’ 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
Hammond, LA
August 22, 2017
Welcome Week block party Moon vs. Sun: solar eclipse of the century unites students and faculty
North America viewed the total solar eclipse yesterday. Students on campus viewed the eclipse on a solar projection telescope near Pursley Hall. Annie Goodman/The Lion’s Roar ANNIE GOODMAN Staff Reporter
Block Party was held Aug. 18 at the end of SGA Drive. Students had the opportunity to play games, watch showcases from the National Pan-Hellenic Greek societies The first solar eclipse visible and visit food trucks. Zachary Araki/The Lion’s Roar in totality to pass across the United States since June 1918 ZACHARY ARAKI Shilling, Coffee Rani and Kenny’s Cajun “Bringing food trucks on is something that was visible as a partial eclipse in Staff Reporter and Creole. Colleen Fidod with Coffee Rani we’ve never done before,” said Parker. “This Louisiana. The eclipse crossed the United from Covington discussed her thoughts on the is the first time Southeastern ever had that. Food trucks, games and Greek showcases event. We wanted to do something that represents States on Monday, Aug. 21 entertained students at the end of Welcome “Very good,” said Fidod. “I was worried all students and have a really big inclusion between 9:05 a.m. PT in Oregon Week. about the weather being so hot.” factor. Something to do, something fun for the and 4:10 p.m. ET in South The Block Party was held on Aug. 18 Carolina. Locally, the eclipse A desire to show campus life and unity students as well.” on SGA Drive, starting at 6 p.m. The event inspired the idea for Block Party. Organizing and preparing the event was visible between noon and 3 was sponsored by the Student Government p.m. with the peak of visibility “I wanted to do something where students required a coordinated effort. Association, the Office for Student Engagement felt like there was campus life even on the “Having to connect with the food trucks was occurring around 1:30 p.m. and University Housing. Marjorie Parker, “A solar eclipse happens the coordinator of Student Engagement and when the moon passes between Multicultural and International Student Affairs the Earth and the sun,” said Head was on the Welcome Week committee and of the Department of Chemistry helped organize the event. This was the first and Physics Gerard Blanchard. year the event was held. “This happens when a new “I feel like this went very well for a first moon occurs at the same time time,” said Parker. “We had an excellent as the sun is near the line where the Earth’s orbital plane and the turnout. The students look like they’re having moon’s orbital plane intersect. a great time. I’m very pleased.” Otherwise, the new moon Chambria Harrison, a junior communication passes over or under the sun major worked Block Party for the National from Earth’s point of view. This Association for the Advancement of Colored give us two ‘eclipse seasons’ People. “It’s a good way to let the students know each year, and one or two solar what organizations are available on campus, eclipses occur somewhere on the get them a way to meet other people, interact Earth each season.” with other students on campus, and it’s just a An eclipse is classified based way to get them out of the dorm rooms,” said on how much of the sun is Harrison. “No one wants to be a hermit crab covered at the peak of the eclipse. their whole semester.” Though this is classified as a total Sushant Gupta, a freshman computer solar eclipse, it will not be visible science major shared his reasons for attending Block Party, a new event of Welcome Week, was the first time the university brought food trucks on campus in totality from Louisiana. the event. for an event. Students socialized at this event on the last day of Welcome Week. Zachary Araki/The Lion’s Roar “The eclipse seasons occur “All of my friends are coming, so I thought slightly earlier each year so that why not visit a new culture and new things,” weekends and on Fridays,” said Parker. “I a huge endeavor,” said Parker. “Making sure the dates of eclipses tend to get said Gupta. “I have learned some things from wanted to definitely get them to see that, and that the students were all on board, the Pan- slightly earlier each year,” said this.” then we wanted to try something different.” Hellenic Greeks were on board to do Informal Blanchard. “Even though solar Food vendors included Taco de Paco, City Parker shared why she wanted to include a Social. Just having everybody coming together eclipses happen fairly frequently, Gelatin, Dat Dog of New Orleans, Grilling new dining aspect to the event. and having a successful event.” one geographical location on Earth sees them rarely because
the size of the moon’s shadow on the Earth is fairly small and the eclipse happens fairly quickly.” Just as it is not safe to stare at the sun on a regular day, Blanchard explains that looking directly at a solar eclipse can be harmful. “Watch safely,” said Blanchard. “Get certified glasses from a reputable supplier, or use a projection method such as a pinhole camera, easy and quick to make, or a solar projection telescope. Weather permitting, I will be on the lawn between Pursley Hall, Mims Hall and Tinsley Hall with a solar telescope for viewing on Monday between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.” According to Blanchard, it will be six and seven years before Hammond will see another solar eclipse. “The next solar eclipses visible from Hammond will be on Oct. 14, 2023, 44th eclipse of Saros Cycle 134, and April 8, 2024, 30th eclipse of Saros Cycle 139,” said Blanchard. Blanchard explains how this solar eclipse is different. “What’s special about this eclipse is that it is the 22nd eclipse in Saros Cycle 145,” said Blanchard. “That is a series of 77 eclipses that recur every 18 years, 11 days and eight hours. The cycle started in 1639 with a partial eclipse near the north pole and will end in 3009 with a partial eclipse near the south pole. In between those, the location of every successive eclipse moves southward and westward in spiral around the Earth.”
Merit-based pay raises for faculty Fall updates to campus parking ANNIE GOODMAN Staff Reporter
At the Fall 2017 convocation, President John L. Crain announced the first merit-based pay raises for university faculty since 2009-10. “This is the first year over the past decade that Southeastern has not sustained any budget cuts from the state,” said Executive Director of Public and Governmental Affairs Erin Cowser. “A stable budget along with strong student enrollment and conservative fiscal practices allow us to provide raises this year.” Approximately $3 million from the budget will be used to fund this raise plan for a total raise pool increase of about 5.25 percent from the current salary. “Please keep in mind that individual employee raises may be more or less than this amount, as
recommended by the supervisor, and will vary based on the amount of the departmental pool, each employee’s prior years’ merit evaluations and other relevant factors,” said Crain. Employees who are full-time as of June 30, 2017 will be eligible to receive a merit-based pay raise, and supervisors will take into account merit evaluations up to the 2008-09 fiscal year for those eligible. “This includes eligible unclassified faculty and staff members, as well as classified employees, whose raise was included as a provision in the compromise budget passed by the legislature for this fiscal year,” said Cowser. Individual departments will receive a raise pool of .75 percent of the eligible employees’ current salaries for the past nine years with
Weather
Tuesday H 90 L 73
departments with low turnover receiving a larger raise pool than those with high turnover that more accurately represents the current market. “Please also keep in mind that all raise recommendations will be reviewed up the administrative line through the president prior to submission to the board of supervisors for final approval,” said Crain. “Once approved by the board, raises will be reflected in the next regular pay period, hopefully by Aug. 31 for faculty, Sept. 1 for staff, and will be effective retroactively to July 1.” Cowser believes the current faculty deserves this because of years of service to the students when there were no pay raises. “As always, Southeastern faculty and staff are expected
see PAY RAISE, pg. 8
Upperclass parking zones along with other parking zones have been affected due to the construction on campus. However, certain measures to tackle these problems have been taken. “Two new resident halls are under construction where a large parking lot was located,” said Director of University Police Harold Todd. “The spaces that were lost were made up by telling students to park in the garage because it has never been utilized 100 percent for years. Also, a new gravel lot was created at the corner of North Oak St. and West Dakota St. The lot and garage will make up for the lost spaces from the construction.” West Dakota St. parking along the sidewalk has been declared an Upperclassman Commuter zone while parking spaces have been added between Lion Traxx, the Division for Student Affairs and the University the new technology building and Pursley Hall to Police Department are among the departments that have accommodate with the changes. aided in on campus parking changes. Nikisun Shrestha/The Lion’s Roar Students are also advised to arrive at least 30 minutes before class or appointment time. Lion Traxx NIKISUN SHRESTHA will also be running additional shuttles to facilitate the Staff Reporter students. The beginning of the fall semester has seen many Todd further explains the changes going on in changes made to the university. One of the major changes has regarded parking spaces. see PARKING, pg. 8
Index
Wednesday H 92 L 73
Campus Life.................................2 Opinions.....................................3 A&E............................................4
Horoscope, Crossword, Sudoku....5 Sports.........................................6 News..........................................8
Stay Connected With Us!
Volume 89, Issue 3
Like and follow @lionsroarnews.
A Student Publication www.lionsroarnews.com lionsroar@southeastern.edu