Issuu

HAMMOND, LA

APRIL 7, 2020

S O U T H E A S T E R N L O U I S IA NA U N I V E R S I T Y

Taylor Hall resident contracts COVID-19 DYLAN MECHE AND ELANA GUILLORY STAFF REPORTERS

On March 31, the university confirmed that a student who previously resided on campus tested positive for COVID-19. According to the university, the student resided in Taylor Hall during the 2019-2020 school year. However, it is believed that the student has not been on campus since March 21, and he or she was not on campus when they were tested. In a statement, the university expressed that the news is concerning to the campus community but was expected due to the increasing number of cases and rapid spread in the state. “The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff was and remains our primary concern,” stated the university in an email to students and faculty. Mike Rivault, senior director of university marketing and communications, elaborated on safety measures that are being implemented in light of this news. “It is vital that we minimize

Illustration by Lojuanda Weary/The Lion’s Roar the on-campus population so that as little person-to-person contact occurs,” said Rivault. “This is the reason Southeastern so quickly went to online learning, remote working and urging students to move off-campus. We continue

to encourage students who can move off campus to do so.” Though the university has transitioned to remote delivery of classes, and most on-campus buildings and offices have closed, campus remains open at

this time. Several students are still living in residence halls on campus, including Taylor Hall. Rivault explained that the university has given additional accommodations to students who are residing in Taylor Hall.

“We sent a care package and specific instructions regarding their situation,” shared Rivault. “We continue to urge those in other residence halls to maintain social distancing efforts, follow the basic cleanliness safety rules and still consider moving offcampus.” Current residents of Taylor Hall were also under selfquarantine from March 21 to April 4. These students were advised to take additional precautions in a statement from University Housing. Instructions included refraining from visiting any public facilities and making use of supplies provided in their care packages, including thermometers, gloves and masks. “If you must go out or need to get some air and/or exercise, take advantage of the gloves and mask provided in your care package and maintain a distance of six feet from others at all times,” advised Housing. “Monitor your symptoms, including fever, cough or difficulty breathing.” Quarantined students also had the option of receiving meals delivered to their rooms. Andrea Peevy, director of the

University Health Center, said that she is personally checking in on each student that resides in Taylor Hall. “I am communicating with each student daily to check in, answer any questions and make sure they are healthy,” stated Peevy. Residents at home that could have been in the building on or before March 21 were also advised by University Housing to self-quarantine for 14 days and to take action immediately if they experienced any symptoms of coronavirus. In the instance that another student residing on campus becomes infected with COVID-19, Peevy claims prompt actions will be taken to ensure the safety of that student and others. “Our main concern will be to get any student the medical care they need and to prevent the spread to others,” described Peevy. “We will follow all CDC guidelines and recommendations from the LDH. Any infections or potential exposures will be evaluated on a case by case basis and the appropriate action will be taken.”

University addresses financial aid errors BRYNN LUNDY STAFF REPORTER

The state auditor’s office recently released a report revealing that the university’s financial aid department inaccurately dispensed aid to students due to a flaw in the system, resulting in an overpayment of more than $550,000. Released in March 2020, the report covered findings from the period July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. In addition to the flaw in the process that determines students’ eligibility for financial assistance, the university’s Financial Aid staff did not upload the correct files from the National Student Loan Data System. They also lacked sufficient understanding of the software. The report disclosed the number of students that were allowed to over borrow loans or grants and the amounts they subsequently received. “Our review disclosed that 94 students with subsidized and unsubsidized loans were allowed to borrow $552,647 in excess of the aggregate loan limits for Federal Direct Student Loans,” stated the report submitted by legislative auditor Daryl Purpera. “In addition, some of these students incorrectly received payments totaling $34,123 in Federal Pell grants and $3,000 in Federal Perkins Loans.” Students are not allowed to borrow funds in excess of the federal limits that are in place. Mike Rivault, senior director of Marketing and Communications, explained how this affects students that receive financial assistance. “Under these regulations, students who over borrow are deemed ineligible to receive other aid,

such as Pell Grants,” explained Rivault. “In other words, for students who over borrowed by even nominal amounts, and received other aid, all of the aid is deemed ineligible.” The report includes responses from university management, written to the auditor, addressing how the department initially reacted to the issue and how its administration intends to improve functionality to prevent similar matters in the future. “When the issue was initially identified, the university worked diligently to identify students enrolled in the Fall 2019 semester who were potentially impacted,” responded Sam Diomano, vice president for Administration & Finance. “As such, and as noted in the report, the university returned $29,898 in student loans allowing currently enrolled students to regain eligibility for the Fall 2019 semester.” According to Diomano, the Office of Financial Aid pinpointed the areas that led to the financial errors and made efforts for improvement. The PeopleSoft system has been updated to correct the NSLDS file error, and financial aid counselors have been trained to navigate, view and access loan information. The department will hire a new director after the resignation of the current director, and they will work with Financial Aid Services, a national agency, until the position is filled. Lastly, financial aid counselors no longer have the access to manually override award amounts. The power is now limited to the chief enrollment management officer, the director of financial aid and the assistant directors of financial aid.

An error at the university Financial Aid office has resulted in the inaccurate dispersal of aid to students, causing an overpayment of more than $550,000. The university addressed the financial errors and plans to strengthen internal controls to prevent any future mishaps. Brynn Lundy/The Lion’s Roar Rivault commented on how the university continues to handle the situation. “The university takes this situation very seriously and has worked to address the identified issues and strengthened internal controls to ensure

it does not occur in the future,” stated Rivault. “The university is continuing to work closely with both the Louisiana Legislative Auditors and U.S. Department of Education on appropriate next steps to fully resolve the matter.”

Entergy provides tips on reducing bill while working from home ELANA GUILLORY STAFF REPORTER

Circuit, a blog for the electricity company Entergy, recently gave advice on lowering energy costs while working from home. In “6 Ways to Make Your Home Office Energy Efficient,” the company acknowledged the increase in online working from home and released tips on conserving electricity and saving money during this online transition. “Working from home, even on a temporary basis, may increase your energy use,” stated in the article. “It means that you’re spending more time using a computer, lights and Since people have started to work from home, Circuit by Entergy released 6 other appliances at home instead of in your tips to help them reduce electrical costs. The company also released an article workplace. But by improving the energy stating that it will continue services. Elana Guillory/The Lion’s Roar efficiency of your home office equipment, you Weather

Tuesday H 83 L 69

can save on energy costs without hampering your productivity.” Entergy advises people working from home to turn off equipment that will not be used for a long period of time. To make this easier with the utilization of multiple devices, the company suggests investing in an advanced power strip. “Many electronic devices continue to use standby power even after they’re turned off,” stated Entergy. “Connect your office equipment to an advanced power strip, which will automatically shut off power to unused devices.” In addition, a person should switch to a laptop to save a third of the energy a desktop would use. Entergy also advises that people take care in setting their thermostat to the “unoccupied setting” to save energy.

Index

Wednesday H 87 L 68

Campus Life ................................2 Opinions ....................................3 A&E ...........................................4

Horoscope, Crossword, Sudoku ...5 Sports & Fitness ..........................5 News .........................................6

“Adjust the thermostat to the unoccupied setting,” advised Entergy. “This avoids wasting energy by conditioning the entire house while you’re occupying only a small portion of it. Consider using a ceiling fan to maintain comfort. You can reverse its direction clockwise in winter, which pushes warm air down.” Circuit also released a “Coronavirus Action Plan,” in which the company assured customers that it will continue to deliver its services. “We are closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and want to assure our customers that there is currently no impact on the delivery of power to our customers,” stated in the article. “We are also staying in contact with federal, state and local authorities to ensure safe and reliable power.”

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Volume 91, Issue 27 A Student Publication www.lionsroarnews.com lionsroar@southeastern.edu

PAGE 2 | APRIL 7, 2020

The Lionʼs Roar | CAMPUS LIFE

Math lab continues to help students using virtual tutoring services

Sophomore criminal justice major Alyssa Dagostino uses YouTube for her tutoring service provided by the Mathematics Tutoring Lab. Since going to an online only format, the lab is continuing to assist students. GABRIELLE WOOD/THE LION’S ROAR GABRIELLE WOOD STAFF REPORTER

Since the transition to online classes, faculty and student workers have had to change from their normal working environments to remote ones. The mathematics department is still trying to assist students with any problems through the Mathematics Tutoring Lab. Student workers of the Math Lab have had to change their everyday routines and find new ways to accommodate students at home. Kalendra Khadka, a junior double majoring in mathematics and finance, explained the new

changes that were made for this semester. “Since our face-to-face classes have canceled, tutors are making videos and putting them on YouTube accounts, which are specially made for Math Lab tutors,” said Khadka. “Math Lab tutors are divided into seven groups with two tutors each. Each group is assigned certain questions from the students’ curriculum. Tutors again can work individually or collaborate with group partners to make videos.” Khadka shared that she thought this transition was going to be helpful for students. “I believe this is going to be

an effective project, the videos that tutors make are checked for quality purposes. The resources can be used by multiple students and can be viewed as many times as they want,” said Khadka. “The resources will be available at students’ convenience as well. To make this more interactive, I believe the Math Lab coordinator is positive about making some videos at students’ request as well.” Bibek Bastola, a junior computer science major, described how he has started to work from home. “I am using my access to Pearson math courses for

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Math 105 and College Algebra to make YouTube videos explaining and solving different problems,” stated Bastola. “I assess which problems require me to make videos and use technologies like Microsoft, Whiteboard and Camtasia, to record myself solving problems and explaining issues requiring major attention.” According to Bastola, the experience has been positive so far. “The experience of virtual tutoring has been great for me,” said Bastola. “I like using different technologies and techniques to help students learn and the experience of using them has improved my skill set.” Khadka agreed that the switch to online tutoring has been positive. “This was a new experience for me. I never made any educational videos before so it was also a learning opportunity,” shared Khadka. “I had to learn some new technology features for this. I now understand making videos is not as easy as it might look sometimes.” Even though students cannot directly go into the tutoring lab, Bastola believes this transition can be feasible. “I think this whole idea of virtual tutoring by making YouTube videos is going to be really helpful for students, because those videos provide a different approach to problems that they have seen in class,” said Bastola. “This can be really helpful for most people to understand the problem and be able to deal with those problems easily.” For more information about the Mathematics Tutoring Lab, contact math@southeastern.edu.

Q&A with Vice President for Student Affairs students to withdraw from a course after grades are posted on May 18. Students will also be provided an opportunity to request an “I,” or incomplete, from their faculty to allow them to continue work in a course beyond the semester if they have extenuating circumstances. Students can even request a P grade instead of an A, B or C. May 26 is the deadline for requesting a grade change. Students should speak with their advisor before requesting these accommodations to better Vice President for Student Affairs understand what a change would Dr. Eric Summers mean for their specific program and financial aid. BRIYANA ANDERSON Recently, there has been STAFF REPORTER a student that tested positive The Lion’s Roar recently for COVID-19. The university discussed some of the recent has taken precautions such as pandemic updates with Dr. Eric transitioning to online classes and encouraging students to Summers: move back home. Although it What are some of the most was expected that there would general questions people have be cases among the community, how is the university connecting been asking recently? We understand that these with the student that has the uncertain times have left students virus? What is the university with many concerns. One of the doing to help the student? This public health crisis has most expressed concerns has created a great deal of anxiety for been related to some type of everyone. We hope these grading grading accommodation. During changes will help ease some of the these extraordinary times, the transitional issues and assist our students felt they needed special students with being successful. consideration when it comes to As we manage this evergrading. Therefore, we changed changing situation with the grading policy. COVID-19, we will surely be What caused the university impacted and have cases on to carry out the new grade campus. While I do not wish to changes? How will this benefit speak to specific cases, we will do what is necessary to assist in students? We have extended the drop the success of any student that has date to May 26 which will allow been impacted by the virus.

OPINIONS | The Lionʼs Roar

APRIL 7, 2020 | PAGE 3

Yoga: Exercising boredom away After spending these past few weeks in quarantine, I have come to realize exactly how easy it is to get bored of the same routine every day. Most people wake up, eat, do homework and then give in to some random hobby. Trinity Brown However, I have STAFF REPORTER noticed that more of my peers on social media have been waking up and going into their backyards to do push-ups, sit-ups and more. Exercising has turned into a major part of many people’s days since we have been on “lock down” in the United States. It is almost as if people have gotten so bored that they are exercising just to entertain themselves. For me, working out and staying fit is my love language. I have been involved in track and field since I was a kid, and love going outside. I exercise when I am happy, sad or bored. I believe I got it from my dad, who was very active in his youth. From him, I learned that playing outside and staying healthy should be a part of everyone’s day and a primary goal. This pandemic has opened a lot of people’s eyes to see how important meditating and exercising outside really is. My friends and I work out together in front of my apartment doing simple things. I do majority circuits with 50 seconds of each set and four different sets about four times each. I make sure I try to focus on a specific part of the body for that morning. If I did mainly calves one day,

“I think all of this is great, and I love seeing people get fit and take care of their bodies, but I do hate that is all happening only due to being forced to stay home.” - Trinity Brown

then I will try to focus on biceps the next day, and vice versa. My goal, however, is slightly different from people because I would like to gain weight instead of losing it and tone up my body. I have been eating a lot of healthy carbs and fruits, but I added bigger meals in my day. Instead of five small meals a day, I will eat three big meals compacted with all the protein and carbohydrates for each. I see more people have also started eating healthier and cooking at home to coincide with their workouts. Students have been posting their new meal discoveries and fitness plans every morning, as well as recording themselves exercising. I also know trainers that have been making videos at home for their customers and charging them to send the videos. I think all of this is great, and I love seeing people get fit and take care of their bodies, but I do hate that it’s all happening due to being forced to stay home. I just wish people would have wanted to get fit before COVID-19 because after it all clears up and we are allowed to go back out in public, are people going to go to the gyms more? Exercising should be a constant habit in order to stay fit, and eating healthy should be a lifestyle choice, not a random spur-of-the-moment decision. It is okay to cheat here and there, but I just want everyone to stay consistent. Although the pandemic has had a lot of negative impacts, seeing all my followers working out and running in their neighborhoods has been a very positive effect of this horrible situation and should be celebrated.

Conditions of COVID-19 vs the Flood of 2016 In August of 2016, southern Louisiana was hit with an unprecedented amount of rainfall that led to one of the most catastrophic n a t u r a l disasters in the state’s history. Thousands Maggie Tregre of Louisiana STAFF REPORTER residents had to be rescued from their homes, and even more were displaced for several months following the flood. This seems to be the opposite of what is happening now with the coronavirus outbreak. Instead of not being able to stay in our own homes, now we can’t leave them. People are adjusting to a more isolated lifestyle as social distancing measures are being enforced to prevent the spread of the virus. One thing that these events had in common, at least in my experience, was how suddenly and unexpectedly they happened. On the second day of my sophomore year of high school, I was already on the bus heading to school when my mom called to tell me school was canceled due to the weather. My bus driver had to turn around and drop everyone back off at their stops. At first, I thought we would just miss one day of school, which isn’t unusual when you

grow up with the unpredictable nature of Louisiana’s weather. But after a few hours, the rain still hadn’t stopped. The next morning, my parents woke me up early and told me to start packing because we were going to stay with my grandfather. We drove to my grandfather’s house on Saturday. By Sunday night, my house had five feet of water in it. Going back to my house after the water went down was almost surreal. We had to gut the whole house before it got any worse, which meant that everything had to go. Some of my parents’ friends had offered to help us, but that almost seemed to make it worse. Before I knew it, I was sitting in what remained of my childhood bedroom watching ten strangers throw everything I owned into a pile in my backyard like it was nothing. In less than a week, it seemed like I had lost everything that was important to me. The coronavirus outbreak was a little more gradual, but the effects on my life and those around me happened more abruptly. On Monday, March 9, I began what I thought was going to be a normal week of school. By that Wednesday, everyone had heard about the first few presumptive positive cases in the state. Students began talking about the possibility of

Speak

Out

school closing. On Thursday, it was announced that we would be switching to online classes. In one week, everything seemed to change. Students moved out of their dorms and back to their homes. Professors had to adapt to an online setting, even for music and art classes. COVID-19 is affecting everyone. Even if you don’t have the disease, everyone’s lives are changing as we adjust to staying at home and away from the general public. The most important thing to remember is that everyone else is going through this too. In one way, I guess the flood of 2016 prepared me for dealing with the outbreak. I’ve already dealt with one unpredictable event in the past, so when this one began, I wasn’t as scared as I thought I would be. I’m dealing with the exact same sense of uncertainty. I may not know when I’ll go back to school or when I’ll be able to see my friends in person again, but I do know that eventually, to some degree, things are going to go back to normal. Surviving this outbreak is possible, and I do believe that we’ll get through it. However, the longer people ignore the rules put in place for our safety, the longer we’ll have to deal with it. Stay home so you can Louisiana has encountered multiple catastrophic natural disasters such as the flood of 2016, but now the state faces a new kind of challenge amid the COVID-19 pandemic, empty stores shelves and social distancing. FILE PHOTO/THE LION’S ROAR stay safe.

“It’s hard to shift from in-person to online instantly. It provides safety if, in-case one falls back or can’t adjust.”

How do you think the grading accommodations will impact you? Is it helpful?

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Page 4 | April 07,2020

REC working towards at-home workouts for students

Participants exercise during the “Barre” group fitness class. “Yoga Flow,” “Silver Sneakers,” Tai Chi and Zumba are among the group fitness classes offered by the Pennington Student Activity Center that have been put on hold during the pandemic. File Photo/The Lion’s Roar CARTER MCCOMACK Staff Reporter

The closure of all gyms and athletic clubs has impacted the activity level of students and faculty. The University’s Recreational Sports and Wellness Department offers university students full

access to the Pennington Student Activity Center. The facility, also known as the REC, is one of the fitness centers that has been forced to close its doors until further notice. The moderators of the REC’s website are working to provide web-based opportunities for students to stay involved. Whether

you are into online gaming, yoga or have a niche for nutrition, the options on the “REC at Home” page provide options to suit a variety of preferences. Jean Bernard, associate director of Recreational Sports and Wellness, shared that there is a new section to the “REC At Home” page on the university’s website

that provides additional resources for students and members to access from the safety of their homes. “There’s a number of fitness apps and companies coming together during this time and providing free resources, so we want our students to be able to find them in one location,” said Bernard. Although many programs like “Yoga with Adriene” and apps like MyFitnessPal are accessible, the act of implementing other aspects are not so simple. Bernard described some adversities the department faces during this transition and its plans to combat them. “Continuing our group fitness classes is a challenge because some, like Spin, aren’t really accessible at home, and some of our instructors don’t have the resources to film classes from home,” shared Bernard. “What we’re attempting to do to overcome that is providing those free resources like Les Mills on Demand and the Peloton app that do a variety of at-home fitness classes and working with our other Louisiana institutions to collectively share fitness classes.” Seth Thomas, director of recreational sports and wellness,

held a live Meet on March 25 and 26 called “Walking With The Director.” Bernard clarified that no live content is currently set, but the department is planning to include some in the next month. These meets will be announced on three social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Bernard elaborated on the highly anticipated Esports Intramural League. Mission Control, a platform for recreational Esports, provides 16 Southeastern leagues. Students can play games like Madden, Call of Duty, Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart. Additionally, schools like Tulane and Nicholls have sent out sign-up information. Since the leagues have been opened to any Louisiana university interested in participating, the number of registrants has quadrupled. The deadline to apply was March 31, but those interested can still join. “The leagues run April 2 to May 3, so if students missed the deadline to sign up for this semester, we’ll have new Esports leagues for the fall semester,” said Bernard. “We will provide updated league standings on our social media for people to follow along.”

Though the REC will remain closed until further notice, facility improvements that were underway when the pandemic hit will be available to gym members when the establishment reopens. “Students and members can expect to see a lot of new equipment in the fitness room and some new signage throughout the facility,” shared Bernard. The mission of the Recreational Sports and Wellness department is “We Make A Positive Impact.” The pandemic has been an adjustment period for the department, but Bernard affirmed that they will continue to adapt and ensure that mission is achieved no matter what get better at dealing with the nerves.” Taking the time to get to know your peers in whatever class you need to speak publicly in will certainly pay off in the end. It just helps you to feel less anxious and to know your audience and tailor your delivery to their preferences. “You can do a lot of deep breathing techniques,” suggested Meng. “At the end of the day, I always find a bond with my cast and rally together as a force and think about that rather than the fact that I’m about to be on a stage in front of hundreds of people.”

Student-led petition helps prompt change in semester’s grading system JACOB LOFTON Staff Reporter

After the university closed face-toface classes and moved to an onlinebased setting, it didn’t take long for university student Anyree Phillips, a freshman marketing major, to find some flaws in the system. To bring these problems to the attention of the administration, Phillips turned to change.org, a website that allows users to create and sign petitions. While Phillips noted that the university made the transition very quickly and that professors were utilizing tools like Zoom and Google Meet, she also noted some drawbacks. She contended that an optional universal pass or fail system could help relieve students’ stress while reflecting on the situations caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “When it comes to higher education, most students choose the traditional classroom setting rather than the online learning setting due to the many opportunities and resources presented,” shared Phillips in the description of the petition. “The transition to online learning has presented several negative effects.”

In the two weeks following the creation of the petition, over 4,800 people signed in support of the universal pass or fail option. On March 31, the hopes of the petitioners were answered. University Provost Tena Golding announced via email that the university would be adding an optional pass system for students at the end of the semester. “After listening to many voices – students, faculty, department heads, deans, the University of Louisiana System – regarding the need for special grading accommodations during these unprecedented times, Southeastern is implementing Spring 2020 COVID-19 Grading Accommodations,” said Golding in her email. Golding also included that more provisions are also coming, including extended withdrawal deadlines and an option to request a grade change. “These accommodations include extended withdrawal deadlines, revisions to the incomplete grade policy, a new pass option and the option to request a grade change after final grades have been posted,” shared Golding. Karley Bordelon, President of the

Student Government Association, expressed confidence that the administration is keeping students’ best interests at heart. “It is tough to determine how to treat this situation, as there are so many different outcomes of using a pass system,” said Bordelon. “It is completely different for every student, and they know they have to treat it that way. They want to make sure every student gets advised and gets the help they need to succeed this semester.” Bordelon also mentioned how she was able to use the petition to bring attention to the issue with the administration. “When students come together to create change at a university level, they cannot be ignored,” said Bordelon. “I have been meeting with our SLU administration since early March and have been able to bring these surveys, comments and concerns to their attention.” Even with a safety net, online classes can still be difficult to manage. Bordelon included a warning for her fellow classmates. “Even though the option is there, I really encourage everyone to take the

Freshman marketing major Anyree Phillips created a petition for the university to go to a pass/ fail system after she noticed some flaws in the online courses. The petition had over 4,000 signatures in three days. Gerard Borne/The Lion’s Roar rest of their semester seriously,” said Bordelon. “This is material that we need to know to succeed in our careers.” Bordelon went on to encourage students to make big changes in their situations by working together.

“To all my fellow students - continue to always speak out on what you want to see happen at our university, our state and our nation,” shared Bordelon. “This is just one example of how your voice matters when it comes to decision-making.”

University taking advantage of empty campus with spring cleaning JACOB LOFTON Staff Reporter

With the university closed and the majority of students moved out, spring cleaning has come early for the university’s janitorial staff. On March 18, the university switched to 100% online classes. Since then, a majority of students have left on-campus housing, and all on-campus restaurants have closed except for the Mane Dish, which now has limited hours of operation. With students gone, the university has undertaken the cleaning duties that are normally done after students leave for the summer. Alex Anderson, assistant director of facilities for university housing, shared some of the measures that the university is taking to ensure everything is sanitized and cleaned. “University Housing has increased its sanitation methods to twice per day in common areas, rather than just once,” said Anderson. “We sanitize our high traffic areas multiple times per day, closed large gathering spaces to ensure large groups are not gathering and have posted in our halls and emailed our residents to ensure that they know the importance of cleaning.” Anderson also explained that the janitorial staff has changed their sanitation methods to be more thorough. “Our custodians are cleaning and disinfecting all empty room spaces with an enzyme cleaner, as well as hospital-grade disinfectants that will kill viruses and bacteria,” commented Anderson. “These

spaces include, but are not limited to, all cabinets, light switches, furnishings, mattresses, floors, showers, tubs and toilets.” The coronavirus pandemic has increased the importance of cleanliness and sanitation for university housing. Anderson explained the process of checking rooms. “We are thoroughly checking to ensure that each space is properly sanitized before documenting any space is cleared to be marked as clean,” said Anderson. “Once spaces have been deemed cleaned

we are closing the spaces until needed.” The janitorial staff is not the only group affected by these increased sanitation measures. Resident assistants still on campus during the pandemic have also seen their roles increase. Abbie Hayes, a sophomore biological sciences major and RA in Hammond Hall, explained some of the new duties that belong to RAs. “At first, the RAs were helping out in the residence halls by wiping down the stairway

railings, lobby tables and door handles with Clorox wipes,” said Hayes. “Eventually, the side doors were deemed emergency exits and the lobby door is now the only entrance. The remaining RAs are on Emergency Staff now and have more responsibility than before.” Since the switch to online classes, most residential students have checked out of their dorms. This exodus of residents has affected how RAs perform their duties. Hayes explained how her role as an RA has changed in addition

to new sanitation duties. “Since we have a smaller group of RAs, we’re split into three groups, and one out of each of us are on duty and in charge of four or five of the residence buildings on duty night or weekend duty days,” said Hayes. Anderson included a suggestion for all residents still on campus. “We have provided additional

information about washing clothing and linens regularly, personal hygiene methods and cleaning methods to all residents,” said Anderson. “We suggest showering regularly, washing hands multiple times per day, washing clothing and wiping down surfaces at least every two days, cleaning linens, sweeping, mopping and cleaning bathrooms weekly at least once per week.”

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NEWS | The Lionʼs Roar

APRIL 07, 2020 | PAGE 5

Huge rise in unemployment following COVID-19 outbreak

The usually busy dining area of Lee’s Drive-in sits empty after the state put measures in place to slow the spread of the pandemic. The coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak has triggered a collapse in the U.S. workforce with 10 million people losing their jobs in the past two weeks and economists warn unemployment could reach levels not seen since the Depression, as the economic damage from the crisis piles up. MAIAH WOODRING/LE SOUVENIR MAGGIE TREGRE

the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Preventative measures are already in place to prevent further spread of On March 13, President Trump the virus, including the closure of all declared a national emergency due to restaurants, bars, movie theaters and STAFF REPORTER

other non-essential businesses. Those who have lost their jobs have the option to file for unemployment insurance with the Louisiana Department of Labor.

According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s website, “Unemployment insurance is a program designed to provide temporary financial assistance to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who meet the requirements of the Louisiana Employment Security Law.” Those who wish to file for unemployment insurance must meet the following criteria: they must have earned enough wages in the first four of the last five calendar quarters, they must be fully or partially unemployed through no fault of their own, they must be physically able to work and must be actively seeking work. According to an article by The Guardian, over 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment last week. Katelyn Robertson, a freshman English education major, worked at Great American Cookies in Hammond Square Mall until she had to give up her job. Robertson explained how her employer cut her hours prior to the store’s closure. “My store didn’t officially close until last Tuesday, and I got an email from the COO saying all stores had closed and all associates are ‘laid off,’” said Robertson. “However, before this, when the virus first started affecting businesses and schools in Hammond, my manager cut everyone’s hours and

the store limited its hours.” Robertson was laid off after all GAC franchises were closed nationwide. Prior to that, her hours were cut until she was not working anymore. “There were only three employees, and the manager took everyone’s hours,” said Robertson. “When this happened, I didn’t get any shifts, and my coworker only got one shift a week. We believe this is because she’s on salary, so she doesn’t have to be paid hourly like we do, so the supervisor over her had her work instead of us so he wouldn’t have to spend extra money on us. It’s not fair to us as employees, and I feel others should be aware that supervisors can do that and are doing that to prevent spending money.” Robertson plans to file for unemployment benefits because she is unsure of when she will be able to work again. “I have no idea when I’ll return to work, or if I even will,” said Robertson. “They may choose to keep our store closed. They did say, though, that they hope to reopen all stores and rehire everyone. Until then, I’m applying for unemployment, and I’m going to try applying at grocery stores like Walmart and Target because they need more people right now.” To file for unemployment insurance, visit laworks.net.

Virtual student engagement takes over campus life MAGGIE TREGRE

pandemic, the Office for Student Engagement has been finding ways to interact with students. Ever since the majority of From social media to events students, faculty and staff moved hosted over video chat, OSE has off-campus due to the COVID-19 been active in the field of virtual STAFF REPORTER

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A problem in getting a workplace project up and moving might upset the Lamb, who likes things done on time. But be patient. The delay could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your instincts are usually on the mark, so if you feel uneasy about being asked for advice on a certain matter, it’s probably a good idea that you opt not to comply with the request. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You might have two minds about a proposed change (which often happens with the Twins), but once all the facts are in, you’ll be able to make a definitive decision. Good luck. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) The Crab’s frugal aspect dominates, so while you might be reluctant to pay for technical repairs, the time you save in getting things back on track could be well worth the expense. LEO (July 23 to August 22) While you Leos and Leonas continue to concentrate on doing well in your work-related ventures this week, consider reserving the weekend for sharing good times with family and friends. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) This is a good week to take stock of the important personal, professional or familial relationships in your life and see where you might need to do some intense shoring up. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your sense of justice makes you the likely person to help deal with a

work- or family-related grievance. But you need to have any doubts about anyone’s true agenda resolved first. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) The Scorpio passion for getting things done right and on time might rankle some folks. Never mind them. Others will be impressed, and they’re the ones you want in your corner. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Finances could be a mite tight this week. And, while things will ease up soon enough, you savvy Sagittarians will want to keep a prudent eye on your expenses at this time. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Although a technical malfunction could cause a temporary delay in getting things up and running, you could use the time to recheck your operation and make changes where necessary. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You might find it difficult to resist making a snap judgment about a colleague’s behavior. But stick with your usual way of assessing situations and wait for the facts to come out. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Asking for help with a family situation might be the wisest course to take right now. Just be sure you turn to someone you can trust to do and say the right thing for the right reasons. BORN THIS WEEK: People see in you a born leader whom they can follow and put their trust in.