The Lion's Roar 04/09/2019

HAMMOND, LA

APRIL 9, 2019

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

Sexual Harassment: addressing the issue

MAIAH WOODRING STAFF REPORTER

Identifying what constitutes sexual harassment can be critical to confronting it.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women will be raped at some point in their lives. The source also cites that 20-25% of college women and 15% of college men are victims of forced sex during their time in college. However, due to the difficulty to define the term, confusion can occur to what entails sexual harassment and when to report it.

Patrick Gipson, police lieutenant, shared that it is up to the victim’s discernment on whether the harassment had a sexual undertone or not.

“Usually, if somebody is doing or saying something that makes you feel uncomfortable, then it’s probably something that needs to stop,” said Gipson, “But all forms of harassment aren’t sexual harassment so it’s gonna often be up to the victim to decide whether they’re being harassed or whether the behavior is inappropriate.”

Title IX of the university sexual

misconduct policy states that sexual harassment is unwelcomed conduct of a sexual nature, especially when such conduct interferes with a person’s employment or education.

The policy states, “Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person’s employment or education, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment or educational environment.”

Because of this definition, examples of university sexual harassment can vary from posting tacky cartoons in public places to offering rewards for sexual favors. Gipson commented on a misconception that people trying to understand sexual harassment can hold onto.

“I think that the terminology sometimes can be confusing for people, and they’ll think that things are criminal when they are still inappropriate,” explained Gipson.

“So, sexual harassment is inappropriate regardless of how it manifests, but it doesn’t all reach the level of something for which you could be arrested.”

see SEXUAL HARASSMENT, pg. 2

For “Take Back the Night Rally,” students marched with posters around campus and chanted to raise awareness about sexual assault. Scheduled during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the march is part of a national campaign to engage students and educate them on the issue. ZACHARY ARAKI/THE LION’S ROAR

Effects of hazing linger nationally UPD to teach RAD class SHAELYN MARTINEZ

JACOB SUMMERVILLE

STAFF REPORTER

STAFF REPORTER

Regardless of national campaigns, the mindset that one needs to experience hazing to be accepted still exists.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Susan Lipkins, a psychologist and author, 31% of sorority and fraternity members agree that humiliation is a part of the member initiation process.

Ali Leto, chapter secretary for Alpha Omicron Pi, believes that the fear of rejection plays a big factor in hazing.

Leto shared that those who haze dampen the face of Greek life.

“Social media in general just seems to highlight the negatives, especially Greek life because let’s just face it: Some people are jerks, and they do take part in that,” said Leto. “It really just ruins the reputation of all Greek life and Greek life communities throughout our nation.”

Taylor Mangus, president of Order of Omega and member of Phi Mu Fraternity, discussed that although she has never been hazed, she wanted to be accepted by a chapter during sorority rush.

Mangus said that the pressure to build a connection with a large group of new people may contribute to the ongoing mindset.

“I’m sure that could lead some people to be more willing to participate in events that they wouldn’t normally partake in,” shared Mangus. “Also, I think that they have a

Alcohol is a factor in some hazing incidents. David Burkman, opinion contributor for USA Today, explained that tasks such as excessive drinking prevail due to a Greek members’ mindset that they need to earn their merit in their organization. JACOB SUMMERVILLE/THE LION’S ROAR misconception that that’s just how it’s always been.”

During her new-member phase, Mangus recalled one rule that she had to follow.

“I remember that we were never asked to drive, as a probational member before we were initiated, a chapter member anywhere,” explained Mangus. “They always drove us

because I think it can be seen from others as chauffeuring them around.”

David Burkman, opinion contributor for USA Today, wrote a piece in 2017 titled “Why frat boys like hazing, if they live through it,” where he explained that some

see HAZING MINDSET, pg. 2

The University Police Department’s Office of Community Education provides educational classes for the community to help prevent dangerous scenarios.

One of these classes is the Rape Aggression Defense System program, which is designed to educate women on how to defend themselves in situations involving sexual assault.

According to the university website, the class includes awareness, prevention, risk reduction and progression to the basics of hands-on defense training.

Sgt. William Smith, a certified RAD instructor since fall 2014, explained that the UPD tries to have one class each semester and keep the class’ location confidential for student safety.

“It’s on campus, but what we do is we keep the ladies in mind that may have been through sexual assault or dating violence or even someone who may be in an actual abusive relationship,” said Smith. “So, we do not let anyone know where the class is

going to be on campus except the attendees a week before.

We do this to keep things very confidential.”

Students can sign up for the RAD classes online by sending an email to UPD or rad@selu. edu “In the information, include your name, W number and phone number,” informed Smith. “The process is a first come, first serve, and we like to offer this to our ladies on campus, students specifically first.”

Everyone who sends an email will be asked to give confirmation a week before the event occurs.

Smith believes the classes are beneficial and suggested women take the class.

“I had a lot of ladies come to the class who said their confidence has grown by leaps and bounds,” shared Smith.

“I also have had ladies come through because they never had any physical altercation from it and women who have opened their mindset to a more defensive mindset.”

RAD classes will be held on April 13-14. Admission for university students and faculty is free. The fee for non-students is $25.

Using the skills taught in class to face obstacles outside school JACOB SUMMERVILLE Skills taught in some classes can be directly applied in the real-world setting.

Public speaking, Introduction to Financial Accounting and Software Engineering are courses professors explained are significant both in the class setting and in everyday life.

Shawndee Fluker, instructor of communication, shared that

one speech presentation in her COMM 211 class forces students to take a concept from their major, which anyone can benefit from and teach it to the class.

“If you’re a nursing major, everyone isn’t going to know how to give a child anesthesia,” said Fluker. “No, but you can teach us how to do infant CPR.” Ghassan Alkadi, professor of computer science, teaches the CMPS 285 course, which is geared towards working professionally. He explained that, coming into the course, some

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students struggle because they are used to individual projects.

“Some of the skills they have to learn is how to collaborate, how to talk one another,” discussed Alkadi. “From a team leader point of view, the team leader needs to know how to delegate tasks fairly – making sure that each student you give enough tasks to be able to fulfill the requirements.”

For the ACCT 200 course, Kris Jones, instructor of accounting,

see PRACTICAL SKILLS, pg. 2 Stay Connected With Us! Like and follow @lionsroarnews.

Volume 90, Issue 27 A Student Publication www.lionsroarnews.com lionsroar@southeastern.edu

PAGE 2 | APRIL 9, 2019

The Lionʼs Roar | CAMPUS LIFE

How dating transfers to an adult lifestyle SHAELYN MARTINEZ S TAFF R EPORTER

Looking from the inside, dating in college may seem comparatively easier than dating after graduation.

While some people feel that it is comparatively easier to meet people in college, others may not find any differences.

Sophie Daigle, a sophomore kinesiology major, met her current boyfriend Anthony Cordero, a sophomore engineering technology major, during their freshman year.

Daigle explained that they met as incoming athletes as Diagle and Cordero were members of the cross country, and track and field team respectively.

“The first time I actually met him was at our little cross country camp we had before the first week of school,” shared Daigle. “After that, we ended up finding out that we lived across the hall from each other in the same dorm hall.”

Daigle believes it is easier to find a relationship in college than one in the workforce.

“You will be with that person a lot and share common interest, and I would say good to know if you really want to be with that person if you can handle seeing them that much,” said Daigle.

Amy Acosta, an instructor of English, and Daniel Acosta, an instructor of mathematics, have been working on campus together and met each other through a mutual friend.

Amy Acosta explained how they met.

Amy Acosta stated, “The women from the custodial staff of the Southeastern Hall got married, and she invited everyone in the building to the wedding, and so I went, and the only other person from the entire building that went to the wedding was my husband. I hadn’t spoken to him before this.”

After the wedding, the custodian came to Amy Acosta’s office the next day and told her how Daniel Acosta wanted to ask her out but did not know her office hours, so she immediately posted them.

Amy Acosta stated, “I know a lot of college sweethearts end up getting married, and I think because you are taking classes with people who have like interests you meet somebody. Even though that really didn’t happen to me because I was an anxious student and focused on my studies, and I think my husband was also very dedicated to his studies.”

Another couple on campus, Cheyenne Weaver, a sophomore elementary education and special education major, and David “Graysen” Wils, a sophomore general studies major, have met through their journey on campus. They met while working at the university, and Weaver explained the process to create their relationship.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

continued from pg. 1

Gipson explained what steps can be taken when someone experiences sexual harassment or observes it in action.

“Usually the first step is to let somebody know if they’re telling jokes that you don’t like, tell them, ‘I don’t like those kind of jokes,’” shared Gipson, “And if someone posted something on the wall that’s offensive say, ‘Hey, that’s offensive. I don’t want that to be posted on the wall in place where I have to be.’

And usually the first step is enough.”

When that first step is not

enough, Gipson suggested students to reach out to the Office for Student Advocacy and Accountability, the Title IX coordinator or a supervisor.

“If it continues or if it’s over the level where you feel like you can make them stop doing it just by asking, then you can always get help,” said Gipson.

Even though the magnitude of sexual harassment can be momentous, research authored

by Dan Cassino of the Harvard Business Review indicated that occurrence rates of sexual harassment reports are on the decline.

Cassino stated, “In 1997, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,

PRACTICAL SKILLS

continued from pg. 1

“It was easy to find each other and be together all the time because we worked together, but it definitely wasn’t easy figuring it out,” said Weaver. “Since we were together all the time before we started dating and we’re close friends, starting to date was a little awkward but once it actually happened, it was easy.”

Amy Acosta feels the same way about closely working together with her spouse on campus.

“We don’t ever see each other,” explained Amy Acosta. “We the U.S. agency charged with enforcing federal workplace discrimination laws, received 16,000 complaints about sexual harassment from Americans. In 2017, that figure had fallen to 9,600, a drop of more than 40% in 20 years.”

Gipson understands that students may be apprehensive about contacting the police department.

Gipson shared, “They may not want to get the police involved although they still want the behavior to stop, and the university offers many a different avenues to have that happen.”

discussed the importance of analyzing content spoken to students.

“Most people are trying to persuade you through oral communication, whether it’s for you to buy a truck or a car at a higher interest rate, to get you to vote for them, to get you to go out with them, to get you to bundle a package for AT&T U-verse,” shared Fluker. “Whatever it is, if you can analyze content while someone is actually speaking to you, because they’re always trying to sell you or persuade you, it’s going to help you make some good decisions in the adult world.”

For students currently in the work force, managing money on a small scale is practical to students outside of the accounting program.

Jones said that some of the concepts taught in ACCT 200 can transfer into students’ jobs.

“Students that have jobs as cashiers have to understand the importance of balancing cash,” explained Jones. “Others may see the concepts related to the collection of balances due from customers.”

Some computer science students have asked

don’t ever hang out in each other’s offices. We really try to keep our professional lives and spaces separate from our personal lives together.”

Weaver feels as if spending time together on campus as a couple is fine.

“It’s pretty easy maintaining the relationship because we’re always around each other,” said Weaver. “If we don’t have class, we are sitting in the union together.”

members of Greek life feel that joining a group is not enough work to feel accepted.

“We need hazing to make it feel like we are achieving something real, even if it isn’t,” said Burkman. “We have to feel that we earned it, that we went through a trial. It’s in every story: The hero must face trials and tribulations to grow in strength and knowledge to become all that he or she can be.

It has to be hard.”

Mangus shared that because of nationwide hazing rules, seemingly innocent games are not allowed on the chapter level.

“We can’t have anything that can be seen as somebody targeting or somebody making rules and having you kind of play along,” discussed Mangus.

“I would have loved to have a Nerf gun fight or water balloon fight or scavenger hunt. It’s almost kind of that the negative stigma has hindered us from doing,

not major events, but some fun stuff because we’re so worried that people will take it the wrong way.

So, I think that chapters are super cautious.”

On Lipkins’ website “Inside Hazing,” she discussed many factors that contribute to a hazing scenario, one of which is that freshman want to impress the older members of the group.

“This may put the student under undue stress, physically and psychologically by trying to adapt to the overt and covert requirements of the team,” explained Lipkins. “The fact that the young adolescent has no previous hazing experience and therefore has no frame of reference to categorize his experiences or emotions leaves him in a more vulnerable emotional state.”

Burkman shared in his opinion piece that hazing will not go away through means of statistics, lectures or regulations.

Burkman said, “To avoid its darkest outcomes, we must first understand that hazing serves a need, and then find better ways to fulfill that need.”

Alkadi to be a reference for job applications. Alkadi explained what employers asked him instead of a student’s programming experience.

“They ask me, ‘Can I put them in front of a client?’ and the second question is, ‘Can he or she work with others?’ because it is extremely important,” shared Alkadi.

For students interested in the course, Jones discussed that they should keep up with their assignments.

“Everything you do in later chapters builds on what has been covered previously, so once you get

behind, it is very difficult to catch up,” said Jones.

For the COMM 211 course, Fluker explained that students give speeches and have lectures on two-week intervals. Since students pick their speech topics at the beginning of the semester, Fluker advises students to take advantage of their preparation time.

“If you already know how to write, what you need to do in those two weeks in not to procrastinate in writing your speech,” shared Fluker. “You use that time practicing. From the day I announce that their speeches are due, they have two weeks.”

HAZING MINDSET

continued from pg. 1

Organizational

News

expressed that understanding financial statements and how accounting works in businesses are essential factors that accounting majors should take from the course.

Jones shared, “Accounting majors will see these concepts in almost any field of accounting in which they are employed whether they decide to go into public accounting, private accounting, governmental accounting, etc.”

Students in CMPS 285 also work on their presentation skills. Alkadi shared that every two weeks, students show the class what progress they made since the previous integration.

“Being a computer scientist, it’s not good for them because they are not good communicators,” explained Alkadi. “So, you will see a big difference from the beginning of the semester to the end of the semester in how they evolve and become way better.”

Outside of the classroom setting, Fluker

One way that students can meet new people and create relationships is through tailgates at university home games. Dating in college and after graduation can raise differences, but attending social events can bring people of all backgrounds together. FILE PHOTO/THE LION’S ROAR

HSM– The Health Systems Management - HSM - Club hosts our meetings in White Hall room 222. The tentative date is April 18 at 4:00 p.m. and a tentative date for our

CORRECTION - In the March 26 issue of The Lion’s Roar, on page one in the “Cub Cash v. Lion’s Lagniappe” article, it was stated that Cub Cash was accepted at all dining facilities except the Mane Dish.

However, the Mane Dish does accept Cub Cash as well. This has already been corrected in the online version of the article.

final meeting party in May. Some meetings will be strictly informative, and some will include a speaker that will inform students regarding their experience in the field and their workplace. The last meeting will be a celebration for our members and a party to celebrate our graduates. If students are interested in more information and updates, they can follow our Instagram and Twitter @slu_hsmclub and/or email us at hsmclub2018@gmail.com.

SOUTHEASTERN CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION - The Southeastern Christian Association invites you to join us for our weekly Bible study on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union food court. We’ll have large signs by our table in the food court to help everyone find us. Every Bible study is a group-led discussion centered around topics relevant to college life. We are nondenominational and welcome all Southeastern students seeking a Christian community on campus.

OPINIONS | The Lionʼs Roar

APRIL 9, 2019 | PAGE 3

Make birth control a personal decision, not a prescribed one Even though a decision on whether or not to bear a child is very personal, the decision to use birth control is not entirely on an individual.

Birth control pills are prescribed by doctors if they feel it necessary for their patient to take them.

If one’s doctor deems it Gerard Borne unnecessary for the patient STAFF REPORTER to have birth control, then the patient, who could even be a teenage girl, has to practice extra precautions.

I feel it is unfair for someone’s personal choices to be dependent upon on a doctor or expert. A doctor might know his patient’s medical history but he does not know what goes on in the patient’s mind or what fear the patient has running through her mind every day. A doctor should not be the one who decides a woman’s life choices or changes a woman’s outcome in life. This is the woman’s body and her decision on whether or not she wants to bear a child. Birth control should be available without a prescription because it is the woman’s body, and no one knows their own body as well as themselves.

I look at it like in the case of Tylenol. If I have a headache, I can choose to either let the headache run its natural course or to take a pill and try and stop my headache. So, why is the case different from women using birth control? It is the same principle as Tylenol.

If a female does not want to risk a chance of bearing a child, then she should be able to take birth control at her own will.

Another reason birth control should be available without a prescription is that the contraceptive is safe. In an article written

by Adrianna McIntyre titled “7 Reasons Birth Control Pills Shouldn’t Require a Prescription,” McIntyre expressed, “Since the birth control pill became mainstream, the main change has been a trend toward ‘lowdose’ formulations; most pills contain lower levels of hormones than earlier versions. The morning-after pill is a strong single dose of the same hormones, and it’s available over the counter.”

The pill is safe. It is not like Xanax or other prescribed pills that have psychiatric side effects. It does not lead people into depression. The birth control pill is safer than the Plan B pill, which is sold over the counter.

“I do not believe birth control should be available without a prescription because although it may lower pregnancy rates, there are many effects it may have on a woman’s body, which should be talked about with a physician before being prescribed.”

PATRICIA TODD JUNIOR, COMMUNICATION

Even medical doctors approve of the pill as being an over-the-counter pill.

McIntyre stated in her article that along with obstetricians and gynecologists who support the move, a survey of over 2,700 pharmacists found that 85% were interested in providing contraceptive services, and 98% considered it an important public health issue.” Unplanned pregnancies would be nothing to worry about if the pill was over the counter. It is unfair that women should have to worry if doctors’ approval will decide their life’s decisions and outcomes.

Now, I do know that birth control is not the only contraceptive available for people, but what about the people who are allergic to latex? Latex is the main ingredient in condoms. So, for those who are allergic to latex, what contraceptive options are there?

There is one option, but it is hard to find, so if the couple is allergic to latex and her doctor does not allow for a birth control prescription, she has to practice sexual activities in an extremely cautious manner. It is not fair to a female that her body does not allow for the cheapest contraceptive.

Should birth control be available without prescription?

“I do believe that birth control should be available without a prescription to lessen the abortion rate overall as a result of less pregnancy among college students or anyone in general.”

BETHANY DUHON SENIOR, PSYCHOLOGY “I’m not opposed to contraceptives without a prescription, but to be on the safe side, there’s precautions such as hypertension or other medical situations that should be checked prior to prescribing any medications.”

TRACEY COOK ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR, CLIENT SERVICES “Due to the myriad of side effects, and a lot of those serious, birth control should not be over the counter. It should be administered by a licensed health care professional who understands the gravity of the effects and side effects of having birth control.”

ANDRIA NASSET SENIOR, GENERAL STUDIES

see BIRTH CONTROL, pg. 5

“I do not think individuals should be required to go and get a prescription for birth control because they may not be able to afford the previous doctor expenses.”

KAYLA MONLYN JUNIOR, COMMUNICATION

“I feel like it should be available because it’s kind of something that could be helpful for most females in certain circumstances.”

MYLES CYPRIEN JUNIOR, SPORT MANAGEMENT

Mold your dreams Growing up in a middle class family in an Asian community, there was one dream that was instilled in me as a child: to be a doctor.

My family and society molded my brain Prakriti Adhikari to believe STAFF REPORTER that success came in the form of a white lab coat and a stethoscope around the neck.

The job had the potential to give me both respect in society and the salary to have a good life.

Being fairly good in science and mathematics uplifted this idea, and my family had a dream for me to become a doctor. The high school mathematics teacher would always help his daughter with problems, and the dining table in the kitchen would be used as a study table for the two daughters in the family more often than for dining purposes.

Even though this was a dream for me, I now realize that this was never my dream. I went to an English-medium school and grew up learning Nepali and English. I had a fascination with both of these languages, especially oratory skills. I loved how my seniors in school spoke eloquently on the stage. I volunteered to speak whenever there was a chance, and unknowingly, I was polishing my speaking skills. I remember my sister and I used to play a game of who can read a news story from the newspaper for the longest time without having to pause or making mistakes. Even though I could not understand their accent, I used to listen to the BBC News for hours.

Those professional-looking newsreaders sitting behind what looked like mahogany desks and debating over world issues I could not understand were who I aspired to be.

The Eastern communities value obedience over independence, and the culture won over my personal desire.

I went along with my family’s dream. Medicine courses are the

most expensive field of study in Nepal, and I was among those thousands of students who prepared for the scholarships exam to get into medical school.

However, I failed to get into the program. It was time to make changes in the plan. This time, I decided that I needed to study in a better, American university, and I realized that I wanted to become a cool female computer science student working in black and white screens to develop an app. I managed to convince my parents and flew halfway across the world.

After three semesters of attempting to understand computer languages, trying to work with Java and HTML, pushing and pulling through GitHub, I realized that my expectations and reality were different. My fourth semester, I changed my major to accounting. I am still exploring everything this field has to offer, but I am absolutely enjoying it.

All of these past experiences taught me that I should not be afraid of taking risks. Even though we fear change, change is inevitable and is what enables you to understand yourself.

Had I remained stubborn to get into medical school, I might have been lucky to get into the program, but I probably would not have been as happy as I am now.

It’s OK to change your career path if you are not content with it. The main thing is to be happy, and if you are happy, your best efforts will pay you well. There are real assets and liabilities in life other than the ones in a company’s balance sheet. You should learn to make a net income of happiness, surpassing the negative energies that bring a frown to your face. As for me, I might have changed my field of study, but I still have not given up on what my younger self wanted. I might not be reciting for a news channel, but I still enjoy my passion by contributing to the university newspaper.

Requirements for joining organizations should not include hazing After becoming a member of a Greek organization during the Fall 2018 semester, I quickly learned about hazing - not because I was involved in the act, but because they made sure to prevent it at all costs.

I took online courses about hazing and went to Shaelyn Martinez meetings that involved STAFF REPORTER talks about how it was strictly prohibited.

I was never able to give my opinion about hazing. Some organizations have strict terms when it comes to hazing, and some simply follow the rules that the university implements.

Personally, I would not be willing to be forced to go through any of these tasks to be considered a part of an organization.

Your fellow members should accept you and have enough respect towards you to not consider hazing as a proper requirement.

According to StopHazing, a resource for hazing research and prevention, more than half of college students involved in clubs, teams and organizations have experienced hazing. The website also mentions that 26% participate in drinking games, 12% drink large amounts of alcohol to the point of getting sick or

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passing out, 11% are deprived of sleep, and lastly, 10% are screamed, yelled or cursed at by other members.

I believe that the university does a good job of implementing the hazing policies on campus and makes sure that students are informed and following the rules. The rules that they implement are proper.

Some acts that the university considers hazing are physical brutality, activities that involve excessive consumption of food or liquid, requiring an individual to perform a task, and even sleep deprivation.

On the university website, hazing is defined as a person or people directing an intentional and reckless act when they knew the act endangers the health or safety of the other person or creates severe emotional distress. The act can be associated with pledging, initiation, being affiliated with, participating, holding office or being a member of any organization.

You never want to be the guy that tells.

Usually, people wait until someone else does the dirty work for them because they do not want to get looked at as the bad guy.

In an article titled “Parents’ Guide to Hazing – How to Keep Your Children Safe,” Dr. Susan Lipkins, hazing expert and psychologist, explained the code of

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silence based on fear.

“Sometimes the fear is real, and intimidation and threats are used,” stated Lipkins. “Sometimes the fear is implied, such as the fear of retribution or social isolation.”

I feel like the University Police Department does a really good job keeping the school in line. Rather than hearing the university’s name all over the news for hazing, we tend to hear about hazing prevention on campus.

The university also does a good job of telling students that the information that they give will be confidential. They know how students are and want to make sure that they feel like the campus is a safe zone.

Even though I want to believe that every organization on campus follows the hazing policies, that is just not likely.

Though the statistics show that many universities have a heavy amount of hazing throughout the campus, I believe our school keeps it under control.

The university gave me a sense of home as soon as I walked on campus.

I can imagine how hard it would be for one to perform well in school if they are getting hazed or bullied. Do not hesitate to reach out to someone if you feel you are a victim of being hazed.

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Page 4 | April 9, 2019

The Lion’s Roar | Arts & Entertainment

Artists manage their expenses ZACHARY ARAKI Assistant Editor

Beyond creativity and passion, working artists may find finances factor into management of their career.

From a business standpoint, working artists consider several factors depending on their type of work.

“Artists who work with public art may have costs associated with permitting, engineering fees or logistical costs like crane operation or specialized trucking,” explained Jeff Mickey, professor of sculpture. “Artists working in a practice that focuses on performance may need to secure venues, rent or purchase special camera or recording equipment or hire experts, who may also be artists, in the fields of lighting, scenic design or prop fabrication to name a few.”

On a basic level, Mickey categorized those costs into materials, labor, overhead and profit. Materials must be selected and obtained to create the artwork, and for labor, the artist must spend their own time as well as compensate anyone who is hired.

“Overhead covers every other cost associated with the creation of the artwork not listed above,” shared Mickey.

“This may include studio upkeep or rental, marketing

Bryce Martinez, a sophomore art major, left, and Abigail Coleman, a senior art major, right, work on their projects in a class taught by Jeff Mickey, professor of sculpture. While materials may be provided in class, a working artist has to manage the financial cost of their career. Zachary Araki/The Lion’s Roar or advertising, the light bill, equipment maintenance and the accountant one may hire to assist in navigating the tax code along with many others.”

Making artwork such as ceramics can become expensive.

“You need to buy clay, glazes, a wheel, a kiln, a studio space, gas or electricity to fire the kiln, tools, a clay mixer and other various expenses,” stated Olivia Goll, president of the Southeastern Ceramics Club.

To manage the costs of creating artwork, some artists may become associated with a gallery.

“A gallery sells the artist’s work in exchange for a percentage of the sale price,” shared Mickey. “The gallery’s cut may be as high as 60% or more. In exchange for this seemingly high percentage, the gallery might provide some of the things listed above such as marketing, advertising, shipping, storage of work or connections to buyers in other regions. Using the gallery as a middleman frees the artist to be more productive and have more time in their studio, which allows the artist to create more artwork.”

For students in a ceramics

class, these materials are provided for free.

“As a new artist outside of school, though, the best way to offset the cost at first is to find another artist trying to go into business and buy materials together such as a shared studio space,” explained Goll.

Outside of the classroom, Goll provided advice on how an artist could manage the expenses.

“A working artist could minimize these costs by mixing their own clay or glazes instead of buying them premixed,” said Goll. “Another way for a ceramic artist to lower their

cost is to use clay that fires to a lower temperature. If the kiln does not have to get as hot, then it will cost less in gas or electricity.”

Through the ceramics club, students can learn how to offset the costs while in class.

“We are lucky because then we get to sell the work we make,” expressed Goll.

“Oftentimes, people find art a risky profession to get into, but through the ceramics club, we teach students how to make and sell work to make a profit and a living.”

Mickey advised students to follow their passion and

take a basic business class. He attributed challenges working artists may face when starting out to a lack of education in business.

“An artist new in the field often has a hard time covering the costs of making enough art to have a cohesive body of work that they can use to develop a portfolio,” shared Mickey. “This portfolio is used to gain association to a gallery or to secure funding from grants and endowments. Like any business, starting capitol is necessary. The more starting capitol, the better the chance of success if it is used wisely.”

Goal-setting techniques of a collage MAIAH WOODRING Staff Reporter

2nd and Charles has a vinyl section, which includes turn tables, for sale. Vinyl’s popularity grew in part for its historical value. Jacob Summerville/The Lion’s Roar

Vinyl makes a strong reappearance JACOB SUMMERVILLE Staff Reporter

A decades-old music platform has risen back into popularity.

The Recording Industry Association of America released an article stating that some people enjoy vinyl because they want a more direct connection to the music through a physical copy, and others enjoy the sound quality better than digitized sound.

Tanner Henry, a sales associate at 2nd & Charles, got interested in vinyl through his parents’ enjoyment of the music platform.

Having a collection of vinyl that spans several decades, Henry believes that the growth of vinyl popularity is partly due to the product’s historical value.

“People can see, ‘Wow, this has been around since the ‘40s and ‘50s,’” said Henry. “’This is what my parents grew up with and

their parents, and their parents.’

I think people, whether they buy it or not, they gravitate towards it because it’s kind of like a tangible art museum.”

Keith Bancroft, an associate professor of biological sciences, shared that The Beatles were popular whenever he was a teenager. He explained that vinyl’s popularity started to fade with the creation of cassette tapes, but vinyl disks also had a flaw.

“Albums would wear out very quickly,” discussed Bancroft. “You could scratch them very easily, and that was one of the reasons why I think people moved into technology.”

Now that vinyl has grown back into mainstream attention, Bancroft, who owns around 1,000 limited plays, shared that the quality of the disks themselves had

see VINYL, pg. 5

Made from a collection of objects including magazine clippings, encouraging pictures or positive sayings, vision boards help with setting goals and planning for the future.

Vision boards are essentially collages that serve to motivate or inspire someone towards their goal. The varying sizes and customizations of vision boards leaves the creator able to take as much liberty as they want.

In an article titled “How Creating A Vision Board Will Empower You To Manifest Your Dream Life,” Ravi Raman, author of “Life Hacks,” defined the term.

“A vision board is a concrete representation of your desires and aspirations for a compelling life,” said Raman. “They are fun to create and can serve as an invaluable tool to motivate and inspire you towards concrete daily action in pursuit of your biggest and most important life goals.”

Jordan Desselles, a sophomore marketing major, explained that the supplies one chooses to make their vision board is entirely up to them.

“It really just depends on how creative you want to be with it,” explained Desselles.

“It doesn’t have to be too fancy, but you also want it to be something that you look at, and it gives you a drive to accomplish all your goals. So, you want it to be visually pleasing.”

Karley Bordelon, junior social studies education major, has a vision board she made earlier this semester. She appreciates the concept of vision boards.

“I always love making vision boards,”

Vision boards offer a variety of options for students looking to set realistic goals. The collages can be used to plan for the future or as motivation to achieve their objectives. Maiah Woodring/The Lion’s Roar shared Bordelon. “I typically make them every new year because I am always feeling 100% motivation at the start of the year. You can even use clips or magnets and change it up throughout the year with new pictures or quotes.”

Raman recommended getting together in a group to make a vision board.

“When you build a vision board with others, you can feed off each other’s ideas and positive energy,” said Raman. “It is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening together.”

Working alone is also fine as it gives time for winding-down and self-analysis, according to Bordelon.

“Students can make them with a group or take some chill time to make them by themselves,” said Bordelon. “The supplies can be found at any local store or around the house.”

No matter how goal-oriented or organized the person creating a vision board is, Desselles thinks that boards can be good for anybody.

“I think that everybody should make a vision board whether it’s a big one or a small one, and it’s a great idea to keep all your goals in check,” expressed Desselles.

One challenge of creating vision boards can be prioritizing top goals are and narrowing them down. Bordelon shared some advice for anyone interested in making their own vision board.

“Take it seriously, and take yourself seriously,” recommended Bordelon. “Yes, it is just a silly piece of paper or canvas, but it holds your hopes and dreams on it. Invest in yourself. Take the time to really dig deep, and find what you want to do with your life.

Set goals and know that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to.”

Arts & Entertainment | The Lion’s Roar

April 9, 2019 | Page 5

Student involvement develops leadership ERICA WELTER Staff Reporter

Taylor Mangus, a senior nursing major and president of the Order of Omega, found her Greek beginnings in the Phi Mu chapter at the university.

After four years with Phi Mu, Mangus joined the Order of Omega, the university’s only coed Greek honor society. According to the organization’s website, applicants must be a junior or senior, have a 3.00 cumulative GPA and be in good standing with their fraternity or sorority to be considered for membership.

“It represents the top 3% of students,” shared Mangus. “It’s based on scholarship. It’s based on academic involvement. Community involvement, character, the way you are on campus, your reputation and how much you contribute to Southeastern as a whole is what goes into membership selection.”

Each year, the Order of Omega plans and hosts Greek Week, a series of competitions for the roughly 800 members of Greek life.

“It has been quite difficult to please everyone because everyone has an opinion, but we have worked really hard,” explained Mangus. “We try to incorporate events that appeal to everybody.

We added a trivia this year because we’ve never had any kind of academic competition. We added a water activity. We added ‘Battleship,’ which we’ve never done. So, we’re excited about that.”

The additions are part of the changes Mangus has made during her tenure as president. She also

created a lasting platform for future presidents and board members to plan their Greek Week events.

“This year, I made sure that we had binders and we had a Google Drive,” stated Mangus.

“We’ve put so much effort into leaving a paper trail of what to do and what not to do to make everything better for the next batch of members.

I really want the next batch of e-board members to have a better understanding of what they’re taking on when they get in that position and have a better idea of how it’s supposed to work.”

Outside of Greek life and classrooms, Mangus enjoys the outdoors.

“I love being outside,” shared Mangus. “I like fishing, going on the water, being on a boat, anything like throwing a football around. I’m happy when I’m outside.”

Organization is a big part of Mangus’ leadership style. After planning Greek Week, the New Orleans native prefers to hang back, delegate tasks and remain available for crisis management as needed.

“I am a big planner,” said Mangus. “So, I love to be very hands-on with the planning of events, but since we have five days of Greek Week and we have six of us on e-board, every e-board member has a day, and I am strictly backup.”

Mangus uses her organizational skills to prepare for her future.

“I would like to be a pediatric NP, nurse practitioner, with a specialty in pediatric oncology and hematology, hopefully at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee,” shared Mangus. “That’s

Ali Leto, a freshman biological sciences major and chapter secretary of Alpha Omicron Pi, speaks with Taylor Mangus, a senior nursing major and president of Order of Omega, about Greek Week. Erica Welter/The Lion’s Roar like the end game goal. I had leukemia in high school, and they treated me there. That’s a major reason I wanted to be a nurse.”

Nursing holds an important place in Mangus’ life because of the connections she made with her caregivers during her illness.

“I thought I wanted to be a nurse before I got sick,” explained Mangus. “Then, I got sick and

A band’s shift in musicians creates a new sound JACOB SUMMERVILLE Staff Reporter

A change in members redefined the name of a local band.

“Voice of the Enemy” consists of Hayden Kimball, lead guitarist and vocalist, Tyler Laiche, rhythm guitarist, Stefanie Campbell, drummer, and Michael Elisar, bassist. Although the band originally formed in 2012, the lineup changed about a year ago.

Kimball explained that the style of the band’s music changed when the new members joined.

“When we play old songs live versus the new songs, they’re not any better or worse,” discussed Kimball. “They’re just different.

That’s kind of what the beauty is. We still have the original flavor. It’s just now, we have new musicians who have different taste and a slightly different approach to things.”

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You’re doing better on the flexibility issue, but you still need to loosen up a bit to show you can be less judgmental and more understanding about certain sensitive matters.

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Kimball shared that the band’s original sound had a southern metal vibe to it, with the same sound as bands such as Pantera and Black Label Society.

In recent years, the dynamic has changed to where the songwriting process is no longer centered to one person, which allowed a different sub-genre of rock to enter the band.

“Now, you have everyone in the band who kind of puts their own stamp on the music,” said Kimball. “One song in particular, ‘Martyr,’ the main riff was written exclusively by Tyler, and some of the riffs that I wrote sound a little more classic rock as Tyler’s is full-on progressive rock.”

Ever since the band’s new image has come to light, it has produced an album entitled “Martyr” which was recorded and published in 2018.

“Voice of the Enemy” mainly plays in Louisiana and performs October 22) You might do well to reconsider some of your current time priorities before you get so deeply involved in one project that you neglect meeting a deadline on another.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) With an important decision looming, you need to be careful about the information you’re getting. Half-truths are essentially useless. Get the full story before you act.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Find out what everyone’s role is expected to be before accepting that workplace proposal. Getting all the facts now could prevent serious problems later on.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A flexible position on a workplace matter could be the best course to follow during the next several days. A personal issue also benefits from an open-minded approach.

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as often as it can, according to Kimball and Laiche.

Before scheduling a show, Laiche shared that members of the band discuss what possible conflicts may arise.

“Every band wants to play as much as they can, but sometimes you just can’t,” said Laiche. “We play mostly in Baton Rouge, but we also love playing in surrounding areas like Lafayette and soon to be New Orleans for the second time.”

One memory that sticks with both Laiche and Campbell is the band’s performance at the Varsity Theatre.

Campbell shared that the vibe of the place contributed to an enjoyable time.

Campbell explained, “Sharing the stage with ‘Swamp Stank,’ ‘Event Horizon’ and ‘Ventruss,’ that night really made for an exceptionally inviting, exciting, united kind of feeling where you could tell everyone was ready to have a time that was on as much as fire as the music. It was killer.”

Kimball recalled his first performance using a wireless

system for his guitar that the band still jokes about today.

“I went to go do some sort of move down the stage, and I realized that the guitar wasn’t going through the amp,” shared Kimball. “I turned around, and the belt packet had fallen off, and the battery fell out. Of course, I’ve got to sing, and I didn’t know what to do. So, I finally just stopped playing altogether and just grabbed the mic and sang until I had enough cover to run back and grab the battery and put it back in.”

Kimball explained that “Voice of the Enemy” would like to get signed to an independent record label soon and tour more often.

“Hopefully, that’s going to be in the works sometime this summer or this fall,” said Kimball.

The band hopes to continue to promote its newest album and play at as many shows as it can.

“We all love what we do, and we wouldn’t trade it for the world,” stated Laiche. “So, as long as we are having fun, it’s a win-win.”

contraceptive is safe. I believe that birth control pills should be available as over-the-counter Birth control should be pill, and a women’s personal an over-the-counter pill just decision on what she wants for like Tylenol and Plan B. The her body should be respected.

BIRTH CONTROL

continued from pg. 3

thought, ‘If I never see a hospital again, it’ll be too soon.’ Then looking back, I thought, ‘No, I want to be that for somebody.’ I want to be that safe space. I want to be that trusting person that you know is taking care of you and that you know has, quite literally, your life in their hands. That’s what I want to be.”

VINYL

continued from pg. 4 improved - the weight of the vinyl record has doubled. In addition, the newer equipment needed to play a record helps the disk last longer.

In terms of sound quality, Henry said that there is a warmth in vinyl records that enhances the sound.

“There’s a lot of depth in vinyl, especially when there’s not a lot of scratches and pops,” explained Henry.

Joe Burns, a professor of communication, shared that listening to a record requires more interaction as opposed to digital methods, which may attribute to the former’s resurgence.

“You’ve got to get it out,” said Burns. “You’ve got to put it onto a turntable. You’ve got to lay the needle down. You are choosing to listen to that record. So, you will be more attentive whereas I’ve got 5000 songs on my phone. I get into my car. It’s set on shuffle.

Whatever comes up, comes up. It’s background – it’s there.”

Along with the tangibility and interaction, Ralph Wood, a professor of kinesiology and health studies, explained that the addition of an older product appeals to its original buyers.

“There’s those of us who have always bought records, and now it’s just back,” shared Wood. “So, now more things are available, and I think that that has had an impact on sales as well.”

The RIAA article shared that in 2005, revenues for vinyl were under $50 million dollars in the United States. A decade later, revenue has risen over $400 million.

A 2018 article by the British Phonographic Industry stated that in the United Kingdom between 2007 and 2017, vinyl record sales had increased 1,892%, with 4.1 million LPs bought in 2017.

Starting in 2008, Record Store Day is an event occurring in April that aims to celebrate independently-owned record stores.

“Bands and labels put out short runs of either classic albums or limited edition stuff,” explained Wood. “The goal was to put people back into record stores, and that has brought people to record stores.

Certainly, there are more record stores now than there were 10-12 years ago.”

This year, Record Store Day will be on April 13.

Although vinyl records can be bought online, Wood believes that buying vinyl in a store is an experience of its own.

Wood shared, “You can buy them online, but there’s something kind of magical about flipping through the stacks in a record store.”

With the holiday coming up this week, music enthusiasts can shop for vinyl at participating stores, whether it’s for the novelty of the medium or for the appreciation of its quality.

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Practicing for perfection SHAELYN MARTINEZ STAFF REPORTER

Interested students can become involved in intramural teams through a variety of sports like basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball as well as others like battleship, home run derby and doubles badminton.

James Schopp, a senior accounting major, plays intramural flag football and softball. While some teams may take intramural sports seriously, others do it to enjoy the game, according to Schopp.

“I play for the team White Lighting, and we do not practice because we are all really close friends or roommates, so we know each other’s strengths,” shared Schopp.

Alex Jackson, a freshman supply chain management major, is a part of the intramural softball team called the Second Strings, which practices about twice a week.

“Our practices are mainly us hitting balls in field and out field and getting in reps over and over again to prepare for the team we are about to play,” explained Jackson.

Since Jackson is not a part of a Greek organization on campus or any other organization, she likes how the intramural sports give her something to do during her free time, and practicing is a part of

Competing on and off the field

The Lionʼs Roar | SPORTS & FITNESS

that but not too overbearing in her schedule.

Jackson explained what they accomplish during practice.

“This is where we can learn how hard our third base man can throw to the first base man. That’s going to be really critical in the game, so we all can know how prepared to be,” said Jackson. “Also, this is a time where we can create a sense of team work.”

Wesley Brown, a graduate student who plays for the intramural softball team Duck and Pitches, shared what the team does in practice for softball intramural.

“We usually just go over plays so everyone is familiar with what is going on or we will practice batting to each other,” said Brown.

While some teams may have a laid-back approach, others are focused on a goal and driven to beat opponents. Brown shared that his team plays to have fun during practice.

“We usually have a good time at practice, but we do like to try and get better with each practice,” expressed Brown.

Schopp encouraged anyone considering any intramural sport to join a team.

“In my experience, I have learned that it is a blast playing sports with your friends and cutting up with each other,” shared Schopp.

Nadine Maher, a junior kinesiology major, left, and Sofia Olsson, a senior business administration major, right, earned the President’s List distinction despite their busy schedules as student-athletes on the Lady Lions soccer team. MAIAH WOODRING/THE LION’S ROAR MAIAH WOODRING STAFF REPORTER

Breaking the “dumb jock” stereotype requires motivation and commitment for three student-athletes who prove that maintaining a high GPA can be a reality.

Noah Vance, a sophomore defensive lineman for the football team, has a 3.0 cumulative GPA. He shared how he maintains his grades.

“My whole life has been an emphasis on education and getting a degree,” shared Vance. “So, while sports and athletics takes a lotta time, and demands a lotta time and physical and mental labor for you to perform well in it, the grades are another important thing because if you don’t perform in the classroom, they’re not going to let you perform on the field.”

Corey Gaconi, senior pitcher on the baseball team, maintains a 3.9 cumulative GPA. He shared that his competitive nature helped him achieve academic success.

“It’s really just the competitive nature of me,” said Gaconi. “I mean, I don’t like getting anything less than an ‘A’ just ‘cause who I am. It’s not even so much that I study so hard just to do good. It’s really, I expect to

get an ‘A’ in every class.”

Time management played a vital role for these athletes to excel in their activities.

“I’ve had to definitely put reminders in my phone, make sure I don’t forget when assignments are due,” shared Vance. “Just study habits—10, 15 minutes of reading and take a little break, and then do it again a couple more times until I feel comfortable with the knowledge.”

Jordan Tate, a sophomore offensive lineman, has a 3.4 GPA. He focuses on his studies whenever he is not practicing for his games.

Tate shared, “Whenever I’m not doing football, or I’m not doing school, I make sure that I’m getting something done even if it’s something small, even if it’s just one tiny assignment or one little task that’s gonna make it easier on me, like packing up my stuff the day before so I’m not rushing in the morning.”

Vance discussed the benefits of having a high GPA. Vance explained, “When you have a higher GPA and you’re a solid performer in the classroom, your coaches are going to notice that, and once you graduate, you can put your coach as a reference, and they’re

always going to be honest with the people asking.”

Being stereotyped as unintelligent is something that Vance, Gaconi and Tate have all experienced.

Gaconi shared, “I’ve definitely been around those people where you’re in a group project in one of the classes, and you kind of have your baseball sweatshirt on, and they think, ‘Oh, an athlete’s in my group,’ and I kind of just see it on their face.”

Gaconi explained what he does when he encounters people feeling this way.

“I usually kind of make it a point the first day to let them know that I’m not just gonna cruise by and let them do all the work,” said Gaconi. “I kind of like to take charge. That’s just the natural leader instincts that I have.”

Athletes can break existing stereotypes by presenting themselves appropriately.

“It’s not even so much as you get the best grades in class, or you’re really the 4.0 student, it’s really just how you carry yourself,” said Gaconi. “If you carry yourself like you’re trying and you’re actually putting forth your best effort, I think that’ll help break the stereotype a lot.”

Why athletes leave the game

JOHNATHAN ZERINGUE STAFF REPORTER

A player from White Lightning gets ready to hit the ball. Intramural sports offer several options for students who want to play the game. FILE PHOTO/THE LION’S ROAR

Athletes influence the public ZACHARY ARAKI ASSISTANT EDITOR

From Colin Kaepernick, a former National Football League player, to Lindsey Vonn, a World Cup alpine ski racer, professional athletes can find their positions in the public lead to discussions about their political opinions.

Whether for good or bad, Tanner Wright, a junior pitcher on the softball team, believes athletes can use their positions to influence others.

Wright said, “Athletes have a big stage, and a lot of people look up to them, especially younger kids that want to do that same thing that they do, and there’s been a lot of athletes that have used it for good in sharing their faith or sharing to raise awareness of disease or charities, causes, stuff like that, and there’s some that don’t use it for the right purposes.”

Through social media, people can find value in athletes’ opinions.

“Whether it’s because you just think they’re experts or not, people take the weight of the athlete when it comes to their opinion on politics,” shared Johannes “Joey” Verhaegh, a graduate assistant for Multicultural and International Student Affairs and a former member of the Lions football

team. “Maybe you view it as the halo effect where you see someone’s good at one thing, maybe they’re good at everything, so you value their opinion more because that happens a lot in the public.”

This platform can stir conversations and bring attention to the subject.

“When a professional athlete, say LeBron James, says something about the president, a lot of people take that, and whether they agree with it or disagree with it, it becomes a talking point,” explained Verhaegh. “It becomes a conversation for people, so the voice provided by being a world famous athlete lends to the spreading of a conversation or the increased awareness of different things political.”

Caitlyn VanHemelryck, a senior pitcher on the softball team, discussed the impact of athletes’ involvement in political topics.

“A lot of athletes who believe in God and believe in Jesus express that and show it through their sport, and after every big game that they have, they praise God,” expressed VanHemelryck. “They say all the talents that they have is because God gave it to them.

That’s who they play for, and

see INFLUENCE, pg. 8

Being a student-athletes requires commitment and dedication to a sport, but some athletes may decide to pursue different paths for multiple reasons.

Adam Sevario, a senior business management major and a former university baseball player, explained how the schedule for a student-athlete can become a major issue.

“The reason that I have decided to step away from the game is something that goes overlooked in collegiate sports,”

said Sevario. “Playing sports in college takes a physical and mental toll on you. In college sports, people look at athletes for what they do stats wise. No one ever looks at the amount of practice, weights, community service, and on top of that, keeping up your grades in the classroom.”

Injuries can also factor into an athlete’s decision to quit playing their sport.

“I have also been playing through a serious non-related baseball injury since my senior season when I broke my back, which required spinal fusion surgery,” shared Sevario. “I also

Matlin Amphion Doussan Graduate Student, MBA

won FREE Papa John’s pizza for being seen on campus reading

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suffered a broken bone in my hand freshman season and had to undergo surgery in September 2018 on my left wrist with three torn ligaments.”

Gabrielle Anderson, a sophomore family and consumer sciences major, discussed what led her to step away from soccer in spring 2018.

“One was because I have had two ACL surgeries,” expressed Anderson. “So, I didn’t think physically my knees would last all four years. It also was because soccer is like a job, and with trying to balance it out with everything, I didn’t want to risk my knees in the future.”

Although she misses being on the team, Anderson does not regret her decision.

“I do miss the team, coaches and friends,” shared Anderson.

“But for me, it turned into a hobby, and I didn’t think that was very fair for others when some people put in their blood, sweat and everything.”

Brett Olivier, a senior computer science major, quit cross country and track and field due to ineligibility.

“It wasn’t really my choice,” stated Olivier. “The real reason I’m no longer on the team is

see QUITTING, pg. 7

What’s your favorite KSLU program?

SPORTS & Fitness | The Lionʼs Roar

APRIL 9, 2019 | PAGE 7

Athletics advertise to fill home game stands MAIAH WOODRING

build relationships with fans and keep their stands full even while competing with the wide variety of entertainment options at fans’ fingertips,” said Taylor.

For Owens, the real challenge in athletics marketing is more about engaging with people who are not in interested in sports.

“The realest challenge is trying to appeal to those who say, ‘I don’t like sports. I don’t care about football, baseball, tennis, soccer or whatever other sport’

and turning them into a fan based off of the experience alone,” said Owens. “In that moment, you already have someone who is going against the flow, but we work hard to cater to those instances and show them that it’s so much more than understanding how many quarters are in a football game or the amount of sets are in a volleyball game.”

Owens explained what it feels like when a promotion she creates is successful.

“It’s so fulfilling to see it pay off,” stated Owens. “A lot of the time my staff and myself are so indulged in organizing and operating the event that we don’t get to see it come to fruition 100%.”

Owens has learned what methods do not work.

“The methods that don’t work are those that you need immense buy-in for,” shared Owens. “The methods that require a lot of depth are difficult as well. For instance,

if we’re making this really neat web page or interactive event where it requires fans or students to do a more than average amount of work, clicking, reading or searching, it’s probably not going to be effective. With technology, you have to be quick.

Get the audience’s attention and give them the information to interpret.”

In her article, Taylor further discussed that technology, like social media, can be a turn-off depending on the demographic of fans.

“Social media is a great tool, but more traditional means of engagement such as email and print campaigns should be incorporated as well,” said Taylor. “For example, a large portion of season-ticket holders are older, and social media may not be the best tactic to reach them.”

To keep her campaign from relying too heavily on social media, Owens wants experience with advertising in local television channels to reach a broader range of people.

“It’s important that we love our community here in Hammond, but also to let those people on the southshore, Baton Rouge and outlying areas know we want their support on game day,” explained Owens. “We try to make it worthwhile in a positive game day experience and family atmosphere.”

QUITTING

“I’m sure close to half, or more, student-athletes are walk-ons, or they’re not really compensated for their time much,” commented Olivier.

“So, it might get extremely hard to afford day-to-day life if athletics take up your opportunity to work a real job and make some money.”

Other student-athletes may feel they are not seeing enough improvement in their performance and decide to

leave the game.

“I know a friend of mine who left one of the teams because even though they were accepted on the team, they didn’t get a lot of attention from the coach because they weren’t really one of the best,” said Olivier.

“He didn’t feel like being on the team was really beneficial for his growth as an athlete anymore because he wasn’t getting the attention as other players.”

According to Olivier, there is plenty of room for future success for athletes who choose to quit playing for the university.

“If there are other athletes in a similar position, just know that college athletics aren’t the end-all-be-all,” expressed Olivier. “There’s always going to be something you can do on your own, even if it’s not with one team, if you’re dedicated enough.”

STAFF REPORTER

Devising new or improved ways to get community members attending and supporting games falls under the authority of Athletics Marketing and Promotions.

Even though “Strawberry Jam” and “Full Court Fest” may be among the department’s most popular promotions, the group’s work does not end there.

Lindsey Owens, director of athletic marketing and promotions, explained why their task is fundamental in the athletic department.

“When we have fans, we have a following, and that’s an all-around positive piece of the puzzle,” shared Owens. “The importance of having fans is what makes sports what they are - a hobby or experience for passionate people. When the stands are full, it’s what makes ‘home field advantage’ advantageous. It’s fulfilling for our athletes, coaches, athletic personnel and university as a whole to have a following and passionate fan base.”

Sarah Taylor, a public relations specialist for Meridian

“Flood the Field,” a promotion event for the Lady Lions softball game, is an athletics marketing classic. With events like these, the first students to arrive at the game get free pizza and a T-shirt. With proper advertising and promotions, athletics aims to engage with both fans and people who are not interested in sports.

MAIAH WOODRING/THE LION’S ROAR

Group, recognized that engaging with fans is key in athletics marketing in her 2016 article titled, “Seven Ways to Engage Fans and Drive Ticket Sales in Athletic Business.”

“With a thoughtfully crafted campaign, sports teams can

This Week’s Puzzle AnsWers

continued from pg. 6 because I’m in my sixth year of college and thus had no remaining NCAA eligibility.

They allow you five years to complete four seasons.”

For some athletes, maintaining a sufficient income may become a struggle due to collegiate athletics.

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Page 8 | April 9, 2019

The Lion’s Roar | News

Strawberry Festival is almost here

Strawberry Festival royalties and representatives pose for a picture . The 2019 Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, scheduled to run from April 12-14, will be held at the Memorial Park. Courtesy of Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Inc. JOHNATHAN ZERINGUE Staff Reporter

Ponchatoula is home to a large strawberry festival of the state. Each year, numerous people from all over the world visit during one weekend to share in various cooked and strawberry-flavored foods.

The 2019 Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival will take place from April 12-14. The

festival is located at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula.

Donald Lanier, chairman of the festival, expressed what makes the festival unique.

“Our festival is the largest free festival in the state of Louisiana,” shared Lanier.

“We have a strawberry eating contest. We also have a parade on Saturday morning that runs strictly downtown. It’s a massive parade, and there’s nothing like

it around here.”

The first strawberry festival can be traced back 47 years.

“Dr. Charles Gideon, a past mayor, was influential in getting Ponchatoula, the name ‘Strawberry Capital of the World,’ “said Lanier. “He proved more berries were shipped by rail in Ponchatoula than Hammond, and that’s how we got the name. The festival started back in 1972 when it

Break means refreshment ZACHARY ARAKI Assistant Editor

To catch up on assignments, relax or get away from campus, students look towards planning their spring break location.

In a 2012 study by Tricia Tang of the University of Central Florida, students responded that their top five most important concerns when choosing a spring break destination were health at the destination, the right price, safety, ability to find adventure and cleanliness.

Florida remains one of America’s most popular locations. According to Visit Florida, the state saw about 126 million visitors in 2018 with about a 6% year-over-year growth. In 2012, Louisiana comprised 2.8% of the over 77 million domestic visitors.

College students can find beaches and other INFLUENCE

continued from pg. 6 it’s not because of them. It’s because of Him, so I think it’s really important.”

Wright cited an example of athletes becoming involved in something beyond the sport itself.

Wright stated, “I watched an article on how when Tim Tebow put his Bible verses on his face, millions and millions of people would view that and go Google it and stuff, and that’s just one example, but again, there’s a ton of people looking up to athletes, and just the way that they use their influence on people, it’s a big deal.”

Beyond using their positions to voice their opinions, some athletes decide to become politicians such as Cory Booker, senator of New Jersey.

“It’s a small percentage of people that do it, but of the ones that do it, they use that as the

tourists in Miami, Key Largo, Panama City Beach, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Daytona Beach and Pensacola Beach.

David Correira, a freshman business administration major, discussed the ideal spring break destination.

“You got to have a beach,” said Correira. “There’s got to be a beach in there. There’s no nice beaches around here so probably Florida. I usually go to Destin or Orange Beach.”

Closer to Louisiana are Orange Beach, West Beach and Fort Morgan in Alabama, which saves the drive to the sunshine state.

In Texas, South Padre Island offers 34 miles of beach. Meanwhile, Lake Havasu, Arizona includes 400 miles of coastline and 60 miles of navigable waterways with no speed or size restrictions for boats.

About 170 miles from the university is North Beach in Lake Charles. Roughly 10 miles closer to the university is Cypremort Point State Park on leadership qualities they learned in athletics and their name recognition to springboard them into politics,” shared Verhaegh.

Wright described the relationship between politics and athletics as a fine line.

“Politics can be such a controversial issue, and so it needs to be handled with care on a professional level,” said Wright. “So, there’s a time and place for that kind of stuff, so it’s important to know where you stand and what you’re dealing with.”

For Wright, the connection of the field to politics is not far off for student-athletes.

“As a college athlete, even though we’re not professional athletes, we still have a pretty big platform,” explained Wright. “We can share a lot of things. It’s important as college students that we recognize that and keep our priorities in line.”

started as a small one block fair to celebrate the strawberries. It’s grown to what it is today and is now comprised of the whole town.”

Jamie Holley, the assistant director of public relations, explained about the board that is in charge of putting the event.

“Our board is responsible for the festival,” stated Holley.

“We are made up of voting and appointed members. The

voting members are from the local non-profits in the area.

The appointed members are the chairman’s pick.”

In addition to making appearances on Fox 8 News, the board gets people’s attention through multiple forms of media.

“We do every part of media that you can imagine, from TV to radio,” shared Lanier. “We take ads out of magazines that cover the south in Mississippi and Alabama. I also do billboards in Hattiesburg and Gulfport to hit the casino traffic.”

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival attracts tourists throughout the entire weekend.

“We aim for the daytrippers,” explained Lanier. “We pull a lot of people out of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. We also have full occupancy in all the hotels of the Ponchatoula and Hammond areas as we have people coming from over the world. They call us from England and everywhere. The New Orleans area attracts worldwide attention, so we try to get those people into town.”

The festival provides the main attraction through local farmers from around the area.

“We go to many parishes, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Livingston, as any farmers are welcome to bring their berries to sell,” stated Lanier. “We have farmers row right here

Vermilion Bay. Less than 50 miles away, students can also head to the Fontainebleau State Park. Grand Isle, the only inhabited barrier island in Louisiana, waits about 130 miles from Hammond.

Though Samuel Dupre, a senior informational technology major, thinks he will be too busy with class assignments, he would ideally like to find free time and go to a beach like Pensacola Beach.

“That’s where I would want to be,” stated Dupre.

“I want to be, probably not surfing, but playing in the water. That’s what I would like.”

For Betty Huffman, a senior English major, spring break means refreshment. She finds a beautiful outdoors environment to be an ideal destination as an escape from the library and other buildings on campus.

Aside from the beach, students can also go camping. The activity is offered at campgrounds like South Toledo Bend State Park and Palmetto Island State Park.

State parks can also be found in Louisiana from Chicot State Park in Evangeline Parish to Lake Bruin State Park, which is almost 170 miles from

on sixth street, and the farmers come and set up their berries and sell them, including foods such as delicious strawberry shortcakes.”

In order to make up for the costs of the festival, the board raises revenue strictly through the rides.

“Every bit of money the festival board gets is from the rides,” said Lanier. “All of our food booths are made up of nonprofits. We make a little bit off the booths, but it’s pretty much just to cover our insurance for the weekend because we have a pretty steep insurance premium to cover an accident.”

Gary Duplessis, a native of Springfield, shared why he loves taking part in the annual strawberry festival.

“I love helping with the nonprofit organizations and the community,” expressed Duplessis. “ I enjoy the music, sampling all the food and seeing the ideas that the people incorporate into the festival.”

Lanier urged for as many people and students to show support at the upcoming festival.

“We strive to have a good family-friendly atmosphere,” said Lanier. “You want to come and support your organizations and be active in the community, so in the future you can have people come and support you.

It’s all a big circle, and it helps keep the community strong.”

the university. Less than an hour from the university, the Tickfaw State Park is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and on Friday and Saturday, hours extend to 10 p.m.

According to Correira, spring break activities depend on who he is with.

“If you’re with your family, you got to spend good quality time with them,” explained Correira.

“If you’re with your friends, you got to spend quality time with them.”

John Travis, a freshman business administration major, looks forward to relaxation and getting away from school and work for spring break.

“It’s just gotta be a nice environment for a lot of people, for college students especially to be together,” shared Travis. “The beach would be great because everybody can go there, hang out and have fun. I think that’s a great place. Also, places that have great weather and beaches - normally, they have pretty great weather during spring break.”

Spring break is scheduled for April 19-26, and students can enjoy the break through traveling in the southern U.S.

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