October 28, 2014 Volume 86, Issue 11
S O U T H E A S T E R N L O U I S IA NA U N I V E R S I T Y A Student Publication
Campus Life Page 2
Opinions Page 4
Arts & Entertainment Page 6
Sports Page 8
News Page 10
LionsRoarNews.com
An insider look at haunted houses By Melanie Mann Opinions Editor
Courtesy of the Rise Haunted House
Taylor DuBois, Southeastern alumnus and volunteer actor for the Rise Haunted House, terrifies customers as they explore the cryptic rooms. Though DuBois plays many horrifying roles for the haunted house, his main character is Sebastian, a butler who was shot in the eye.
After I’ve been assigned a spot, I pull on a tattered dress and take a seat before one of the makeup artists. I tell them I’ll be working a drop panel tonight, and ask for extra blood dripping down my mouth and eyes. After a pep talk from the zone leaders, I grab a bottle of water and make my way to the cemetery, creeping through a hidden entrance leading into the actor station. Finally, I hear my cue: “Help me! I’m alive in here! Let me out!” I peep through the hole in my panel and wait for the sound of footsteps. A group is coming, and it’s my job to scare them. I’m a volunteer actress at the Rise Haunted House, a familyoperated business in Tickfaw devoted to terrorizing the masses in celebration of Halloween. “We became interested in the haunt industry after we did a small backyard haunt for my son and his friends,” said Mindi Plaisance, co-owner of the Rise. “Everyone had to come in costume in order to enter the haunt. The turnout for the small haunt was great, and we had so much fun doing it. This led to us touring local haunted houses, and eventually Rise Haunted House came to life.” The story of the Rise Haunted House begins with the loss of the wealthy Henry Risewell’s wife and son. He hired Bartholomew
Stinger, a scientist specializing in the field of cryonics, to conduct experiments in an effort to bring life to the dead with the goal of resurrecting Risewell’s family. After picking the local cemetery dry of its bodies, Risewell opened a faux bed and breakfast to lure people into his house, where he would murder them and use their bodies for research. Though they were able to animate bodies, they are only a shell of what they once were. Those who rose from the dead were brainless, driven only by the instinct to devour flesh. Risewell and his research team were eaten alive by their own creations, leaving behind a house full of undead with a voracious appetite. Each actor plays a strategic role in order to yield the most terrifying results for customers. I play a “basic zombie” in the beginning of the cemetery. My signature move involves sticking my head out of a “boo hole,” which is typically used by sticking one’s arm out at passing customers and screaming. My head is slumped toward the ground so that I look like a prop. After two or three people walk by, I jump up, hissing and growling. Distracters, such as the crying girl who sits on the cemetery ground across from my station, draw attention to themselves so customers do not expect the “big scares” waiting to happen. Once the group passes the “boo hole,” I rush
to another part of the station to my drop panel. While customers are comforting or mocking the crying girl, I release the hatch and jump out, drooling, growling and clawing at them. Though most actors at the Rise are zombies, some more experienced and talented actors play their own distinct characters, such as Sebastian the Butler. “I’m a queue line actor,” said Taylor DuBois, a Southeastern alumnus who also serves as assistant marketing coordinator for the Rise. “Basically, when people are waiting in line to go into the haunted house, I’m the entertainer, whether I’m scaring your socks off or making you laugh hysterically.” Before the haunted house opens, each actor must choose from a myriad of costumes to suit their role. Costumes vary depending on where the actor will be working. Actors in the experimentation room will likely be wearing lab coats or bloody, tattered shirts, depending on whether they are the experimenter or experiment. Those in the hospital will probably wear either a hospital gown or a straight jacket. I always wear a ripped floral dress caked in dirt. Once a costume is chosen, actors make their way to the makeup station, where makeup artists perfect each person’s
see HAUNTED pg. 12
Lionettes prepare for nationals Fall Carnival to offer safe
space for Trick-or-Treating
By Sara Patrick Editor in Chief
At many sporting events, the atmosphere is fueled by the determination of the home team and the spirit of their fans. The Lionettes dance team helps increase Lion spirit by performing with the Spirit of the Southland Marching Band, firing up fans in the stands and representing the university in national dance competitions. According to Alumni Association Director Kathy Pittman, the Lionettes have been a part of Lion spirit on campus since at least 1939. Pittman was a member of the dance team during her time as a student in 1967-68. “It was a great time,” said Pittman. “It made me learn how to do teamwork and made me love my Alma Mater. Even today, I keep in touch with some of my teammates.” According to spirit coordinator Paige Lapeyrouse, this year the Lionettes are made up of 17 female students. They went through try-outs in the spring and are currently on scholarship with the program. “I love my team,” said Haley Porter, a freshman nursing major who joined the Lionettes this year. “I like making new friends, and I have 16 sisters that I’ve never had.” Porter had been a member of the dance team when she attended Denham Springs High School, but being on a college dance team was always her dream. “It was like a dream come true,” said Porter. “I’ve always wanted to be on a college dance team. This one’s way more advanced. We compete here. I didn’t compete in high school for my team.” For senior marketing major Olivia Marceaux, coming back to the Lionettes for a fifth year was an easy decision. She said her favorite thing about being a Lionette is the special bond formed between the teammates.
By Megan Ferrando Staff Reporter
The Lion’s Roar / Fernanda Chagas
Members of the Lionettes dance team join the Spirit of the Southland Marching Band for a Halloweenthemed halftime show at the Homecoming football game versus the Central Arkansas Bears. “These girls are like my family,” said Marceaux. “I spend hours upon hours a week with them, so I guess it’s natural to have that close-knit relationship. We get along so well this year, and in a group of 17 plus girls, that’s rare. Normally with girls, there’s that cattiness, but we don’t have that, and I think it’s great.” According to Lapeyrouse, the Lionettes started off as a drill team, but have evolved over the years. The first priority of the Lionettes is to take care of anything involving athletics, campus and community involvement that the university needs. The dance team adds to the game day atmosphere, regardless of the sport being played. “I love basketball games,” said Marceaux. “I don’t know what it is. I think because it’s more fast-paced than football. And being on the court, being right next to the action, I really like
Follow the Roar Stay connected, follow us on Facebook. www.facebook.com/ lionsroarnews
basketball games.” Aside from sports, the ladies also have the opportunity to compete in the national dance competition put on by the Universal Dance Association. Each year, the Southeastern spirit groups attend the College Cheerleaders and Dance Team National Championship competition at the Disney World Resort in Orlando. Porter and Marceaux expressed excitement over the upcoming competition, which will be held Jan. 31 through Feb. 1, 2015. In the past, the Lionettes have brought home national titles in both categories. The girls are currently working on their jazz and hip-hop routines for the competition during practice three days a week, and they will continue to work on their routines through the semester and winter break. Marceaux describes
see LIONETTES pg. 12
Weather Tuesday H 84 L 64
While the grocery stores are stocking with candy and children are planning the perfect Halloween costume, staff and students of Southeastern are preparing for the 10th annual Fall Carnival and Trick-or-Treat with the Greeks. The carnival will take place on Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. at North Oak Park and provides a friendly and fun atmosphere for families to freely enjoy. “It really provides an alternative to regular door to door trick-or-treating,” said Brendan Daigle, coordinator for the Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs. “It’s kind of a contained environment; it’s
safe, it’s open. It’s just good for the little kids.” The event provides traditional Halloween activities such as trick-ortreating, and also allows for children to experience activities such as a hayride, inflatable obstacle courses, balloon artist, face painting and much more. Different organizations will provide various games including a coin drop, wheel spin, sac race and various carnival games. Trick-or-Treat with the Greeks provides the community children to come out and fill their bags with their favorite candy from sorority and fraternity members. Not only can children enjoy trickor-treating, but they will have the opportunity to come
see CARNIVAL pg. 2
The Lion’s Roar / Jasmine Tate
At the annual Fall Carnival, members of Greek and student organizations give out candy and offer games for children in a safe environment. Children, parents and volunteers are encouraged to wear costumes to the carnival.
Reminders Wednesday H 83 L 54
Primary voting for the 2014 Midterm Election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4.