’ THE LION S ROAR All Hail the Queen & King 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 31, 2017
Golding gets a position change
ANNIE GOODMAN Staff Reporter
Sophomore quarterback Lorenzo Nunez rushes with the ball during the game against Sam Houston State University. He recorded a career-high 102 rushing yards during the game. Nikisun Shrestha/The Lion’s Roar
Bearkats stall Lions’ five-game win streak NIKISUN SHRESTHA Staff Reporter
The Lions football team’s five-game winning streak ended with a 33-23 loss at home to Sam Houston State University last weekend. In the game that resumed the 2017 Homecoming festivities, the Bearkats defense held the Lions to a scoreless fourth quarter, which enabled them to eventually win the game. Head Coach Ron Roberts described how the team had chances to win but were not able to execute plans during crucial periods of the game. “I thought we had opportunities,” said Roberts. “I thought we started in the
third quarter coming out of the gate. We got a couple of stupid penalties. We had our opportunities at certain times. We just didn’t make the play. We could have won the game, just didn’t make the plays we needed to.” Roberts credited the opposition for making changes at half time that restricted the Lions to their lowest scoring game in the past five games. “They just did a good Senior sports management majors Bryce Carpenter, left, and Mattie Hawkins, right, were crowned 2017 Homecoming job in the second half,” said King and Queen after waiting three weeks to be crowned because of a weather postponement. Larshell Green/The Lion’s Roar Roberts. “I just take it to them. They made some adjustments NIKHILESH CHHETRI entered the field with the desire of were named 2017 Homecoming coming into the second half.” Staff Reporter hearing their name announced as King and Queen. Senior running back Eugene the Homecoming King and Queen “It feels amazing,” said Bethea also praised the As halftime approached in of 2017. Carpenter. “My sister won in 2011, Strawberry Stadium, seven pairs of On Saturday, Oct. 28, Bryce see FOOTBALL, pg. 6 participants dressed in formal wear Carpenter and Mattie Hawkins see QUEEN & KING, pg. 8
After former Provost Tammy Bourg decided to return to teaching last year, Dr. Tena Golding stepped in as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. Now, over a year later, Golding has been appointed provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I’m thrilled,” said Golding. “I’m humbled. It is truly an honor to serve as provost and vice president for academic affairs for the university I love.” During her time as interim provost, Golding has been able to prepare a list of goals for this new position that she recognizes as tentative. “My goals may evolve, but I’m starting with these,” said Golding. “Build a dynamic, student-centered learning environment dedicated to student success, provide courteous, respectful and timely assistance to members of the university, promote an environment of open communication with students and faculty, review existing policies and procedures and revise as needed to become more student and faculty friendly, explore collaborative programs and activities between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs to advance student learning and development. Identify, refine and implement strategies to enhance summer enrollment and student retention and progression, and enrich and expand academic offerings and
see TENA GOLDING, pg. 2
Music, fun, games, food and traditions: Lion tailgating 2017 SARAH HESS Staff Reporter
When the university’s football program was reestablished in 2003, faculty and staff drew inspiration from other universities’ playbooks to elevate the entertainment value of football with the launch of tailgating. The university’s tailgating offers a fun time for all ages with a kid zone and tailgating spots available for many organizations such as Greek life, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Alumni Association, College of Business Ambassadors, the University Heath Center and many other organizations that participate in the pregame fun throughout the football season. Tailgating has been going on for about a decade. Kathy Pittman, who retired this year from her position of 21 years as the executive director of the Alumni Association, explained how tailgating on campus began. “I was on the committee to help with the marketing when we brought football back,” said Pittman. “One of the things we did is set up a committee that had some of the people in the community on it, alumni, students and a few faculty members. They had different things that they did, and one of them was to find how to bring tailgating to Southeastern.” To brainstorm ideas for the university’s tailgates, their committee went to view tailgating at other colleges.
“We went to several schools and saw how they were doing their tailgating, and we came back and decided that we want a fun environment that gave everybody an opportunity to have a good time,” said Pittman. “But we also wanted it to be family-friendly, and that’s why we decided to use the circle, and we closed off the circle so that people could come and cross and just have a good time, and then everybody was allowed to pick a tailgate spot.” Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Development Tom Dawsey supports the idea that keeping the university’s tailgates in Friendship Circle allows for a family-friendly environment unique to the campus. “Most universities that I have visited have their tailgate areas spread out throughout campus,” said Dawsey. “Southeastern is different because we all come together in Friendship Circle for a fun, family-oriented experience.” During the 17-year period when the university had no football team, other universities such as Louisiana State University began tailgating as a means of convenience for game-goers. “Seeing tailgating at other schools like LSU, they started tailgating because you couldn’t go out and eat then come to the game because you would get stuck in traffic, and you’d miss the game or be late,” said Pittman. “So that’s how people started tailgating. They would drive up,
just find their parking spots and say, ‘OK, here is where we’re going to be. We can snack now and have a picnic before we go into the game.’’’ Tailgating before games became a way to boost fans’ and athletes’ morale. “We had looked at other schools and that was where all the camaraderie was,” said Pittman. “Everybody got together and had a great time, and they were used to doing this on other campuses. And so, we felt like it was definitely appropriate for us to want to bring in all of our alumni, the community and friends to have a good time at Southeastern. This was the way to do it.” Alumni Athletic Coordinator Larry Hymel notes that tailgating gives fans a chance to interact with the players they are supporting. “Players really get a chance to interact, shake hands with the fans,” said Hymel. “SLU has tried to improve its family-oriented theme in all sports.” Pittman discussed the importance of tailgates for the university visitors on game days. “People come out and have a good time, and they get really excited, and they want to support the program, and it gives them an opportunity to do so,” said Pittman. “In the stadium you have select seats. You’re not sitting with everybody that you know that you can converse with. And so, at a tailgate, you can go from place to place, visit, have a lot of fun and then go into the game and support your team.”
Student Austin Rogers and graduate student Tyron’E Hawkins enjoyed themselves during tailgating. Delta Sigma Theta Inc. member Kanyla Huston performs with her sorority sisters in their line. Tailgating has become a staple at the university’s football games. Sarah Hess/The Lion’s Roar
Local bar employee fired following the release of a controversial viral video ANNIE GOODMAN Staff Reporter
Former student Nathan Monroe posted a video he recorded at a local bar to Twitter that later went viral. The video of the Brown Door employee singing along to “Damn I Wish I Was A N-----” by David Allan Coe has since received 281 reactions, 320 comments and 238 shares on WWL-TV’s Facebook post linking to an article they wrote as of Monday. Senior sports management major Bryce Carpenter hosted after parties at the bar located on N. Cate Street following the first three home games of this season. “A guy named Nathan posted it on Twitter,” said Carpenter. “He used to work at the bar. He posted on Twitter saying, ‘Don’t come to the Brown Door.’ He knew that we were throwing events, and he knew a good bit of black students go to the Brown Door. So, he was just bringing awareness to the behind the scenes of the Brown Door. We knew we weren’t allowed to come back. Then when the video got released, it just
validated our thoughts.” Carpenter, who was recently crowned 2017 Homecoming King, said that they were asked not to come back after their party on Oct. 7. “Everything was fine,” said Carpenter. “We averaged 450 people for the first three home games and made thousands of dollars, myself and the Brown Door. But then Oct. 7, before the video was released, we were told that we weren’t allowed to come back and that we weren’t welcome.” Carpenter, who said he personally never experienced racism in Hammond, Louisiana, has become an active voice on social media in response to the video receiving 15,000 views, 407 shares and 165 likes and reactions on his post of the video to his Facebook page. “I really wasn’t too shocked, but I was just more or less mad that it’s 2017, and this kind of thing is still going on,” said Carpenter. “I just want to bring awareness to the whole situation that racism is still happening. I don’t even want to say anything bad
Weather
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about the Brown Door, even after all this. I just want, from the whole situation, people to learn from this and to take away and realize that stuff like this still goes on, and it’s affecting us here at Southeastern.” In the story covered by WWL-TV, it is stated that the employee in the video claimed Monroe instigated the situation. “I can only hope and pray that that did not happen, but even if it did, I always tell people, ‘If somebody tells you to jump off a cliff, and you jump off of it, that’s your decision. You made that decision, and you’ve got to face the consequences of death after that,’” said Carpenter. “If he was egged, that guy still decided to sing that song, and he knew the lyrics. He was very into it. Even if he was egged on, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that he decided to do that at a public place and felt comfortable. He might not have realized what the consequences would have been from that, but I guess he realizes it now. You can’t do that in a public place, at a place of work, at a bar where black people do go.”
Index
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Campus Life.................................2 Opinions.....................................3 A&E............................................4
Horoscope, Crossword, Sudoku....5 Sports.........................................6 News..........................................8
Comments on the Facebook post compare the language of the song to popular rap songs, but Carpenter explained how the context of the song is different. “I don’t want people to be like, ‘Oh, well, it’s the same as rap music,’” said Carpenter. “I’ve seen comments on Facebook that say it’s the same as rap music. It’s completely different. It’s the context of the song. It has nothing to do with the fact that he was saying the N-word or he was egged on. He decided to sing a song that was a very degrading song.” Although skeptical, Carpenter believes that people should look into themselves and make a change to prevent future occurrences such as these. “Honestly, I don’t think it will ever change, but I feel like we can only have an open mind,” said Carpenter. “We have to look in the mirror ourselves. Instead of us worrying about other people, we really can only be the best person that we can be and try to make a difference and set an example. I think that’s the only way things can change.”
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