MAY 10, 2016 VOLUME 87, ISSUE 28
’ THE LION S ROAR S O U T H E A S T E R N L O U I S IA NA U N I V E R S I T Y
A Student Publication
Campus Life Page 2
Opinions Page 3
Arts & Entertainment Page 4
Sports Page 6
News Page 8
LionsRoarNews.com
Future teachers of Panama graduate program at SLU BY LARSHELL GREEN Staff Reporter
The Lion’s Roar / File Photo
Graduating seniors choose the decoration for their caps with creativity and a lot of thought about their degree and future plans.
Graduation caps reveal personalities BY MORGAN LEDET Staff Reporter
As Spring Commencement approaches, graduates are preparing to walk across the stage, but not before they decorate their caps. If you have ever seen a college graduation, some students like to decorate their caps accordingly. For example, one senior decided to put her future plans on her cap. “I wanted to decorate my cap to make my graduation more personal and to stand out from others during graduation,” said education major Gabrielle Ponthieux. “I decided to put a Mickey because I have always loved Disney and am participating in the Disney College Program after I graduate. I added an apple in his ear because I am an early childhood education major.” According to the university website, any excessive decorations on gowns or mortarboards are distracting and therefore inappropriate. This has never stopped students in the past. Some examples at past commencements have been “May the work force be with you,” “Hire me,” “She believed she could so she did,” “About time,” “#Murse,” “Finally,” “Just did it,” “Can I take a nap now” and “I know I wined a lot, but I did it.” These are just a few of the many quotes. There have also been more quotes, bible verses, sorority letters, stickers, designs made out of ribbons and rhinestones, bows and degree titles. One senior does not graduate till the fall, but she already knows how she is decorating her cap. “I plan on putting my sorority letters on it, AOII,” said senior communication major Kathryn Kennedy. “I want to do it because
Each semester a group of Panamanian teachers become students of English at the university. Students take courses in English that include reading, listening, grammar and vocabulary courses. On Friday, May 6 this semester’s participants of the Panamá Bilingüe Program graduated in the Alumni Center at 10 a.m. The ceremony opened with the Panamanain national anthem, “Himno Istmeño,” followed by the “Star Spangled Banner.” The Panamá Bilingüe Program started in January 2015. Program coordinator Rose Rogers describes the beginning of the program as “very hectic.” “It was figuring out every little detail,” said Rogers. “Each time you learn something different, like different ways to set up classrooms and teach.” According to Rogers, Panama Bilingüe participants who spoke English well were taught methodology. This semester, students were broken into three groups based on their skill levels: level one (beginner), level two (intermediate) and level two a (intermediate two). Throughout the difficulties of the program, students kept positive attitudes. “They don’t really tell you the level of English that each student has, so you can’t really plan for it,” said Rogers. “They make it so easy because they’re always so fun and happy. Seeing how hard they work is inspiring, it’s the most frustrating thing in the world to
not know something.” The Panamá Bilingüe Program lasts for four months. It begins with an orientation and ends with the graduation ceremony. During the course of the program, students take classes Monday through Friday every week. According to Rogers, they also get about three hours of tutoring a week and use Mango, “an interactive learning program to learn English.” Senior English education major and student worker for the Panamá Bilingüe Emily Nodine is a tutor for participants. According to Nodine, she helps students with homework and English concepts during the hour long sessions that take place multiple times a week. “I loved working with this program,” said Nodine. “This is what I want to do long term, travel and teach English in other countries, so this was preparation for that.” According to the Director of the Panamá Bilingüe Program and marketing Associate professor Dr. Tara Lopez, the program has developed as they learned how to host foreign students. “I think we have learned what students need,” said Lopez. “When we first started, we didn’t realize the different backgrounds the students were coming from.” According to Lopez, classes like Consumer Behavior allow American students to gain international insight into trends of Panamanian culture like shopping and education.
see PANAMA pg. 10
The Lion’s Roar / Kelonda Dixon
Students from Panama dance during Fais Do Do, while wearing traditional Panamanian clothing. These students are now graduates of the Panamá Bilingüe Program, a program at Southeastern that instructs teachers of Panama in English for four months each semester.
Music and more offer opportunity to destress at REC Fest
see CAPS pg. 5
Seniors invited to sendoff party
The Lion’s Roar / Kelli Meynard
BY ALEX BRAINARD Staff Reporter
At the end of every semester, it is time for seniors to gather after the years of hard work they have endured to finally step up and receive the diploma they have earned. The Alumni Association will be holding an event for the graduating seniors to celebrate their achievements. “Senior Sendoff is a graduation party for the graduating seniors,” said Assistant Director of the Alumni Association Julie Perise. “It is also an introduction into their life as an alumnus. They get to see what the Alumni Association is all about, what we do and they get to experience the fun we have.” The Senior Sendoff will be taking place in the Alumni Center on Wednesday, May 11 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Graduating seniors will be able to get in for no charge, however it will cost $7 for guests who wish to attend. “Everyone has to be at least 21 because we’re serving beer as well as soft drinks,” said Perise. “We’re going to actually have one of our alumni chapters, Redstick Chapter, coming to cook burgers. We want seniors to see even after they leave, they can come back and give to Southeastern.” The Senior Sendoff will have prizes for
see SENIOR pg. 10
The Lion’s Roar / Elizabeth Brown
The REC provided students with many games, including a life-size jenga game (above). Aside from games and free food, four bands played including The Chee-Weez, The Gillis Silo (top, right), Impaired Faculties and Jonathan Koeppel. Students embraced the festival feeling of the day and sat out in the grass and danced as the bands performed. The Lion’s Roar / Elizabeth Brown
BY KELLI MEYNARD Staff Reporter
Crawfish, live bands, inflatables and games, what more could students ask for on a beautiful day? REC Fest 2016 was rescheduled due to bad weather, but the sun shined bright the following week. On Wednesday, May 4 REC Fest was held from 2 to 10 p.m. outside the Pennington Center. Free crawfish, jambalaya, Monster energy drinks and New Orleans Roast iced tea and coffee was provided. “REC Fest is a fun environment for family and friends to get together to enjoy good music and good food,” said sophomore nursing major and REC staff Savannah Laborde. There was a wide variety of inflatables and games, from obstacle courses to knocker balls, life sized Jenga, Tic-Tac-Toe and even beanbag toss were also available to play. Sophomore environmental biology major Michael Angelo Latino worked the knocker ball station and
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found it fun to watch. “With the knocker ball, you get three tries with you and somebody else,” said Latino. “You get about 20 feet apart, and you just take off running and see who can knock who down. It’s pretty interesting and fun to watch.” Some students found REC Fest to be distressing with exams coming up. “I think the event is fun,” said junior communication major Carnisha Tassin. “The crawfish was really good. The inflatables were fun. The music was nice. It’s just really chill, and it helps take the stress of exams away. You don’t really think about exams when you’re out here.” Latino also agreed that the crawfish was good and so was the music. “The music has been really good, as well as the crawfish,” said Latino. “They were really big. The bands are really talented and there is a good bit of people here.”
Weather Tuesday H 87 L 66
Students were not the only ones who had a good time. The Chee-Weez were having a blast at their mini rock concert. “We had a great time at Rec Fest,” said bass player from The Chee-Weez Joey Mangiapane. “We play these kind of events at a lot of colleges. Most of the time they sit around and listen and enjoy the band, but last night it turned into a rock show. All the kids were in the front singing all the songs. That makes our job much easier. Hopefully we’ll be back next year.” Relaxing can be an important thing for students to do before taking a ton of exams and singer Jonathan Koeppel thought this is exactly what students needed. “I’m extremely grateful for CAB, SGA and The REC for having me perform with my band,” said Koeppel. “I also enjoyed getting to rock out before finals week. It was a great way to de-stress. Definitely an event that stressed out students can use to have fun and relax.”
Reminders Wednesday H 87 L 65
Commencement takes place May 14 at 10 a.m. Also, the next issue of The Lion’s Roar will be distributed June 14.
CAMPUS LIFE
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THE LION’S ROAR
Over 80 students receive ring at ceremony BY TIFFANY NESBIT Staff Reporter
Excited upcoming graduates are taking the next step toward this semester’s graduation. The university held the Spring Ring Ceremony on May 5 at 7 p.m. inside the Student Union Theatre. A total of 87 students received their rings. “It feels somewhat surreal,” said senior communication major Morgan Beard. “It is really exciting. I am ready to walk across the stage next week and let graduating college sink in.” Senior communication major Deborah Ayme feels like her hard work has paid off greatly and that the ring is a great symbol of her accomplishments. “I feel like the ring is important,” said Ayme. “I can’t carry around a physical degree with me everywhere, but I can wear my ring as a symbol. It makes me very proud, especially since I am an older student. My hard work has paid off.” Families were there to show their support including senior kinesiology major Lauren Standford’s mother, Linda Crane.. “I am very proud of her,” said Linda Crane. “It is a good feeling to be able to see her succeed.” Some had a rough time choosing their ring. In the end, they were excited to receive it. “It feels amazing and very relieving to finally choose the perfect ring,” said Standford. “It was kind of stressful choosing the right one, but I definitely went with the right choice. I am happy I got it.” Some students had an easy time choosing their ring and knew exactly what they wanted.
The Lion’s Roar / Tiffany Nesbit
The Lion’s Roar / Reid Allen
The Lion’s Roar / Reid Allen
The Lion’s Roar / Tiffany Nesbit
Upcoming graduates celebrate receiving their class rings with family and friends at this semester’s Ring Ceremony. Shinning with green and gold, the rings represent all the hard work put into the years of college and the years to come.
“It was simple deciding on my ring,” senior general studies major Christa Sevin. “My mom and I sat down to look at my options, and we had fun with it.” With their rings picked out, seniors were ready to participate in the ceremony. The ceremony started off with the Master of Ceremonies by KSLU radio station manager Todd Delaney introducing Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Jim McHodgkins as he walked on stage to welcome all attendees. The President of the university Dr. John L. Crain gave the presentation of the official rings. The class rings were designed specifically with green and gold to represent the university’s traditional colors with gold representing value, endurance and education, while green is for new life through the earning of a degree. It is two sided. On one side shows the graduate’s degree, a symbol of friendship oak, the university’s lion mascot and three columns that represent the university’s three names: Hammond Jr. College, Southeastern Louisiana College and Southeastern Louisiana University. On the other side of the ring, it shows the graduation date decorated with oak branches. It also includes the Latin version of the university’s seal: Integrity, Fortitude and Fidelity, or Integritas, Fortitudo and Fidelitas. As students were presented with their rings, all at once they put their rings on and turned the name of the university facing outward to symbolize that they are now ready to face the real world. Closing the ceremony, the Alma Mater was lead by the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Julie Perise.
FCA brings together gaming community through tournament BY JONATHAN RHODES Staff Reporter
Bringing students together is a top priority for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes so they hosted a gaming tournament to do so. Participants played Super Smash Bros. for Wii U last Thursday, May 5 in the Student Union Room 2202. This is the first time FCA has done a Smash Bros. tournament. “I have a heart for Smash Bros,” said FCA President Avery Martin. “It’s a game that can connect people from all different races and ages. The only reason I wanted to do this tournament is because I really feel that God is calling me to reach people inside my circle of influence. I’m the only person in my FCA that plays Smash Bros, and so I decided to run this event because I had to make some type of attempt to reach these people and show the love of God. We had a pretty good turnout. Thirty people showed and for a $5 tournament, it’s the people that I’m trying to draw in.” FCA is a campus ministry that focuses on helping athletes develop their relationship with God, but is open to non-athletic and non-religious students as well. “We stand for God,” said Martin. “We try to resemble God in everything that we do. Whether it’s sports or everyday life, we want to be a light of God on this campus. FCA reaches more non-athletes than athletes. We are really trying to reach every single person that we can, and for this campus, we want to grow as family. We have a familyoriented organization to where we help each other move forward in life and find out why are we here at Southeastern. We really want to bring out the fullest purpose out of each and every person that we encounter.” FCA has hosted other events in the past from worship nights to table
events outside the Student Union. “We have something called ‘Fields of Faith’ where we invite all the campus organizations and all students, even high school students in the area, just to come worship and encounter God,” said Martin. “We actually were supposed to have it last week, but it was cancelled due to rain. We also had a prayer table last semester before finals just to engage the students and show them that we are here and we care. We want to have some prayer for this finals week and just be there for the students during this time and pray.” Participants in the tournament were mostly composed of the Super Smash Bros. community that plays in the Student Union during the week. “We pretty much do it in between classes,” said sophomore computer science major Arkeith White. “You go to class, get that out of the way and then you have to go to the Union to eat anyway, so why not play video games while you’re there? Whenever you’re free at any time during the day, there is always a time for you to go play with other people.” The tournament was won by non-student Craig Schayot who is ranked fifth in the state as a Super Smash Bros. Wii U player. Junior computer science major John Paul came in second and non-student Karlos Thomas finished in third place. “The first year I played brawl, it was with my roommate and he played competitively and so we played everyday, and that’s how I got better,” said Schayot. “I started going to tournaments a year later and started to come close to beating the top five ranked players in the state. I took a break for awhile then once the Wii U version came out, I picked up where I left off, still losing to the top players, but I have improved a lot over the past year. Having to compete with a crowd definitely makes
you more prepared for it next time.” FCA hopes to host a Super Smash Bros. tournament every semester if possible and continue to bring fellow players together. “Jesus said to his disciples ‘Go and preach to all nations,’ said Martin. “FCA is just one nation. I can’t just border myself through FCA. I have to reach out to these students I encounter every day. Some days I shouldn’t play because I have other responsibilities to do, but just seeing today, that sacrifice was well made. I want God to bring out everyone’s full purpose, and if that’s through Smash Bros, then that’s the tool that I use.”
The Lion’s Roar / Jonathan Rhodes
Students and non-students gathered to face each other in a double elimination style Super Smash Bros. Tournament. FCA hosted the event as a opportunity to fellowship with non-religious students.
RAs pass on torch to new leaders in campus housing BY LARSHELL GREEN Staff Reporter
The Lion’s Roar / Larshell Green
Old and new Resident Assistants (RAs) Lion Up during a meeting. At the meeting, information was given to RAs for the fall semester and after announcing the new leadership positions and serving chicken nuggets and eggrolls. The combination of food signified the training theme of Around the World.
The duty of being a Resident Assistant (RA) on campus is often thought of as a mysterious and presumably easy job. Through hard work and dedication to student affairs on campus, each semester old RAs pass on the torch to their new leaders. New and old RAs gathered in the Student Union Ballroom on Tuesday, May 3 at 7 p.m. Old RAs revealed who the new RAs were after a dinner was served consisting of chicken nuggets and eggrolls. After, a game of Mingle Bingo was played to allow new and old participants to get to know each other better. New RAs also received important dates and expectations for the fall semester.
At the end of the night, a cake displayed the upcoming semester’s training theme of Around the World was revealed. Assistant Director of Residential Life Amanda Robbins explains the importance of having a meet and greet for new and old RAs. “It’s a celebration of outgoing RAs and a celebration of incoming RAs,” said Robbins.
“This started helping us develop staff bonds. Starting this process now makes the tasks in August not as difficult.” According to Robbins, every semester University Housing takes interviews and there are usually extra positions each spring and summer semester. She admits that some of her top qualities for prospective RAs include compassion, leadership,
organization and interpersonal skills. “It’s a study in multitasking,” said Robbins. “The day may begin with academics, planning programs, roommate issues or a crisis, so an RA has to be able to switch gears and be flexible.” According to Robbins,
see RA pg. 8
OPINIONS
THE LION’S ROAR
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Unpaid internships can Continue moving forward in life Tiffany Nesbit help direct our futures Alex Brainard Staff Reporter
There are many jobs that people would love to have in today’s job market, especially for a college student. Students go to college to obtain a degree and gain a job in a particular field that suits them. In the modern world, a degree alone isn’t enough to obtain certain jobs, so internships are starting to become required. Some college students could have problems with this, especially if the internship they’re doing requires a large amount of work with no paychecks. Some would question if the job were even worth it at that point. I can tell you from my experience with internships, pay or not, they are worth it. Sometimes internships can be a part-time job, that way you can still have another job to work and earn money and still gain experience. An internship can really help people decide if the job they want in life is really the kind of work they’re cut out for. Classes can teach a lot and offer some knowledge and experience. However, that might not always be enough if you’ve never had a face-to-face experience with the job. Internships can offer a hands on experience that you couldn’t obtain through college classes. Internships place people in the life of an employee. That opportunity can help anyone decide whether the particular job they want is worth having or not. This would bring me to my second point; gaining skills through an internship. From my personal experience, I once was an intern at a magazine company in Mandeville called “Inside Northside.” Each day was a new experience, from learning how to update websites, assisting with photoshoots, editing/writing articles and interviewing people. It was an entire new world for me when I started. Working at “Inside Northside” offered me more knowledge and first hand experiences than any class could teach me. The internship not only helped me realize what kind of job I wanted to do, but it also opened up gateways to other possibilities such as different jobs and opportunities. If someone has an internship long enough and prepares to find a real job, the company you interned for might have a job prepared for you. An intern would have a higher chance at earning the job at a company rather than someone who applies who didn’t intern at all. When handing in a résumé, internships show how much experience you’ve truly had in certain jobs which can reflect on you as well as tell your employers early on, “Yes, this is the person that’s ready to do this job,” rather than “No, they need to keep looking.” The people you meet while interning can be a crucial aspect of gaining a future job. Always stay connected to the ones you work with. When you’re in need of a job in the real world, they might be able to hire you or recommend you to another employer. Internships are truly the key to the business world and demonstrate people’s motivation, reasoning and dedication to the job they’d like to have in the future.
Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, In our Anthropology class Culture and the Environment, this semester we have examined many issues in Tanzania, East Africa that many are unaware of such as loss of habitat, the illegal ivory trade and wildlife poaching, which have had a negative impact on the elephant population as well as the tourism industry. Humans and elephants coexisting in the same environment creates major conflicts such as destruction of property and crops. As a resident of Louisiana, you may be asking yourself, “Why should I care about elephants in Tanzania?” When you consider that wildlife tourism is a major supporter of Tanzania’s economy and elephants are a fundamental element of this tourism, then the importance of elephants to the health, stability and self-sufficiency of Tanzania becomes clear. The destabilization of elephant populations would have profound local and global effects. Elephants have also shown great promise in aiding in the discovery of new prevention and treatment strategies for cancer, a disease
that Louisianans are especially familiar with. Elephants have one of the lowest cancer fatality rates at less than 5 percent, as compared to 20 percent in humans, which is significant due to the fact that elephants and humans have similar life expectancies. Understanding how elephants suppress cancer cells could lead to a cure for cancer in humans. To solve this problem, we need to educate and raise awareness about elephant conservation. Everyone can help this cause by becoming educated and by raising awareness about the importance of elephants to the environment and the economy. Volunteering time and money to recognized conservation organizations that work to protect elephants and solve human wildlife conflicts can also help preserve these magnificent creatures. We can also discourage poaching and the ivory trade. By refusing to buy ivory, many elephant lives can be saved because elephants are often killed only for their tusks. For more information, please visit sparklingelephantproject. weebly.com.
William Schmidt Assistant Editor
Finals are underway and soon it will be summer. A time to relax, take a break from the studies and for some, reflect on the past. To those graduating, congratulations. For those who realized college wasn’t meant for you at this time or in general, I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors and congrats on figuring out what is best for you. I hope you have a happy future. However, if you are in the opposite boat and this was just not your semester, or even your year, you may wonder if it is possible to pick yourself back up and move forward in life. I believe it is, though my past self may disagree. Thank goodness it is also possible to change who we are. If you are down in the dirt, you may be asking yourself, “How is it possible to pick yourself up?” It is impossible to go into complete detail,
but I’ll put down the protective wall I keep around myself and try to answer this. First, thinking that someone else has it worse than you does not help. By this logic, you are allowing yourself to set the bar as low as you want and when you are in the dumps, you need a sturdy bar. I may be experiencing the loss of a close friend and someone else may be dealing with having to wait a semester to graduate because they failed a class. The death of someone close to you is worse than failing a class, but at that moment, in the eyes of each of those people, that is the worst for them. Rating worst-case scenario does not do justice with life. In either case, it is a tragedy that will take time to recover from. Try to remember that no matter what happens today, good or bad, something wonderful could happen tomorrow. I’ve had to say a final goodbye to more people this year than I can count on one hand. If I add in acquaintances, well I can’t even count the number. Another issue people may have to deal with is breakups. For some, a more common occurrence than any person could wish for. For
see MOVING ON pg. 5
SPEAK OUT
What life lesson has this semester of college taught you?
-The students of Anthropology 401, Spring 2016
Take your time and do not get ahead of yourself. Ryan Kenny Sophomore, Art
Hard work pays off tremendously. It’s the hardest semester I have had and I’m still staying busy. Adele Parrill Junior, Early Childhood Education
If you take everything day by day, life will be much easier and less stressful. Bre’zall Warren Junior, Communication
Don’t underestimate the small things. Don’t mourn the loss of a friendship, but instead be happy that it existed. Abigail Coleman Sophomore, Art
Organizational News space is provided at no charge as a courtesy for university recognized Greek and Student Organizations. The space of such articles is limited to 150 words. Submissions of this Organizational News must adhere to the same polices as other submissions or letters to the editor, but must also include the name of the organization. All views expressed in The Lion’s Roar are those of the author or, if unsigned, those of the staff of The Lion’s Roar. These views should not be interpreted as the views of the administration, faculty or students of Southeastern Louisiana University. A single issue of The Lion’s Roar is free. Additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents
I can’t do everything. I can only focus on two things at once while still doing 100 percent. Cydney Menina Sophomore, Family and Consumer Sciences
Persevere and keep going. Don’t let your own laziness catch up with you. Alexandra Bond Sophomore, Art
Freedom and learning how to control yourself. Don’t take on too much at once. Tia Harris Freshman, Athletic Training
Reading is the solution to all problems. Christian Ennis Freshman, Mathematics
THE LION ’S ROAR - STAFF
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The Lion’s Roar is the official newspaper of the students of Southeastern Louisiana University. It has been in continuous publication since 1937. Submissions and letters to the editor are welcomed, but the editor of The Lion’s Roar reserves the right to edit all submissions for grammar, libel and available space or refuse publication without notification. Submissions must include the author’s full name and either phone number, e-mail or other contact information (not to be published). Faculty and staff members should include their title and department. Students should include their classification and major. By submitting an article for publication, the author understands that the submission will be edited.
me, I still question if love is even a possibility. For others, y’all may be going through the same issue except never have dated or haven’t really dated at all. Though I admit that I question if love is even possible, I keep moving forward with the hope of the possibility of love. Even if this is a false hope, hope is important. Somehow, over the last month and a half, I’ve totaled my car, was unable to work for a time and pretty much everything that could go wrong under the sun did. Some of the problems were my fault, others were not. I was even questioning if it would be possible to save my grade because at the end of the day, all I wanted to do was sleep and not wake up to deal with all the issues that were taking place on this earth. But here’s the thing, I learned so much by forcing myself to go forward. I’m not saying it was easy. I’m not saying that I succeed each day. At times I fall right back down, but at the end of the day, it is possible to keep moving forward in life. Even if you make the worst mistakes possible, even if you can’t learn to forgive yourself, learn that you can keep moving forward.
in the Old Student Union 1303 (Student Union West 1303). Annual mail subscriptions are $35 within the continental U.S. The Lion’s Roar, in its print form, associated Web sites and CD/DVD versions are designated public forums. Student editors have the authority to make content decisions without censorship or prior approval. The Lion’s Roar also defends the rights of student journalists relative to freedom of speech and press as stated in Amendment I of the Constitution of the United States of America. The Lion’s Roar is published through the Office of Student Publications, part of the Division for Student Affairs. It is published weekly during regular semesters and monthly during the summer semester.
Editor in Chief Megan Ferrando Assistant Editor William Schmidt Campus Life Editor Megan McCormick
Distribution Jake Treadway Advertising Assistant Nicholas Walsh
Administrative Assistant Heather Collins Coordinator Lorraine F. Peppo Director Lee E. Lind
CONTACT General Offices Old Student Union 1303 Mailing Address The Lion’s Roar SLU 10877 Hammond, LA 70402 E-mail lionsroar@selu.edu Telephone Numbers 985-549-3527 (newsroom) 985-549-3842 (fax) 985-549-3748 (advertising) 985-549-3731 (Student Publications) www.lionsroarnews.com www.selu.edu/lionsroar
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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THE LION’S ROAR
Student directors show talent on stage
The Lion’s Roar / William Schmidt
The Theatre 432 Directing Class presented their “Final Scene Showcase.” Sixteen students presented a scene chosen earlier in the semester. For the directors, this production constituted as their final. Each director practiced for months and just as a normal theatrical production, audition for actors were held, props were made and an entire cast and crew were used. Ushers also handed out programs as audience members took their seats. The production offered a variety of scenes, some including classical, musical and more. The night ending with a final bow by the actors and a standing ovation.
WILLIAM SCHMIDT Assistant Editor
Upon opening the doors of the Vonnie Borden Theatre, audience members ran to take their seats as others calmly took theirs in anticipation of a night of multiple theatrical scenes. On Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m., the Theatre 432 Directing Class presented their “Final Scene Showcase.” For 16 students, the show was their final for Theatre Professor Jim Winter. Each director picked a scene earlier in the semester that they would direct and perform on stage. It took months of preparation, just as a cumulative final would. “It was breathtaking,” said director of “Beyond Therapy” and junior vocal performance major Cheyenne Moore. “We have been working on it for months. It almost got a little dry, but we finally got to see it produced and it was my baby. All the audience caught exactly what I wanted them to catch. It was really, really wonderful.” Though the directors were working towards a grade, everyone involved in the variety of scenes were able to work together for a common goal and create the traditional theatrical feel. “It was incredibly insane, but it was fun,” said freshman elementary education major Payton Core. “Helping out is certainly a bonding experience because everyone is helping everyone out and not just in
moving furniture on and off stage. But also backstage with something as simple as putting a coat on their other arm because they can’t put a sleeve on by themselves. Or, helping with makeup or quick changes like I had.” A quick change means that you have to change from one costume to another in a rapid pace. Payton played in two completely different scenes with different makeup, costume and character with only one scene between her scenes of “Raised in Captivity” and “The Return.” “Raised in Captivity” was directed by Duncan Martin, and “The Return” was written and directed by James Michel. “In the first one I portrayed a psychologist who actually ended up being the client, and the client ended up being the psychologist,” said Payton. “She is very lonely and she goes about her job the wrong way, completely. I think she just wants to be loved and goes about it all the wrong ways and is just a little too aggressive about it. In my second scene I portrayed a child-like robot from the future, like 80 years in the future. Not only was I a robot portraying a small child, but this robot was very malfunctioned in the sense that it was very vulgar.” Payton’s character in “The Return” was BBF-Bot and according to Payton, the insanity of her character made it extremely fun. “It was also very aggressive, physically in what it said and of course at the end it ripped the man’s guts out of his body,” said Payton.
A look behind the scenes BY TIFFANY NESBIT Staff Reporter
While enjoying a live theatre production, audiences often do not think about all of the work put into the play set. People notice the actors and actresses on stage, but often miss the parts that make the scenery such as lighting, make up design, sound maintenance, fly crew, costume design and stage props recognized. The university provides not only acting courses, but behind the scene courses like theatre design. Fine and performing arts director Chad Winters gave a brief description of what goes on in the theatre department at the university. “Light is influenced by its world, like other design elements,” said Winters. “Light helps to set the mood of a play. As a director, I typically am looking for a certain style of play, lighting helps with that. For example, the play “Oedipus” was made up of dynamic forms of shaded light to create various dramatic moods.” The Electric Prep crew is typically responsible for running lighting. Another group of behind the stage crew are makeup artists and costume designers. This group is responsible for making each individual character come to life and make the audience believe that the character is real. “It is important as an audience member to be engaged with the character’s design,” said Winters. “For example, makeup and costumes for a young actor who plays an elderly character is extremely important. The audience should not be able to tell that the old character is being played by a young actor or actress.” For both makeup design and costume design, the artists all complete drafts on paper of what they
envision. “The director or design manager can give specific designs of what they want the artists to have done for each character,” said senior art major and makeup artist Dominique Lopez. “Each makeup design has its own ‘face chart’ on paper that is hung up for the artists to work off of.” Building sets is a whole different department. It consists of the physical construction of the set, painting, setting up, taking down and props. “Scenically, you have to know what you want onstage prior to building, if you want your play to be realistic or abstractly illustrated,” said Winters. According to Winters, realistic play sets “are like sticking a room like an ordinary office onstage,” while an abstract play set is trying to build a play set that is fantasy or trying to express an unseen emotion. Winters expressed the importance of teamwork. “The collaboration between scenic designers and the director is extremely important and they have to work together in order to create the foundation for a new world,” said Winters. Prop design is important because it gives the audience a visual of what the characters onstage are trying to use in their performance. “Usually the job of a prop designer is a mix of shopping and crafting objects the character needs to illustrate the story,” said Winters. “It is the ‘jack-of-alltrades.’ It is a great way for artists of all backgrounds to produce work onstage.” Other backstage work consists of jobs like sound engineering, board operators, fly crew (the person who is in charge of pulling ropes for curtains and other stage props), design assistant and stage manager. These extremely important jobs are essential to the success of any play.
The Lion’s Roar / Tiffany Nesbit
Most of what happens behind the scene of a play at the university can be traced to the theatre design students. Theatre students junior theatre design Aaron Patterson and sophomore general studies major Owen Crooks take apart play sets and props from previous productions.
Though some directors had dark scenes, other directors took another route and some included musical scenes. “I loved every second of it,” said senior psychology major Angele Thibodaux. “All the directors’ hard work really showed it. The casting was phenomenal. The singing was amazing. You don’t see singing on this side of campus. I’m so glad they incorporated it. I loved them all so much. I needed that laugh especially since it is Dead Week, and it was very well done.” Thibodaux will be graduating this year from the university, and over the years she has had the opportunity to know many of the people that were involved with the “Final Scene Showcase.” She believes that theatre can help people on and off stage. “I’ve known them and I’ve grown with them,” said Thibodaux. “Everything you do in theatre transfers to life. It not only helps them in theatre, it helps them in personal life as well. I loved them all so much.” According to Moore, the directing class led her to a passion that she loves and she was pleased to not only see her achievements on stage, but her fellow directors as well. Though Southeastern does not offer a major in Theatre, one may receive a minor in theatre by completing the requirements which can be found on the university website under fine and performance arts.
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Melodious choirs filled Columbia Theatre BY TIFFANY NESBIT Staff Reporter
Songs of great faith were celebrated in downtown Hammond for all to hear. Southeastern’s department of fine and performing arts hosted the “Lord Nelson Mass” by Franz Joseph Haydn at the Columbia Theatre on Tuesday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. It consisted of four separate choirs; the Southeastern Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale, University Chorus and Northshore Choral Society. The program included pieces like “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” composed by Dan Forrest, “Ballade To The Moon” composed by Daniel Elder and “Abide With Me” composed by Moses Hogan. Both the audience members and the choir members thought this event was a great turn out. Freshman vocal performer of Saprano 1, Anne Labranche is a part of the Southeastern Women’s Choral conducted by Dr. Alissa Mercurio Rowe. “It was worth all of the hard work we put into it and it was the most fun I have had in a long time,” said Labranche. “It was unique because it was a mass that is much larger than most and it is a privilege to be a part of it.” Labranche stresses the importance of the event and encourages others to join the
choir. “Anyone interested in the choir should do it because it has been a wonderful experience for me, so I’m sure it would be for anyone who loves to sing,” said Labranche. Freshman nursing major and Saprano 1 Madison Bentivegna is a part of the Southeastern Women’s Choral. “I thought it was so wonderful, it was a beautiful performance and I am very happy of the outcome,” said Bentivegna. “This was my first mass performance and it feels like a once in a lifetime experience to be a part of. I feel very blessed and thankful to be a part of this special event, especially since this is most likely my last show I can be a part of.” Audience members, including sophomore English major Victoria White, enjoyed the talented choir. “I think it was a spectacular performance and full of hard earned talent,” said White. “The song ‘I Know My Redeemer Lives’ had to be my favorite. It was very intense and had much energy. It really stood out to me.” Sophomore sculpture major Chase Pertuit also had a favorite piece. “The last piece, ‘Missa In Angustiis’ was my favorite. The soloist in this piece stood out incredibly well,” said Pertuit. “The chorus all performed incredibly well. The
The Lion’s Roar / Tiffany Nesbit
The Southeastern Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale, University Chorus and Northshore Choral Society worked together to perform the Franz Joseph Hayden’s “Lord Nelson Mass” at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Downtown Hammond. cellos and violins were filled with dynamic sounds and were played very fluidly. It was one of the most well put together performances I have been to in a while.”
To find out more information about upcoming shows, visit southeastern. edu/fpa or follow them on Facebook at SLUMusic.
Community gathers for musical night of all styles
The Lion’s Roar / Elizabeth Brown
Hammond High Magnet School sophomore Jessica Kerber and freshman music major Dominique Roubique join in for the Impaired Faculties’ final song of the night .
BY ELIZABETH BROWN Staff Reporter
Many different styles of guitar music including pop, classical and folk, along with original pieces, performed by local musicians, students and faculty, could have been heard at the last event of the 2016 Southeastern Guitar Festival. All Styles Night was originally planned for May 3, but was moved to May 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pottle Auditorium,
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Home conditions still demand attention. Also, keep an open mind about a sudden question of trust involving a close friend. All the facts are not yet in. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) With summer just around the corner, travel begins to dominate your sign. Make plans carefully to avoid potential problems in the first half of June. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A romantic Libra sets a challenge that your “sensible” side might question, but your idealistic self finds the prospect too intriguing to resist. The choice is yours. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Those tense times in your personal life are just about over. Concentrate on reaffirming relationships. Your love of travel opens a surprising new opportunity. LEO (July 23 to August 22) The Big Cat usually loves to be in the center of things. But this week it might be wiser to watch and learn from the sidelines. A Pisces wants to make you purr. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) “New” is your watchword this week. Be open to new ideas, both on the job and in your personal life. A romantic Aries or Sagittarian beckons. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Some difficult family decisions have to be
free to all who attended. According to guitar instructor and festival coordinator Patrick Kerber, performers within and outside of the music program were given the opportunity to perform various styles at this event for the purposes of growth and community. “The point [of the many styles] is to give the students an opportunity to perform music that is not part of their studies/ curriculum,” said Kerber. “Inviting off-campus performers is simply creating opportunities for the community to participate in campus events - a cultural exchange.” To start off the night, “La Cumparsita,” a tango piece, was performed by trio Kerber, freshman music major Dominique Roubique and freshman music major Graham Guillory all on acoustic guitars. Next, Guillory performed classical solos of Adelita and Lágrima by Tarrega on acoustic guitar. Following Guillory, Dakota Montiville performed pop piece “Etude Simple” by Brouwer and an original, untitled work of his own, both on acoustic guitar. Adding in flute, junior major Caroline Wright and, on acoustic guitar, alumnus Hristo Balev performed “Hush You Bye” and “Cindy,” two Appalachian folk songs arranged by Beezer, as a duet. Now including singing and the electric guitar, Roubique gave a solo performance of folk songs “Operator” by Jim Croce and “Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?” by Gene Austin. As a trio, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School students Alex Theriot, Alexis Theriot and Luke Orlando performed rock song
faced, but be sure to get more facts before you act. Be careful not to neglect your health during this trying time. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You still need to support a loved one through a difficult time. Meanwhile, things continue to work out to your benefit in the workplace. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Aspects continue to favor expanding social opportunities. A Gemini reaches out to offer a chance for re-establishing a once-close relationship. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) There’s a potential for misunderstanding in both your job and your personal life. A full explanation of your intentions helps smooth things over. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You might be feeling restless on the job, but delay making any major moves until all the facts are in. A Scorpio has a surprising revelation. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your business sense works to your advantage as you sort through the possibilities that are opening up. A Libra is Cupid’s best bet for your romantic prospects. BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for being openminded about people. This helps you make friends easily. You would do very well in public service. (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
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MOVING ON continued from pg. 3 What I’ve learned this semester is that I have some of the closest friends that truly love me, and no matter what happens in life, I’m holding onto them while moving forward in life. I’m not saying that is what you will learn when you move forward, but something positive will come out of it. And if you don’t, I ask you to do one thing, try to find faith. I am not
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“Drive” by Incubus. Alexis Theriot sang while Alex Theriot and Orlando played acoustic guitars. As a duet, on electric guitar, Ken Turner and on trumpet, Austin Dugas/ Higdon played jazz song “Red Clay” by Freddie Hubbard. On acoustic guitar while singing, Hammond High Magnet School sophomore Jessica Kerber performed her own originals “Purple Sea” and “Out of Sight” along with “I Can’t Help It” by Stevie Wonder, recorded by Michael Jackson. Following, The Infamous P-Town Ramblers, a local Ponchatoula, Louisiana band, performed many songs, with various instruments and singing, including “One More Dollar” by Gillian Welch and “I Like Trains” by Fred Eaglesmith, to name a couple. To close out the night, local band Impaired Faculties band members Dan McCarthy and Bill Robison performed many songs including originals “Tell Me You’ll Stay” and “Kick Me In The Shins along with Rockin’ in the Free World” by Neil Young, to name a few. For the final song of the night, audience members and fellow musicians that previously performed were encouraged to join. Following the event, one member of the audience particularly enjoyed the night’s variety of styles and the atmosphere. “Today was really cool though because they had a bunch of top quality performers in a really informal setting, and the audience participation was a lot of fun,” said alumna Giselle LeBlanc. “There was a lot of variety too tonight, so I really enjoyed it.” saying faith in a god or moral. But faith, faith in something. It could be a religion, yourself, another or just the simple fact that tomorrow is a new day and something unexpectedly wonderful can happen. For my final line for my final opinion of this semester, I’ll leave you with the words quoted by Whistler in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 Episode 21: Becoming Part I.” A quote that has gotten me through life since I heard it in 1998.
CAPS continued from pg. 1 AOII has been a very important part of my college career. I have been in AOII since I started college. I can’t imagine being in college without being a part of this sorority.” Another senior is taking advantage of decorating her cap because it shows everyone’s personalities. “I am putting a map of the world on it and having ‘I’ll go where you will lead me Lord’ because I am passionate about exploring other cultures and traveling and because I do not know where that will lead me for the Lord to always guide my way,” said senior psychology major Christine Jones. “I love it. People get to see a little about your personality and understand who you are a little more. Every cap is different and it shows everyone’s unique personalities.” This senior wants her family to be able to find her with her eyepopping design. “I have an apple on my cap and it has my initials cut into it, then I put gold rhinestones around the border of the cap,” said early childhood education major Blair Perise. “I chose the apple because it is a symbol of my love for teaching, and I put my initials in the middle so that my cap was individualized to fit me personally. I decorated my cap because I wanted my family to be able to find me no matter where they are sitting, and I wanted to use my cap as a keepsake of this great accomplishment.” Commencement is this Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m. in the University Center on North Campus. Take a few hours of your day and check out all the amazing decorations on the caps this year.
The Lion’s Roar / File Photo
Graduating senior starts his job hunt early by decorating his hat accordingly.
“There’s moments in your life that make you, that set the course of who you’re gonna be. Sometimes they’re little, subtle moments. Sometimes they’re not. Bottom line is, even if you see them coming, you’re not ready for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does. So, what are we, helpless? Puppets? Nah. The big moments are gonna come, you can’t help that. It’s what you do afterwards that counts. That’s when you find out who you are.”
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Track & Field athletes Franklinton’s Shane Smith joins Lions as assistant coach claim titles and records at SLC Championships BY ELIZABETH BROWN Staff Reporter
This past weekend, the Lions and Lady Lions track & field team members travelled to Texas to take part in the Southland Conference Championships. Starting on Friday, May 6 and concluding on Sunday, May 8, both the men’s and women’s teams finished by placing fifth with 60 points and seventh with 57 points in Corpus Christi, Texas. On the first day of the championships, both teams excelled in the hammer throw. Senior throwers Jermisha Frazier and Jimmy LeBlanc both finished second and senior thrower Austin Funk finished in fourth place. Frazier threw 20206, nearly breaking a stadium record. LeBlanc threw 187 feet, 6 inches for a career-best. Funk also added to his personal bests, throwing at 178-11. In the long jump, freshman jumper Rodney Ruffin also added a personal best, jumping at 23-10.75 and finishing seventh. Junior multis Steven Barze finished eighth at 23-06. In the javelin, senior Nicole Delesdernier finished fifth with a throw of 139-11 while setting a stadium record. In the pole vault, three of the Lady Lions finished in the top seven, senior pole vaulter Sharon Ann Ourso placed fourth at 12-01.5, junior pole vaulter Whitney Adams placed sixth at 11-07.75 and senior pole vaulter
Addison Martinez placed seventh at 11-07.75. At the end of the first day, through five events, the women’s team finished fifth overall while through three events, the men’s team finished third overall. Reflecting back on her placing in hammer throw, Frazier felt less than satisfied, but remains hopeful. “It was bittersweet,” said Frazier. “It was a pretty rough comp for me, but I managed to put one out there on my last throw. Although I didn’t win conference, I still have regionals and hopefully nationals to look forward to.” On the second day of the event, junior sprinter and jumper Sharrona Williams surpassed all other competitors in the 100 meters, finishing for first place in 11.53 seconds and setting a personal record. LeBlanc and Frazier also both finished second in shot put. LeBlanc finished at 55-10.25. With determination, Frazier set a stadium record at 49 feet, 9.25 inches in her final throw and after falling in the ring. In the 3,000 steeplechase, sophomore distance runner Clarissa Smith broke the stadium record at 11:31.33 and place seventh. In the 400, junior sprinter Maverick Bowleg finished fourth with a careerbest of 47.66 while freshman sprinter Dekayta Alex finished seventh at 56.21 and senior sprinter Domonique White finished ninth at 56.53. In the 400 hurdles, junior sprinter and hurdler Dwayne Woodard
The Lion’s Roar / Kelonda Dixon
Senior thrower Jimmy LeBlanc claimed second in the shot put and hammer throw at the SLC Championships.
finished eighth at 54.24. In the 200, freshman sprinter and jumper Aareion Jackson finished ninth at 24.54 while also setting a personal record. Junior sprinter Deandre Henderson finished 10th at 21.63 in the 200 as well. Junior sprinter Lekisha Jelks finished ninth at 2:18.17 in the 800. In the triple jump, junior jumper Julian Maze finished 11th at 48-01.25. At the end of the second day, through eight events, the men’s team finished fifth overall, while through ten events, the women’s team finished sixth overall. Frazier, even with her fall in the shot put ring, did not want to slack. “I was in fourth place going into the last round,” said Frazier. “Although I haven’t been focusing on shot much this season, there was no way that I could be the 2015 defending champion that didn’t make the podium in 2016. This was supposed to be my last time throwing shot ever. I couldn’t let myself finish without a bang. I must admit, this was the hardest I’ve ever worked for a mark in shot put and I believe the throw showcases that.” On the final day, in the pole vault, sophomore pole vaulter Devin King finished first at 17 feet, 8.5 inches and breaking a stadium record, added another achievement to add to his already lengthy list of career achievements. In the 100 meters, Sharrona Williams finished second at 11.46 seconds. In the 4x400 relay, Woodard, Henderson, junior middle distance runner Alex Holden and Bowleg, finished in third place and broke the stadium record at 3 minutes, 13.32 seconds. In the 4x100 relay, Henderson, Bowleg, senior sprinter Raheem Brown and senior sprinter and jumper Kadarius Williams placed fourth at 41.28. In the 400, Bowleg finished fourth by making a personal best and stadium record of 47.44. In the high jump, senior jumper Clarence Robinson finished fourth after clearing 6-09.5 while Ruffin finished seventh at 6-05.5 and Barze at eighth at 6-05.5. Breaking a stadium record in the 4x100 relay, Sharrona Williams, freshman sprinter Jaslyn Bowman, junior sprinter Kaelynn Smith and Jackson finished at 46.10. By finishing fourth at 3:44.9 in the 4x400 relay, Alex, freshman sprinter Ariane Williams, Jelks
see SLC pg. 7
Courtesy of Randy Bergeron
The long time high school coach Shane Smith will be joining the Lions as an assistant coach on the offensive staff working with wide receivers.
BY KARSON SHARP Staff Reporter
When the seasons change this fall semester, so will the university’s football coaching staff. Shane Smith, who has served as head coach at Franklinton High School is joining the coaching staff. Smith has a strong coaching record with a winning percentage of 69.6 percent. With 142 wins and 62 losses during his career at Franklinton High, the Demons surged into the spotlight of high school football and the team missed the playoffs only once in 17 years.
Smith explains the methods he used for Franklinton High, he will also use at Southeastern. “At the end of the day, coaching football is about teaching and motivating kids,” said Smith. “Obviously these kids are well-trained and motivated or they wouldn’t be playing for the Lions, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.” According to Smith, his new position with the Lions will be as a wide receiver coach. “I’m looking forward to working with Coach Ron Roberts and Mr. Artigues,” said Smith.
see SMITH pg. 7
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Nursing major and Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Queen Danielle Rodriguez, visited Southeastern’s Lab School to speak with Ms. Sedley Browns’ first grade class concerning her reign as Strawberry Queen and her career as a Nursing student at Southeastern. Danielle Rodriguez will use the scholarship money she receives from being queen to complete her Nursing degree at Southeastern. Danielle Rodriguez is the daughter of Dane and Cindy Rodriguez. Danielle Rodriquez is the granddaughter of strawberry farmers Hollis and Betty Poche. Danielle Rodriquez graduated from Ponchatoula High School. Danielle Rodriquez is pictured with Abby Richardson, her cousin and first grader in Ms. Brown’s class. Richardson is wearing the crown of her great grandfather Hollis Poche who reigned as Strawberry King in 1976.
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How has playing a collegiate sport impacted you? Senior athletes gave a response about how playing a collegiate sport has impacted them personally, athletically and more. Players from spring sports were represented, including baseball, softball, tennis, golf and track & field. Some seniors received scholarships while others were walk-ons. However, all seniors expressed the huge impact playing a collegiate sport has had on their lives. Many made lasting relationships with fellow athletes on their team and expressed a bitter-sweet feeling to leaving SLU and their Lion family. Photos courtesy of Sports Information
Kyle Cedotal
Jermisha Frazier
Amber Sather
Eamon Bradley
Domenick Carlini
Baseball
Track & Field
Softball
Golf
Baseball
“Baseball is probably the best thing that ever happened to me because not only is my college paid for, but I probably would have never gone to college if it weren’t for baseball. We’ve had a forty men roster for four different years. You meet so many people. You meet everyone in the community, brothers you played with, different coaches will come through, so you’ll build relationships all over the state.”
“Thanks to track, I understand how to separate business relationships and personal relationships. I have learned that as long as you do your job and try to exceed expectations, you will be taken care of. I have made life long friends, had great memories and traveled to places that I never thought I would see.”
“Playing softball in college has helped me grow as a person by teaching me to have respect for everything and that everything is not going to go your way all the time. Sometimes you have to just go with it and make the best out of any given situation. It has taught me how to work hard, communicate well with teammates and to never give up, even when it seems like you are losing.”
“Playing for Southeastern has changed my life. If you knew me when I first arrived and compared me to who and what I am now, you would be amazed. I cannot thank this school enough for the opportunity, to all the people I have met that have made my experience what it has been and to my teammates who have seen the best and worst of me and still stuck with me.”
“This is the reason I went to college. It impacted me. The relationships impacted me a lot, all the guys I’ve met. I have a lot of good relationships here. That’s probably the biggest impact I’ve had and hopefully, I left a good mark on the guys I met too.”
“The relationships I have made so far have shaped me into the person I am today: a determined, disciplined and hard working person. On the court, I have also grown tremendously. I came playing a defensive game. I am leaving being an aggressive player and all of this goes to my coach and the faith he bestowed upon me.”
Sharon Ann Ourso
Taylor Bishop
Jimmy LeBlanc
Katie Lacour
Lawrence Allan
Daniel Midyett
Track & Field
Softball
Track & Field
Softball
Golf
Baseball
“Participating in college athletics has opened up my world. I enjoy going to other collegiate sporting events at the university because I know the time and dedication that they have put into their sport and their academics to bring them to the point they are at in that moment. I have learned how to perform a skill and test my body in ways that I never did in high school.”
“Playing a collegiate sport has impacted my life in many ways. It has given me another family to be a part of. It has helped me stay motivated to do my best in my classes and it has helped me learn how to become more dependable.”
“It has been a blessing to be a part of something bigger than me. I have created so many relationships with coaches and teammates that I would not trade for the world. Maintaining a high GPA and dedicating a lot of time to track was a hard balancing act. I was a walk on here. Having to battle that adversity to earn my keep here really shaped my character as a person and an athlete.”
“Hammond has given me so many memories and I’ve achieved so many great things with the help of my coaches and teammates. I have enjoyed the new atmosphere that Coach Fremin has brought to the softball program. He will definitely change the face of Southeastern softball and I was very fortunate to be under his direction for my final season.”
“Playing a collegiate sport has helped me to manage my time very effectively. I love the team atmosphere and the sense of family our team has. It has helped me mature greatly. I will remember all the great trips we went on as a team and all the good times we had.”
“Getting to know all the guys is going to be great down the line, keeping in touch with them and seeing how the team is doing. Personally, it has shown me what kind of person I am. I feel like I am more resilient now that I have been here four years. I’ve been around the block being a senior and I think that will help me down the line.”
SMITH continued from pg. 6 “I’m extremely excited and I’m extremely thankful to both of them. I’ll be representing Southeastern to the best of my ability.” Smith is a graduate of Southeastern and completed a degree in kinesiology and health studies in 1996. Afterward, he began a career in coaching. His first position was an assistant coach at Amite High School. He then went to Independence High School where he served as assistant football coach for four seasons. During Smith’s tenure, the Tigers reached state finals in the years 1997
and 1998. Smith will begin on-field duties as part of the coaching staff in the Lions’ fall camp this August. He explained that during his final year at Franklinton High, he focused on finding a capable replacement who could continue his legacy. Confident about his new position, Smith expects that he will transition smoothly into his new career. He plans to tackle the challenges of coaching college level players with his unique experiences. “I’m mainly going to use the same old coaching techniques I’ve always used,” said Smith. “There are going to be some obvious differences, like the
skill level of college players versus high school, obviously the game will be taught on a higher level,” said Smith. “It may be a challenge, but it’s one I’m looking forward to.” Armed with a strong game record, a can-do attitude and over two decades of coaching experience, Smith will gladly approach his new job as a wide receiver coach and anything else the Lions might ask of him. “It feels great to be joining Southeastern,” said Smith. “I’ve been hired as wide receiver coach and I plan to do that well. But I’m also open to any other responsibilities Coach Roberts wants to give me.”
SLC continued from pg. 6 and White also broke the stadium record. To conclude the SLC championships, the women’s team finished seventh overall while the men’s team finished fifth overall. Adding yet another achievement from the championships, King continues to strive for the best as he continues his career. “I came in ranked well up there and I knew if I trained hard enough, then I’d sure be able to finish on top,” said King. “That’s what I did and the plan worked. Sophomore year indoor conference champ and
Renee Villarreal Tennis
outdoor couldn’t have went any better. To be able to say that I’m a Conference Outdoor Champion, it feels good.” Looking back on the overall Southland Conference Championships, Head Track and Field/Cross Country Coach Sean Brady felt that the team met their expectations. “I felt that we had a pretty good meet, not a great meet, but a good meet,” said Brady. “We kind of scored the meet going in and the score chart held pretty true, almost to the number. For the people that we brought to this competition, I felt really good about it.”
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Miss Southeastern advocates to end human trafficking BY WILLIAM SCHMIDT Assistant Editor
Every year, participants in the Miss Louisiana beauty pageant choose a platform in order to raise awareness, money or implement a program to help various causes. Since before she was crowned Miss Southeastern 2016, senior kinesiology major Alexis LaPlante has been hard at work promoting her platform “Trafficking Hope.” LaPlante picked her platform in order to fight human trafficking and hopes to spread awareness of this horrendous issue while supporting the recovery of former victims. “I chose this platform because these victims are just like me,” said LaPlante. “They have dreams and hopes for a future just like we all do. I couldn’t imagine my whole life being stolen from me just like it has been for every person in the trafficking business. I am tired of being apathetic to the injustice going on in my community, state, nation and world.” Through transition homes called Hope Houses, women who were victims of a horrible social injustice can find hope and restoration in their lives again. LaPlante emphasizes that being aware of the issue of trafficking is one of the most beneficial ways to fight trafficking.
The Lion’s Roar / File Photo
Miss Southeastern 2016 Alexis LaPlante will be representing the university at Miss Louisiana 2016. Her platform “Trafficking Hope” advocates to abolish all forms of human trafficking throughout the world. “Awareness is the best weapon we have in this fight,” said LaPlante. “One of my biggest concerns is educating as many people as I can about the prevalence of human trafficking. The more knowledge a person has about this, the less of a chance they will fall victim to a trafficker.”
Miss Southeastern 2016 also encourages people to stay safe with whom they trust on the Internet and in life. “Human trafficking does not discriminate,” said LaPlante. “Where there is an Internet connection, there is trafficking, and it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’ve came from. Most people like to think that people are kidnaped into this life, but traffickers are much smarter than this. They know exactly what to do and what to say to seduce you into a life that you believe will be great and wonderful. Once they have you and you realize what’s really going on, it can be too late. I need my fellow lions and people in the community to be careful who they put their trust into, especially if it’s a friend online.” LaPlante has been promoting her platform to the Hammond community and the university to not only raise awareness but also cause a positive impact. “If I could save just one person from becoming another statistic, then my mission as Miss Southeastern would be complete,” said LaPlante. “I have hosted an awareness event at the SLU baseball game to not only raise money for Hope House, but also to promote education on this subject by handing out flyers and information brochures. Just recently I also held a clothing drive to collect donations for the women at Hope House, so that
they may have beautiful new summer clothes to choose from. I have also visited local organizations to share more information about human trafficking and educate their directors about signs of a human trafficking victim.” The title of Miss Louisiana is more than just a crown, and LaPlante hopes to show by example what it would mean to fill her shoes. “By hosting these events and visiting local organizations, I believe I am promoting exactly what Miss Louisiana is all about: service,” said LaPlante. “It’s the job of a title holder to be a title doer, and to serve her community to the best of her ability.” Though the title of Miss Louisiana changes from year to year, LaPlante plans to continue promoting her platform after participating in the Miss Louisiana 2016 Beauty Pageant taking place Jun. 23 to 25. “I believe I will always be connected to this platform, no matter if I have a crown on my head or not,” said LaPlante. “This is so much bigger than a beauty pageant or myself. It’s about freeing the captive. It’s about speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. While I cannot say specifically how I will be involved with Trafficking Hope in the future because so many things are at work in my life, I will always be the loudest voice for those in destitution and an advocate for change.”
TEFL offers opportunity to teach abroad New RA leaders step up BY WILLIAM SCHMIDT Staff Reporter
Graduating from college can open the doors for a multitude of opportunities. If you are debating where your future lies after graduation but want to see the world, then Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) may be an option worth considering. A number of TEFL programs are offered throughout the world. One of the first things someone should do is make sure they choose a program that is meant for them. “I chose to participate because the only thing I’m currently 100 percent positive about is my want to live internationally for a little while, and a TEFL certification is a great gateway to do that,” said senior English major Ivy Pierson. “I could’ve obtained the certification over the internet, but I wanted to go to Prague because why not? I’m able to, and I’d regret not taking the chance to travel. Pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone is exciting, and I’ve never been to Continental Europe.” Though Pierson is going to Prague, other options are available such as the TEFL Iberia run by Richard Davie. Over the last five years, the TEFL Iberia program has been training students and graduates from around the world. “You come to Barcelona to train as an English teacher,” said Davie. “The course involves one month of full-time training in Barcelona, where you study all the methodology, grammar, skills and techniques necessary to be a teacher. The course is very practical, you carry out ten plus hours of teaching practice with real students, receive feedback and get the chance to observe lots of other teachers.” According to Davie, it is a good idea to experience time abroad before settling in a career. “Just go for it,” said Davie. “Take a couple of years to enjoy your time abroad and don’t worry about the career ladder. You’ve got all your life to work and it’s great to do these things in your twenties. If you go with an open mind and good attitude, all sorts of opportunities will come your way and it can be very hard to predict what you’ll end up doing. More practically, I would recommend doing a course in the city you want to work in. If you want to work in Barcelona, do a course there.” Though study abroad programs are offered to undergraduate and graduate students at the
university, sometimes living for an extended time in another country can open the eyes about other cultures in ways that studying abroad for a short time cannot. “The first time I went to Spain was with the Southeastern Language and Communications’ study abroad program in 2012,” said graduate student with a Bachelor’s in mass communication and a minor in creative writing Katherine DeVall. “We stayed in Valencia for a month and enjoyed the city while learning Spanish. I loved my experience there so much I knew I wanted to go back. It wasn’t until I actually lived in Barcelona that I realized I hadn’t gotten the ‘full’ experience.” One factor that contributes to a hesitation in traveling abroad is that a person may have to break out of their comfort zone. “I was/am an over-protected only child,” said DeVall. “If I can do it, you can. Honestly, when you go out into the unknown, you don’t know what to expect, but that’s the beauty of it. I started planning for this trip after I graduated from SELU. It took about two years of planning, research and saving, but it was well worth it. The first time I actually flew in a plane was in 2012 on my study abroad trip, but this was my first time flying on a plane by myself and leaving the country by myself. You don’t realize how strong you are until you do things on your own and have to rely on yourself.” According to Pierson, the long-term benefits of living abroad outweigh the suffer of savings. “If you want to do it even a little bit and there’s nothing holding you back, do it,” said Pierson. “I will never regret my decision to take my first big trip, and I don’t see myself regretting any other trip to come in my future. Though I can’t speak for my bank account, I understand being nervous, but it’s such an exciting experience. It can also be a humbling experience because it can lead you to see how others perceive you once you begin to gain awareness of the cultural differences. I just think it’s something that everyone needs to do at least once.” When choosing a TEFL, it is important to search for a legitimate program. “Be careful choosing your program,” said Pierson. “Do plenty of research, contact people who you know have done something similar, make sure it’s fully accredited. Then, once you’ve found a good one, sign up and buy a plane ticket. I’m really excited about
it, the certification covers so many countries, so I have tons of opportunities as far as jobs go. The program itself should be beneficial in providing connections and good references for the professional world.” Some programs such as the TEFL Iberia may provide information you need once in the country as well as provide information for a future career. “There is a large focus on the course in helping you find a job in Barcelona,” said Davie. “We have a career’s advisor come to the school and give a workshop on how to find a job, what to expect, where to look, how to improve your CV, job interview preparation and we also give you access to a very large database of employer contact details. To prepare for the course, we send all the students lots of pre-course reading and a pre-course task, in order to start learning various grammatical terms and concepts. It helps to read up on this as much as possible before the course. Apart from the course itself, the school offers an accommodation service and can house you with other students in the course during your time in Barcelona. We can also help you with practical things such as getting set up with a phone number, bank account, Spanish social security number, et cetera.” Another fear that may occur while traveling abroad are mishaps in culture differences, as well as language barriers. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve gotten lost, had a lot of miscommunications and some cultural difference mishaps, but I think the best things to do in these situations are to be open minded, patient, smile and don’t take it personally,” said DeVall. “I also recommend making a vision board and putting it in a place where you can see it every day. It will inspire you when you feel like your dreams are impossible. There were times when I didn’t think being in Barcelona would be possible and then there were naysayers in my life. No matter what you do in life there will always be naysayers. Be above the naysayers. Sometimes when I’m walking home from school I stop, close my eyes, take a deep breath and thank God for allowing me to be here. I came here with no friends and now I have friends from all over the world. I even went to London with one of them. These are the people who are serious about
see ABROAD pg. 10
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The next issue of The Lion’s Roar, Volume 88, issue 1 will be released on June 14, 2016.
The Lion’s Roar / Larshell Green
During the meeting held by Resident Assistants (RAs), new and old RAs played a game of Mingle Bingo, a mock bingo game used to allow participants to get to know each other. New RAs sprinted through the Student Union Ballroom, speaking rapidly to randomly spout off facts about each other. RA continued from pg. 2 students who usually excel in the program are those that can manage both their academics and positions. “I think that if you’re someone who doesn’t have a good grip on it, it can be overwhelming,” said Robbins. “Those organizational skills will come in handy later in life.” Robbins anticipates that about 51 students will be RAs for the upcoming fall semester. According to Robbins, training to be an RA lasts for about a week and a half and includes preparing for the arrival of incoming freshmen in the fall. New RAs are required to take the course Education 204 Seminar for the Prospective Resident Assistant. According to Robbins, during the course students are also given a mentor that they can shadow and will also gain knowledge in student development and crisis management. The three credit hour course must be taken before students are hired, or during their first semester of being employed as an RA. Freshman accounting major Georgette Williams shared her thoughts on why she decided to become an RA for the upcoming fall semester. “I felt like I had really great leadership skills to pass on and I really wanted to show Southeastern University Housing what skills I could possess,” said Williams. According to Williams, she
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applied online for the position after a friend recommended her for the job. Dressing professionally and giving truthful answers were some of the tasks that Williams was faced with during the interview process. “It wasn’t difficult; it’s just about having a strong mindset about what you want to do,” said Williams. According to Robbins, because of the university’s diverse student population which consists of about 15 countries as well as other states, an RA must be open minded and ready to learn about themselves as well as others. Senior communication major Rideia Wilson gave advice to new RAs as she prepares to graduate after 3 years of being in the RA program. “My advice to the new RAs would be to not be afraid to step out and take initiative,” said Wilson. “If you do this, you will learn a lot and grow as an individual.” There are many benefits to being an RA such as a scholarship that will pay for the cost of a dorm and the Cub Plan meal plan. The Cub Plan gives students 150 meals as well as 10 guest passes to use for the entire semester in the Mane Dish. Students also get $400 to use at fast food and coffee locations on campus, as well as convenience stores. After being an RA for a year with a good discipline record and excelling in job duties, students get the opportunity to become an RA 1. This promotion includes a free dorm, cub plan and a stipend for $1,000 a semester that will be given in installments of $200 a month. Although it is too late to apply to be an RA for the upcoming fall semester, students can apply in October for the spring semester. Students interested in signing up for the course Education 204 should contact Robbins at amanda.robbins@selu.edu. Applications to become an RA are available on the university website. Click the about tab, select administration, living on campus, employment opportunities, how to become an RA and select RA application.
THE LION’S ROAR
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Communication seniors share research at colloquium
The Lion’s Roar / Ian Fischer
Senior communication majors Dominique Brogle (right), Shelby Devlin (center) and Lindsey Wallette-Osborne (left) presented their theses at the Senior Colloquium. For these seniors the colloquium is their graduation as a communication major. After their presentations the seniors were pinned by family, faculty or anyone they found worthy of the honor (left).
BY IAN FISCHER Staff Reporter
On topics from Miley Cyrus to mental illness, communication seniors gathered in D.Vickers Hall to demonstrate their ability to effectively communicate their theses at the 2016 Senior Colloquium. Also gathered in D.Vickers Hall on the Friday morning just before finals week, were the presenters’ families, moderating faculty and other students who were spectating. According to communication professor Claire Procopio, the point of the colloquium is to put the seniors’
ability to communicate to the test. “When you graduate with communication in your degree title, people think you can give a speech even if what you majored in is video editing,” said Procopio. “We totally believe people with that name can do these communicative things.” Procopio said the speeches need to be well organized, to connect with the audience and to be clearly communicated without phrases such as “um, uh, you know.” According to Procopio, the communication seniors began preparing for the colloquium
semesters in advance. “They have to ask a question, research a question in communication and they have to do their own research,” said Procopio. “They have to do the methodology to answer their question. They can’t just look up what other people have said.” Communication senior Shelby Devlin spoke about Miley Cyrus’ image transformation from a Disney star to the provocative pop-star of the 2013 VMAs during her presentation. In order to research this topic, Devlin had to turn to the star’s internet presence. “It was really time
consuming,” said Devlin. “I’m not going to lie.” Students were required to have a visual presentation during their colloquium. Devlin was comfortable with handling the visual representations of Cyrus who often wears overtly sexual clothing. “If there was going to be little children in here, I was going to be like ‘just so you know, viewer discretion advised,’ but there wasn’t,” said Devlin. “We’re all adults here.” Delvin said she was confident in her presentation and wants to get a job in Colorado after graduation. She said she would
enjoy working with someone like Miley Cyrus in public relations. “It would be a challenge, but a fun challenge,” said Devlin. After the colloquium the seniors were pinned and some were awarded for their work. Along with winning the “Outstanding Senior in Communication” award, senior communication major William Dew won “Best Senior Thesis” for: “New Gatekeepers: The Effects of New Media on Gatekeeping Theory.” According to Dew, the Gatekeeping theory describes the way news is spread, but social media has changed it. “There has been a lot of
research that suggests that this either is not a valid theory anymore, or it needs to be changed to account for the internet audience,” said Dew. Dew’s research focused on Ferguson Missouri and if Twitter influenced print media coverage. Freshman communication major Tyler Guidroz went to senior communication major Danielle Shearer’s thesis “Real Perception in Avatar Creation” and said it was “eye-opening.” He said he wants to focus on reality television for his thesis. “I just don’t feel that reality TV is real anymore,” said Guidroz.
Students collaborate with local businesses for final project BY KARSON SHARP Staff Reporter
For their final project in marketing management, students gave a market planning lecture in Garrett Hall. The lecture took place at
12:30 p.m. on Monday, May 3, and featured several student groups. Some had collected data about First Guaranty Bank and their competitors, while others interpreted the data and made suggestions on how to improve the bank.
Senior marketing major Jonathan Bordelon led one of the teams of students, and worked on the marketing segmentation component of the presentation. Bordelon enjoyed and learned from the project. “I feel I learned a very large
amount about analysis, about analyzing data and seeing how everything correlates in a major marketing project,” said Bordelon. “What my group did was the foundation of the entire marketing plan. Without this, there would be nothing people could base their statements off of.” Bordelon’s team contributed the market segmentation component of the lecture. They analyzed the perceived usefulness, the ease of use, risk, perceived trust and perceived value of a product. According to Bordelon, all of these factors are important in marketing a product, and they have a different weight of importance between consumer classifications.
He noted the fulfillment and the hands-on knowledge gained during the project. “The project was a lot of fun,” said Bordelon. “It was a lot of strenuous work, but it was extremely detailed. For someone like me who is very analytical, I really enjoyed looking at all these tables and data. Seeing that this is how everything pieces together. I think it gave me a lot of leadership skills too.” Another team of students, led by senior marketing major Sean Mercer, examined the different groups of customers First Guaranty Bank can reach. The first type of customer, disconnects, includes males above the age of 76 who enjoy
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interaction during transactions and should not be marketed to. Prospectives, the second group, consists of professional women with college degrees. Prospectives can be reached, but marketing to them should be secondary to other groups. Next comes infrequents, who are mainly parents with young children, and value convenience and ease of use. As such, First Guaranty Bank’s mobile banking app presents a major draw for them. The last pool of customers was the regulars. This is the largest consumer group, and primarily consists of males between the ages of 18-55. According to Mercer, the group mainly consists of millennials, and this is the group that should be marketed to. This was the group that could make up a new customer base and is the future of the banking industry. They seek innovative and secure banking. Visiting Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management Dr. Wesley Pollitte, taught the course. According to Pollitte, students had two months to work on the project, and chose their own groups. Each group chose a task for the whole marketing plan, and worked closely with employees of First Guaranty Bank. The result was a full, professional level marketing plan bound in notebooks.
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Panamá Bilingüe Graduates head home PANAMA continued from pg. 1 “The students bring a new perspective that helps Southeastern students learn about the lives of international students and how the world works outside of the United States,” said Lopez. Management and Business professor and director of the Hispanic Business Institute Dr. Aristides Baraya stated the importance of the Panamá Bilingüe Program. “It’s a culmination of something they really want,” said Baraya. “They are already teachers in Panama. They come here to learn English and also they are doing this for their country and they’re very proud of their country.” Panamá Bilingüe participant Elkin Miranda admits that at Southeastern, the professor’s pronunciation is better, which contributed to him learning more than he learned in Panamá. At the
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The Panamá Bilingüe Program held a graduation in the Alumni Center on Friday, May 6 . The emotional ceremony was confirmation of four months of courses in English that included reading, listening, grammar and vocabulary courses. university, he learned more grammar, vocabulary, reading and speaking to prepare him more for his job as a teacher. “For me, English is very important,” said Miranda. “I take the course at Southeastern and it is very important in my life and my future job. I’m a teacher, so in the future I will teach English to children in Panama.” Another student in the program Melissa Ceitu, also realized the importance of learning English when the
ABROAD continued from pg. 8 traveling and they will be willing go on adventures with you.” A number of TEFL opportunities are available and TEFL Iberia may be a good spot to start for some. “There’s such a large demand for English speaking abilities,” said Davie. “It is a great opportunity for English speakers. There is a large demand for a wide variety of English classes in Barcelona. Past graduates have SENIOR continued from pg. 1 guests and university President Dr. John L. Crain will be attending. “We like the seniors to be familiar with the Alumni Association before they leave,” said Perise. “We figure throwing a party for them is a great way for them to understand what we
president of Panama expressed hopes of Panamanian children becoming bilingual. For Ceitu, her favorite moment of the program occurred at the very beginning of her arrival. “When we got the I.D. from Southeastern, it was my favorite moment,” said Ceitu. “We started the new stage to knowledge and new experiences.” Rogers admits that by the end of the semester, her and the students have grown. “It’s always very
bittersweet in the end,” said Rogers. “My Spanish gets better, their English gets better and then they leave.” According to Rogers, some student workers are education majors and some contacted the foreign language department. “We looked for students who could speak Spanish and were recommended from other professors,” said Rogers. For more information on the Panamá Bilingüe Program, contact Rogers at rose. rogers@selu.edu.
done a range of jobs including: teaching adults, teaching kids and teens, business English, exam preparation classes and private classes. Teachers will typically work twenty hours per week, Monday to Thursday, from 4 to 10 p.m. doing classes in academies. Fridays are normally quieter days with some teachers only working a few hours or even taking the day off. The rate of pay varies from twelve to thirty euros per hour, depending on class type and level of experience. As a new teacher, you can expect to earn one thousand to thirteen hundred
euros per month after tax, depending on how hard you work.” If you would like to know more about TEFL Iberia, a modern teacher training school in Barcelona or Spain, visit tefliberia.com or if you are interested in applying, complete an application at tefliberia.com/apply/. “If you have the chance to travel, I say do it,” said DeVall. “When you are in the nursing home, at least your room will be full of pictures you took while you were out having adventures.”
are all about. There will be free food. We have a mini diploma we give out, and they also get to take a picture with Dr. Crain as a group. We also have a drawing for an iPad mini and other prizes as well.” Student Affairs will join the Alumni Association in a day of celebration. “We look forward to this all semester long,”
said Perise. “If the graduating seniors want to bring a friend, we would love for them to do that. We also partner with our student affair staff as well. They come and help us and help serve food, help give out door prizes, and we’re really happy to partner with them.” To attend the Senior Sendoff, register at southeastern.edu/alumni or call 985-549-2150.
Traffic changes planned for Southeastern Commencement May 14 HAMMOND- Motorists and visitors planning to attend Southeastern Louisiana University’s commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14 should anticipate heavy traffic and route changes affecting University Avenue (Hwy. 3234) between Interstate 55 and North Cherry Street. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards will speak at the ceremony, where approximately 1,100 students will receive associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at the 10 a.m. ceremony in the University Center. Director of University Police Harold Todd said the section of University Avenue between West Tornado Drive and SGA Drive will be restricted from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that day. Local traffic will be allowed to proceed on University Avenue for as long as possible but will be diverted through the campus as congestion increases. Prior to commencement, the University Center parking areas are expected to fill early, and all traffic on University Avenue will be diverted. Eastbound commencement traffic will be diverted to West Tornado Drive for parking at the University Center, and westbound commencement traffic will be diverted to the campus at SGA Drive. “Traffic will begin to get heavy early in the morning,” said Todd.
“We anticipate the parking areas around the University Center to be filled before 9 a.m.” Additional parking spaces around the University Center will be set aside for vehicles with appropriate handicapped placards. Individuals requiring handicap accommodations should try to arrive as early as possible. Vacant parking spaces in the Southeastern Oaks/Greek Village complex will also be used for this event. Residents are requested to use the back gate near the laundry facility and maintenance warehouse for entering and exiting between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. “Southeastern Lion Traxx shuttle buses will be in operation before and after the ceremony to accommodate those parking in outlying areas or needing special transportation assistance,” said Todd. “Shuttle stops will be marked with signs and/or canopies.” Drivers not attending commencement are asked to use U.S. 190 (Thomas Street and Morris Street) or Natalbany Road (Hwy. 1064) to avoid University Avenue traffic. University students wishing to return rental textbooks that day should wait until after 2 p.m. to do so.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Prosecutors have ruled that two police officers were justified in fatally shooting a man who shot and wounded them after a car chase through a Baton Rouge neighborhood in February. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore announced his office’s findings Monday. The suspect, 22-year-old Calvin Smith, died at a hospital several
hours after the Feb. 13 gun battle that wounded officers Theodore Smith III and Sean Garic. The officers were released from the hospital less than three days after the shooting. Moore said the officers were responding to a domestic disturbance when Smith led them on a chase that ended outside his home, where he jumped out of a car and shot at the officers with the rifle before they returned fire.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES OVER NORTH CAROLINA LAW RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has sued North Carolina over its law restricting the use of public restrooms by transgender people. The lawsuit was filed Monday just hours after Gov. Pat McCrory filed his own lawsuit over the law. McCrory wants the sweeping law, which limits protections for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual
people, kept in place. McCrory says his lawsuit asks a federal court to clarify what the law actually says with billions in federal aid at stake. The Justice Department lawsuit seeks a court order declaring that the law’s provisions that apply to multiple-occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities “discriminate on the basis of sex.”
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
Gov. Pat McCrory speaks during a news conference at the Governor’s Mansion in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, May 9, 2016. McCrory’s administration sued the federal government Monday in a fight for a state law that requires transgender people to use the public bathroom matching the sex on their birth certificate.
LITTLE MERCURY A BLACK DOT AS IT CROSSES VAST FACE OF SUN
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — For the first time in 10 years, Mercury passed directly between the Earth and sun on Monday, resembling a black dot against the vast, glowing face of our star. Many stargazers turned to the Internet as NASA provided closeto-real-time images of the 7½hour trek, courtesy of the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Although the solar system’s small, innermost planet appeared to be trudging along, it actually was zooming past the sun at 106,000 mph. The cosmic show — which began at 7:12 a.m. EDT — was visible from the eastern U.S. and Canada, as well as Western Europe, western Africa and most of South America. Those places were privy to the entire event. The audience grew as the sun rose across North America, revealing Mercury’s relatively rare transit. In Eastern Europe, the Middle East, central
Asia and most of Africa, sunset had the curtain coming down early. Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea missed out altogether. NASA warned spectators to use high-powered binoculars or telescopes equipped with special filters to protect their eyes from the glaring sun. Eclipse glasses were useless for spotting 3,000-milewide Mercury as it crossed the 864,000-mile diameter of the sun. A transit of Mercury occurs only about 13 times a century. The next transit of Mercury won’t occur until 2019. Then it won’t happen again until 2032. “What happens during a transit is really all about perspective,” said Jim Green, director of NASA’s planetary science division who viewed his first transit of Mercury 46 years ago. He said scientists are taking advantage of Monday’s transit to learn more about Mercury’s extremely thin atmosphere.
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