AUGUST 23, 2016 VOLUME 88, ISSUE 04
’ 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
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Recovery continues after disaster Tangipahoa community helps those in need
The Lion’s Roar /William Schmidt
On Aug. 13, a flash flood warning was released in South Louisiana. Over the next two or three days, some residents experienced non-stop raining followed by flooding. After the rain had stopped, some lost everything they owned and were in need of relief efforts to gut their house and dispose of lost material items. Students and community members rallied together to volunteer and help those in need.
BY WILLIAM SCHMIDT Editor in Chief
Over the course of two days, certain areas of south Louisiana felt historic proportions of rain fall. With over two feet of rain in some areas, 13 confirmed dead and some areas still trying to clear out water, members of Tangipahoa Parish came together to help those in need through flood disaster relief. One such effort was led by associate professor Amber Narro. She was able to bring students together and have them meet in front of the Student Union and then coordinate their relief work at various work sites in the community. “This is the product of a conversation with associate professor Amber Narro,” said Executive Director of Public and Government Affairs Erin Cowser. “Over the weekend, she put together a Facebook group called Tangipahoa Volunteers and on her own was thinking of people who needed help and available resources. This is an extension of that. This is where the sites of the work needed list came from. People have been steadily feeding us locations. There is sadly no area that is short in need of resources.”
With students already moved back to campus, the relief effort led by Narro gave students the opportunity to help volunteer in relief work if they were unable to help in their hometowns. “I was trapped in my house for several days due to the flooding but luckily I didn’t have any damage,” said Rebecca Miller, a senior family and consumer sciences major. “I have some friends back home that I can’t go help because I am here on campus and this is my way of being able to help someone else that is going through the same things my friends are going through.” One problem that arose with flood relief work is that dorm residents who had already moved back into housing did not think to bring flood relief supplies. “In less than twenty-four hours, we put out a call since the students in the dorms didn’t think to bring work gloves and safety goggles with them,” said Cowser. “The community made some very generous donations in the first twenty-four hours to donate cleaning supplies and equipment for our students.” Another group that rapidly responded to the disaster was led by senior high school student Kamren Powell from Saint Thomas Aquinas. Powell gathered some of her senior class, and
with the help of teachers and the facilities of St. Albert the Great Chapel and Catholic Student Center, were able to create a clothing and supply station. “A few seniors had the idea to come together and help,” said Powell. “We found a location and came together through senior efforts. It is not as many people that are coming through here, but what we are doing is we will get calls in and we will get family sizes and we will make them a bag of clothes, shoes, whatever they need and we will send it out to them.” According to Cowser, over 200 students came out on the first day of the three-day relief effort at Southeastern and multiple students came out and said that “they will put their heart and muscle in the region today. Sites ranged from Denham Springs, to Amite, to Robert, to Ponchatoula.” Multiple students have seen groups come together as well as help community members in more ways than just relief work to those who had damage due to flooding. “I have been seeing so many groups at Southeastern get together and work as a team to bring Louisiana back strong again,” said
see FLOODING pg. 10
Construction continues on campus BY MORGAN LEDET Staff Reporter
If it is not obvious already, parts of campus are going through construction to add new additions. The grand opening of the new Student Union was held last semester and it will be gaining two new restaurants. In the Student Union Breezeway, Popeye’s Fried Chicken and The Marketplace will be open at the start of the semester. These new restaurants are located next to the university bookstore. Another addition to campus dinning will be Subway. Subway will be in the Tinsley Annex and is scheduled to open in the middle of the semester. The tennis courts, that were located on North Oak St., were recently torn down and will now be a new passive recreation park. Lighting for this area is currently being installed and new elements will be added over time. Benches, picnic tables and bicycle racks are also being installed by grant funding from the Student Government Association. Also, in the same area on North Oak St., a new parking lot is being installed and is expected to be ready during
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Students stay positive amidst flooding BY MORGAN LEDET Staff Reporter
With the recent flooding in Louisiana, many people lost their homes, cars, pictures and personal possessions. There were numerous people who were not able to get out of their homes quickly due to how fast waters rose in some areas. In cities such as Baton Rouge and Denham Springs, rising waters completely destroyed some homes. Student Government Association member and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity treasurer Austin Rogers lives in Denham Springs, a town a little over 15 miles outside of Baton Rouge. During the flood, Rogers was in Hammond and could only see his house via pictures. “I never thought that my home would flood,” said Rogers, a junior business and marketing major. “We’ve never had water collect anywhere near our home during any major storms. I was able to see pictures of my home thanks to friends on Facebook. I was devastated to see not only my home, but my city under so much water.” In Holden, a town near Hammond, water was rising as well. Unlike Rogers, SGA Vice President and Alpha Omicron Pi sorority member Gabrielle Reynolds was in her home when the waters started to rise. “The flood caused us to lose my home, my dad’s workshop, my mom’s beauty shop, our sheds, pool and any form of shelter we could have used during this disaster,” said Reynolds, a junior kinesiology exercise science major. “We had to sleep in our vehicles for 3-4 nights since there was nowhere to go since all roads were blocked off and nobody had cell service.” As the water rose, Reynolds began packing sentimental keepsakes. “I was devastated when I saw the water coming into my home,” said Reynolds. “I started crying and running around my house grabbing things that I could not live without. My parents told me to start packing up my room and to put everything that I wanted to save on my bed or at the top of my closet an hour before the water started coming into my house. This did not give us much time to prepare.” It was a race against time with the rising waters for Reynolds and her family. The hardest part was making the decision of what to try and save. “We started packing boxes, unplugging electronics and trying to move furniture on my dad’s tractor (since the water was too high for a vehicle) to safe land,” said Reynolds. “But, the water was rising so fast it was hard to decide what was the most valuable things in my life that I wanted to save. We left on a tractor carrying my puppy and each family member carrying a backpack of a few things.” After water receded, clean up began. Finally being able to get back to his home, Rogers began the cleanup process. As he was cleaning his emotions took over. “I felt numb,” said Rogers. “I guess everything didn’t hit me until a few hours of cleaning. Then all of my emotions came at once. I was lucky
see RELIEF pg. 9
Lion Up Tuesdays continue every week BY MORGAN LEDET Staff Reporter
It is time to show Lion Pride again. Every Tuesday throughout the semester will be Lion Up Tuesdays. The campus is patrolled by members of the Green with Pride committee who look for all things Southeastern. Students, faculty or staff who are seen on campus wearing any Southeastern clothing, accessories or green and gold will be given a citation. This “pride citation” is also given with a prize. In the past, these prizes have included t-shirts, sunglasses, Lion Up pins, lanyards and key chains. While patrolling campus, if a car is seen with any Southeastern accessories, a “pride citation” will be left on the car’s windshield. If a student is given a “pride citation,” they can share it on social media using the hashtag #teamsoutheastern. Do not forget to Lion Up every Tuesday, Southeastern.
The Lion’s Roar/William Schmidt
The university is currently having a number of new buildings built on campus. One building is the computer science and technology center which is being built where Southeastern Hall once stood. The STEM building is also in the works and Popeyes has already been completed with the entrance connected to the bookstore found in the Student Union. the fall semester. This parking lot will have about 120 new parking spaces. The biggest construction on campus is the new science and technology building. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Building is a 70,000
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square foot and 24.4 million dollar building located on the corner of North Oak St. and Dakota St. This building will be the home of the computer science and industrial technology programs for the university. It is scheduled to be ready for the 2017 fall
semester. “This is a well-planned facility that will be staffed by highly specialized faculty teaching and mentoring a growing number of students in these technical areas,” said university president John L. Crain in a press release.
Weather Tuesday H 95 L 74
The Lion’s Roar/File Photo
Lion Up Tuesdays will continue every Tuesday. Wear your Lion Up gear to possibly receive a “pride citation” and prize.
Reminders Wednesday H 93 L 74
Wednesday, Aug. 24 is the final day for schedule adjustments.