The Lion's Roar 04/28/2020

Hammond, LA

April 28, 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

Know your leaders MAGGIE TREGRE Staff Reporter

The Student Government Association held an online election for students to vote for a new president, vice president and chief justice.

L’Oreal Williams was elected SGA President, Darnell Butler, Jr. was elected SGA Vice President and Madison Sunde was elected SGA Chief Justice.

Voting was held online from Monday, April 20 at 8 a.m. through Wednesday, April 22 at 4:30 p.m. The results were announced via Facebook and Instagram Live by Leah Cross, current SGA Chief Justice.

Williams, a junior business administration and marketing double-major, shared how her plans for SGA have changed to fit her new position.

“This year, I served as SGA Vice President, and I realized how much potential SGA has,” said Williams. “I have seen what it takes to run SGA, and I know what can be done to maintain the standards of the organization.

As SGA President, I would like to continue to advocate for the

student body and create changes that will enhance our experience at Southeastern.”

Williams explained how she plans to incorporate her campaign slogan, “A New Vision,” into her role.

“Students would like to see a change on Southeastern’s campus,” said Williams. “My slogan, ‘A New Vision,’ is to emphasize the new vision that I have for our campus.

My campaign theme has been centered around Disney’s sitcom, ‘That’s So Raven.’ Being that Raven was able to have visions and see into the future, I thought it would be a great fit with my slogan, ‘A New Vision.’”

As president, Williams hopes to make the student body more comfortable to express any concerns that they have.

“Transparency with the student body will be my primary focus,” shared Williams. “I feel that students should be a part of the decision-making process and not just a part of the outcome. One of my initiatives is ‘Outside of the Office Hours.’

Implementing this will allow students to communicate with

SGA President L’Oreal Williams the Big Three in a comfortable environment. Students should always feel comfortable talking with their representatives.”

Butler, a junior business administration major, recalled how he felt during the announcement of the election results.

“Leading up to the announcement of the elections I was very thrilled, but anxious,” mentioned Butler. “I had butterflies, although I knew I worked really hard during the campaign process. So, I was confident. As Leah proceeded with her announcement it only took the first syllable of my name for me to jump and shout all around my living room. I

SGA Vice-President Darnell Butler Jr.

had never been so happy. It is definitely one of my greatest accomplishments.”

Butler shared what he hopes to accomplish as SGA Vice President.

“The very first thing I hope to get accomplished is internal within SGA,” commented Butler. “I want to form strong relationships with the newly elected leaders and all SGA Administration. There is no doubt in my mind that if we get to know each other better and all get on one accord, we will do great things for the upcoming school year. I believe we are stronger together. Therefore, it is important that we form valuable relationships and

SGA Chief Justice Madison Sunde

work effectively alongside one another to provide the absolute best experience for the student body.”

Sunde, a sophomore english major, shared her initiatives for her new position.

“First, I want to accomplish my parking initiative, which would to be reward the student leaders of our campus by allowing them easier access to parking that is closer to buildings where they have meetings,” said Sunde. “I think that it is important we support the students who do so much for our campus.”

In addition to her goals for office, Sunde is looking forward to collaborating with the other executive officers.

“I am most looking forward to working with the new President and Vice President to empower our students and to create a really productive year,” said Sunde.

The new executive officers plan to start getting involved with the campus community this upcoming summer.

Williams mentioned that she is looking forward to making positive changes during her time as president.

“In this position, I am looking forward to working with the students and the administration of our university to create positive changes,” shared Williams. “I am excited and ready to work towards enhancing our college experience.”

University reduces costs for online summer semester CARTER MCCOMACK, SYMIAH DORSEY Staff Reporters

The university has launched a ‘Summer Online’ initiative with a reduced cost in response to the circumstances of the ongoing pandemic. This initiative will move all components of the following semester to online instruction.

The regular eight-week summer semester and the first four-week term will only include online classes. However, given that Term 2 does not begin until June 30, a decision on face-to-face classes will be made at a later date.

Kay Maurin, chief enrollment management officer, explained why the university has decided to continue with remote learning for the summer.

“Our motivation in moving to online classes for the regular summer term and term one was to ensure the good health and safety of our university community,” said Maurin. “We want students to be able to continue with a quality educational experience while still observing social distancing.”

Undergraduate courses are $325 or less per credit hour, with a reduced cost also being extended to graduate students. The university had also announced that all application fees throughout April would be waived for the summer and fall semesters.

Maurin shared why the university decided to waive application fees for incoming students.

“We did not want an application fee to deter

a student from pursuing their education during this time if they were experiencing a financial hardship,” explained Maurin. “The application fees were waived for the month of April for summer and fall applicants of any type, including transfer undergraduates or graduates and beginning freshmen.”

Maurin also shared why she believes students should take advantage of the online classes.

“The summer semester is a great opportunity for students to continue their studies and make degree progress at a very affordable cost,” explained Maurin. “All students, including graduate students now, receive a $300 summer smart scholarship. In previous summer semesters, online course offerings have been very popular for students.”

Although classes will continue online, summer terms differ from regular fall and spring semesters.

They progress at an accelerated pace and include the same amount of material in a regular semester, but in a condensed time frame.

Lauren Doughty, an instructor of history and political science who has taught in-person and online summer classes, elaborated on the situation.

“In any summer class, whether online or inperson, the students are expected to have a certain level of self-motivation because of the rapidity of the term,” said Doughty.

Doughty also shared her thoughts on the approach she has had to take in order to make a seamless change.

The university has made changes to the summer semester to adapt to the circumstances of COVID-19. With online summer classes being provided at a reduced cost, the university encourages students to take advantage of these resources. Symiah Dorsey/The Lion’s Roar

“When the transition came, I was able to move my lectures online with only a few technological bumps,” said Doughty. “The plus for me was that I already had my classes completing online reading quizzes and discussion boards, so our move online wasn’t as traumatic as completely learning a new format.”

Doughty gave advice for students preparing to

take the online summer classes.

“My best advice to any student taking summer classes is to be prepared, both mentally and physically,” said Doughty. “The last piece of advice is to communicate with your professor. We need to hear from our students, whether it’s about questions on the material covered or just checking in. We can’t fix problems unless we know about them.”

Louisiana COVID-19 numbers grim but improving

BRIYANA ANDERSON Staff Reporter

As of April 27, the number of worldwide COVID-19 cases is 3 million with over 200,000 deaths. In the United States alone, there are 1 million cases and over 56,000 deaths reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Louisiana, over 27,000 cases were reported with over 1,600 deaths.

On Tuesday, April 14, Governor John Bel Edwards commented on the largest spike of deaths in Louisiana from that day.

“Today’s death count is the largest we have reported in a

single day since this COVID-19 outbreak started, and it brings the number of Louisianans we have lost to more than 1,000,” said Edwards. “That’s 1,013 people who are someone’s mother, father, sister, or brother or child or aunt or uncle. They are our neighbors, friends and coworkers. They are more than just a number on a report or graph, and as our fellow Louisianans, we all grieve alongside their families.”

56.25% of COVID-19 deaths in Louisiana are from African Americans, with white residents following along at 34.34%.

The most common underlying conditions are hypertension,

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diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

The age group with the most cases in Louisiana is between 50-59, with 4,845 cases and 131 deaths. The 70 and over group had the most deaths with 850, but with 4,323 cases.

On April 6, a one-day-old baby died following complications of coronavirus in East Baton Rouge Parish.

A total of 1,701 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized, and 265 patients require ventilation in Louisiana.

201 adult residential facilities in Louisiana, including nursing homes, have COVID-19 cases.

Over 2,000 cases have been reported with a total of 403 deaths of residents in those facilities.

On Monday April 27, Orleans parish reported no COVID-19 deaths for the first time in 37 days.

On April 17, President Trump announced new guidelines to open the country. The plan is split up into three phases.

Phase one would be to open up gyms, theatres and restaurants with strict social distancing guidelines. Phase two would allow schools and bars to open up with limited occupancy. Phase two would also allow nonessential travel. Lastly, phase three would have all stay at home orders lifted,

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with social distancing still being practiced in public. Employers and employees would be able to return to work.

In a press conference on April 20, Gov. Edwards issued an order on non-emergency medical procedures that were presumed on April 27, including dental visits, medical visits and surgeries.

Facilities would have to have strict guidelines to be able to see patients, including firm social distancing rules and possible testing for coronavirus symptoms in the facilities.

The governor hopes that Louisiana will meet re-opening requirements soon.

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Govenor extends stay-at-home order DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the stay-at-home order until May 15.

Under the extended order, businesses that were previously ordered to stay close will remain closed.

However, Edwards stated that additional guidelines will be added.

These guidelines will allow restaurants to open outside seating without table service

see ORDER, pg. 2 Volume 91, Issue 28 A Student Publication www.lionsroarnews.com lionsroar@southeastern.edu

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The Lionʼs Roar | CAMPUS LIFE

Edwards extends Louisiana lockdown until May 15 ORDER

continued from pg. 1 and malls to operate curbside retail.

Employees of businesses deemed essential will also be required to wear face coverings at all times.

Edwards had hoped that Louisiana would have been prepared to reopen after April 30. However, he stated that the state does not meet the federal guidelines laid out by the White House.

“We looked at the data and used the opening plan from the White House as guidance and used the science,” said Edwards. “My hope was taking bigger steps toward reopening but the fact is, we just don’t meet the criteria.”

According to Edwards,

Louisiana does not have consistent decreases in new cases or hospitalizations, which is critical for phase one of the reopening process.

“Every doctor and scientist that is advising me agreed that we need to be extremely cautious moving forward,” stated Edwards.

“The decision to extend the date of the stay-at-home order is based on the data that we have, based upon science and the White House guidance for the phased reopening for states.”

As of April 27, Louisiana is sixth in terms of total number of cases per capita.

“Some may be looking at other states in our region and looking at what they are doing and wondering why we cannot match

our schedule with theirs, but the reality is, the disease has spread at a rate and in numbers that far exceed those of our neighbors,” said Edwards.

In regards to reopening the economy, Edwards believes that the state needs to be smart to avoid a second wave.

Edwards hopes that the extension of the stay-at-home order will allow Louisiana to meet the criteria for phase one of reopening

by May 15. An announcement will be made on May 11 regarding that decision.

“By taking the stay-at-home order seriously, we are well on our way to entering the next phase of reopening,” said Edwards. “I hope Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards gives an update on the presence of coronavirus in the state of Louisiana during a one that everyone will use this time to of his many press conferences. On Monday, April 27 Edwards announced he was extinding the state’s stay-at-home order adjust to our new normal.” through May 15 in an effrot to ensure a safer reopening of normal daily life. HILARY SCHEINUK/THE ADVOCATE VIA AP

Changes in grad school recruitment University Counseling Center now provides coping resources virtually JOSH ARCHOTE STAFF REPORTER

The closure of campus and transition to online classes has led the Department of Communication and Media Studies to rethink its grad school recruitment strategy for students looking to enroll in the summer or fall of 2020.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, virtual graduate school recruitment for the department’s Masters in Organizational Communication program will take place exclusively through its social media platforms.

Elizabeth Hornsby, the graduate coordinator for the program, explained that the recruitment efforts will take place in the form of a targeted social media campaign beginning after spring break.

“The recruitment campaign will feature brief informative social media posts to help guide potential applicants through the admissions process, answer frequently asked questions and highlight interesting program events and opportunities,” said Hornsby. “The goal is to spark interest and start a conversation with potential applicants about the program and the admissions process.”

Despite the forced transition to online classes, the department was already in the process of changing its master’s degree to a completely online program.

James O’Connor, department head of communication and media studies, explained that the transition to online recruitment was an inevitability even before campus closed.

“It’s different, but it’s the way it has to be done because if we’re basically designing a program that’s a master’s degree that can be achieved virtually, then we have to be able to transition to virtual recruitment,” said O’Connor. “What’s going on is really this pandemic is forcing our hand to go virtual with recruitment.”

O’Connor went on to explain that the application process itself will not be much different from previous semesters.

“Honestly, for the master’s degree, it’s not gonna be that much different,” explained O’Connor.

“Because a lot of recruitment is done via inquiries; people will look at the website, they’re looking around for a master’s degree, and they’ll inquire.

They will reach out to our graduate coordinator or myself via email, and then they’ll follow up by telephone call.”

Given the unusual circumstances, Hornsby explained some challenges that may lie ahead for the department’s plan.

“Right now, people are experiencing digital information overload,” said Hornsby. “With that in mind, a big challenge will be streamlining the information and presenting it clearly and concisely and disseminating it in the most strategic and effective way.”

Hornsby commented on what information students interested in the program need to provide in their application after they have inquired.

“Official transcripts, proof of immunization,

see COMM DEPARTMENT, pg. 3

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ELANA GUILLORY STAFF REPORTER

The University Counseling Center now provides support groups for faculty and students virtually.

Groups like RA Support Group and Here and Queer are among nine support groups that the university offers. To combat COVID-19 related stress, the UCC now offers two new groups. LION UP Recovery, established for those recovering from addictions, has also been moved online.

Assistant Director of Programming and Outreach at the UCC Annette Newton described the foundation of a support group session.

“The support groups are

structured according to the topic of the support group,” said Newton. “Support groups lean heavily on participants offering shared experiences, thoughts and feelings with each other.”

According to the UCC’s website, virtual sessions follow “popcorn” and “pass the stick” routines. Audio and visual presence is encouraged, as well as attending pre-meetings and postmeetings to build relationships with other group members.

A new group was developed to help people adjust to life during the pandemic. Grieving the Old Normal - Adjusting to Life During COVID-19 is led by two interns and allows participants to openly grieve their lack of social interactions during quarantine.

“We will discuss common

myths, different types of grief during social distancing, cultural differences, ways to cope and how to apply these things with family and friends,” according to the university website. “We hope to take the mystery out of this experience that we all share and give you ideas on how to help yourself and others move forward while staying home.”

Sessions are scheduled Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

Social Distancing and Your Relationship With Food is another new support group targeting unhealthy eating choices as a result of quarantine.

Sessions are scheduled biweekly on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and Friday at 3 p.m.

see UCC, pg. 3

Opinions | The Lion’s Roar

April 28, 2020 | Page 3

Decision to shave or not to shave Among the nonessential businesses that have closed due to the coronavirus outbreak are barber shops, which has led many guys with an important decision to make: should Josh Archote I trust my Staff Reporter amateur skills and attempt to cut my own hair, should I just let it grow out or shave my head?

Whether it be out of pure curiosity, boredom or an unwillingness to deal with long hair, recent shutdowns have caused many guys to shave their heads, including myself.

Personally, my reasoning was simple: there is no way I can give myself a regular haircut without messing it up, and I’m not going to see any of my friends for a while, so why not just shave it all off. I also knew that I was inevitably going to get tired of growing my hair out and attempt to cut it myself, so I figured why

not get it out of the way.

This also is not the first time I have shaved my head, so part of my reasoning was to relive my previous experience, which, besides the unwanted nicknames, was positive.

Seeing a lot of my friends share pictures of their freshly shaved heads has made for a funny collection of images. Dominic Marino, freshman management major, explained why he decided to let his sister shave his head.

“I wanted to shave my head mostly because I was bored being trapped in my house,” said Marino. “I saw other guys I knew starting to do it so I thought ‘Why not?’ I am just going to let it grow, and when the barber shops reopen, I’ll go back and get my regular haircut.”

Dominic and I agreed that, for guys, letting your hair grow out is more of a burden than having an egg-head for a couple of months.

“I just felt like letting it grow out at some point, it would be a pain because my hair would get

so shaggy and messy, so I thought the sooner I cut it the sooner it would grow back,” shared Marino.

Parker Costanza, freshman management major, explained why he decided to shave his head.

“I neglected to get a haircut most of February, and this lockdown came into effect suddenly in March,” said Costanza. “Therefore, I was stuck at home without a fresh cut.

Eventually my mom grabbed the clippers and pressured me into it.”

Given that everyone is isolated right now, the shutdowns offer an opportunity to try something new without becoming self-conscious in public.

If you need a haircut and want to go the safe route, giving yourself a buzzcut is pretty difficult to mess up. It feels great, and who knows, some guys may like their new cut and never go back to their old one.

As B.J. Martino remarked on Twitter, “In the land of no barbers, the bald man is king.”

Lojuanda Weary/The Lion’s Roar

Online class is not my cup of tea Ever since all face-to-face classes have been cancelled and school has become 100% virtual, everything has changed for me.

I used to set my alarm for 7 a.m. to make sure I got Daniel McClain to school on Staff Reporter time, but now that classes are online, I tend to sleep till noon and start my day there. My sleep schedule is completely ruined.

I stay up late and wake up even later. Half the day is gone and I will wake up telling everyone ‘good morning’ when it is 2 p.m.

Some teachers will give you a day to complete a test while others make you take the test at the normal time you attend the class.

That really messes with my sleep.

I can sleep in late for three days, and then boom, wake up at 7:30 to get ready for a test at 8:00. I am not even fully human that early in the morning.

Classes have not been completely absurd though. Many teachers have cut no slack to this new change, and the Dean has been informed many times, but my teachers have been making this transition as smooth as possible for us. Even though they have all done their best

trying to help my class out, just transitioning itself is hard. Having to take responsibility for waking up in the morning and completing all the work in the allotted time at free will definitely has its downsides.

Procrastination is now an enormous factor of getting school work done. Online school has the perk of being able to push work back, but then it all piles up and is due on the same day - it can get nerve-wracking. I know I can get really lazy at times, so I try even harder to hold myself accountable now more than ever. So far I have been completing my work on time, but there have been a few times when I woke up late and missed a test. Luckily, I was able to make it up. Having to make sure the computer you use has all the formats for lockdown quizzes or other assignments is another downside.

I have a Chromebook, and not everything works on my laptop, so I have to go to campus and borrow one at times so I can take my test. This was really a struggle when I had my first history test online. Respondus LockDown Browser could not be accessed on a Chromebook and I had no clue what to do. I emailed my teacher and was allowed another chance to take the test but still could not

Speak

Out What did you do during your quarantined spring break?

“I had a social distancing parking garage dance party with my friends.”

- @ally.holloway

“Just played some video games with my friends.”

- @garrison.calmer

understand what was going on and why I could not take the test.

I was finally able to take the test when I borrowed a computer from campus.

This transition has been really stressful and really eye-opening on how much face-to-face classes are extremely valuable and underappreciated. Although technology is evolving so rapidly, students have to learn to evolve as well. That is the hardest part of online school: having to evolve and adapt. I’m not used to waking up and doing all my school work in my pajamas while lying in bed.

Symiah Dorsey/The Lion’s Roar

“I used massive amounts of toilet paper. Reason: top-secret information.”

-@austin.noel.1

I realized how caved up I was when I would wake up, start my “I worked on a portfolio summary and passport files.” school work and come out of my - @mellissa0320 room to dinner being ready.

“Developed a software to search for COVID-19 impact by I would spend all my time on my laptop doing schoolwork after places.” waking up at noon, then finally - @iamprashantbasnet leave the room at around five or six.

Online classes are very “Go to the park and exercise.” strenuous to get used to, and they - @joshuabayona are definitely not my first choice of learning, but I have to play the “I had a Netflix binge.”

- @phoenix_gundam hand I was dealt. I have to change my old habits to new ones to get through this hard time just like the “I binge-watched The Flash.”

- @aboutkarah rest of the university.

Stay informed on sexually transmitted infections and diseases Kayla Noll Wellness Coordinator, University Health Center Gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia are the top three sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among college campuses. Nearly 50% of the 20 million new STIs diagnosed each year are found in between the ages of 15 to 24 years old, largely composed of college students.

Some STIs can be treated while others cannot, so it is imperative to get tested to know your status. The frequency that you should be tested is determined by your number of partners, if you’ve had a new partner, if you’re using protection and if you are experiencing any symptoms, although most STIs do not show symptoms. It is important to discuss this with your doctor to determine how often you should be tested for STIs. As stated before, many STIs have no signs or symptoms in the UCC

continued from pg. 2 Refuge Recovery, Here and Queer, and Social Distancing and Your Relationship with Food are also scheduled twice a week, while other groups may occur once a week or every other week.

Newton feels that receiving support from people that are experiencing similar issues offers a beneficial element to the healing

majority of people infected, or they have mild signs and symptoms that can be easily overlooked. Some healthcare providers include STI testing at annual checkups. With some doctors, you may have to ask for STI testing. The cost may vary depending on where you went and your insurance status. Luckily, at the University Health Center, you can make an appointment online to get screened and discuss any issues. At the UHC, we screen for gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV. The gonorrhea/chlamydia test consists of a urine specimen that is shipped off to a state lab and the results are sent back to the UHC within 7-14 days. The HIV test is a finger prick done in-house at the UHC and the results get back to the student within 15 minutes. The price to get tested for all three STIs is $20, and if you only want to be tested for gonorrhea/chlamydia or HIV, the cost is $10.

Some ways to help protect your sexual health include using

process.

“We are super excited about the response thus far to our support groups,” said Newton.

“I really like the idea of the accessibility support groups offer. There is something very curative about a shared process. Sometimes, there is no better support than from each other.”

Because people can feel uncomfortable in group settings, Newton listed teletherapy as an alternative option for those searching to

improve their mental health.

“Not everyone is comfortable with support groups, so there are some people who may seek out our tele mental health counseling during this time,” addressed Newton.

“Support groups are an excellent supplement to counseling or for those seeking shared experience support group topics.”

To enter a support group, people can fill out the Support Group Google Form on the UCC’s Group page.

dental dams, female condoms, male condoms and a birth control method. Hormonal birth control, such as the pill, can help with any menstrual pain, heavy flow and help to prevent pregnancy, but is not 100% effective. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider before starting any type of hormonal birth control. It is important to understand that hormonal birth control does not protect anyone from contracting STIs. In addition, condoms may not prevent STIs that are spread by skin-to-skin contact. It is important to use these methods correctly and get tested annually.

In addition, you should have a conversation with your partner regarding their STI status and what methods will be used to protect the sexual health of all who are involved. We understand getting tested may be scary, but it is worse to not get tested, risk prolonging treatment and spreading the STI(s) to others.

COMM DEPARTMENT

continued from pg. 2

and GRE scores,” said Hornsby.

“However, given the circumstances concerning COVID-19, it might not be feasible to take the GRE right now. If that is the case, potential applicants would need to contact me to discuss how to move

forward. The university is waiving application fees for the month of April, so it is a great time to apply and save a little money!”

As the university continues to make adjustments, the communication department has adapted to the changes brought on by the pandemic by transitioning graduate school recruitment into an online format.

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The Lion’s Roar | Arts & Entertainment

Oil prices crash to historic lows amidst lockdown

A Circle K gas station off of I-12 in Baton Rouge displays its gas prices. Gas stations around the country post prices under 2 dollars as the price of crude oil reaches historic lows. Dylan Meche/The Lion’s Roar DYLAN MECHE

April 20 is $1.666 a gallon, which has fallen nearly 20 cents from March’s average of $1.949 a gallon.

Jay Johnson, assistant dean for the college of business and U.S. oil prices plunged to a historic low of below 0 dollars a barrel, associate professor of economics, explained that the decline was causing gas prices around the country to continue their sharp decline. caused by two main factors.

According to AAA’s website, Louisiana’s average gas price as of “As people have quarantined by the stay-at-home order, gasoline Staff Reporter

consumption has fallen by at least 20 percent and probably more,” said Johnson. “At the same time as the decline in demand, the Russian and Saudi Arabian national oil companies announced they could not agree on production cuts, so the supply and inventory of crude oil continued to increase and crude oil prices fell to under $25 per barrel.”

Johnson explained that gas prices are directly tied to crude oil prices and that the decrease in demand and increase in supply put downward pressure on crude oil prices.

Along with the decrease in demand due to stay-at-home orders around the country, Russia and Saudi Arabia are currently engaged in a price war over oil.

Thomas Meyer, associate professor of finance, elaborated on the situation between the two countries and how it has contributed to the fall of gas prices.

“The Russians and the Saudis have decided to play a game of chicken, or in other words, ‘who blinks first,’” explained Meyer.

“Both countries have decided that they have enough oil-generated reserves to outlast a price war based on lowering prices and increasing output.”

The price war between the two countries started shortly before several governors in the US issued stay-at-home orders. Johnson explained that this price war caused the two countries to continue production, despite the decrease of demand.

“Normally when there is a significant decline in demand putting downward pressure on prices, the producers all over the world would begin to decrease production or supply in order to maintain prices,” stated Johnson. “However, Saudi Arabia leads a cartel of national oil-producing countries called OPEC and Russia leads another coalition of oil-producing states, and these groups of oil producers did not have a plan in place as the decline in oil demand came so rapidly.”

Despite being good for the consumer, low gas prices significantly damage the economy. Rusty Juban, professor of business, explained how this especially affects economies like Louisiana’s, which depends on high gas prices.

“As the tax on oil is based on the sale price, the lower the sale price, the lower the tax revenue that is generated,” said Juban.

“Louisiana will lose hundreds of millions from the taxes on oil and its refinement into gasoline.”

Meyer further elaborated that low gas prices could negatively affect oil workers, energy companies and other businesses.

“They are bad for oil-worker jobs,” explained Meyer. “Energy companies, especially high-cost producers, end up going bankrupt.

see GAS PRICES, pg. 5

Chinese 101 to be offered in the 2020 fall semester

JORDYN FRANKLIN Staff Reporter

During the upcoming fall semester, the university will offer Elementary Mandarin Chinese 101 for the first time.

Chinese 101 is the first of two sequential courses that are designed to provide an overall proficiency in the language. Chinese 102 will be offered at a future date.

Lucia Harrison, head of the department of world languages and cultures, explained why the department decided to add the new program.

“Chinese is spoken by nearly one-fifth of the world’s population, including over one billion people speaking Chinese as their native language,” shared Harrison. “Adding Chinese to our foreign language offering will not only expose our students to one of the world’s

most ancient civilizations, but will allow them opportunities to participate in the global sociopolitical and economic future of our society.”

Harrison mentioned that several students expressed interest in learning the language and that they approached her about the addition of Mandarin Chinese courses.

Kiara Johnson, sophomore world languages major, will be taking the class. She shared her motives for wanting to learn Mandarin Chinese.

“Not much other than the fact that is something I want to learn,” said Johnson. “I just have a passion for learning languages in general. I started off with Romance languages, but I found myself very intrigued by other Asian languages.”

While she has been teaching herself for a long time, Johnson expressed excitement for finally being able to learn the language in a

classroom setting.

“I thought I was going to have to teach myself, you know, forever, and then they decided to implement this,” expressed Johnson. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is so perfect.’ You can teach yourself, but having someone who speaks it and will speak it to you and practicing with other people—I think that’s the most important thing for language in general.”

Johnson emphasized that Mandarin Chinese is a useful language to know. She encouraged anyone who is interested in the class to take it.

“I feel like a lot of people think that it’s more useful to know Spanish or French, but the world is bigger than Louisiana,” said Johnson. “On top of that, there’s more people who speak Mandarin than you think. You need to know how to speak this language. People just feel like it’s not important, but it’s definitely very important.”

Johnson gave advice for those who are apprehensive about learning Mandarin Chinese due to its perceived difficulty.

“Anyone can learn a language, no matter what language it is,” said Johnson. “I thought the same thing before I started learning it.

It’s not ‘Oh, this is a hard language.’ It’s ‘Am I willing to put in the work? Am I willing to practice it outside of the classroom?’”

The department will also be offering Chinese 314 - Chinese Culture and Civilization. It will provide a survey of the geography, history, literature, art, music, educational system and economy of the Chinese people. Chinese 314 also fulfills the requirement of a humanities elective, which is compulsory in many majors.

To enroll in either course, students can go to LEONet and add it to their enrollment shopping cart.

Ring Ceremony date still not set in stone JORDYN FRANKLIN Staff Reporter

The Southeastern Ring is a symbolic item that represents a student’s four or more years of hard work.

Due to the university’s closure, however, graduating seniors and family members may be concerned about the Ring Ceremony and how it will be held.

Michelle Biggs, executive director of alumni relations, explained that the administration is still determining a way to conduct the ceremony.

“We are currently looking at several options for our Ring Ceremony,” said Biggs.

“Whether that will be a virtual ceremony or special recognition of and communications to our ring recipients is undetermined at this point.”

Biggs emphasized that, at this point, things are changing daily.

However, the Alumni Association has partnered with Balfour to ship class rings directly to the students at no extra cost.

“We are working with our ring provider, Balfour, to ship the rings directly to the students,” explained Biggs. “We want them to have the rings as soon as

Tangipahoa Animal Shelter adjusts to lockdown lifestyle TRINITY BROWN Staff Reporter

The animals at the Tangipahoa Parish Animal Services are also experiencing the cons of being on lockdown.

Just like every other business, the local shelter has reevaluated its protocol and everyday routine due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Changes have been made outside of the shelter in reference to employees’ health and trying to stay within the guidelines of social distancing.

Charles “Chip” Fitz, director of TPAS, says the entire staff is currently still working their normal shifts, but are limiting any outside runs.

“The staff is still mainly coming in as normal, we just have limited our other services to emergency services only,” said Fitz. “Like if a human gets bitten by a vicious animal, we may go out for that, but we are not working every day strays.”

Fitz explained how he wanted to keep the schedule as normal as possible and how everything

has fallen into place so far.

“It’s going pretty good,” said Fitz. “We wanted to stay on task because we do not like putting animals’ health on hold, of course. We are just taking it all day by day as normal as we can. We have our regular feeding routine, regular cleaning routine, so not much has changed.”

However, the shelter has restricted all normal drop-in adoptions and made Monday, April 20, the only designated day that people can adopt.

In order to adopt, customers had to call the shelter the day before or early that Monday morning and schedule an appointment for a specific time. The appointment was set to view and choose the animal if they found one to their liking, and the process with paperwork proceeded as normal.

The shelter has also suspended all volunteer programs until further notice.

Anyone seeking more information or updates on the shelter can visit their website or call the center at 985-543-0215 during their normal business hours.

possible, so they can wear them with pride and celebrate all their accomplishments.”

The class rings will be insured and shipped via USPS, and a signature will be required upon delivery. To receive their ring, all a student has to do is confirm their shipping address.

Biggs mentioned that one resource that has proven to be successful is Southeastern

Connect, a networking and mentoring platform meant only for the university’s alumni.

“I encourage our graduating seniors to join the platform at southeasternconnect.org and to reach out to alumni in their field of interest for career advice and assistance in their job search,” said Biggs.

Over a thousand alumni are on the platform, and Biggs

shared that they are eager to mentor or provide guidance to students. She encouraged graduating seniors to take advantage of the opportunity.

While the Ring Ceremony’s status is currently unknown, the Alumni Office is still developing ways to virtually connect with alumni and provide ways for them to connect with one another.

Sports| The Lion’s Roar

April 28, 2020 | Page 5

REC Sports and Wellness turns to esports

The REC launched its first-ever esports season in the spring semester of 2019. The idea came about due to students having no way to compete against each other without having to interact in person.

Jason Templet, assistant director of competitive sports and fitness services, shared how the esports season is run.

“The esports tournament is run by myself and a third party called Mission Control,” shared Templet.

Templet explained which video games were offered for this season.

“We offered several different video games: Madden 20, NBA 2K20, NHL 20, FIFA 20, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart and Call of Duty,” commented Templet. “This season, the most popular game was Call of Duty.”

With it being the second season for esports, Templet talked about how the numbers of Southeastern players surprised him.

“We had over 70 SLU students sign up to play in the leagues and 308 participants across 13 Louisiana colleges,” shared Templet. “That’s very good numbers considering Southeastern made up a majority of the participants.”

Templet shared the benefits of esports and how it still lets players compete against each other.

“With everyone practicing social distancing and staying safe, having these leagues is a great way to stay competitive and make new friends that share similar interests,” commented Templet.

Templet explained how in 2019, he and two other faculty The most popular game for the 2020 esports season was Call of Duty, a cross platform war-like video game. Of the 308 participants in the state of Louisiana 70 are members came together to try and spark the growth of esports students at Southeastern. The second most popular game this season was RocketLeague. Gerard Borne/The Lion’s Roar at the university for students who take interest in video gaming.

“The REC is trying to grow in the eSports community so Seth, Jean and myself thought it would be a great idea to organize GERARD BORNE With the intramural spring sports seasons being cancelled, some leagues,” said Templet. “We thought it would be a great Staff Reporter Recreational Sports and Wellness turned to a new type of way to kick start esports at Southeastern.” competition for university students. oil companies reach a deal to end the price war, Johnson believes that the continued from pg. 4 price of crude oil will not increase until finance and transportation sectors.” the pandemic ends.

Even if Russian and Saudi Arabian “In all likelihood, they will reach GAS PRICES

some agreement to reduce production, which will boost prices,” said Johnson.

“Regardless, the biggest problem the oil-producing countries and companies face is the decline in demand. That will

not reverse itself until this pandemic is over and demand for fuels to travel and transport goods and services begins to return.”

During a weekly Coronavirus Task

Force press conference on April 20, President Donald Trump stated that the United States is considering buying the surplus of oil to decrease the supply in global circulation.

Lady Lions add five to 2020-21 women’s basketball HAMMOND, La. – Five student-athletes have made the decision to continue their academic and athletic endeavors as members of the Southeastern Louisiana women’s basketball program, SLU head coach Ayla Guzzardo announced on Thursday.

The five newcomers all come to Hammond with two years of eligibility remaining.

The quintet includes three backcourt additions in Chrissy Brown (5-9/Guard/Lafayette, Louisiana/Neosho CC/Carencro HS), Cierria Cunningham (5-7/ Guard/Tuscaloosa, Alabama/ Shelton State CC/Hillcrest HS)

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) The Lamb is usually excited about taking on a new challenge. But if that’s a touch of doubt you’re feeling, maybe it’s you telling yourself to go slow on this until you learn more about it.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Accepting new commitments when you haven’t yet finished the batch on hand could be a bit rash. Better to ease up on the new ones until you get further along with your current lot.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Try to be more open-minded in working toward a resolution of that standoff between yourself and a colleague or family member. A little flexibility now could work to your advantage later.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Some people might be anxious about your plans. So you need to take time to explain what you expect to do and how you expect do it. And don’t forget to ask for suggestions.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Dealing with an unfamiliar problem can be difficult. The wisest course you can take is to ask for advice from those who have been where you are and have come through it. Good luck.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Tackle a frustrating job problem by considering possibilities you might have ignored before. This reassures colleagues you’re serious about finding a solution, even if it’s not totally yours.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your balanced approach to life

and Bryana Langford (5-9/ Guard/Baton Rouge, Louisiana/ Jones College/Zachary HS).

Fortifying the post will be additions Kacey Bradford (6-2/ Forward/Jackson, Mississippi/ Jones College/Murrah HS) and Natalie Kelly (6-3/Forward/ Albany, La./Auburn/Albany HS).

Southeastern went into the signing period needing to replace five seniors from the 2019-20 roster that ended the program’s eight-year postseason drought.

Guzzardo and her staff knew that finding experienced players to help fill that void was vital to continuing SLU’s positive proves to be helpful this week when someone you care for needs your spiritual comfort, while someone else benefits from your tough-love practicality.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Once again, you’re likely to be asked to keep a secret for someone. But do you really want to do so? Be honest with yourself and with your needs before you make any such commitment.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Taking a more direct approach from the more diplomatic one you’ve used before could make a difference in finally resolving a toolong-held disagreement. Try it.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Being asked for advice is flattering to the Sea Goat, who has a habit of saying the right thing.

This time, expect someone to be especially impressed and to act on that sentiment.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) With a number of pressures easing, your project could be making a lot more progress than you expected by this time. That’s great news. But don’t let yourself be distracted; stay with it.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) An interesting challenge looms that could be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Discuss this with colleagues who could have much to contribute and who might want to join with you.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your heart is always open to offer loving concern for others. And they, in turn, reach out to complete the circle. (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

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momentum.

“This is by far the most experienced signing class we have brought in,” Guzzardo commented. “With four players coming from the junior college ranks and an SEC transfer, we expect this group to make an immediate impact in the upcoming season.”

Southeastern will open the 2020-21 season in early November.

2020-21 Southeastern Louisiana Women’s Basketball Signing ClassKacey Bradford – 6-2 – F – Jackson, Miss. – Jones College/Murrah HS Chrissy Brown – 5-9 – G – Lafayette, La. – Neosho CC/ Carencro HS Cierria Cunningham – 5-7 – G – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Shelton State CC/Hillcrest HS Natalie Kelly – 6-3 – F – Albany, La. – Auburn/Albany HS Bryana Langford – 5-9 – G – Baton Rouge, La. – Jones College/Zachary HS Kacey Bradford – 6-2 – F –

Jackson, Miss. – Jones College/ Murrah HS Saw action in 38 games in her two seasons at Jones College … Displayed efficient offensive production during two seasons with Bobcats, shooting 52 percent from the field …

Averaged 11.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game her senior year at Murrah High School, helping team to state runnerup finish … Was part of MHS state championship squad as a sophomore.

Southeastern Louisiana Head Coach Ayla Guzzardo on Bradford: “Kacey is a proven winner and a dominant force in the paint. Her low post presence will expand our game and we expect her to be a weapon as a finisher in transition.”

Chrissy Brown – 5-9 – G – Lafayette, La. – Neosho CC/ Carencro HS Earned first team All-KJCCC honors after averaging 16.8 points, 9.8 points and 5.1 assists per game, leading Neosho Community College in all three

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categories … Averaged 11.3 points per game as a freshman … Two-time All-State performer at Carencro High School.

Guzzardo on Brown: “Chrissy is going to shine right away. She’s a two-way player who can score in multiple ways and is a lockdown defender. Her mental toughness really stood out during the recruiting process and that characteristic itself will make her a valued addition to our program.”

Cierria Cunningham – 5-7 – G – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Shelton State CC/Hillcrest HS Helped Shelton State Community College to consecutive Alabama Community College Conference championships during her two seasons … Shares the same junior college as head coach Ayla Guzzardo, who started her collegiate playing career with the Bucs … Averaged 9.9 points and 4.1 assists per game as a sophomore, helping team to 29-2 record … Was team’s leading scorer off the bench as

a freshman … Multi-time allstate performer at Hillcrest High School.

Guzzardo on Cunningham: “It was fun for me to recruit CiCi, because she played at my old school. Her basketball IQ as a point guard stands out, as does her ability to score at all three levels.”

Natalie Kelly – 6-3 – F – Albany, La. – Auburn/Albany HS Played in 28 games in two seasons at Auburn … Ranked the No. 38 post player in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz out of Albany High School … Multi-time allstate, all-metro, all-district and all-parish performer for the Lady Hornets … Helped team to state championship game as a junior and semifinal appearance as a senior … Averaged 17.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.3 steals as a senior … Set AHS single-season school record with 379 rebounds as a junior … Both father, Jerry (1980-83) and mother, Dandra (1980-81) played basketball at SLU.

SponSoring

Page 6 | April 28, 2020

The Lion’s Roar | News

Mentors start social media photo contest JOSH ARCHOTE Staff Reporter

Project P.U.L.L., a mentoring program aimed to enhance the educational experience of first-year students of color, has started a photo contest on their Instagram page @ProjectPull.

The photo contest, Project Takeover, was created after the Project P.U.L.L. leadership team decided to help alleviate stress accompanied with the transition to online classes. All students are welcome to participate in the photo contest.

Project P.U.L.L.’s coordinator, Sh-Laya Coleman, commented on why Project Takeover was created.

“The leadership team decided to start Project Takeover because we saw that students were getting discouraged with the online transition,” said Coleman. “Just based off of our virtual meetings with our mentees, it became evident that they missed the social lifestyle of being on a college campus.”

Coleman shared her hope that the contest would help compensate for the shortened in-person semester.

“With Project Takeover, being able to recreate those experiences and moments or even creating new memories could help alleviate that feeling of missing out on the ‘college experience,’” said Coleman.

Throughout the month of April, Project P.U.L.L has posted the photo

theme and guidelines for each day. Some photo topics encourage students everyday life. We encourage our mentees and mentors to engage with us to post a family photo, old pictures of them on campus or even screenshots to not only keep them from being discouraged, but also to show them we are here for them.” of motivational quotes that keep them inspired.

Students can participate by posting a photo corresponding to the given day’s theme and by tagging @sluprojectpull and #ProjectTakeover.

Coleman commented on why it is important for students to stay This Week’s Puzzle AnsWers involved virtually in times such as these.

“Staying involved in these types of activities serves as a reminder that school is still in session and students of all classifications can relate to our new daily struggles,” said Coleman.

The shift to online classes and closure of campus has left many student organizations trying to find ways to stay connected with its members.

Coleman shared how Project P.U.L.L has stayed connected with its mentees while promoting student leadership.

“Although this pandemic has altered our everyday living, we still host our weekly membership meetings virtually,” shared Coleman.

“Last week, our mentees were able to put on a presentation via Google Hangouts Meet entitled ‘Relaxing Remotely,’ which has helped shape them to be leaders and learn how to put on a productive meeting.”

Coleman shared a final thought on how students can stay mentally healthy during the quarantine.

“We advise our mentees and mentors to relax,” said Coleman.

“Although every day may not be a good day, there is something good in