Hammond, LA
October 13, 2020
S O U T H E A S T E R N L O U I S IA NA U N I V E R S I T Y
Students speak up about disconnection from peers
A student studies outside the library. As most classes are conducted with an online format, students have expressed that they feel disconnected from their peers. Dylan Meche/The Lion’s Roar DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter
Due to a lack of in-person events and traditional class formats, several students have expressed that they feel disconnected from their peers. In compliance with current federal and state guidelines for colleges and universities, the university has taken efforts to limit in-person interactions and promote virtual events and class structures. Many students feel that the measures being taken have resulted in them feeling detached from campus life. Gabrielle Louisia, a communication sciences and disorders graduate student, attends
several online only classes and feels that it does not allow for much interaction. “I have a few classes where I am in-person with other students and that definitely helps, but with the ones that are only online, I don’t see them,” said Louisia. “As an introverted person, my first instinct is not to reach out that much, so most people in the class are mostly secluded.” Louisia also shared that she generally feels distant from what is happening on campus. “I would go to extracurricular activities and see a lot of people around campus in prior semesters,” noted Louisia. “Now, because everything is either mostly online or just flat out isn’t happening, I
don’t get to see people. Normally, randomly bumping into people on campus or at another event is how I got most of my social interactions and that hasn’t happened at all this semester.” Michael DeGraauw, a junior history major, also feels somewhat disconnected from the people around him. However, he mentioned that since he is a part of Spirit of the Southland, he gets to see a lot of his friends on a regular basis. “Band has helped me because I get to see people everyday for that,” explained DeGraauw. “In general for classes and stuff, I do feel more disconnected because we are only there for one day of the week, at least for me. So, it
is hard to get a real connection with everyone, even if we get a GroupMe or something going.” While DeGraauw is a member of the band, not having many inperson events has left him feeling detached from campus life. “I have no idea what is going on half of the time,” said DeGraauw. “Normally, especially in the fall, I would be at the football games and have a little bit more knowledge about what is going on, generally speaking. Now, without the games, it feels like everyone is kind of just going through the motions a little bit.” All of DeGraauw’s virtual classes hold their lectures on Google Meet. During these Google Meet sessions, DeGraauw shared that it is hard to connect with the rest of the class, especially in hybrid formatted classes. “There is a giant disconnect between teaching to just the people in the classroom and trying to teach people who are both in-person and online at the same time as well,” noted DeGraauw. He believes that being able to communicate with the rest of the class via applications such as GroupMe can make a difference, but it does not completely solve the problem. “You are able to ask other students for help or when an assignment was due,” shared DeGraauw. “At the same time, it doesn’t really help to connect with other students and sort of becomes just a help group for the class per se.”
New way of learning in nursing field GABRIELLE WOOD Staff Reporter
For many nursing students, their learning experience has opened the door for new insights to the medical field due to COVID-19. Nicholas Moncaleano, a senior nursing major, discussed how being a nursing student has changed under new circumstances. “The pandemic has definitely changed aspects of my major,” said Moncaleano. “There’s the obvious superficial level changes, such as having to wear a mask and having to social distance. However, it has also given me an interesting perspective of the medical field during this public health crisis.” During the progression of the pandemic, professionals in the medical field have been
in the spotlight on the frontlines, with the extra hours and efforts they have had to endure. “It’s a bad and good time to be a student as you get to see many things you wouldn’t have in a normal world,” shared Moncaleano. “It has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the medical fields, as the pandemic has had a massive strain on the medical field.” Camryn Austin, a senior nursing major, emphasized the length that medical professionals are going through to combat COVID-19. “COVID-19 has changed my perception towards nursing, but for the better,” said Austin. “I think this pandemic has shed a light on just how important our health care workers are. In a time where everything is so uncertain, nurses are not only providing for patients but also helping to educate them
and just be a smiling face to those who may not be able to have family and visitors in the hospitals at this time.” Austin reflected on the difficulties that arose from campus being closed last semester. “The initial shutdown of school back in March was definitely an adjustment that was felt by all students,” discussed Austin. “Nursing is a very hands-on profession, so it was different to transition into completely online learning. But our professors worked diligently to provide us with as much ‘patient interaction’ and skills as possible, recording videos of themselves from their homes to show us how to perform certain skills, as well as having online simulations that showed us clinical patients and how the choices we
see NURSING STUDENTS, pg. 3
Fall 2020 sees increase in enrollment rate
With a total of 14,461 students enrolled for Fall 2020, the total number of full time students increased by 1.4% and the part time students increased by 1.4%. Jordyn Franklin/ The Lion’s Roar
GABRIELLE WOOD Staff Reporter
Despite COVID-19 altering the format of learning, students have shown to not be discouraged from enrolling in courses. The university has seen an increase in enrollment for the Fall 2020 semester, reporting a total of 14,461 students. Aime Anderson, a registrar, shared the main factor that has contributed to high enrollment rates for this fall semester. “Student retention has been a key element in the increase in enrollment this semester,” said Anderson. “Retention rates in students returning for their second year and students returning for their third year increased this semester.” The number of students from both undergraduate and graduate programs have seen a rise in growth in addition to full and part-time students. “The total number of full-time students increased by 1.4%, and the number of part-time students also increased by 1.4%,” stated Anderson. “Undergraduate students increased by 1.5%, and graduate students increased by 0.7%.” Even though the overall student body rate has increased, a particular demographic of students has decreased in numbers. “Although there was a modest increase in the number of graduate international students,
overall international student enrollment is down,” shared Anderson. Polina Sleptsova, a sophomore communication major, is an international student from Russia. She explained why she decided to enroll for this semester. “COVID-19 hasn’t influenced my decision in enrollment this semester at all, as I already was in the U.S.,” said Sleptsova. “Because of the virus, I couldn’t go home during the summer, so I stayed here and decided not to leave. One of the reasons was that I didn’t want to have any difficulties in coming back here in August, so I basically made my life a little easier. Of course, it’s hard now because I haven’t seen my family in so long, but I hope it’s worth it.” Sleptsova noted why she believes enrollment rates among international students have dropped, while general enrollment has increased. “Actually, there are a few reasons for that,” explained Sleptsova. “First, because of the pandemic in the U.S., embassies abroad were closed. Students who came back home for the summer break couldn’t renew their visas. Second, I think during these hard times, most international students feel much safer at home, close to their families, than in another country. And also, the majority of the international students have really long flights with multiple layovers.”
New equipment helps combat the spread of COVID-19 on campus MAGGIE TREGRE Staff Reporter
While social distancing guidelines and mandatory face coverings are still seen throughout campus, they are not the only ways the university is fighting the spread of COVID-19. Several new technologies have been installed in buildings around campus to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the case of an outbreak or possible contamination. The three technologies are vapor hydrogen peroxide generators, ultraviolet sterilization and bipolar ionization. Jeremy Brignac, director of the Environmental Health and Safety Office, described where each of the technologies will be installed. “The vast majority of the campus is getting bipolar ionization systems,” said Brignac. “The Pennington is the anomaly of all of them because it’s getting both what you call the troffers and the bipolar ionization.” The troffer system combines the UV sterilization technology with a carbon filter and is installed as a light fixture. The system is more effective for areas that receive more traffic but less surface contamination. Brignac explained how the troffer systems work and Weather
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why they were added to The REC. “The troffer is a combination of technologies,” mentioned Brignac. “It has a three-phase filtering system. The first piece of it is a carbon filter, so basically, it goes through an activated carbon filter and takes out any kind of smells, volatile compounds, chemicals. Then it goes through a UV sterilization tray that’s part of the system. The reason those are being put there is obviously it’s a higher risk area, with people breathing heavily.” Brignac listed other areas on campus where the troffer systems will be installed. “All the areas where they’re high-use and capable of putting them in, we’re putting the troffer systems in,” said Brignac. “Pennington has them in the main exercise room, and then in the locker rooms. The other ones of those are going in the math lab in the library. Because of its usage, we have to put a higher number of people in there, and that room is isolated off from the rest of the library, and then the lobby in Garrett.” All of these technologies are working to accomplish the same The troffer systems take the form of a drop-in light fixture. These have been installed result, which is to hinder the amount of damage the virus can cause. in the exercise room in the REC. This area is considered higher risk for COVID-19 due to traffic flow and constant heavy breathing in the area. Symiah Dorsey/The Lion’s Roar see STERILIZATION, pg. 3 Index
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Campus Life.................................2 Opinions.....................................3 A&E............................................4
Sports & Fitness...........................5 News..........................................6
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