New Orleans – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

A Final Taste of New Orleans: PCAS/ACAS Day Four

Our final morning in New Orleans was spent exploring the things that local businesses had to offer, which was a wonderful end to our trip. After several busy days of attending conference sessions, exploring the city, and learning about the history and culture of New Orleans, it was nice to have a slower morning before leaving the city. Rather than rushing from one activity to another, we were able to take our time, enjoy breakfast together, and do some last-minute shopping before beginning the drive home.

Breakfast and Shopping

Written by Allie Plunk

For breakfast, we stopped by Café du Monde, which is well known for its beignets. Since Café du Monde is such a recognizable part of New Orleans, getting the opportunity to actually eat there felt like an important part of our final morning in the city. The line was much shorter than anticipated, so we were very quickly able to order and enjoy our beignets and cups of both hot and iced café au lait, a type of coffee served with milk.

The beignets were definitely worth the stop. Covered in powdered sugar, they were sweet, warm, and messy in the best possible way. There was something especially fitting about ending our time in New Orleans with a food that is so closely associated with the city. After spending the past few days learning about New Orleans through its history, literature, architecture, and culture, we were able to experience one of the city’s most recognizable foods for ourselves.

Following breakfast, we browsed through the French Market, where many of the shops are run by local businesses. The market gave us one final opportunity to experience the creativity and individuality of New Orleans before leaving. Instead of purchasing souvenirs from large chain stores, we were able to look through items made or sold by local artists and businesses. There was a little bit of everything, from artwork and photographs to jewelry, decorations, and other handmade goods.

I bought a deliciously scented lavender soap and two perfumes, while the other LEAP students bought various items such as photographs, illustrations, and jewelry. It was fun seeing what everyone chose because our purchases were all so different. In a way, the things we decided to take home became small reminders of our individual experiences in New Orleans.

Once we had shopped to our hearts’ content, we headed straight for Baton Rouge for a tour of the state capitol. Although it was difficult to leave New Orleans after everything we had experienced there, the Capitol gave us one more opportunity to learn about Louisiana before our trip came to an end.

Louisiana State Capitol

Written by Isis Hollis

A staple in every LEAP trip is visiting state capitols! The style, features, and experience are different for each building, but the Louisiana State Capitol proved to be filled with some of the most dramatic history.

Before getting into the history, there was the architecture carefully put together under Huey Long, who later served as both Senator and Governor. The building is 34 stories high, making it one of only a few skyscraper capitols in the United States. With 26 different types of stone, mostly marble, the Art Deco style is prominent throughout the building, with long columns and intricate designs. Bronze can be seen across many different surfaces on the inside, including the doors, floors, and walls.

The Capitol’s design immediately made it stand out from the other state capitols we have visited. Rather than the traditional appearance that many people associate with government buildings, the Louisiana State Capitol has a much more imposing and modern appearance. The height of the building alone makes it difficult to miss, and once inside, the amount of detail throughout the building makes it clear that the architecture was meant to communicate a sense of importance and power.

A mural painted by Jules Garron depicts the abundance of the earth surrounding Louisiana and fills the south and north walls of the main entrance. On either side of the elevators, large white marble cups with champagne-like bubbles serve as a token of friendship from the French. These details added another connection between the building and Louisiana’s larger cultural history, especially considering the strong French influence that can still be seen throughout the state.

As mentioned, the history of the Louisiana Capitol is filled with drama unlike many others. Huey Long, former Senator and Governor, was assassinated in what used to be the executive hallway of the building. On September 8, 1935, Governor Long was shot by Carl Weiss. The marble in the floor, columns, and walls surrounding the hall still contains the original bullet holes from the incident.

Seeing the location where such an important event happened made the history feel much more real. It is one thing to learn about a historical event in a textbook, but standing in the same place where it occurred gives the story an entirely different weight. The Capitol was not simply a beautiful building that we were touring; it was also a place where major events in Louisiana’s political history had actually taken place.

There is also, in the Senate chamber, what is known as the “pencil in the ceiling,” which is actually a shard of wood. The wood got there from a bombing that occurred in 1970. Ironically, the bombers, who placed the TNT near the box in the chamber, were from Texas. This was another example of how the Capitol seemed to have a story hidden around every corner. Even small details, such as a piece of wood stuck in the ceiling, could be connected to a much larger part of the state’s history.

We also learned about the unfortunate history surrounding Louisiana politics, as the state has consistently dealt with political corruption. Governor Long was nicknamed the “Kingfish,” and his controversial political career even inspired a movie about his corruption. Learning about these events provided an interesting contrast to the cultural experiences we had throughout the rest of our trip. New Orleans is often celebrated for its music, food, architecture, festivals, and unique cultural identity, but the history behind the state is much more complicated.

Despite this complicated history, Louisiana has kept its rich culture intact, creating a beautiful atmosphere that was further emphasized by the Capitol. The building itself seemed to represent many of the contradictions we encountered throughout our trip: beauty alongside violence, tradition alongside modernity, and celebration alongside a complicated past. Visiting the Capitol gave us one final opportunity to see how history continues to shape the places we visit.

Conclusion

After leaving Baton Rouge, our trip was officially coming to an end. What began with our arrival in New Orleans had taken us through conference presentations, discussions about literature and culture, historic sites, local businesses, food, and experiences that we could not have gotten from a classroom alone. Our final morning was therefore a fitting conclusion. We were able to enjoy the local culture one last time, take home a few pieces of New Orleans with us, and end our trip by learning more about the history of Louisiana.

Although we were leaving the city, the experiences from the trip gave us plenty to bring home with us. From the conversations we had at the conference to the places we visited and the things we learned along the way, the trip showed us how much can be learned when we step outside of the classroom and experience these subjects firsthand. New Orleans was more than just the location of our conference. It became another part of our education, and it was a memorable way to end our LEAP experience.

Experiencing Creole: PCAS/ACAS Day Three

Our third day in New Orleans offered a unique look at the melting pot of Creole culture. Creole, as the name suggests, grew from the city’s status as a global port, blending the best parts of nearly every nation and state, including customs, traditions, and ideas. Today, we took a deeper look at that concept, experiencing the city’s cultural blend with the rest of the world.

History at the National World War II Museum

Written by Robin Houghton

We started our Saturday by taking a taxi to the National World War II Museum, the largest of its kind in the United States. Spanning seven acres, the museum is so expansive that it offers two-day passes to see everything.

Our visit began in the Pacific Theatre, since we were less familiar with that side of the war. Given less attention both during the war and in teaching about it afterward, there was a lot we learned about this area for the first time.

The museum was jam-packed with artifacts, most frequently artillery and an impressive collection of uniforms. We especially found the nurse’s uniforms fascinating!

One thing we found interesting was the Allied strategy of island hopping. After landing in Guadalcanal, the Allied powers devised a strategy to continue advancing in the Pacific by “hopping” over heavily fortified islands — isolating Japanese-occupied islands and moving closer to Japan. This strategy was crucial to the Allied powers’ victory in the Pacific.

Near the end, we found ourselves in a replica of the room Anne Frank and her family stayed in while in hiding. Being able to immerse ourselves in the life of the Franks allowed us to experience the routine they had during their time in hiding.

Although we did not spend the two days needed to explore the museum in its entirety, the National World War II Museum gave us plenty to learn, and even more to be excited for if we come back to New Orleans!

A Look into Society and Film

Written by Ruthie Passmore

Our last session of the weekend was a deep dive into film and how it reflects society. First hearing from Chair Daniel S. Traber about Trainspotting, then Kathleen Hardesty about Social Services as the Villain, and lastly from our very own Professor Mike Yawn, speaking about The Manchurian Candidate.

Daniel Traber opened by evaluating Trainspotting through a lens that captured addiction through layers. He reflected on the film’s portrayal of addiction through a combination of surrealism and realism. This helps contribute to a more overarching theme of addiction, the main character’s drug addiction allowing audiences to draw parallels to alcoholism, nicotine addiction, gambling addiction, interpersonal dependency, and consumerism.

Following Traber’s research on addiction, Kathleen Hardesty presented on the portrayal of social workers in film. She began by studying adoption in film, noting that the language surrounding adoption in these works is usually negative. She observed multiple different children’s films that portray social work in a negative light: Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Despicable Me (2010), Lilo & Stitch (2002), and The Willoughbys (2020). In most of these movies, social workers are being painted as the “bad guys.” Hardesty argues that children’s movies play an important role in the narrative of social work and adoption, and that finding more positive ways to refer to social workers in media may reduce stigmas and biases surrounding adoption and social work.

We might be biased, but saving the best for last, we got to hear from Professor Yawn, who gave a reflection on free will in The Manchurian Candidate. He mentioned the Oresteia Trilogy, arguing that there is a narrative structure similarity between the 1962 film and the Greek tragedy. Justifying this argument requires examining how Orestes, in the Oresteia Trilogy, and Raymond Shaw, in The Manchurian Candidate, both face moral dilemmas that force them to choose between family loyalty and moral responsibility. Like Orestes, who must choose between protecting his mother and avenging his father, Raymon struggles between loyalty to his mother and carrying out her orders to kill for her personal vendetta. Together, these works help display the complex relationship between The Manchurian Candidate and free will.

It was a striking ending to a very insightful conference. The LEAP students all agreed that this session was our favorite.

Blending India and Louisiana at Saffron Nola

Written by Ruthie Passmore

We ended the day by indulging in delicious Indian cuisine at Saffron Nola in uptown, near the Garden District. We started with appetizers: garlic and truffle tandoori naan, breads and spreads, and tandoori squash, which our waiter recommended. We all thoroughly enjoyed the starters, describing them as rich and savory, with a perfect balance of spices.

While waiting for our entrees, we had the delight of speaking with Chef Arvinder Vilkhu, who couldn’t have been kinder. He even shared how his son wrote the business plan for Saffron. After chatting with him about the restaurant and its delicious food, he was nice enough to allow us to take a photo with him.

As for our entrees, we ordered four distinct large plates and two small plates. Allie chose the Duck Confit Masala, Isis opted for the Chicken Biryani, and Robin selected the Pork Vindaloo. Meanwhile, Professor Yawn enjoyed the Curried Seafood Gumbo, Stephanie went with the Homestyle Seafood Bisque, and I tried the Grilled Pepper Steak. I would describe my steak as being juicy, tender, and all-around delectable, especially being soaked in the coconut white Malabar sauce, but every dish was spectacular.

For dessert, we got to try five different dishes: English Bread Pudding, Kiss From a Rose, It’s Not Even Your Birthday Cake, Ginger Creme Brulee, and the Peach Seasonal Ice Cream. Robin and I were particularly fond of the Peach Ice Cream. The flavor was perfectly balanced, subtle and delicate, rather than overwhelming. It was topped with peach chutney, which added a savory and tangy depth to the taste. Others enjoyed the Kiss From a Rose, which included ice cream, vermicelli, rose, and pistachios, describing it as floral, in a good way, but sweet at the same time.

This was the perfect way to wrap up the day. It was such a pleasure to hear from the Chef and gain a little insight into how he started the restaurant and his background. His personal touch and willingness to share a little bit about his story with us made it even more worthwhile.

Conclusion

Throughout our stay, we had the opportunity to learn not only from the conference speakers, but also from the city itself. New Orleans has a way of bringing together different histories, cultures, traditions, and ideas, creating something that feels entirely its own. Our last full day was a fitting reflection of that spirit, leaving us with plenty of new memories, new ideas, and a deeper appreciation for the city and the people who make it what it is.

LEAPing into New Orleans Culture and Cuisine: PCAS/ACAS Conference Day Two

Exploring the Southern Gothic

Written by Ruthie Passmore

We started off the second day strong by attending our first session, which was about Southern Gothic Transformations and Reimaginings; the conversation was led by Chair Stephanie Graves, who was accompanied by Rachel Pittman, Anne Bertram, and Jennie Lightweis-Goff. We got to hear about Appalachian Gothic Cinema, Southern Gothic within social media, a piece discussing the film adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and research discussing the differences between the three adaptations of Cape Fear.

First, Rachel Pittman presented her paper, “Deep in the Bone,” which explores Gothic themes in Appalachian literature and highlights the region’s historical economic lag. From her findings, I interpreted Appalachia in literature as fundamentally isolated and decaying, a key part of the Southern Gothic. I found it very interesting how literature seems to interact with the culture and folklore of a place with such a rich history.

Anne Bertram then discussed the impact of the Southern Gothic on popular culture. By sharing various TikTok videos, Bertram demonstrated how the genre is depicted online, highlighting artist Ethel Cain and the film Sinners as key reasons why it keeps growing. Additionally, she emphasized the irony that the vast majority of people interested in Southern Gothic online are young, teenage females from Russia, though the genre emphasizes its location in the South United States as a defining feature.

Moving forward, we heard from Jennie Lightweis-Goff, who covered John Berendt’s novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She noted that the story takes place in Savannah, Georgia, where the main character Jim Williams kills Danny Hansford. Since this novel is based on a true story, it led her to discuss modern true crime, claiming that much of today’s true crime coverage is fraudulent, and that true crime capitalizes on tragedy itself, turning real loss into a profitable trend.

Finally, Chair Stephanie Graves shed light on the three different adaptations of Cape Fear, first examining the 1962 version, moving on to 1991, and lastly the new series that came out in 2026. Across all three iterations, one thing remains constant: Max Cady remains the antagonist. She went on to explain that the differences among the three alter the central Gothic relationship. For instance, in the 1991 movie, Bowden represents Cady as his criminal defense attorney, unlike in the 1962 film, where he is not his attorney. This complicates the conflict in the story, giving Cady a motive for his crime, because in this adaptation, Bowden suppresses evidence that would have been able to lessen Cady’s sentence.

Though I was previously unfamiliar with these works, it was a wonderful opportunity to gain new insights, and I thoroughly enjoyed attending!

Sports & Video Games

Written by Robin Houghton

Isis and I decided to sit in on the panel discussing Games, Fans, and Fandoms for our conference session. Led by chair Vlada Botoric, all three panelists discussed the use of media, mostly video games, in fostering community and culture.

Vlada Botoric began with his presentation on LEGO fan cultures and the concept of peripheral fandom, a term he defined as a subordinated fan community experience, where members are deprived of access to their objects of fandom.
Botoric explained that although material conditions and accessibility of LEGO products affected creativity, across cultures such as Japan and Mexico, they still managed to create unique cultural expressions with LEGO products.

Next, Cheryl Briggs presented on digital communities, particularly through the VR exercise game Supernatural. Supernatural is unique from most exercise media as its VR platform allows the user’s body to produce the experience, rather than simply being a passive participant. The formatting creates a workout experience that turns exercise into play — but it was its multiplayer feature that turned Supernatural into a way to develop community. Briggs detailed how scheduling routines with people through Supernatural also turned the platform into a community of friends that also helped keep her and thousands of users motivated to continue exercising.

Finally, Dr. Tom Attah presented on how culture, particularly of the American South, can be depicted through video games. Using the game South of Midnight, Dr. Attah discussed how, compared to most media, video games turn a cultural witness into a performer of the culture, using the characters as functions to tell a story. Players gain agency when experiencing the cultures represented that could be otherwise inaccessible without the means to travel to those locations. Attah concluded that video games should be treated as a form of cultural expression similar to music or literature. With more and more people regularly playing video games, the cultural impact of the games people consume can no longer be ignored.

We found the session to be an enlightening discussion on the connection between community, video games, and fandom that left us more curious about the ways we connect with individuals and cultures through technology.

Lunch at Cafe Reconcile & Hansen’s Sno-Bliz

Written by Allie Plunk

Following the morning’s sessions, we had time for a little fun and food! We had initially planned to eat at Cafe Reconcile, a restaurant known for its community outreach and internship programs for disadvantaged youth. Facing an hour-long wait, we decided to eat dessert first, and headed to Hansen’s Sno-Bliz!

Hansen’s Sno-Bliz was unlike any snow cone shop we’d been to. The ice that made up the core of the “snow-bliz” was soft and fluffy, almost the texture of ice cream. The flavor choices were unique too, offering selections that ranged from cardamom and ginger cayenne to cream of chocolate and coffee.

We all tried different combinations of flavors, though our favorite was probably Stephanie’s ginger and cardamom snowbliz, topped with condensed milk. Some other delicious combinations were strawberry and chocolate cream, banana and chocolate cream, and cardamom and chocolate cream with ice cream.

After dessert, we headed back to Cafe Reconcile for lunch, where we enjoyed a variety of dishes! I had the Reconcile Cheeseburger, which featured a massive onion ring atop a classic cheeseburger. A few other favorites were the fried chicken, the red beans and rice, and the portobello po’boy.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience and a delicious lunch that allowed us to try new things, as well as twists on familiar favorites.

Experiencing Culture at the New Orleans Museum of Art

Written by Isis Hollis

Following our delicious lunch, we had the opportunity to visit the New Orleans Museum of Art. We were able to explore some of the major forms of art LEAP typically sees, such as impressionism, expressionism, and modernism, in addition to some of Louisiana’s characteristic folk art!

With three floors to explore, we started on the second with Professor Yawn as our guide. Something we don’t see often in the museums we visit is decorative art. Many people know this as Tiffany lamps or floral vases, but we were able to see this in various forms. The Eames chair, most popularly known for its modern look, is one of the many decorative art pieces we saw. One of my favorite decorative art pieces was a Tiffany vase adorned with intricate flowers. It caught my attention specifically for its variety of colors in the glass and its unique shape. Another notable piece was an intricate stair railing by Louis Sullivan, who’s credited with designing the first-ever skyscraper!

Another highlight from the second level was impressionist art. Many of us particularly like the impressionist style and the range of moods that it can encompass. My favorite piece, In the Garden, Giverny by Frederick C. Frieseke, is an American impressionist piece depicting a woman walking through a garden with flowers and a wall of greenery behind her. One of my favorite features was the cool-toned colors and pops of white throughout the painting.

On that same floor were pieces by Jackson Pollock, Picasso, and Monet.

What was perhaps our favorite exhibit was a life-sized cabin titled America, by Will Ryman. Created entirely out of symbols of American industrialization, such as iPhones, bullets, lightbulbs, and even chains, it proved to be an incredibly thought provoking piece that asked us to reflect on the impacts that rapid industrial growth have had on America.

After our guided exploration, we got to view the other parts of the museum on our own! Allie, Ruthie, and I looked at the Asian art, including Japanese, Indian, and Chinese pieces. Allie and I liked many of the Japanese pieces, specifically the Byobu art. Byobu pieces are traditional Japanese folding screens, often painted with intricate landscapes, portraits, or animals.

Overall, the museum strengthened connections between the artists we’ve seen before and gave us a better look into art throughout different times in different parts of the world.

Press Street Train Stop and Heard Dat Kitchen

Written by Allie Plunk

As a conclusion to our busy day, we ordered delicious meals from New Orleans hidden gem Heard Dat Kitchen! While our food was being prepared, we paid a visit to the Press Street Railroad Yards, the site of the train stop made famous withthe arrest of Homer Plessy. This culminated in the court case Plessy v. Ferguson, which established the “separate but equal” ruling that was later overturned by Brown v. Board of Education, 1954. There was a beautiful mural in honor of the amazing steps towards civil equality that have been made over the years, featuring figures like Ruby Bridges.

After our train “pit” stop, we headed over to Heard Dat Kitchen, eager to eat. Sitting outside at tables while we enjoyed our food provided a New Orleans atmosphere that paired well with our meals.

Some of our dinnertime favorites were the creamy Superdome, a blackened fish dish with mashed potatoes and lobster sauce, and the Heard Dat Pasta, a crawfish pasta topped with fried shrimp and green onions.

Following our deliciously seasoned meals, we enjoyed bread pudding, many of us trying it for the first time! The delicious, nutty dessert was well-liked by all the LEAP students and provided an excellent close to an excellent day.

Conclusion

Our second day in New Orleans gave us the opportunity to experience the city from several different perspectives. From exploring Southern Gothic literature and the cultural communities surrounding video games to enjoying New Orleans cuisine and examining art from around the world, we continued to discover how culture can be expressed through many different forms. Each experience gave us something new to consider and helped us better understand the history and creativity of the city around us. After such a busy and exciting day, we are all looking forward to seeing what our next day in NOLA brings!

A Parade Through History

On the third day of our New Orleans trip, we had an exciting itinerary lined up to continue our learning! After grabbing some coffee to start the day, we set off on a 20-minute walk to St. Louis Cemetery.

St. Louis Cemetery Tour

by Chrissy Biello

Traveling through New Orleans, one might notice the cemeteries and how distinct they are from other cities. With approximately forty-two historic burial grounds, our curiosity led us to explore the oldest existing cemetery in the city, St. Louis Cemetery. Thankfully, we had a knowledgeable and humorous tour guide named Denise who could explain things along the way.

Denise discussed the origin of St. Louis Cemetery, which emerged from a pressing need for space. On August 14, 1789, the cemetery opened because the neighboring St. Peter Street Cemetery had become severely overcrowded. During this time, Spanish colonists persuaded the residents of New Orleans to adopt an innovative solution: above-ground tombs that would maximize limited burial space.

Interestingly, there are strict protocols for burial. A new interment cannot occur until two years have passed since the previous burial, allowing for proper decomposition. When a new burial takes place, the remains of previous occupants are carefully collected, placed in a bag, and pushed to the back of the tomb using a long pole; a practice that reportedly inspired the popular phrase, “I would not touch them with a ten-foot pole.”

Turning around, we examined the oven tombs. Denise illustrated that they have this name because they have a wide opening, continuing to say that “they resemble a baker’s oven; can’t you imagine a pizza sliding in there?!”

Moreover, one could not help but notice the striking nine-foot-tall pyramid tomb for Nicolas Cage when he passes away. Notably, it is inscribed with the Latin phrase “Omnia Ab Uno” meaning “Everything From One.”

Continuing on the tour, Denise took us to the Orleans Battalion of Artillery tomb, which holds those that fought, but did not die, in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

Further, the New Orleans Italian Mutual Benevolent Society’s marble tomb. Denise explained that many Italian immigrants, facing financial difficulties, could not afford individual burial plots. To address this, they pooled their resources to collectively purchase and share a communal burial site.

Another well-known individual buried in the cemetery is Homer Plessy, known for Plessy v. Ferguson. Denise shared how this civil rights pioneer, central to the Plessy v. Ferguson case, was finally pardoned by the Louisiana Governor in 2022; a moment of long-overdue justice.

Additionally, the “the Faux Laveau” grave, often mistaken for the famous Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau, was adorned with symbolic crosses. In sets of three, they represent the Holy Trinity positioned sideways to signify the completion of crucifixion and resurrection.

Nonetheless, we ended the tour at the authentic Marie Laveau’s grave. Here, Denise explained that while Marie practiced Voodoo, she was a devout Catholic that would attend Mass daily. In her whimsical voice, Denise noted that the over emphasis of the voodoo aspect of Marie Laveau is “all a part of the loooreeee!”

As we exited the cemetery, we felt we had gained a deeper understanding of New Orleans’ unique culture. We would like to thank Denise for a great tour; her captivating storytelling and deep knowledge of the cemetery’s history made the experience both educational and memorable!

3rd Annual Children’s Hospital New Orleans Holiday Parade

by Chrissy Biello

Following the cemetery tour, we began the walk to return to our hotel before heading out to get lunch. To our surprise, a holiday parade was taking place! We learned that this parade is organized by the New Orleans Children’s Hospital and began in 2022.

Starting at the French Market, the parade winds through Downtown. As we watched the floats go by, we saw the Grinch dressed as Santa Claus and the Children’s Hospital float featuring their very own Mrs. Claus.

The best part of the parade was the cheerleaders and dancers. Their performances were fun and festive, bringing energy and excitement to the crowd. They also threw beads to the audience, which many were trying to catch!

St. James Cheese Company – Lunch

by Chrissy Biello

While walking the streets of New Orleans, we came across the St. James Cheese Company. Having passed this establishment before, we had assumed that they only sold cheese. To our surprise and delight, they offer a wide selection of sandwiches, bagels, fondue, and festive drinks.

Since we all greatly enjoy cheese, we decided to order the sharable fondue. Although I may appear quite serious in this photo, I assure you that my expression does not reflect how I truly felt at the time.

The sandwiches also looked especially appealing. Olivia chose the Gruyere Sandwich, while I opted for the Hot Mozzarella Sandwich. Michelle, who tends to make healthier choices, ordered the Soup of the Day, which turned out to be Creamy Garlic and Mushroom Soup!

After finishing our meal, we continued on to our next destination, the National World War II Museum.

National World War II Museum

by Michelle Moya

Following the parade and our meal at the St. James Cheese Company, we headed to the National World War II Museum. As it was National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we felt very reflective and thankful for the soldiers that fought for us. Nevertheless, as a self-proclaimed American History hater, I went to the museum with not much knowledge. However, this tour definitely changed that!

One fascinating feature of this museum was the “dog tag experience.” We grabbed our “dog tags,” each of which was linked to a real soldier’s experience and role in the conflict that you had to find throughout the museum. I got Mike Colalillo!

To begin our walk-through, we started at “the Arsenal of Democracy” on the second level. The museum was a labyrinth of fascinating displays. This section demonstrated all of the great inventions that helped America win the war. Essentially, the “Arsenal of Democracy” was made possible by these tools!

Then, we dove into the heart of the Normandy invasion. My favorite there was the mass of hanging planes, a reminder of the airborne operations that preceded the beach landings that depict the Normandy morning crash.

Noteworthy, the “Personal Accounts” booths that have two-minute oral history programs with soldiers. Olivia walked into the “Night Drop into Normandy” booth and ended up hearing a horrible story about a soldier that got shot in his jaw but proceeded to fight. This goes to show the atrocities that these troops had to endure during this battle.

We then made our way to my personal favorite exhibition, the “Road to Tokyo” exhibit. The museum’s immersive displays, including a recreated jungle environment, provided a glimpse into the challenges faced by American soldiers fighting in the Pacific. The setting was super captivating, and the stories of the soldiers fighting in the Pacific were both inspiring and heartbreaking to hear.

To finish off our tour, we went to the museum store to look at the goodies they had. Olivia ended up purchasing a chocolate bar and Stephen E. Ambrose’s book Eisenhower: Soldier and President. Ultimately, the National WWII Museum not only taught me about a pivotal era in history, but it also inspired me to implement more history knowledge into my life.

I left the exhibition with a deeper appreciation for those who fought for our freedom, which was the overall goal!

A NOLA Adventure: Day 1

Oct. 13, 2022, Jessica Cuevas

PCAC Session 1

After a long drive Wednesday evening to Louisiana, we were up and early to attend our first Academic Conference – The Popular Culture Association in the South! The three presenters for the Film and Noir session were Professor Yawn, Matthew Wysocki of Flagler College, and Lauren Mitchell of Vanderbilt.

Professor Yawn presented over “A Simple Plan,” directed by Sam Raini, (most famously known for the Evil Dead movies).

He argued that the film is best understood by looking at it from a tragic framework, with questions of free will and fate, the allure of the American dream at its center, and the tension between brothers.

The motif of “brotherhood” is seen again in “Only God forgives,” which Matthew Wysocki addressed in his presentation. More elaborately, though, it addresses the role of mother. Crystal, an untraditional mother if ever there was one, uses manipulation and raw power to gain even more power, abandoning all of what would normally be regarded as traditional maternal behavior.

Lauren Mitchell presented her paper over the movie “Hereditary. ” This film continues the theme of motherhood, highlighting the difficult time we have of seeing mothers as real people, who sometimes becomes mothers despite not wanting children, who sacrifice goals and hopes and dreams for others.

We successfully survived, and even enjoyed our first academic conference, and embarked on our way to our next stop!

Brunch at Elizabeth’s

Ashley Kinyon

This afternoon, we drove down to Elizabeth’s Restaurant right next to the Mississippi River. We started with an assortment of appetizers; boudin balls, fried green tomatoes, (some with seafood!), and possibly the strangest of the bunch, praline bacon. While we waited for the starters, we learned that many foods that we love in the US originated in New Orleans, either by invention or through trade. This includes pralines, which originated in France, but which was improved on in New Orleans, and then spread mostly through the South.

My favorite of the selection was the boudin balls, Morgan favored the fried green tomatoes, and for Yvette it was the praline bacon.

To maximize on adventure and try new (to us) flavors, we ordered four main dishes. For our main course, Morgan and Victoria ordered the shrimp and grits; the ratio of shrimp and grits was perfect.

Jessica played it safe with the avocado toast, with a poached egg. Although to her credit, the toast did have some NOLA spice to it, and she paired it with a side of grits.

Yvette chose the duck waffles, which she enjoyed but deemed too spicy, a recurring motif throughout the trip (and from what I gathered, throughout her life).

I picked the sweet meal out of the bunch and had banana foster French toast, which was delicious!

For dessert, we had bread pudding and pecan pie. The bread pudding was average, not the table’s favorite, but the pecan pie was amazing, better than any I’ve had in Texas.

Thoroughly stuffed and with high expectations for our next NOLA meal, we embarked on our adventure!

Homer Plessy

With a bit of downtime, we hustled over to a City Park, one highlighting civil rights. It was the site of Homer Plessy’s train ride, where he spurred a test case on Jim Crow laws.

Unfortunately, Plessy lost in 1896, and the doctrine of “Separate but Equal” became shameful precedent in the US, not replaced until 1954’s Brown v. Board of Education.

While at the Plessy site, we also looked over the rest of the park, taking in some of NOLA’s civil rights heroes.

Zooming through NOLA

Yvette Mendoza

We have concluded over three separate LEAP trips that there is no better way to learn more about a new city than by Segway, and we did just that in NOLA! Our excellent tour guide, John, with Nation Tours did a great job explaining the richness of history, architecture, and culture in New Orleans. So as the LEAP Ambassadors took their Segways through the French Quarter to the Mississippi River, we all gained a deeper understanding of NOLA.

John frequently time-traveled and described what the city was like in days past. Some of the tour was a refresher on previous history lessons, while other parts were new information. We learned that NOLA went through 4 major governing shifts. The city was initially founded by the French, taken over by the Spanish, fell again under French rule, and then finally doubled the size of the U.S. in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase.

Next, we headed to Jackson Square. This central location is deemed such because of the “Hero of New Orleans,” Andrew Jackson, and his unexpected victory as General at the Battle of New Orleans in early 1815. This was a major win for the United States because it spared the US the prospect of the British having control over the mouth of the Mississippi.

Perhaps the prime feature of Jackson Square must be the stunning, almost 300-year-old, St. Louis Cathedral. This Cathedral is one of the oldest in the country and was founded during Spanish occupation!

Our jaws dropped when we discovered we were stepping in front of the oldest Cathedral. We could not miss a photo opportunity!

Up next, Bourbon Street! Here we learned more about the Spanish stock architecture and the fantastic bars that perform the best jazz in New Orleans. this blend of modern-day culture, with historic surroundings is the city’s largest source of revenue Pre-covid, NOLA saw millions of tourists each year, and now those numbers are significantly lower. In fact, without tourists, there is genuinely no thriving NOLA since no revenue is being made.

No matter your age, interests, taste, there is something to be found by everyone in NOLA!

New Orleans felt like its own country. The way the people, location, and everything else are something we are not used to. We are so grateful we were able to learn so much on the Segway Tour guided by John; thank you so much!

Dinner at Oceana

Morgan Robertson

To conclude our evening, we stopped at the corner of Conti and Bourbon for yet another taste of NOLA. Oceana is popular for having a wide variety of NOLA standards, such as oysters, po’boys, and étouffée to name just a few.

To start, we stuck with our trend of an assortment of appetizers including, gator tail bites, boudin balls, fresh, Rockefeller oysters, and chargrilled oysters. For Ashley and me, this was our first time to try oysters and we had slightly different reactions. Ashley tried the Rockefeller oysters and determined they were not her favorite. I tried all three and enjoyed the Rockefeller the most! Everyone enjoyed the boudin balls, and we all agreed that alligator tastes a lot like chicken.

For our main meals, we once again mimicked family style, and tried many new flavors. Victoria and I split a blackened redfish, with a side of greens, Yvette and Jessica ventured out with the taste of New Orleans (creole jambalaya, crawfish étouffée, red beans and rice with smoked sausage), Ashley had the fried shrimp platter, and Professor Yawn and Stephanie split the Bayou Duck.

Verdicts were split on what the best entrée was, but at least three out of seven favored the blackened redfish. The flavors were once again unique but fantastic, a trip to NOLA could be made simply for the food.

Despite having little room for dessert (except for Stephanie because she effectively planned) we selected three options carrot cake, la boehme crème brule, and of course, bread pudding. The bread pudding was easily the favorite, but everyone enjoyed the sweet treats to end our wonderful meal!

Bourbon Street

We might have seen Bourbon St. during the day, but it was almost a completely new place after dark. Our steps fell in time to the bass of the music around us, and it almost felt like a runway with the flashing lights. If it is true that anyone can find something on Bourbon St, it’s even more true at night. Being only a Thursday night, however, we might gone at a slightly better time as it was not insanely busy.

Not wanting to linger on Bourbon Street and needing some sleep, we headed back to our hotels, to get rest for another day of learning and fun tomorrow.

Walking Through New Orleans

Segway Tour

by Miranda Estrada

LEAP student’s second day exploring began with us diving into the rich history New Orleans has to offer – via Segway. While most of us have been on Segway tours previously, this was not true for Maggie or Makayla.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Maggie Denena

Our tour began with the Saint Louis Cemetery No. 2. Our tour guide, Ray, explained how New Orleans cemeteries are quite different from most graveyards. Because New Orleans is below sea level, when a grave is buried underground, it can become wet and float to the surface. Instead of underground burials, their solution was to entomb their beloved above ground in marble chambers. We had the chance to respectfully explore, and we found tombs that dated back to the early 1800’s.

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Then, we made our way to Louis Armstrong Park which is named after the famous jazz singer, who is a native New Orleanian.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Armstrong Park

Louis Armstrong Park is also the home of Congo Square. During the 18th century, slaves in Louisiana were given a day of rest on Sundays. During their day of rest, slaves would congregate in the congo square to play music and dance. Congo Square is now credited to be the birthplace of Jazz Music and has influenced all music.

Armstrong Park is also home to New Orleans Municipal Auditorium. Although no longer in use, it once hosted guests like Elvis and Led Zeppelin and even the inaugural season of the NBA New Orleans Jazz team. In between Congo Square and the Municipal is a statue of Allison “Tootie” Montana, of the Mardi Gras Indian Tribe.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Congo Square

Montana served as “chief of chiefs” for over 50 years and worked to change his tribe’s violent culture to a cherished heritage. After learning about Montana, we then headed out of the park and through New Orleans “Treme” (pronounced “Tre-may”) neighborhood.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Segway

As we rode through the streets we stopped briefly along the way to see Marie Laveau’s last known residence. Laveau was a renowned practitioner of Voodoo in New Orleans. SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Marie Laveau

Our next stop was Jackson Square. Jackson square, which was originally named “Place d’Armes” and was designed as a military parade ground and open market by the Spanish. A year after the Battle of New Orleans, the square was renamed to commemorate Andrew Jackson as a hero of the city.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Jackson Square

The square today is a popular site for vendors, artists, and street performers. We walked around and stopped to see a jazz ensemble and take a break in the shade.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Jackson Square

After Jackson square we had the opportunity to see a Banksy piece! Banksy is an unidentified street artist from England. His work often includes political and social themes. After Hurricane Katrina, Banksy did 10 different pieces throughout the city of New Orleans, however, only two remain. The Banksy piece is protected with a covering so people cannot attempt to steal the artwork.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Banksy

We continued through the city getting to see another property once occupied by Marie Laveau, this being one of the buildings that housed her liquor business. Our tour guide then showed us Frenchman Street, which is tucked away from tourists as a spot where locals like to enjoy great food and music of all genres.

Once we left Frenchman Street we headed to Crescent Park. Crescent Park is an urban linear park that connects to the riverfront. This gave us a great view of the naval base, bridges, and even a steamboat.

While we weren’t allowed to take our Segways into Crescent Park, we had the opportunity to Segway along the Mississippi River when we made our way to MoonWalk which was the last stop of our trip.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Mississippi

Luckily, our Segway tour ended just as the rain started. Next, we headed off to lunch.

Lunch Elizabeth’s

by Maggie Denena

After our Segway tour, we were all ready to fuel back up at a local eatery, Elizabeth’s Restaurant. A popular diner among both tourists and locals, LEAP has visited Elizabeth’s a couple times during past trips. Elizabeth’s is known for the funky decoration and ambiance, with Dr. Bob’s Folk Art covering the walls. According to Chef Byron Peck, their mission is to make everything from scratch and keep the dishes unique and respectful of local culture. I think that so far my favorite part of New Orleans is the local’s dedication to preserving their past traditions and cultural philosophies.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Elizabeth's

For lunch, we started off with their almost famous Praline Bacon as well as an order of Boudin Balls and Old Fashioned Callas.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Elizabeth's

Not surprisingly, the praline bacon was almost addictive, and there were no complaints about the other dishes either. Scraping off up the Creole Mustard Sauce served with the Boudin Balls and fighting over the last piece of praline bacon, we finally got around to ordering lunch. Ordering last, I chose the spicy sausage special which was basically a breakfast sandwich, served with spicy sausage and hash browns.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Elizabeth's

Ilexus ordered the Redneck Eggs, which came with fried green tomatoes, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Elizabeth's

Makayla ordered the Duck Waffles, which looked like a typical waffle but was actually cornbread.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Elizabeth's

Miranda decided to order a Shrimp Po-Boy since Louisiana was the birthplace of the sandwich.

Elizabeth’s Restaurant was a pretty neat diner with some fun characteristics of New Orleans, along with some great food! Following lunch, we hit the streets of the French Quarter to see what we could discover!

French Quarter Scavenger Hunt

by Makayla Mason

With an entire afternoon to explore the French Quarter, Professor Yawn and Stephanie provided us with a scavenger hunt. These were our clues, and we were able to get most of them.

Find Napoleon’s ‘Home.’

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Napoleon House

Find a Blue Dog outside of our hotel.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Blue Dog, George Rodrigue

You’ll like New Orleans, but this small street will make you want to go ‘aaaarrrrggghhhh.’

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Pirate's Alley

Take groupie with a street performer. We found singer “Blue,” and she was nice enough to pose with us!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans

Do the Moonwalk.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Mississippi

This store is full of ‘Sound and Fury’ and, although you may have trouble finding, there is light in August. Take a photo with the store sign!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, William Faulkner

Catch a Satchmo sighting.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Louis Armstrong

Have a New Orleans praline.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans,

This street is fit for a king!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans,

Tacky t-shirt!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans,

Eat beignets!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Beignets

And, of course, this meant getting powder all over us!

Although we did not get to completely finish the scavenger hunt, we had so much fun exploring the French Quarter, checking items off the list as well as browsing through the market and different stores.

We also went inside the St. Louis Cathedral. The Cathedral was beautiful with stain glass windows and murals on the walls and ceiling.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, St. Louis Cathedral

It was a calm oasis compared to the loud hustle and bustle outside its doors.

Once we were done exploring and the heat had finally wore us down, we made our way back to the hotel for some down time.

Oceana Grill – Makayla

For dinner, we went to Oceana Grill, which is located in the French Quarter, on the corner of Conti and Bourbon Street. Oceana has been voted into the top 10 restaurants in the U.S. for everyday dining. Their delicious food attracts people from all over including many celebrities.

After taking our seats we ordered Gator Tail Bites and Oceana and Rockefeller Oysters for appetizers (both of which are chargrilled). Maggie had never tried oysters before and Miranda had only eaten raw oysters, so they were excited for this new experience. We also snacked on “gator bites.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Oceana

For our entrees, Makayla and Ryan ordered the Taste of New Orleans, which included creole jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice with smoked sausage. Maggie and Miranda had Cajun inspired pastas and Ilexus chose the Crawfish Etouffee.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Oceana

For dessert, we all split the Bananas Foster Ice Cream Cake and the New Orleans Bread Pudding. Both were very delicious!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Oceana

With satisfied appetites, we walked back to the hotel with a small detour down the infamous Bourbon Street.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Bourbon Street

Day two of our New Orleans adventure is under our belts. It is incredible to be immersed in the history, culture, and traditions of another place and have the ability to embrace every aspect of their home. Day two in New Orleans was amazing, and day three surely will not disappoint!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Maggie Denena, Makayla Mason

NOLA Bound

Art Museum of Southeast Texas

By Makayla Mason

The Leapsters were headed on yet another adventure. This time our destination was a little closer to our southern roots. The LEAP students would be headed to the jazzy city of New Orleans! Before making our long trip to the bayou, LEAP students explored the oil boom city: Beaumont. Here we explored the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. This is a small museum located in the heart of Beaumont, Texas.

As we walked inside we were instantly greeted by a sculpture by a familiar artist, James Surls.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas, James Surls

Surls has three pieces at this museum, two sculptures and a drawing, and it was nice to see be greeted by a familiar presence!

The Museum’s special exhibit was titled “Gulf Coast Lore & Lure,” which featured art representing the heart of the Gulf Coast.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas

This included sculptures and paintings of animals native to the gulf and related activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas

We browsed through the exhibit, admiring different pieces. Among the pieces, we spotted a LEAP favorite: Luis Jemenez.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas, Luis Jimenez

Also, we discovered an interesting artist named Felix “Fox” Harris. Harris, a native of Trinity, Texas, uses random objects such as toys and scrap metal to create large totem inspired sculptures.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas, Fox Harris

We also discovered some nice pieces by Dorothy Hood…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas, Dorothy Hood

…and Rusty Scruby…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas, Rusty Scruby

…while contemplating others.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas, Maggie Denena

We then made our way to a smaller section of the museum that housed pieces by two artists that we regularly see on our trips: Jesus Moroles…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas, Jesus Moroles

and Dale Chihuly.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas, Dale Chihuly

Although small, this museum has some great works of art.

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Up next, we stopped for a light snack at Rao’s Bakery before making our long drive to Louisiana.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Beaumont, Art Museum of SouthEast Texas

Rao’s Bakery

By Makayla Mason

Founded in 1941 by Johnny Rao, Rao’s Bakery was just the sweet stop we needed. Walking through the doors, the delightful smell of sweet pastries and coffee was enough to spike our blood sugar.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Beaumont TX, Rao's Bakery

We ordered a variety of items and, in true LEAP fashion, shared with everyone so that we could all try a variety of treats. We ordered strawberry and cream, and blueberry/cranberry/cream cheese, and blueberry muffins, along with a mini-cannoli.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Beaumont TX, Rao's Bakery

We sipped on an array of coffee and tea including a snickers latte and the Lover’s LEAP tea.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Beaumont TX, Rao's Bakery

It was all so good, there were only crumbs left on the plates!

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Beaumont TX, Rao's Bakery

Blue Dog Cafe-Maggie Denena

For dinner, we stopped at Blue Dog Café in Lafayette, known for the famous pop art paintings by George Rodrigue. The work of George Rodrigue’s ‘blue dog’ paintings first became recognized because of his focus to preserve the past of the Cajun culture and swampy landscaping of the region. Inspired by the regional werewolf legends, the blue dog has become a distinguished pop art icon.