Bringing Le Tintamarre Back
Photo by Lilli Breaux
Dr. Dana Kress, more affectionately known by his students as DK, is an adamant proponent of French in Louisiana and the world. Anyone who he talks to hears the following three things: (1) French is dying, but (2) it will somehow be a leading language by 2050, and (3) Le Tintamarre is the only French-language newspaper published in America. My first interaction with Dr. Kress changed the course of my college experience forever. At the Department Fair at one of the many Preview Days, my dad jokingly told me to talk to Dr. Kress in French. Dr. Kress heard this and began immediately yelling at me in French across Magale Library. We talked for a few minutes, and then he handed me an edition of Le Tintamarre. That interaction somehow changed my major and college decision in minutes.
Photo by Lilli Breaux
I read that edition over and over until I arrived at Centenary and went into my class with Dr. Kress. Nothing particularly interesting happened my first year because I was a freshman during the heat of COVID. The next fall, he began to actively ask his students to write for Le Tintamarre. I sent in my first article and was thrilled to be a part of something so historic. When the edition was published, Dr. Kress was whispering about another possible edition. After two months of waiting, I asked him if I could write an edition. I would never hear the end of this question.
I went to two close friends of mine and said, “Hey guys, what if we published an edition of Le Tintamarre?” I do not think any of us realized what it would turn into. An email chain has led to three students having sole access to the Le Tintamarre’s office amongst the ranks of Congo and Pandora, two editions being released during Spring 2022, and one professor putting too much faith in a few French majors.
Photo by Lilli Breaux
Le Tintamarre used to be like the Conglomerate with different sections such as Life and Times and Sports, as well as Francophone Literature and Music. Started in the 1990s, Le Tintamarre has always been in print and has known the same birth and death cycle as other on-campus publications. From the beginning, it has been student-led. Both DK and Dr. A-B have a hands-off job when it comes to Le Tintamarre. French exchange students have been involved with writing and editing, while Centenary students are welcome and encouraged to write. Le Tintamarre has topics to offer to enthusiastic writers, but the editors are open to hearing whatever ideas people want to share. The most recent edition includes a story written about ‘La Légion Louisiainase,’ the French service organization on campus, an article about French in Louisiana written by Noèmie, one of our exchange students, and a comic strip written by one of our upper-level French students. No matter the level of the writer, the editors are willing to re-read and help correct articles as many times as needed, some editors are also able to translate articles from English into French.
Le Tintamarre is important for Centenary as it gets the name of our college all around the country. However, it also gives our students credibility and real-life experience in writing in French. Le Tintamarre is also crucial for French in Louisiana. Not many people realize the rich, and sometimes painful, history of this amazing language in our state. I am from southern Louisiana, so French has been in my head for my entire life basically. Yet, I was shocked to learn how many people in the northern parts of Louisiana don’t know the story of Louisiana. Le Tintamarre brings light to the importance of French in the culture of Louisiana and reminds people who speak French as a first language (Yes! There are native French speakers in our state!) that they are valued, and their history is our history. I hope that Le Tintamarre will continue to put Centenary’s name on the map and continue the story of French in Louisiana.
Being the Editor-in-Chief of a revived student publication has had its hardships but has also been rewarding. It is difficult to convince people to write when we cannot offer them money and require the articles to be in French; however, the editors are hopeful that this reinstatement of Le Tintamarre will impact Centenary enough that it will stay around after we have graduated.
Please keep an eye out this week and when we get back from Mardi Gras break, March 7, you will definitely see Le Tintamarre in Jackson Hall and in the SUB!