Southeastern Louisiana University

Rock ‘n Roar 2011
With a beautiful, sunny day Saturday, Southeastern’s 15th annual Rock ‘n Roar celebration for the Southeast Louisiana District Literary Rally attracted more than 2,600 high school students from 71 area schools. Public and private high school students from East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and West Feliciana parishes competed in 46 different academic subjects. The students were then free to participate in various activities in the War Memorial Student Union Park and to visit academic demonstrations in the union mall.

1) Rock 'n Roar 2011 2) Rock 'n Roar March 19

1) Lillian Stiegler, professor of communication sciences and disorders, explains the anatomy of the brain to, from left, Kirby Bennett, Dakota Shaffett, and Joshua Alexander of Sumner High School in Kentwood.

2) Associate Professor John O’Reilly of the Department of Biological Sciences demonstrates the reactions of crawfish to Mallory Garcia of Parkview Baptist High School in Baton Rouge.

Southeastern receives NCAA recertification
The NCAA has granted Southeastern recertification of its athletics program, university officials announced.
     Certification is intended to ensure integrity in the institution’s athletics program and is good for 10 years, President John L. Crain said.
     “Achieving certification is an important accomplishment and means that our program is being operated in accordance with the NCAA’s standards and values,” Crain said. “Southeastern’s primary focus is always on the student and that certainly includes the student-athlete.”
     The certification process involves a self-study led by the institution’s president and includes a self-review that evaluates the university’s governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, gender/diversity issues, and student-athlete well-being.
     The Steering Committee that completed the self-study was chaired by Rick Simpson, associate professor and head of the Department of Accounting and Finance. The committee included a cross section of university constituents, including faculty and staff, alumni, students, administrators and members of the community.
     “The committee and its various sub-committees put in considerable time and effort in this evaluation and deserve to be recognized for driving this process,” said Athletics Director Bart Bellairs. “The certification process is a very thorough evaluation of our program, and I’m pleased with the news.”
     Southeastern’s Division I athletics program includes 15 men’s and women’s teams. Southeastern is a member of the Southland Conference.

“Janis Joplin” to make appearance at Columbia Theatre March 25
One of Rock n’ Roll’s most notorious singers will “appear” on the stage of Southeastern’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts for one show only on Friday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m.
     Big Easy Award-winning actress Dorian Rush, right, takes on the role of Janis Joplin in “Livin’ Janis.” The New Orleans-based theatrical production is a completely unauthorized, biographical, musical homage to the late great rock legend.
     “Audience members will ride the highs and lows of Janis’ life as she embarks on a quest to wring the pleasure out of life at the cultural crossroads of the 1960s,” said Ken Boulton, Columbia Theatre interim director. “Since the show contains adult themes and strong language, it is recommended for mature audiences only.”
     Tickets range from $22 - $32 and are available at the Columbia Theatre box office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or by phone at (985) 543-4371. Patrons may also get tickets online at www.columbiatheatre.org.

West Florida Trail officially opened Saturday
The West Florida Republic Trail, a tour of the scenic byways of the region, was officially launched Saturday (March 19), marking the grand finale of the Republic’s Bicentennial Celebration.
     Held at noon in St. Francisville, the capital of the short-lived nation, the event was presided over by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne. A 12-foot tall Lone Star monument was dedicated with reenactments of the lowering of the Lone Star flag and raising of the American flag.
     The trail crosses the Florida Parishes, from Slidell to St. Francisville, said Bicentennial Commission Chair Sam Hyde, Southeastern Louisiana University’s Leon Ford Chair of History.
      “The trail is designed to stimulate tourism in the region by offering visitors an opportunity to follow some of the most scenic byways in the area with stops at sites relevant to the West Florida Republic’s revolt in each parish,” said Hyde, who is director of Southeastern Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies.
      The event caps a year-long series of celebrations designed to call attention to the West Florida Republic, Hyde said.
     “Most people do not realize that the Florida Parishes were not a part of the Louisiana Purchase,” he explained. “It took an armed insurrection against the Spanish government seven years after the Louisiana Purchase and an American invasion 74 days later to complete the state of Louisiana. The West Florida Revolt, as it came to be known, served as the starting point for a series of successful rebellions in Spanish controlled territories in the Americas that eventually led to hemispheric freedom from colonial rule.”
     Hyde said most other regions that experienced uprisings against Spanish colonial rule, such as Texas and California, build much of their identity around the revolt against Spain.
     “Texas flies the Lone Star flag, which first flew over the state of West Florida, and California has a bear on their state flag in commemoration of the Bear Flag Revolt that led to that state’s liberation from Spanish rule,” he said.
     In each of those states, cultural events and historic sites highlight the relevance of the independent republics that briefly existed prior to being absorbed by the United States, he added.
      “In Louisiana, however, the dramatic events connected to the West Florida Revolt are hardly evident,” Hyde explained. “We’re hoping the events associated with the bicentennial celebration and culminating with the establishment of this trail will focus attention on the importance of the West Florida Revolt and its relevance in defining the identity of southeast Louisiana.”
     Along the trail, visitors can stop at more than 15 sites connected to the revolt while enjoying the scenic beauty and topographical diversity of southeast Louisiana.
     The trail begins at Slidell and proceeds west through Mandeville and Madisonville along Hwy. 22 before turning north on Hwy. 51 through Tangipahoa Parish. At Amite, the trail continues east along Hwy. 16 to Franklinton where it resumes a westward direction along Hwy. 10 through Greensburg, Clinton, Jackson and into St. Francisville. From there, the trail proceeds south to Baton Rouge and Prairieville before continuing to Galvez, Port Vincent and finally Springfield where it concludes at I-12, which appropriately is named “The Republic of West Florida Parkway.”

Names sought for April 7 Golden Silence Memorial
The Southeastern Alumni Association will host “Golden Silence,” a program to honor deceased Southeastern alumni, students and faculty and staff or their family members, on Thursday, April 7, at 6 p.m. in the War Memorial Student Union Park.
     “We encourage the campus and the public to let us know if someone from the Southeastern family has passed away during the past year so that they can be honored at Golden Silence,” said Alumni Association Director Kathy Pittman.
     To include a name in the Golden Silence program, contact the Alumni Association by March 31, at 985-549 2150, 1-800-SLU-ALUM or slualumni@selu.edu.

NABE site visit conducted at Literacy Center
The National Association for Bilingual Education conducted a site visit of the dual language collaborative PK program that Southeastern helps coordinate at the Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center in Walker. Visiting with some of the students is Kristin Millett, center, of Naples, Fla. Other participants at the NABE Conference that was held in New Orleans in February also participated in the onsite visit.

Southeastern students honored for work on yearbook
Three Southeastern students have been honored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for their work on the university’s 2010 yearbook, Le Souvenir.
     Patrick Costilow of Slidell, a visual art/graphic design major who graduated last May, received first and second place certificates in the area of informational black and white graphics for yearbooks. He was also honored with a third place award in divisional page design and a certificate of merit in informational color graphics.
     Donald Aime of Hammond, sports editor of the 2011 Le Souvenir, received a second place award in the category of academic color photography for yearbooks. He is a senior majoring in English.
     Allyson O’Keefe of New Orleans, a former editor of the yearbook and 2006 Southeastern graduate, was cited with a certificate of merit for sports action photography. She is currently a student at Southeastern pursuing an alternative certification in teaching.
     The awards, presented at the association’s annual convention in New York City, were selected from among hundreds of entries. The Gold Circle Awards recognize superior work by student journalists and are judged by a panel of experienced journalists and educators.
     The Columbia Scholastic Press Association was founded in 1925 to help unite student editors and faculty advisors to produce student newspapers, magazines, yearbooks and online media. The association is affiliated with the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Camp Discovery
Camp Discovery offers an exciting enrichment program to students in grades 3-6 (2010-11 school year) enrolled in a gifted program or recommended by a teacher. The theme this year is “Space.”
     Campers will use state-of the-art technology programs to create space scenarios, videos, and characters; investigate the practical challenges of space travel; and explore the constellations.
     The camp runs from June 6th - June 23rd, Mondays through Thursdays, 8:30—12:30 at the Southeastern Laboratory School. Cost is $110. Registration deadline is May 9.
     Contact Mary Banbury at mary.banbury@selu.edu for additional information and an application packet.

Alumni Association seeks nominees for Outstanding Senior Awards
Each year several outstanding graduating seniors are recognized. The Southeastern Alumni Association recognizes two special seniors with the Alumni Association Outstanding Senior Award. Nominees must meet the following criteria:

minimum 3.500 cumulative GPA
undergraduate student receiving his or her degree in May 2011
have participated in at least two (2) extracurricular activities/organizations
submit completed application and one (1) letter of recommendation

     Award winners receive a monetary stipend presented at a special Convocation Awards Ceremony.
     Anyone interested in nominating a student may send the student's name to Jackie Dale Thomas, Director of Leadership Development/Student Activities. Please submit students' names by e-mail to jthomas2@selu.edu, Faculty Box 10414 or drop it off in Student Union room 110.
     The deadline for submitting names is Friday, March 25. Feel free to call 549-2233 with any questions.

Chefs Evening is Sunday, April 3

Chefs Evening restaurants of the week:

University Donuts

The Caboose of McComb

When dining choices take you away from home or work, please patronize these friends of Chefs Evening. While there, let the owner and chef know how much you appreciate their loyal support of the university by their participation in Chefs Evening year after year.

Human Resources news

PPR Training for supervisors
There will be a training program for supervisors who are required to conduct Performance Planning and Reviews (PPRs) on classified employees on Thursday, March 24 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. Offered by the Training Section of the Human Resources Office, the session will be held in the Human Resources Office Conference room. To register for this program, please email Jan Ortego at Jan.Ortego@selu.edu or phone extension 5771. Pre-registration is requested for this class.

CPTP Programs Available on Campus March through June
The Comprehensive Public Training Program (CPTP), with the sponsorship of the Human Resources Office is offering a number of free professional development programs on campus. Courses are offered for both supervisory and non-supervisory employees.
Topics offered from March 30 through June 29 include: common myths, civil service essentials, documenting for performance & discipline, effective conflict resolution, and self-motivation in the workplace. A link to detailed descriptions of the programs follows:
http://www.civilservice.la.gov/training/cptp/classes_hamm.asp.
Advance registration is required for these programs and space is limited. For more information, please contact Jan Ortego at Jan.Ortego@selu.edu or at extension 5771.

SLWP news

Summer Institute in Teaching Writing
The Southeastern Louisiana Writing Project (SLWP) is now accepting applications for its 20th “Invitational Summer Institute in Teaching Writing.” The institute meets at Southeastern from June 20-July 21, Monday-Thursday, 9-3:30, and is designed for teachers who use writing in their classrooms, are eager to share their knowledge, and wish to learn from other experienced classroom teachers.
     During the institute, selected K-college teachers from across the curriculum study the teaching of writing, reflect on their own teaching, and share their best teaching practices with each other. Participants also produce personal and professional writing and develop workshops on teaching writing suitable for delivery to local schools. As summer fellows at the university, participants receive a stipend, six hours of graduate credit, and free tuition. Upon completion of the institute, they are recognized as National Writing Project Teacher Consultants.
     Applicants should submit a resume; a brief description of a writing activity used in their classroom; a recommendation from a supervisor or member of SLWP; and a page containing their name/address/phone/email/W# and their school/grade/ content.
     Applications are considered until the institute is filled, and on-campus interviews are held throughout the spring for promising applicants. Applications can be emailed to rlouth@selu.edu or addressed to Dr. Richard Louth, SLU 10327, Hammond, LA 70402.
      For questions, email rlouth@selu.edu, call 985-549-2102 or 2100, or visit the SLWP webpage at www.selu.edu/acad_research/programs/slwp/. Further info about National Writing Project is available at www.nwp.org. The Southeastern Louisiana Writing Project is a collaboration between the College of Education and Human Development and the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

SLWP Writes! Contest
The Southeastern Louisiana Writing Project seeks quality prose and poetry from writers in grades 6-12 for its 2011 SLWP Writes! Contest. Deadline is April 20. Prizes include publication as well as certificates for winners and their teachers.
Students must submit a hard copy of their work and a permission form signed by parents to Dr. Richard Louth, SLWP Director, SLU 10327, Hammond, LA 70402 and also an electronic submission to slwpwrites@yahoo.com. Further details and entry forms are available at the Southeastern Louisiana Writing Project website: http://www.selu.edu/acad_research/programs/slwp/index.html or by contacting Dr. Richard Louth at rlouth@selu.edu.

Southeastern in the news
Southeastern Channel to air program on area festivals
http://www.nola.com/festivals/index.ssf/2011/03/slu_cable_channel_to_air_speci.html

http://tangipahoa.wafb.com/news/events/florida-parish-chronicles/48188

Rangia clams (Photo spread)
http://photos.nola.com/tpphotos/2011/03/rangia_clams_7.html

Monument marks rebellion
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/latest/Monument-marks-rebellion.html?index=14&c=y

Lowly rangia clam as oil-sucking hero? Researchers aim to find out
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2011/03/lowly_rangia_clam_as_oil-sucki.html

Extended Studies news

Hammond
Basics of Contracts (Mondays, 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning March 28)
This course consists of an overview of contracts in Louisiana with specific discussion of the enforceability of oral and written contracts. The cost is $75.

Dance Meltdown (Fridays, 1 to 2 p.m. beginning March 25)
Learn beginner/intermediate hip hop and jazz moves while sweating to high energy music from the good ‘ole days. Bring a towel and your inner diva!

Mandeville
Project Management (March 23 and 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
This course is designed to prepare project managers and others planning a career in project management with skills and tools to successfully plan, manage, and deliver project on time and within budget. The cost is $695.

Business Enterprise Management (10-hour workshop beginning March 24, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
This 10-hour program focuses on the comprehension of business technologies and the building of corporate relationships, with the goal of enhancing professionalism. All corporate professionals will receive one Continuing Education Unit (CEU).

Walker
Home Energy Efficiency (March 26, 9 to 11 a.m.)
Learn ways to save energy and reduce utility bills while using “earth friendly” (green) techniques/technologies. The cost is $20.

Zoom into Careers (June 20 to 23)
Career workshops for junior high and high school students focusing on the following areas: journalism, television, culinary arts, theatre, inventing, and photography. Visit www.sele.edu/zoom for more details.

To register, or for further details on these or other courses that are available please visit:
Hammond- www.selu.edu/es Mandeville- www.selu.edu/stc Walker- www.selu.edu/livingston

Faculty Excellence news

Call for Proposals
The Center for Faculty Excellence invites you to submit a proposal for Southeastern’s annual Faculty Conference on Teaching, Research, and Creativity. Proposal deadline is Friday, March 25. Go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FacultyConference
or contact the Center for more details at ext. 5791 or at center@selu.edu.

This week in Athletics

The Southeastern baseball, softball, tennis and track teams will all be in action during this week in Southeastern Athletics.
     The Lion baseball team (13-7, 4-2 Southland) will open the week at home, hosting in-state foe UNO at 6 p.m. at Alumni Field. On Friday, Southeastern heads to Southland Conference rival Central Arkansas for a three-game series, staring with the 6 p.m. series opener. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 2 p.m. with Sunday’s series finale set for 1 p.m. All of this week’s baseball games will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.
     The softball team (11-14, 1-5 Southland) also has four games on tap this week. On Wednesday, Southeastern heads to Mississippi Valley State for a 3 p.m. game. The Lady Lions return home for the weekend, hosting Central Arkansas for a three-game series. The series opens with a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and concludes with Sunday’s 12 p.m. contest. Live stats for the series will be available at www.LionSports.net.
     The Southeastern men’s and women’s track and field teams will continue their outdoor schedule this week. The Lions and Lady Lions will be in Baton Rouge on Friday and Saturday to compete in the LSU Tiger Relays.
     The women’s tennis team (5-7, 1-4 Southland) will take a break from Southland Conference play this week. On Tuesday, Southeastern will host Alcorn State at the North Cypress Fitness Club in Hammond at 2 p.m. Southeastern welcomes Southern Miss to the Stone Creek Club and Spa in Covington on Friday at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, March 22
Baseball, vs. UNO, Alumni Field, 6 p.m. (KSLU)
Women’s Tennis, vs. Alcorn State, North Cypress Fitness Club, 2 p.m.

Wednesday, March 23
Softball, at Mississippi Valley State, Itta Bena, Miss., 3 p.m.

Friday, March 25
Baseball, at Central Arkansas, Conway, Ark., 6 p.m. (KSLU)*
Women’s Tennis, vs. Southern Miss, Stone Creek Club and Spa, 2 p.m.
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, at LSU Tiger Relays, Baton Rouge, All Day

Saturday, March 26
Baseball, at Central Arkansas, Conway, Ark., 2 p.m. (KSLU)*
Softball, vs. Central Arkansas (DH), North Oak Park, 3 p.m.*
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, at LSU Tiger Relays, Baton Rouge, All Day

Sunday, March 27
Baseball, at Central Arkansas, Conway, Ark., 1 p.m. (KSLU)*
Softball, vs. Central Arkansas, North Oak Park, 12 p.m.*

Southeastern home events in bold
* - Southland Conference game

Professional activities
Dr. Luanne Billingsley (School of Nursing) and Dr. Karen Rice, Ochsner Medical Center-New Orleans, recently presented their research study findings at the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS): Your Clinical Innovation Expert Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD. The presentation abstract “Clinical Nurse Specialists Get Your MUVE On! Using a Multi-User Virtual Environment to Facilitate Nursing Journal Clubs - A Mixed Methods Study” was also published in the Clinical Nurse Specialist Journal for Advance Practice Nursing March/April 2011 edition. Clinical Nurse Specialists work to move clinical practice forward by leveraging technological advances, incorporating cutting-edge research, and building on evidence-based practice to create new models of care for improving the health of individuals, families, communities, and health care organizations.
     Charles Elliott (History and Political Science) is leading a six-week Readings in Literature and Culture (RELIC) program for the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the Assumption Parish Library on “Battlefield Louisiana: Civil War Events and Experiences” in Napoleonville.
     Dr. Cynthia Elliott (Teaching and Learning) presented at the National Association for Bilingual Education 40th Annual Conference in New Orleans on Feb. 18. She presented with graduate student Emily Mull, who is also a teacher at Riverside Elementary in St. Tammany Parish, and Vicky Tangi, an adult education teacher in East Baton Rouge Parish. Entitled “ESL Parent Panels: Learning Opportunities for Adult English Learners and Classroom Teachers” the presentation highlighted the win-win situation for providing adult English Learners the opportunity to speak to graduate students enrolled in EDUC 661, Diagnostic and Prescriptive Reading course, by sharing parent perspectives regarding English language learners. Elliott also presented “Research Report: Impact of Dual Language Collaborative Preschool Program,” which described the collaborative model for the dual language PK program and presented the preschool research study and teacher candidate research findings for the dual language PK program for 2008-10. The collaboration involves Livingston Parish Public Schools, Regina Coeli Child Development Center-Head Start and Southeastern. Other faculty members participating in the research include Wendy Jacocks (Teaching and Learning) and Dr. Mindy Crain-Dorough (Educational Leadership and Technology.
     Dr. Kenneth Boulton (Fine and Performing Arts/Columbia Theatre) appeared as featured artist and clinician at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS, during the “Art of the Piano” event on Feb. 18-19. He presented a piano duo concert, as well as a variety of workshops and masterclasses.
     Dr. Debbie Dardis (Biological Sciences) has received funding from the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) for $19,616.41 for a project titled Training Future Scientists and Their Teachers in Coastal Wetland Conservation and Restoration. Dr. Dardis is the Principle Investigator (PI) of this project, which will provide professional development opportunities in environmental literacy and stewardship for K-12 teachers in Southeastern Louisiana. Specifically, a teacher training workshop focusing on coastal wetland restoration and conservation will be followed by return trips with students to undergo wetland ecology field training. Activities will include lectures, water testing and species identification exercises through Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station via marsh boardwalks and and Pontoon Boat Learning Tours through the Lake Pontchartrain Wetlands. Dr. Robert Moreau, Manager of Turtle Cove, is Co-PI on the project, and Fred Stouder, Turtle Cove’s Marsh Restoration Coordinator, will be the project's Boat Captain and Field Educator. The project runs from March 1 thru Dec. 31, 2011.
     At the 2011 meeting of the Louisiana Historical Association, Samuel C. Hyde Jr. (History and Political Science) participated in a session on “Remembering the LHA,” in which he discussed the career of late Southeastern Professor Joy Jackson. William B. Robison (History and Political Science) presented a paper, “The Wrath of the King: Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey, and the Surrey Justices” as part of a session on “Justice, Money, and Political Crisis in Early Modern England,” as well as taking part in the William Tecumseh Sherman Memorial Literary Society’s selection of the doctoral dissertation to be awarded at the annual Julia Dent Grant Award for flagrant contributions to history.

ByLion is published weekly online (bi-weekly during the summer session) for the faculty and staff of Southeastern Louisiana University. Send submissions to publicinfo@selu.edu, SLU 10880, fax 985-549-2061, or bring to Public Information Office in East Stadium. Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

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