaches 1,000 assists during senior season

As Loyola volleyball senior Belén Puche hit her thousandth assist on the court, she completed a goal she didn’t even realize she had been reaching for. Puche, an international business major from Spain, said she often forgets about statistics during games. Instead, she focuses on playing volleyball and helping her team.
“I just play volleyball, so I don’t really care about the numbers,” Puche said.
When Puche realized she had reached 1,000 assists, her first thoughts were of her family back home...
The Maroon •

President Cole reflects on meeting Pope Leo XIV

Loyola University New Orleans President Xavier A. Cole met with Pope Leo XIV this summer during a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi with leaders from Jesuit colleges and universities across the United States.
The meeting marked Cole’s second encounter with a pope during his presidency and came shortly after Leo XIV became the first American pope.
Cole said the experience reinforced the responsibility Catholic and Jesuit universities have to educate students who use their talents in service of others...
The Maroon •

Jaxon Buratt earns All-Louisiana Second-Team honors

For Loyola University New Orleans baseball player Jaxon Buratt, being named to the All-Louisiana Second Team is an accomplishment he never imagined.
“I am very thankful for the honor,” Buratt said. “If you had told me coming out of high school that I would receive something like that, I never would have believed it.”
The junior third baseman was recognized by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association following a season that added another accomplishment to his three-year career with the Wolf Pack....
The Maroon •

After shooting at Dooky Chase’s restaurant, community support remains strong

A shooting at the historic Dooky Chase’s restaurant has shaken New Orleans, raising safety concerns while community members rally to protect the landmark’s legacy.
On Jan. 16, 2026, the violence left 19-year-old Kareem Harris dead and three tourists injured. The suspect, 18-year-old Makahi Kelly, allegedly entered the Orleans Avenue establishment and opened fire, shocking the city and drawing attention to public safety in one of its most culturally significant neighborhoods.
When addressing the...
The Maroon •

Loyola Volleyball Makes History With First-Ever SSAC Championship Win

Loyola women’s volleyball stepped into history, capturing the program’s first-ever Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament Championship—a moment senior Samantha Guillotte describes as “unreal,” one that still feels “like a fever dream.”
For a team that spent the year learning, rebuilding, and growing together, the championship wasn’t just a trophy. It was the payoff to months of work, trust, and belief in one another.
“Our goal was to be playing our best by the tournament,” Guillotte said...
The Maroon •

2025 Fashion Recap: The Year of Reinvention and Digital Influence

As 2025 comes to a close, fashion has once again proven to be a mirror of the times — bold, experimental, and deeply shaped by online culture. This year was marked by a return to individuality, where self-expression took center stage and nostalgia blended seamlessly with futuristic aesthetics.
If 2024 was about quiet luxury, 2025 was the year of statement minimalism — clean silhouettes paired with one standout element, whether it was metallic accessories, exaggerated tailoring, or a pop of neo...
The Maroon •

Shiny, Smooth, and Stylish: The Reign of Lip Oils and Glosses in 2025

From viral TikTok favorites to celebrity-endorsed launches, lip products have taken center stage in beauty trends this year. Whether it’s the high-shine finish of gloss, the comfort of a hydrating oil, or the timeless boldness of lipstick, 2025 has proven that lip care and lip color are no longer separate categories — they’re one and the same.
One of the biggest beauty shifts of the year is the rise of lip oils. Brands like Dior, Fenty Beauty, and NYX have capitalized on the demand for glossy hy...
The Maroon •

Victoria Secret Fashion Show 2025

The 2025 edition of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show marked a triumphant return of the brand’s signature spectacle, held on Oct. 15, 2025, once again in New York City. This year the runway took place at a New York venue and streamed live at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on platforms including Prime Video, Amazon Live, and the brand’s Instagram, YouTube and TikTok channels. 
The show opened with high energy and glossy production value, embracing the brand’s roots while injecting modern inclusivity and gl...
The Maroon •

COLUMN: Loyola reflects on Native American Heritage Month amid limited campus recognition

Every November, Native American Heritage Month honors the culture, history and contributions of Indigenous peoples across the United States. The month serves as a time to recognize the resilience of Native communities and their continuing influence on American society.
In New Orleans, several local organizations, including the New Orleans Public Library, are hosting a series of events celebrating Native American Heritage Month. These include storytelling sessions, art exhibits and educational pr...
The Maroon •

Loyola university’s Sarah Meral Shines with first SSAC honor

Loyola University New Orleans golfer Sarah Meral earned her first career Southern States Athletic Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week award after a stellar performance at the St. Thomas University Fall Invitational.
Meral captured the individual medalist title, finishing one stroke ahead of the field with a two-round score of 148. Her consistent play helped propel the Wolf Pack to a strong team finish, marking one of the biggest highlights of her collegiate career so far.
“It honestly felt ama...
The Maroon •

Dr. Robert Thomas Pushes for a Land Acknowledgement at Loyola

Loyola University New Orleans Professor Robert “Bob” Thomas is continuing his push for the university to officially adopt a land acknowledgement—a statement recognizing that the campus sits on Indigenous land and honoring the Native communities who first inhabited it.
Thomas has long advocated for recognizing Indigenous history, explaining that he begins every class with a land acknowledgement. 
“It’s something I use to remind students of the people who came before us,” he said. “It’s about resp...
The Maroon •

Wolf Pack Prevail in Quadruple-Overtime Thriller

On Tuesday night, Nov. 4, the Loyola Wolf Pack men’s basketball team pulled off a thrilling 110-102 win over their cross-town rival, the Xavier Gold Rush, at The Den — but it took four overtimes to get there.
Loyola started strong with a quick 12-3 lead thanks to a three-pointer from Zachary Lee and solid defense that kept Xavier from scoring easily. But Xavier answered with a big scoring run of their own, jumping ahead by double digits. Loyola fought back before halftime, cutting the lead to ju...
The Maroon •

Loyola Men’s Basketball Dominate’s First Win

The Loyola men’s basketball team opened the 2025–26 season with a statement, defeating Texas A&M University-San Antonio 94-61 in the Den – marking the first win of the Trey Lindsey era.
The Wolf Pack wasted no time setting the tone. Sophomore forward Kosta Bjelicic scored the team’s first six points, helping spark a 17–0 run in the opening minutes. Junior guard Kameron Johnson led the way with 15 points, five assists, and five steals, directing the offense with confidence and control.
“Offensive...
The Maroon •

Day one: Inside the team’s first practice

Members of Loyola University New Orleans’ Futbol Club gathered on the Residential Quad as they prepared for a new season. 
Led by team captain Malik Maali, the student-run club is kicking off its return this school year with weekly practices and matches open to the Loyola community. 
The team aims to provide students with a chance to compete, build skills, and connect through the sport. 
This past Friday, September 12, they held their first practice, marking the official start of their season an...
The Maroon •

Women’s volleyball secures on-the-road victory against Faulkner

The women’s volleyball team won the game after an opening set loss, taking down Faulkner ,3–1, on the road. Loyola regrouped and responded with three straight wins to close out the match, showing the kind of resilience that has been a theme for the team so far this season.
The win moved Loyola to 11–5 overall and 2–1 in the Southern States Athletic Conference, giving the pack momentum heading into another conference weekend. 
On offense, the team finished with 55 successful attacks—the most they...
The Maroon •

Loyola University Names Ryan Fitzgerald to Lead New Rugby

With new developments on the horizon, Loyola University New Orleans has officially made a move—launching men’s and women’s varsity rugby programs set to begin in fall 2026. This addition reflects the school’s commitment to expanding athletic opportunities with a more diverse and inclusive range of sports.
Now home to 22 varsity sports, the rugby programs will continue the Wolf Pack tradition of excellence while introducing a fresh, competitive edge to the athletics department. 
Leading the charg...
The Maroon •

Faculty Retention at Loyola University: The Struggles of pay, support, and continuity

According to faculty at Loyola University, retention has reached a critical point, with low pay and inadequate support for tenured and tenure-track faculty becoming significant barriers. 
Faculty members say the issue has contributed to the departure of faculty members across multiple disciplines, threatening the institution’s academic rigor, continuity, and overall morale. The extent of this problem and its broader implications on the academic mission of the university are becoming increasingly...
The Maroon •

From Life Sentence to Second Chances: Loyola Hosts Screening of ‘Commuted’

The story of Danielle Metz—once sentenced to triple life in prison for nonviolent drug offenses—had just played out before an audience at Loyola College of Law. A moment later, applause erupted, not just for the film, but for Metz herself, who sat in the room, ready to share her journey beyond incarceration.
Last week, the Jesuit Social Research Institute and the Loyola Student Bar Association hosted a screening of Commuted, the award-winning documentary that follows Metz’s life after serving 23...