Hammond, LA
October 1, 2019
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
On this season of Homecoming Week... 2019 Homecoming Court and Beau Court Announced
HAMMOND – Fourteen Southeastern Louisiana University students have been chosen as members of the 2019 Homecoming queen and beau courts. The seven women and seven men will reign over Homecoming festivities Oct. 712. Chosen as members of the queen court are seniors Alanna Arceneaux, Bogalusa; Jessica Litolff, Livingston; Aesha Magee, Mt. Hermon; Jordyn McKey, Prairieville; Kayla Monlyn, New Orleans; and Cailin Sampey, Hammond; and junior Katie Gunther, Mandeville. Members of the beau court are seniors Keenan Austin, Springfield; Cameron Duhon, Baton Rouge; Matthew Matherne, Amite; Celestin White, Jr., New Orleans; and Darius Woodfork, Baton Rouge; and juniors Peyton Licciardi, Ponchatoula; and Johnathan Zeringue, Des Allemands. The 2019 queen and beau, the top junior or senior vote-getters in the recent online campus election, will be announced at halftime of the Homecoming football game when the Lions take on Incarnate Word on Homecoming Day, Oct. 12, at 4 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. The court also will participate in Homecoming festivities such as “Gumbo Ya Ya” on Oct. 9, the bonfire and “Roar Rally” on Oct. 11, and the 12 p.m. Homecoming Day parade. Arceneaux is a
kinesiology major. She is a member of Phi Mu Fraternity, where she served as social chairman. She is also a member of Ducks Unlimited and the Kinesiology and Health Studies Club. Arceneaux has been named to the President’s List and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Crescent Court. Litolff, an accounting major, is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, where she serves as vice-president of administration. She is also a member of the Catholic Student Association, Phi Kappa Phi, the Student Government Association, where she serves as chief of staff, and the Collegiate Panhellenic Council, where she serves as vice president of public relations. She is the recipient of the Green ‘S’ Award and has been named to the President’s List each semester. Magee majors in health systems management. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, where she served as chaplain, NAACP, where she served as secretary, and was a 2017 Orientation Leader. Magee has been named to the President’s List three consecutive semesters, was nominated for Woman of the Year, and received the 2017 Spirit of Orientation Award. McKey, a marketing major, is a member of Phi Mu Fraternity, where she served as pledge class president. She is also a member of Ducks Unlimited
Monday, Oct. 7 Homecoming Kickoff 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Student Union Mall Fanfare - Your Best 10 Minutes 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Pottle Hall Theatre Homecoming Kickball 6-8 p.m., North Oak Park Black Family Reunion 7-10 p.m., Student Union Breezeway
Thursday, Oct. 10 Alumni Reunion Pep Rally 5-6:30 p.m., Santa Fe Cattle Co. ROTC 50th Anniversary Celebration 6-9 p.m., Oak Knoll Country Club Homecoming LipSync Competition 8-11 p.m., University Center Arena
Tuesday, Oct. 8 Homecoming Blood Drive 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Friendship Circle Homecoming Lion Up Tuesday T-Shirt Swap/ Spirit Hand Out 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Student Union Breezeway Wednesday, Oct. 9 Gumbo Ya Ya 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Student Union Park, (Rain Location) Student Union Breezeway Fanfare Lecture The Wild Sawmills of Upstate New York: 1-2 p.m., Pottle Hall Room 128 Minute to Win It 6-8 p.m., Pennington Student Activity Center
Friday, Oct. 11 Homecoming Stroll Off Competition 6 p.m., Pottle Hall Auditorium Alumni Awards Evening 50th anniversary: 6:30-9 p.m., Student Union Ballroom Greek Homecoming Basketball Game Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi 7-10 p.m., Kinesiology and Health Studies Gym ROAR Rally & Challenge Night 7:30-9:30 p.m., Cook Field Saturday, Oct. 12 2019 Homecoming Day 12 p.m., Friendship Circle Homecoming Game 4 p.m., Strawberry Stadium
see COURT, pg. 8
Hammond boutique ranked first place GABRIELLE WOOD Staff Reporter
Boutique Hub recently awarded Obsession Boutique the title of 2019 Louisiana Boutique of the Year. Tori Bishop, a university alumna, owns the boutique that is located in the Hammond Square Mall. The store aims to carry the latest trends in clothing, shoes and accessories. Winning the award has been a goal for Bishop and Obsession Boutique employees since the opening of the boutique in 2013. According to Bishop, their customers made the store stand out among their competitors. “This was a nationwide competition in which customers voted for their favorite boutiques in each state,” said Bishop. “Over 400,000 votes were cast and we were lucky enough to win Best Louisiana Boutique Overall and Best Louisiana Storefront. We couldn’t have done it without our amazing customers and their
support.” Obsession Boutique has a significant following and engagement with its customers, having over 15,000 followers on Instagram and a VIP group on Facebook. This group is specifically for its shoppers to get exclusive deals and interact with the store personally. Bishop’s ultimate goal has always been to make Obsession Boutique more than just a store, but also a family with its customers and employees. “We hope to keep serving the Hammond community and its surrounding areas with great customer service and the best clothes,” explained Bishop. “We just launched a new way to shop with us through our Facebook group, Obsession Boutique VIP Club. We offer on-trend, highquality items at a VIP price, everything under $35, which has been a huge hit and we hope to grow our group and reach even higher.” Obsession Boutique was also
recognized for a local award in Hammond in previous years. “We’ve won Best Boutique in Tangipahoa Parish the last three years via the Daily Star newspaper,” explained Bishop. “We actually found out we won for the third year in a row just days before we were named Best Boutique in the state.” Bishop expressed what this award means to her and the staff of Obsession Boutique, having come a long way since the start of the boutique. “This award means so much to me,” explained Bishop. “To be recognized by your customers as the best boutique in the entire state in a nation-wide competition is the most rewarding, humbling award I’ve ever received. Lots of happy tears were shed.” Obsession Boutique is constantly working on new projects and ways to be more connected with its shoppers. Bishop has also opened a sister
Obsession Boutique has won “Best Boutique” in Louisiana for 2019. Top, employees Adrienna Mclin and Madeline Lato, left to right, assist customers in preparing for “Game Day” outfits. Bottom, Mclin arranges outfits in the store. Gabrielle Wood/The Lion’s Roar
see OBSESSION, pg. 7
Fall commencement splits into two ceremonies DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter
Due to the increasing number of students graduating, the university is making changes to its commencement ceremonies. Beginning this December, the university will host two commencement ceremonies. Both ceremonies will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the University Center. The first ceremony consisting of students graduating with degrees from the College of Science and
Technology, the College of Education and the College of Business will take place at 10 a.m. The second ceremony consisting of students graduating with degrees from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences will begin at 5 p.m. Dr. Kay Maurin, the assistant vice president for enrollment management, explained what motivated the university to split the commencement exercises. “We have a strong number of students who are graduating this
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semester,” said Maurin. “Graduation is always such a big deal for students. So, as a result, we have an abundance of guests at commencements. We wanted to make sure that our graduates and our guests have a quality experience. So, we felt that dividing the ceremony into two would make it much easier for the guests and graduates and lead to a much better experience.” Splitting the commencement into two exercises is a practice used by other universities with a large number of graduates.
Maurin described the anticipated benefits from this decision based on the results from the other universities that have adopted this practice. “We anticipate that splitting commencement into two will lead to students and guests having a much easier time parking and travel to and from commencement,” explained Maurin. “Since there will be half as many guests, it should also be easier for guests to find seating inside the arena. We would also be better able to control the crowd and manage the event. Hopefully, we will
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Campus Life.................................2 Opinions.....................................3 A&E............................................4
Horoscope, Crossword, Sudoku....5 Sports & Fitness...........................6 News..........................................8
also have a shorter ceremony.” After last spring commencement ceremony, the university started thinking about splitting the ceremony. “Last May, we implemented a few new elements into commencement to assist with the guest experience such as adding additional ushers, revamping signage and adding a bag check,” said Maurin. “After that commencement had concluded, we realized that while those things worked, we still had an
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see TWO COMMENCEMENTS, pg. 6 Volume 92, Issue 7 A Student Publication www.lionsroarnews.com lionsroar@southeastern.edu
PAGE 2 | OCTOBER 1, 2019
The Lionʼs Roar | CAMPUS LIFE
A look inside the universityʼs Campus Activity Board
The Campus Activities Board hosts multiple events in campus every semester. Pictured from left to right are students participating during the “Kitten Yoga” and “Step Afrika“ event this semester. CAB will be hosting the Mr. Southeastern competition on Oct. 2. at the Student Union Theater. FILE PHOTOS/THE LION’S ROAR GERARD BORNE STAFF REPORTER
“Gumbo Ya Ya,” “Strawberry Jubilee” and the “Haunted Trial” are just some events the Campus Activities Board hosts annually. CAB, located on the second floor of the Student Union Breezeway, is a student-run organization under the Office for Student Engagement. Megan Blomquist, a senior
business management major and a student event manager, described opportunities CAB offers to students. “CAB, in a nutshell, puts on multiple events for the university,” shared Bloomquist. “Besides oncampus events, we try to create a good experience, make memories and provide leadership opportunities.” CAB works with both studentworkers and volunteers. “We have a marketing job role, a
public relations job, two people over event planning, a graphic designer, an operations manager and a membership manager,” said Blomquist. “We offer a total of nine student worker jobs, and we look for students as positions open up. We have a lot of volunteers, that is looked at like an organization or club, but other than that we have our e-board which are paid positions.” Blomquist shared what her favorite part about being a board member of
CAB is. “I am the event manager, and I like to plan and be organized,” discussed Bloomquist. “I like the whole process that goes into making an event happen. From start to finish it’s really nice to see the process unfold. You get to see all of your hard work put into something.” CAB organizes some traditional events and some new events every year. Bloomquist likes “Puppy
Palooza” and “Kitten Yoga.” Kaylin Lacoste, a senior accounting major, likes CAB as it provides opportunities for students to get involved. “I like all the options CAB has to offer for Southeastern students,” commented Lacoste. “We try to have a broad range of events so each student can enjoy their time while at school. Every student feels involved when we do this so thats another reason why I love CAB.” Lacoste was a part of a committee last year and currently works as the operations manager. “I do all of the inventory and equipment requests for special events,” stated Lacoste. “When I was a sophomore I saw an interest meeting poster and dropped by for the meeting and signed up with CAB.” Noilen Gonzales, a junior psychology major, described her job role as an event marketing manager. “A typical work day for me includes going on social media and seeing our reactions, posting about our events and posting flyers around the university on the upcoming CAB events,” said Gonzales. “I also do a lot of tabling events for CAB.” Gonzales shared what her favorite part of working for CAB is and what her favorite event is. “I love seeing the events take place and happen,” shared
see CAB, pg. 6
Food Pantry aims to feed campus community JACOB SUMMERVILLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Located in Room 109 of McGehee Hall, the Food Pantry offers students, faculty and staff free groceries and toiletries. According to Feeding America, one in six people in Louisiana faces a struggle with hunger, totaling over 750,000 state citizens. Students nationwide face food insecurity, with the U.S. Government Accountability Office stating that 11% of households with a student at a four-year university encounter this issue. Under the watch of the
Multicultural and International Student Affairs Office, the goal of the pantry is to provide perishable and non-perishable goods to the university community. Claudio Franc, a graduate student and student-worker for MISA, helps run the Food Pantry, and he explained it’s significance to the campus. “It provides food and other resources for those students suffering from food insecurity and provides them with the peace of mind needed to know that we will always be able to provide them with something to eat,” said Franc. Those who visit the pantry can
choose as many as 20 items each week. Through a donation by the Wesley Center, the Food Pantry has a fridge, which diversifies the types of items students can donate and pick up. “We can take anything that isn’t quickly perishable and store it in the fridge and/or freezer for the students to be able to take and use,” explained Franc. Franc shared that the items that the pantry are in most need of include rice, chili, jelly, cereal, soups, crackers, pasta sauce, boxed meals, pasta, beans and canned meats - any and every donation is still accepted,
PRAKRITI ADHIKARI STAFF REPORTER
Alumni can reconnect with the university through a leadership alumni organization called Graduates Of the Last Decade Council, the GOLD Council. The GOLD Council assists the Alumni Association in networking with university graduates. There are 24 members who work on a two-year basis. The first batch of 12 GOLD Council members were selected last year, and an additional 12 members were selected this year. Starting next year, 12 new members will replace those from last year who finish their terms. Yazmyn Smith, an academic adviser for the university, is one of the GOLD Council members. Smith explained that the main objective of the GOLD Council is to get young alumni involved on campus through interactive programs and marketing. “We come up with programs that might appeal to young alumni such as interactive tailgating,” explained Smith. “We are doing student-transition stuff. We help with the ‘Lion4Life Launch’ for seniors before we send them off. We also did Southeastern Connect live. So, it is essentially us helping
alumni to get on the social media platform that the Southeastern alumni has.” The members were chosen from a pool of applicants who applied to become a member of GOLD Council. David Cavell, a 2011 alumnus and the district director for the Office of Congressman, felt it was meaningful to be involved through GOLD Council to give back to the university. “As someone who was involved in the university while in college, I thought it was important to credit Southeastern for allowing me to grow as a person and allowing me to step a foot in my career, my job, for providing a great foundation to both education, extra curricular and networking opportunities,” shared Cavell. “So basically, I am giving back to the university that has given so much to me.” The members of the GOLD Council assist in programs like “Lion4Life Launch” party, “Networking for Introverts,” Career Fair and tailgating events among others. The members of the council work with different organizations and are settled in different parts of the country. Cavell believes that the diversity
helps bring different viewpoints in the council. “I think it’s important to have folks who are not traditional,” said Cavell. “’Hey, I went to school in Hammond, and I’m living in Hammond, living around Livingston, or living around Baton Rouge.’ We have graduates around the world, and I think it’s important to get a good mix of folks that bring their experience and perspective as well as their insights into the equation.” Smith completed the membership application, as she believed it would allow her to give back to the university. “I bleed green and gold,” stated Smith. “I love Southeastern so much, and it’s done so much for me. So, it’s just a way to give back to Southeastern and be able to assist students and get more younger alumni to be involved in Southeastern.” For graduates wanting to reconnect, Smith suggested participating in events and getting on Southeastern Connect. “Come to a tailgate,” said Smith. “Come to an event. Join a local chapter. Get on Southeastern Connect. There are people out there who will want to connect with you. Connect with them.”
Organizational
News
GOLD Council reconnects alumni to campus
however. “If anyone wants to donate physical items to the Food Pantry, they can email us so that we can coordinate a pick-up of the items,” said Franc. “Otherwise, anyone can donate via the blue ‘Donate Here’ button on the left side of the Food Pantry page.” Students and faculty can also deliver their donations directly to the Food Pantry. The Food Pantry is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 - 5 p.m., and via appointment on Fridays. Any member of the campus community can utilize the Food Pantry during its hours Monday through Thursday. The Food Pantry is always accepting donations. JACOB SUMMERVILLE/THE LION’S ROAR
WANT TO SEE YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NEWS AND ANNOUNCMENTS HERE? SUBMIT ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS TO LIONSROAR@SELU.EDU. PHI KAPPA PHI – Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society’s 18th Annual Homecoming Intramural Quiz Bowl Tournament will take place on Tuesday, Oct 8, from 2-5:30 p.m. in the War Memorial Student Union Theatre. Come cheer on student and faculty teams in this varsity sport of the mind. SOUTHEASTERN CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION – The Southeastern Christian Association invites you to join us for our weekly Bible study on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the War Memorial Student Union food court. We’ll have large signs by our table in the food court to help everyone find us. Every Bible study is a group-led discussion centered around topics relevant to college life. We are nondenominational and welcome all Southeastern students seeking a Christian community on campus.
Opinions | The Lion’s Roar
October 1, 2019 | Page 3
Saying goodbye: A message from the editor-in-chief After three years, the time has come; I have decided to leave The Lion’s Roar. I have learned so much over the years and have grown immeasurably, but alas, it is time to pass the torch. I did not expect to leave after only one year
as editor-in-chief. In some ways, I wish I could stay, but I have opportunities calling my attention away, and honestly, I do not feel that I am well suited for the job anymore. Dr. Lee Lind, director of Student Publications, and Lorraine Peppo, coordinator of Student Publications, have each
taught me so much about journalism, leadership new roles and new responsibilities. However, I and life in general. have faith in the staff and the next editor-in-chief. I looked back at my first ever editorial and I am excited to see what they accomplish next. reminisced in the timid optimism I had at that time. So much has happened in the year since then Annie Goodman that now I am a different person - ready to take on Former Editor-in-Chief
Learning to overcome the struggles of the first semester of college
Speak
Out
What challenges did you face during your first semester of college? “The challenge I faced my first semester in college was time management. I felt like coming from high school, we didn’t get a good reading on what time management we needed” Jaylon Turner Senior, Criminal Justice “The first semester of college, I faced the challenge of time management between having practice, getting study hall hours and math lab hours, and that was tough at first, but now I am used to it.” Kenneth Bell III Freshman, Engineering Technology Chris Vega I remember the first day of my first semester like it was yesterday. I arrived 20 minutes early for my 8 a.m. History 201 class. When I got into the classroom, there was only one other person there. I tried to talk to them in an attempt to get to know them a little better and Dylan Meche possibly even make a new Staff Reporter friend, but I was met only with a blank stare. As more people starting coming in, I tried to make small talk, but most of them ignored me. Why was I so desperate to make a friend my first day of school? I barely knew anyone. All of my high school friends went to different colleges around the country. So, I was forced to meet new people. This fact made me dread my first day of college. I was told my entire life that college would be an exciting time for me where I would get to meet great people and have the opportunity to pursue my passions. Yet, my first days of college were nothing like that. This lack of social interaction affected me on almost every single level. I had absolutely
no motivation to do well in my classes, so my grades suffered. I became extremely unproductive, choosing to stay inside and watch Netflix whenever I had any free time. I became distant from my family, coworkers and the few friends that I still saw on a regular basis. I started questioning why I even chose to go to this university. I considered transferring to another university or dropping out all together, believing that it would solve all of my problems. If I continued down this path, I probably would have ended up in a much darker place, but thankfully, I was able to find my place here. I got involved with several campus organizations, most notably the Catholic Student Association. I was able to meet tons of great people who helped me get through the remainder of my first semester. As soon as I began making new friends, I saw my grades improve, and I knew that I made the right choice by coming here. Even though we are nearly two months into the fall semester, I am sure that there are still plenty of students who are struggling to fit in.
Whenever we prepare people for college, we tend to focus on things like preparing for the workload of college classes and living on our own. All of these things are important of course, but sometimes we forget how much our social interactions factor into our academic well-being. If your college experience is just going to classes, you are going to have a miserable time over these next four years of your life. Getting involved and connected here on campus is very important, even if it is an afterthought. Things will get better. Freshmen, if you are struggling this semester, if you are not doing well in your classes or you are having trouble making friends, it is all going to be OK. You have several more semesters of your college experience ahead of you. If things get to the point where you feel like you cannot handle it anymore, do not be afraid to get help. The Counseling Center here on campus is a wonderful free resource that is well equipped to handle situations like this. Trust me when I say that it is all uphill from here.
“My first challenge was getting everything set up and getting acquainted with it. All that just getting used to it ‘cause it was a pretty different experience for me, seeing as how previously I was home-schooled the entirety of my life. ” Daniel Lockhart Senior, History “The walk from freshman parking.” Brooklyn Sherrod Junior, Psychology
“I moved here from four hours away. So, probably meeting friends. I was kind of lonely the first semester. It was hard to get settled in.” Raeleigh Joshlin Senior, Communication “The biggest challenge was probably transitioning my study techniques from high school to college - where everything is very independent-based.” Vivian McCalman Senior, Music
Twin ceremonies will fix overcrowding at commencement
You are wearing green gown drapes over your body and the awkwardly-fitting cap to compliment it. Standing in line with other seniors, you hear “Pomp and Circumstance” start to play, Jacob Summerville and you begin Editor-in-Chief to walk into the boisterous arena. This is your moment: graduation day. However, unbeknownst to you, your parents are stuck in traffic, your grandparents are crammed on a Lion Traxx bus - worried that they will not see their grandchild walk down the aisle, and your other relatives are watching the live-streamed video, knowing they would not have a chance of finding a good seat. To address the issues of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, as well as speeding up the ceremony, the university will have two commencement services starting this fall semester. This change to the graduation schedule may frazzle those who were expecting to graduate as one big class, but I assure that the naysayers are simply overreacting to change. Honestly what is the worst that could happen? Yes, the police officers and
other university staff members that have to help will now have to deal with an all-day ordeal. But I must say that from my perspective, as someone who has worked each commencement since my first semester, it will not be that bad. First, I understand that I do not have the same tasks as other staff - either I hand out free yearbooks to people, or I work as a photographer. Either way, commencement already takes up most of my day. I usually work to post the best photos online after the ceremony, and by the time I finish that, it is nearly 4 p.m. Once I get home around 5:30 p.m., my day is done. Having a smaller morning commencement, taking a sizable break, and then repeating the ceremony will not be an issue. Since there will be reservations at restaurants in the early afternoon and evening, this twocommencement plan will likely benefit local businesses. A wave of visitors, some who may have never been to Hammond, will want to stay in town and enjoy the celebration of a university alumnus or alumna. Restaurants may offer deals to entice groups to stick around, knowing that business will boom regardless of a meal’s discount. Traffic is always a concern,
but I doubt that because commencement got split into two services that people will now invite twice as many guests. Attendance between the two ceremonies may rise, but neither group of people will cause as much havoc as both groups arriving at the same time. If you think two ceremonies is extreme, look at Louisiana State University’s fall commencement schedule. With a little more than twice Southeastern’s student population, LSU will have 11 different graduations in the same
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.
day. Simply splitting our ceremony once is nothing extreme. Most importantly, this change in the schedule will make the entire day more enjoyable for our graduates and guests. With a shorter ceremony, more parking and less traffic, people will want to stick around for the entire event. From my time on the floor as a photographer, it is hilarious to see how many graduates tell a professor, coincidentally, after walking off stage with their degree, that they have an urge to go use the restroom, never to be
Staff Editor-in-Chief - Jacob Summerville Distribution - Garrison Dighton, Samuel Townsend Office Assistants - Alyssa Larose, Ashlyn Harris Advertising - Sean Haydel, Kyla D’Arensbourg Administrative Assistant - Gemma Carter Coordinator - Lorraine Peppo Director - Dr. Lee E. Lind
seen again. It is funny, yet sad, that some graduates do not have the patience to allow the other colleges to congratulate their students and leave immediately after their couple of seconds in the spotlight. Having two services may reduce peoples’ tendencies to opt out early. Commencement is a time to celebrate the accomplishment of graduates, so it makes sense to tailor the event to suit them and their guests. Yes, those who have to work both ceremonies might
be annoyed, but this day is not centered around those people. It is better to attempt to fix the past issues by adopting a formula commonly used by other universities. At the very worst, if the problems continue or progress even more, the university can switch back to the one-ceremony schedule. The problem to a crowded commencement is to have less people and make the ceremony shorter – this is the only viable solution that can target both issues.
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PAGE 4 | OCTOBER 1, 2019
The Lionʼs Roar | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ʻStrawberries, Guns, and Milkʼ retells history
Left, Tyler Meyer as Terrance and Taylor Meng as Lettie Tuppenceworth. Right: DeJuan James as Sam, Quinton Williams as James and Camille Bechac as Flora. The play retells the history of Tangipahoa Parish through its references and was written by Jim Winters,associate professor of acting and directing. MAGGIE TREGRE/THE LION’S ROAR MAGGIE TREGRE STAFF REPORTER
The Vonnie Borden Theatre celebrated Tangipahoa Parish history through historical and cultural references in a play. On Sept. 20, “Strawberries, Guns and Milk” was performed. The play written by Jim Winter, associate professor of acting and directing, explores 150 years of Tangipahoa Parish history through historical and cultural references with a modern, comedic twist. The play was directed by Benjamin Norman, technical director and adjunct instructor of theatre. Norman explained what his job consisted of as the show’s director.
“Because it’s a written play and it’s not all improv, a lot of the references are all written by the playwright, and so it’s my job to make sure most, if not all, of those references are included,” said Norman. “My interpretation of how those things are included, that’s my job. How do I show Hurricane Katrina on stage? How do I bring Brittany Spears on stage? Those are the things that I get to choose.” Chloe Rabuck, a freshman art major, recalled her experience as an audience member. “The performance was extremely funny,” said Rabuck. “I usually can’t sit through a play without feeling tired or losing interest, but this one was entertaining 100% of the way through. I feel like I learned a lot about Tangi culture.” Winter commented on which part of the final
production he was most proud of. “I thought the scene where Irma Thomas sang the Hammond Song was the best part,” said Winter. “What’s funny is, I was encouraged by some people to cut that scene out of the play, and it got the biggest applause and reaction from the crowd on the night I saw it.” Camille Bechac, a junior communication major, portrayed the character Flora in the play. Bechac explained how long she has been participating in theatre. “I’ve been doing theatre since kindergarten,” said Bechac. “I’ve always had theatre as a part of my life. It’s always been a place that I can find comfort and a place that I can find creativity.”
Bechac also described what she enjoys about the theatre community here at the university. “I found a lot of really devoted, passionate and kind people here,” said Bechac. “I know that all of the people that I’m on stage with are so dedicated and so hardworking. I feel as if I’m in a place where everybody wants to pursue their careers or they want to flourish in their craft. It’s really great to be among people that have the same goal and the same drive as you, especially when you’re teamed up with amazing mentors like Ben Norman.” Norman expressed what it was like to work with the cast of the production. “I’ve worked on numerous shows in my entire life, from design team, see PLAY RECAP, pg. 7
Winter manages double time in Columbia and classroom ANDREW JORDAN STAFF REPORTER
A university professor has been selected to become the new director for The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. Jim Winter, associate professor of acting and directing, has recently been selected as Jim Winter the Artistic Director at the Columbia Theatre. This comes after the retirement of the previous director, Roy Blackwood. Winter explained how this opportunity came to him. “My predecessor had retired from the university and along with that, the Columbia,” stated Winter. “So, I was approached by the university administration to be his successor. It was interesting because it wasn’t something that I had applied for. And the conversation went from there.” Taking up the position, Winter stated that the task
came with some nerves. “It’s a gorgeous facility that is sort of underfunded and in need of structural work and is understaffed,” stated Winter. “And so I knew going in, I was like ‘Wow, I have a big job. And, in order to improve funding and staffing issues and maybe even structural issues, I have to go in there and, in spite of all that, succeed,’ and it was scary.” The beauty that Winter saw in the theater as well as its history won him over to take the position. “I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity,” explained Winter. “I am able to apply the things that I have learned as a professional producer, actor, playwright, director and as an instructor. It just seemed like the right fit.” Winter added that undertaking two jobs has come with some new adjustments for the double duty. “It’s just a little odd bouncing back and forth between the two facilities, often on the same day,” explained Winter. “I am often very one-track minded. So, I kind of wish I can go to
one place and roost, I guess.” However, with the reduced workload at the university, Winter feels that he can manage the time. “My colleagues and students are still getting used to it,” stated Winter. “They’re used to having me around a lot. For my first 13 or 14 years, it was nothing for me to do a 12-to14-hour day in this building. So, they’re used to having me around, to being very involved. So, I think it’s odd for them.” Winter received full support from the staff at the theater. “The university and university administration have been incredibly supportive,” discussed Winter. “The community, local businesses, local community members have been very supportive. The advisory board is amazing. It has really been fun. In spite of the challenges, it’s been a rush. I love going to work there every day.” Winter will also be directing the spring performance of the late Sam Shepard’s “The Tooth of Crime.” “This is one of his earlier and more avant-garde pieces,”
Keep up with Roomie around campus GABRIELLE WOOD STAFF REPORTER
The Instagram accounts @travelingwithroomie and @roomiethelion have been successful among the university students. Instagram account @travelingwithroomie highlights different locations and events around the campus by featuring them with a Roomiestuffed lion. Pictures on Instagram page include Roomie visiting tailgates before football games and other events on campus such as “Career Fair” on campus. Students can also be seen holding the miniature lion in each of the posts. Traveling with Roomie’s Instagram account has over 1,000 followers and is a student-run page. Austin Noel, senior biological sciences major, created the Instagram page at the beginning of this semester and has quickly seen the success since then. Noel discussed what made him start the account in August. “It all really started because I bought this little lion from the bookstore for my mom one day, once school started back this fall,” shared Noel. “I love social media. I love taking pictures, and I really just wanted to promote this school and its campus.” Noel shared how his experience has been so far with @travelingwithroomie. “College is a time to really love your school and get involved as much as you can,” shared Noel. “So, being able to promote and connect with the students of Southeastern has been a really awesome opportunity for me so far.” Keeping up with the Instagram account has given Noel the duties of being up to date and getting
involved with events happening on campus. “I try to purposely visit certain areas on campus to promote,” stated Noel. “Like, I’ll go to the SGA meetings, or football games, just to try and get all the different things going on around campus.” Noel hopes to bring unity among school’s students through @travelingwithrommie Instagram account. “The impact that I would like and hope to make through this account is to just bring school pride unity,” said Noel. “Some people go to college to just get their degree and leave after class, not really getting involved, and I feel like college is so much more than that. We are a whole community.” Alongside @travelingwithroomie is another account dedicated to Roomie, called @ roomiethelion. The later is run by Roomie - the Lion and is a part of the Southeastern Athletics department. This page was also started this fall semester and showcases the activities of Roomie - the Lion. Roomie runs the page and shared why the page was created and what the purpose behind it is. “The purpose of the account is to allow me, Roomie, to be able to better connect with the students on campus and the rest of the school,” stated Roomie. “I’ve always wanted to be able to interact more with all of the great people at this school and since I can’t talk as a mascot, this is a great way to meet every single one of you.” The Instagram account has many plans for the upcoming semesters and will continue to highlight the adventures of Roomie on campus.
see ROOMIE, pg. 7
shared Winter. “I love to direct, and I didn’t want to lose my ability to direct our students once I took up the Columbia job. So, I am really excited to dive into that production in the spring.” Looking forward to the
school year, Winter wants to have more student involvement in the theater. “When you walk by it, there are giant Southeastern S’s on the doors, and yet, no coursework is done at that facility,” said Winter. “We host a half-dozen
Southeastern ensembles there. We employ student workers. And that’s what connects us to the university. I want to have classes there. I want to have more university ensembles perform there. I want to have more student interns there.”
Celebrate Your Achievement Be a part of a timeless Lion tradition. Order your official Southeastern ring to show your pride and celebrate your success with fellow classmates. Representatives from Balfour will be on campus
ONE DAY ONLY Monday, October 7 10 am – 3 pm Southeastern Bookstore Or order your ring online at balfour.com/southeastern Questions: call 985-549-2150.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | The Lionʼs Roar
OCTOBER 1, 2019 | PAGE 5
Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’ still relevant to youths DYLAN MECHE STAFF REPORTER
Originally published in 1932, “Brave New World,” written by Aldous Huxley, looks at a world in which consumerism and mass production have gone too far. In the novel, the entire planet is under the control of one government, known as the World State. The World State has advanced technology to the point where all human reproduction is done artificially. Citizens of the World State are placed into one of many predetermined classes from birth based on their intelligence and abilities. The book centers around a character named Bernard Marx who is having trouble fitting into society. He does not enjoy the activities that the community partakes in. He is in love with another character named Lenina Crowne, which is frowned upon in the World State, and he begins to question the society he is living in. He meets another character named John the Savage, the illegitimate son of leaders within the World State who was born naturally, at a Native American reservation and brings him back to the World State. This creates problems as John, believing himself to be more intelligent than everyone else around him, tries to change the system and eventually runs into conflicts with leaders of the World State. Anne Babson, instructor of English, explained the deeper themes of the novel. “I think that the novel talks a great deal about liberty and free will,” explained Babson. “Because of the events that unfold in this book, we are called
upon to question how free the characters are, if absolute freedom will make us absolutely happy, and if happiness is something worth sacrificing our freedom of choice in life for.” By creating a world where everyone is equally unintelligent, Huxley is communicating that intellect is something valuable in society. “It may be that smarter people are not happier people,” said Babson. “Huxley creates a world where people have the role equivalent to an assembly line worker and repeat the same task for 40 years of life. Rather than allowing this person to feel discontent about the nature of his work, they limit his brain growth. That’s terrifying, and it creates terrifying questions for all thinkers everywhere.” Babson explained that several other authors before and after Huxley wrote this novel have grappled with this question. “None of us would like to think that stupid people are happier,” said Babson. “So people have been pondering this for a long time: ‘Are we happier if we know more?’ The answer may not be ‘yes,’ but Huxley is not advocating for ignorance.” Babson feels that the messages conveyed in the novel are just as relevant today as they were during the original publishing of the novel. “It speaks particularly to this generation of students,” described Babson. “I think for students today, one of the freedoms that I don’t know if my students always contemplate is the freedom of privacy. More people seem to be interested in making their private life public through things like social media. There may be pleasure in that, but going for a quest for likes on Instagram might
not be as important as having a place for private meditation and thought.” Babson recommends that students read the novel. “I wonder how well students know themselves
outside of what they are projecting to the world,” said Babson. “Huxley is trying to show us about society’s tendency to take us away from private thought. The book is likely more relevant now than it was when it was first published.”
The 1932 dystopian novel “Brave New World“ creates a world where commercialism has taken over every aspect of life. The books is available for students to borrow from the Sims Memorial Library. DYLAN MECHE/THE LION’S ROAR
The Louisiana Puchase: a concern Professors speak for their ʻBest between America and France ANDREW JORDAN STAFF REPORTER
Coming 200 years after a foreign contingency plan had fallen through, United States President Thomas Jefferson would acquire a massive swath of land, including the trading port of the Mississippi River and the drive for westward expansion in the USA. The Louisiana Purchase was a deal from France led by Napoleon Bonaparte to the U.S., giving approximately 827,000 square miles to the U.S. for $15 million. This deal would double the size of the nation and become the driving force for the idea of Manifest Destiny.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A changing situation calls for a change in plans. Although you might prefer the schedule you had already worked up, you could do better by agreeing to make the needed adjustments. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) That once seemingly rock-solid proposition you favored might be hiding some serious flaws. Take time to check it more carefully and question anything that seems out of kilter. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Finish up those lingering tasks so that you can then arrange to spend some time in quiet reflection. This will go a long way in restoring both your physical and spiritual energies. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A family situation could heat up and boil over unless you deal with it as soon as possible. Try to persuade other family members to work with you to help cool things down. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Cheer up, Kitty Cat! That low feeling will begin to ebb by midweek, and you should be back in the social swirl in time for the weekend. A longpostponed deal could be starting up again. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Going too fast and too far on too little knowledge could be risky. Best to slow down and check for any gaps in your information. It’s what you don’t know that could hurt you.
Dr. Keith Finley, assistant professor of history, explained what set the chains in motion for the decision by Napoleon. “Napoleon had just received the Louisiana Territory after secretly signing the Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1800,” explained Finley. “The move to gain the territory was a stepping stone for Napoleon’s plans.” The Territory of Louisiana was founded by the French in 1718, who later lost the territory to the Spanish in the outcome of the French & Indian War. From 1763 until 1800, the Spanish controlled the territory and ruled New Orleans Finley shared that Louisiana was not the main goal of Napoleon’s efforts for the LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Trying to make peace among quarreling family members, friends or colleagues can be tough. Expect some resistance, maybe even some expressions of resentment. But stay with it. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Changing your mind doesn’t have to be a problem once you realize that you might have good and sufficient cause to do so. Make your explanations clear and complete. Good luck. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) An unkept promise can be irksome and easily raise the Archer’s ire. But instead of getting into a confrontation, take time to check why someone you relied on came up short. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A new workplace distraction creates an unnecessary delay. The sooner you deal with it, the better for all concerned. A personal matter also should be attended to as soon as possible. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Once again, the Aquarian’s gift for applying both practical and creative methods to resolve a situation makes all the difference. Personal relationships thrive during the weekend. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A relationship appears to be losing its once-strong appeal for reasons that might be different from what you think. An open and honest talk could lead to some surprising revelations. BORN THIS WEEK: Your life is bound by your belief that character counts more than anything else. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
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French Empire in his plans. “Napoleon’s focus was not Louisiana, but SantoDomingue,” Finley stated. “He wanted to use the territory as a trading port with the major goal towards regaining control of their colony of Santo-Domingue for Napoleon’s dream.” Finley also added that the push by Napoleon in claiming the territory and going after the Spanish island perked the focus of a new partner on the world stage. “With the news of the French reclaiming the Louisiana Territory, it gave some concern for President Jefferson,” explained Finley. “The addition of the territory, as well as going for Haiti, put the U.S. into wondering if they should be concerned of an expanding French power near the mainland United States.” The U.S., under Thomas Jefferson, looked to take up the land from France through negotiations. Unbeknownst to the U.S. until negotiations with France began, Napoleon decided
see JUMP LEAD, pg. 7
Ten Minutesʼ during October
ANDREW JORDAN STAFF REPORTER
Faculty and staff from the department of Communication and Media Studies will be telling stories in an event on campus. The second annual “Your Best 10 Minutes” is underway for the university as faculty and staff will present a story for the event. Organized by Dr. Joe Burns, assistant professor of communication, the event will include speakers in an atmosphere of entertainment in an academic manner. William Robison, department head of history and political science, explained what he appreciates from last year’s event and what amused him. “I have enjoyed the event and learned something from all the presenters last year, including Ben Norman, Jason Landrum and Rhett Allain,” stated Robinson. “But, I found Matt Alford absolutely hilarious.” Robison, who is participating this year, has already hinted at what is different from last year’s event, including a more structured system of speaking. “Professor Burns has been improving the format since the first one last year,” explained Robinson. “He has added a buzzer to the clock that he uses to time the speakers, which really makes you conscious of the time limit. He also reduced the number of speakers from five to four, which makes it possible to finish the program and still allow students enough time to get to their next
classes. He also reminded this year’s participants to focus on being entertaining and limit their use of Powerpoint.” The one message that should come across through this event, in Robison’s words, is a realization that the educators participating are simply people with knowledge to share. “I do think all the presenters will be good - I do not see this as a contest,” stated Robinson. “As with everything, if I do my best, I will be satisfied. I do hope everybody will learn something, have fun, be seated and on time and listen attentively. And I do hope that professor Burns continues doing this and that faculty from all over campus will continue to volunteer to participate.” Todd Delaney, general manager and program director of the KSLU radio station shared a similar hope. “I hope that students will be well-entertained,” stated Delaney. “I hope that I am asked back and my presentation is well received. It’s not a competition, it’s a celebration of great teaching.” At the event, Robison shared that he will discuss personal accounts rather than history. “I already have interest in history through events that my own department of history and political science sponsors annually,” stated Robinson. “So, I am not going to talk about history or music. Rather, I am going to tell a story about how I ran a whiskey still at a Baptist college, watched my high school basketball team win the state see BEST 10 MINUTES, pg. 7
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The Lion’s Roar | Sports
Page 6 | October 1, 2019
Alumni Spotlight: Avans reflects on career GERARD BORNE Staff Reporter
Drew Avans, a university alumnus, graduated in 2018 and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 33rd round of the 2018 Major League First-Year player draft. During his time at the university, Avans played multiple positions and earned multiple accolades such as a three-time Louisiana Sports Writer Association Drew Avans All-Louisiana team member, being announced All-Southland Conference team member two times and four-time Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll member. Avans started playing baseball when he was four years old. He shared one of his earliest memories of playing baseball. “I used to wait for my dad at the front door when he got off work with my bat and a bucket of baseballs,” remembered Avans. “He taught me a lot, and he was always there when I needed him.” Avans enjoyed playing for the
Alabaster Bandits. “One of my favorite teams that I played for was the Alabaster Bandits,” shared Avans. “I played with a couple of guys that I grew up with, and it was a great team to play for. Believe it or not, I was actually a third baseman and as a lefty that was a bit of a challenge. But overall, it was one of my favorite teams I ever played for.” Currently, Avans plays for the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A affiliate for Los Angeles. He shared what he likes about playing in Tulsa. “Tulsa is a great city with a great organization,” stated Avans. “They have many loyal fans in the city who always show up and get loud at home games. Their stadium is really nice in Tulsa also. It really worked out for me because I never really cared for big cities.” Originally a native of Alabaster, Alabama, Avans shared how he learned the university existed and how he was found by Matt Riser, head coach of baseball. “I did not even know Southeastern Louisiana existed until I was scouted by them,” stated Avans. “I was from Alabama and never heard of them, but once I realized who they were, I learned how successful a
baseball program they had. It is fun to tell people where I am from. I was first scouted by SLU when I started playing tournaments in Mississippi. Coach Riser saw me play a couple of tournaments out there and showed immediate interest in me.” Along with playing baseball, Avans played multiple sports growing up and in high school. “I played some football and basketball when I was a kid,” explained Avans. “I tried playing at least one year of every sport when I was a kid. I tried out for my high school basketball team but never made it. Then my senior year, I thought I would run crosscountry and compete with people who have been running for years but I was quickly proven wrong.” Playing all four seasons of his collegiate eligibility at the university, Avans shared how he liked his time at the university and his favorite memory playing as a Lion. “It was definitely my favorite four years of my life,” said Avans. “I loved college and got to earn a degree in finance. I really grew to love the town of Hammond. It is a very relaxed environment. My homerun against LSU at the Pat was my favorite memory while
playing there. The game was sold out and had tons of fans out there showing love and support for the team. It was such a great feeling.” After being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Avans described how it felt to get drafted by such a historic franchise. “It was truly a dream come true,” explained Avans. “It is something you dream about when you’re a kid playing in the
couch one day, just watching TV or whatever, and I looked at him, and I went, ‘You want to start a Lacrosse team with me?’” DiPiazza discussed the responsibilities that the club handles as a student-run organization. “Being that we schedule our own games, we book our own everything, it’s completely student-run,” explained DiPiazza. “We have good help from the REC department with helping us get practice fields here, getting fields painted when we need them, but we have to communicate with other teams, schedule, figure out money, the whole nine yards.” Jarred Hatfield, head coach, has been playing lacrosse for almost eleven years and was the second-ranked player in the state in 2012. Hatfield explained what sets the Lacrosse team apart from other sports clubs. “Chris Bourque, he’s a
personal trainer for all the sports, but he’s a lacrosse guy,” said Hatfield. “What kind of sets us apart as a club is our guys are able to train with him.” Hatfield also commented on what improvements he’s noticed the team has made in the past year. “Our player’s IQ’s are a lot higher,” said Hatfield. “I’ve played pretty much every sport - I think lacrosse is the most difficult because every single moment of the game, you have to read and react to what’s happening around you, and that’s something I take a lot of pride in as a coach.” Hatfield emphasized that having fun on the field is important for the team’s performance. “My style of play, I try to make it as fun as possible,” explained Hatfield. “We play a lot faster paced than other teams, regardless of how small our team is in numbers of
players. All of our defensive guys practice offense too, so that way if they wanna go up, another person can take their spot on the defensive end of the field. It allows the guys to be more creative, and it just creates opportunities.” Austin Danielson, a junior health and physical education major, described how his experience on the team has helped him improve as a player. “I have been playing for 10 years, and this is my third year
backyard and at the baseball field. I was so excited when I found out I was drafted by the Dodgers.” The 2018 alumnus was a utility player while playing at the university, the Drillers look to do the same with him this upcoming season. “This season they asked me to do a little bit more pitching,” commented Avans. “I need to be a bit more reliable with my pitches I
think. But, it’s going to feel great to start pitching again. I throw a fastball, change up, curve ball and a slider.” The offseason started for Avans in September. He shared what he plans to do with his time off. “I can not wait to be at home and just relax with my fiance,” said Avans. “I am a huge Saints fan and plan to watch all their games from home.”
Drew Avans, a 2018 alumnus, slides into third base in the 2016 3-2 win in the Baton Rouge Regional Tournament. The Lions finished 2016 with a university record of 40 wins. Avans currently plays for the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A affiliate for Los Angeles. File Photo/The Lion’s Roar
Lacrosse team prepares for the upcoming season MAGGIE TREGRE Staff Reporter
The Men’s Lacrosse club has begun practicing for the 20192020 season. The team is a part of the Lone Star Alliance, which competes in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association. They are also the only official club sport on campus. In the spring of 2019, the team finished with a 5-4 season, bringing them their first winning season since the club was founded in 2016. David DiPiazza, assistant coach, explained how he started the club during his time as a student at the university. “I knew there were some people that might be interested,” said DiPiazza. “My roommate, who’s also an assistant coach for us now, Chris Bourque, we’ve been friends forever. The story that we always tell everybody is when we were sitting on our
Coached by Jared Hatfield, the lacrosse team meets for practice on Mondays and Wednesdays. The team has already begun practicing for their games in the spring semester. Maggie trere/The Lion’s Roar
TWO COMMENCEMENTS
continued from pg. 1
abundance of people in attendance. We thought that it would be better for it to split. The university started looking at different options on how to do that and seeking input from students, guests and faculty.” Though there will be two ceremonies taking place, nothing will be different about commencement. “The morning and the evening commencement will be the exact same ceremony,” said Maurin. “What happens at one exercise will also
happen at the other. No one will be missing anything from graduating at one ceremony instead of the other. The program will not really differ from any other typical commencement from years past. The only difference will be that there will be fewer people in attendance and both ceremonies will be shorter.” Maurin assured that students will be made aware of which ceremony they are participating well in advance. “We have already updated the website, and we are in the process of sending communications to students
CAB
continued from pg. 2 Gonzales. “It’s a long process from start to finish to see everything take place from planning the events to the posts on social media so when a lot of students show up it is nice. The ‘Haunted
who plan to graduate this semester,” said Maurin. “We have already sent out a couple of announcements regarding this out to the general student population who are registered for graduation this year. We will have a table and more information at “Grad Fair” as well. We want to make this transition as smooth as possible for both our students and our guests.” For any further questions regarding the two commencement ceremonies, visit the Office of Records & Registration page on the university website.
Trial’ has to be my favorite event because it is one of the most creative things that CAB has to offer. A lot of students are very amped up about CAB and it is one of the events that we put the most thought and planning behind.” On Oct. 2 CAB will host the Mr. Southeastern pageant in the Student Union Theatre at 6 p.m.
playing at Southeastern,” said Danielson. “I’ve gotten a lot better, from just footwork, and my all around game has gotten a lot better since I’ve been playing. Getting coached by Coach Jarred has helped me out a lot.” Cameron Rodriguez, a sophomore engineering technology major, described his perspective as a new member on the team. “I just started this semester, playing lacrosse,” said
Rodriguez. “Everyone’s really positive. A lot of times when we do something that I’m still learning how to do, they’ll acknowledge when its good, and they’ll give me constructive criticism.” Any male student who is enrolled full-time and in good standing with the university is welcome to join the club. There is no previous lacrosse experience required to join. The team’s first game will be against LSU in February of 2020.
SPORTS | The Lionʼs Roar
OCTOBER 1, 2019 | PAGE 7
Lady Lions Soccer Baseball opens fall practice shutout1-0 against Abilene Christian HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana baseball program opened its six-week fall practice period Monday with an afternoon practice session at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. Coach Matt Riser’s ball cub returns 12 lettermen and five redshirts off the 2019 squad. Joining the returning players in fall camp are 25 newcomers, including 14 freshmen. The influx of newcomers was brought about by a seniorladen club this past spring. “The core of our recruiting classes are usually based off high school guys,” Riser said. “We tend to be more consistent
and sustainable as a program when we have a good high school class. In our situation, with such a large senior class last year, we also needed to get some transfers that can make immediate impacts. Our staff did a great job of addressing both.” Returning for the Lions are pitchers Hunter Arnold, Corbin Bozosi, Kyle Flettrich, Noah Hughes, Justin Simanek, Grant Upton and Will Warren, catchers Connor Manola and Greg Thompson, infielders Trey Harrington and Eli Johnson, and outfielders Preston Faulkner, Darius Jones and Nick Ray. They are joined
by Trey Shaffer, Brant Husser and Trey Jolly, multi-position players who split time between the outfield and the mound. In the incoming group are three JUCO national champions, three high school All-Americans and a transfer that was previously named one of the top pro prospects in the Southland Conference by D1Baseball.com. Based on Perfect Game’s recruiting rankings, 18 players were in the Top 1000 nationally coming out of high school. Included in the number are four players in the Top 500 and one in the Top 250. “They’ve been really mature, taking care of their business,”
Riser said of the newcomers. “The maturity of an individual speaks more so than their age. This group has the opportunity to be that next class to leave their mark at Southeastern for years to come.” Intrasquad scrimmages are planned for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The team will return to a drilloriented practice Thursday at 3:30 p.m. All of the fall scrimmages and workouts at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field are free and open to the public. Updates to the practice schedule will be announced on the baseball program’s Twitter account, @LionUpBaseball.
Healthy job market affects college enrollment DYLAN MECHE STAFF REPORTER
Freshman Avery Royer defends against a pass from Abilene Chrsitan in Sunday’s loss. The Lady Lion’s held the Wildcat’s to a single goal on Sunday. GERARD BORNE/THE LION’S ROAR
GERARD BORNE STAFF REPORTER
On Sunday, Sept. 29, the university soccer team took on Abilene Christian University at Strawberry Stadium. The Lady Lions went a full 89 minutes in the match up without giving up a single goal, Caylen Wright scored a goal with 12 seconds remaining to defeat Southeastern. Christopher McBride, head coach of soccer, explained how he felt the Lady Lions performed in the loss. “I could not be more proud of our girls this afternoon,” commented McBride. “We fought like warriors the whole game and played a very talented Abilene Christian team. I think the call towards the end
of match was not necessary, the tackle. We did a good job playing the last 10 minutes of the matchup with only 10 players versus their 11.” McBride described what the team needs to improve on in their next match. “We are really close to playing a full 90 minutes,” stated McBride. “When you play 10 versus 11, it changes your game plan. You have to adjust and change your method to play against that extra person. We need to improve on our pressure on the ball and on defense for the next match.” With the loss, the Lady Lions fall to 1-8-1 on the regular season and 0-3 in Southland Conference play. The team will face off against Houston Baptist University on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.
This Week’s Puzzle AnsWers
Statistics have shown that a healthy job market and college enrollment rates do not have a direct relationship. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the national unemployment rate is currently 3.7% as of July 2019 and approximately 164,000 jobs were created. With the job market currently doing so well, many students decide to join the job market out of high school rather than attend college. The National Center for Education Statistics’report, most recent numbers estimate that in 2017, as the job market began to improve and the economy continued its recovery from the Great Recession, overall enrollment in four-year colleges or universities has dropped from 46% to 44.2%. Rusty Juban, associate professor of management and business administration, explained why students choose not to go to college, especially in Louisiana. “Very few states have the dynamic that we have like the oil and gas jobs, which are up and down jobs,” explained Juban. “Because of this, these jobs offer a lot of money for unskilled labor. These types
of unskilled labor jobs tend to be more widely available in periods of a positive job market, not only here in Louisiana but nationwide. You can have people who literally walk into these jobs and make $25-$30 an hour with almost no skill. That is a pretty good wage and that draws people away from wanting to go to school.” With the abundance of low-skill yet high-paying jobs available in a positive job market, Juban feels that some students are more likely to choose the higher paying job . “At the end of the day, I think it all goes back to the individual,” explained Juban. “The individual’s ability to delay gratification is going to determine if they choose to go to college or not in times like these. If you want to go to school because you realize there is an opportunity get a more sustainable job to make more money, but it is going to be later. This is opposed to an 18-year-old being offered more money than you feel like you can make or more money than your parents make. If you are sitting there, and you are 18 years old, and your parents are making $14 an hour and someone offers you a job that makes more money, some might be tempted to jump at it.” Dr. David Faucheux, instructor of management and business administration,
raised the success of Obsession Boutique over the past years and the staff wishes to provide a fun store to Obsession Boutique and welcoming environment for called Tailored Boutique. all who visit. This personal engagement has “When I think of Obsession, OBSESSION
continued from pg. 1
feels that no matter how the markets are doing, students should stay in school. “The numbers and facts show that in a depressed market, college enrollment is up,” said Faucheux. “However, I believe that even in a good market, every young person should be given the opportunity to further their education and learn more regardless of how the economy is doing at that moment.” Faucheux also emphasized what he feels are the dangers of getting a job straight out of high school without any prior experience. “Whenever you graduate high school and you have no skill that makes you attractive to possible workers, you have an average six months to find a job,” said Faucheux. “People who have not had a job in six months have difficulty finding a job because businesses start to wonder why you have not had a job for so long. In this scenario, you have two options: sit around or go to college to obtain more skills and experience.” Regardless of the markets, Faucheux believes obtaining experience and skills in college is useful for all students. “College enrollment should continue to go up regardless of the markets,” explained Faucheux. “Every kid should be given the opportunity to further their dreams.”
I think of the word fun,” stated Bishop. “Not only is our style fun, fashion-forward and trendy, but the atmosphere in the store is fun. We have a great staff who loves what they do and they make every
aspect of Obsession exciting.” Bishop and the Obsession Boutique staff encourage all to stop by the boutique during business hours and experience what the fun is all about.
to come to the program.” “Your Best 10 Minutes” will take place Monday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. in continued from pg. 5 Pottle Hall. Burns, Robison, Delaney and Ben Bell, instruction librarian in one day. To find out how all that fits together, you are going to have and professor of library science, will be speaking at the event. BEST 10 MINUTES
the school, be it sports or any other events, and of course to share all the cool pictures that people take with me,” explained “I plan on using this account to further Roomie. promote all of the activities going on with Both Instagram accounts highlight the ROOMIE
continued from pg. 4
LA PURCHASE
continued from pg. 5 that the territory was not worth it, thanks to the Haitian Revolution. “Once Napoleon lost SantoDominigue to Haiti, the territory lost all value to the French,” Finley stated. “It was nothing
more than timber and swampland, and Napoleon looked to rid himself of the territory.” Finley explained that once the U.S. appeared interested in the territory, Napoleon agreed to sell the land to Jefferson for $15 million. “Napoleon could use the money for his focus back on
essence of school spirit and the university’s mascot, Roomie. Students can stay up to date with each account by following @ travelingwithroomie and @roomiethelion on Instagram.
France,” Finley explained. “He saw the opportunity to sell the land and use the money to start back up a war in Europe for his dream.” Jefferson would gain land that would double the size of the nation, but would face some political scorn for what he considered to be
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an unconstitutional move, concerned that the purchase and effort by his administration would negatively impact the U.S. and France. However, Finley explained that the U.S. would instead find a more prophetic path, benefiting from the negotiation in the long term. “In terms of land and the later discovery of oil, it is hard to deny that the U.S. gained the better hand of the deal,” stated Finley. “The purchase itself would rapidly move the United States to the west over time and bring out the belief of Manifest Destiny to the people.” PLAY RECAP
continued from pg. 4 Madison morin
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production team, all of it,” explained Norman. “It’s been one of the most pleasant experiences in my entire life. Everybody’s wonderful, wonderful willingness to just put in the work and commitment to this process has been fantastic. The students here are amazing, and I can’t say that enough.” The next play that will be shown is “Three Sisters,” written by Anton Chekov and directed by Clarence Gilyard in November. Shows are free for university students with the presentation of their student ID.
Page 8 | October 1, 2019
The Lion’s Roar | News
2019 Homecoming Court and Beau Court
Seven Southeastern Louisiana University students have been chosen as members of the 2019 Homecoming court and will reign over Homecoming festivities, Oct. 7-12. Members of the queen’s court are, from left, front, Cailin Sampey, Alanna Arceneaux, and Aesha Magee; back, from left, Jordyn McKey, Kayla Monlyn, Katie Gunther, and Jessica Litolff. Members of Southeastern Louisiana University’s 2019 Homecoming beau court are, from left, front, Celestin White, Jr., Johnathan Zeringue, and Cameron Duhon; back, from left, Darius Woodfork, Peyton Licciardi, Keenan Austin and Matthew Matherne. Photo courtesy of Communications and Creative Services COURT
continued from pg. 1 and has been named to the President’s List. Monlyn is a communication sciences and disorders major. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Elite Women, where she served as vicepresident and president, and was a 2018 Orientation Leader. She was also accepted into the National Society of Leadership and Success. Sampey, a kinesiology major, is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and the 2018 National
Champion Lionette Dance Team, where she received the Lion Heart Award and the Coach’s Award. She has been named to the National Society of Leadership and Success and is a two-time recipient of the Green ‘S’ award. Gunther is an elementary education major. She is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, where she serves as president, Gamma Beta Phi, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and National Society of Leadership and Success. She has been recognized with the Green ‘S’ Award and has been
named to the President’s List every semester. Austin, an integrative biology major, is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Delta Omega Alpha Pre-Professional Society, Project PULL, and SGA, where he serves as director of academic affairs. He has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists and serves as a tutor in the Center for Student Excellence, where he was named the 2018-19 Tutor of the Year. Duhon is a marketing major. He is a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, where he serves as president, College of Business
Ambassadors, and Southeastern Sales Association. He has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists and is the recipient of the Tom Sharp Scholarship. Matherne is an occupational safety health and environment major. He is a member of Delta Tau Delta, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and was a 2019 Orientation Leader. He was named the 2018 Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority Man of the Year, has been named to the President’s List, and is the recipient of the Spirit of Orientation Award. White is a kinesiology major.
He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Gamma Beta Phi, Made Men, Black Student Union, and Project PULL. He has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists. Woodfork, a criminal justice major, is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, where he serves as president. He is also a member of the Black Student Union, is an SGA Associate Chief Justice, and has been named to the Dean’s List. Licciardi is an accounting major. He is a member of Kappa Sigma, where he served on the executive committee. He is also
a member of Ducks Unlimited, is the Beau for Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, and has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists. Zeringue is a nursing major. He is a member of Alpha Psi Omega and the Campus Activities Board Executive Board. He served as a 2019 Orientation Leader, was the 2019 Homecoming Committee Chairman, and has been named to the President’s List. For additional information about Southeastern Homecoming events, contact the Alumni Association at (985) 549-2150 or 1-800-SLU-ALUM or visit www. southeastern.edu/homecoming.
Mane Dish adds option for those with allergies MAGGIE TREGRE Staff Reporter
A new dining station was added to the Mane Dish to accommodate people with dietary restrictions. The True Balance station provides not only healthy meal options, but it also takes into account some common allergenic foods: milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts and crustacean shellfish. According to the Food and Drug Administration, these foods account for 90% of all food-based allergic reactions. Nearly 26 million adults in the United States have food allergies, and the number continues to grow. The True Balance station avoids these allergens to provide safely-sourced meals for those who suffer from food allergies. Robin Parker, director of marketing and strategic
initiatives for Auxiliary Services, explained why the station was added to the Mane Dish. “The station was added because we felt there was a need for it,” said Parker. “We had been accommodating students with dietary restrictions on a case-by-case basis, but we felt like the demand dictated we expand our offerings.” Parker explained the process for dealing with a food station that has ingredient-based restrictions. “Opening a station like this requires a lot of planning and reworking of kitchen operations,” elaborated Parker. “We converted the old deli area and deli cooler to be the True Balance area and True Balance/produce cooler. Part of that conversion requires deep cleaning and decontamination of all areas of the station. Only employees that have completed the True Balance training and are certified
Leadership Ambassadors encourage others to be more engaged on campus DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter
Every year, a group of students are chosen to help better engage students on campus. The Southeastern Leadership Ambassadors is a group of 2025 student leaders who help the university with a variety of different events aimed at recruitment and leadership development of new students. They are also responsible for spreading school spirit among students and making sure they know the rules and regulations of the university. Zachary Rogers, interim coordinator for the Office for Student Engagement and advisor for SLU Leadership Ambassadors, elaborated on what the roles of SLU Ambassadors are. “The Southeastern Leadership Ambassadors, formerly known as DSA Ambassadors, help out the university during events such as ‘Family Day,’ convocation, award ceremonies and any other large events,” explained Rogers. “During these events, they help recruit for the university and help bring about a sense of unity and involvement with the university as well. Their responsibility to help with recruiting also extends to assisting with the ‘Lion Pride Preview’ event and teaching newer students how to get more
involved on campus.” One of the largest events that the SLU Ambassadors put on is the annual “Lions Lead Retreat” held during the spring semester. “The ambassadors help us coordinate the whole retreat, which is off-campus,” said Rogers. “This retreat is designed to teach students who are either involved on campus already or are brand new to being involved how to enhance their leadership skills and discover new ways to be leaders. The ‘Lions Lead Retreat’ is certainly our biggest event every year, and I believe it is a perfect example of what the SLU Ambassadors do for the students here on campus.” The university began the program several years ago in an effort to put student leaders at the forefront of university events. Dr. Eric Summers, vice president for student affairs, described what the intentions of the university were when they launched the program. “It was started essentially to put students out front in the planning, coordinating and promotion of events,” said Summers. “We wanted our best and brightest leaders to not only be visible but to lead these big events that we have on campus.” With these efforts to bring students to the forefront of the university in mind, Dr. Summers believes that students should consider joining the Leadership
Ambassador team in order to better their leadership and interpersonal communication skills. “We are looking for a special mission force and that is what the SLU Leadership Ambassadors are,” explained Summers. “We want to put some of our best students front and center for the public to see and have them lead every effort that we do in our division.” Summers also feels that students can gain invaluable skills that can be applied to the real world by joining this organization. “Through helping us with these events, students have the opportunity to work on their interpersonal communication skills, logistical skills and public speaking skills,” said Summers. “These are skills that students will not only use here on campus but whenever they get into the workforce. It is essentially preparing them to lead a team.” Any student who is enrolled full time, meets a 2.75 GPA and is involved in at least two student organizations are eligible to apply to become a SLU Leadership Ambassador. Candidates must also go through an interview process. For more information regarding the SLU Leadership Ambassadors, contact Zachary Rogers.
to go into this area are allowed past a certain point.” According to Food Allergy Research & Education, for someone with a food allergy, even eating something that has come in contact with an allergen can put them at risk of an allergic reaction. Parker commented on the expectations set for the new station. “Our expectations for this area are that we provide a safe haven for people that are normally restricted in their diet and that have to go to great lengths to make sure what they’re eating is safe,”
said Parker. “We take that work out of their hands by limiting potential cross contact and offering complete transparency in menu items. The food from True Balance is alive with flavor and nutrition all while providing these assurances, and as a result, the station has been very well received.” The True Balance station is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday in the Mane Dish. For more information or to inquire about food options for other dietary restrictions, contact Dining Services at dining@southeastern.edu.