VOLUME 117 | ISSUE 19 Students Students complain of are passing motivation issues due, in on Ragin’ part, to online classes Cajuns store Eliana Bartlett reopen quizzes for our class because a lot on faculty-enhanced learning, certain of students did not take it. Because I did students believe that tuition should be NEWS WRITER due to cost mine, I got out of a lot of assignments. decreased. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’m also online, so I think that is more “The tuition should be lower. I’ve Lena Foster students have found a lack of motivation lenient as well,” Thames said. noticed with so many professors — and, NEWS WRITER in themselves and in their professors, Thames’s GPA has risen from 2.5 to 2.8 it doesn’t apply to all — but with the which has led to unpredictable grades since the pandemic. majority, because their classes are remote, The Ragin’ Cajuns Store at the and frustration with an unwavering Thibodeaux attributes a lack of they stopped caring too,” Thibodeaux University of Louisiana at Lafayette and tuition. motivation in her learning to her said. “It’s like we are paying teachers to other retailers provide college students In a survey conducted by OneClass, professors. slack off.” with products and resources that they “I’ve seen my math professor twice. She According to OneClass, success in 85% of the respondents said that the need, but sometimes pricing plays a big just assigns us something to read, watch, mathematical subjects decreased about pandemic had a negative effect on their role in a student’s decision on what best and a homework assignment. So, I am five to 10 percentage points between grades. Surveyed students attributed their suits them financially. decreasing grades to mental health and teaching myself. I didn’t know I went to fall 2019 and fall 2020. The same study DeVry University,” Thibodeaux said. concluded that in grades three through Even though some students believe online learning. that the goods in the Ragin’ Cajuns Store Many students have said online Thames believes that upholding her eight, reading performances remained are moderately priced, they tend to turn schooling has proven to be an intense grades has become progressively more stable. to cheaper options. adjustment. difficult since the pandemic initially “I feel like math professors are so much “Being online and not being able to be started. According to a study conducted more strict. They are so demanding, and “Goods such as clothing are cheaper at in a classroom setting is really depressing, by Ithaka S+R, spring 2020 GPAs were for what?” Thibodeaux said. other places. The school supply section is and I think that definitely takes a toll on higher than projected. This could be a In regards to whether or not she felt way too expensive. Most of the supplies every student, and that makes students result of an increase in the utilization that she was absorbing different course in that section can be found at the dollar less motivated,” said Grace Thibodeaux, a of pass/fail options in universities. The materials, she responded, “Definitely not store for less than a dollar,” UL Lafayette freshman secondary education major at pass/fail option is typically accessed by with math. The only reason that I even junior Mo Miller-Becnel said. the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. students that feel that their success in know what’s going on is because I already According to Tim McFarland, the Skylar Thames, a senior online student a certain class may be reflected by this learned it in high school.” Ragin’ Cajuns Director of Online Store at UL Lafayette, said some professors opportunity rather than a numerical “I am breezing by until I get a degree,” Operations, even with similar products, seem more lenient in certain aspects after grading system. Thames said. “I don’t remember any each store has its own set of vendors that the pandemic. Because of the increase in student statistics. I don’t remember economics. I differentiates from the other. “Last semester, I had a lot of professors autonomy and diminished reliance don’t remember any math.” “It’s not exactly apples and apples. They use a vendor that we don’t have in our store,” McFarland said. Popular companies like Nike and Adidas provide apparel to the Ragin’ Cajuns Store; however, those particular brands might not be available at other stores. “It’s the variety of merchandise as well. Nike, Under Armour and Adidas, aren’t going to be in Walmart and Albertsons, but our prices are pretty comparable. It depends on the brand too,” Sarah Armentor, the Ragin’ Cajuns Store’s Assistant Manager said. Some students look more towards the price of items rather than the brand names. They believe they can get the same product for a more reasonable price. “The amount of money they ask for a shirt or fleece jacket is expensive for a student. I would rather shop at other stores such as Walmart or even online on Amazon and buy gear there,” Zahria Lloyd, a sophomore at UL Lafayette said. However, unlike the Ragin’ Cajuns Store, some places resale the items they Graphic by Cole Broussard receive at the company’s original price or sometimes more. “We establish our prices. We have a cost of doing business and it’s on top of that. Most of your retailers are doing Keystone which is double the cost-plus,” McFarland said.“We think we have good 7 new COVID-19 cases last quality products at fair prices.” According to Armentor, certain parts of the Ragin’ Cajuns Store’s Nike line would be sold in Academy at the same week, bringing UL total to 784 price as the Nike company. However, David Reed the Ragin’ Cajuns Store would mark- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF down the price in consideration for their students and their other expenses. There were seven new COVID-19 Despite the similarities, each business’s cases among students, faculty and staff at distinct products come with their the University of Louisiana at Lafayette specific price ranges, which causes fewer last week, according to the university’s crossovers. COVID-19 dashboard on Monday, Feb. 8 According to McFarland, they usually at 6:07 p.m. go through stores like Walmart and According to the dashboard as of Academy to make sure that they don’t Monday, the university has confirmed have the same vendors and products. that 195 students and 131 faculty The staff of the Ragin’ Cajuns Store and staff members contracted the coronavirus, and 458 students have told does not see many future changes in the university they’ve tested positive. operation. This means there have been a total of 784 “I don’t think our formula would cases among students, faculty and staff at change. Our cost might change which UL Lafayette. Graphic by Cole Broussard would change the price, but that just means economics is raising the price of Confirmed positive tests include tests that they tested positive, according to the were taken by off-campus health care everything,” Armentor said. taken by Student Health Services and providers. Students in this category COVID-19 dashboard on Monday. However, some students seek change. UL Lafayette Athletics, as well as tests sent their results to the dean of students This is an ongoing story. Stay with the “I believe students should have at least submitted to the university’s human themselves, according to the dashboard. Vermilion for more updates. resources department by faculty, staff Last week, one faculty or staff member a 10% discount while visitors pay full and student workers. Self-reported tests Follow The Vermilion on Twitter price,” Lloyd said. tested positive, and six students reported @TheVermilion for more updates News Sports Sports Allons PLACES TO PARK CAJUNS LEVEL UP BASES LOADED RACE TO THE RIGHT Editor-in-Chief David Reed shares five UL Lafayette will be a playable team in an Summer Ellyson and Ciara Bryan were Today’s Republican Party could have places to park for free when parking on upcoming EA Sports game, benefitting recognized for awards as the Cajuns extreme consequences on our political campus isn’t an option. the football team greatly. prepare for the upcoming season. system, writes Columnist Christian Janes. PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 5 2 FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | THE VERMILION Police Reports 5 places students can Compiled by Morri Sampey Feb. 5 park for free near campus l At 7:19 p.m., a lime green, white and black Rs3000 bike was stolen. David Reed Take a right off of East St. Mary EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Boulevard onto Girard Park Circle, then Feb. 4 take the first left. You’ll find several l At 8 p.m., an officer responded to the main office of the University of Louisiana If you’re a commuter student at the public parking spaces along the walking at Lafayette Police Department in reference to a suspicious circumstances trail. University of Louisiana at Lafayette, your complaint involving a white Kia Soul. only option for a parking spot on the It takes five minutes to walk from main campus is Girard Tower, which, Girard Park Lane to J. L Fletcher according to UL Lafayette’s Parking following roads, according to Google Feb. 3 l Portal, costs $325 in the fall and spring Maps, but you can shave some time off if At 5:22 p.m., a complainant from California reported online fraud involving the you cut through the park. semesters. purchase of a dog on Jan. 28-30. A UL Lafayette email was used on the Zelle But commuter students do have other It’s a five-minute walk from here to options.