The Lion's Roar 01/27/2015 by The Lion's Roar // Le Souvenir

JANUARY 27, 2015 VOLUME 86, ISSUE 17

’ THE LION S ROAR 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

A Student Publication

Lower oil prices may bring budget cuts BY WILLIAM SCHMIDT Staff Reporter

When the price of a barrel of oil decreased, budget cut predictions once again surfaced for Louisiana higher education. “The price originally used to calculate the revenues for this fiscal year was $95.80 per barrel. The price of crude oil has continued to fall and has been hovering around $60 per barrel for the past week,” according to the article “Dropping oil prices continue to impact state budget” in The Advocate. The prediction of having a budget cut on higher education is based on this drop of oil prices. Oil prices are used to calculate severance, taxes and other royalties that the state government collects. The article “State may have to change spending plan a second time” found in The Advocate tells that The Revenue Conference expected to collect $10.6 billion in collection from taxes, fees, royalties and other revenue sources for the current fiscal year. Current predictions have changed the estimate to a collection of $171 million less. One positive prediction is that sales and personal income taxes are a larger portion of the state general fund pays for services such as health and higher education. One article that helps to explain the basics of why oil prices effect the economy of Louisiana is “Louisiana is going to have another round of budget cuts: Answers to common questions” found on the nola.com website. According to the article, “[The] sales tax for the year—at least so far—looks like it might be a bit higher than originally expected. Still, for every dollar the average price of oil per barrel drops, Louisiana state government loses around $10 to $12 million. A slight uptick in sales tax collections will not make up for the large drop in oil prices.” Over the years, laws have been implemented into the Louisiana constitution, causing difficulty for budget cuts due to legal constraints. Some areas such as funding for nursing homes require that two-thirds majority vote of the legislature to change the budget. Currently, higher education has no bar blocking cutting from colleges and universities. According to sources such as nola.com, The Sunday Star, The Advocate and The New York Times, the higher education of Louisiana has taken $673 million out of the budget for public colleges and universities since 2008. With the state trying to make up a projected $1.4 billion shortfall in revenues for the 2015-16 budget, predictions from legislators and higher education officials say that this total could reach closer to $380 million. If oil prices continue to fall, the predicted deficit could grow. Gov. Bobby Jindal is meeting with the Revenue Estimating Conference on Jan. 26 to determine how much money Louisiana’s government has as well as having the Governor’s Executive Budget proposed to the legislature on Feb. 27.

Campus Life Page 2

Opinions Page 3

Arts & Entertainment Page 4

Sports Page 6

News Page 8

LionsRoarNews.com

Drop in gas prices aids commuters BY MORGAN LEDET Staff Reporter

With gas prices dropping, commuter students are saving money while attending college. Recently, gas prices dropped to below two dollars. “It benefits students a lot, especially here. We have our reward card that also offers to lower the price of gas,” said Exxon Nightshift Manager Jessica Morris. “With the price of gas decreasing, our business is picking up a lot.” The gas prices dropping may be helping commuters with money, but it is affecting the oil industry. Louisiana’s economy is driven by oil sales. “And thanks to lower gas prices and higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save $750 at the pump,” said President Barack Obama in The State of the Union adress given last Tuesday. Current commuter students are thankful for the money they are saving in order to attend classes located on campus. “The gas prices being low benefits me a lot. I drive

01.2015

more money for

06.2014

115

8,896

commuter decals from Aug. 2014 to Jan. 2015

Americans save

(according to Southeastern Office of Parking. It includes freshman and upperclass commuters)

(according to The Bank Rate Analysis of Petroleum Statistics)

New Orleans Amite Walker Houma Covington Denham Springs

lower gas prices

drive more than

fuell-efficient cars

(according to a survey conducted in 2013 by the office of Institutional Research)

Graphic by Fernanda Chagas

20 miles each day to come to school,” said sophomore mechanical engineering major Nick Curry. “I like how it is saving me money.”

According to a 2013 survey by the office of Institutional Research, there are over 8,000 students who commute to campus every day. Twenty-

three percent of students who commute to campus come from more than 30 miles away. “I like the fact that gas prices are dropping because I

travel a little over 20 miles a day,” said junior mechanical engineering technology major

see COMMUTERS pg. 8

Making students Real World Ready University preparing for reaccreditation committee BY SARA PATRICK Editor in Chief

Every 10 years the university must put together a Quality Enhancement Plan as part of the reaccreditation process. “The last [Quality Enhancement Plan] was actually SE101,” said Dr. Eric Summers, assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs. “This one is ‘Real-World Ready.’ Basically, it’s a plan to provide our students with real world experience before they graduate.” The university went through a lengthy process in spring 2012 to come up with the “Real-World Ready” concept for the new QEP and has spent the past few years developing it. “The QEP team has done a

wonderful job refining the topic and developing all of the detailed elements of the project, including a time line for implementation and assessment plan,” said President John L. Crain in a recent message for faculty and staff. The plan aims to prepare students

for professional life by providing authentic learning opportunities that connect academic courses with realworld experiences. “A ‘Real-World Ready’ experience is a learning event that a professor includes as a course component,” said Dr. Jayetta Slawson, QEP Coordinator and associate English professor. “It is a hands-on activity designed to reinforce classroom instruction.” Real-World Ready experiences will include students gaining professional experience through internships, study abroad, service learning, research projects, civic engagement and more. According to David Norwood, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics, students in his department will research in a lab with professors as an adjunct to what

they learn in lectures. Some students in the Southeastern Association of Law Schools program have the opportunity to research problems as a service to local businesses. “[The plan is going to be implemented] in a series of phases,” said Summers. “The first phase was actually developing the plan. Then we’ll assess the programs we already have and try to improve them. Then the programs that don’t already have a Real-World Ready experience will implement Real-World Ready experiences. It will be phases over a number of years occurring in all academic departments.” According to Summers, the intention of the plan is to ensure that all students

see QEP pg.8

Hammond named metropolitan area BY MARIA GODDARD Staff Reporter

The Lion’s Roar / William Schmidt

The city of Hammond became the ninth metropolitan area in the state because of industry and population increase. Because of this new status, the value of homes and schools increased because businesses were able to contribute more economically.

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Weather Tuesday H 70 L 39

Hammond has become the ninth metropolitan area due to increased industry, population and trafﬁc. This title has led to the growth of the city and brought in more revenue for the city, increasing the worth of homes and schools. Local businesses in Hammond are receiving further opportunities and advertisement. “This is a wonderful partnership for Hammond as well as Tangipahoa Parish to be involved in,” said Mayor Pete Panepinto. “Hammond and the surrounding area now have the marketing ability to promote the area because of the resources within this organization. The cost of hiring these resources for Hammond and the surrounding cities in Tangipahoa Parish alone

would not be possible [without this status].” Hammond received the designation in 2012 because of population increase in 2010. There must be more than 50,000 residents to be considered a metropolitan area, and this new area includes other sections of Tangipahoa Parish. According to Lacy Landrum, director of administration for City of Hammond, the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration uses this classiﬁcation to distribute transportation funds. “The City of Hammond has been planning for this designation since the initial release of population numbers from the 2010 Census,” said Landrum. “We knew that our area had grown post-Katrina

see METROPOLITAN pg. 8

Reminders Wednesday H 65 L 42

The last day to apply for spring graduation is Feb. 18. The $35 fee should be paid at the Controllerʼs Ofﬁce.

CAMPUS LIFE

PAGE 2 JANUARY 27, 2015

THE LION’S ROAR

Calling all computer coders BY MARIA GODDARD Staff Reporter

The second-annual Intramural Coding Bee will draw in experienced computer coders and programmers to compete in a four-hour long battle for first place. This year’s Kickoff Party will be held Thursday, Jan. 29 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in front of Fayard Hall. Computer science majors can attend to enjoy free food, door prizes and music. The bee will take place Friday, Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Fayard Room 122. The competitors must have completed one-third of computer science degree hours to compete and pay no charge to participate. According to Dr. John Burris, assistant professor of computer science, it is the most talked-about event because it is the only one held once a year for the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology. “We had over 150 students come to the kickoff last year,” said Burris. “The majors look forward to it, and it is really the only thing we do as a department.” Twenty-four competitors will split up into teams of two or three and race against the clock for four hours of uninterrupted computer coding. “I give students seven or eight problems that they have to solve using coding,” said Burris. “They have to program different problems ,and [most competitors] walk out sweating. The adrenaline is so intense that you forget to use the bathroom.” This fast-paced event is modeled after regional competitions and helps recruit members to represent Southeastern to take on other colleges and universities. Burris said it is open to the general public, but people who are in the field or majoring in computer science would enjoy watching it the most. Southeastern competes against schools such as LSU, Tulane, USM and UNO. “We are always competitive. We have never gone to an event and come in less than third for the years I have been their coach,” said Burris. “When we go in and beat LSU or Tulane, it tells employers that we are giving out the best students.” Junior computer science majors Ujjwol Lamichhane and Joshua Escamilla were Last year’s winners. They later competed with Krunal Khatri, who recently graduated in fall 2014. Their team placed second after LSU in the 2014 South Central USA Regional Contest. “Internal competitions within Southeastern are really fun ,and we get to enjoy all parts of it,” said Lamichhane. “However, the regional and other external competitions are really exhausting due to their rigor and competition from the other teams. I would suggest to everyone to try and get their hands dirty. You never know if you [will] discover that you enjoy these contests.” In order to prepare for the coding bee, those interested may want to study coding information and programming instructions. “We printed out a ton of reference material and read online programming documentation,” said Escamilla. “It’s a friendly atmosphere, and it was exciting to win. You would enjoy competing if you love programming and problem solving.” The winners will receive Amazon gift cards priced at $100 for each member on the winning team, $50 for second and $25 for third. Additional prizes valued over $100 will be handed out to other best teams until they run out. In the past, these prizes included tablets, LCD monitors, raspberry pi computers, external hard drives and so on. For more information or instructions on how to sign up, contact Burris at john.burris-3@selu.edu.

Organizational News is due on the Friday before publication by 10 a.m., with a limit of 150 words.

SCA

T h e Southeastern Christian Association would like to welcome back our fellow Lions for the spring semester. We would also like to invite you to join us for our many activities and events that will be taking place this semester. We have Bible studies every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Student Union Food Court. Come join our growing fellowship of Christians as we strive to build and provide a sense of community and belonging to both Christian and non-Christian students interested in our faith. Meetings are a place where students can come together in a social Christian setting by connecting Christians to other believers and providing a place where they can speak and interact with one another in a way that promotes unity as a group and strengthens members as individuals. All Southeastern students are invited to be a part of what we do.

PSI CHI

We will be having an interest meeting in February. Please be on the lookout as more details on when and where will be posted on flyers to be

found in White Hall as well as future updates in the Lion’s Roar newspaper. If you have any questions about joining or other inquiries concerning PSI CHI, email psichi@selu.edu.

NAMI

stands for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Our chapter is devoted to promoting mental health and reducing stigma on Southeastern’s campus. Our first meeting of the semester will be held Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. in the White Hall conference room on the first floor. Students interested in joining NAMI on campus may contact President Melanie Mann at melanie.mann@selu. edu. Mental health fact of the week: Historically, eating disorders were thought to be conditions limited to upper-middle class, teenaged Caucasian females. Over the past few decades, it became clear that women of all ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds are confronted with the challenges of eating disorders. Males are less likely to have eating disorders than females, but it has been suggested that as awareness grows, more males are being treated for eating disorders.

Courtesy of Public Information

Southeastern biologist Janice Bossart and biology graduate assistant Eric Van Gorder of Fuquay Varina, N.C., study a bee they caught at one of the protected habitat sites they survey. Bossart was awarded a $103,448 grant from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to compare and survey native bee communities in conservation habitats.

Bee biologist receives grant BY MEGAN SIMON Campus Life Editor

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries awarded associate professor Janice Bossart a two-year grant for her research regarding bee communities. Bossart’s main area of study is evolutionary ecology. “Ecology is the study of organisms and their environment,” said Bossart. “We are looking at how the environment influences organisms in various ways. Evolutionary ecologists are basically looking at how the environment causes genetic change, so we are looking at adaptation to environmental conditions. There’s lots of different things, but in a nutshell, ecology is all about thinking about organisms in the context of where they live in, both nonliving components and living components in the environment. Evolution recognizes that environment acts as an agent on populations of organisms. That is basically what my training in general is in.” Her study aims to determine whether or not there is a decline in the native bee species. Bossart’s motivation behind the study came from having an interest in the conservation of habitats and the species impacted by the loss of these habitats. She wanted her research to be more locally based as opposed to her past projects. “I’ve had multiple funded research projects. Mostly I’ve worked on butterflies in West Africa, but this one was in part because it is very difficult to get funding for big research projects, and also I’m really interested in big conservation

issues,” said Bossart. “I wanted to have projects that were closer around here, so that was one of the motivating factors for doing projects that are relevant in the context of Louisiana. As somebody who is interested in conservation awareness, I have noticed there is a decline in bees world-wide. Mostly, we have focused on honeybees. Pollinators are amazingly important both in terms of ecological sense because of what they do for the ecosystem, but also of an economical sense because they pollinate all our crops and all the plants in our yard.” Bossart intends to address multiple issues in her research, including the conservation of species impacted by human actions, recognition that bees are declining and the endangerment of species and their ecosystems. One of the factors she will be focusing on is how there are critically threatened habitats in Louisiana and that the bee communities suffer from this, which in turn could cause problems because bees play such a large role in the pollination of crops. The study involves six sites, all different ecosystems: two upland forest habitats, two savanna habitats and two bog sites. Through using multiple methods, Bossart and her team will be sampling and surveying at these sites. Once the samples are taken, the bees are identified and catalogued. In addition to measuring her objectives for the study, there is also a chance Bossart and her team may discover a species of bee new to Louisiana. “Insects don’t get a lot of attention, so there is not a lot known for Louisiana,” said Bossart. “Not just pollinator species. There is always a potential that

we will find species that aren’t known for Louisiana yet, or there’s always a potential we will find a species that isn’t known yet at all.” As opposed to the abundant studies on honeybees, Bossart will be making a point to sample and catalogue native bee species in order to gather more information on different bee species not normally acknowledged as much as honeybees. Her reasoning for this is that since there is a known decline in honeybees, it means the native bees have to pick up the slack. Since there are not a lot of studies out there on the numbers of native bee species present, there is no way of knowing whether or not they contribute enough to make up for the decline in honey bees. “There are thousands of native bee species,” said Bossart. “The large majority of those are not colony species. They are solitary species, and most of them don’t sting. Many people think of honeybees, but honeybees are not a native species. They were introduced from Europe. They are a domesticated species that we take advantage of because they are great pollinators. There are all these other species that nobody recognizes that are pollinating.” According to Bossart, the true cause of the decline in the species of bees are still unknown, but it is known that habitat loss is one of the contributors. Across the nation, this issue continues to be a concern. Bossart hopes her study recognizes not only the decline in native bee species but brings awareness to the fact that the science community needs to become concerned with not only saving the honeybee community but all native bee communities.

Speaker to address infant mental health BY WILLIAM SCHMIDT Staff Reporter

Chi Sigma Iota will be hosting licensed social worker In-Gyu Jang to speak on the field of infant mental health. This is not the first time Jang spoke for students. The first time was in a counselor education class for human growth and development. Jang was asked to return by popular request. “This topic was chosen because Ms. Jang and her presentation received such positive feedback from students and the professor from the counselor education course. Those in this program expressed a desire to learn more about the topic,” said Josie David, graduate student in counselor education and president elect of CHI. The affirmative response is a good sign for this emerging field. “Infant mental health is a relatively new and fastgrowing field in mental health,” said David. “It is preventative in nature and therefore in great need. It is a topic that not many people have knowledge about but is very interesting and beneficial

to those in the mental health field.” Though the nature of infant mental health is to avert problems, it is also based upon an infant-caregiver system. According to the World Association for Mental Health webpage, infant mental health is defined “as the ability to develop physically, cognitively and socially in a manner which allows them to master the primary emotional tasks of early childhood without serious disruption caused by harmful life events. Because infants grow in context of nurturing environment, infant mental health involves the

psychological balance of the infant-family system.” According to David, invitations have been sent out to professionals in the area such as social workers and counselors and will provide opportunities for students to network with professionals who attend the event as well as information for those who pursue careers revolving around mental health. Though the lecture is on infant mental health, all are welcome to attend. “This presentation is meant to be informative for those who do not have knowledge in infant mental health, so

no previous background or knowledge is needed before coming to the presentation,” said David. “I would like students to know this is a new, fast-growing, preventative, needed, important and interesting topic in mental health.” Cost to attend the lecture is $35 for professional nonmembers, $30 for professional members, $20 for student nonmembers and $15 for student members of CSI. Rates will increase by $5 on-site. Registration forms and payment can be dropped off to David in Room 108 of White Hall by Wednesday.

OPINIONS

THE LION’S ROAR

JANUARY 27, 2015 PAGE 3

Does new textbook rental system work? Bring back the days of past

Emily Stephan Copy Editor Before I start, I must say I am not a person who is adverse to change, but sometimes I have to wonder what others are thinking when they tamper with things that were not broken in the first place. Several faulty ideas throughout history have seemed like good ones when first dreamt up. Giving us our text books already packaged together when we arrive at the textbook rental building sounded like a great, more convenient way to pick up those big old tomes. At least, on paper it seemed more convenient. In reality, it has only made things even more inconvenient for this university’s students, adding even more hassle to the already hectic beginnings of the academic semester and extra aggravation. I went to claim my textbooks before the semester started, and I can say that the “more convenient” process was a total mess from the moment I arrived on the scene. The poor staff members were rushing about all over the place, trying to find certain boxes, giving students their textbook box before realizing there was yet

another box that went with it. Under the old system, it took me 15 minutes tops to fetch my books on my own and then have them checked out. This semester I had merely three books to pick up, and it took half an hour for my box to reach me. My sister had to wait even longer for her seven textbooks, and since she had to add a class last minute, it will be worse. Altogether, we waited about 45 minutes, and there was barely anyone else waiting alongside us. I understand that the book rental system has been overtaken by a different company this year, but why should they find any reason to mess with the normal way of distributing text books here? I have heard from a friend

Change can be for the better

of mine that the system has improved some, but to me, this still seems like a flawed manner of distribution. Not that procuring textbooks has ever been entirely painless here, but this box nonsense just feels unnecessary to me. Most of the people I know have voiced similar complaints to my own, so I don’t believe I am being unreasonable with my disappointment in this matter. I earnestly do hope that in the future this new manner of distribution, if not done away with altogether, will have its kinks ironed out and its gears running smoothly. As is, it is a nightmare that could have easily been averted with better planning.

William Schmidt Staff Reporter I walked into textbook rental the Monday they implemented the new rental system. When I arrived, it was completely unorganized. I ended up jumping close to 20 people in line. When new students came in to get their textbooks, the student worker would find the newest student’s textbooks and place them on top of another box that had been found earlier. I was lucky because it just so happened

that a student worker found my box, threw it on top of all the other students’ boxes that had previously been waiting. Then another student worker grabbed my box and called my name to be checked out. A week later, when I went with a friend to pick up his textbooks the tables had turned. Textbook Rental had been able to get their act together and become organized, changing my mind into becoming in favor of the new rental system. When walking through the door, they would not only write the number for where the student worker could find the textbooks, but they also wrote down the time you came in to make sure that you were checked out first. Even though I went with a

friend during a semi-crowded time, we were in and out in less time than when I went to get my textbooks in the past semesters. Some people I know complained that the line took forever, but most also admitted that they waited until the day before or until the first day of classes. Another friend of mine went early in the morning, and she admitted that it only took about five minutes to get her textbooks. It is as if you went to any other place of business, your wait will always depend on the time of day. Another feature textbook rental did after classes had started was to have all the books stacked on the shelves and have the student workers pull them directly from a list of textbooks that the students needed. I believe this was a smart move because not only does it save the time of opening boxes, but it ensures that the boxes do not go to waste by ending up in the dumpster. All in all, I am in favor of the new textbook rental system because if I register for classes early enough, I can have my books ready for checkout. My only wish would be for the bar code system were to remain implemented. My Psych 350 class has 90 students enrolled, and if I were to accidentally leave my textbook in class, I would not want another student to pick it up and turn it in at the end of the semester as their textbook.

SPEAK OUT What have you learned in your classes so far this week? Jordan Reid Sophomore, Communication

Nathan Visel Junior, General studies

Alexandra Stoic-Fienberg Senior, Criminal justice

Niccolo Machiavelli was the greatest political philosopher of the Renaissance time.

I learned there were five reasons why the South seceded. It wasn’t all because of racism and slavery.

We are going to be learning about sexuality and how it doesn’t always mean what you think it might mean.

Lyla Hixson Freshman, Nursing

Kodi Killgore Junior, General studies

Caitlyn Culbreath Senior, Kinesiology

I learned a lot about my professors and the basics of what we’re going to learn.

I learned a different perspective on literature, ‘the best literature strikes a chord with you.’

We went over the syllabus and the introduction of what we will learn throughout the semester.

Bradley Johnson Junior, Accounting

Caroline Haik

Sophomore, Early Childhood Education

Kinora Manson Sophomore, Nursing

I basically learned how to set yourself up for success in the class.

I just learned all the rules and what to do, what not to do in my classes and what the teachers expect.

In English, I learned everyone’s name because we had to write a paper about what our names mean.

Warn me before dropping courses

At the end of last semester, I had successfully enrolled in six classes. Having spent a good deal of time carefully selecting professors and mapping out class times, I felt pretty good about my schedule. Fast forward over a month later, and I am panicking, realizing an Samantha Stephan entire course just disappeared from my schedule. Staff Reporter My Spanish 102 class had vanished from my current course line-up for the spring. I had just taken Spanish 101 last semester, and it was strongly advised the following course be taken

immediately the following semester so the student would not forget all they had learned. My professor even stated that students in the past who did not take Spanish 102 the following semester did not do as well as those who did. So when I discovered that class had been dropped without warning, I was furious and concerned for my future success in that class. Losing the knowledge I had gained was not my only worry. The class dropping brought my credit hours down to the minimum 12 hours required to retain TOPS. I always take over the minimum as a safety net due to the possibility of having to withdraw from a class in the middle of the semester. This led me into another dilemma: finding a last minute class to fill the gap.

THE LION ’S ROAR - STAFF

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The Lion’s Roar is the official newspaper of the students of Southeastern Louisiana University. It has been in continuous publication since 1937. Submissions and letters to the editor are welcomed, but the editor of The Lion’s Roar reserves the right to edit all submissions for grammar, libel and available space or refuse publication without notification. Submissions must include the author’s full name and either phone number, e-mail or other contact information (not to be published). Faculty and staff members should include their title and department. Students should include their classification and major. By submitting an article for publication, the author understands

that the submission will be edited. Organizational News space is provided at no charge as a courtesy for university recognized Greek and Student Organizations. The space of such articles is limited to 150 words. Submissions of this Organizational News must adhere to the same polices as other submissions or letters to the editor, but must also include the name of the organization. All views expressed in The Lion’s Roar are those of the author or, if unsigned, those of the staff of The Lion’s Roar. These views should not be interpreted as the views of the administration, faculty or students of Southeastern Louisiana University. A single issue of The Lion’s Roar is free.

I checked to see if there was a different Spanish 102 that I could take, but all that remained was an internet course which required approval. I scrapped the bottom of the barrel for any other course I needed to take that would not clash with my other enrolled classes until I found a history class. I understand classes are dropped for various reasons and are an unavoidable issue, but all of this hassle could have been evaded had the university just sent out an email. This would be a much more efficient way to handle the situation. Plus, it’s simply courteous. Teachers love being warned if you are going to miss a class, so can we please be warned about dropped classes ?

Additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents in Mims Hall Room 128. Annual mail subscriptions are $35 within the continental U.S. The Lion’s Roar, in its print form, associated Web sites and CD/DVD versions are designated public forums. Student editors have the authority to make content decisions without censorship or prior approval. The Lion’s Roar also defends the rights of student journalists relative to freedom of speech and press as stated in Amendment I of the Constitution of the United States of America. The Lion’s Roar is published through the Office of Student Publications, part of the Division for Student Affairs. It is published weekly during regular semesters and monthly during the summer semester.

Editor in Chief Assistant Editor Campus Life Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor

Sara Patrick Allison Crady Megan Simon Jay Love Emily Stephan

Distribution Tyler Kennedy Advertising Assistants Ashley Guillot Administrative Assistant Heather Collins Coordinator Lorraine F. Peppo Director Lee E. Lind

CONTACT General Offices Mims Hall Room 128 Mailing Address The Lion’s Roar SLU 10877 Hammond, LA 70402 E-mail lionsroar@selu.edu Telephone Numbers 985-549-3527 (newsroom) 985-549-3842 (fax) 985-549-3731 (advertising) www.lionsroarnews.com www.selu.edu/lionsroar

PAGE 4 JANUARY 27, 2015

Shattered Illusions

BY ALLISON CRADY Assistant Editor

Review Last Thursday night the thriller “The Boy Next Door” hit theatres, presenting a sensual, fast-paced ride ,perfect for a date or a girls night out. Starring Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Guzman, the film tells a story of lust, adultery and obsession. While I doubt the movie will win any awards for being original, it was an enjoyable hour and a half. The biggest issue I had with the movie can be summed up in one word: predictability. The male lead, Guzman, is initially presented as a type of Prince Charming, complete with beautifully tanned muscles and a passion for classic literature. While it’s fun to dream and enjoy the fantasy, it’s clear it’s just that: a fantasy. He’s obviously hiding something ugly. Slowly you see his boiling aggression spill over in unsettling ways. As in most thrillers, there are going to be bumps and jumps along the way, but there will still be a happy ending. The viewer can see Lopez’s fear as she’s faced with the possibility of losing everything she holds dear. Yet the resolution offers no surprises and is easily forecast from the beginning. For those willing to suspend reality and intellectual thoughts, “The Boy Next Door” offers several entertaining elements: fantasy, sensuality and horror. The fantasy being the Prince Charming we see on screen: a thoughtful and sexy handyman. I know for many women, this element would be reason enough to speed to the big screen. The mildly explicit sex scene with Lopez, as well as the many shirtless Guzman scenes, provide a flowing sensuality which many will find appealing. Additionally, Guzman’s violent dark side and twisted actions lend horror and exhilaration as you curl in your seat with your eyes half covered, in anticipation of what he will do next. Overall, I enjoyed the ride the film took me on. I was ogling. I was laughing. I was startled, scared and then relieved. If you insist on picking apart the obvious plot, go see something else. I recommend “House at the End of the Street,” which had some startling plot twists in addition to the natural suspense of any good thriller. “The Boy Next Door” provides an excuse to ogle a good-looking man, enjoy mildly explicit sex scenes and cuddle up close with your date. Take it at face value as a sexy thriller, and it will serve as an entertaining guilty pleasure film.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE LION’S ROAR

Police officer pens murder mystery BY MEGAN MCCORMICK Staff Reporter

O’Neil De Noux is not only a university police officer, but also an author. He combined both occupations by writing “The French Detective,” a mystery novel set in the French Quarter during the 20th century. “The French Detective” is the story of a four-yearold who is kidnapped in the city. During the 1900s, New Orleans was well populated with Sicilian immigrants, most of Irish descent. After hearing of the kidnapping, many Sicilian residents turn to police authorities; a search goes on downtown New Orleans. Detective Jacques Dugas, the novel’s main character, finds a crowd on the prowl for the child, and soon becomes the head of the quest. While doing so, he must face a variety of characters, including the city’s crime boss and a wellknown henchman. During this time period, New Orleans had become racially divided. After the Jim Crow laws were passed by state legislatures, an African American killed a white policeman. The murder led various riots, killing 28 people. However, African Americans and Caucasians were not the only groups to have racial tension. “This was not a good time for race relations of any type. The influx of Sicilan and Irish immigrants into the city also led to conflicts. Only 10 years earlier, 11 Italian men had been acquitted of shooting a

police chief and were dragged from prison to be hanged. New Orleans had the largest mass lynching in the nation following the shooting,” said De Noux. De Noux has written 28 other books prior to “The French Detective,” one being “Bourbon Street,” another crime novel set in New Orleans. His career began after befriending George Alec Effinger, an award winning science fiction writer and John Edward Ames, an accomplished western novelist and mystery writer. “They both gave me encouragement and advice. George introduced me to the writer who became my mentor, Harlan Ellison. Harlan’s inspiration and guidance helped turn me from a beginner to a dedicated, almost fanatic, writer. The writers I admire most, beyond those guys, are Elmore Leonard and James Sallis,” said De Noux. Since 2006, he has been an investigator with Southeastern’s police department. Amongst this, he was a sheriff for Jefferson and St. Benard parishes’ offices, private investigator, criminal intelligence analyst and creative writing instructor. De Noux has received the Shamus Award in 2007 and was named a Derringer winner in 2009. “I write all the time. At home after work, here at Southeastern, weekends and days off. I wrote three novels last year: a police, private eye and a historical novel. I started a new one on Jan. 1 and have written 15 thousand words of

Courtesy of O’Neil De Noux

an adventure novel,” said De Noux. De Noux expects his 30th novel to be released in April. It is a police novel featuring

a returning character, John Raven Beau from “John Raven Beau.” The previous novel was set in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina had

stormed the city. For more information or to purchase any of De Noux’s novels, search Amazon.com for a full listing of his works.

Iktus duo to perform experimental music

Courtesy of Public Information

Flutist Hristina Blagoeva (above left) makes up half of the Iktus Duo. Blagoeva will perform with percussionist Chris Graham (above right), to create a contemporary sound for students and guests on Jan. 28.

BY MEGAN FERRANDO Staff Reporter

Flute and percussion will collaborate to create contemporary sound through the arrival of Iktus Duo. Iktus Duo, comprised of Chris Graham on percussion and Hristina Blagoeve on flute, will travel from their home in New York to offer a free performance open to the public on Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pottle Music Building. “I love the combination of percussion and flute. There’s just so much you can do with it,” said Dr. Philip Schuessler, instructor of music theory and composition. “But one of the other main reasons to have them come down is to have students exposed to new music, contemporary music, experimental music.” Students also have the opportunity to attend a master class, which will allow students to perform with Iktus Duo on the night of the concert. The selected students will perform Cornelius Cardew’s “Treatise.” “[Graham’s] going to guide the students on how to work in this new kind of notation,” said Schuessler. “The piece is what’s called graphic notation.” Along with learning about graphic notation in performance,

students will gain from seeing musicians performing professionally. “The importance of it is really crucial because there’s a lot of talk these days about what getting an education in the arts is good for,” said Schuessler. “It’s good to see professional musicians doing their thing passionately as a guidepost for the students to see this is what you can do with a degree, this is what you can do with the arts. You can embrace it as a professional musician.” Recently the duo won the 2014 Ackerman Chamber Music Competition. Southeastern’s performance will be one of many as Iktus Duo performs and conducts educational workshops at various universities. They will also be part of an educational outreach for underprivileged students in New York City. Iktus Duo will play unique

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contemporary music and show what directions music can take. The evening’s repertoire includes new and recent music, as well as Schuessler’s own piece, “The Witch on Bear Mountain.”

“They do adventurous repertoire,” said Schuessler. “They are willing to play contemporary music that other people are not accustomed to playing or want to play so it’s

good to have an ensemble that’s open minded.” For more information, contact the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at 985-5492184.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE LION’S ROAR

JANUARY 27, 2015 PAGE 5

Spring exhibition to feature faculty artwork BY MELANIE MANN Staff Reporter

The Lion’s Roar / Megan Simon

Students at the Spring 2014 faculty exhibit examine the various art pieces created by the faculty members of the visual arts department at the Contemporary Art Gallery. The exhibit consisted of wall-mounted artwork of several types of mediums on display.

As artists grow and change, so does their artwork. While conceptual pieces track a creator’s thoughts and feelings, aesthetic art culminates from the artist’s skillset and interests within the field. Dale Newkirk, director of the Contemporary Art Gallery, has been able to witness the artistic development of himself and his peers thanks to the

annual Art and Design Faculty Exhibition. The exhibition’s opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. “We do this every year,” said Newkirk. “It’s always the first show of the spring semester. It’s an opportunity for the students and community to see what the professors do in their studios, because the students don’t get to see that very often.” Each faculty member presents artwork in the medium of which they teach. Though some individual exhibitions feature the same artists year after year, each exhibition develops a life of its own. “It’s always surprising to me,” said Newkirk. “This is my 11th [exhibition]. The personality and character of the show changes every year even though a lot of the faculty are the same. A lot of the times, the faculty members will use this show as an opportunity to make something different or to experiment with something.” This is true even in regards to Newkirk’s work. Though Newkirk is a sculpting instructor, his pieces to be presented in the upcoming exhibition are 2-D design. In one of his

pieces, Newkirk utilizes light, proportion and color to evoke emotion and tension in the viewer. Gary Keown is another faculty member who will be deviating from his past artistic trends. Though Keown is a graphic design instructor, he has a master’s degree in sculpture. After taking sculpture as part of his graphic design undergraduate curriculum, he “fell in love with it.” One of Keown’s pieces presented in a faculty exhibition was a series of sculptures based upon the “Dick and Jane” children’s stories, which were meant to symbolize the Sandy Hook shooting. However, this year Keown decided to get back to his roots with a typography piece. Keown’s current piece features a zoomed-in piece of the letter “K” proportioned in such a way to evoke feeling in the viewer. This piece was influenced by Claude Garamond, a 16th century typographer in the 1500s, and Ellsworth Kelly, a painter whose work is thematically centered on minimalist shapes and vibrant color. For more information on the faculty exhibition, contact Newkirk at dale.newkirk@ selu.edu.

First Hammond P.3+ citywide art exhibit closes BY MEGAN FERRANDO Staff Reporter

After showcased local, regional, national and international artists Hammond’s first P.3+ citywide exhibit, came to a close this past weekend. The exhibit was hosted by the Hammond Regional Arts Center in coordination with the New Orleans International Contemporary Art Biennial Prospect.3. The P.3+ exhibit, which lasted from Oct. 25 to Jan. 25, featured paintings, sculptures, giant inflatable art sculptures and more around downtown Hammond. “I was pleased to see P.3+ and the New Orleans Art communities embrace Hammond and the other towns and cities in Louisiana in new, amazing ways,” said Patty McGehee, one artist whose screen prints were featured. “It gave a chance for a huge number of Hammond artists who are rarely seen by our community to have places to hang their art for the first time.” The exhibits shined light on Hammond as an art community

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You need to be certain that all the right conditions are in place before you take that first step. It can’t hurt to listen to good advice from those who have your best interests at heart. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Be careful not to get involved in other people’s disputes unless you know the facts behind the disagreements. That’s the best way to be assured of making wise and honest decisions. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You still need to be careful about how you’re going to spend those energy reserves you finally got around to restoring. Best advice: Avoid overdoing it. Let things take their course. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your aspect continues to favor travel -- alone or with that special person. So if you’ve been putting off making those getaway plans, it’s still a good time to get started on them. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Those so-called golden opportunities that continue to dazzle the Lion still need to be carefully checked out. Be suspicious about anything that looks like the “perfect” prospect. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Changes at the workplace could make it more difficult to do things the way you prefer. But the wise Virgo who shows some flexibility could find it paying off in a big way.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might want to check out the explanation you were given for a sudden shift in your duties. There’s a possibility that you haven’t been told all the facts that you deserve to know. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Having confidence in your abilities is important, especially when you could be facing a new challenge, whether it’s in the workplace or in a personal relationship. Good luck. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A new workrelated opportunity might not be all that it seems. Before making any decisions, you might want to check with others who have had some experience in that area. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A situation involving someone close could benefit from your timely intervention. Avoid being judgmental. There’ll be plenty of time later for those “little talks” you like to have. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Travel could be a surprise element in that new project. Be prepared for other previously undisclosed aspects that also might come to light as you proceed with the work. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Try to balance your work-related responsibilities with the time you’re spending on your recently revived social life. An old friend might be planning to return after a long absence. BORN THIS WEEK: Your sensitivity makes you aware of the needs of others. Have you considered a career as a counselor?

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HAMMOND, La. – Inside Southeastern Basketball with Jay Ladner will start producing the television show each Tuesday evening at Hampton Inn of Hammond and fans are encouraged to attend. Ladner, and host Allen Waddell, will record segments for the television show each Head coach Jay Ladner Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to come early, or stay late, as food and drinks will be provided. Hampton Inn of Hammond is located at 401 Westin Oaks Dr., next to the Cracker Barrel restaurant. The show airs on Cox Sports Television as well as Cox 4, Pelican Sports HD and KPBN in Baton Rouge/Lafayette/New Orleans, the Southeastern Channel and WHNO-TV in New Orleans. Previous episodes of Inside Southeastern Basketball are available online at www. youtube.com/SLUathletics or www. lionsports.net. INSIDE SOUTHEASTERN BASKETBALL WITH LADNER AIR TIMES: COX SPORTS TELEVISION – Thursdays, 5 p.m. WHNO – Fridays, 5:30 p.m.

JAY

The Lion’s Roar / Cyprien Campeaux

Lion center DeVante Upson competes with an opponent from Houston Baptist University for the ball during tipoff. The Lions next play at home against Northwestern State on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

PAGE 8 JANUARY 27, 2015

NEWS

THE LION’S ROAR

UPD says safety cannot be measured by statistics alone BY MELANIE MANN Staff Reporter

In the past few years, various online sources have implied Hammond is more dangerous than any other city in Louisiana. Though each article provides statistical data to reinforce these claims, professionals in the ﬁeld of criminal justice question the validity of these conclusions. “Some numbers on the internet from some site that I’ve never heard of, I wouldn’t use that to determine whether or not I feel safe,” said Patrick Gipson, police lieutenant for the University Police Department. On Sept. 4, 2014, homesecurityshield.org published a list of “10 Most Dangerous Cities in Louisiana,” of which Hammond took ﬁrst place. The article cited some statistics to back up this claim, including that “Hammond has a crime rate of 136 per 1,000 residents” and “your chance of becoming a victim in Hammond [is] one in seven.” However, the website fails to cite how this information was

collected. There is no method of determining a “crime rate” in the ﬁeld of criminal justice. The lack of credible sources and the fact that the article was published by a company that sells home security systems rouses suspicion about the article’s validity, according to Gipson. “We don’t use anything called a ‘crime rate,”’ said Gipson. “We measure [safety] by how our community feels… If the community comes to us and says, ‘We don’t feel safe because of this,’ then we do something to address that.” Homesecurityshield.org is not the only online resource warning about the dangers of the Hammond community. Areavibes.com is designed to analyze statistical information about cities in the United States and provide a “livability score” based on the results. Hammond received an “F” for crime rate, which was reported to be 12,677 per 100,000 residents, or 209 percent higher than the average city in Louisiana. Citydata.com also uses statistical data to provide information on

The Lion’s Roar / Cyprien Campoux

U.S. cities. The website cites Hammond’s overall crime rate in 2012 as 982.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the U.S. average crime rate of 286.1. What these websites fail to consider is the limitations that come with using statistical analysis as the primary source of information. “[Statistics] are ‘descriptive’ of the world and can help identify patterns, trends and correlations… [but] descriptions, patterns and trends aren’t explanations or interpretations and can’t offer answers or solutions,” said

Dr. Kenneth Bolton, head of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice and associate professor of criminal justice. “Statistical analysis has become increasingly divorced from social theory and history and is regarded by many as a theoretical and historical. To the extent this is true, statistics can’t provide a full understanding of the social ‘problems’ that those who employ statistics attempt to understand.” A common logical fallacy is the “ludic fallacy,” in which one uses simple statistical concepts to explain or predict

complex real-world situations. To understand the arguments against using statistical data to explain or deﬁne social problems requires understanding of social research methods. When addressing a relatively new or unexamined topic how dangerous a city is in terms of crime, for example exploratory research is conducted. One of the purposes of exploratory research is to cast a wide net and see if any patterns appear so that further, more speciﬁc research can be done. Someone interested in assessing the safety of Hammond may send out surveys and browse census data to amass an extensive amount of information on the city and then analyze the data to look for patterns associated with crime. Hypothetically, after analyzing the data, a researcher may discover that Hammond has a higher amount of crimes committed per 100,000 residents than surrounding cities in a given year. While this gives the researcher a good lead for further research, the information is not enough

to determine whether or not Hammond is more dangerous than surrounding cities. There are many factors that could influence data that were not accounted for in the study. For example, the fact that Hammond contains commuters from other cities could impact the numbers in a significant way. It is possible the crimes executed in Hammond are committed by people who live in other cities. A researcher would have to conduct a controlled study to account for this factor. In the academic world, a series of controlled studies would be necessary before conclusive results could be reported. According to Bolton, “statistics work well with the view that sociologists can inform policy makers through their analytical expertise to solve social problems that occur in an otherwise healthy social system.” However, utilizing simple statistics to explain or define complex problems can lead to misinformation and an unfair representation of the subject at hand.

State writes new sexual assault policy Southeastern students, BY EMILY STEPHAN Copy Editor

A new policy regarding sexual assault on Louisiana college campuses is currently in the works. According to an article in The Advocate, this newer sexual conduct policy will “require the state’s four higher education systems — Louisiana Technical and Community College, [Louisiana State University], Southern University and University of Louisiana — to develop stronger, more specific campus policies.” There are also plans to utilize a campus survey to gauge the presence of assault on campuses. This new policy remains mostly undeveloped, making it hard to form strong opinions on it just yet; however, some feel it has great potential to make a difference. “Southeastern has a number of policies and procedures that address sexual misconduct,” said Eric Summers, director of the Office of Student Conduct. “However, we are working on a comprehensive sexual misconduct policy that will allow for a consistent METROPOLITAN continued from pg. 1 with people and businesses relocating to the higher ground of Hammond. We carefully selected how we would form planning groups to build a Northshore coalition.” According to Panepinto, it connects Hammond to a part of a “larger core group” in the Northshore region COMMUTERS continued from pg. 1 Timothy Carambat. “It helps me save money for other things.” “Economics professor says plummeting gas prices show no short term trend” tells that crude oil is going for about QEP continued from pg. 1 all students who graduate have built a professional resume before leaving the university. “We want them to leave here and have a job, and we think this will put them closer to that,” said Summers. The Office of Experiential Learning is being created in order to implement the new Real World Ready plan. The OEL office will be located in

institutional response. An umbrella policy is more victim-friendly. It will provide one document that makes the victim aware of how and to whom to report, where to find resources and what sanctioning and protective options are available. Once we have more guidance from the federal and state government, we will make sure that our policy is in line with expectations.” Summers feels these proposed climate surveys would be integral to understanding sexual assaults in the college environment. “We know that many sexual assaults go unreported which adds gaps to our knowledge of the true sexual assault climate,” said Summers. “As such, campus climate surveys should give us an understanding of what we are facing. From what I am hearing the state may have a uniform survey for all institutions to utilize. Once we have that information we will use it to provide better awareness, outreach and advocacy.” Stephanie Travis, president of the Student Government Association, proclaims herself “excited to hear that our state

is addressing this problem that affects all college campuses.” Having helmed an effort to raise awareness for sexual assault the previous semester, Travis has a plethora of feelings on the matter, seeing it as a phenomenon spreading across the country’s universities. “Sexual assault is a problem that occurs everywhere,” said Travis. “Some statistics state that up to one out of every four women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. According to the Counseling Center, 25 percent of our students that complete the intake exam for their services have answered ‘Yes’ to, ‘Have you had unwanted sex?’” Travis believes the biggest problem surrounding sexual assault is that people are not educated about it, mainly because sex is seen as a taboo subject. “We need to talk about it. Having sex without spoken consent is a crime. You can only give consent if you are sober,” said Travis. “Our society is one that promotes an atmosphere of fear, that you will only be sexually assaulted by someone you don’t know hiding in the bushes, but

close to 75 percent of sexual assaults are committed by acquaintances. Often many victims don’t know that it was a sexual assault. Too often sexual assaults go unreported, and offenders go free allowing for the possibility that it will occur again.” Travis urges students to bring suggestions regarding sexual misconduct policies on the Southeastern campus in particular. “It’s hard to state what Southeastern’s current policies are, although even before the Board’s formation of the committee to address this issue, Southeastern formed a committee to revisit its current policies,” said Travis. “The committee agreed to define sexual assault as well as outline the victims’ rights, while also upholding the accused’s due process. Right now is the perfect time for anyone to bring suggestions to our campus. As we all have an influence in how our university is structured.” For more questions on Southeastern’s current policies regarding sexual misconduct, make a visit to the SGA office, located in Mims Hall.

encompassing New Orleans, Slidell, Independence and Albany. Now that Hammond is part of the bigger picture, it will allow essential economic access, development and business. “We’ll receive more frequent updates to our economic and employment data for the area,” said Landrum. “This data helps us target workforce development programs and

is a useful tool for businesses wanting to move to Hammond. Overall, we hope that we can recruit businesses more aggressively to further our economic development.” This recruitment will not be difﬁcult with the factors working in Hammond’s favor. “Attracting businesses from across the country and around the world to this metropolitan region is a larger picture to

prospective customers,” said Panepinto. “The ports of New Orleans and the Northshore as well as the interstate crossroads of the I-12 and I-55, I-10 and I-59 corridors are critical for the trucking and the transportation industry. All these assets as a whole help promote Hammond and these other cities to prospective companies considering bringing business and industry to our area.”

$50 a barrel right now which is more than a 50 percent drop in the last six months from when the price was $115 in June. Some gas managers believe this is helpful not only for their customers but the economy as well. “It benefits the students

because it reduces the cost and they have more money to spend on other things. Last summer it was twice as much, which means they have to visit gas stations twice as much,” said local gas station manager Faisal Shuja. “That means less money for them per month. I think the gas prices being

lower are beneficial for the society.” With gas prices possibly having positive and negative impacts for the student driver, these next coming months may unveil if the decrease in gas prices is saving cost in the long run.

the newly-renovated Student Union complex. “While there has been broad-based involvement in the selection and development of the QEP, I would encourage everyone to review the final proposed plan,” said Crain. An On-Site Reaffirmation Committee will come to campus on behalf of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges from Feb. 3-5, 2015. One of the

committee’s major roles is to evaluate the QEP. During their visit, members of the committee will ask random students what they know about the “Real-World Ready” QEP. The committee will also finalize remaining issues concerning the principles of accreditation and verify that the university is meeting federal requirements. “At the end of that visit, we should know if our proposal has been approved

and/or whether we need to make some changes,” said Slawson. “If our QEP is approved, we will enhance, expand, coordinate and assess experiential/learning opportunities across campus. We look forward to finding new ways to improve student learning and the environment of student learning under this important initiative.” To view the current QEP, go to southeastern.edu/QEP.

staff eligible for free Microsoft products BY RENE ABADIE

Public Information

HAMMOND- Southeastern Louisiana University has entered into an agreement with Microsoft Corporation that will allow its students, faculty and staff to download at no charge MS Office programs. “The licensing agreement with Microsoft will permit free use of applications such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher and Outlook. The applications can be downloaded for up to five personal devices, including installation of the Office Mobile Apps on iPads,” said Chief Information Officer Mike Asoodeh. Eligible users will be able to access the programs for download and can retain the license throughout their affiliation with Southeastern. For more information and download instructions, visit the web site www. southeastern.edu/msoffice. Asoodeh said the rights to use these products were purchased from Microsoft as part of the university’s move to Microsoft Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) and its Active Directory program,

a network management program. The move to Active Directory from the university’s Novell system represents a reduction of costs to the university, while allowing access to the MS Office programs. The process of moving to Active Directory on the university’s computers started in September and is expected to be finished by March 2015. “Our users should experience very little impact with this changeover,” said Asoodeh. “Their Novell data is being migrated automatically and users will have access to their networked drivers and printers.” Asoodeh said the move represents another opportunity for the Office of Technology to save university operating funds while providing students, faculty and staff with free access to popular Microsoft programs. “It’s great that we are now able to provide our students with free access to these highly used application programs that can be downloaded to various personal devices,” said Asoodeh.

THE LION’S ROAR

NEWS

JANUARY 27, 2015 PAGE 9

Lionettes take bronze at national competition BY SARA PATRICK Editor in Chief

The Lionettes and cheerleading squads traveled to Orlando, Fla. to compete in the 2015 UCA/UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, and for the third straight year the Lionettes brought home a bronze medal. The competition took place Saturday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 18 at the ESPN Wide

World of Sports Complex. “It’s a great experience,” said Paige Lapeyrouse Hall, coach and coordinator of the Southeastern cheer and dance squads. “It’s really nice to get Southeastern out there because they do so much on campus. They’re there cheering on athletic teams every week, so it’s good for them to compete and show they’re accomplished at what they do.” The cheerleading squad

The Lion’s Roar / Fernanda Chagas

competed in the Division I-Small Coed category, making it to the finals for the fourth consecutive year. However, the team was unable to bring home a medal this year. In the past, the Lionettes have brought home medals in the Division I-Jazz category. This year the team placed fourth in the finals in jazz, but their dance mash-up in Division I-Hip-Hop earned a bronze medal.

Courtesy of Paige Lapeyrouse Hall

The Lionettes (left) show off their dance skills at football games and other events throughout the year. The cheerleading squad and Lionettes (above right) recently competed at the 2015 UCA/UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team Nationals in Orlando. Both teams have placed at Nationals several times over the past few years.

Big Event team ready to serve community BY MELANIE MANN Staff Reporter

From building a playground for a low-income district to completing home projects for couples experiencing hardship, students participating in the Big Event have made a lasting impact on the Hammond community. Individuals and student organizations once again have the opportunity to sign up for the largest annual community service project on campus, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 14. “Our biggest goal this year is to pick up more job sites at public schools,” said Zachary Whitehead, senior communication major and codirector for the Big Event. “We only had one school sign up last year, and I know public school systems are always in a strain for money, so there are always projects that are put to the side that we could literally take care of in a weekend.” Local businesses, households and public agencies may request volunteers to be sent to complete a needed job. Many students participate each year, so there are few jobs that cannot be

tackled during the Big Event. However, the use of power tools by volunteers is prohibited. Students may sign up as individually or in teams of 10 or fewer. The teams will then be assigned to a job site. The Big Event has earned Southeastern a spot on the President’s Higher Education Honor Roll for Community Service for four consecutive years, which according to the nationalservice.gov website, “highlights the role colleges and universities play in solving community challenges and as a result, more students are likely to pursue a lifelong path of civic engagement that achieves meaningful and measurable outcomes in the communities they serve.” This year’s Big Event codirectors Whitehead and senior sports management major Ivy Gonzales recounted their most memorable experiences in serving the community through this project. “My ﬁrst year, there was a playground that we worked at,” said Whitehead. “They were so surprised at how many of us showed up. They were ﬁghting with some state codes, so they

AROUND THE NATION BP FIGHTS FOR LOWER PENALTY IN TRIAL NEW ORLEANS — It’s oil giant BP’s turn to call expert witnesses as it makes its case for a civil penalty lower than the $13.7 billion the federal government is seeking for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The second week of a threeweek trial was set to begin Monday in New Orleans. Last week, government experts testiﬁed about environmental, economic and social damage

The Lion’s Roar / File Photo

For the third annual big event 2013, several student groups and outside volunteers came together to serve the community in. didn’t have the manual labor Applications to request an to build the playground. It was assignment or to sign up as a simple: we drove in some timber, volunteer are available on the raised it up and just shoveled Southeastern website through mulch into there, but these the Student Government people had tears in their eyes at Association’s page. the end of the day. They were In an effort to recruit more so grateful that college students volunteers, the SGA will would take four hours out of be setting up tables in the their Saturday to do something Student Union and providing for them.” computers to assist students Last year, an elderly with the sign-up process. Southeastern alumnus requested SGA members are currently volunteers to tear down and brainstorming incentives to rebuild his fence. The man increase participation, according suffered a stroke two years prior to Whitehead. Ideas include and had difﬁculty completing a crawﬁsh boil, barbecue or the task himself. afterparty. “The story he told us was Though March 14 is currently moving, how he cared for the given date for the Big Event, Southeastern and what he’s the date is subject to change. going through right now,” said Contact Gonzales or Whitehead Gonzales. “It was a privilege to at ivy.gonzales@selu.edu or give a helping hand to someone zachary.whitehead@selu.edu for who needed it.” more information.

arising from the spill. BP attorneys disputed much of that testimony, and have argued that the recovery of the environment and the Gulf economy has been strong. Also at issue in the trial is whether a heavy penalty would put too much ﬁnancial strain on BP Exploration and Production — also known as BPXP — the BP afﬁliate deemed responsible for the spill. By Cain Burdeau.

SMALL DRONE CRASHES ON WHITE HOUSE LAWN WASHINGTON — A small drone ﬂying low to the ground crashes onto the White House grounds before dawn, triggering a major emergency response and raising fresh questions

about security at the presidential mansion. The president is in India, and the White House says the craft did not pose a security threat. By Josh Lederman and Calvin Woodward.

TRIAL FOR FORMER CIA OFFICER AWAITS RULING ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Jurors say they can’t reach a unanimous verdict in the case of a former CIA ofﬁcer accused of leaking secrets

about a classiﬁed operation to a New York Times reporter. But the judge urges them to keep talking. By Matthew Barakat.

AROUND THE WORLD PROTESTERS PROMPT PRISONERS TO BE FREED CAIRO — In a sign of conﬁdence by a tough Egyptian government, Hosni Mubarak’s sons are freed after almost four years in jail, following a weekend marked by another spate of protester killings by police. Criticism

is mounting over the shooting death of a young mother, which was captured on videos and has sparked unﬂattering comparisons between President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Mubarak. By Hamza Hendawi and Sarah El Deeb.

YOUNG CUBANS MAKE ILLEGAL WEB NETWORK HAVANA — In a country with virtually no Internet access, young Cubans secretly construct an illegal network that links more than 9,000 computers across all of Havana and mimics some of the Web’s most important functions. An exclusive look at the private intranet shows that as the U.S. pushes Cuba to bring more connectivity to the cut-off island, Cubans themselves quietly move several steps ahead. By Michael Weissenstein.

GREECE ELECTS RADICAL BRUSSELS — The election in Greece of a radical party that wants to overhaul the country’s bailout program raises new uncertainties for the eurozone. But several European creditor nations hint they will seek a compromise deal to avoid disastrous scenarios, like Greece falling out of the euro. By Raf Casert and Pan Pylas.

NEWS

PAGE 10 JANUARY 27, 2015

THE LION’S ROAR

BILL HOOD FORD LINCOLN

PROUDLY SUPPORTS SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY

GO LIONS! FORD•LINCOLN billhoodford.com

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BE THE CHANGE THE CHICAGO SCHOOL AND XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE PSY.D. PROGRAM IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AT XULA. ENROLL TODAY.

THE CHICAGO SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AT XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA EDUCATION

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