Issuu

MARCH 3, 2015 VOLUME 86, ISSUE 21

’ 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

Campus Life Page 2

Opinions Page 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Arts & Entertainment Page 4

Sports Page 6

News Page 8

LionsRoarNews.com

Queen of Italian-Americans

Student dons crown for annual parade BY MEGAN FERRANDO Staff Reporter

see GHOST LIGHT pg. 4

The Lion’s Roar / Melanie Mann

see BASEBALL pg. 6

The Lion’s Roar / Tamara Alexander

Italian heritage is kept alive as it blends with New Orleans culture through the Italian American Marching Club St. Joseph Parade. The parade honors St. Joseph and shows pride in Italian heritage. Southeastern student Sarah Marie Cardenia Vogel was dubbed as this year’s queen of the parade will take place on March 14 at 6 p.m. “My grandfather, Joseph Cardenia actually founded the club along with Tony Russo, so this is a huge honor,” said Vogel. “I’ve been participating since I was about 5 years old so it’s been years in the making, just waiting for the chance to represent such a great organization.” According to Herbert P. Montalbano, in charge of advertising and public relations of the group, the honor of being named queen not only represents Vogel’s involvement as a maid for over 10 years, but also carries on her grandfather’s legacy. Vogel will ride in a float throughout New Orleans’ streets after being crowned at the free pre-parade celebration on Sunday, March 8. Beginning on Canal Street, the parade is one of few traveling through the French Quarter. It will contain 15 floats, nine marching bands and over 500 marchers

in tuxedos who will hand out roses in exchange for a kiss. “If the ladies give no kiss we may take the rose back,” said Judge Anthony J. Russo, Chairman of the Italian American festivities, on the club’s press release. “We haven’t taken one rose back yet.” Around 75,000 locals and tourists typically line the streets to enjoy the celebration and to receive flowers, fava beans, and red, white and green beads. In addition to the floats Vogel and her court maids will ride, one float will be the St. Joseph altar float carrying traditional St. Joseph altar foods made by Italian families. Vogel’s crowning at Piazza d’Italia at 11:45 a.m. on March 8 will kick off the celebration. Vogel will be surrounded by her 80 maids near a waterfall. The preparade celebration will also pay tribute to this year’s grand marshals, which include James Darren, an actor/producer/singer; Lena Prima, a singer; and Joseph Zolfo, producer of NCIS New Orleans. The world’s largest pasta dish celebration will take place Friday, March 13 at noon at Riverside Hilton. Guests will be able to enjoy a traditional St. Joseph pasta dish eight feet in diameter. Bread crumbs will sprinkle the top of the pasta, which represents saw dust in honor of St. Joseph, the carpenter. The public is welcome to attend the

Courtesy of Cheryl Montalbano

Southeastern student Sarah Vogel is the queen of this year’s Italian Marching Club St. Joseph Parade. Her grandfather was the co-founder of the club. pre-parade celebration and pasta dish celebration for free. Following the parade will be a Muffaletta Dance in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. More information can be found from Montalbano at cyberbayou02@aol.com.

Resident Assistants awarded for excellence BY ALLISON CRADY The Lion’s Roar /Megan Ferrando

see CHEFS EVENING pg. 8

Legislature begins debating state budget BY WILLIAM SCHMIDT Staff Reporter

Southeastern is just one of the Louisiana colleges that have to deal with state budget cuts for the upcoming fiscal year. As anticipated, the budget calls for a reduction of spending for higher education. According to Governor Bobby Jindal’s Fiscal Year 2016 Executive Budget, “Higher education funding will decrease by $141.3 million in the FY16 Executive Budget.” This is due largely to the drop of oil barrel prices. Since the 1980s, the state has reduced its need for oil by 70 percent, but the cost of a barrel of oil is still one of the states economic incomes of cash flow. In the last year, the price of oil has dropped over 50 percent, contributing to two mid-year deficits in fiscal year 2015 as well as the lowered revenues projected for fiscal year 2016. Over the discussion leading up to this Executive Budget, one of the programs that was considered in jeopardy was the Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy program that was announced last year. One of the goals of the WISE initiative was to strengthen the linkage between college coursework and the employment needs of business and industry. For the FY16 Executive Budget, Jindal is planning to continue the WISE initiative with a $30 million investment. $5.7 million will come from the State General Fund while the rest will come from Community Development Block Grants program income. Since 1998, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students has helped high school students attend Louisiana colleges for up to eight semesters. Over the last seven years, TOPS has increased by 142 percent and Jindal plans to continue this program by increasing funding by $34 million. Another issue that has been brought up is tuition increases. Louisiana is the only state that requires two-thirds of the Legislature to sign for an increase in tuition. The State Board of Regents has addressed this issue and is contemplating the possibility of the proposed constitutional amendment to remove legislative approval over the increase of tuition. Louisiana voters passed the amendment for state regulation of tuition cost as a constitutional amendment in 1995. In order to get rid of this amendment, two-thirds of the State Legislature needs to approve its repeal. Then it would need to go on ballot for Louisiana voters to make the final decision. These are only a few of the issues brought up for the 2016 fiscal year. The final budget proposed by Jindal will likely be finalized in June as the state’s fiscal year begins July 1.

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Assistant Editor

The resident assistants demonstrated superior achievement, placing first statewide for best skit and for their Outstanding Staff Development Program, “Low Ropes Course.” Every year RAs from universities, colleges and private institutions throughout Louisiana gather to learn, share and compete at the Equipping Resident Assistants conference. Sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Housing Officers, the annual gathering provides an opportunity to network and exchange ideas. “I think the staff has worked really hard, and they’re very deserving of the praise and recognition they’ve received,” said Bevann McCartney, area coordinator for University Housing. “We’ve got some really creative students who are genuinely very caring, and they work hard to provide their residents with a great experience. It’s nice when we can award them for being outstanding.” The university sent 19 RAs on Feb. 20 and

21 to the conference in Tall Timbers Baptist Retreat Center in Forest Hill, Louisiana. “We have professional conferences, and there’s breakout sessions they have the choice to attend,” said McCartney. “There’s definitely ways for them to go to these sessions and bring back ideas to implement with their residents.” Additionally, Krista England won the Female Rising Star Award, and Blake Thomas was awarded the 2015 Young Professional award. Each institution gets one vote, and their votes determine the winners for each category. “We’ve spent a lot of time with the student committee to plan different activities during training and throughout the semester to build unity with our staff,” said McCartney. “We try to prepare our staff for the things that they’re going to come into contact with residence halls.” The university resident assistant program includes a variety of training sessions throughout each semester, focusing on current events and hot topics. “I think we’re giving them a lot of real-

world experience in terms of how to work with different personalities, and that’s a skill you need in any kind of work environment,” said McCartney. “They’re also getting a lot of conflict-resolution skills. They’re responsible for a floor of residents, which could be anywhere between 25 to 95 students depending on the building.” In addition to having the best skit and staff development program, Southeastern stands out for providing the highest compensation for RAs. While all RAs receive free housing and meal plans, students who advance to the level of RA 1 or RA 2 are also awarded stipends. “The RAs here are paid more than any of the RAs in the state,” said McCartney. “One of the focuses was for us to retain great student leaders. We looked at how we could do that.” For more information regarding the ERA conference, visit laho.org. For more information about University Housing, contact 985-549-2118 or visit the office located in Pride Hall.

Local chapter starts depression, mental health support groups BY TAJA MORGAN Staff Reporter

National Alliance on Mental Illness on Campus-Southeastern has launched two online support groups called Lions Helping Lions. NAMI on Campus is the university’s student organization dedicated to raising awareness of mental illness and helping individuals experiencing mental health problems. With the two online groups found on Facebook and Tumblr, members of the organization are focused on educating any wondering minds regarding Lions Helping Lions. As stated by the NAMI Louisiana webpage, Louisiana Alliance for the Mentally Ill was formed Sept. 18, 1984. In 1998, the name L’AMI changed to NAMI Louisiana. Since then NAMI Campus chapters have formed all over Louisiana. Lions Helping Lions was formed in order for students and any individual in the Hammond area wanting to be informed on

any type of mental disorder. According to the Lions Helping Lions Tumblr site, the purpose of their webpages is to provide a safe, judgment-free place for Southeastern students and Hammond residents whom are open to expressing their feelings, concerns and experiences. Dr. Lolita Boykin, NAMI faculty advisor, is part of the social work department spoke on how both social media pages were created. She went into detail about how various meetings took place with NAMI On Campus officers and representatives from NAMI–St. Tammany and NAMI–Louisiana. “The online support group was created after a discussion from NAMI On Campus Officers representatives about ways the organization could reach out effectively to students,” said Boykin. “Social media is so prevalent today among college students and developing online support groups on Facebook and Tumblr were logical tools to connect students together.” With having two social sites on Facebook

Weather Tuesday H 78 L 62

and Tumblr, NAMI On Campus plans to expand their horizons and extend a helping hand to all students and Hammond residents experiencing depression or any other mental disorder. Their Facebook page focuses on depression and their Tumblr on any mental illness. Student officer Ciara Richardson gave insight on why Lions Helping Lions was created. “NAMI On Campus saw a need to create support groups so that we can help someone or save a life,” said Richardson. “Lions Helping Lions was created for anyone who is experiencing depression and who will be able to have a safe, judgment free outlet to express himself or herself.” Lions Helping Lions is open to all individuals who can benefit from a support group. Students and residents are coming together as one regarding this matter. All representatives and officers of NAMI-On

see NAMI pg. 8

Reminders Wednesday H 80 L 40

Grad Fair for graduating seniors will be held in the Alumni Center Wednesday, March 11 and Thursday, March 12.

PAGE 2 MARCH 3, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

THE LION’S ROAR

Bookstore moves to former food court BY EMILY STEPHAN Copy Editor

The university bookstore is moving to a new location on campus. It will be opening its doors in the former location of the Lion’s Den food court Monday, March 9 at 7:30 a.m. This new development is part of the Student Union expansion project. The move will provide the bookstore with an additional 3,000 square feet. The current bookstore will be closed Friday, March 6 for the move. Students who require assistance from the bookstore on that day should contact Auxiliary Services. For more information on the bookstore or other details of the expansion project, contact Auxiliary Services at 985-5492094.

The Lion’s Roar / Tamara Alexander

The university bookstore will be moving from its current location to the area once occupied by the Lion’s Den food court. This move will provide the new bookstore with 3,000 additional square feet.

Regional Journey Hospice strives to help community BY MEGAN SIMON Staff Reporter

Regional Journey Hospice not only gives students the chance to build up their resume and gather experience, but the foundation also helps students aid the community and people in it. Hospice is a volunteer program for students of any major. It is mainly compassion care, meaning students give emotional, mental and spiritual encouragement to terminally ill patients. This could include visiting them regularly and performing duties as a sitter, helping patients with certain tasks and making sure they remain in the best of conditions. The tasks volunteers perform ranges from reading to their patients to helping them around the house. The volunteer’s tasks are designed to fit the needs of the individual patent. Students with special talents can also donate them to the foundation to help patients. For example, one student played the piano for patients at the Assisted Living Home while another brought pets to their patient, providing a form of pet therapy. “Hospice volunteering is all about compassion caring for people who are terminally ill, so it is kind of heavy duty,” said volunteer coordinator of Regional Journey Hospice Jim Louviere. “This is serious. You are helping patients and families.” Students who are majoring in pre-med, nursing, physical

therapy or psychology can get a special opportunity out of this. Hospice has a medical team that meets regularly with students interested in the medical world. “We have a medical team, including a nurse, doctor and social worker,” said Louviere. “Sometimes the students come and sit in to get the experience of the medical side of Hospice care.” Hospice gives students who are pursuing a career in the medical field that chance to feel out what some of the components will be in their future jobs. This gives students the opportunity to see how they will react to certain aspects they will encounter later on. “The variety of medical care gives students a little taste [of the medical world] and dealing with the sick, which all people in the medical area have to deal with,” said Louviere. “It gives them the taste of dealing with terminally ill patients, people who are processing the death and dying issue, which is what you will also face in the medical world. If that’s something you can’t handles then that’s something you should find out sooner than later. A lot of the times, major and medical schools require some community service so volunteering helps you in that aspect as well.” In addition to gaining access to the medical world, volunteering helps the patients. “It is an encouragement to them,” said Louviere. “They enjoy having company. They

Correction: Editor’s note: A change has been reflected in a headline and story from page 2 of the Feb. 24 issue. The story “Black Pool Tournament” is meant to be “Blacklight Weekend Workers Needed stock shelves in Pool Tournament,” to Baton Rouge, Port Allen & which CAB will host this Prairieville. 10PM-7AM Fri & Wednesday at 7 p.m. Sat. Call Holi @ 225-924-0227

enjoy meeting young adults because you guys seem like kids. It also helps the family who can’t go all the time.” According to Louviere, compassion is the main component any volunteer needs because this involves end of life care. “We believe in dignity of life,” said Louviere. “The life of a person is just as valuable, healthy or sick. Just because you’re sick doesn’t mean your less equal. We want to respect people and give the greatest care possible to the end.” Volunteering for Hospice also can give students the chance to broaden their horizons and be exposed to the real world. “Your world is very different from somebody who is elderly and ill and faced with this cancer,” said Louviere. “That’s not your world most of the time so you are definitely out of your comfort zone. It’s a whole new world. It’s not your world so it’s something that stretches you and I think that’s a good thing for students.” Applying to volunteer for Hospice is a two-step process. A student who is interested must first contact Louviere either by phone or email. The next step involves meeting Louviere for an informal interview. If the student is accepted to volunteer, they will be assigned a certain amount of patients. Students can choose how many patients they want to help as well as where and when. For more information, contact Louviere at jiimatjc@ yahoo.com.

PARDS Kids Camp is now accepting applications for Summer Camp Employees. Applicant must be at least 18 year old, pass a background check, and physical. Apply in person at 30372 Eden Church Rd, Denham Springs, 70726.

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

SCA

The Southeastern Christian Association would like to invite all Southeastern Students to come join us for a bible study at the Student Union food court every Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. Our TAUsome AST girls have been working very hard this week. We

held our Greek Week step show tryouts, and have been practicing very hard. We have also been preparing for our 75th anniversary. We are so privileged to celebrate this milestone.

QFA

Theta Phi Alpha has had a very eventful February! First, we would like to congratulate our angel—Skye Sullivan, scholar—Kylie LeCocq, pearl--Shelby Kays, faculty member—Brittany Bacques, friend—Kathryn Kennedy, and new member—Haley Jumonville. From the week of Monday, Feb. 913, we celebrated our bid day with our nine new members. Welcome, Keegan Brandt, Christina Ferrando, Anna Gamblin, Autumn Hand, Jumonville, Madeline Kelly, Casey Richardson, Michlynn Scalise, and Angela Twidwell. Also, please come out and support one of our philanthropies, Maya’s Gift, March 2 to March 5 in the Union. We will have a bake sale and many other activities in support of St. Jude Hospital. Lastly, the ladies of Theta Phi are looking forward to the Big Event and being paired with Theta Xi and Pike for Greek Week.

FKF

The Southeastern chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi will hold a general membership meeting Thursday, March 5 at 3:30 p.m.

in the Cate Teacher Education Center (TEC Room 2020). All current student members are welcome. The Southeastern chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi will hold a general membership meeting Thursday, March 5 at 3:30 p.m. in the Cate Teacher Education Center (TEC Room 2020). All current student members are welcome.

NAMI

stands for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Our chapter is devoted to promoting mental health on campus. We have recently launched two online support groups called Lions Helping Lions. Our Facebook group is for individuals experiencing depression and is invite-only, and our Tumblr group is for individuals experiencing any mental health problem. Follow us at tumblr. com/blog/lionshelpinglions. To be invited to our depression group on Facebook or to learn more about NAMI on Campus-Southeastern, please email our chapter president at melanie.mann@selu.edu. Mental health fact of the week: Two main types of psychotherapies, cognitivebehavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy, are effective in treating depression. CBT helps people with depression restructure negative thought patterns. Doing so helps people interpret their environment and interactions with others in a positive and realistic way. IPT helps people understand and work through troubled relationships that may cause or exacerbate depression.

PSI CHI

Our next meeting is March 16 and we will be having a Career in Psychology talk. We will meet in White Hall Room 222 at

3:30 p.m. Members of PSI CHI as well as those interested in a career in the field of psychology are welcome to attend. PSI CHI members will earn one point for attendance as well as a point for wearing a psychology or PSI CHI T-shirt. Also, if you have not paid chapter dues, please do so as soon as possible. Our induction ceremony will be held at Jacmel Inn at 5:30 p.m. on April 23, 2015. We are going to need a head count of students who are new members, graduating seniors and inductees from the fall semester as soon as possible. If you have any questions about PSI CHI, the Careers in Psychology talk or the induction ceremony, please email us at psichi@selu.edu.

KAY

“No Time for Foolin’ Around, Autism is Serious” is a Autism Awareness Walk being put on by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Maya Gauthier, Miss Krimson and Kreme, on April 1, 2015 at North Oaks Park beginning at 6.15 p.m. The walk will benefit three families with children affected by Autism. For two of the families, the proceeds will go towards needed educational purposes, mostly tutoring, and the third family has a nonverbal child who is in need of a sensory room that will provide a safety net for him when he gets frustrated from the inability to communicate his wants and needs. There will be two guest speakers at the walk, and two Autism organizations will be giving out informational resources to the participants. Many raffles, Jambalaya, and a special sweet ice treat will be sold at the event. The link to register and/or donate is http://autismisserious.eventbrite. com/. I know with your help, we can make a difference for these struggling families.

OPINIONS

THE LION’S ROAR

MARCH 3, 2015, 2015 PAGE 3

Relax to relieve stress of college life For college students, there are pressures flying from all directions. In working to become an independent adult, many students are forced to split their time between work and classes, juggling endless tasks and Allison Crady assignments. Assistant Editor In addition, this transitional phase includes a multitude of new responsibilities and experiences, from laundry and grocery shopping to insurance and career choices. The hectic schedules and environmental changes leave college students specifically vulnerable to stress. The National Institute of Mental Health defines stress as the brain’s response to any demand, with change as a major trigger. These changes can be both positive or negative, as

well as real or perceived. According to stress.org, results from a 2008 mental health study show 80 percent of students sometimes or frequently experience stress in their daily lives, which is a 20 percent increase from a 2003 survey. Common responses to stress include headaches, sleeplessness, depressed mood, anger and irritability. My body responds to stress and tension with frequent and long-lasting headaches. Over the last few years I’ve focused on incorporating relaxing habits into my daily routines. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, continued stress may lead to severe health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and anxiety disorder. Some of my favorite ways to relax include reading, napping, lighting candles, painting, practicing yoga, taking a hot bath, dancing, listening to peaceful music, breathing deeply,

mediating, writing, taking long walks or lying in the sunshine. An intentional focus on improving my mental health has been the key to keeping the pain and stress at bay. When clearing the mind and freeing mental energy, it’s important to be mentally present. Considering the physical senses, what I’m hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting and touching, helps to anchor me. Your body is taking in an endless variety of sensations with each passing moment. It’s almost exhilarating to think about. When you’re feeling tense, even taking five minutes to breathe slowly and center yourself can influence your decisions and make a significant difference in the outcome of your day. A discussion of stress and relaxation would not be complete without addressing worry. As a bit of a perfectionist and control freak, I am prone to worry at every level of importance. A

purposeful change in perspective has been quite effective in freeing my mind of silly worries. More specifically, I focus on gratitude. When I’m experiencing stress and worry, I find relief in counting my blessings. I have plenty of food, an abundance of clothing, clean water, two arms and legs, a working brain, a comfortable bed, five working senses, an opportunity to educate myself, etc. The more I count, the more I realize how fortunate and blessed I am. There are a myriad of ideas and thoughts to consider, both positive and negative. Why not choose the positive ones? While stress can be mostly self-alleviated, for severe cases don’t be shy about setting up an appointment with the University Counseling Center by calling 985-549-3894. Remember, as the Canadian scientist Hans Selye said, “It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”

Look both ways before crossing SPEAK OUT I was always told when I was little that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. When it comes to walking to class, the mall or just anywhere outside, I Morgan Ledet don’t normally use the Staff Reporter crosswalk. If a crosswalk happens to be in the direction of where I am going, I will use it. On the other hand, if there is no crosswalk, I will not make the extra effort to go find one. Some people just dart in front of cars and do not pay attention to where they are walking. If you are not going to use the crosswalks, you should at least watch for cars that are passing. As a person who does not use crosswalks, I always make sure there are no cars passing before I just walk into the street. I do not want to get

killed because I did not use the crosswalk, so I look both ways beforehand. Driving through Friendship Circle is nerve-racking. Students are always crossing the street, especially when people are getting out of class or going to class. Some drivers are rude and do not even stop, but if you are not in a crosswalk, technically they have the right of way. Students always complain that cars drive fast through Friendship Circle. Most of those students are the ones who do not use crosswalks. I will admit to not using them, but sometimes drivers do not stop for those using the crosswalk. Safety is important. You should be aware of your surroundings and not dart into the street. This does not only apply on campus, but anywhere there are people walking. Streets and parking lots can be busy. You should always check if there is a crosswalk near you. If there is not, just cross the street, but look both ways for

your own safety. Using a crosswalk protects the people walking and the people driving. You may not want to walk the extra 50 feet, but you could be saving your life. Crosswalks were put on the ground for safety reasons, not decoration. They are there to make sure cars and people walking are safe no matter where they drive or walk. When you are little, you are taught to look both ways before you cross the street. The same thing applies when you are older. You should never just cross the street. You never know when a car is passing or not. Be aware that the car may not see you, and if you are walking around campus at night, make sure that you are not wearing dark clothing. Just make sure you are aware of your surroundings especially at night. Using a crosswalk may be able to keep me safe, but I still believe the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

How do you cope with stress throughout the semester? Emily Jones, Junior Early Childhood Education I turn all the lights off, sit in the bathtub, eat chocolate cake and listen to Coldplay. Andrew Benton, Sophomore Art I just go to sleep and say, ‘Enough is enough.’ I am going to finish this with a fresh brain tomorrow.

We are not Hammond, America Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend at our university. At football games and other events, people proudly declare that “Hammond, Sara Patrick America” has more Editor in Chief spirit than anywhere else. To that I have one thing to say: we are not “Hammond, America.” We live in the metropolitan area of Hammond, Louisiana, which has thrived in part thanks to the university. It’s fantastic to see a college town growing into a bigger, better city for the future generation. However, I can’t stand the thought of that generation picking up something so silly. You see, there are at least 14 states that have a town or city named Hammond.

That’s right, we are not the only Hammond in America. I take pride in being from Louisiana, and I think that when people brush over the name of our state to call us “Hammond, America” they are making themselves look as uneducated as the rest of the country already thinks we are due to the media. When you say “Hammond, America,” you are disrespecting our state, and I feel personally disrespected for the use of such an incorrect label for this city. Sure, it may have been a joke the first few times someone said it, but things are starting to get out of hand. When students around the university start to say it as if they’re saying Hollywood, California, there’s a problem. Adding “America” doesn’t make it any more glamorous, so why make yourself sound ignorant? I would dare say people in Hammond, California, or Hammond, Illinois or

Josie Jolibois, Freshman Integrative Biology

Hammond, Kentucky would be offended. Those are just some of the Hammonds located in America. If any of them should claim the title “Hammond, America,” I would give it to Hammond, Indiana, the largest U.S. city bearing that name. Now that I’ve laid down some facts, I’d like to encourage everyone to proudly declare their love for Hammond, Louisiana. We live in a great state. We attend a great university. Let’s all speak as if we’ve received a proper English education and show some respect to the city we live in. I live in Hammond, Louisiana, home of the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions, and I do not believe in calling ourselves “Hammond, America” because we are not the only Hammond out there. We are one of a kind, because being in south Louisiana is what makes us so unique.

Usually after I am in tears, I call my mom. It is a stress relief to pray to God and then call your parents. Christopher Cox, Sophomore Human Resources I mostly watch a lot of sports, like ESPN 24/7, non-stop. It just helps with everything. Zachary Gerard, Senior General Studies I cope with stress with a few things such as bowling or laser tag. I may try to do something creative. Laura Langberg Master of Business Administration I mostly try to make a list to break down all the things I have to do to knock them off one at a time. Kayla Jackson, Freshman Fitness and Human Performance To cope with stress, I normally go work out. Cally Caillouet, Freshman Social Work I watch a lot of Netflix.

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.

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/A&E 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 MARCH 3, 2015

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE LION’S ROAR

Shattered Illusions

BY MEGAN FERRANDO Staff Reporter

Review The Ghost Light concert venue returned for the spring semester after making its debut last year. The performing bands included the local Better By Design and Atlanta’s Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun. Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun had trouble labeling their genre of music, but many classify it as neo new wave and indie rock. Better By Design meshed well as openers for the band with their rock and roll style. Despite Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun headlining, I found myself enjoying Better By Design slightly more. There seemed to be too much going on during most of Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun’s songs. The sound did not seem clean enough, making it difficult to hear the lyrics through the extremely loud distortions. It was clear the group was talented in what they did. The lead singer, Lauren Gibson, has a strong voice and is a great performer. The drums stood out to me the most, possibly due to the volume of each instrument, but it was obvious how skilled the drummer was at delivering a fast and rhythmic sound. Despite their talent and passion for music, I would not return to see the band again. On the other hand, I would be interested in hearing more of Better By Design. I was not blown away by every song, but a couple stood out enough for me to go back and listen to them online. Despite my difficulty in understanding some of their lyrics, I noticed a unique alternative rock sound. Singer Benjamin Thomas has a clean and deep voice that complements the band’s style. A few songs welcomed an outside harmonica, which offered a nice flare to the sound. Out of all the songs, I enjoyed those with the harmonica the most and would have liked to see that instrument as a more permanent addition to the band. I hope to see more people at the venue in the future as the room was relatively low in numbers despite this being the second year of hosting shows. Those who attend the venue typically enjoy the music and return for more, and the low numbers do not seem to represent the quality of the venue, but rather lack of awareness despite advertisement. I will not be surprised if The Ghost Light becomes a well-known venue to discover new music in the future. Overall, the concert was enjoyable, but not the best of the Ghost Light concerts I have attended. However, hearing rising bands I have never heard of before is an experience I plan to enjoy again with the next concert.

Local bands rock out BY MELANIE MANN Staff Reporter

Last week, indie bands Better By Design and Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun performed their independentlyproduced songs at the Ghost Light venue’s first show of the semester. The bands performed Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Columbia Theatre. Having opened its doors for the first time last year, the theater’s Ghost Light venue has established itself as a hot spot for local music and newly established up-and-coming bands. The opening band, Better By Design, is based in Hammond and has a “loving” relationship with the Ghost Light venue. Band members Benjamin Thomas, Ryan Church, Logan Joiner and Wade Hymel have a special connection with the Columbia Theatre, as some of the members attended

Southeastern. “We are based out of Ham Bone [Hammond],” said guitarist Church. “This is our stomping ground. A lot of us went to Southeastern. We like our friends to be at our shows.” The band prides itself on its humorously carefree performance approach. Hymel, the band’s drummer, performed in a bathrobe. After the show, he greeted concert-goers with an unlit cigarette inserted into his right nostril. Shenanigans aside, Better By Design boasts of musical quality to accompany the quirky presentation. “If you like rock and roll, if you like spacey jams, if you like tasty licks and you like smart lyrics, we are Better By Design,” said Church. The following band, Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun, finds its home in Atlanta, GA. The band, made up of artists Lauren Gibson, Micah Silverman, Jeremy Cole and

Cregg Gibson, described their music as “dreamy disco punk.” They attribute the uniqueness of their style to the band’s dynamic as well as the collaborative influence of vastly different genres. “We’re all very close in many ways,” said Silverman. “Lauren and I are best friends; Cregg and Jeremy have been playing together for 13 years; and Lauren and Cregg are married. There’s lots of relationships within the band, so we’re all kind of on the same wavelength. When we get together to play music, I feel like we’re kind of sharing a brain.” Despite the band’s closeness, the members’ musical influences could not be any more different. Rather than causing artistic tension, however, the band blends their backgrounds to create one-of-akind melodies. “We all grew up loving completely different music,”

The Lion’s Roar / Melanie Mann

Benjamin Thomas (above) of Better By Design sings original music to open for Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun. Jeremy Cole and Lauren Gibson (top) of Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun play as one to create a neo new wave sound. said Silverman and Gibson. com. Fans can also follow “I think it’s because we stem Better By Design through their from all those different places. Facebook page, Facebook.com/ For us, [the music] starts in betterbydesignmusic. different places and ends in Ghost Light will open its different places. I think that doors again Thursday, April makes it kind of neat. From 23 at 7 p.m. Bands Startisan, song to song, it doesn’t feel like Modern Language and Foxfire the same song is being played.” will be performing. Admission For more information on will be $8. For more information Today the Moon, Tomorrow the on the Ghost Light and other Sun, fans can go to their website, Columbia Theatre events, visit todaythemoon.squarespace. columbiatheatre.org.

Central Casting calls for students BY EMILY STEPHAN Copy Editor

Courtesy of Emily Reimsnyder

Last year the BUKU Music + Art Project hosted the American rapper, songwriter and record producer Nas as part of their artist lineup for the festival.

BUKU Festival returns to NOLA BY MORGAN LEDET Staff Reporter

BUKU Music and Art Project returns to New Orleans for its fourth year with new attractions for all attendees. The festival will take place this month, March 13 and 14. It will take place at 1400 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130. Rain or shine, the project will go on. You must be 18 or older and present a valid photo ID. “The festival really just started as a pipe-dream amongst friends to build a fun event that brought progressive music to the deep South,” said BUKU Festival Director Addie Olsen. This year’s line-up includes A$AP Rocky, Bassnecter, Passion Pit, Empire of the Sun, Die Antwoord, TV on the Radio and many more. Previous Line-ups have included Flux Pavillion, Ellie Goulding, David Guetta, Kendrick Lamar, Diplo, Zedd, Zeds Dead, Calvin Harris, Tyler the Creator, Icona Pop, Avicii, Wiz Khalifa and Skrillex. The BUKU festival was founded in 2012 by Winter Circle Productions. The festival is co-produced and promoted by both WCP and HUKA Entertainment. There are also many new things that the festival is bringing to New Orleans this year. “A few things for BUKU 2015 include more and larger art installations, a revamped ‘Front Yard’ grassy area located adjacent to the Float Den with music, games, expanded seating and craft beverages, rentable

lockers, new production elements, [merchandise] and so much more,” said Olsen. “We’ll also be expanding our ‘Special Moments’ programming, which was new for 2014 and involved tons of cool pop-up performances and impromptu happenings around the site.” Being a volunteer is also a big part of BUKU. Volunteers must fill out an application. Volunteers must work two five hour shifts and will receive a free weekend pass to the event. “This is a great way to get your foot in the door of the music industry and also how many of us working in the music business first started out,” said Olsen. Students who join the official street team help spread the word anywhere they can. “They help spread the word about the event online, on their college campuses and at various events occurring throughout their markets in exchange for free tickets to the event,” said Olsen. One of BUKU’s main focuses is to keep their attendees safe. They recommend drinking lots of water and staying hydrated. They will also have refill stations for water bottles. In case of an emergency, medical tents are located throughout the site of the event. “BUKU has sort of become this lifestyle that reflects the creative, youthful culture that is fueling the growth of the new New Orleans,” said Olsen. For more information on the event, to this year’s project, visit their official website www. thebukuproject.com.

It has been no secret that Louisiana has become one of the top destinations for filmmaking in the United States. Now students have an opportunity to get their feet wet in the industry, as Central Casting Louisiana is hosting an open casting call in Baton Rouge. An open casting call is an audition anyone can apply for. Central Casting is especially interested in college students for the next open casting call, since their age group can play a variety of roles. “At Central Casting, we want to expand our database of background actors to include more people from Baton Rouge, Hammond and other surrounding areas in Louisiana,” said Hunter Karas, a casting assistant for Central Casting. “We’re looking for college students because they are usually able to portray a variety of roles ranging from teenagers to thirtysomethings. Also, the varied schedules for classes and film shoots make working as a background actor a perfect part-time job for college students. It’s also such a fun experience.” According to Karas, the open casting calls will take place Monday, March 2 and Wednesday, March 4 on the third floor of the Louisiana State University Student Union, in room 303. The event will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on both days. There will also be casting at the Celtic Media Centre on March 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as well. All those seeking to apply must bring photo identification, their social security card or a passport in order to fill out the registration paperwork. Minors will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian with their birth certificate on hand. “We’re looking for all types of people in all age ranges,” said Karas. “After completing the registration process, everyone will be included in the Central Casting database, allowing them to work with us on a variety of film and television projects in Louisiana.” Though no specific film or television projects have been announced yet, applicants should not have to wait long. There will also be additional open casting calls to look forward to in the future. “We are not currently prepared to announce any upcoming projects, but we are preparing to cast films and television shows in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and other areas in Louisiana,” said Karas. “Central Casting is also planning another casting call for the following week, but the details of that are not yet confirmed.” For more information on Central Casting’s casting calls, their upcoming projects and related inquiries, visit Central Casting Louisiana’s Facebook page where information is continuously updated.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE LION’S ROAR

MARCH 3, 2015 PAGE 5

Broadway star supports Wind Symphony Celebrity donates all proceeds from benefit concert to provide expanded opportunities for student musicians BY MEGAN FERRANDO Staff Reporter

Broadway star Ivan Rutherford shared his talent with local music lovers in order to support the university’s Wind Symphony. The student musicians are currently gathering funds in hopes of performing at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The benefit concert took place in Pottle Music Auditorium on Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m., and ended with a standing ovation and encore. “It’s not often that many college bands are chosen to go, so the fact that we were is very exciting,” said Aaron Turnipseed, music graduate student who played piano at Rutherford’s performance and plays clarinet for the Wind Symphony. “But it does cost a pretty penny. So this is definitely very helpful to us getting there. The words cannot express how happy and glad and grateful we are that he spent the time with us here.” Rutherford is well-known for his part as Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables,” which he has performed over 2,000 times. He treated the audience to a few pieces from “Les Miserables,” as well as multiple songs from various Broadway productions such as “West Side Story” and “Pippin.” Each song was preceded by a humorous and personal story of

Rutherford’s life and experience on Broadway. “I thought it was amazing. I loved his personality onstage,” said Cheyenne Moore, sophomore vocal performance major. “He had a very nice stage presence. And his voice, oh my gosh, was just beautiful. I loved how he interacted with the audience as well. I love Broadway, so if there is a Broadway star of course I want to come.” This was Rutherford’s third time visiting Hammond, his first being at the Columbia Theatre for “Les Miserables,” and his second being another performance with Southeastern’s music department. Rutherford currently does many oneman shows to support different groups, and after being approached by Dr. Glen Hemberger, director of bands, he found Hammond to be a great place to return. “I like the small town thing. It’s an opportunity for me to come back here, eat some more beignets,” said Rutherford, who commented on his love for Southern food. “I like the grilled oysters with all the garlic. That’s very unique here.” Aside from his love of po-boys and oysters, Rutherford expressed what a great opportunity it is for the Wind Symphony to go to D.C. to perform. “D.C. is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Rutherford. “It will

be legendary for them, and they’ll never forget it. And they have great hotdogs in D.C. too.” In addition to 100 percent of the proceeds going toward the D.C. trip, students received personal insight from someone who has made performance their career. Turnipseed commented on how important it is to just relax and enjoy playing the music for others. “It was a lot of fun. He was really laidback,” said Turnipseed. “There were special moments during our rehearsal where he said, ‘Look, relax. I’m no one important. I’m just singing something, and hopefully I don’t forget the words.’” Rutherford offered a piece of advice to those looking to perform in their future. “Get as much training as you can and learn the business end of it,” said Rutherford. “You can be the most talented person in the world, but if you don’t know how to market it, no one will ever hear it. There’s a business end you have to understand, and performers should take that as much as they study their talent because that’s a big part of it.” The Wind Symphony hopes to perform at the Kennedy Center in late May if all finances are reached. For more information, contact the department of Fine and Performing Arts at 985-549-2184.

The Lion’s Roar / Megan Ferrando

Broadway star Ivan Rutherford entertained a full audience at Pottle Auditorium to benefit Southeastern’s Wind Symphony in an upcoming trip. Aside from Broadway shows, he currently travels to perform benefit concerts for groups, donating 100 percent of the proceeds.

Original play to debut BY EMILY STEPHAN Copy Editor

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Disappointed about something that didn’t go your way? Cheer up. Look at the reasons it happened, and you could find a valuable lesson about what to do (or not do!) the next time. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s a good time to do some reassessing of plans and goals -- even how you considered redoing your bathroom. The point is to be open to change if change can improve things. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Take some time to learn who is the right person (or persons) to approach and discuss your ideas with for your new project. Also, reserve time to prepare for an upcoming family event. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Dealing with a demanding situation, as you recently did, could drain much of your own emotional reserves. Take time to relax and indulge yourself in some well-earned pampering. LEO (July 23 to August 22) The regal Lion might feel that she or he is above emotional displays. But showing your feelings can be liberating for you, and reassuring for someone who has been waiting for you to do so. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) An emotionally needy person might make more demands than you can cope with. Best to ask for some breathing space NOW, before resentment sets in and

makes communication difficult. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) An unexpected spate of mixed signals could cause serious schedule setbacks. Best to focus on straightening everything out as soon as possible and get everyone back on track. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Be aware that someone in the workplace could try to use a disagreement with a colleague against you. If so, be prepared to offer your side of the story with the facts to back you up. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) An unexpected challenge to a previous decision can be unsettling. But your reservoir of self-confidence -- plus your loyal supporters -- should help carry the day for you. Good luck. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) While the idea of making some sort of major move in the near future continues to interest you, don’t overlook a new possibility that could be emerging closer to home. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Be careful not to base an upcoming decision on gossip or anything you might hear if it can’t meet provable standards. That’s true regardless of whom the source might be. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might still need to do some solid reassessing early in the week before you can close that sensitive situation. A new job-related opportunity could present itself later in the week. BORN THIS WEEK: You are extraordinarily sensitive to people’s feelings, and you’re always ready to offer comfort if necessary.