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
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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.”
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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,”
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The Lion’s Roar | Campus Life
Page 2 | September 22, 2020
Honors program announces new ambassadors AUSTIN DEWEASE Staff Reporter
The Honors Program has announced the new Honors Ambassadors for this year. This student-run group of current Honors students represents the Honors Program at a variety of internal and external campus events, according to the university website. Honors Ambassadors play a role in how the program is organized and allows students to network with Honors faculty and other Honors students. Basanta Khakurel, a senior biological sciences major, is an experienced Honors Ambassador. He shared what roles ambassadors have in the Honors Program. “The major role of an Honors Ambassador, besides representing the Honors department, is to be a leader and a mentor to the students in the program behind us,” shared Khakurel. “We assist with the events that Honors holds and also help other Honors students
excel in their fields.” One of the newly announced ambassadors, Joshua Freeman, a sophomore sports management major, was a bit hesitant when deciding to join the Honors Student Association his freshman year. “As a freshman last semester, I did not know which direction I wanted my college career to take, so I decided to join the HSA,” said Freeman. “I was very cautious at first, seeing how it was a mostly student-run organization, but as the semester went on, I found out that I really enjoyed the meetings and the people running the show.” As the year went on, Freeman became aquainted with the Honors Ambassadors and the director of the Honors Program, Claire Procopio. When he received the email to apply to be an ambassador, he did not hesitate. Another newly announced ambassador, Maya Green, a sophomore nursing major, became involved with the
Honors Program because she was seeking a challenge for her education. “Southeastern’s Honors Program is something that I got involved in my freshman year because I wanted a challenge when it came to my education, and Honors was perfect for me,” shared Green. “Through Honors, I’ve made good friends, challenged myself and made connections with professors and other Honors students.” There are no applications for becoming an Honors Ambassador. Instead, invitations are sent by the Honors Program to potential candidates. Students who are sent an invitation must have to be a current member of the Honors Program in good standing, agree to attend and help with at least three Honors events per semester, serve as a mentor to potential and new students and meet once per year as a part of the Honors Council. The council will make recommendations to
Trooper probed in Black man’s death critically hurt in crash JIM MUSTIAN Associated Press
A Louisiana state trooper under federal investigation for his role in the in-custody death of a Black man last year was critically injured early Monday in a single-vehicle crash. Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth had been placed on paid leave Sept. 9 amid growing fallout — including state and federal investigations — from the May 2019 death of Ronald Greene following a high-speed chase near Monroe. State Police had been considering disciplinary action against Hollingsworth but have repeatedly declined to release body-camera footage or other records of Greene’s arrest. The controversy deepened last week when Greene’s family released graphic photographs showing deep bruises and cuts to his face that raised questions about whether Greene received those injuries in a car crash — as authorities initially told his family — or when troopers
Honors Ambassadors members take a picture: Pedro Jimenez Antenucci, Tyler Tran, Tristan Trubon and Basanta Khakurel. Courtesy of Tran.
the Honors director and faculty for continued improvement of the Honors Program, according to the university website. Responsibilities have not changed drastically, but some
aspects, such as HSA meetings, have switched to an online format. “We haven’t been able to hold any HSA meetings because of social distancing
and other restrictions, so that’s a big difference between the way things went last year and this year,” said Freeman.
Communication majors face a sudden change in curriculum
arrested him following the police pursuit. Greene’s family has filed a federal wrongfuldeath lawsuit alleging troopers “brutalized” Greene, used a stun gun on him three times and “left him beaten, bloodied and in cardiac arrest” before covering up his actual cause of death. State Police have said only that the 49-year-old Greene died “after resisting arrest and a struggle with troopers” who took him into custody. The agency opened an internal investigation into the case last month. Greene’s death also remains the subject of a civil rights investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department. A crash report obtained by The Associated Press says Greene failed to stop for an unspecified traffic violation and later drove off the road and into a ditch, striking a mailbox, a culvert and a “shrub/tree.” The report does not mention any use of force by troopers.
see TROOPER, pg. 6
News
Organizational
The Southeastern Channel’s show “College Night” won Best Video Comedy from College Broadcasters, Inc. The Department of Communication and Media Studies provides students an opportunity to work in a professional environment through avenues such as the Southeastern Channel. Courtesy of Rick Settoon
DANIEL MCCLAIN HONORS ORGANIZATION – Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society is hosting the 19th Annual Homecoming Intramural Quiz Bowl Staff Reporter Tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 6-9 p.m. via Google Meet Video conference. Teams of four compete together in a double-elimination tournament culminating in the top student vs. top faculty team for the Quiz Bowl Championship. Cash prizes Days after the drop/add are awarded to the top two student and faculty teams. For an application form, email Dr. Claire Procopio at claire.procopio@ period, the Department of southeastern.edu. Only the first four student and faculty teams will be accepted, and forms are due by Oct. 5. Communication and Media Studies released changes to the CSA – Join us for our CSA Nights every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. in the St. Albert Catholic Student Center. Due to current curriculum. university restrictions, participation is limited to 25 people. A Google Sheets sign up can be found on our Facebook page (CathCommunication majors are olic Student Association SELU)!.We also offer a virtual option via Zoom. Be sure to follow us on Instagram (@selucatholics) and now required to choose a field email selucatholics@gmail.com if you wish to be added to our email list. of concentration. The new concentrations include Television and Multimedia Journalism, Sports Communication, Strategic Communication, and Corporate Training and Development. “The university had retained a consultant two years ago to study the department’s curriculum, students and overall 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 operations,” stated department provided by the University Police Department. head James O’Connor. “One of the recommendations was 8/23/2020 at 12:00 AM - St. Tammany Hall - Simple Unknown at this time. - Online Harassment to modernize the curriculum Assault 9/8/2020 at 6:35 PM - Pedestrian Tunnel - Criminal and create concentrations that 9/2/2020 at 12:10 AM - University Avenue - Traffic Trespass, Resisting an Officer were attractive to students and Violation, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of 9/9/2020 at 9:55 AM - University Avenue - Traffic would better prepare them Drug Paraphernalia Violations, Outstanding Arrest Warrant for meaningful work after 9/4/2020 at 12:45 AM - Southeastern Oaks 9/9/2020 at 3:10 PM - North Oak Street - Traffic graduation.” Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property, Hit Violations, Outstanding Arrest Warrant O’Connor explained why the and Run (x2), Reckless Operation of a Vehicle, 9/9/2020 at 5:00 PM - Student Union Criminal concentrations were added to the Aggravated Flight from an Officer Trespass curriculum. 9/4/2020 at 9:24 AM - University Avenue - Traffic 9/10/2020 at 1:08 PM - Union Avenue - Traffic “They weren’t really able to Violations, Outstanding Arrest Warrant Violations, Outstanding Arrest Warrant splurge in each field before,” said 9/4/2020 at 7:43 PM Washington Hall - Attempted 9/10/2020 at 1:30 PM - University Avenue - Traffic O’Connor. “It was restrictive, Suicide Violations, Resisting an Officer with Violence, and the feedback I got from 9/5/2020 at 3:55 PM - Taylor Hall - Possession of Possession of Schedule II CDS, Attempted students was that they wanted Marijuana, Possession of Alcohol Disarming of a Police Officer, Criminal Damage to to focus in a concentration that 9/5/2020 at 11:33 PM - North Oak Street - Driving Property would prepare them for specific While Intoxicated, Open Alcoholic Beverage 9/10/2020 at 3:40 PM - Union Avenue - Traffic Crash career paths.” Container in Vehicle, Traffic Violation 9/10/2020 at 6:00 PM - Fayard Hall - Criminal O’Connor also mentioned 9/6/2020 at 5:20 PM - North Oak Street - Traffic Damage to Property that the new curriculum is more Violation, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of 9/13/2020 at 1:49 PM - North Oak Street - Traffic flexible than before and gives Drug Paraphernalia Violations, Outstanding Arrest Warrant students more options. 9/6/2020 at 11:41 PM - Southeastern Oaks 9/14/2020 at 9:38 AM - University Avenue - Traffic “In fact, the new curriculum Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Crash, Traffic Violations has more flexibility than before Paraphernalia 9/15/2020 at 11:30 AM - North Oak Street - Traffic and gives students significantly 9/7/2020 at 12:14 AM - Taylor Hall - Possession of Violations, Medical Emergency more options to take course work Marijuana across disciplines,” commented
C RIME Log
O’Connor. Sophomore communication major Natalie Kelly spoke on how the changes to the curriculum were not too different from the university she attended before transferring. “There wasn’t much of a difference besides the fact that it made me really decide what I wanted to do,” shared Kelly. “There were more majors at Auburn under communications. The curriculum allowed you to take different classes in COMM to see what you really had an interest in.” Junior communication major, Christopher Arroyo, also shared his thoughts about the change. “All communication majors in previous catalogues were recommended to pick classes that fit their concentration,” said Arroyo. “The new catalogue allows students to pick a curriculum that is tailored to their interest and future goals.” With this change in the curriculum, the department has seen an increase of students staying in the field, according to O’Connor. “Before, we were seeing a pattern of students leaving the major in their junior and senior years,” explained O’Connor. “That has declined already and we are experiencing an uptick in enrollment of about 14% for Fall 2020, compared to the previous year.” The curriculum changes have elicited mixed reactions from students. Kelly mentioned that she thinks the changes have narrowed her options for the future. “I am starting to rethink
what I want to do with a communications degree because the concentrations don’t offer much,” shared Kelly. “The administration should understand that COMM is broad, and they need to give more options for their students. I don’t even really understand if future employers will take a concentration in strategic communication.” On the other hand, Arroyo finds the new curriculum more useful and flexible. “Despite the new curriculum requiring students to choose a specific concentration, there is actually more flexibility for students to take the classes that will help them the most,” commented Arroyo. “I had majored in public relations before, so transferring here, my focus is strategic comm,” shared Kelly. “I’m still on the fence between sports comm and PR, so I was disappointed to see how strict the curriculum is. I wanted to take classes in both this year to see which one I could see myself doing in the future.” Arroyo shared that since he had already chosen his classes, it required him to change his plans. “Prior to the change, I had already chosen which classes I would take to best fit my interests in television/video production,” said Arroyo. “The previous curriculum sheet did not allow for students to take as many production courses.” The new Communication curriculum has shifted plans for many. Students seeking guidance are encouraged to speak with their academic advisors.
OPINIONS | The Lionʼs Roar
SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 | PAGE 3
Be amazing and prevent hazing If you are reading this from Sept. 20-25, you are in the midst of National Hazing Prevention Week. H a z i n g has been an occurrence in U.S. colleges and Brynn Lundy universities STAFF REPORTER since the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. According to Google Dictionary, hazing is defined as “the imposition of strenuous, often humiliating, tasks as part of a program of rigorous physical training and initiation.” In Louisiana, it is illegal to commit acts of hazing as well as neglect to report or seek assistance in an instance of
hazing. Yet, as recent as last year in California and 2017 in Louisiana, deaths are still recorded as a result of these careless, unnecessary actions. I am not your number one source for all hazing prevention needs. I am not a huge organizational person, especially when it comes to fraternities and sororities. However, I still have my opinions on the safety of individuals involved in any situation in which lives are at risk. There will always be a population within our culture which has an urge for reckless behavior. There will always be those who want to have the experience, and put others through the experience, of foolish initiations, regardless of
the consequences. How can we even further minimize the casualties? How can we make hazing culture completely unappealing to everyone, particularly that population? According to stfblaw.com, as of 2019, out of the 44 states that have hazing prohibition laws, only 13 constitute hazing deaths and injuries as a felony. The other states only allow hazing to be punishable as a misdemeanor. In June 2019, the END ALL Hazing Act, sponsored by Rep. Mariza Fudge of Ohio, was presented to the U.S. House of Representatives and is currently in committee. The law would require colleges nationwide to track, report and educate students about hazing,
according to the web page. I believe a national law would do a better job of addressing the hazing issue in this country than individual state laws. All states would be covered by this law, including the six that have no hazing prevention laws. I think statistics would change significantly, and most importantly, lives would be saved. Colleges and universities should be more than willing to take the extra step to educate students about the dangers of hazing, as well as how to look out for different types of hazing. Institutions should make it clear that hazing in any form is not permitted and provide safe and simple ways for students to report incidents. If you have the urge,
the need, the craving for recklessness or danger, go skydiving or something. Don’t make someone else participate in your scary ritual. You should want to be a part of an organization for the community, for the (safe) new experiences, to make new friends. Please try to understand my plea here. Potential members are looking to join your organization, fraternity or sorority, whichever it may be, for the prospect of family, opportunities, leadership, philanthropy, networking, etc. Don’t ruin it for them with peer pressure. I think we need to make it clear that hazing is not “cool.” It may seem fun on the surface, but someone can end up losing a life, and someone else can end
up in prison. There are millions of ways you can have fun inaugurating new members in your organization without any aspect of danger involved. Southeastern’s Hazing Policy can be found on the university’s website under Policies and Procedures. If you witness an account of hazing on campus, you can call the University Police Department at 985-549-2222. You can also anonymously report on the UPD web page. Other offices and departments that you can contact are listed in the Hazing Policy. Dear organization leaders, be mindful of which activities can be considered hazing. Dear initiates, be aware of what is happening around you. Be safe, everyone.
Netflix’s “Cuties” is sad reminder of over-sexualized society If you have spent any time on social media over the past few weeks, then you are aware that Netflix’s release of the French film “Mignonnes,” titled “Cuties” in the United Dylan Meche States, has STAFF REPORTER s p a r k e d controversy. The film is centered around an 11-year-old immigrant in France named Amy who joins a young, female twerking group, much to the dismay of her more conservative family. Several sexually explicit scenes from the movie have circulated around the internet, including a scene where the young girls are performing a highly suggestive dance, a scene where one of the girls finds a used condom and blows it up like a balloon, a scene where one of the girls posts sexually suggestive photos of herself on social media and a scene where the group of girls are watching pornography. The director of the film, Maïmouna Doucouré, claims that
the movie was made to criticize the sexual exploitation of children in the media and comment on the struggles young girls have while growing up in a sexualized culture. The problem with this, of course, is that the movie itself is sexually exploiting children. Netflix has defended the movie, claiming that it is a social commentary against child sexualization. In a statement to the New York Post, they even encouraged people who “care about these important issues” to see the film. Even if the movie was intended to criticize sexualization of children, there is no excuse for portraying children in this manner. Children should not be exploited for what Netflix calls “artistic expression.” The director might not have intended to exploit these children, but they were. None of those children could have possibly understood the implications of what they were filming. What’s even more concerning is Netflix’s support of the film. To promote the film, Netflix released a poster displaying the group of
girls in revealing clothing. They have repeatedly defended the movie and downplayed concerns of child sexualization. It would be so easy to focus all of my anger towards this movie. The scenes are certainly appalling,
to say the least. However, I feel that too much focus on this movie would be ignoring the root cause of the problem: the effects our hyper-sexualized society is having on our children. Because of unrestricted
internet and social media access, children are exposed to sexualized images and content on a daily basis. We live in a world where children are exposed to hardcore pornography at as young as eight
years old. At the most formative years of their lives, most children nowadays are handed mobile devices with little-to-no restrictions. These devices reveal to the most impressionable among us the glorification of sexuality. As a consequence, young girls are being sexualized in our culture. They imitate the sexually suggestive dances they see on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Celebrities and other cultural influencers inspire them to wear revealing clothing. Many modern dance studios have young girls performing exploitative dances while wearing revealing costumes. These issues are very important to talk about, but “Cuties” has picked the worst possible way to discuss them. We cannot tolerate a culture that is so hypersexualized that even our children are subjected to exploitation. We must use every legal and moral tool at our disposal to protect our children from sexualization. A society that does not prioritize the protection of its children is a society doomed to fail.
Speak
To The Editor: When one thinks of justice, the first thing that comes to mind is fairness. Justice is in fact derived from the root word “just,” which means deserving, valid, and most importantly, fair. The validity of the United States’ criminal justice system is certainly in question regarding the unfair sentencing of African American males in comparison to Caucasian males. The history of unjust treatment based on racial identity is baffling and simply absurd. One might say that this all conjectures from the mouths of the oppressed. Well, here are the facts: “Black men who commit the same crimes as white men receive federal prison sentences that are, on average, nearly 20% longer, according to a new report on sentencing disparities from the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC)” (Ingraham). An article published in The Washington Post asserts that
Black men who commit crimes that are literally identical are handed sentences that are 20% longer. Multiple scientific studies tried to attribute this to background and income levels, but the irrefutable recurring trait was darker skin. Black men were given more time for the exact same crimes. This is a fact. One might ask, “How is this even possible?” Due to a Supreme Court decision in 2005, judges were granted discretion over sentencing. Since then, racial disparities have been at a constant increase. “The Black/white sentencing disparities have been increasing in recent years, the report found, particularly following the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Booker in 2005. Booker gave federal judges significantly more discretion on sentencing by making it easier to impose harsher or more lenient sentences than the USSC’s sentencing guidelines called for” (Ingraham).
The article also touches on the court case and the aftermath of it. This gives even more credence to the unjustness of it all. Sentencing restrictions were put in place for a reason. No individual should have complete discretion over another man’s life, especially when the system has been proven to be unfair and corrupt. One party is constantly getting mistreated while the latter enjoys the spoils of privilege, even when proven as a criminal. It has also been found that judges are less likely to revise the sentencing of Black inmates as opposed to giving white men shorter sentences and parole over time. What is the point of having a system in place if it is not for the justice of the people? And not the people of AngloSaxon descent, but all people. A criminal is a criminal. No one should get a more harsh treatment or a pass. Sincerely, Rodney F. Green Criminal Justice Major
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.
Out
Do you think hazing is a serious issue, or is it exaggerated? Why do you think so? “Yes, hazing could cause people to be depressed because they feel like they don’t fit in.” @CS.PEPPERS “I think hazing is kind of exaggerated. I haven’t really heard anything about it. Never know, though.” @ROSIE_KAY014 “Yes, clubs shouldn’t make others do something in order to get in. It makes others feel bad..” @PATTINGTONN “Yes, I think what happened to Max Gruver at LSU shows how easily it can get out of hand.” @MAGPIETOTHEM “Y’all should be disgusted at the ‘historially and traditionally‘ segregated boy/girl clubs first.” @Z_L_BOODRROW
STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Prakriti Adhikari Office Assistant - Ashlyn Harris Graduate Assistant - Sean Haydel Administrative Assistant - Gemma Carter Coordinator - Lorraine Peppo Director - Dr. Lee E. Lind
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Page 4 | September 22, 2020
The Lion’s Roar | Arts & Entertainment
Spring 2020 visual arts alumni present Senior Exhibition despite pandemic
University alumnus James Gillette displayed his art in the 2020 Senior Exhibition, along with the works of Timothy Johnson and Belinda Flores-Shinshilla. Nine graduates currently have their work on display in the gallery through Sept. 29. Elana Guillory/The Lion’s Roar From Sept. 8-29, work by 2020 alumni Belinda Flores Shinshillas, James Gillette, Timothy Johnson, Kelsey Mack, Mia Maniscalco, Staff Reporter Janeva Morris, Robin Wilson, Ra’Jae’ Wolf and Mark Young will be displayed in the gallery. The exhibit contains work from a variety of A pandemic could not stop spring seniors from presenting their curriculums. annual Senior Art Exhibition at the university’s Contemporary Art Kelsey Mack graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Gallery. Art. She shared how proud she is of the effort her and her fellow ELANA GUILLORY
graduating classmates put in to make the show happen. “I love the work,” said Mack. “I’m so proud of it. I’m proud of myself and the other artists in the show because we made a show happen during a pandemic. That’s just gonna forever blow my mind. We did our best with what we could.” Mack, who is displaying a collection of black-and-white prints, described the message behind her work. With her sister being a young actress and model, Mack thought it was important to demonstrate a valuable message about confidence as a person of color. “It was me and my sister, because we’re growing up in this world, a lot of people don’t like us because of what we look like,” described Mack. “We are beautiful works of art that belong in this space that no one would’ve expected us to be. The most I’ve seen people of color in historical paintings was like, maybe a slave holding a white baby, in a field, or referencing history that we had no control over, but I was like, ‘I want to reclaim that whole history, and I want to rewrite it.’” Timothy Johnson, a recent graduate in Bachelor of Arts, felt that the show offered him a chance at normalcy for his graduation season. “I just got my diploma in the mail,” shared Johnson. “I didn’t get to walk. It just felt kind of anticlimactic, but seeing this show, now, feels like I’m actually having closure. It’s real now. It really happened.” After working at a hotel and taking pictures of objects from the lost and found, Johnson’s grandmother passed away. He used inspiration from his previous photos to create his senior display, which features photos of his grandmother’s unfinished work. “My grandmother passed away, and she made ceramics, and she made these porcelain dolls,” said Johnson. “Looking at the objects that were so precious to her, I felt like that was similar to the work I’d been doing previously, the lost and found work, and that’s when I started photographing the projects she never finished, trying to emphasize her attention to detail.” Robin Wilson, an alumnus art major, felt like the show was significant in the process of becoming an artist. She described her inspiration for her collection of paintings and the reasons behind some of her artistic decisions. “I was inspired, I found reference images, I drew it, then painted it,” said Wilson. “It usually starts with a feeling I want to convey. That feeling is usually related to portraying powerful feminine characters. My work is about the arbitrary dichotomy between masculinity and femininity and society’s view on gender roles and presentation.” Julian Gros, a sophomore art major, recalled his reaction to one of Wilson’s pieces. “It had some beautiful colors,” said Gros. “The way that they painted it to have a soft gradient, just beautiful color choices. I really don’t know how they knew what to choose, but it was really well done.” Wilson offered advice to students majoring in art. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it,” said Wilson. “I would have regretted it for the rest of my life had I not majored and worked in art. Connect with fellow students as well as teachers. Try new things including materials, processes, styles, 2D, 3D, etc. because you never know when you’re going to find something you really like and/or you’re good at naturally. Do not get stuck in your ways too early. Allow yourself to grow.”
Students and faculty Graduating students purchase reflect on virtual public class rings from Balfour speaking experience MAGGIE TREGRE Staff Reporter
Although the pandemic forced some classes to switch to a virtual format, virtual public speaking courses were already available prior to this semester. While some instructors have noticed students struggling with the online format, other students find virtual public speaking classes to be more beneficial for today’s world. Shawndee Fluker, instructor of communication, has taught a 100% online public speaking course in the past. She mentioned that she was able to adapt to a teaching style that was better for students who did not have the chance to take the class in person. “I taught 100% online last semester,” said Fluker. “The only term people knew about online was that it was ‘asynchronous.’ So, after we were all forced to do remote learning in the spring, when it changed for the summer, I had learned enough things to do that adaptation for people who were forced to take it online.” One of the ways Fluker was able to make her virtual classes more like her in-person ones was to create instructional videos for her assignments. “Anytime they have a major assignment, that’s when students want to come see me for office hours,” mentioned Fluker. “What I found was helpful because I could mimic the actual experience and give them the assignment the way I did in class and have them ask me any questions if they
wanted to in a discussion that went directly to me. Then, what I did was make an explainer video for like 20 minutes going over the assignment in detail.” Fay Boudreaux, instructor of communication, shared that she thinks some students are struggling more with public speaking classes when they take the course online. “Though there is a convenience factor and potentially less anxiety because the audience isn’t present, it doesn’t present the same experience or require the same skill sets needed to fully grasp the concept,” said Boudreaux. Surrina Brandon, junior psychology major, is taking COMM 211H this semester. The majority of her presentations and speeches for the class are pre-recorded and then uploaded online. Brandon feels more comfortable with this online format for her speeches. “As an anxious person, presenting online is surprisingly more comfortable for me,” commented Brandon. “It is hard to explain, but not having to actually stand in front of people while I present puts me at ease, even though I am being watched through Google Meet or Zoom.” As a future psychologist, Brandon shared that she thinks the virtual format of her public speaking class could be beneficial to her career. “I don’t see any hindrances from this class being virtual, but I rather believe it is better
preparing students to keep up with the ever-advancing technology of our day and time,” said Brandon. “Telemedicine, especially in the face of the pandemic, is now growing, and those studying to be mental health or regular health providers need to be prepared.” Ashlynn Martell, a junior computer science major, explained that she does not think the class is negatively affected by the virtual format. “It will be nice to give presentations from the comfort of my home, and I’ll be more easily heard without a mask on,” said Martell. “I honestly don’t think the class is hindered by the online format. Although, there was mention of a possibly prerecorded assignment, and I think the audience aspect is important.” Boudreaux explained what she believes are the major pros and cons of taking a public speaking class online. “Some drawbacks are that students lose out on the realtime, human, interpersonal experience that comes with physically interacting with peers in a classroom,” mentioned Boudreaux. “There are fewer opportunities to engage in classroom exercises that acquaint learners with conversing with others. Some benefits are convenience, portability and the possibility of downplaying anxiety because a physical or live Graduating students were able to select and order their class rings from a booth in the University Bookstore on Sept. 21. audience isn’t present.” Students can shop online for rings at Balfour.com/Southeastern. Jordyn Franklin/The Lion’s Roar
Sports | The Lion’s Roar
September 22, 2020 | Page 5
Former Ragin’ Cajun joins the Lion pride
Brock Batty, a second generation Lion baseball player, is one of the 25 new players GERARD BORNE Staff Reporter
The Lions baseball team added more depth to their pitching rotation over the summer with senior southpaw pitcher Brock Batty. The 6’1” Denham Springs High School graduate transferred from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette after entering into the NCAA transfer portal. Batty was originally recruited out of high school by Southeastern head baseball coach Matt Riser, but ultimately chose to sign with the Ragin’ Cajuns. “Southeastern has a real good reputation with being a scrappy squad and always competing with big-time teams,” shared Batty. “When I entered the transfer portal, coach Riser gave me a call and really was persistent on getting me to come here.” Batty is a second generation Lions baseball player as his father, Chris Batty, helped lead
the Lions to the 1992 TAAC West Division Title. Brock shared how there is not any pressure from his Dad. “My Dad is one of those guys who doesn’t really talk about all of his athletic accomplishments,” commented Batty. “There isn’t any real pressure from him, as he just wants me to come out and perform.” Eighth year head coach Matt Riser shared how COVID-19 has affected the recruiting process over the last year. “It’s very different than years past as we have had to resort to things we aren’t too familiar with,” explained Riser. “We have to watch a lot of film on new guys but in Brock’s case, we had a good bit of film on him and knew his style of play.” Batty shared what his goal is with the Lions this upcoming season. “The ultimate goal is to compete for a Southland Conference championship and hopefully win in Omaha,” said
Batty. “This is a very talented team, and I think if everyone is on the same page then we could accomplish a lot of things. This group of guys are scrappy and talented.” Riser shared what he hopes Batty can bring to the table for the Lions. “He’s pitched in some bigtime moments and has a lot of experience on his resume,” said Riser. “He’s a great athlete and hopefully will become a leader on this team.” During the recruiting process, Riser laid out what he wanted to see out of Batty and an area where he needed to improve. “I think he could be a guy we go to a lot during the season and throw a hard ball,” shared Riser. “We both talked about it in detail, and I told him that the consistency needs to be there this season and we should be fine.” The Lions added 25 new Brock Batty, senior pitcher, transfered to Southeastern from The University of Louisiana at Lafayette over the summer. players to their squad for the Batty will begin playing for the Lion’s baseball team in the spring. Courtesy of Sports Info 2021 season and are currently in fall intra squad scrimmages.
Jordan named to Stats Perform FCS All-America Team
DANIEL MCCLAIN Staff Reporter
Over this past football season, the team made it to the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Although they fell short of a championship, many players on this team had outstanding seasons, and the conference heads made sure not Junior offensive back Ferlando Jordan was named to the STATS FCS All-American third team after achieving various to overlook them. One of those highlights throughout his athletic career. In the future, Jordan plans to become a better version of himself on and off players is junior defensive back the field. File Photo/The Lion’s Roar Ferlando Jordan.
Throughout the 2019 season, Jordan collected many achievements for himself and the team. With a total of 28 tackles and five interceptions for 255 yards, Jordan was one of the few players named to the STATS FCS All-America third team. Leading up to this award, Jordan was named Louisiana Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 11. He was also named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week for that same week after racking up two interceptions and a tackle in the blowout victory versus Central Arkansas. Jordan was also awarded All-Louisiana second team and All-Southland Conference first team, as well as All-America third team from HERO Sports and Associated Press. During this season, Jordan set a single-season Southland and school record with three interception returns for touchdowns. Before Jordan became a Lion, he played for the Mays
High School Raiders. To end his high school career, Jordan helped his team to a region championship while playing both sides of the field as a defensive back and a wide receiver. He was redshirted in his first year with the Lions, but by his sophomore year, Jordan had played a total of 11 games. In the 2019 season, Jordan played 10 games. With two seasons behind him, Jordan is going into the next season with a total of 81 tackles and eight interceptions. The Southland Conference has postponed the season until Spring 2021. Many athletes, including Jordan, were stunned when they were notified about the season’s postponement. While Jordan has many awards under his name, he has yet to make a career goal. Instead, he plans to work on himself. “Become a better me, on and off the field,” said Jordan.
Infielder takes advantage of extra year of eligibility by NCAA “In all honesty, the decision to return to play baseball was a very easy one because I absolutely love it here. I love baseball and it’s all I know, so it was a very easy decision.” Eli Johnson
GERARD BORNE Staff Reporter
On March 12, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced that the 2020 baseball season would be canceled due to COVID-19. This led to several seniorathletes saying goodbye earlier than anticipated. Approximately two weeks after the cancellation of the season, the NCAA came out with an extra year of eligibility to all spring student-athletes. One of these student-athletes to take advantage of this opportunity was senior Lions
infielder, Eli Johnson. Johnson transferred to the university from Tacoma Community College, along with fellow alumnus pitcher Justin Simanek in 2019, after earning NWAC All-region honors. Johnson spoke on his decision to stay at the university and play another season for the Lions instead of returning to his home state of Washington. “In all honesty, the decision to return to play baseball was a very easy one because I absolutely love it here,” said Johnson. “I love baseball, and it’s all I know, so it was a very easy decision.” The Chehalis, Wash. native shared what he hopes to improve on for the upcoming season with the Lions. “I want to become more of a vocal leader this season, and I want to show the younger guys how a leader presents himself,” expressed Johnson. Head Coach Matt Riser explained what type of role he would like to see Johnson have this upcoming season. “We have a guy who has a year left of eligibility due to
all of this COVID stuff and we talked about how he is a big energy giver for this team,” said Riser. “He does a fantastic job of showing up every day regardless if he’s playing really well or really bad, and it’s a sign of a good leader.” Riser described Johnson’s versatility as a player and the multiple positions that he can play. “Eli has multiple roles he can fill because he can really defend it,” shared Riser. “He could play third. He could also play second, and when the bat’s hot and rolling, he can get in there and be the DH in the lineup.” Johnson shared his goal for the upcoming season and how he sees the team competing. “I think we got a very talented squad this season, and we can go really far,” commented Johnson. “We got a lot of talent on this team, and if we all get on the same page, then we could easily win our conference and hopefully go on to play in Omaha in the Washington native and senior infielder Eli Johnson decided to stay on with the Lions after the National Collegiate summer.” Athletics Association decided to extend eligibility to spring student-athletes for another year. Following this decision, Johnson shared what he hopes to accomplish in his upcoming season. File Photo/The Lion’s Roar
Page 6 | September 22, 2020
The Lion’s Roar | Sports
College stress and COVID-19: Psychology professor Q&A mental health of students?
SYMIAH DORSEY Staff Reporter
For many students this year, the college experience has not gone quite as planned. The circumstances of COVID-19 have presented students with new challenges, putting their mental health at new risks. Although the pandemic is a physical threat, psychology also plays a role in how people are impacted. Monique LeBlanc, associate professor of psychology, answered questions regarding COVID-19 and stress among college students:
What are the primary challenges
college
students
have been facing as a result of the pandemic? “College students face unique challenges due to the pandemic. The effects of COVID-19 on college students are varied, including concerns of health of self and loved ones, class/career planning disruptions, work/financial issues, social concerns/isolation and the difficulties of transitioning to online/ hybrid class schedules.” The circumstances of COVID-19 have caused stress among the student population. Psychology professor Monique Leblanc discussed the unique challenges college students face and ways students can combat pandemic anxiety. Symiah Dorsey/The Lion’s Roar
How
have
these
circumstances impacted the
What are some ways students
“Recent surveys have found that students are reporting increased rates of depressed mood, anxiety and stress. Other symptoms include substance misuse, loneliness, and trouble sleeping. Students also report grief—both current and anticipatory—from the changes due to the pandemic. People feel very uncertain, fear of the unknown, loss of control. It is not all negative. Some report finding purpose during the pandemic from volunteering and other activities.”
How can the deprivation of social interaction affect an
individual?
the
importance
What of
is
human
engagement during this time? “Social support is very important to psychological functioning. Decades of research have indicated that social support can prevent and ameliorate the negative effects of stressful life events on psychological functioning. People vary in how much social support/ interaction they need, but most people benefit from a few close connections. This can include friends, family or other supportive relationships.”
can combat anxiety and stress caused from the pandemic? -Exercise/eat healthy -Sleep. College students underestimate the importance of sleep to functioning—both physical and psychological. -Identifying meaningful activities/ connect with others. -Maintain routine/structure. -Engage in small daily positive activities–take a walk, crafts, journaling, talking to others—the list can continue. -Limit news consumption. -Recognize that it is okay to experience negative emotions.
A day might come where all restrictions are uplifted. Why might people find it difficult to transition back to normal ways of life? “There will be lots of variability. There will probably be a new normal, and people will have to adjust to that. Some people will be anxious about these changes, while others will return to previous norms/ways of behaving quite easily.”
Workforce Recruitment to help differently-abled students GABRIELLE WOOD Staff Reporter
The Office of Student Accessibility Services is offering a new resource called the Workforce Recruitment Program. The program works hand-in-hand with those seeking federal internship and employment opportunities. Samantha Ricau, assistant director for Student Accessibility Services, said the program resulted from a collaboration with Career Services. She discussed what the program entails. “The WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects students with disabilities to an opportunity for employment,” said Ricau. “Through participating colleges and universities such as SLU, the WRP creates a database for federal and select privatesector employers nationwide to find highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.” The program is designed to accommodate candidates from all areas of career exploration
and classifications. “Information from these candidates is compiled in a searchable database that is available, through this website, to federal Human Resources specialists, Equal Employment Opportunity specialists, and other federal employees and hiring officials in federal agencies,” explained Ricau. Ricau detailed how prospective candidates can apply for WRP. “To be eligible to register, candidates must be current, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate SLU students with a disability or have graduated from SLU within two and a half years of the release of the database each December,” noted Ricau. “Candidates must be U.S. citizens, must be attending or have graduated from a U.S. accredited college or university and be eligible under the Schedule A Hiring Authority for persons with disabilities.” Corporations interested in hiring from the Workforce Recruitment Program vary each year. “Federal agencies who have employed WRP candidates in the past include the Departments of Defense,
Labor, Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, State, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,” listed Ricau. “Candidates have worked in more than 38 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and as civilian employees on military bases in Germany, Italy and South Korea.” There is no cost to participate in the program. “Candidates can register and complete their application, now through Oct.14, by going to wrp.gov,” explained Ricau. “If the student completes the application before the deadline in October, and the application is approved by one of our school coordinators, then that individual will be included in the WRP database when it is published to employers in December.” Ricau shared the process that recruiters undergo when looking for potential candidates. “About a week after the deadline, the candidate should work with the school
The Office of Student Accessibility Services, located in Tinsley Hall, is providing a new resource called the Workforce Recruitment Program. There is no cost to participate in the program. Brynn Lundy/The Lion’s Roar coordinators to schedule an informational interview with the WRP Recruiter,” said Ricau. “Candidates are not required to participate in the informational interview, but it is highly encouraged. Interviews take place remotely and are
conducted by telephone unless an accommodation is needed. After interviews occur, the database of completed candidate applications is published each December and is available to employers for the following calendar year.”
Any student interested in the Workforce Recruitment Program can contact coordinators Samantha Ricau at samantha. ricau@selu.edu or Sarah Nelms, career and job search consultant with Career Services, at sarah. nelms@selu.edu.
CHEATING
to look at notes or asking to clarify. We had to communicate back and forth for a lot of our assignments, so it was a more positive experience. I was also in a history GroupMe that was similar.” Liuzza echoed similar positive experiences with other classes on GroupMe. “My math class is all online, and the professor holds up notes on a screen and sometimes my screen gets blurry, and I can’t see,” said Liuzza. “So, I ask people in the GroupMe for help. It’s a more positive and helpful atmosphere.”
continued from pg. 1 In this Aug. 28, 2020 file photo, family members of Ronald Greene listen to speakers as demonstrators shared Eaglin. “I saw one gather for the March on Washington, in Washington, on the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin person leave, and I didn’t Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech. Michael M. Santiago/Pool via AP want that kind of reputation on my record, even if I didn’t participate in the cheating. obtained by AP, saying Hollingsworth arrest. That would be why I decided to “was involved in a serious injury crash State Police brass had convened with bounce.” while off-duty in his personal vehicle.” the agency’s general counsel in Baton Despite his experience with Other details about the crash were Rouge on Friday to discuss whether his biology GroupMe, Eaglin not immediately available. State Police Hollingsworth had violated the agency’s explained that he had positive referred questions to the Monroe Police use-of-force policy, according to law experiences with other group Department, which did not respond to enforcement officials who spoke on the chats he has been a part of. requests for comment. condition of anonymity to discuss the “I went to an English Hollingsworth had been placed on leave ongoing investigation. GroupMe last semester,” shared the same day the AP filed a records request Eaglin. “A lot of it was people for body camera footage of Greene’s asking if they could get together
Ronald Greene smiles in an undated photo provided by his family. Courtesy of the Greene family via AP
TROOPER
continued from pg. 2 Hollingsworth’s attorney has declined to comment on the case. Col. Kevin Reeves, the State Police superintendent, asked rank-and-file troopers to pray for Hollingsworth, who was listed in critical condition at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport. Reeves wrote a note to troopers Monday,