Hammond, LA
September 22, 2020
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
Adapting to changes: IFC formal recruitment to be conducted virtually JORDYN FRANKLIN Staff Reporter
The Interfraternity Council will be hosting its virtual formal recruitment starting on Sept. 27 through Oct. 1. All IFC Recruitment activities will be conducted virtually through a series of Zoom calls. Prospective members were able to register online. Peyton Licciardi, a senior accounting major and president of Kappa Sigma, shared some details on how Rush Week activities will be structured. “We’re going to have breakout rooms for all of the potential new members to talk to each fraternity individually,” mentioned Licciardi. “Basically, whoever the potential new member wants to talk to, they can join that breakout room and talk to them specifically.” Each day will be set up a little differently, according to Licciardi. “We will be going into the
breakout rooms until the third day or so, I believe,” said Licciardi. “For the last couple of days, you get invited to join the breakout room. The invitations are sent out by the fraternities, and the potential new members can join if they wish.” Licciardi admitted that becoming president during recent time has been demanding. Regardless, he has adapted to meet the expectations of his role. “I can’t have face-to-face meetings, so I have to join via Zoom calls and whatnot,” said Licciardi. “I get lots of emails in regards to the things I have to do. Overall, I’ve adapted pretty well. I’m getting used to what my job description is supposed to look like.” Marjorie Parker, director of Student Engagement, shared her thoughts on this year’s fraternity recruitment process. Despite the format changes, she still believes in the benefits it will have for students.
“You’re still able to build these connections,” said Parker. “It’s just going to look different because it’s all virtual.” Parker emphasized that Student Engagement will continue to ensure students have a memorable experience at the university. “I think students are really used to doing things in person,” explained Parker. “I know I definitely miss being in-person, seeing our students and seeing them interact with one another. We are still doing our best to ensure they have an experience here at Southeastern and Student Engagement.” Connecting students with one another is something that Parker looks forward to. “I’m super excited about the opportunity to connect students,” expressed Parker. “Even though it’s virtual, they wouldn’t have had this 10 or 15 years ago. I’m very Greek Life organizations have taken the recruitment process virtual this year, creating new opportunities for recruits excited that we’re able to use this to engage. Members of sororities and fraternities can choose to reside in the Greek Life Commons. Jordyn Franklin/The Lion’s Roar type of technology.”
UL System to empower adults to finish college education BRYNN LUNDY Staff Reporter
The university is participating in a program created to assist Louisiana adults with returning to college and completing their bachelor’s degrees. Compete LA is powered by the University of Louisiana System and was originally launched in 2019. This year, the initiative announced the introduction of Compete LA Academy, a 100% online option of the college re-entry program. Kay Maurin, chief enrollment management officer, stated that there are currently 14 students using Compete LA to complete their degree at the university. She described the qualifications required to utilize this program. “A student must be a Louisiana resident, have earned some college credit but not enough to earn a bachelor’s degree and have been out of college for at least two years to be eligible for this program,” explained Maurin. In order to be eligible for Compete LA Academy, students must be enrolled in the Compete LA program. Compete LA allows students to pay a flat-rate tuition of $275 per credit hour. The Academy offers a tuition of $150 per month through a partnership with StraighterLine, a company that allows for self-paced courses. “StraighterLine allows students to pay by course and start and complete the course at their own pace,” said Maurin. “This is appealing for students who are interested in starting immediately but may have missed a semester registration entry point. It’s also of interest to students who have not completed specific general education requirements.” As long as the prospective student is a current resident of Louisiana and fits the other criteria for enrolling in the program, it does not matter what university the student attended previously nor his or her exact previous degree plan. “The student is not required to continue in the same degree plan as before,” said Maurin. “Advisors work with the student to find the
Every student who enrolls in the program will be matched with a Compete LA Coach who will work with that student from the time of enrollment until graduation. “Once the student is enrolled, coaches continue to provide enhanced support when a student needs additional academic and other student support services based on their individual needs and situations,” said Melissa Stafford, a Compete LA Coach. James Henderson, president and CEO of the UL System, commented on the goals the System had in mind when introducing the Academy for those looking to re-enroll in college during these times. “At a time when Louisianians are facing economic hardship and uncertainty about the future, our nine member institutions are playing a powerful role in helping develop the skills and credentials that employers will be looking for as the economy rebounds,” said Henderson, according to a Compete LA press release. Thomas Ortiz graduated from the university this May with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. He utilized Compete LA to finish his academic journey. “Back in 1996 and ‘97, I went to school at Southeastern, and I took up biology,” shared Ortiz. “I finished mostly everything except for 16 hours, then work took me in another direction. So, all I had was 16 hours of school, and my GPA when I left was 3.4.” After months of paperwork regarding course catalogues and financial aid, Ortiz re-enrolled at the university for the Spring 2020 semester with the help of his Compete LA Coach, Claire Norris. “I want this story to come out there,” said Ortiz. “Maybe somebody’s going to school there, and maybe their mother or father or something is like, ‘I wish I could go back to school.’ Well, I did it. I just want Adults with some college credit but no degree, have been out of college for at to encourage anybody else that wants to. Southeastern is awesome as least two years and reside in Louisiana can use Compete LA to enroll in courses well.” Southeastern offers family and consumer sciences, criminal justice at a discounted tuition rate and to find the quickest path to graduation. Brynn Lundy/The Lion’s Roar and general studies degree programs through Compete LA. Students interested in enrolling can read more about Compete LA Academy and quickest degree path to graduation.” the program at academy.competela.org.
Students share concerns about cheating in online classes DYLAN MECHE Staff Reporter
As the university continues to adapt to changing circumstances, methods of cheating are changing along with them. Due to the abundance of online classes, cheating has become an increased concern. Students have resorted to several methods to gain an advantage on their online assignments. One of the most prevalent ways students have resorted to cheating is sharing answers for their assignments with others in their class via GroupMe. Several class GroupMe chats have been caught sharing answers to quizzes, tests or other assignments. Many students who wish to join these chat groups in order to connect with others in their classes instead find themselves unwillingly witnessing these occurrences.
With an increase of online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cheating has become an increased concern. Students are facing increased difficulties connecting with classmates due to these concerns. Dylan Meche/The Lion’s Roar Conner Liuzza, a junior English education major, left his earth and space science class GroupMe after discovering that his class had used it to cheat on their first exam. “I took the first exam in-person, but
Weather
Tuesday H 71 L 67
there was an option to take it online,” said Liuzza. “Whenever I finished the exam, I looked at the GroupMe and noticed that people who were taking it online were taking pictures of what they put down and all of that.
I didn’t respond to it at all, and then people started accusing others of being snitches once they got caught. I decided that I didn’t want to deal with all this, so I left.” Liuzza had joined the GroupMe at the beginning of the semester once he found out that his earth and space science class would be completely online. He had hoped it would give him an opportunity to meet other people in the class and ask for help understanding the material. He was frustrated to find out that some students in his class intended to cheat. “If you want to not try at all and make it worse on yourself for the future, you go right ahead,” shared Liuzza. “I’m not going to make any comments or say anything about it. At that point, you are hurting yourself because you don’t know how to study.”
Index
Wednesday H 79 L 70
Campus Life.................................2 Opinions.....................................3
A&E............................................4 Sports & Fitness...........................5 News..........................................6
Jared Eaglin, a junior art major, had a similar experience in his biology class. “In my case, they were having discussions about this before there were any tests,” said Eaglin. “It was, more or less, how are we going to do this, how are we going to try to make this easier on us. It wasn’t exactly cheating at first, but it slowly became that.” Eaglin assumed that his class GroupMe would be a place for students to help each other and ask questions, but he quickly discovered that people within the group planned to cheat and decided to leave. “There were starting to discuss some kind of way they could cheat during the test, and I guess somebody got word that professors were starting to bust some of these GroupMes,”
Stay Connected With Us! Like and follow @lionsroarnews.
see CHEATING, pg. 6 Volume 92, Issue 5 A Student Publication www.lionsroarnews.com lionsroar@southeastern.edu