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’ 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

October 23, 2018

24 hours of theatrical horror ZACHARY ARAKI

A&E Editor

Hammond Horror Festival kicked off with “Seven Frightening Phobias,” a play in seven parts where production is limited to 24 hours. Madison Wilson appears to stab Tyler Page in “Fear of Death.” Zachary Araki/The Lion’s Roar

With roughly 50 people, Alpha Psi Omega condensed a theatre production into 24 hours to kick off the “Hammond Horror Festival.” President of APO Taylor Meng, a junior English education major, served as scenic designer for the play. She described the performance as “one of APO’s favorite events of the year.” “Having 24 hours to put on a production puts the heat on everyone,” said Meng. “It teaches the actors to get in the game and stay in the game from the moment they get there until the moment the show ends. It is a great mini lesson in real world theatre.”

The 24-hour theatre event “Seven Frightening Phobias” consisted of seven parts, each centered on a different phobia. Production and the clock began with writers receiving a prompt at 8 p.m. then submitting a script at 3 a.m. Payton Core, a senior general studies major, wrote “Arachnidream.” From given information about available actors, costumes, props and makeup, she formed her script. Core said, “You’re given Young Alumnus of the Year a brief description about Pg. 2 your actor and what they can probably handle because they have to learn this in a few hours, and then you have to form an entire script off of what you’re given. Sometimes

see HHF, pg. 5

#DITL: A day in the life of Aleman JACOB SUMMERVILLE Staff Reporter

. Service, education and protection to the university are the three main goals of the University Police Department. But how did they get to their position and why do the officers stick with it? University Police Officer Michael Aleman, a university alumnus, said that he joined the police force after graduation to “serve and better my community.” “I have always loved the community events growing up and seeing law enforcement participate in the events,” said Aleman. Earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice after the spring 2016 semester, Aleman is looking to further his education in radiology while remaining in law enforcement as a reserve officer, but has not

decided on a specific university for this program. Aleman shared that his duties are always shifting due to the nature of law enforcement. “Law enforcement work is constantly changing,” said Aleman. “Law enforcement changes because society is changing. As a law enforcement officer, we are here to serve and protect our community. If our community changes, we have to change as well. Also, laws change as well. My duties as a police officer have changed with my employment. The reason it has changed is because of everything I mentioned above.” Because each day brings its unique set of situations and duties, Aleman eats whenever there is a break. “I get to eat three meals a day,” said Aleman. “I never eat at the same times each day due to work. We are always

working calls or cases, so the Kavanaugh opinion - Pg. 3 times to eat become whenever you can.” Serving as a police officer, Aleman does reserve some of his time to hobbies. He said that he enjoys being outside. “My hobbies are fishing, scuba diving and ultimate frisbee,” said Aleman. “I am actively involved with all my hobbies.” Aleman also spends some of his time on social media. “I enjoy seeing the experiences other people are enjoying,” said Aleman. “Also, I enjoy staying informed on Spirit Squad - Pg. 4 what is happening in society.” His interactions with students also provides him with memorable stories. Aleman described an experience that occurred near the dormitories. “There were some students sitting on the bench in between University Police Offer Michael Aleman aims to serve the university in his role on campus. His enjoyment of community events contributed to his reasons for see ALEMAN, pg. 2 joining the police force. Jacob Summerville/The Lion’s Roar

Mandatory bike registration Remembering

Roppolo ANNIE GOODMAN Editor-In-Chief

Transportation Services is looking at places on campus where more bicycle racks could benefit both students and faculty following the instituted bicycle policy that will require registration starting on Jan. 1, 2019. Jacob Summerville/The Lion’s Roar JACOB SUMMERVILLE Staff Reporter

Once an optional process, students and faculty should make a note about the university’s new policy that requires bikes used on campus to be registered with the university. According to Director of Transportation Services Gary Prescott, the policy was made effective by the Office of Student Affairs on Sept. 18, but bicycle registration will be required starting on Jan. 1, 2019. Prescott said that students need to bring their university ID, bicycle and bicycle serial number when registering at Transportation Services.

“We have to inspect the bike to make sure that it does have the serial number on it,” said Prescott. “We tie that to that individual person. It’s really a simple process. The student also gets a sticker or a tag that goes on their bike saying that it is registered.” According to Prescott, the registration process is quick and does not require proof of purchasing a bicycle. Prescott stated the importance of the bike’s serial number. “If anything does happen to your bike and it’s registered to that serial number, it can always come back to you as an individual,” said Prescott. “Also,

Weather

Tuesday H 71 L 56

it’s a way of knowing which bike belongs to who. So, if a bike is in the wrong place or chained up to the wrong location, we can always look up that serial number and determine who that bike belongs to.” Additionally, Transportation Services is currently seeing if there is a need to add more bike racks in various areas of campus. “Most of your areas on south campus have a bike rack in front of them,” said Prescott. “There are a few areas as you get further south that don’t have any bike racks, and that is something that we’re looking into.” Dipika Ghimire, a sophomore

see BIKE POLICY, pg. 8

After 28 years of service to the university as a physical plant worker, George Roppolo, 58, passed away after having a heart attack while on the job. “He had the biggest heart,” shared Gianna Roppolo, his daughter. “He was very giving and very caring. He’d help any student. He didn’t care even if it wasn’t his place. He was a jack of all trades. He could do anything. He was so compassionate. He was so funny. No one has a bad story to tell about him.” Immediately following the incident on Sunday, Oct. 14, Samuel Hickey, a sophomore computer science major, was first to arrive on the scene. “I walked out of the Sig Tau house about 8:15,” explained Hickey. “I saw him drive by, then I heard a crash. As I came up over the hill, I saw him slumped over on his side. He had crashed into the back of a vehicle, and his foot was still on the accelerator.” Hickey explained his course of action upon realizing something was not right. “I walked over there and asked him if he was OK and what was wrong,” continued Hickey. “There was no response. I quickly put the vehicle in

Index

Wednesday H 71 L 58

Campus Life.................................2 Opinions.....................................3 A&E............................................4

Horoscope, Crossword, Sudoku....5 Sports.........................................6 News..........................................8

neutral, and another bystander came over and helped me get him off the cart and lay him on the ground. I quickly called 911. Thankfully, the firefighters were right there at the lab school, and they were there within minutes.” After the incident, Hickey visited the University Police Department to follow up on George Roppolo’s condition. “I went over and talked to the guys at the police department after,” said Hickey. “They were saying that it all pretty much happened within a time span of like 15 minutes. He was actually dead on the spot, and then they managed to revive him later. He lived until the next Sunday, then his family decided to pull him off life support. His heart was working at 30 percent, and he had sustained brain damage, which is difficult to come back from.” Hickey explained that his father, who is a doctor, helped prepare him for these kinds of situations. “I had seen my dad in situations similar to this growing up,” said Hickey. “It was really just a matter of keeping everybody calm, get the guy some space and water if possible.” Gianna Roppolo shared

see ROPPOLO, pg. 8

Judo - Pg. 6

Breathe to relax JACOB SUMMERVILLE Staff Reporter

The University Health Center has partnered with Sims Memorial Library to offer a space for students who cannot find the time in their day to breathe. Mindfulness Breaks occur each Tuesday on the third floor of the library at 5 p.m. Kuldip Grest, a registered nurse at the University Health Center, explained the evolution of this event. “We were doing it just during finals week,” said Grest. “Then, suggestions were made that we could do it every week. So last semester, we did it every week. The week before the finals, we actually had a tent event.” Since that tent event last semester, the location migrated to the library, where students can participate in breathing exercises and muscle relaxation. Angie Balius, a reference, outreach and instructional media librarian, assists Grest with the break. As a coordinator and participant, Balius said that she likes to hear students’

see MINDFULNESS, pg. 2

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A Student Publication www.lionsroarnews.com lionsroar@southeastern.edu

The Lion’s Roar | CAMPUS LIFE

PAGE 2 | OCTOBER 23, 2018

Smith’s journey to success

MINDFULNESS

continued from pg. 1 experiences after a session. “Many start their first session like I did, with equal amounts of doubt and curiosity,” said Balius. “Afterward, they feel like they escaped the frenzy for a few minutes, and they leave relaxed and ready to focus again on their work.” Grest shared that students who are stressed tend to breathe more shallow, and as a result, not enough oxygen fills the lungs or enters the brain

for proper function. When this happens, students usually do not study as efficiently. Grest said that by relaxing and taking deep breaths, students can focus on the problems they currently face. “They could care less right now about what is waiting for them when they are 40, 50, 60,” said Grest. “They have a term paper due now, or they have exams to study for or homework to do.” Students can regain focus through guided meditation any Tuesday this semester.

CORRECTION - In the Oct. 2 issue on page 3 in the “Speakout” section, a picture of Deja Rush was identified as Rachael Simpson. The quote belonged to Rachael Simpson, who was not pictured.

2018 Young Alumnus of the Year Joni Smith speaks with one of the students at Westside Junior High in her role as administrative assistant. Smith was also named the 2017 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. JOHNATHAN ZERINGUE/THE LION’S ROAR JOHNATHAN ZERINGUE STAFF REPORTER

2018 Young Alumnus of the Year Joni Smith, administrative assistant at Westside Junior High School, is among those who agree that success is not always handed out on a silver platter. “I experienced childhood trauma and went into foster care and was adopted in high school,” said Smith. “Being adopted as a teenager is rare as is, and then going into college without a penny, I just had to take a leap of faith and trust God and pursue what I knew I could do.” Smith has 10 years of teaching experience and was named the 2017 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year.

Smith described the process of being recognized as the young alumnus of the year. “I was actually titled last year as alumnus of the year, but I was headed to a conference in New Jersey for education, and I already set that up, so I couldn’t cancel,” said Smith. “The best way to describe it is complete honor. Not only do you represent the schools in the state, but you also represent at a higher education, knowing that their student body count is so high, and so, I was recognized as sort of a pea in a pod.” According to Smith, challenges in her past made her current path towards success surprising. “I’m not the person you think would be very deserving of such large titles because I was a child

ALEMAN

continued from pg. 1 Pride Hall and Taylor Hall playing music,” said Aleman. “They looked at me and started playing the ‘Bad Boys’ song. They started laughing and asked me, ‘Can we

that didn’t have much,” said Smith. “I was in the foster care system, adopted and had a lot of statistics stacked up against me.” Encouragement from a professor prompted Smith to change her career path from nursing to education. “I had a professor at Southeastern who encouraged me,” said Smith. “Her name’s professor Domiano. She was my nursing professor, and she encouraged me to switch my majors since she saw something special in me.” Smith shared the various roles required from her as a teacher. “In education, there’s always challenges,” said Smith. “I may be a teacher, but I’m also a counselor and I’m also a mentor.

get in trouble for the music?’ I told them they could if it was loud. They started laughing and played the, ‘Why can’t We Be Friends’ song. I couldn’t stop laughing during shift change. Those interactions with students always make my day.” Undergraduate students can hold the

I’m also a cheerleader, and I play all these roles for the kids. But I’m relentless, and I work with them, and I help them even in their hardest of days. They don’t give up on me, so I don’t give up on them.” Smith discussed the importance of education, especially with the effort required to keep up with the constant change. “This is a craft that constantly needs to be polished,” said Smith. “I still seek professional development. I still attend workshops and try to sharpen my craft. I think that’s what’s so great about education as not only are kids changing, but teachers are changing too, and we are learning how to meet the better needs of the students.”

positions of a student officer, student officer cadet or building checker at the UPD. For more information, contact the UPD at 985-549-3835 or at police@ southeastern.edu.

Social Justice Speaker Series Welcomes Prisons Expert Jordan Mazurek Hammond, Louisiana — October 10, 2018 — The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice presents SLU’s Social Justice Speaker 2018, Sociologist Jordan Mazurek who is the national organizer and co-creator of the Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons. The Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons (FTP) seeks to build grassroots organizing, advocacy, research, and direct action at the intersections of incarceration, health, and ecology. Mazurek will present a lecture on Toxic Prisons at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at the Pottle Music Auditorium on Friendship Circle on the SLU campus in Hammond. The lecture will be followed by a free ‘workshop’ to be offered in Fayard Hall 205

at 2:00 P.M. Professor Marc Settembrino, Chair of the SLU Social Justice Speaker Series, explained: “Jordan Mazurek has an impressive record of activism and scholarship that will appeal to Southeastern’s students. I meet a lot of students who want to make a positive change in their community but don’t know how. Jordan’s lecture and workshop will be a great opportunity for our students to learn how to do social justice work. I think our students will be able to relate to Jordan and the work he’s doing.” Settermbrino also notes “criminal justice reform and environmental protection are important issues in Louisiana right now. Jordan’s research and activism blends these two issues. Overall, I think there’s

something for everyone in this year’s social justice speaker series events.” The Sociology and Criminal Justice Department organizes the annual Social Justice Speaker Series as a means of bringing nationally and internationally recognized social justice activists to the Southeastern community. Previous speakers have included Sister Helen Prejean on the death penalty, Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty and Law Center on race and racism, and Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, on war and human rights. Jordan Mazurek is Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctoral Fellow pursuing a Doctorate in Cultural and Global Criminology from the University of Kent and

Universität Hamburg, using his doctoral thesis to explore the spatial and environmental justice implications of America’s toxic prison system. Admission is free, and the

Opinions | The Lion’s Roar

Is your passion worth the debt? Every student at one time has asked, “Is college really worth all of this money?” Sometimes it can be overwhelming to think about the thousands of dollars spent on classes and Madeline Cancienne textbooks. So Staff Reporter in the end, is having a degree worth it all? There was never a doubt in my mind that I would go to college. I have always enjoyed learning and challenging myself, so I was ready for this next step after graduating from high school. That was how life worked: graduate from high school, go to college, get a job, and then work until it was time for retirement. As I have gotten older, I have realized the true value of a college education. Many professions, such as engineering and nursing, require a college degree. College teaches people critical thinking skills, problem solving and the value of teamwork. Going to a university also gives students an opportunity for internships that others may not come by. Going to college is definitely beneficial, but it is not required for a good career. Many people believe that you must go to college to be successful in life, but with today’s society, many of the smartest people never attended a university. Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Michael Dell were all brilliant people who have shaped the world we live in but never got a degree. There are many professions that do not require a college education such as operating a crane, welding and working on oil rigs. All of these jobs are easily accessible in the South, and many people go straight from high school to the workforce. These jobs are a skilled trade that may eventually make more money than those that require a degree. According to Student Debt Relief, in the United States, the average debt per college graduate was $37,172 in 2016. These statistics are scary but true. Debt can be a scary thing

October 23, 2018| Page 3

SPEAK OUT

Is higher education worth the student debt? “I think it is if you know what you want to do, but for me, I still don’t know what I want to do. If you know what you’re going for, it’s worth it.” McKenzie Tolson Senior, General Studies

“College education is worth student loan debt because college is for adults who are trying to better their lives. Taking on that debt burden is a gamble for success.” Rachel Barbour Sophomore, Engineering Technology

to think about because it follows you for years. Although it may seem like a giant weight on your shoulders, knowing that all of your hard work will pay off one day will be worth it all. “I think it is because I love the fact “You can look at it like it’s an investment into Going into debt is a decision Southeastern is ranked number one in your future. Therefore, it’s literally just paying everyone must make for the state for the lowest student loan debt. and hoping for a return on your investment.” themselves. It all depends on Southeastern is all about making sure students Taylor Westbrook what you want to do in life and get the best experience possible.” Junior, Occupational Safety, Health and Environment how passionate you are about it. Jasmine Smith As Martin Luther King Jr. Sophomore, Management once said, “Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I “I believe it is worth loan debt because in “Higher education is worth it because you can want to be, and what I can do, and the long run, you’ll end up paying that debt get a degree and then you can get the career of use it for a purpose greater than off, and you can potentially make more your dreams. You get to pay it back over time, myself.” than someone who doesn’t have any college and once you have your career, you can make We all find a purpose in life degree.” it happen.” greater than just a degree. If you Kaylin Lacoste Jarod George are passionate about something, Junior, Accounting Freshman, General Studies going into debt will seem worth every penny in the long run. “The amount of student loan debt that is “I do not think it is worth it because a Knowing you are using your acceptable lends heavily on the jobs that are bachelor’s degree is becoming increasingly talents and abilities for something available on the market.” useless as education becomes more widely you love will be worth it because Aaron Tuminaro available. Crippling debt can be detrimental to you know you are living with a Sophomore, Business Administration someone’s life.” purpose. Nicholas Ferrara This may not always mean you Junior, Criminal Justice will make the most money. There will be people who work just to “I believe higher education is worth student “A student that wants to get higher education make money and will make much loans because you have to graduate, and you to better their life situation might take out more than you, but in the end, have to become successful in the future.” loans because they know if they push enough you will live a more fulfilling and Aliyah Floyd they can pay off the loan.” happy life. Sophomore, Nursing Michael Thibodeaux Personally, I believe it is worth Sophomore, Psychology it all to follow your passions wherever they may lead. If your passion leads to going straight into the workforce and avoiding debt, by all means do it. If my student debt can lead to curing a disease, feeding those who are starving, or creating new technological advancements, then it will not matter to me. I feel as though we focus too much on what fills our bank account the most rather than what fulfills our lives the most. Making a steady income and staying as far away from debt as possible is definitely important, but we also must consider what brings us joy in life. College is a path not meant for everyone. If college is not the path that you feel you are going to take, then why go into debt to follow a dream meant for someone else? I am happy with where I am right now. I truly think my debt Students have varied ideas on whether or not receiving a college degree is worth the student debt. While a degree is necessary for some professions like an engineer, a doctor or a lawyer, others like operating a crane and welding, which are common in the South, do not need a degree. Madeline Cancienne/The Lion’s Roar will be worth it in the end.

What Dr. Christine Ford’s testimony can teach us about sexual assault Ambiguity is the legal system’s worst fear. It has been over a month since Dr. Christine Ford accused Associate Judge Brett Kavanaugh of a sexual assault incident that happened 36 years prior. During this case, Jacob Summerville I tuned into different Staff Reporter news outlets, compared the “he’s innocent” and “he’s guilty” parties, and have exposed myself to rather credible sources with differing viewpoints such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. To me, this case is a complex tragedy where I wanted to think that Ford was telling the truth, that her motives were not political. I do think Ford was trying to perform her civil duty and turn in someone who committed a violent act against her, but because of the lack of direct evidence linking Kavanaugh to the reported incident, he was able to become an associate justice through a Senate vote of 50-48. In an emotional testimony, Ford recalled the night of the alleged attack against her where Kavanaugh and Mark Judge had knocked her down from behind, dragged her into a room, closed the door, and Kavanaugh proceeded to perform sexually violating acts on Ford. Along with this comes the polygraph test with a former FBI agent. Her results concluded that she was being honest. Case

closed, right? Well, if a simple polygraph test was 100 percent accurate of indicating the truth, what would be the point of any sort of investigation? The test concluded that she believed her story enough to pass it off as truthful. Here is where things get a little splotchy. Ford took this in August, around the time her grandmother died. She did not remember if she took the test the same day or the day after her grandmother’s death, and at one of her hearings, she only recalled the moments before she was pushed over up until the assault. The details she could not recall were how she heard about the party, how she got to the party, the specificity of where the house was located, or how she got back from the party. As much as I want to believe Ford’s account, leaving out all of the above details did not help her case. The one piece of evidence she did have was her psychiatrist’s notes from 2012, when she went to the psychiatrist about the incident. Even here, it does not list Kavanaugh’s name explicitly. And then there is the other side of this argument. Kavanaugh has an unprofessional attitude throughout several of his testimonies, with the most obvious incident being his drinking habits. When Sen. Amy Klobuchar asked whether Kavanaugh had ever drank to the point of not remembering certain periods of time, he responded with, “Have you?” with a smirk running across his face. In no situation is it appropriate to joke

about heavy drinking that could induce a sexual assault, especially when you are the one being convicted. He later stated that he had never drank excessively. With this, there is hard evidence against Kavanaugh. From the entries in his college yearbook about the drinking organizations to his speeches at various graduations to former classmates speaking about his drinking habits, there should not be much doubt that he was known for his love of alcohol. To think that he never drank to excess once, is very implausible. An underlying theme with his hearing is the anger he has stored within him, the brashness of someone who feels ashamed. For a moment, picture that you are Kavanaugh and that you are innocent of everything you have been accused of. What would you do? For starters, you would not lie under oath since there would not be a need. Second, as someone running for a position that requires you to remain as objective as possible and not allow your emotions to control your actions, having fits of anger does not help prove your innocence nor your competence for the position you are being appointed for. For example, in one of his later testimonies, Kavanaugh mentioned that one of his daughters prayed for the well-being of Ford. What? Stop bringing your daughters up as a shield against the potential of being accused for a crime. With all of this, and the millions of other details that pile up on both sides of the argument, we can learn a valuable lesson from this: If you are assaulted,

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 Student Union suite 1303. 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.

please try to report the incident as soon as you can. I talked about sexual assault a couple weeks back and the importance of having and using a rape kit. This is an alternative for those who may not have the courage to report the incident immediately, but may want to report the person in the near future. The unfortunate tone of our society blames the victim of the ambiguity of their sexual assault claim. Whenever there is no hard evidence linking a specific person to the attack, we want to sympathize for the victim, but it is important to let the facts come to light. Although this case gives much evidence that Kavanaugh had great

potential to assault her given his history, there is not enough that directly links him to Ford’s claim. We need to teach young men and women that it is OK to reach out to the police when we have been assaulted and are clueless about what to do next. It is difficult to report a rape, but it is an honorable action. As for this case, the Senate voted for Kavanaugh’s appointment. We will never have a clear image of what events transpired 36 years ago, but an impression of Kavanaugh, the Senate and the FBI has been made on the public. That is something that cannot be debated.

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2018 file photo, then Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Just 1 in 4 people think Brett Kavanaugh was completely honest during his pivotal testimony last month to the Senate Judiciary Committee. That’s according to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Andrew Harnick/AP Photo

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Page 4 | October 23, 2018

The Lion’s Roar | Arts & Entertainment

Behind the scenes of Lion spirit JOHNATHAN ZERINGUE Staff Reporter

able to do that in college has been really great.” While the Lionettes are composed of an all-female team, the cheerleaders promote a coed squad. For a full year, the members commit to weekly practices while preparing for the athletic events and competitions.

Joshua McClain, a senior kinesiology major, shared his view on the practice schedule. “It’s very consistent, but it’s like consistent chaos,” said McClain. “We have the same practice schedule, same workout schedule, but we have

The cheerleaders and dance team are a major aspect of the athletics and team spirit. As the official spirit squads of the university, the Lionettes and cheerleaders support the athletic teams at on-campus see SPIRIT SQUADS, pg. 5 and off-campus events. The university’s cheerleaders and Lionettes work together to show Lion pride for the athletic programs and fan base. Each year, tryouts are held for both squads where aspiring members must perform routines to make the team. Lionette Alexis Duplessis, a junior communication major, shared her reason for joining the squad. “Basically, even in high school and middle school, I’ve always wanted to be involved in school,” said Duplessis. “So when I came to college, I wanted to continue that, and for the Lionettes, while it’s a lot of work and a lot of time, I’ve always got something to do.” Duplessis has been a part of the dance team since her freshman year, and she discussed how the team has affected her college life. “I’m not from Hammond, so whenever I moved out here, I made friends and that really helped me meet people and make connections,” said Duplessis. “I love cheering on the Lions. It’s one of my favorite things to do now, and I love to dance as I’ve been Lionettes and cheerleaders raise Lion spirit for athletic events both on- and off-campus. In the fall, they perform at football home games. Bottom right, Lionette Olivia Joanos performs a routine for the doing that forever. So, being crowd at Strawberry Stadium. Zachary Araki/The Lion’s Roar

Billington: A life of enjoying design and production

Instructor of Costume and Makeup Design Emily Billington prepares one of her costumes. Johnathan Zeringue/The Lion’s Roar JOHNATHAN ZERINGUE Staff Reporter

Since childhood, Instructor of Costume and Makeup Design Emily Billington has developed her passion for theatre and the performing arts. “I have been involved with theatre my entire

life,” said Billington. “I started out as a performer, me to be involved in theatre,” said Billington. “In I can get paintings that speak about emotions, or very young. My father is a director and costume terms of a daily basis, I use a lot of visuals to find see BILLINGTON, pg. 5 designer, and so, he put me on stage in ‘Fiddler on my inspiration. I will type in Google ‘emotions’ so the Roof’ when I was 5 or 6. Ever since then, I’ve always been into theatre and performing.” This semester, Billington took on the responsibility to design costumes and makeup for both “Dracula” and “Into the Woods.” Her experience in the field extended beyond her position at the university. “This is my second year at Southeastern, and this is my first teaching position, but I have been costume designing in general for about eight years,” said Billington. Billington completed her bachelor’s degree in theatrical design and production at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama. She mentored students at Jefferson Performance Arts Society from 2016-17 and was an assistant designer for her first show “Beauty and the Beast.” Billington shared how she began studying design in college. “I actually started going to undergraduate school for vocal performance, but my favorite part of being in the show was always the putting on of the costumes,” said Billington. “So, I dropped my vocal performance major and switched to design my sophomore year. Ever since, I never looked back.” Throughout her life and professional career, Billington has found numerous sources of inspiration for her work. “Getting started with my career would probably be my father because he’s the one who pushed

Arts & Entertainment | The Lion’s Roar

October 23, 2018 | Page 5

HHF

continued from pg. 1 there’s such specific points, it’s hard to web it all together and make it look good.” Though Core is familiar with last minute projects, the 24-hour theatre event posed its own challenges. Core said, “I was typing all of this on my laptop, which is old and might serve me better as a cutting board at this point, and I kept trying to email it to myself and make final last changes, and my laptop crashed. It was already two in the morning, so I had an hour to fix this, and nothing was working. I couldn’t get anything to work on my laptop, and I just had to wait for it. I was panicking for a very long time.” Stage Manager Katy Baronich explained how her part in “Seven Frightening Phobias” extended beyond 24 hours, starting months before to line up participants. “It’s mostly a lot of emails ‘till about two weeks before the event,” said Baronich. “Then, myself and a board member from ‘Hammond Horror Festival’ sort the actors into what scenes they will be in, who their writer will be, what are they writing, and who is directing it. The hardest part is keeping it secret because you get so excited about the possibilities.” Baronich’s day began at 5 a.m. with printing out scripts, schedules and any other necessary items, and after a

“Hammond Horror Festival” kicked off with “Seven Frightening Phobias,” a play in seven parts where production is limited to 24 hours. Each section focused on a separate phobia. The play included “Fear of Death” and “Pop/Pop.” Zachary Araki/The Lion’s Roar meeting with the production team, the “whirlwind of rehearsal, tech and show” began according to Baronich. “The scenes begin rehearsing, and the tech team starts to read the scenes to see what they are dealing with,” said Baronich. “After a couple of hours, myself and the tech team go around to each room and see what they will need. What kind of furniture, props, lighting and sound are required to make this happen? Once we’ve visited all the scenes, props get pulled from stock, and whatever we don’t have, the props master has to go buy.”

Each scene was allowed 15 minutes of technical work, determining lighting and furniture placement, and from there, the rest of the production was rehearsal and final preparation. Taylor Bennett, a senior English major, performed in “Pop/Pop.” She shared her timeline for the event as an actress. “I arrive at 7 a.m., and I get my script and who I’m with, and then basically from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., we are learning lines and rehearsing,” said Bennett. “So, that’s almost like 12 hours that I’ve got to learn lines. As

you saw, some people have a lot of lines, and then after that, we’re getting ready and costumed for about an hour, and then we show it at 8.” Miranda Miller, a junior general studies major, performed in “Fear of Death.” She described how she felt rehearsing for 11 hours. “It’s a big, giant adrenaline rush because you’re just rushing, rushing, rushing to get it down, and you do the same thing over and over again,” said Miller. “Acting on a time crunch is always interesting because you’ve got to remember your lines, got

majority of campus to run the festival,” said Stoughton. “Groups need a place to warm-up, store their buses and trailers, and spectators will need a place to park.” According to the university website, students can compete in one of four classifications determined by the number of students in the program. The university will be hosting over 20 high school bands from Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. Stoughton explained the opportunities this contest will offer to high school students.

Stoughton said,“This contest will give high school students an opportunity to compete in a fun, energetic and competitive atmosphere, as well as receive feedback from well-trained and highly accomplished adjudicators.” Stoughton discussed the qualifications of the judges. “All of the judges have extensive teaching experience and have prepared ensembles in the marching arts for several years at a very high level,” said Stoughton. Since this is Stoughton’s first time being a part of the Strawberry Marching Classic, he is eager about the reappearance of this event. “We are back on track for this year and have secured a great date for the festival, making it one that many groups are excited about being a part of,” said Stoughton. Stoughton shared the significance of the Strawberry Marching Classic for the

university and numerous high school band directors. “Not only is it a fundraising opportunity for various organizations on campus, but it also allows us to be good stewards to the high school directors across the southern United States,” said Stoughton. “We can use those connections as recruiting efforts and help to make Southeastern as wonderful as a music program as we can.” To enter the Strawberry Marching Classic contest, visit the university’s website and fill out the online entry form, or email Stoughton at Derek. Stoughton@southeastern.edu. A $300 entrance fee is required to enter the competition. Tickets will be sold for $5, but members of the band staff and their students will be admitted for free. Concessions will also be available throughout the day.

Strawberry Marching Classic returns DIAMOND HOLLINS Staff Reporter

The Strawberry Marching Classic returns after a twoyear hiatus, providing an opportunity for high school students to show off their musical talents. The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Strawberry Stadium. According to Interim Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands Derek Stoughton, the Strawberry Marching Classic will extend beyond the stadium. “We will be using the

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might well develop into something more personal for Librans looking for romance. Aspects also are favorable for platonic relationships. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A more-positive mood might be difficult to assume in light of a recent problem involving the health of someone special. But by week’s end, your emotional barometer should start to rise. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Look for a changed attitude from a former adversary once he or she realizes you have your colleagues’ full support. Now you can refocus your energies on that workplace project. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) This time, a difference of opinion might not be resolved in your favor. But be patient. It could all ultimately work out to your advantage, as new information begins to develop. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A tug of war develops between the artistic Aquarian’s creative aspect and his or her practical side. Best advice: Prioritize your schedule so you can give appropriate time to both. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You could be entering a career phase awash with jobrelated demands. But avoid being swamped by the overflow and, instead, keep treading water as you deal with demands one by one. BORN THIS WEEK: You are an exceptionally loyal person, and you’re respected for your ability to keep the secrets entrusted to you. (c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.

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to remember your walking, all that stuff.” Though full of difficulties, Baronich enjoyed seeing the production come together. “There is nothing else like a 24-hour play festival in the world of theatre,”

said Baronich. “It’s a truly wonderful experience, and my favorite part is that it allows people in our department to explore different areas of theatre for a day. We had many tech people acting this year, and they did a great job.”

SPIRIT SQUADS

be pretty fine. It’s all about time management.” The biggest performance for both the cheerleaders and Lionettes each year is the national competition located in Orlando, Florida. McClain explained the competition’s importance for the teams. “You work all year for this one thing, and you compete against the best teams in the nation for a ring,” said McClain. McClain discussed the importance of the university’s spirit squads. McClain said, “Our main goal is to lead the crowd, not just by cheering but just like the energy level and engaging with the crowd so that they’ll engage into the game and know what’s going on and keep them interested.”

continued from pg. 4 a lot of different promotions we have to do. We have a lot of different spontaneous events that we have to set up for and go into. You really never know what you’re going to get an email for that says, ‘Hey, I need somebody to do this today until it happens.’” Lionette Olivia Joanos, a freshman nursing major, described how she manages her time on a weekly basis. “It’s not as hard if you make slots for timing and everything,” said Joanos. “We do practice every other day. We practice Tuesdays and Thursdays and then Fridays, and we have football games on Saturdays. So, if you work your school schedule in between all that, you should BILLINGTON

continued from pg. 4 I will look at paintings in books. Lately, since I’ve been working at Southeastern, the students very much inspire a lot of what I do.” Billington shared what sort of responsibilities come with her position as costume shop manager and designer after taking actors’ measurements. “I have to drape a lot of the costumes, and I have to pattern them so that the students can then build them,” said Billington. “Then, I’ll fit them in what’s called a mock up. After the mock up is fitted, I have to do pattern

corrections, and once they’re done, I will cut the pattern out onto the fabric, and I will build a few things while I also instruct the students on how to build them.” Billington offered advice for aspiring art students about the importance of determination. Billington said, “For those students who are at Southeastern and want to be involved in arts but have constantly been told that they need to do something that’s non-art related and they’re not going to make it in the field, don’t believe those people. If you want to make it in the arts, you can find a way. Get an education and get involved.”

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PAGE 6 | OCTOBER 23, 2018

The university judo club

The university judo club offers students an opportunity to practice judo, a form of martial arts. Professor of Physics Dr. Sanichiro Yoshida and David Lloyd instruct students in judo. GERARD BORNE/THE LION’S ROAR GERARD BORNE

as an alternative to jujitsu. This sport carries on today with clubs across the world including the Southeastern Judo Club. Founded in 1882, judo is an ancient form of Professor of Physics Dr. Sanichiro Yoshida, an martial arts from Japan created by Jigura Kano instructor of the class, explained how classes are STAFF REPORTER

run. “The class stretches for the first part of class,” said Yoshida. “This helps with their mobility and core strength, these two things are important to judo. The last 30 minutes is where we go over the actual striking techniques and proper motions.” Judo is a form of martial arts built around using the opponent’s momentum against them by means of throwing, striking, grappling and pinning. As one progresses through the rankings, they often learn kata, a formal system of prearranged practice, which can include defense against weapons as well. The rank system by belt is: white, yellow, orange, green, three levels of brown, then 10 levels of black. The class is taught in conjunction with David Lloyd. “I am working my way up to the top degree in judo, which is called the dan series belts,” said Lloyd. “These are your 10th degree black belts.” A native of Japan, Yoshida drew upon more than 50 years of experience to form the club at the university in 2013. “Numbers have dipped and increased since then,” said Yoshida. “This has to be one of the

biggest classes yet so far. Our main focus here is to teach students about the art of judo. The most important thing of all has to be self discipline. Without self discipline your students will not learn.” Lloyd is a second degree black belt, or Nikkyu. “I have been doing judo since the age of 14,” said Lloyd. “I started out in Raleigh, North Carolina. I competed as a junior at the state level in North Carolina. I also continued to work out in the U.S. army at the local German levels. I also fought at a West German club during the late ‘80s.” In the club, Lloyd finds himself in the position of both instructor and student. “I help out with Dr. Yoshida in practice,” said Lloyd. “I am also a USA judo coach too. I am also still learning the art of judo. My favorite part is a perfectly executed throw and making my opponent land on his or her back.” The Southeastern Judo Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30-7:45 p.m. with an optional open mat practice on Saturday. The club meets in the Kinesiology and Health Studies Building room 150 and is instructed by Yoshida.

Busekist named faculty representative to athletics

David Busekist GERARD BORNE STAFF REPORTER

Faculty Athletics Representative David Busekist received his title after the former representative, Joseph

Morris, stepped down from the position. Busekist has been working with the university for over 30 years now. A long-time member of the Athletic Committee, Busekist has been working with athletes for many years now. The new position was appointed to him by the university President Dr. John Crain. Crain described the role of the Faculty Athletic Representative as to serve as a liaison between Athletics Committee, the Athletic Department and the President of the university. “The Faculty Athletics Director focuses on matters

related to academic welfare and well-being of student-athletes,” said Crain. “Busekist will also check player’s attendance, ensures eligibility of student athletes and including conformity with StudentAthlete Eligibility Certification Roles and Procedures. The Faculty Athletic Representative also validates and signs prospect matriculation letters, as well as waivers, violations and rules interpretations request.” Crain explained his reasons for selecting Busekist for the position. “The position was selected by me, the President,” said Crain. “I chose Busekist for multiple reasons, one reason was very

familiar with the athletic program, but most importantly he is very committed to the welfare and well-being of our student athletes.” Busekist shared his excitement about his new position. “I love working with the athletes,” said Busekist. “I have been for multiple years and its a cool job to have.” Busekist is still adjusting to his new position. “I still tap into Dr. Joseph Morris every once in a while,” said Busekist. “You can often see me call or text him once a week for pointers and to help me out. He is a great guy.” Busekist emphasized that

the most important part of his newly appointed job role is to handle things properly before it reaches the President’s office. “It’s to make sure everything gets handled how it is properly supposed to, and nothing lands on Dr. Crain’s desk that was my job at first,” said Busekist. “I don’t want to be asked ‘What happened here?’” Busekist’s position requires him to be in regular contact with the Director of Athletics Jay Artigues. Busekist shared that he was a member of his university’s swim team, tennis team and football team which is helpful for his responsibilities. “It comes in handy, I have

an athletic background with me that I carry and it helps me relate to these college athletes more. I know what it’s like to be a student athlete. I have played that role before. There are temptations sometimes that players and coaches have to watch out for. I help them find a common ground. It’s great.” Busekist’s favorite part of his job is getting to meet coaches. “My favorite part of my job is getting to meet all the coaches and interact with athletes,” said Busekist. “Also I have an excuse for my wife. Now I can come to all the games and say ‘I have to be here they have to see my face.’”

This Week in Southeastern Athletics - October 22-28, 2018 HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana cross country teams compete in the Southland Conference Championships and the soccer team celebrates Senior Day to highlight this week in Southeastern Athletics. The Lions and Lady Lions will be in Lake Charles on Friday to compete in the Southland championship meet, hosted by McNeese State. The women’s race is set for 8:30 a.m. with the men’s race following at 9:30 a.m. The SLU soccer team (6-6-4, 3-4-3 Southland) will close out the regular season on Friday, hosting Nicholls at 7 p.m. at Strawberry Stadium. Prior to the match, the Lady Lions will honor the senior class of Vanessa Arzaluz, Payton Colson, Christina Cutura and Sofia Olsson. Friday’s match will be broadcast by the Southeastern Channel live on the Southland Digital Network at www. Southland.org/live and on the Southland apps available for iPhone, Android, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku. The Lion football team (3-5, 3-3 Southland) will be back in action this Saturday, traveling to nationally-ranked league foe Sam Houston State for a 1 p.m. contest in Huntsville, Texas. The game will be televised nationally on Eleven Sports (DirecTV 623) and will be available on the Southland Digital Network at www.southland.org/live and via Southland apps available for iPhone, Android, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku. Fans can also hear the Lions-Bearkats tilt on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU-FM (90.9), Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and WFPR 1400 AM). Fans can also listen live at www.LionSports.net/ listenlive and via the Radio FX, TuneIn Radio and Lions Gameday Experience apps. The Lady Lion volleyball team (2-20, 1-9 Southland) has a pair of matches on tap this week. On Tuesday, SLU closes out its non-conference schedule with a 6:30 p.m. match at Southern Miss. Fans can watch a live stream at www. ConferenceUSA.com. The Lady Lions then return home to host league foe Northwestern

State on Saturday at 1 p.m. LionVision subscribers can access a live video stream of Saturday’s match at www. LionSports.net/watch. The SLU tennis team will host the George E. Fourmaux Fed Cup Invitational this week to close out its fall season. The tournament runs Friday through Sunday at the Southeastern Tennis Complex and Oak Knoll Country Club with a field including the Lions, McNeese, Nicholls, North Alabama, Lamar, Louisiana Tech, UNO and West Florida. Southeastern is scheduled to play McNeese on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Saturday sees SLU take on Nicholls at 8:30 a.m. and North Alabama at 1:30 p.m. Sunday’s matchups will depend on the first two day’s results with matches set for 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. The Southeastern softball team will look to close out the fall flawless, as the Lady Lions are 6-0 in their fall exhibitions. On Friday, SLU hosts Coastal Alabama CC-North (4 p.m.) and Baton Rouge Community College (6 p.m.). With Southeastern’s home field, North Oak Park, undergoing new turf installation, the location of Friday’s game is yet

to be announced. Southeastern students will get the chance to get an early look at the 2018-19 SLU basketball teams at the 11th Annual Full Court Fest on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the University Center. The first 300 Southeastern students in attendance will receive free t-shirts, courtesy of Southeastern Athletics Student Marketing and Promotions. The event’s presenting sponsor, Olive Garden, will also provide free food for students. Hosted by The Highway 104.7 FM’s Roger Gill, the event will give students the opportunity to meet the 201819 Lions and Lady Lions, as well as hear from head men’s basketball coach Jay Ladner and head women’s basketball coach Ayla Guzzardo. Interactive promotions will give students in attendance a chance to win prizes. Additional entertainment will be provided by the national champion Lionnettes, the SLU cheerleaders, the Southeastern basketball pep band and DJ K-Strikez. For more information on the event, contact Southeastern Athletics Director of Marketing and Student Promotions

Lindsey Cramer at lindsey. cramer@southeastern.edu / (985) 549-3227. The Southeastern Louisiana men’s and women’s basketball programs will present the Tip-Off Bash on Friday at 6 p.m. at The Mezzanine (308 S. Cate Street) in downtown Hammond. Proceeds from the event will benefit Southeastern men’s and women’s basketball. Tickets are $75 and admit up to two people to the event. In addition to dinner, fans will have a chance to meet the 2018-19 Lions and Lady Lions, as well as participate in a silent auction and cash raffle. Tickets for the event are available at www.LionSports. net/tipoffbash or from the SLU basketball teams. Southeastern head men’s basketball coach Jay Ladner and head women’s basketball coach Ayla Guzzardo will address the crowd, along with the Lion and Lady Lion seniors. The inaugural Lion for Life awards will also be presented at the event. Southeastern season ticket holders will be able to pick up their tickets at the Tip-Off Bash.

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Sports | The Lion’s Roar

October 23, 2018 | Page 7

Lions trail behind at home against ACU

The Lions football team lost 48-27 against Abilene Christian University putting the team’s overall record at 3-5. ACU took its first win over the Lions since 2015. Top left, CJ Turner, a freshman wide receiver, breaks a tackle. Former university tennis player Iva Velkovska, above right, and former university and current Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford were honored as the latest inductees into the Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame. Bottom left, Lorenzo Nunez, a junior quarterback, looks down the field as he tries to avoid a tackle. Chason Virgil, a junior quarterback, threw for 324 yards. The Lions did not lead in any quarter. Jacob Summerville/The Lion’s Roar

Family Bond Molds Cutura into All-Conference Player: Senior Credits Family for Success HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana forward Christina Cutura (Chew-Ta-Da) has developed into one of the top soccer players in the Southland Conference. However, the 21 year-old senior from Pearl River, Louisiana didn’t mold herself overnight. Cutura, a 2017 Honorable Mention AllSouthland Conference, comes from a family of seven including two brothers, two sisters including three Division-I athletes. Cutura’s brother, Andro, 25,

played for the SLU baseball team from 2012-2014 before being drafted in the seventh round by the Minnesota Twins. Her sister, Marlena, 20, is a junior for the LSU soccer team and has started all 16 matches and scored three goals this year. She skipped her senior year of high school to play at LSU. Christina’s brother Christopher, 22, and sister Adriana, 26, despite not playing collegiate athletics, were equally as athletic growing up. Christopher played baseball, soccer and basketball but had a

This Week’s Puzzle AnsWers