Issuu

Hammond, LA

October 8, 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

Homecoming Week kicks off with a celebration DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter

The 2019 Homecoming Week has officially begun. The Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board and several other university organizations came together to host the Homecoming Kickoff to commemorate the start of Homecoming Week. The event began as SGA handed out free homecoming T-shirts to students, University Donuts hosted a donut-eating contest, and students and faculty were able to enjoy free pizza and popcorn. Madison Ledet, a freshman nursing major, helped SGA at the event and feels that the Homecoming Kickoff is a great way to start off Homecoming Week. “This event is a great way to spread school spirit and get people excited for all of the events we have planned for Homecoming Week,” said Ledet. “As a freshman, I was really interested in seeing all of what Southeastern has to offer and seeing how much SGA puts into Homecoming each year is really exciting.” Ledet also shared that SGA wants to emphasize to students through Homecoming events that there is more to school than just going to classes. “Through Homecoming Week, we get to promote SGA and get the students excited to be a part of Southeastern,” explained Ledet. “The students are certainly happier because of this and I am very excited for all the great things we have going on throughout the week.” Chris Price, a freshman kinesiology major, expressed that the kickoff made him excited for Homecoming Week. “The kickoff is a lot of fun,” said Price. “Everyone is hanging out, and you get to meet new people, and it is just exciting. I am most excited about the game. It is going to be very fun.” Dakota Bush, a freshman computer science major, echoed this feeling. “Homecoming is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved and just have fun,” shared Bush. “Especially as a freshman, it is a great opportunity for me to grow closer to the campus community.”

The university marked the beginning of Homecoming Week on Monday, Oct. 7. Top left, banners painted by Greek organization are hung in the Student Union Breezeway. Top right, students participate in donut-eating competition sponsored by University Donuts at the Student Union Breezeway. Bottom right, Le’Traven Thigpen, a university alumnus, sets up a table for the Black Family Reunion celebration. Bottom middle, Hay Lion is displayed in front of Mims Hall. Bottom right, Dr. Eric Summers, vice president for student affairs, hands out T-shirts to students in the Student Union Breezeway. Dylan Meche, Andrew Jordan,Prakriti Adhikari,Dr. Lee E. Lind/The Lion’s Roar

Lion Up Recovery becomes state’s first collegiate addiction recovery program DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter

According to the Addiction Center, college students are twice as likely to struggle with addiction compared to the rest of the nation. In order to combat this, the university has created the Lion Up Collegiate Recovery Program. The program aims to create a safe environment for students who are struggling with any sort of addiction so that they are able to pursue their academic goals without their addiction getting in the way. The program is the first of its kind in the state of Louisiana.

Rehydrate with refill stations

Participants are required to attend weekly seminar classes, “Southeastern Recovery Nights,” that are held monthly, attend at least two recovery meetings per week and meet with an academic advisor each semester. Madison Evans, interim coordinator of the collegiate recovery program, explained how the new program is structured. “This program is for students who identify as being in recovery from a substance abuse disorder or a processing addiction,” stated Evans. “So, that includes Ashlyn Harris, a sophomore elementary education major, refills water in a station by the War Memorial addictions to drug and alcohol, Student Union Breezeway. Several refill stations have been installed across campus in an effort to reduce but we also support students plastic waste. Gabrielle Wood/The Lion’s Roar

see RECOVERY, pg. 5

GABRIELLE WOOD Staff Reporter

Lion Up Recovery has officially launched this semester. The program is the first collegiate recovery program in the state of Louisiana. Dylan Meche/The Lion’s Roar Weather

Tuesday H 87 L 64

The university aims to make the campus more sustainable by adding water refill stations for its students. Currently, the university has 36 water stations around campus and is planning to add more. The refill stations have been provided to make the water on campus cleaner and more accessible to drink. The refill stations have helped the environment on campus, and have saved a lot of money for the Sustainability Center. Alejandro Martinez, sustainability and technology center manager, discussed the effects of these refill stations. “Each station has a quality filter that

removes lead, chlorine and improves the taste and odor of the water,” said Martinez. “Since the installation of the station, over 420,000 of disposable plastic bottles have been reduced to go to the landfill, making a huge impact on the environment. Finally, it saves money and time for the students to buy a bottle.” The Sustainability Center’s platform is, “I Choose to Reuse.” “The purpose of this campaign is to reduce the number of plastic bottles and waste on campus, and litter too,” explained Martinez. “Our campaign has been impacting the community such as St. Albert Catholic Student Center, which decided to change the water fountains, as well as Wesley Methodist Church, who is

Index

Wednesday H 89 L 67

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

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

planning to change theirs soon as well.” In the past, the university has tried to raise awareness for the “I Choose to Reuse” campaign by giving away reusable water bottles to students, faculty and staff. University art students have designed advertisements for this campaign. The university has also partnered with departments such as the Sims Memorial Library, Student Government Association, University Health Center, Southeastern Foundation, College of Business, the Wesley Foundation, Lion Designers and Reconnect. These departments and organizations have helped to contribute in campaigns and initiate new ideas. The Sustainability Center contributed to this campaign last year and measures were taken to ensure a healthy and clean environment around campus. “Last semester, we gave away 1,850 reusable water bottles to encourage students, faculty, and staff to reuse their water bottles and keep them wellhydrated,” said Martinez. The Sustainability Center has made these refill stations easily accessible to all students. Students and faculty requested Martinez to add water refilling stations on campus. “I received at least one call or email each week with the same phrase, ‘What can we do to get a new bottle filling station in our building?’” said Martinez. “Another frequent question is ‘Where are the water fountains?’ “ Martinez informed that water refill stations can be located by visiting the sustainability map. “The easy way to locate them is visiting our sustainability map. Then, select the category ‘Water Station’ and a pin will drop in all the locations where there is a fountain. Select the building, and a picture with the location of the fountain will pop up. See the pictures below.” For more information on refill stations, students can email the Sustainability Center at sustainability@southeastern.edu.

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Volume 91, Issue 08 A Student Publication www.lionsroarnews.com lionsroar@southeastern.edu

PAGE 2 | OCTOBER 8, 2019

The Lionʼs Roar | CAMPUS LIFE

Forum explores complaints about preachers’ hatred

Left, Sabrae Nasset, a sophomore general studies major and member of standOUT, addresses the panel during “The Students & The Public” event put on by the Student Government Association. Right, Acadia Chauvin, member of standOUT, wears a rainbow heart tattoo on their cheek. During the session, attendees expressed their grievances about members of Consuming Fire Ministries. JACOB SUMMERVILLE/THE LION’S ROAR JACOB SUMMERVILLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Concerns from students and faculty reached administration and fueled the discussion of an hour-long meeting about free speech and community safety. “The Students & The Public” was hosted by the Student Government Association on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Commons. The conversation invited the campus community to gather and share their experiences and thoughts about Consuming Fire Ministries, who have visited campus consistently in the past. Students from standOUT participated in the discussion, voicing their concerns to a panel consisting of Dr. Gabe Willis, dean of students, Leah Cross, SGA chief justice, and Dr. Peter Emerson, interim director of the University Counseling Center. Mark Clem, a freshman

psychology major and member of speakOUT, shared that a preacher named Kevin has insulted bisexual and transgender students. Clem cited a short video, which has been reported to the dean of students, that shows this preacher saying, “I might as well rape her,” to a student based on the way she was dressed. Clem called for action, especially in reference to the university’s “Vision 2025” plan. “It was heartbreaking, enraging and even frustrating,” said Clem. “Other trans students are deadly afraid, like I am, for their safety here on Southeastern’s campus. Your 2025 plan encourages diversity and excellence, but where’s the diverse positivity and safety for LGBT students, and even other minorities on campus? During this hate group’s visit, where is the excellence in their disgusting, scary and hateful words?” Willis explained that due to

the brevity of the video, more evidence is needed to take any substantial legal action. “We have already started to investigate that thoroughly, but we have to go through that entire process, and a short clip almost handcuffs us in a decision because it is a very short clip,” discussed Willis. “In this open space, I’m going to ask: If you have a longer video where we have more context, if we can piece it together to know exactly what was said, how it was said other than that short clip, we will move on it.” During this meeting, Willis also clarified that any views expressed by the preachers do not reflect the values of the university. Dr. Marc Settembrino, associate professor of sociology and faculty advisor for standOUT, stated that Consuming Fire Ministries is a hate group that has harassed students and faculty

GERARD BORNE STAFF REPORTER

One of the multiple branches that make up the university’s Office for Student Engagement is the Fraternity and Sorority Life department. This department oversees events such as “Greek Week”, formal recruitment and bid day for the university. The university has over 18 different fraternities and sororities that are recognized as active Greek Life organizations. Zachary Rogers, the interim coordinator of student engagement, is currently overseeing the interfraternity council. “I oversee all of the leadership development, but in the meantime, I am overseeing the Interfraternity council,” commented Rogers. “I work with the IFC council the most on campus and I also help out with the individual fraternities a lot too.” When a hazing incident occurs or a fraternity has a possible

hazing incident claimed against them, Rogers explained who would take care of those issues. “With an incident like hazing, that type of stuff would be reported to our Deans of Students Office,” said Rogers. “Along with them the report would also go to the Office for Student Advocacy and from there they would take on the investigation.” Some other responsibilities for the Greek Life department include ensuring that everyone follows rules and procedures. “I make sure that students have access to all of their houses,” explained Rogers. “I just make sure that no one is breaking any rules. I also make sure that no illegal activities like hazing occur. I make sure this doesn’t happen because when this type of stuff does happen it can ruin the greek life experience for everyone else.” Recruitment is a major aspect in Greek Life for all fraternities, and is counted as a big event each year. “By far our biggest and most important event is IFC

formal recruitment,” shared Rogers. “During that week we put on different events such as barbeques and house tours. This year we had a big convocation event in our Student Union where new recruits get to learn everything about each fraternity before a rush week so they know who they would like to talk to.” Along with the IFC formal recruitment Rogers elaborated on other major events that IFC hosts. “Every year we do the Hazing Prevention week,” stated Rogers. “That event is to ensure all of our students and faculty that we do not haze and we do not tolerate hazing of any sort. We also have events during homecoming and Greek Week which they host.” Rogers feels that recruitment is an important aspect of Greek life on campus. “It gives everyone the chance to see what Greek life is about,” claimed Rogers. “Because it is a way for everyone to see all of the different fraternities on campus

see GREEK LIFE, pg. 7

speak louder when we know ignoring them will not work is, to me, telling us that we don’t matter,” shared Nasset. According to state law, stalking is a form of harassment. Members of the assembly expressed that preachers have followed them throughout different points on campus. Willis shared that he wishes to work more closely with the University Police Department to monitor these preachers’ actions. “I see conversation happening, I see yelling,” said Willis. “But maybe we need to do a better job, from a police standpoint, from administration standpoint, seeing who’s being followed. If that’s the case, we need to do a better job.” Willis summarized what action can and cannot be taken against these preachers under state law and the First Amendment. “If there is a line that we’re

crossing with harassment and anything else - being touched, being threatened with rape - we need to do better,” explained Willis. “But simply speech that is distasteful to me or offensive to me, I can’t choose to squash it and accept a different form of speech that I’m comfortable with.” Since state law has restricted the university’s ability to govern free speech on campus, the assembly mentioned some ways that the administration can make LGBTQ+ students and faculty feel more welcomed. Ideas prompted by members of speakOUT and agreed upon by the assembly include mandatory Safe Space training by faculty and staff, better promotion of LGBTQ+ resources on campus - especially Safe Spaces, inclusion of more gender-neutral bathrooms on campus, and

Organizational

see PREACHER FORUM, pg. 7

News

OSE Breakdown: Greek Life

with homophobic slurs for the past seven years of his career. “We have stood by for far too long and have remained silent for far too long to the point at which a student was threatened with rape, regardless of the context, is extremely horrific,” said Settembrino. “As a faculty member at this university, I am ashamed that any of my students have to encounter that. I am tired. I am exhausted of working with crying students who have been belittled and have been reduced to nothing. I am tired of an administration that does nothing - that simply restates the law.” Sabrae Nasset, a sophomore general studies major and member of speakOUT, explained that ignoring the preachers entirely is an ineffective solution to the harassment. “Some students may be one yell, one horrible shout away, from a horrible breakdown, and telling us to be silent, to let them

SOUTHEASTERN CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION – The Southeastern Christian Association invites you to join us for our weekly Bible Study on Mondays @ 7:30pm in the 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.

C RIME Log Date/Time, Locations, and Nature of the Incident for the Crime Log are compiled by The Lion’s Roar from the Daily Crime and Fire Report provided by the University Police Department 9/30/2019 AT 12:08 AM—PRIDE HALL LOT— POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 9/26/2019 AT 7:20 PM—SGA DRIVE—RECKLESS DRIVING 9/26/2019 AT 10:30 AM—NORTH GENERAL PERSHING STREET—HIT AND RUN 9/26/2019 AT 3:14 AM—PRIDE HALL LOT— POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA 9/25/2019 AT 3:07 PM—ST. TAMMANY HALL— BURGLARY 9/25/2019 AT 10:12 AM—NORTH UNIVERSITY CENTER LOT—ABANDONED VEHICLE

9/24/2019 AT 6:30 PM—SOUTHEASTERN OAKS—HIT AND RUN 9/24/2019 AT 2:00 PM—VARIOUS CAMPUS LOCATIONS—LOST/STOLEN PROPERTY 9/22/2019 AT 6:36 AM—OFF CAMPUS— HARASSMENT 9/21/2019 AT 6:45 AM—COOK FIELD LOT— DISTURBANCE 9/19/2019 AT 3:00 PM—VARIOUS CAMPUS LOCATIONS—THEFT; UNAUTHORIZED USE OF AN ACCESS CARD 9/12/2019 AT 7:00 PM—NORTH UNIVERSITY CENTER LOT—ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

Opinions | The Lion’s Roar

October 8, 2019 | Page 3

Editorial: Preparing for the paper’s future At the start of my freshman year, I looked for a job, and I found one. Guess what? I still work there. Throughout the past two years at the Office of Student Publications, I have written around 200 stories and covered dozens of events for Jacob Summerville The Lion’s Roar, and I Editor-in-Chief am adding to that story total with this one. Now, after an atypical change in my title - happening in the middle of the semester - from opinions editor to editorin-chief, I hope to excel in bringing the college community closer. Enough about my resume: Who am I, and why should you care? I have lived in Greenwell Springs my entire life, which is the very eastern part of East Baton Rouge Parish. Growing up, I was one of those nerdy kids with high aspirations of becoming an astronaut or

a mathematician. I loved being outside, developed a knack for mental math, and always remained super competitive among my three other siblings. From 8th to 12th grade at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, there were a large amount of downfalls, personal growth and self-discoveries that happened, too many to fit in newsprint. The most daunting of these self-growth scenarios occurred after being flooded out from my home for all of senior year. During my last semester of high school in 2017, I decided to attend the university as an Honors student in the accounting program. And oh boy, that was just the beginning. Not once did I think that I would be the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, especially by the beginning of my junior year. Furthermore, I am now a history and political science major minoring in biological sciences. I have re-morphed my personal career from my childhood, math-

based mindset into one centered in law. I still have a couple years before entering law school, so my current priorities are my undergraduate degrees and my job. The classwork is going fine - the job is undergoing changes of a rapid proportion. Not only am I constantly learning the new facets of my job title, but the work environment has changed too - having new staff reporters and learning a new work software for stories and assignments. I have already lain some fresh and talented stories onto print due to the work and passion of our beginner reporters, and I am excited to see what the semester has for The Lion’s Roar. My main objective for my tenure is, whenever a reader engages with our work, to engage back. If someone posts a comment on any platform or sends an email to lionsroar@ selu.edu, it means someone took the time to formulate a response, whether positive

or negative, to the work that the staff produces. If someone reaches out to the newspaper wanting to feature an event or address a situation, it must be our duty to the community to engage with that call. If there’s a voice wanting to be heard, I want to be that listening ear. It would be a disservice otherwise. In addition, I strive to make our social media platforms more consistent and feature our content in a satisfying manner, all while sticking to our main goal: being a news organization. To accomplish this, I will work with our editorial staff to make sure we chronicle events in a timely manner. Photos are crucial to making our campus coverage on Facebook and Instagram more palatable and easy-to-understand for our readers - I want our photography to speak thousands of words while our stories reporting accurate and timely coverage. I have heard time and time again that the university feels like a community.

Even when the coverage is not pleasant, such as a shooting on campus, it is our duty to inform the community with accuracy. Throughout my campus engagement - from standOUT to Delta Omega Alpha, from Division of Student Affairs Ambassadors to the Southeastern Sociological Association, to several more organizations - I want the paper to truly encompass all of campus, especially organizations that engage with us. To do this, I need your help. I want to know what things we have and have not done well throughout your time engaged with The Lion’s Roar. With whatever time I have, I strive to be an ambassador for the people of this campus. Through my position, I aspire to give back to the university that “feels like a community,” through my service as the editor-in-chief. You carve your own path. Be influenced by others and grow with the community that makes you feel most at home.

Early bird gets the worm

Get some sleep, start fresh

“You can only balance two out of the three things in college: academics, social life and good sleep.” This is the greatest misconception about college Prakriti Adhikari life. Do you Staff Reporter want to know why? Because there is one solution that balances all these three things together. Yes, taking morning class is a solution. Wake up early when your competitors are still snoozing their alarm, start your day with fresh air, learn better in smaller class sizes, and you are already a step ahead in the game. Waking up early always seems like a bad idea, but it is not as bad as it sounds. The only challenge is getting out of bed. Once you grab the courage to pull the blankets off, everything gets so simple. You get to see the sun rise and get early sun rays, well, depending on the season. You start your day early and know that you will get done earlier too. By resisting your desire to keep sleeping in bed, you prove your determination to

My first semester of freshman year, I made the naive mistake many freshmen make while scheduling classes. When I scheduled all my classes in the morning, Dylan Meche this did not seem Staff Reporter like such as bad idea. After all, I always considered myself a morning person, and I had to wake up early for all of my classes in high school. So, why would it be any different in college? Then, I started going to all of the morning classes I scheduled

the world. Taking morning class has more benefits than people think. First off, you don’t have to be in line to get coffee. Second, you don’t have to search for parking spots like a hawk circling to find its prey. You get it close to your class. Third, you get good professors because lazy people do not want to come to school early. Fourth, class sizes are smaller, and you get the teacher’s attention. I learned it the hard way, but now I am an advocate for early classes, and I will continue taking 8 a.m. classes next semester as well. From my experience, early classes are just like a cup of coffee. To those not used to its flavor, it tastes bitter, but once you get into the habit, you start loving it more with every other cup. As I started my freshman year, I was overwhelmed with the freedom to be able to choose when I want to start my day. My lazy-self chose a 9:30 a.m. class. Soon, I realized I was starting to sleep late because ‘Hey, you don’t have to wake up early,’ sometimes even missing class, feeling lazy the whole day and disbalancing my schedule.

Speak

My second semester onwards, I started taking 8 a.m. classes. I usually finished my classes early, had time to work in between and also got to attend meetings for organizations at the end of the day. Thanks to our four-day school week, I have handled my social life pretty well too. My academics, sleep and social life are all intact. On top of all this, I also believe I am preparing myself for adult life. After all, once you start working in a professional setting, you don’t get to choose when you want to start working. Older people speak their

Morning vs. Afternoon experiences, and they knew what they were saying when they said, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Based on my personal experience, I don’t know if waking up early makes you wise, but it is definitely true that a wise person makes a decision to wake up early.

and realized what a huge mistake I had made. College was nothing like high school. I had far more assignments, a part-time job in Baton Rouge and more responsibilities in my personal life. By the end of the day, I was completely exhausted, and all I wanted to do was sleep. Sometimes, I could not, and I had to stay up late to do homework. That was very hard on me, especially

Out

“ I like morning classes better cause it’s cooler and there’s less people, I like sitting in the union better because it’s more quiet.”

when I had to wake up at 6 a.m. every morning so I got to school on time for my first class. Classes in college also require far more attention and focus than high school classes. I could not afford to miss anything, but since I was so exhausted, I often times found myself half asleep or having problems being attentive during lectures. No matter how much coffee I drank, I could never be fully awake for a morning class. Of course, this isn’t because I found the lectures boring or did not want to be in class, but I was just too exhausted from the previous day and I had trouble staying awake. I always feel rushed whenever I find myself in the unfortunate situation of being in a morning class. I feel far more stressed out when I wake up, and I have an exam or an assignment due in a very short period of time, even if I am prepared. Afternoon classes, on the other hand, have always been far better for me. I am far more attentive and willing to participate whenever I have an afternoon class since I have been awake for a while. I have more time in the morning to take things slow. This semester, almost all of my classes are later in the day. So, I get more time in the

mornings to sleep later, catch up on school work, study or talk to my friends. Also, whenever I have an exam, I am far less stressed because I have had plenty of time beforehand to review and make sure I have a solid grasp on the material. Having that extra time makes all the difference to me. Taking the exam while I am more awake is also a great benefit because I had an easier time remembering what I studied. As college students, we often times forget just how important sleep is. I know I have stayed up very late doing homework or hanging out with friends just because there is no one stopping me from doing so. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, students who do not get at least eight to 10 hours of sleep are more likely to be overweight, suffer from depression and perform poorly in school. After a late night of doing homework, the very last thing I want to do in the morning is wake up early to go to an 8 a.m. class. Those additional few hours of sleep makes all the difference to me. If there is one thing I learned from my freshman year, morning classes do not work well for me.

Do you prefer morning or afternoon classes?

“I like morning classes better, mostly because I work, so I work night shifts a lot, and the best way for me to work both school and work is to do morning classes, with some time in between to do homework.” Daniel Warner Sophomore, Undecided

“I prefer morning classes because I know I can be more focused if it’s the beginning of the day and I can just get it out the way, then I have the rest of the day to get work done.” Antonia Divinity Junior, Psychology

“I prefer morning classes, because I’d rather get the class out of the way and have free time to study, work out, read some books, meditate, do something good for my health.” Malik Jackson Senior, Criminal Justice

“For me, it’s more somewhere in the middle, late morning to early afternoon. I commute an hour, and if it’s too early, it’s too early, and if it’s too late, I start shutting down.” Josh Manuel Junior, Communication

“I would rather morning classes because you get to get an early start on the day. You can get up, go about your day, and then go back home and study, use your time wisely, go to work if you need to.” Kyla Stillman Freshman, Undecided

“I take morning classes, and I just get them done right away and go home. I feel like with afternoon classes, it’s there, but it’s also too late.” Austin Dewease Sophomore, Communication

“I prefer morning classes because you get really good parking, and you get to start your day off early, and if you finish class, if you have work or homework, you can finish it in the evening.” Carly Cain, Junior, Early Childhood Education

“I prefer morning classes because then I have the rest of the day to get other things done.” Anna Watkins Senior, Psychology

“I prefer morning classes, just because my mind’s more awake in the morning. At the same time, it’s tough getting up for school, but I still prefer them over evening classes.” John Hatcher Freshman, Kinesiology

“When I was a freshman I would prefer afternoon classes because I get to sleep late, but now that I’m a senior, I love morning classes because I get more accomplished throughout the day.” Dondre’ Johnson Senior, Sports Management

Alexa Rouquette Freshman, Political Science “I prefer afternoon classes because it gives me time in the morning to do things, but it does also give me time in the afternoon to do other things.” Alexandra Guerrero Freshman, Nursing

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.

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

General Offices Student Union 1303 Mailing Address The Lion’s Roar SLU 10877 Hammond, LA 70402

Telephone Numbers 985-549-3527 (newsroom) 985-549-3842 (fax) 985-549-3748 (advertising) 985-549-3731 (Student Publications)

Like and follow @lionsroarnews.

www.lionsroarnews.com www.selu.edu/lionsroar lionsroar@southeastern.edu

Page 4 | October 8, 2019

Mr. Southeastern

The Lion’s Roar | Arts & Entertainment PRAKRITI ADHIKARI Staff Reporter

After more than a decade hiatus, the title of Mr. Southeastern has been brought back on campus. On Wednesday, Oct. 2, Brian Williams, a senior communication major, was crowned Mr. Southeastern Louisiana University 2019. After the last competition being held in the year 2007, the pageant system has been reintroduced by Miss Southeastern Louisiana University 2019 Chelsey Blank. Blank organized the competition with support from Campus Activities Board. The pageant was organized with the objective of raising money for her platform charity; Down Syndrome Awareness of Greater New Orleans. The pageant had 11 contestants that participated in the competition. Johnathan Zeringue, a junior nursing major, was titled first runner-up. Austin Noel, a senior biological sciences major, won the second runner-up. Noel was also awarded the People’s Choice Award, School Spirit Award and Talent Award. Jacob Summerville, a junior history and political Brian Williams, a senior communication major, poses for a picture with Miss Southeastern Louisiana University 2019 science double major, was titled the Chelsey Blank and orientation leaders after winning the competition. Williams played musical instruments for his talent third runner-up in the competition. competition, and won the “Best Hair Award“. Prakriti Adhikari/The Lion’s Roar Summerville also won the Mr.

back after 12 year hiatus

Congeniality Award. During the competition, Jaqwan Brumfield, a sophomore psychology major, was awarded the Best Smile Award. Jacob Chauvin, a freshman music major, won the Best Dressed Award and Social Impact Statement Award. Bryon Hunter, a freshman business management major, won the Photogenic Award. Williams won the Best Hair Award and Gerard Borne, a sophomore communication major, won the Fundraiser Award - raising $300 for Blank’s platform. As a part of the competition, participants performed an opening dance, answered an onstage question, performed their talent and presented their formal attire and social impact statement. Williams decided to participate in the competition after helping Blank shoot her introduction video for Miss Louisiana, and played musical instruments and sang “You’re Welcome” from “Moana” for his talent. “I signed up on the last day possible and starting that day, I started getting my music together, started practicing all the instruments,” shared Williams. “I hadn’t touched a trumpet in probably a year and a half. So, I was really worried. I was bad at first, but it all came together.”

Even though Blank had to create the format for the competition on her own, she was happy with the support she received to make the competition successful. “There was no documentation of the one that happened in 2007,” said Blank. “So, I had to just go from scratch and make it up on my own, and from there, it just kind of fell on its own. These guys really helped put the pieces together.” Williams can promote his platform any way he wants. “Basically, the main thing is so that he can ride in the Homecoming Parade with me, and from there, we just let them know that they can do whatever they want with their platform,” said Blank. “They will be invited to events with Miss Southeastern. It just depends on which ones they are available to do, but the involvement is really up to them.” Williams is excited to promote his school with the title. “I’ll do as much as I can for the school ‘cause I am in love with Southeastern,” said Williams. “Of course, I will do what’s asked of me, but I will also go above and beyond to support the school and show love for the school and then support my platform and do what I can.”

Music Concentrations allow students to advance their abilities DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter

The university offers several ways for students who are interested in music to express themselves. Music majors have the option to choose one of five different concentrations: vocal performance, piano performance, vocal education, instrumental performance and instrumental education. Each of these concentrations allow students to focus on a different element of musical performance or education in order to suit their talents. Jasmyn Green, a freshman music major, is currently seeking a concentration in vocal education. She explained how her concentration differs from the other concentrations. “My concentration is more geared towards learning how to educate others on vocal performance,” said Green. “Singing has been a huge part of my life from a young age, and I started vocal coaching kids when I was 14 years old. So, when it came time for me to choose a major and an occupational field I wanted to grow and develop in, for me there was not really any other answer.” Green also explained how the community of music majors differs from those of other programs. “We see the same students and faculty everyday, causing us to get to know the people

in our classes and build strong friendships with them,” shared Green. “I have had some people from other majors tell me that they don’t even know the names of the people in their classes, let alone building relationships with them.” The university also allows students to pick more than one concentration so that they can better focus on their individual skills. Chrissy Weber, a freshman music major with a double concentration in vocal and piano music education, described how having a double concentration is beneficial to her.. “I am able to strengthen my skills in both vocal music and piano music,” said Weber. “I am able to be on stage as a singer in one instance, and then I am also able to be the one accompanying a singer on the piano.” Weber chose to have double concentration because of her passion to educate students about music. “I decided to pursue a double concentration because I have been a pianist for as long as I can remember, and I eventually started to sing while playing the piano at family functions and events,”said Weber. “Music is my passion, so my goal in life is to guide students to love music and find their own passions as well as shape their lives.” In addition to providing concentration in music education, the university also offers students the chance to

pursue concentrations focused on improving their own personal skills. Katherine Cousins, a freshman music major with a concentration in vocal performance, explained how her talents differ from her peers and how her concentration helps her improve. “My instrument is my voice,”

teaching programs and field experiences. Being a university alumna has influenced Bell greatly. She shared how being a student impacted her personally. “My experience at Southeastern taught me life skills and gave me an exceptional education that I still use today,” shared Bell. “Also I loved going to a university where I felt like I was at home.” Bell described how life has been after college and how she has adjusted to life as an educator. “Post-grad life has been hard

but rewarding because I have “My biggest goal as an students are successful and they Bell. “My student’s success is an amazing job, and I continue educator is to make sure my have a bright future,” explained my biggest accomplishment.” to pursue my education by earning a Masters in English,” said Bell. Being a recipient of the award for St. James Parish has meant a lot of things for Bell as an educator. “Receiving the Teacher of the Year Award was such an honor because it showed me that all my hard work and dedication was appreciated,” stated Bell. Bell has many more things she would like to accomplish in the following years as a high-school teacher.

The university gives students interested in music the opportunity to participate in unique curriculum tailored to their abilities and interests. Music majors are given the option to declare at least one of five concentrations. File Photo/The Lion’s Roar shared Cousins. “Unlike other concentrations within the music program. The vocal performance concentration helps me to specifically work on my vocal ability. I am solely focused on the performing aspect of music, not necessarily how to teach it to others.” Cousins also explained how

her experience in the program has been so far and why she chose her concentration. “It has always been a dream of mine to perform, whether it be theatre, musical theatre or singing, ” said Cousins. “ I also chose this major because it gets you more comfortable with presenting yourself in front of people, which

will be a big part of the job I am going on to after college. The people I have met here and the experience I have gained are very valuable and will help me greatly in my future career.” For more information regarding music majors and concentrations, please visit the university’s website..

Bell: My student’s success is my biggest accomplishment GABRIELLE WOOD Staff Reporter

Whitney Bell, a university alumnus has recently been recognized as teacher of the year for St. James High School. Bell graduated from the university in 2016 with a B a c h e l o r ’s degree in E n g l i s h Education. She has accomplished this award in her second Whitney Bell year of working in the parish, while pursuing her master’s degree at the same time. Bell discussed why she knew English education was what she wanted to pursue in life. “I went into education to be a life-long learner and to pass my knowledge on to others,” stated Bell. “Also I’ve always wanted to be an educator because I love teaching others.” The College of Education works closely with its students to provide a hands-on learning environment with student

Arts & Entertainment | The Lion’s Roar

October 8, 2019 | Page 5

Vehicle maintenance can help ensure driver’s safety MAGGIE TREGRE Staff Reporter

Taking proper care of one’s vehicle is just one of the ways that a driver can maintain their safety while on the road. To avoid car troubles, drivers should make sure to routinely perform certain maintenance tasks, such as changing their oil, rotating their tires and making sure all of the vehicle’s lights are working properly. Raymond Williams, manager of The Tire Choice Auto Center in Hammond, explained that different vehicles will require oil changes at different times. “Certain vehicles recommend every 3,000 miles,” said Williams. “If you’re using synthetic oils, then go for every 5,000 or 6,000 miles.” Changing a car’s engine oil will help the engine last longer. Neglecting to change the oil could result in the engine stopping altogether, which can cost up to several thousand dollars to fix or replace. Most mechanic shops and care centers offer oil changes along with other vehicle maintenance services. In the case of an oil leak, the oil may simply need to be replaced rather than changed. Fixing an oil leak can be very expensive, and older car models tend to leak more than newer ones. Williams also encourages drivers

to rotate their tires every 5,000 miles, or at least every other oil change. Tire rotation consists of simply switching the placement of a set of tires on a vehicle to limit the wear of the tires. This is not the same as changing a tire, which consists of replacing an old tire with a new one. Many auto service centers offer free tire rotations with the purchase of a set of tires. Routinely checking that a vehicle’s lights are functioning properly can also help ensure a driver’s safety, especially for those who drive at night when visibility is low. Taking good care of a vehicle can help prevent a car from breaking down at an unexpected or unwanted time. In case of an emergency where a driver is forced to get off the road, Williams described what steps should be taken to ensure the safety of both the driver and the vehicle. “First thing you’d want to do is pull over to a safe spot where you’re not in the way of traffic and put your hazard lights on, then carefully exit your vehicle,” explained Williams. “Take a quick walk around, see if you can see the problem. If not, raise the hood, make sure there’s no smoke, no burning, no fire, nothing seriously wrong with it. Then I would recommend if you have any Roadside Assistance on your insurance, give them a call and explain the situation.” Drivers should also make sure their vehicle inspection stickers

Performing routine maintenance checks can help prevent automobile troubles. Many auto shops provide services for basic car care. Maggie Tregre/The Lion’s Roar

don’t go past the expiration date parishes require that inspections are list of inspection requirements can be in order to avoid getting a citation. conducted in the same parish that the found on the Louisiana State Police’s In the state of Louisiana, certain vehicle is registered in. A complete website at lsp.org.

Lectures, art in Fanfare’s second week HAMMOND – Lectures and an art exhibit are some of the events highlighting the second week of Fanfare, Southeastern Louisiana University’s annual fall arts festival. First up was the return of the Fanfare lecture series titled “Your Best 10 Minutes” on Monday, Oct. 7. Scheduled at 1 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium, the series brings in four individuals to speak about anything they choose. This edition featured Ben Bell of Sims Memorial Library, Todd Delaney of KSLU radio, Bill Robison of the History and Political Science Department, and Joe Burns of the Communication and Media Studies Department. On Oct. 8, the 18th annual Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Homecoming Intramural Quiz Bowl will be held from 2 to 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. Matchups will include faculty

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You could be caught in a torrent of advice from well-meaning friends and colleagues this week. But remember, Lamb, you are at your best when you are your own inimitable self. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Expect strong efforts to get you to accept things as they are and not question them. But ignore all that and continue your inquiries until you’re sure you have all the answers you need. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Heavier than usual family and workplace duties compete for your time this week. Try to strike a balance so that you’re not overwhelmed by either. Pressures ease by week’s end. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) It’s a good time for the Moon Child to show off your uniquely inspired approach to the culinary skills -especially if they’re directed toward impressing someone special. LEO (July 23 to August 22) You might be happy about the re-emergence of a long-deferred deal. But don’t pounce on it quite yet. Time can change things. Be sure the values you looked for before are still there. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Try to rein in your super-critical attitude, even if things aren’t being done quite as you would prefer. Remember: What you say now could create an awkward situation later on. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Although you can expect on-

versus faculty and student versus student teams in this fast-paced competition. The Department of History and Political Science’s “Then and Now Lecture Series” continues on Oct. 9 with the second presentation of the free series. Zachary Isenhower, a visiting assistant professor of history, will present “The Wild Sawmills of Upstate New York: The Fight for Land and Legitimacy on America’s Frontiers” at 1 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium. “In the 1840s a contest between New York settlers and the Seneca tribe over land, cabins, and sawmills blurred the legality of land claims with the larger issue of U.S. expansion,” Isenhower said. “From ‘pioneers’ settling readymade Seneca cabins and sawmills, to the first Native victory before the Supreme Court, each side staked claims within American expansion that challenge the nation’s most

cherished myths.” Southeastern’s Contemporary Art Gallery will open a new exhibition titled “Liminal Landscapes: a video art exhibition” on Oct. 10 with a free opening reception from 5 – 7 p.m. in the gallery. Guest curated by Southeastern Associate Professor of New Media + Animation Cristina Molina, the exhibit brings together the works of contemporary video artists whose work explores the connection between identity and landscape. “Explored through a variety of techniques such as video collage, projection mapping and immersive audio video installation, the artists in this exhibition work to reveal terrains both real and imagined through their own unique visual language,” Molina explained. Rounding out the week is a free book festival titled “Helping Hands-Build a Better World” at the Hammond Library, located at 314 East Thomas St. in downtown Hammond. Scheduled Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the community event features local nonprofits and other organizations, local authors, and free refreshments. For a complete Fanfare schedule, contact the Columbia/ Fanfare office at 985-543-4366 or visit columbiatheatre.org.

RECOVERY

continued from pg. 1 who are struggling with eating disorders, gambling addiction and pornography addiction. We assist with all of these I just mentioned and more.” All students who are in recovery from any type of addiction are eligible to apply to this program. “This program is catered towards students who are struggling with any kind of addiction,” said Evans. “We offer all sorts of things for our students. The main things are weekly seminars, which are not-for-credit classes for one hour a week and academic advising from a professional counselor. We also have a recovery space on North Campus which creates a place for students in recovery to congregate. Recovering from an addiction is like learning to walk again. That’s why it is important to have these things such as seminar classes.” The recovery program also incorporates several new and previously introduced events outside of the program designed to help students struggling with addiction. “We have resources like support groups that are open to all students, regardless of if they are in the program,” explained Evans. “We also have events like Sober Tailgating which is a great way for students in recovery to get to meet others in a similar situation. You might see some collegiate recovery people at these events of course. Now that this program exists, we can offer more of these services to our students.” The program will also allow certain students to be eligible for scholarships if they spent at least six months in recovery, fill out an application and met other criteria determined by the program directors.

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