The Lion's Roar 08/17/2020 - Back-to-School edition

A Student Publication

Volume 92, Issue 1

Make Your Own Mask A step-by-step guide International Students Face pandemic overseas The Big Three SGA ofďŹ cers prepare for new challenges Trending on TikTok Departments on campus engage through social media

Table of CONTENTS From the Editor .............................................

Know Mask Policy on Campus ...................

The Big Three ................................ ..............

TikTok is the Trend ..................................

A Pageant Journey ......................................

Dating life Mid-Pandemic ....................

Fashionable Face Coverings.................

Equipment from the Pennington Center..

Lions from a long distance ....................

“Home Brew History” ............................

Staff Speakout ..........................................

2

3 4 6 8 10 11 14 16 20 22 23

ON THE COVER: Taevione Davis, A sophomore communication major Photograph by: Symiah Dorsey/The Lion’s Roar

From the Editor

When we started classes last semester, we were unaware of what the year held for us. Things started taking a turn when cases of the noval coronavirus increased exponentially and the university decided to shift from in-person classes to a remote learning format. Since March, this year has been nothing less than unprecedented and filled with moments that ultimately tested our resilience. Most of us changed beyond measure. These changes were not just brought about by the pandemic but also by the renewed attention to injustice and inequality in our communities.

Moreover, a wave of change passed through us as we took time to reflect on our thoughts and actions. The past few months taught us how to adapt to change and how to handle the things we love with care. This will be a valuable lesson all of us will treasure for the rest of our lives.

In spite of all unusual circumstances, The Lion’s Roar maintained our commitment of providing news and a voice for the student body. We engaged in problem solving and produced content every week for the last spring and summer semesters.

Our staff worked remotely, and we continued the tradition that started in 1937. For the Fall 2020 semester, we will continue to do the same. Fresh content will be posted to our website every week, and we will distribute the newsletter every Tuesday. However, keeping safety in mind, the Office of Student Publications has decided not to distribute the printed version of newspapers across campus and the Hammond area at this time.

Of all these changes happening around us, there was an additional change for Student Publications as we moved our campus office location. We were previously located in the Student Union, but we are now located in the North Campus Main Building, room 156. Our department is open, and our readers are welcome to visit us. As we begin a new semester, our staff at The Lion’s Roar wants to assure our readers that we will continue performing our responsibilities as a student publication for the university.

They say that change is challenging, but it is also inevitable.

During this change, I hope we will all rise together.

Stay healthy, and welcome back to campus!

Sincerely, Prakriti Adhikari Editor-in-Chief The Lion’s Roar

Prakriti is a senior accounting major and an international student from Kathmandu, Nepal. She has been working with Student Publications for the past three years.

3

Policies and Procedures The Lion’s Roar is the official newspaper of the students of Southeastern Louisiana University. It has been in continuous publication since 1937.

Submissions and letters to the editor are welcomed, but the editor of The Lion’s Roar reserves the right to edit all submissions for grammar, libel and available space, or refuse publication without notification.

Submissions must include the author’s full name and either phone number, e-mail or other contact information (not to be published). Faculty and staff

members should include their title and department. Students should include their classification and major. By submitting an article for publication, the author understands that the submission will be edited.

Organizational News space is provided at no charge as a courtesy for university recognized Greek and Student Organizations. The space of such articles is limited to 150 words. Submissions of this Organizational News must adhere to the same polices as other submissions or letters to the editor but must also include the name of the organization.

All views expressed in The Lion’s Roar are those of the author or, if unsigned, those of the staff of The Lion’s Roar. These views should not be interpreted as the views of the administration, faculty or students of Southeastern Louisiana University.

A single issue of The Lion’s Roar is free. Additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents in the North Campus Main Building, room 156. Annual mail subscriptions are $35 within the continental U.S. The Lion’s Roar, in its print form, and associated online or

digital 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.

Contact Us Editor-in-Chief - Prakriti Adhikari Office Assistant - Ashlyn Harris Graduate Assistant - Sean Haydel Administrative Assistant - Gemma Carter Coordinator - Lorraine Peppo Director - Dr. Lee E. Lind

General Offices - SLU 10877 900B Lion Lane North Campus Main Building, room 156 Hammond, LA 70402 Mailing Address - The Lion’s Roar SLU 10877 Hammond, LA 70402 Email - lionsroar@southeastern.edu Telephone Numbers - 985-549-3527 (newsroom) 985-549-3842 (fax) 985-549-3731 (advertising)

4

University outlines restrictions for Fall 2020 As a part of an ongoing effort to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff, the university has announced new restrictions and guidelines as a result of COVID-19 cases in Louisiana.

Upon returning to campus, all faculty and students will be required to wear face masks/coverings and maintain a six-foot distance from others.

The Student Safe Campus Guide outlines that face coverings should be worn at all times when inside any building on campus. It also lists the modifications made to campus buildings, including social distancing stickers, sneeze guards and seating limitations.

In addition, buildings and classrooms have been modified to better accommodate social distancing guidelines. New signs reminding students and faculty to wear masks and directing foot traffic will be placed inside buildings. Each building on campus will also have limited entry and exit points.

The Safe Campus Guide encourages students to bring their own face masks or coverings to campus with them. Masks will be available in each building in the event a student or faculty member does not have or has forgotten one.

The university’s newly released policy on face mask/coverings found on their website stated that students, faculty and staff who refuse to comply with the oncampus mask mandate will face disciplinary action.

According to the policy, “Students found to be in violation of this policy will be afforded due process as prescribed in the University Code of Student Conduct.

Failure to comply by vendors, contractors, visitors or patrons may result in loss of campus access and potential termination of the contractual or other relationship with the university.”

The policy also lists scenarios in which students are exempt from wearing a face

covering: outdoor activities or events in which 10 or fewer people are present, occupancy of a student’s private vehicle, occupancy of on-campus living spaces or when eating in designated dining areas.

Students with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a face covering are also exempt from the mandate. Such students must bring documentation to the Office of Student Accessibility Services to verify this exemption.

Jeremy Brignac, director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, asked in the guide that students be flexible and understanding.

“Our knowledge and understanding of the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, and our policies and plans will be updated as appropriate as more information becomes available,” said Brignac. “This may not be a straight path forward. We likely will have some stops and starts, so your flexibility and understanding will be essential to our success.”

-Dylan Meche Staff Reporter

5

Know your student leaders The Big Three

From the SGA

63

Student leaders are learning to adapt as they prepare for a semester that will present a unique array of challenges. The Student Government Association’s “Big Three,” the president, vice president and chief justice, are no exception.

After winning the election in April, the SGA officers spent their summer brainstorming ways to keep the student body informed and involved while also keeping their safety in mind.

L’Oreal Williams, SGA president, explained that part of SGA’s plan for the upcoming semester involves hosting events that ensure students’ safety.

“Being that COVID-19 will have a significant impact on campus life as we know it, we are aiming towards implementing activities that are not only enjoyable but will ensure the safety of our students,” said Williams. “With that being said, we are planning an array of virtual events for this semester.”

Going into the fall semester, Williams shared that she wants to encourage teamwork and effective communication in order to help students ease into the school year.

“My leadership strategy this semester includes promoting teamwork amongst my team, as well as encouraging ideas from my peers to make this semester a smooth transition as we return,” commented Williams. “Being transparent is an especially important quality for me this semester, being that I plan on informing the student body about changes as early as possible.”

Many students are still uncertain about how the rest of 2020 will go. Darnell Butler, SGA vice president, shared how he feels about serving as a student leader during these confusing times.

“It makes me feel like I have to lead by example,” said Butler. “A lot of students don’t want to come back, so it’s figuring out how to make students the most comfortable, what kind of resources can we provide so they’re excelling academically, whether it’s

SGA President L’Oreal Williams (top), SGA Vice President Darnell Butler (right) and SGA Chief Justice Madison Sunde (bottom).

social distancing in class or taking classes online for the majority of the semester. A lot of students and organizations look up to SGA, so it’s important that we’re taking this very seriously and we’re adapting to this new norm.

This semester is going to have a lot of new changes, so it’s a lot of figuring out how we can help students adapt to something they’ve never really seen before.”

A new feature coming to campus this year through SGA is Lion Talk Tuesdays. Butler explained how these meetings will contribute to improving

campus life.

“It’s kind of like a campus town hall,” mentioned Butler.

“Students will be able to come one Tuesday per month and express any concerns or thoughts or ideas that they have. Throughout the semester, we’ll have different topics that we can talk about at each town hall. Throughout each one, we’ll try to include different panelists, which may include any faculty or staff members that students want to hear from.”

A primary concern among students this semester is alternative forms of learning.

Madison Sunde, SGA chief justice, shared why hybrid or remote learning is still a good opportunity for students to be involved on campus.

“Don’t make college a nine-to-five job,” advised Sunde. “Especially during this time, you’re forced to think ‘I can only do so much in a day.’ When it comes to getting involved, this is the best time because you want to eliminate as much isolation as possible.

We have such a diverse group of positions and ways to get involved that you can literally choose how much you want to commit and what way you

want to do it.”

Sunde explained that during the course of the semester, she wants to find a balance between being flexible to unforeseen circumstances and working to achieve her goals.

“For this semester, what I’m anticipating is trying to be adaptable, but also sticking to your core goals and initiatives,” said Sunde. “For me, it’s just being a voice for students and keeping students informed. We all have plans in place so that no matter what phase we’re in, we’re going to get that initiative across.”

-Maggie Tregre Staff Reporter

7

Chris Black and Hannah Perrier create a TikTok for @slu_rec, the TikTok account for the Pennington Student Activity Center.

Officer Madison Morse shows off one of her TikToks from @southeasternupd.

Morse creates a TikTok video.

TikTok is the trend Several university departments and organizations have begun using the popular social media platform TikTok to better engage with students.

According to the data from analytics site Sensor Tower, the platform has become one of the most downloaded apps over the past few months, with over 87 million downloads in June of 2020. TikTok has even gained the attention of the president, who is considering banning the app overconcerns about TikTok as a national security threat.

Still, the app’s rise in popularity has opened a new avenue of communication for university departments and organizations.

One of the most popular university affiliated accounts is the University Police Department’s TikTok account.

The account has the largest following out of all the Division for Student Affairs departments, with over 36,000 followers, 310,000 likes and over 1 million video views as of Aug. 10.

UPD’s social media coordinator and communications supervisor Tiffany Chavers-Edwards manages the account.

She explained that the platform’s rise in popularity with students encouraged the UPD to create an account.

“We noticed that we have a lot of students who are active on TikTok and decided this was a great tool to reach a large amount of our student population

at one time,” said Chavers-Edwards.

Chavers-Edwards shared that she did not expect the account to become so popular in such a short amount of time.

“I have been the department’s social media coordinator for several years now and am very familiar with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter,” explained Chavers-Edwards. “I have learned all the ins and outs over the years of these platforms and thought TikTok would be no big deal. I wasn’t ready. TikTok is a whole new experience for me.”

The account’s large following has allowed the UPD to reach a massive audience and has helped the department build a better relationship with the student body.

“We always want our campus community to know that UPD is here for them, no matter what their need is,” explained Chavers-Edwards. “TikTok allows us to show our officers in their everyday work environment and how they interact with each other and with the community. Being active on a social media platform with such a large following allows us to reach people that we normally wouldn’t be able to reach on our other platforms, like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.”

The UPD plans to continue to use the platform to reach students during this semester.

“UPD will continue posting safety videos and information related to programming, such as RAD selfdefense classes and ‘Blue and You’ events, to get that information out to our campus community,” said ChaversEdwards. “We want our students to know when events are happening, but we also want them to know how to keep themselves safe.”

The Pennington Student Activity Center also created a TikTok account in early February. Strategic communication specialist for the Pennington Daniel “Emile” Stretcher explained that he created the account to expand their brand.

“I figured that doing something fun like creating a TikTok account would be something unique that would get us noticed around campus,” said Stretcher.

Stretcher shared that he believes the TikTok account allows students to see the fun side of working and visiting the Pennington. This semester, Stretcher plans to continue using the account to promote the Pennington’s events and activities.

“We plan to be on the ball with the latest trends for the upcoming semester,” shared Stretcher. “We plan to create many more TikToks, and we hope that they go viral around campus.

Putting a smile on someone’s face is the type of positive impact we love to make right here at the REC.”

-Dylan Meche Staff Reporter

9

A pageant journey

“

Your goals can still be accomplished. It

might take a different route than what you intended, but your goals can still be accomplished, and you can still do what you want to

“

do as far as your academics and your professional career.

-Janine Hatcher, Miss Southeastern 2020

On Nov. 22 of last year, Janine Hatcher began her journey as Miss Southeastern 2020.

The pageant winner has since carried out her reign through unexpected circumstances, witnessing history unfold before her.

Although Hatcher’s pageant duties have been met with obstacles during the pandemic, she has used her extended time to keep her commitments afloat.

To start, Hatcher announced the new date for the Miss Southeastern 2021 pageant.

“It has changed,” shared Hatcher. “We moved it from November, and it’s now going to be on January 22 at the Columbia Theater.”

Once a Miss Southeastern is crowned, she advances to the Miss Louisiana pageant the following summer. Hatcher’s opportunity was postponed, but she will still get her chance to compete next year.

“It’s been pushed to next June, 2021,” shared Hatcher. “Actually, this week we have a few meetings with the Miss America Organization for all of our title holders that I’ll be attending. I’m very excited to still represent the university and excited to welcome the next individual who will be attending Miss Louisiana with me for the first time.”

The Mr. Southeastern pageant, which crowned senior communication major Brian Williams last year, is also subject to change.

“We are intending to do it in the fall if possible, but if not, we’ll try to adapt

and make changes like we did with Miss Southeastern to make that happen as well,” explained Hatcher.

Although plans continue to shift at a moment’s notice, Hatcher has maintained faith in achieving her goals.

“All the plans and goals that I had initially, I plan to carry them out with the extended time,” said Hatcher. “I’m thankful that I have the extra time to fulfill those goals come into fruition.”

Hatcher will begin her next goal in the fall as she pursues a Master of Business Administration.

“I start the program in the fall, and I’m excited about that,” expressed Hatcher. “I’ve always been pretty tunnel vision about what I’ve wanted to do ever since I was younger.

I want to work in a financial institution, and I’m now considering business law. So, getting a Master’s in Business Administration will help further my knowledge.”

In the recent months of her reign, Hatcher has also been using her platform to advocate for civil rights.

Hatcher shared why she chose to use her Miss Southeastern platform to spread awareness.

“I think everyone with a platform has a responsibility to speak on the things they believe and speak on injustices that they see in the world,” said Hatcher. “So, I’m using my platform to educate people—to start having

conversations with people, which I’ve had. A lot of them have turned out really well.”

With elections approaching, Hatcher has also shared voting links and reminders on Instagram.

“Exercise your rights,” encouraged Hatcher. “Everyone has rights, and it is our job and duty to exercise that, and we’re never too young to do that.”

Despite the circumstances of her pageant journey, Hatcher does not consider her experience much different from previous title holders.

“It’s definitely been unprecedented, but I’m not doing anything necessarily different than anyone else would,” said Hatcher.

“We’re taking it as it is and as it comes. I can’t say my reign is more special than anyone else’s. It’s just me adapting to that. It’s been a learning experience for me.”

As Hatcher reflected on her pageant journey, she reminded others that their goals are still obtainable and that sometimes, it just takes a little rearranging.

“Your goals can still be accomplished,” assured Hatcher. “It might take a different route than what you intended, but your goals can still be accomplished, and you can still do what you want to do as far as your academics and your professional career. I would just encourage everyone to take it with a light heart and to continue doing what they’re doing.”

-Symiah Dorsey Staff Reporter

Dating life mid-pandemic Many aspects of life have been altered due to the coronavirus, and for multiple students, that includes their dating lives.

With restrictions and social distancing guidelines in place, couples have had to adjust to a new way of life in their relationships.

Gabriella Gioia, a freshman biological sciences major, described how the pandemic has led her to miss her boyfriend Roman Damasch, a student-athlete from Germany.

“Being with someone you truly love and having everything flipped upside down because of a pandemic is definitely extremely challenging,” said Gioia. “For me, being without him for even two days feels like an eternity. But what’s even worse is he’s currently back home in Germany, and we’ve been doing long distance for two months. He always encourages me when I get sad about him not being here with me, and I’m truly lucky to have him.”

Gioia explained the measures that they had to take in order to respect social distancing.

“When the pandemic first started, we had to stop seeing each other for a couple of weeks to make sure both of us remained safe and healthy,” explained Gioia. “Talking over FaceTime for weeks gets old very fast.”

Shelby McGuire, a sophomore elementary education major, shared how long she and her boyfriend, Pyton Anderson, waited until seeing each other again.

“When it first started, we didn’t see each other for a month and a half, but then we started hanging out because neither of us were working, so we weren’t really putting anyone at risk, and it got to the point where you can’t just sit all day and do nothing,” said McGuire.

Although Louisiana is in Phase 2 of reopening, many restaurants and other establishments have remained closed. This had made it difficult for couples to resume normal date night activities.

“Nothing was really canceled for us, but we haven’t been able to go to the movies and that’s something we really like to do,”

mentioned McGuire.

Breanna Dominguez, a sophomore marketing major, explained how she and her boyfriend found other ways to stay involved with one another.

“When COVID-19 first happened, we did movie dates through Netflix, and it was so much fun,” said Dominguez. “We would also FaceTime a few times a week to tell each other how it’s been with our families.”

The current circumstances might make it seem like there is not much left to do, but Dominguez described ways couples can still have quality time.

“We went without seeing each other for a good four weeks because we wanted to be safe in knowing we both didn’t have it,” shared Dominguez. “We were finally able to see each other the week of my birthday, so we did small stuff like baking nights, photoshoots, movie nights, coffee and bible study dates, the whole nine yards. Once the summer hit, we kind of had a routine of baking every weekend, watching weekly shows, trying a different restaurant every week or something that we have never done before.”

Keighty Keppler, a sophomore communication major, expressed the challenges of what dating during a pandemic has entailed.

“It’s been really hard to have meaningful conversations because nothing is really going on in our lives, and we aren’t making any plans,” mentioned Keppler. “Right now, we are both waiting on COVID-19 test results because his grandmother may have gotten it, which means we could become very sick and not see each other for more weeks.”

Although the pandemic caused distance and difficult times for some couples, Gioia encouraged others to keep a positive mindset.

“To any other couples struggling with everything going on in the world, remain hopeful,” advised Gioia. “Keep lifting each other up and communicate. Listening to each other is key. Everything will work out, and hopefully this will all be over soon.”

-Gabrielle Wood Staff Reporter

Rayanne Ridgel. a sophomore special education major and Andrew Jordan, a freshman business major

Keighty Keppler, a sophomore communication major and Joseph Trosclair, a junior communication mjaor

Campus changes

Water fountain stations are disabled across campus to avoid physical contact.

However, bottle-filling attachments are still in use.

The university constructs a plaza in the War Memorial Student Union Park to honor Black Greek-letter organizations.

The university has mandated masks for individuals when inside a building. Main entrance for buildings are open while other entrances are temporarily closed.

The usually busy area in the Mane Dish sits empty after classes transitioned online for Spring 2019 semester.

Free COVID-19 testing at the University Center was organized through a joint collaboration between Tangipahoa Parish Government, Louisiana National Guard and Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Public Health.

Hurricane-Katrina memorial fountain undergoes construction.

13

Fashionable face coverings Around the globe, people are trading in their nondescript disposable face coverings for custom-made masks that coordinate with their fashion choices.

Students have tapped into their creativity when it comes to designing unique face coverings and recognizing the bright side of the mask requirements.

Breigh Blouin, a senior nursing major, has produced over 300 face masks for healthcare workers, friends, family and herself after learning to sew during the pandemic.

“I decided to make my own masks just because I work in the healthcare atmosphere as a nurse tech and knew that it was something that was necessary to wear,” shared Blouin. “My mom actually decided to teach me how to sew during quarantine, which made me realize I loved sewing.”

Blouin said she receives many requests for certain mask colors and themes, and she has been able to earn an income from her creations.

“I have sold a good 200 of my masks that I made,” said Blouin. “I actually started by making around 100 for family and friends, then making some for my co-workers and giving them away to other units in my hospital that I work at. I started out just wanting to help others and realized that I could really encourage others to wear masks.”

Ainsley Scott, a junior business major, has created around 75 masks during the pandemic. She said her newfound free time played a role in her decision to start creating masks of her own design for herself and others.

“I decided to start making my own masks when I realized how much free time I had,” said Scott. “I figured I could use my time to benefit people while making a profit at the same time.”

Scott also chose to produce her own masks to save money and help the environment.

“The masks made from fabric can be washed and reused unlimitedly,” said Scott. “Not only are you saving money, you are helping the environment by eliminating waste, and plus, fabric masks are a lot cuter than hospital masks, making them more enjoyable to wear.”

According to Scott, many people have reached out to her via social media to place orders for their custom face coverings.

When making the masks, Scott has the comfort and interests of her customers in mind, especially when it comes to her family members.

“The fabric I chose were the ones I thought people would find most desirable,” explained Scott. “I love patterns and lots of color. I even used some of my grandma’s fabric, who passed away, to give to my relatives, which meant a lot to them.”

The ability to create custom face coverings enhances outfits and lightens the constraints of the mask policies, according to Scott.

“I have a mask that coordinates with almost every outfit I have,” expressed Scott. “If masks are something we have to wear, why not complete your outfit with a cute mask?”

Scott has delighted in creating and providing something for others during these troubling times.

“Although this pandemic is a horrible thing, I am able to find joy by using my time to help provide masks for people,” commented Scott.

Blouin claimed that the pandemic experience and the task of creating reusable masks has helped her to see why face coverings are important.

“It really has opened my eyes that we should be wearing masks in our community,” shared Blouin. “The whole experience is really a lot to take in, especially with the state mandating everyone to wear a mask. I just want to encourage others around me to protect themselves and others around them.”

-Brynn Lundy Staff Reporter

15

Fitness Room now offers new equipment “The new, top-of-the-line equipment provides students the opportunity to increase their physical fitness with innovative exercises that provide high intensity training, strength training and cardiovascular training opportunities.�

- Seth Thomas, director of Recreational Sports and Wellness

16

At the beginning of July, the Pennington Student Activity Center began offering access to a new set of equipment in the Fitness Room.

The purchasing process began around two years ago, and the new equipment provides more opportunities and more space for members to exercise.

Seth Thomas, director of Recreational Sports and Wellness, detailed the new equipment the gym has added to the Fitness Room.

“We have added two new Matrix power racks with platforms,” explained Thomas. “The racks are connected by incline and decline ladders. They have a dip stand along with two landmine connections, jamming arms and two battle rope connectors.”

A Matrix Aura 8-Stack Multi Gym, two rowers and an Inspire Cardio Strider have also been added to The Pennington’s collection.

Thomas explained how the equipment was financed.

“The funds came from our reserve account, which is where leftover funds from each year roll into savings,” said Thomas.

“Overall, the equipment cost close to $40,000.”

In addition, Thomas emphasized the importance of the new equipment and the opportunities it offers.

“The new, top-of-the-line equipment provides students the opportunity to increase their physical fitness with innovative exercises that provide high intensity training, strength training and cardiovascular training opportunities,” expressed Thomas.

Pennington staff members toured different facilities around the state, such as collegiate centers and private gyms, to research equipment.

“We also attended the 2018 Athletic Business Fitness EXPO, the 2019 National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Conference and Fitness EXPO to research fitness trends and equipment,” stated Thomas.

Daniel “Emile” Stretcher Jr., a senior communication major, is a student worker at the Pennington. He explained that the process of gaining new equipment has been in the works for a while.

“It’s kind of been in the works because we’re always looking for new ways to improve our facilities,” said Stretcher.

For those who might not be familiar with the Pennington, Stretcher provided a summary of the equipment and services offered.

“The REC is the workout facility, first and foremost,” expressed Stretcher. “It houses multiple areas of fitness equipment, free weights and exercise machines—all kinds of stuff. Along the back, we have four full length basketball courts and two workout studios.

In the face of the Pennington’s reopening, Stretcher detailed how operations at the Fitness Room are going.

“Our Fitness Room is open now, and we have things set up through the entire facility—markers set on which ways to walk, different machines shut down and keeping everyone safe,” explained Stretcher.

Though the new operations are different than usual, Stretcher emphasized how glad he is to be back at work.

“I know for a fact that a lot of people are happy to be back,” expressed Stretcher. “I’m happy to be back in my office, and my coworkers are glad to be back in the REC. It’s a good kind of atmosphere.”

03 18

-Jordyn Franklin Staff Reporter

The Pennington Student Activity Center has been uploading informational videos about using equipment through its YouTube channel “The REC at Southeastern.”

19

Lions from a long distance This semester, the university will see a new type of diversity within its student body: diversity of location.

Many international students have returned to their home countries and made the decision to stay there until further notice, making the population of full-time students broader than ever before.

These students have faced a different set of challenges during the rise of pandemic frenzy. They embarked on last-minute journeys home, and for some, returning home was not as simple as packing up and catching the next flight.

Italian exchange student Lisa Viviani began her journey home with a 30-hour train ride.

“We had to take a flight from New Orleans to New York, but they canceled the flight,” shared Viviani.

“The flight to Rome was only in New York, so I had to arrive in some way. I had to take the train. It lasted 30 hours, but I managed to arrive in time. When I came back to Italy, I couldn’t even hug my parents, eat with them or anything.

I had to stay in my bedroom.”

Viviani studied foreign languages at the university through a year-long exchange program. She was sad to leave on short notice but was grateful to the faculty for helping her through the chaos.

“It was my only chance to be at Southeastern, so I was really sad to go back to Italy,” said Viviani.

“Actually, I have to thank Southeastern because they helped me more than my

20

university in Italy did. The teachers in the language department have been amazing. They helped me a lot with everything.”

Nele Gudermann, a sophomore psychology major from Germany, felt supported by the campus community as well.

“It was very uncertain at that time,” noted Gudermann. “Nobody had any information really, but my coach helped me a lot during that time. I had a lot of friends helping me move my stuff and driving me to the airport. One of my professors, Professor Adelmann, she’s so sweet. She said that I could put all my belongings in her house while I was in Germany, and that helped a lot as well. I feel like everybody did their best in that crazy situation.”

After saying goodbye to their Hammond family, international students also adapted to taking their classes in different time zones.

From Cyprus, an island country in the Mediterranean Sea, senior kinesiology major Michalis Andreou completed his semester with an eighthour time difference.

“Thankfully, all of my professors were very helpful with my situation and the time difference,” shared Andreou. “With that being said, I had to stay up late to take my exams. For me, it was kind of hard to focus on my exams and homework, since I’m a person that works better if I have the right environment, and my home was not one of them. I tried my best though and ended up with a good

GPA.” Andreou chose the university for its kinesiology program as well as its track and field team, which he was disappointed to leave behind.

“COVID-19 really messed our plans as a team,” commented Andreou.

“We were all in good shape and ready to get first place at the conference and the ring. Unfortunately, things changed, but we are more motivated for next year so we can finish what we’ve started. Individually, I kept practising when I arrived home, and I’m currently running a few track meets in my home country.”

Gudermann, who also came to Louisiana for track and field, knew the university was the one for her before even setting foot on campus last year.

“It was crazy how familiar I felt with the university before I visited it in person,” mentioned Gudermann.

“It was really welcoming and openminded, and the campus is so pretty.

Plus, it’s so warm in Louisiana, which is great for doing track and field. All of those things added up, and that’s why I chose Southeastern.”

Looking back on last semester, Gudermann thanked the university for taking her challenges seriously.

“I just want to say that I felt people took me seriously about my concerns when I left the States,” expressed Gudermann. “I know many universities didn’t take the international students very seriously. I felt very understood. I couldn’t ask for a better coach or university.”

-Symiah Dorsey Staff Reporter

1 2 1. Italian exchange student Lisa Viviani poses in Friendship Circle.

3

4

2. Senior athlete Michalis Andreou has been running track meets in his home country.

3. Andreou enjoys a scenic view in Cyprus.

4. Nele Gudermann, a sophomore athlete from Germany, is hoping to return for the spring semester.

5. Gudermann poses next to a fellow international student at the annual Holi festival.

5

21

“Home Brew History” A passion turned into a podcast A podcast that began as a joke on World War II and has a podcast that between two friends has evolved into an was the main inspiration for Ricci and avenue for them to interview well-known Trisler’s. Another guest of the podcast and respected historians from around the was Dr. Jeremy Black, also an English world. historian and author who has covered Joseph Ricci, a graduate student of topics such as 18th-century British the History program, runs the history politics and international relations. podcast “Home Brew History” along Both Ricci and Trisler reach out to with his friend Riley “Bo” Trisler, a recent master’s graduate from the Department of History and Political Science.

The podcast first started back in March of this year, and according to Ricci, the idea began a few years ago when they were undergraduates and has since evolved into a regular commitment.

For “Home Brew History,” Ricci and Trisler utilize Zoom to speak with guests.

Each episode has its own outline.

“We have outlines and they all start with an introduction, general housekeeping Joey Ricci and Riley “Bo”Trisler rules and what we’re going to talk about with questions and comments and things potential guests through social media like that,” said Ricci. “If not, they send outlets such as Facebook and Twitter. us an outline and it’s up to us to do the Ricci explained how it has become easier research, so we’ll get online and try to to reach out to potential guests during the find books that we can do sort of a crash pandemic. course in whatever topic they’re going to “It’s made life so much easier talk about.” because if you want to get in touch with Guests of the “Home Brew History” somebody, they have nothing else going podcast include experts such as English on, so it’s easier to get in touch and set up historian and author James Holland, who a meeting,” said Ricci. has written over 30 books When it comes to the subject matter

22

for each podcast episode, they are both autonomous in choosing the guests and planning the outline. By doing research prior to choosing their guests, the two hosts have a general idea of what their guests will talk about.

Ricci and Trisler both have a deep love of history that stems from different people in their lives. For Trisler, his inspiration came from a high school history teacher.

“For me, it was my 11th grade American History teacher,” said Trisler. “He sat everybody down on the first day and basically said forget everything you know about American history that you were taught because it’s probably expletive and wrong. He taught a lot of different topics and they made much more sense to me than what I was taught at a younger age.”

Ricci comes from a family that is actively involved in history, with his mom being a curator for the Civil War museum in New Orleans and his dad studying and reading history from a young age.

Episodes of the “Home Brew History” podcast are available on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Speaker and Listen Notes.

-Austin Dewease Staff Reporter

“I think the best thing about the coronavirus was the opportunity to better our time management and abilities to adapt to unprecedented change.

I feel that we’ve all grown stronger through innovative ways to work together and stay connected. Conversely, I think the worst thing about the pandemic was the social isolation and the lives that were lost to this devastating virus.”

-Carter McComack

“The best thing about the pandemic is that it has allowed me to slow down and appreciate things more. The worst thing about the pandemic is obviously that it’s a pandemic - many people have died, and it’s taken a lot of adjustment.”

-Elana Guillory

Staff Speakout: What was the best and worst thing about the pandemic?

“Best thing about the pandemic was getting to spend more time with my family, and the worst thing about the pandemic was doing the same thing over and over again every day.”

-Gerard Borne

“During this pandemic I have lost two jobs, losing more than half of my income. But despite that, I am about to focus more on my hobbies, including finding new ones. Now I have two new hobbies I enjoy very much: photography and cosplaying.”

-Lojuanda Weary

“The best and worst thing I have gained from this pandemic is the reminder that our country does not place enough value in becoming a unified community, a family. There is no denying that this situation has brought many of our flaws to light. As sad as our reality is, it is a chance for us to get our priorities straight and remember the importance of loving thy neighbor.”

-Symiah Dorsey

Visit lionsroarnews.com

Follow The Lion’s Roar on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @lionsroarnews

23