Hammond, LA
November 10, 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
Biden defeats Trump for White House, says ‘time to heal’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday and offered himself to the nation as a leader who “seeks not to divide, but to unify” a country gripped by a historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil. “I sought this office to restore the soul of America,” Biden said in a prime-time victory speech not far from his Delaware home, “and to make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home.” Biden crossed the winning threshold of 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania. His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed processing. Trump refused to concede, threatening further legal action on ballot counting. But Biden used his acceptance speech as an olive branch to those who did
temperature, to see each other again, to listen to each other again, to make progress, we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy,” he said. “We are not enemies. We are Americans.” Biden, 77, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. The strategy, as well as an appeal to Americans fatigued by Trump’s disruptions and wanting a return to a more traditional presidency, proved effective and resulted in pivotal victories in Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Pennsylvania, onetime Democratic bastions that had flipped to Trump in 2016. Biden’s victory was a repudiation of Trump’s divisive From left, Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Harris, President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill leadership and the presidentelect now inherits a deeply Biden on stage together, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool). polarized nation grappling with foundational questions of racial not vote for him, telling Trump disappointment but adding, “It’s time to put away the justice and economic fairness voters that he understood their “Let’s give each other a chance.” harsh rhetoric, to lower the while in the grips of a virus that
has killed more than 236,000 Americans and reshaped the norms of everyday life. Kamala Harris made history as the first Black woman to become vice president, an achievement that comes as the U.S. faces a reckoning on racial justice. The California senator, who is also the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency, will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government, four years after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton. Harris introduced Biden at their evening victory celebration as “a president for all Americans” who would look to bridge a nation riven with partisanship and she nodded to the historic nature of her ascension to the vice presidency. “Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not simply because they’ve never seen it before,” Harris told
see ELECTION RESULTS, pg. 2
D Vickers Hall to be remodeled through 18-month renovation process BRYNN LUNDY Staff Reporter
Facility Planning is currently developing plans for the renovation of D Vickers Hall, which will begin sometime over the next few semesters. Kenneth Howe, director of Facility Planning, explained what the planning process looks like thus far. “The past few months, we have been working through the Programming and Schematic Design phases of the project,” shared Howe. “These phases establish the foundation of what is to come. We are currently in the Design Development phase, which we hope to complete by the first of the year.” Howe detailed the renovations that the building will undergo. “The entire facility will be renovated, as well as building an addition, which will house a new
Broadcast Media Center,” noted Howe. He described how long the renovation planning process has been in the works. “The university began requesting Capital Outlay funds in 2013,” explained Howe. “The planning phase was funded during the 2019 Legislative session and the design work began earlier this year.” According to Howe, once construction funds are approved and the renovation process begins, construction should take about 18 months. Howe mentioned an obstacle the department will face during construction. “The biggest challenge will be organizing around one of our most used buildings being offline for the construction,” said Howe. Howe also mentioned that D Vickers Hall, an academic classroom and office building, houses some departments within the College of Arts, Humanities there will be an elevator designed and Social Sciences. Built in the early 1970s, the building is currently under the planning process for renovations to be into the new building. done within the next few semesters. Brynn Lundy/The Lion’s Roar
Karen Fontenot, the dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, mentioned the parts of the building that will be impacted by the renovation process. “As I understand it, every single part of D Vickers will be affected by this,” shared Fontenot. “In other words, it’s not going to be done piecemeal. Every part of D Vickers will be renovated.” Fontenot, along with several department heads, have attended planning sessions regarding the construction process. According to Fontenot, architects have begun to draw up plans for the renovations, but nothing is final yet. Facilities such as the Writing Center and the Vonnie Borden Theatre will also be enhanced in addition to the rest of the building.
see D VICKERS, pg. 6
Private campus tours are now available for prospective students DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter
In lieu of traditional campus tours, the Office of Admissions is now offering individual inperson tours for prospective students and their families. In March, the Office of Admissions canceled all inperson tours after the university switched to remote delivery for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. Since the spring, virtual tours and webinars have been offered. When the Fall 2020 semester began, private campus tours were offered after prospective students requested to come to campus. Erin Lauderdale, campus tour manager in the Office of Admissions, explained the reasoning behind the resuming of in-person tours. “We know that people, although they do not want to go to large-scale events, they really want that personal interaction,” explained Lauderdale. “They still want to be able to come to campus. We did get some requests from people who were
wanting to visit. We knew we needed to get things back to normal because one of the biggest factors in a student’s decision-making process for college is that campus tour.” Lauderdale believes that inperson campus visits are one of the most important factors in the college decision-making process. “It is one of the most important factors in their decision, and visitors want that in-person interaction,” shared Lauderdale. “Students need to be able to picture themselves on campus. They need to see where they would be eating; see where they would be living; see what it looks like on a typical school day.” The one-on-one opportunities provided by the new tours better align with the values of the university, according to Lauderdale. “We really pride ourselves on being a place where students matter and are the center of our focus,” explained Lauderdale. “Students are unique individuals who deserve individual attention. Prospective students are now getting to experience that from
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the moment they step foot on campus for their tour.” Lauderdale emphasized that keeping visitors safe and healthy are top priorities during the private tours. She detailed what adjustments were made in light of COVID-19. “All Southeastern representatives and guests are required to wear masks inside buildings, and they are encouraged to do so throughout campus,” noted Lauderdale. “The Enrollment Express Office, where visitors check in for tours, has been set up for social distancing. Plexiglass has been installed around the welcome desks, and hand sanitizer is available for all visitors. Tour guides now have protective Southeastern face shields, which allow for better communication with families so they can hear their tour guide during the tour.” In addition to these adjustments, changes have also been made to the format of each campus tour. “The beginning welcome presentation on admissions, financial aid and scholarships has
Orientation leader Claire Krousel gives private tour on campus to prospective student during the Destination Southeastern event. Due to social limitations from the pandemic, the university restructured Lion Pride Preview and currently includes events such as Destination Southeastern and private tours. Brynn Lundy/The Lion’s Roar been replaced with something a little more personal,” explained
Index
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Campus Life.................................2 Opinions.....................................3 A&E............................................4
Sports & Fitness...........................5 News..........................................6
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see PRIVATE TOURS, pg. 6 Volume 92, Issue 12 A Student Publication www.lionsroarnews.com lionsroar@southeastern.edu
Page 2 | November 10, 2020
The Lion’s Roar | Campus Life
University veterans: Lessons learned and stories told ELANA GUILLORY Staff Reporter
Citizens who sacrificed their lives for the United States through their military contributions will soon be celebrated once again. Wednesday, Nov. 11 will mark the country’s 73rd annual Veterans Day. Veterans include citizens who actively served for longer than six months in any of the armed forces: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force and Coast Guard. Faculty and students at the university who have served or are currently serving opened up about their military duties and experiences. Matthew Watkins, director for the Office of Military & Veteran Success, is an Air Force veteran who served in Signals Intelligence under the National Security Agency for five years. Following the 9/11 attacks, Watkins felt a calling to join the military. “I woke up one morning, saw those towers hit, and after seeing that, I kind of felt the call for service, and I decided to join shortly after that,” described Watkins. Watkins was stationed at Fort Meade, Md., where he was tasked with the collecting and reporting of foreign communications,
Student worker Frannie Reyes, junior psychology and criminal justice major, prepares goodie bags in the Office of Military & Veteran Success. The office will have a table set up near the Student Union on Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. to commemorate Veterans Day and hand out the goodie bags. Brynn Lundy/The Lion’s Roar among other assignments, for the National Security Agency. “We collected information signals and reported that information in support of the mission, and we also had assignments,” said Watkins. “I worked on computers, GPS tracking, collected
communications and signals and recorded those, so it was a fun job. Also did a little bit of Morse code as well.” Academic Coach Brad Bergeron is a veteran of the National Guard who was called to action during the time of the 9/11 attacks. He was deployed to
Kandahar, Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. “We got there pretty much early on, when the U.S. took over Kandahar’s airport,” described Bergeron. “It was basically a bunch of dunes, sand everywhere around the airport, and we had to make roads, we had to build fire
pits, we had to build bunkers, we had to sweep for landmines and other explosive devices and make sure that the inside area was safe, and the nearby outside area of the base was safe as well.” Bergeron was affected by the absence of his loved ones. “I was married at the time,” said Bergeron. “And the hard thing would be when you do get in touch with your loved ones back home, is when they’re suffering with things, there’s nothing you can do to help them because you’re overseas.” James Dyess, student and LDVA Vet Corp Navigator at the university, was deployed in the Coast Guard. For four years, he served on the vessel Alex Haley in Kodiak, Ala. for more than 250 days out of a year. Dyess described his experience as a Seaman. “I specialized as a Boarding Team Member and spent most of my time jumping on moving vessels in the Bering Sea,” explained Dyess. “I explain to most people that my experience with the coast guard was the best and worst time of my life. There were mostly low moments, but it made the fun moments all the more meaningful.” After two tours sailing the Arctic Ocean, Dyess’ perspective on the world was enhanced.
“It certainly opened my eyes to just how magnificent Planet Earth can be,” said Dyess. Active Coast Guard member and Officer Strength Manager Candace Angeron is also humbled by the experiences she has had in the military thus far. “I get to command soldiers, so that humbles me, and I’ve learned so much from them,” said Angeron. “As an officer, we’re told to lead, but you also learn that just because you’re an officer, you don’t know everything. We’re always learning things from our NCOs and from our soldiers and then working to help them to better their lives - that actually helps me to better mine.” Bergeron spoke about the impact of thanking veterans for their service. “I think most veterans, we get a little embarrassed a little bit when people thank us,” explained Bergeron. “We did it for our own reasons, but it really does mean the world to us, when people do stop and tell us that they’re thankful for our service, because I think what some people don’t realize, is the sacrifice of being away from family and doing things that a lot of people necessarily don’t want to do. It just certainly is nice when people appreciate it and tell us thank you.”
The channel that kept southeast Louisiana in the know during uncertainty GABRIELLE WOOD Staff Reporter
As multiple areas of campus had to adjust amidst a pandemic, The Southeastern Channel has continued its production and adapted under new circumstances. Rick Settoon, channel general manager, discussed how the transition has influenced the channel and its staff. “In order to ensure safety for everyone, we’ve really instituted some changes to adhere to COVID protocols for the students taking production classes, and also to staff,” explained Settoon. “We are teaching just as effectively as ever before and students are still getting as much hands-on experience. We actually just had a virtual convention where Southeastern won first in the nation in multiple categories.” Despite a number of operations being put on hold last semester, Settoon believes The Student workers sit socially distanced in The Southeastern Channel studio. Southeastern Channel maintained a work ethic The channel’s students, faculty and staff have followed the university’s health for the common good of the public. and safety guidelines throughout the semester, including wearing masks and “In the spring, we had aired a new coronavirus special every week and it had all maintaining space between individuals. Courtesy of Rick Settoon types of information,” mentioned Settoon. ELECTION RESULTS
continued from pg. 1
Americans. “You chose hope and unity, decency, science and, yes, truth ... you ushered in a new day for America.” After he spoke, the cars at the drive-in rally — a pandemic campaign invention — began to honk their horns and a fireworks display lit up the night sky. Biden was on track to win the national popular vote by more than 4 million, a margin that could grow as ballots continue to be counted. Nonetheless, Trump was not giving up. Departing from longstanding democratic tradition and signaling a potentially turbulent transfer of power, he issued a combative statement saying his campaign would take unspecified legal actions. And he followed up with a bombastic, all-caps tweet in which he falsely declared, “I WON THE ELECTION, GOT 71,000,000 LEGAL VOTES.” Twitter immediately flagged it as misleading. Trump has pointed to delays in processing the vote in some states to allege with no evidence that there was fraud and to argue that his rival was trying to seize power — an extraordinary charge by a sitting president trying to sow doubt about a bedrock democratic process. Trump is the first incumbent president to lose reelection since Republican George H.W. Bush in 1992. He was golfing at his Virginia country club when he lost the race. He stayed out for hours, stopping to congratulate a bride as he left, and his motorcade returned to the White House to a cacophony of shouts, taunts and unfriendly hand gestures. In Wilmington, Delaware, near the stage that, until Saturday night, had stood empty since it was erected to celebrate on Election Night, people cheered and pumped their fists as the news that the presidential race had been called for the state’s former senator arrived on their cellphones. On the nearby water, two men in a kayak yelled to a couple paddling by in the opposite direction, “Joe won! They called it!” as people on the shore whooped and hollered. Harris, in workout gear, was shown on video speaking to Biden on the phone, exuberantly telling the president-elect “We did it!” Across the country, there were parties and prayer. In New York City, spontaneous block parties broke
out. People ran out of their buildings, banging on pots. They danced and high-fived with strangers amid honking horns. Among the loudest cheers were those for passing U.S. Postal Service trucks. People streamed into Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, near where Trump had ordered the clearing of protesters in June, waving signs and taking cellphone pictures. In Lansing, Michigan, Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter demonstrators filled the Capitol steps. The lyrics to “Amazing Grace” began to echo through the crowd, and Trump supporters laid their hands on a counter protester, and prayed. Americans showed deep interest in the presidential race. A record 103 million voted early this year, opting to avoid waiting in long lines at polling locations during a pandemic. With counting continuing in some states, Biden had already received more than 75 million votes, more than any presidential candidate before him. Trump’s refusal to concede has no legal implications. But it could add to the incoming administration’s challenge of bringing the country together after a bitter election. Throughout the campaign, Trump repeatedly refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, arguing without evidence that the election could be marred by fraud. The nation has a long history of presidential candidates peacefully accepting the outcome of elections, dating back to 1800, when John Adams conceded to his rival Thomas Jefferson. It was Biden’s native Pennsylvania that put him over the top, the state he invoked throughout the campaign to connect with working class voters. He also won Nevada on Saturday pushing his total to 290 Electoral College votes. Biden received congratulations from dozens of world leaders, and his former boss, President Barack Obama, saluted him in a statement, declaring the nation was “fortunate that Joe’s got what it takes to be President and already carries himself that way.” Republicans on Capitol Hill were giving Trump and his campaign space to consider all their legal options. It was a precarious balance for Trump’s allies as they try to be supportive of the president -- and avoid risking further fallout -- but face the reality of the vote count. On Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had not yet made any public statements
“Because we were not able to do those face-toface interviews, we did them through an online or audio format. We informed the Northshore on services like every local center that was offering coronavirus testing, which local schools were offering free meals and when to pick up, and how to apply for emergency loans for your business. All of this information was helpful for viewers to live their lives.” Settoon explained that Louisiana’s transition into phase three has allowed the channel to continue face-to-face production. “In the spring, we finished our courses as theoretical instead of hands-on, but in the Fall we have made up for lost ground,” said Settoon. “We are one of the few universities in the nation that chose to resume face-to-face. We are still getting three newscasts done, our students are still going out into the field and shooting interviews, coming back and doing editing all with masks on and maintaining a six-foot social distance.” The channel has worked to meet the needs of staff to ensure a safe environment. “Students have the option to come to the channel during their scheduled work
-- either congratulating Biden or joining Trump’s complaints. But retiring GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who is close to McConnell, said, “After counting every valid vote and allowing courts to resolve disputes, it is important to respect and promptly accept the result.” More than 237,000 Americans have died during the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 10 million have been infected and millions of jobs have been lost. The final days of the campaign played out against a surge in confirmed cases in nearly every state, including battlegrounds such as Wisconsin that swung to Biden. The pandemic will soon be Biden’s to tame, and he campaigned pledging a big government response, akin to what Franklin D. Roosevelt oversaw with the New Deal during the Depression of the 1930s. He announced that, as his transition kicks into high gear, he would on Monday appoint his own coronavirus task force. But Senate Republicans fought back several Democratic challengers and looked to retain a fragile majority that could serve as a check on some of Biden’s ambitions. The 2020 campaign was a referendum on Trump’s handling of the pandemic, which has shuttered schools across the nation, disrupted businesses and raised questions about the feasibility of family gatherings heading into the holidays. The fast spread of the coronavirus transformed political rallies from standard campaign fare to gatherings that were potential public health emergencies. It also contributed to an unprecedented shift to voting early and by mail and prompted Biden to dramatically scale back his travel and events to comply with restrictions. The president defied calls for caution and ultimately contracted the disease himself. Trump was saddled throughout the year by negative assessments from the public of his handling of the pandemic. There was another COVID-19 outbreak in the White House this week, which sickened his chief of staff Mark Meadows. Biden also drew a sharp contrast to Trump through a summer of unrest over the police killings of Black Americans including Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minneapolis. Their deaths sparked the largest racial protest movement since the civil rights era. Biden responded by acknowledging the racism that pervades American life, while Trump
shifts, or do some editing at home if they feel comfortable,” explained Settoon. “It is a flexible operation that we have instituted to serve the students. This is because we have had to reduce the number of workstations available. We used to have students jammed into areas such as the control room like sardines, but we have had to have several positions cut down so that people can stay safe.” Taylor Nettle, a freshman communication major, shared her experience during her first semester at the channel. “Working at the channel during a pandemic is definitely different from my past experience in the industry,” said Nettle. “Production now requires a lot of social distancing and limits on people allowed in areas. We have to sanitize our work stations when we arrive and leave, and there is a lot more to consider when working on a project. It is for sure different, but as long as we can be safe while still being creative is what really matters.” To stay updated on all things southeast Louisiana, The Southeastern Channel can be accessed on Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV Stick.
emphasized his support of police and pivoted to a “law and order” message that resonated with his largely white base. The third president to be impeached, though acquitted in the Senate, Trump will leave office having left an indelible imprint in a tenure defined by the shattering of White House norms and a dayto-day whirlwind of turnover, partisan divide and Twitter blasts. Trump’s team has filed a smattering of lawsuits in battleground states, some of which were immediately rebuffed by judges. His personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was holding a news conference in Philadelphia threatening more legal action when the race was called. Biden, born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and raised in Delaware, was one of the youngest candidates ever elected to the Senate. Before he took office, his wife and daughter were killed, and his two sons badly injured in a 1972 car crash. Commuting every night on a train from Washington back to Wilmington, Biden fashioned an everyman political persona to go along with powerful Senate positions, including chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees. Some aspects of his record drew critical scrutiny from fellow Democrats, including his support for the 1994 crime bill, his vote for the 2003 Iraq War and his management of the Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court hearings. Biden’s 1988 presidential campaign was done in by plagiarism allegations, and his next bid in 2008 ended quietly. But later that year, he was tapped to be Barack Obama’s running mate and he became an influential vice president, steering the administration’s outreach to both Capitol Hill and Iraq. While his reputation was burnished by his time in office and his deep friendship with Obama, Biden stood aside for Clinton and opted not to run in 2016 after his adult son Beau died of brain cancer the year before. Trump’s tenure pushed Biden to make one more run as he declared that “the very soul of the nation is at stake.” JONATHAN LEMIRE, ZEKE MILLER AND WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
Opinions | The Lion’s Roar
November 10, 2020 | Page 3
There shouldn’t be a competition between STEM and liberal arts Many students are probably aware of the age-old debate between STEM and the arts. But in all seriousness, does anyone even know what the debate is about? Maybe it Maggie Tregre is about how Staff Reporter STEM and liberal arts are on two opposite sides of the career spectrum. STEM students are more likely to want to work towards productbased careers whereas liberal arts majors tend to pursue peoplebased careers. Maybe it is about the potential income of the job you can get with your degree. According to CNBC, the degrees that led to the highest income in 2019 include a mix of engineering, management, economics and other STEM degrees. The highest-ranked degree, petroleum engineering, saw a median salary of $94,500 for employees with five years of experience or less and $176,900 for those with ten years or more. STEM careers are also projected to grow 13% by 2027, according to the Education Commission of the States. However, The New York Times reported that liberal arts majors are more likely to enter the workforce with skills such
as written communication, problem-solving and teamwork, all of which are valuable skills that allow these majors to secure a job in multiple fields. But all of that aside, how
did this battle even begin? Why does one degree have to be more valuable than the other? Just because these two fields are different does not mean they have to compete with one another.
Liberal arts includes a variety of disciplines besides art. It includes the humanities and social sciences as well. All of these fields are important, and they help us understand the
nature of human beings and how they fit in with the world around them. Science, technology, engineering and math are equally important. They create
new medicines. They build and develop the cell phones we use every day. The world as we know it today would not exist without either of these, so there should not be any pressure to choose one over the other. Personally, I never considered salary whenever I was deciding a major. I knew that I wanted to be a teacher, and I knew that I wanted to teach English at the high school level. After I made my decision, I never looked back. I understand that, for some people, making money was the number one factor they considered when choosing a major. For others, they wanted job security. For me, I wanted to pursue something that I knew I would be good at and that I knew I would enjoy. Whatever the reason for choosing a major, it should not turn into a competition. STEM jobs are on the rise, but the arts are not going anywhere. I know that my career is going to make a difference. I have never felt any doubt about what I want to do, even if other people in my life have told me I should reconsider. I have always supported my friends who want to pursue the arts because I know that they will succeed. That is the career in which they were meant to be, and I would never discourage them from doing it.
Agree to disagree: We can still be friends if we don’t agree politically In a time where America’s stress level is at an all-time high, there’s no better way to end 2020 than a heated presidential election. Some want incumbent President Gerard Borne Donald Trump Staff Reporter to retain power, while others think it’s best to move on from Trump and have a new regime in the oval office. Regardless of what you think or believe, I think everyone should be able to vote for whoever they want and still get along at the end of the day. One of the silliest and most idiotic things I have seen on Twitter has been, “If you vote for Trump. Delete me. We’re not friends” or “Please block me if you voted for Biden.” It is outrageous to me that people really care so much about who someone voted for, that they could not be mature enough to settle their differences and move on. My first point on why who you vote for should not negatively
affect your friendship is because our country was founded on different ideas and people being different from everyone else. Every American should not have uniform ideals and beliefs, and people should not expect everyone to vote for the same candidate. I may not agree with or have the same beliefs as my friends from down the street, but that does not mean I cannot be friends with them. How boring would your friendships be if everyone had the same exact belief system and rules? Another reason why I do not agree with the idea, “If you vote differently, you can’t be my friend,” is because of maturity. If someone is mature enough, or at least old enough, to vote then they should be able to agree to disagree with their friends’ thoughts and views. In all honesty, if you are one of those few who say, “If you vote differently, we can’t be friends,” then your maturity must lack elsewhere. For hypothetical purposes, let’s say someone votes for Trump because their family is in the oil and petroleum
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speaks, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in President-elect Joe Biden speaks Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. AP Wilmington, Del. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool Photo/Andrew Harnik industry, and Trump is a heavy supporter of keeping all oil and petroleum business within the United States. That friend should be able to realize why their friend voted for Trump and be absolutely okay with it. In all honesty, if I vote for Kanye West, Jo Jorgensen, Donald
Trump or Joe Biden, it has no effect on my friend’s life. It is not going to make my friend die faster or live longer. True friends should care about your thoughts and beliefs and should not persecute you for having a different opinion. If my best friend is a huge Atlanta
Falcons fan while I am a diehard Saints fan, should I never talk to them again? No. Even though the two teams are arch rivals, me and my friend should be old and mature enough to agree to disagree. Our nation is more divided than ever right now with
Speak
people squashing friendships over political views and others arguing over political nonsense. In two to three months, people will forget about who voted for who and move on. Why damage what can possibly be a lifelong friendship over a 2020 presidential race?
Out
Should you still be friends with people with opposing political viewpoints? Why or why not?
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Page 4 | November 10, 2020
The Lion’s Roar | Arts & Entertainment
Bars operating as restaurants under phase three MAGGIE TREGRE Staff Reporter
While social distancing and other safety protocols are still in place, some businesses are not letting that prevent their customers from being able to go out for a good time. Under phase three restrictions, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that restaurants can open with 75% capacity. In order to keep their business afloat, some bars have altered into restaurants so that they can reopen and serve customers. Brett Hollis, manager of The Brown Door in downtown Hammond, shared that he added a restaurant side to the bar to allow for reopening. “What we did is we put in a kitchen,” explained Hollis. “The Brown Door is now a restaurant on one side and a bar on the other. The restaurant allows us to open under the guidelines.” In a press conference on Sept. 11, Edwards suggested that bars with a kitchen could get a license to operate as a restaurant. “He tried to give bars ways that they could open, cause he knows that a lot of bar owners are broke right now,” mentioned Hollis. “The main way that he told bars in Louisiana was to add a kitchen, add food. We got a new license, so we now have a food and alcohol license.” In addition to capacity, another new guideline is that bars must close at 11 p.m. Hollis explained how his staff handled
Several bars in downtown Hammond have reopened under phase three, such as The Brown Door, Cate Street Pub and Brady’s. There are still capacity limits and limited hours of operations, but businesses have still been able to reopen to the public. Maggie Tregre/The Lion’s Roar closing time on their first night of reopening. “We stayed open until 11,” shared Hollis. “The guidelines specifically say you have to have everyone out at 11. You have to stop serving drinks at 11, so we stopped serving drinks at 10:45. We start getting everyone out at 10:50 so everyone can be out by 11, which is far different
because in the past, people would be here until 2. There’s a lot of new guidelines where people have to leave earlier, leave by certain times, last calls, all that stuff.” According to Hollis, he had no issues closing on time, but rather he had a long line of patrons waiting for the entire night.
“The problem was that too many people wanted to come,” explained Hollis. “We had a long line for most of the night. But they handled it well. There was a lot of stress having people in the bar again, and our staff hasn’t been to work in a while, so they had to shake the rust off on a pretty challenging night. They did well, the customers
were happy that they could come back. That was definitely very nice.” Hollis also has some of his employees managing how many people come into the restaurant so that they do not exceed the capacity limit. “On the restaurant side, it’s pretty easy to track tables,” said Hollis. “On the bigger
side, it’s more so people. If large groups are congregating, we get to spread them out. We have a person at each doorway monitoring. We have a lot of security at every doorway for that purpose.” Staff members are required to wear face coverings, and hand sanitizer is provided at multiple locations throughout the facility, according to Hollis. “All of our staff wears a face mask,” stated Hollis. “We have hand sanitizer everywhere. We encourage our customers to wear masks, but it gets hot and sweaty in a bar, so a lot of them take it off, but we obviously want everybody to wear a mask and be as safe as possible. We try to go the extra step and provide hand sanitizer and make our staff wear the masks. We have disposable cups, disposable utensils, disposable straws. Whenever a customer uses it, it goes in the trash.” Since reopening, Hollis mentioned that he has not dealt with anyone protesting the reopening of bars. Instead, he feels as though people are relieved that they can go out again. “We’ve had a lot of questions from people asking what the guidelines are, and we try to post them on our social media and let everyone know when they come in,” shared Hollis. “I’m fairly certain that people want to come out safely and follow the rules and have a safe, fun night, so we’re just trying to make that happen for everybody.”
A celebration for international students HANNAH JUNEAU
about their culture.” According to Mootoo, International Night will include Culture is a part of every performances and guest speakers country, big or small. from a variety of countries such Every year, the Department of as Brazil, Italy, Germany, France, World Languages and Cultures Mexico, Vietnam and Nigeria. plans events to celebrate different “There will be a combination of cultures around the world as well as presentations and performances,” international students. International expressed Mootoo. “There are Night is one of the events that two singing performances and one allows students to celebrate world dance performance, which is a Zumba performance. Our Nigerian student will discuss different tribes in her country.” Because of COVID-19, International Night cannot be the same as previous years. This year, there will be a video presentation instead of a live-streamed performance. “We normally attract about 300 students and faculty when it takes place in the Student Union in the ballroom,” said Mootoo. “But, because of the pandemic and restrictions, we can’t do that. It’s done virtually, anyone can attend, and there is no limit.” International Night will take place Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. To register, Traditionally, International Night takes place during the university’s International Education Week. Students from a visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ variety of different nationalities perform and showcase elements from their culture with a night of music, food, dancing international-education-weekand appreciation. File Photo/The Lion’s Roar kickoff-tickets-126889508937. Staff Reporter
cultures. The coordinator, Aileen Mootoo, shared some information on what the night entails. “Every year, international education week is always celebrated,” shared Mootoo. “It’s recognized nationally. Southeastern celebrates it. The whole purpose is to celebrate our international students as part of our student body.”
Mootoo explained that International Night is a great way for American university students to learn about different parts of the world. “We also have an opportunity to expose our American students to international students,” explained Mootoo. “It’s a way for our international students to share their cultures to American students and for American students to learn
Aakriti Thapa, an international student from Nepal, dances in her cultural attire during an International Night celebration. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s International Night will be replaced with a video presentation instead of an in-person event. File Photo/The Lion’s Roar
What’s next? Saturday’s election verdict isn’t last step WASHINTON (AP) — Saturday’s election verdict isn’t the last step in selecting an American president. Under a system that’s been tweaked over two centuries, there is still a weekslong timeline during which the 538-member Electoral College picks the president. A look at the key steps: — When American citizens vote for a presidential candidate, they really are voting for electors in their state. Those electors in most cases are committed to support the voters’ candidate of choice. The number of electors is equal to the number of electoral votes held by each state. State laws vary on how electors are selected but, generally, a slate of electors for each party’s candidate is chosen at state party conventions or by a vote of a party’s central committee. — After Election Day, states count and certify the results of the popular vote. When completed, each governor is required by law to prepare “as soon as practicable” documents known as “Certificates of Ascertainment” of the vote. The certificates list the electors’ names and the number of votes cast for the winner and loser. The certificate, carrying the seal of each state, is sent to the archivist of the United States. — Dec. 8 is the deadline for resolving election disputes at the state level. All state recounts and court contests over presidential election results are to be completed by this date. — Dec. 14: Electors vote by paper ballot in their respective
states and the District of Columbia. Thirty-three states and D.C. have laws or party regulations requiring electors to vote the same way the popular vote goes in the state, and in some states, electors can even be replaced or subjected to penalties, according to the Congressional Research Service. The votes for president and vice president are counted and the electors sign six “Certificates of the Vote.” The certificates, along with other official papers, are sent by registered mail to various officials, including the president of the Senate. — Dec. 23: The certificates must be delivered to the designated officials. If they are not delivered, the law provides alternative avenues for getting the results to Washington. — Jan. 6, 2021: The House and Senate hold a joint session to count the electoral votes. If one ticket has received 270 or more electoral votes, the president of the Senate, currently Vice President Mike Pence, announces the results. Members of Congress may object to returns from any state as they are announced. Objections must be made in writing by at least one member of the House and one in the Senate. If the objection meets certain requirements, each chamber meets separately to debate the objection for a maximum of two hours. Afterward, each chamber votes to accept or reject the objection. Back in joint session, the results of the respective votes are announced. Any objection to a state’s electoral vote has to be approved by both houses in order for any contested votes to be excluded. If neither presidential candidate wins at least 270 electoral votes, the House decides the election, based on the 12th Amendment to
the Constitution. If required, the House would elect the president. Each state delegation has one vote and it takes 26 votes to win. — Jan. 20: The president-elect is sworn into office on Inauguration Day. - Deb Riechmann, Associated Press
A person holds a sign referring to the number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency while demonstrating outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center where votes are being counted, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Philadelphia, following Tuesday’s election. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell).
Sports | The Lion’s Roar
November 10, 2020 | Page 5
High schools find temporary home at Strawberry Stadium JORDYN FRANKLIN Staff Reporter
High schools throughout southeast Louisiana have used the university’s facilities to host football games during the fall semester. Due to capacity restrictions, a number of high schools have sought out Strawberry Stadium. Approximately 15 events have been held in the stadium thus far. Andrew Bechac, deputy director of athletics, explained that there is no rental process involved with other schools’ usage of Strawberry Stadium. “We’re providing an opportunity for local high schools and those that are in southeast Louisiana to come and play at Strawberry Stadium,” explained Bechac. “We have a wonderful historic venue here, which allows them to hit a little bit more attendance because of the restrictions on the number of people that they can have inside the stadium.” Jay Artigues, director of athletics, echoed a similar sentiment in a video interview with BRProud. “Because of COVID, this is new — we’re not charging anything,” shared Artigues. “We’re letting the schools come in here and play here. They’re getting 100% of the gate. We’re
doing the concessions. It’s a chance to give back to the community and to give back to the high schools.” Bechac believes that lending out Strawberry Stadium goes hand in hand with developing the university’s relationship with the community. “We’re looking at not only offering the opportunity to play at Strawberry Stadium, but for all of those fans to come to our beautiful campus and experience Southeastern,” explained Bechac. “It’s a multilevel opportunity for Southeastern to have student-athletes see our wonderful athletic facilities, for parents and friends and fans to be able to come and enjoy Strawberry Stadium, campus and the surrounding community.” Seeing Strawberry Stadium bursting to life with activity has been a benefit of the events, according to Artigues. “It’s been great just to see activity at Strawberry Stadium, see life in Strawberry Stadium,” expressed Artigues. “Having the high schools come here and giving them the opportunity, since they’re limited to 25% capacity, they are able to put a lot more people in here, so it’s a win-win for both of us.” According to Bechac, the lending of facilities is a chance for the university to showcase
High schools throughout southeast Louisiana have been using Strawberry Stadium to play football games. More than 15 games have taken place so far. Andrew Bechac, deputy director of athletics, believes sharing Strawberry Stadium goes hand in hand with developing the university’s relationship with the community. Jordyn Franklin/The Lion’s Roar
what it has to offer. “That is to attract students and those that have an interest in coming to Southeastern as a student or being involved in Southeastern — or just getting our brand out to let people who we are and what we do,” explained Bechac. “Everybody that comes to Southeastern is a
valued person when they come onto this campus.” Artigues detailed the safety precautions that the university is taking during the games. “We’re doing all of the screening before we come into the stadium,” described Artigues. “We make sure we are following all of the social distancing, the
masking, the sanitation stations. We have groups coming in to clean the restrooms and sanitize the restrooms throughout the day and after every ball game as well.” Bechac emphasized the importance of community between the university and the community alongside helping
those in need. “It’s been a great opportunity for Southeastern to share a facility and help the community and help others in a time of need,” expressed Bechac. “We look forward to our continued relationship with those that have come and hope that more reach out to us.”
Sam Gomez looks to lead Lady Lions to Southland Conference title in 2021 DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter
When the NCAA cancelled the 2020 Spring golf season, head coach Jake Narro made sure the team focused more in the classroom. Narro would often times make the team scrimmage one another to stay in shape over the offseason.. Gerard Borne, File Photo/The Lion’s Roar
Narro finds a silver lining during COVID shutdown GERARD BORNE Staff Reporter
In the middle of March, the National Collegiate Athletic Association suspended all spring sports for two and a half weeks, leaving many teams with the thought that after the suspension, teams will be back to the full swing of things. Days after the NCAA announced that all spring sports were suspended for two weeks, they declared all collegiate sports would be suspended until further notice. One of the many sports suspended was men’s golf. Jake Narro, university golf head coach, shared how the team reacted when the NCAA’s ruling came down, effectively ending their 2020 season. “The guys and I were really bummed out,” stated Narro. “Just like that, all sports in the spring were cancelled with no clear vision on when they were going to return. The team was just starting to get into the groove of things, and we were ready to see where the 2020 season was going to take us.” The university alumnus detailed what the team did in order to make up for the lost time during the COVID-19 shutdown. “We started to focus and practice a lot on our technique,” stated Narro. “Some of the things we couldn’t focus and practice on during the middle of the season is what we practiced endlessly. A lot of the technique stuff can’t be worked on in the middle of the tournament because you could very well put yourself in a bad
spot.” The sixth-year head coach explained how intra-squad matchups have helped the team in different ways. “We started having intrasquad simulated tournaments,” said Narro. “Everyone gets a scorecard and scores each other. It was really good practice, and you could tell the team has benefited from it a whole lot. They’re starting to get better day in and day out when they go against one another. It’s even starting to build their team chemistry a little bit more.” With the shutdown, Narro detailed how the team has been able to focus off the course a little more than usual. “We have been doing a good job focusing in the classroom and on grades a bit more,” commented Narro. “The guys are hunkering down and studying more than they usually have and grades are at a high right now.” Narro described how the team is ready for the 2021 spring season more than ever, and looks to come out of the gates hot. “We have had a ton of practice under our belts and the guys are very prepared,” stated Narro. “We are going to be able to handle tournament and competition play a little bit better than usual I think in the upcoming season. I can’t wait to see what the guys can do.” The university golf team will open up their 2021 season on Feb 15 in Matthews, La. in the LaTour Intercollegiate Tournament.
many volleyball connections across the state with other players and coaches.” To Gomez, her team is like family. “Like all families, we have little disagreements here and there, but we know we are all here to do one thing and to keep a good image of the university not only on the court but by how we support other aspects of the school as well,” expressed Gomez. “Some girls call me for advice because I am seen as the mom on the team, while other players have different roles.” Jeremy White, head volleyball coach, shared his experience coaching Gomez over the past three years. “Sam has been a really enjoyable kid to coach,” said White. “She’s got a corky personality that makes it easy to keep things light-hearted and fun in practice, and she’s a phenomenal competitor come game time. I’m very excited to see how and where she leads us this spring.”
White shared that Gomez brings energy to the team and that she is a great role model for work ethic for the younger players, both on and off the court. White also believes that Gomez has improved tremendously since first joining the team as a freshman. “I remember our first practice when she was struggling with the timing for our main middle set and being a little too worried about being perfect,” shared White. “Now, she’s leading us in just about every offensive category, coaching up our younger middles, and bringing constant energy and competitiveness to practice and games. She’s an amazing young woman and I feel blessed to be able to coach her.” The women’s volleyball season is scheduled to begin on Feb. 4 in Lake Charles against McNeese State University.
Senior middle backer Sam Gomez is preparing to play her final season with the women’s volleyball team in spring of 2021. Gomez began playing for the university during her freshman year in 2017. Over the course of her collegiate career, she has posted a total of Sam Gomez 685 points, 535 kills, 26 assists and 12 aces. Gomez shared that she has enjoyed playing on the team over the last three years. She feels that the team has overcome a lot since her freshman year, and she now feels like she is a part of something bigger than herself. “The first year is always scary, not knowing if you will fit in, and believe me I didn’t, but I grew and the team evolved in a sense and it started to become better,” explained Gomez. “The team dynamic shifted intensely when Coach Jeremy took over the program, and I can say it was for the better. The team culture grew. Many adapted to it and we turned the team around in a season.” Gomez started playing volleyball in the third grade after her teacher suggested it to her. “The coach said I could come to watch a practice and from there I wanted to play after watching just a few short hours,” shared Gomez. “I didn’t start really getting into it until I was in sixth grade when I got onto my first travel team with Michelle Anderson as The Lady Lions volleyball team finished with a record high 14 regular season wins while advancing to the the owner of the club. From there my skills Southland Conference Tournament. Second year head coach Jeremy White looks to lead the team to it’s first developed and I grew as a player and made ever Southland Conference championship in 2021. Randy Bergeron/Southeastern Lousiana University
Southeastern presents annual veteran’s day lecture HAMMOND – The History and Political Science Department at Southeastern Louisiana University has scheduled the annual Veterans Day Lecture Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m., in the Student Union Theatre. Southeastern History and Political Science Assistant Professor, Military Historian and faculty sponsor of the project Samantha Cavell will present “Voices from the Front Lines: The Veterans of
Recent Wars Project.” The event is free and open to the public. “The Veterans of Recent Wars Project is a new oral history archive at Southeastern, one that allows local veterans from conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the War on Terrorism to share their stories with a wider audience,” said History and Political Science Department Head Bill Robison. “This presentation
offers an introduction to our mission and shares stories from the collection to highlight the service and the sacrifice of the veterans among us.” “By sharing their experiences, the project seeks to educate, inform, and offer a way to bridge the divide between civilians and the men and women in uniform who risk everything to protect us,” Robison explained. Robison said masks and
social distancing are required at the lecture, which is limited to 50 people. However, for those not wishing to physically attend, the lecture will be live streamed at http:// thesoutheasternchannel.com/ lionslive/fanfare-history/. For more information, contact the History and Political Science Department at 985-549-2109.
Sims Memorial Library announces hours for the week of finals Following is the scheduled hours that the library will be open during Monday - Thursday, Nov. 30-Dec. 3 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. the week of finals. For safety concerns, the forth floor will be closed. Friday, Dec. 4 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 5-6, closed Thursday, Nov. 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29 from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
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The Lion’s Roar | Sports
A make-up senior portrait opportunity available for graduating seniors GABRIELLE WOOD Staff Reporter
Are you a graduating senior? Did you miss the senior portrait session at Grad Fair? Do you wish to retake your photo entirely? Candid Campus Photography is holding make-up cap and gown photo sessions for Fall 2020 graduating seniors at their office in Gretna, La. on Monday, Nov. 16 and Tuesday, Nov. 17. Five-minute sessions are available through appointment only from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on both days. Jamie Mackenroth, production manager for Candid Campus Photography, explained why the company A Candid Campus photographer helps a student pose for her graduation photos during Grad Fair. Students who missed decided to hold more photo out on Grad Fair will be able to take a make up photo by making an appointment before 10 a.m. on Nov. 16. Symiah Dorsey/The sessions for seniors. Lion’s Roar “Our company decided to
provide a make-up session for Southeastern’s graduates because we had such a large amount of students contact us who were not able to attend Grad Fair,” shared Mackenroth. “We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to have their photos taken both for personal use and to be featured in the yearbook.” Mackenroth elaborated on the cost and deadline details for scheduling the photo sessions. “The photo sessions are free of charge,” explained Mackenroth. “The deadline to register for the make-up sessions will be once the sessions begin at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16.” According to Mackenroth, all seniors should have received an email from the company regarding the make-up sessions,
which includes the address, the link to schedule an appointment and guidelines for the sessions. Students are to show up to the session dressed in their cap and gown. Prior to the appointment, students must register their current information and mailing address at a link also provided in the email. Each student received a unique QR code for the photographer to scan at the session to receive the student’s information. According to the email, photos should be available on candidcampusphoto.com within a week of the session and can be accessed using the QR code. The office is located in Jefferson Parish at 1400 Franklin St., Gretna, La. 70053, which is approximately 60 miles southeast of Hammond.
Application fee waived for Fall 2021 GABRIELLE WOOD Staff Reporter
Prospective Lions can now apply for the Fall 2021 semester without an application fee. All application fees will be waived until the priority application deadline of Jan. 15 due to any financial burdens students may be experiencing due to the pandemic. Typically, the application fee is $20 for U.S. students and $30 for international students. Cash is not accepted. Ryan Kavanaugh, assistant director of recruitment, discussed the reasoning behind the decision to waive the fee. “We have noticed that a lot of students at this time do not really have college on their mind,” explained Kavanaugh. “They are in a high school senior year that they weren’t really expecting. Usually, our Admissions Office goes to college fairs and schools to kind of put the idea of college
in their face, and so this year they don’t see us.” Kavanaugh shared how COVID-19 played a part in considering the waiver. “There’s not much of an interaction we can have from the pandemic,” shared Kavanaugh. “We have some campus events that they might go to and in the fall we normally see over 4,000 students. This is a way to help advertise and recruit them and also show them that we care. Some people might not have a job, whereas they normally would have the $20 to spend on applications.” The Admissions Office encourages seniors to apply before Jan. 15 so that they may be awarded scholarships. “We set all application fees for the Fall 2021 semester waived for Jan. 15, and the reason we chose that date is because of what we call a priority scholarship deadline for high school seniors,” mentioned Kavanaugh. “The
D VICKERS
continued from pg. 1 “Each of the department heads that are affected in that building, be that faculty or classes or both, have attended a series of meetings to talk about their needs, their program’s needs,” explained Fontenot. “You mentioned the Writing Center. Dr. Hanson has attended some of those meetings. Dr. Hanson is the head of the Department of English, and so he’s been in the meetings. All of the department heads have had a chance to talk about what space they need, what the space should look like, what it should
great thing is that once you apply for admission, you are automatically considered for scholarships, so it makes it very simple for students. It also encourages them to apply earlier.” Gracie Newton, a junior elementary education major, shared her opinion on the decision. “I definitely feel that this is a great opportunity for high school seniors,” said Newton. “They are already experiencing so much during a pandemic and will already be missing out on the normal atmosphere of college.” Newton emphasized that admissions expenses can add up quickly for seniors. “That $20 or $30 can add up quickly when you are applying to multiple colleges across the state or elsewhere,” remarked Newton. “People do not take As high school seniors begin applying to colleges, the university decided to waive the $20 application fee for students into consideration how pricey who apply before Jan. 15, the priority deadline. Gabrielle Wood/The Lion’s Roar things can get as a senior in high school.”
contain.” Fontenot explained how students, faculty and classroom instruction that are usually housed within D Vickers will be accommodated during the construction process. “Classes will be held, just not in D Vickers,” said Fontenot. “This is not the first time that we’ve had a building renovated. Meade Hall was renovated a few years ago. It came out beautifully, but classes had to be taught in different places and faculty offices had to be moved temporarily. The same thing will happen in D Vickers. It will certainly affect students, but I think the end result is going to be worth it.”
D Vickers Hall houses several student resources and campus facilities, including the Writing Center, KSLU radio station and the Vonnie Borden Theatre. These will also be updated whenever the building is renovated. Brynn Lundy/The Lion’s Roar
PRIVATE TOURS
continued from pg. 1 Lauderdale. “When a student checks in for their tour, they now sit down for a one-on-one meeting with an Admissions Counselor to go over the admissions process and other topics like financial aid and scholarships. To ensure that social distancing is enforced, our Admissions representatives meet with visitors in our open
lobby area with appropriate space between them and the visitors.” Though in-person tours are now offered, Lauderdale emphasized that a virtual campus tour and a webinar series are both still available for those who do not feel comfortable coming to campus. To schedule a private tour, visit southeastern. edu/connect.
Tour guides Claire Krousel (left) and Madison Burnette (right) are seen guiding prospective students around campus. Brynn Lundy/The Lion’s Roar