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Southeastern chemistry program benefiting from NSF-funded spectrometer
Students and faculty in Southeastern are now utilizing a highly sophisticated nuclear
magnetic resonance spectrometer in class projects and molecular research.
The $274,000 instrument, funded by the National Science Foundation and installed
over the past summer, has become a valuable addition to the program's equipment arsenal,
replacing a much older model donated to the university by an area industrial plant,
explained chemistry Professor Debra Dolliver.
"The unit is basically an MRI for molecules," she said. "We can place a molecule
in the magnetic field that's generated and this allows us to detect a surprising amount
of information about the types of bonds and the order of connections between atoms.
Compared to the older unit, this one has a higher magnetic field strength and can
give us greater detail about the compounds."
"This new instrument brings us back to the state of the art," said Gerard Blanchard,
head of the Department of Chemistry and Physics. "Analytical techniques are getting
better, and the new instrument will give more precise information on the samples.
This makes faculty and student research easier, faster and opens up new lines of research
that were not previously available."
As part of their research, several Southeastern chemists are involved in making
new compounds. The new machine allows scientists to better clarify the compounds and
to see the finer structure in the molecules. The instrument will produce high resolution
images that are of publication quality.
Undergraduate chemistry students at Southeastern are frequently involved in faculty
research projects and will gain valuable experience working with the NMR, experience
most often gained as a graduate student at other institutions.
"This allows our students to train on an instrument they will be expected to
operate, once they graduate and enter the workforce or go to graduate school," Blanchard
added.
Dolliver was assisted in applying for the grant by Jean Fotie, assistant professor
of chemistry, in collaboration with Southeastern chemists Bill Parkinson, Zhengrong
Li, Thomas Sommerfeld and physicist David Norwood.
NEW INSTRUMENT NOW IN USE – Southeastern Professor of Chemistry Debra Dolliver introduces chemistry students Binit Sharma Poudel, left, and Suraj Ayer, both of Nepal, to the operation of the university's new $274,000 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. The equipment was funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Southeastern to host International Education Week activities
Southeastern is hosting activities in honor of International Education Week.
A collaborative project of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department
of Education, which focuses on preparing Americans for a global environment and attracting
future leaders from abroad, the free activities will take place Nov 17 – 21.
The week will begin Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom with International
Night, sponsored by the Department of Languages and Communication. The free event
will showcase talents of international and foreign language students and will feature
an international buffet catered by Aramark. There will also be tables to promote foreign
language clubs and the department's study abroad programs. Although the event is free,
the department is asking for donations to help fund study abroad scholarships for
Southeastern students.
The Multicultural Holiday Celebration banquet will take place on Wednesday, Nov.
19, at 7 p.m. also in the Student Union Ballroom. Sponsored by the Department of Multicultural
and International Student Affairs and Black Student Union, the banquet will recognize
students for a variety of accomplishments, awarding graduating international students
with sashes representing their home countries.
Although the banquet is free for students and their guests, attendees are requested
to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Toys from the Heart toy drive.
For more information on the week's events, please call 549-3850 or email multicultural@southeastern.edu.
Southeastern forms partnership with fabrication firm
Impressed with the caliber of graduates it has employed from Southeastern's industrial
technology and occupational safety, health, and environment programs, a Baton Rouge-based
heavy industrial construction company has formed a partnership to help support the
programs.
Performance Contractors, Inc., licensed in 27 states and one of the largest heavy
construction companies in the South with locations in Baton Rouge, Mobile and Texas,
has established special accounts with supply vendors to be used by the university
and paid for by PCI.
"Our relationship with Southeastern goes back several years when we started recruiting
graduates of the industrial technology and safety programs," said Jerome Mabile, corporate
quality control director at PCI and a new member of Southeastern's Industrial Advisory
Board. "What has transpired since is a small but steady influx of Southeastern interns
and graduates in well-paying positions. The graduates are exceeding our expectations
in terms of knowledge, commitment and work ethic. We hope to continue to help the
university achieve its goal of placing graduates in exciting and rewarding careers."
"This is a great achievement for our program," said Anthony Blakeney, metallurgist
and IT instructor, who helped forge the arrangement. "It is significant for the department
and our students and underscores the importance and value industrial technology coursework
has on the workforce of this region."
Blakeney said students in the program have no problem finding employment following
their graduation because of the heavy demand for well-prepared professionals needed
in the growth Louisiana is experiencing in the technological and industrial sectors.
Southeastern's IT and safety program graduates are being paid an average starting
salary of over $50,000 per year.
"These are well-paying careers," Blakeney said. "While our students are learning
the basic skills of industrial processes, they also need to understand the science
behind these processes. These students are being hired for their expertise in metal
and weld inspection, quality control and supervision – skills acquired through programs
such as industrial technology."
PCI has also hired a number of graduates from Southeastern's Occupational Safety,
Health and environment program, said Sebastian van Delden, head of the Department
of Computer Science and Industrial Technology.
Southeastern's OSH&E bachelor's degree is one of only a few of its kind in the
nation, van Delden added. Initiated in 2004 from a two-year associate degree program,
the OSH&E degree is designed to meet the needs of industries in the region for properly
prepared professionals to work in the increasingly complex field of safety and health
in the industrial setting.
The PCI arrangement allows the Southeastern program directors to obtain materials
to be used in metallurgy course work, such as steel tubing, bar stock, metal plates
and other supplies.
The donation, expected to be thousands of dollars per year, will supplement funds
collected from student lab fees, which cannot fully support the programs, said Sebastian
van Delden, head of the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology.
He said representatives of PCI serve on the College of Science and Technology's
advisory board for industrial technology. Board members, all active professionals
with various construction and technology firms, provide department faculty with information
on trends in the field in order to keep the curriculum relevant.
"This helps ensure that our students graduate well prepared for employment in
their selected fields," he added.
van Delden said PCI has also pledged significant financial support for the university's
American Welding Society student organization by sponsoring the group's annual trip
to the national AWS/Fabtech conference.
CHECKING FOR FLAWS - Industrial Technology student John Crutchfield of Denham Springs applies a liquid penetrant to metal in order to identify cracks and other possible flaws, while fellow student Jade "Vicky" Crovetto of Baton Rouge looks on. Observing are, from left, PCI representative David Theriot and Instructor Anthony Blakeney. A new partnership between Southeastern PCI will help support the purchase of needed supplies for metallurgy courses.
Half price massages for students, faculty and staff November 17-21
Rec Sports and Wellness invites you to treat yourself to a half price massage during
the week of November 17-21. Massages are held in the Wellness Suite at the Pennington
Student Activity Center.
To schedule your 1/2 price massage, contact Angel Lester at (985) 634-6040 and
then email Megan.Mast@southeastern.edu for your massage packet.
Sherman releases second novel Zion
Southeastern Professor Dayne Sherman of Ponchatoula has released his second novel,
Zion, a mystery based on a true story that takes place in rural south Louisiana.
The author of the novel Welcome to the Fallen Paradise, and more than 20 short stories, Sherman chronicles the story of increased restrictions
and limitations on residents and small farmers by large timber companies seeking to
replace hardwood forests with more lucrative pine trees.
The disputes that follow led to the demise of open range policies in the early
1960s that allowed small farmers and ranchers to graze their livestock and to enjoy
the good hunting lands treasured by generations of area dwellers, said Sherman, a
professor of library science at Sims Memorial Library.
"One day while talking to a distant cousin, Ron Traylor in the Department of
History and Political Science, I learned about this old dispute over the killing of
hardwoods like oak and replacing them with faster growing pines," recalls Sherman.
The resultant feud led to the timber wars that followed in which pine forests
became the attention of arsonists. The conflict was heralded by the slogan of the
locals, "For Every Oak a Pine."
Knowing a good story when he hears one, Sherman immediately began writing his
fictionalized version and within a few days had finished a third of the novel.
"It took seven years to complete the rest of the novel, but I was on a clear
path," he said.
Sherman's story takes place in his fictional Baxter Parish in rural Louisiana,
which he created and popularized in "Welcome to the Fallen Paradise." A sometimes
violent and bloody locale, Baxter Parish is populated with tight knit families whose
beliefs are forged in small community churches, such as the Little Zion Methodist
Church in Zion.
Philip Shirley, author of The White Lie, says Sherman's story is a channeling of Deep South author Erskine Caldwell – writer
of Tobacco Road, and God's Little Acre – where the reader sees the flaws in good, rural Southern folks and a glimmer of
hope for the evil ones.
"This is a compelling story of coming of age in a small town," Shirley notes,
"of the consequences of greed and selfishness, of the natural struggles between father
and son and husband and wife, and of the terror and consequences of getting caught
for evil deeds that seemingly ordinary people sometimes hid from their families."
Distributed by Sherman's own independent publishing company Accendo Books, Zion is available through Amazon Books and other retailers.
Southeastern Theatre presents Fat Pig
Southeastern's theatre program will present the award-winning play Fat Pig by Neil LaBute at the Vonnie Borden Theatre in D Vickers Hall Nov. 18 – 21.
General admission tickets are $10; $5 for Southeastern faculty and staff, seniors,
and non-Southeastern students; Southeastern students are admitted free with ID.
Fat Pig centers on the character Tom, a typical young professional who becomes involved in
a relationship with a plus-sized librarian, Helen. Tom is conflicted with the realization
that his work associate, Carter, is highly insulting about the relationship due to
Helen's weight and appearance. The play follows the journey of their relationship
through a poignant, and eye opening production that hits on the topics of outside
influence on a person's every decision. LaBute plays to the human tendency to choose
beauty over substance.
Fat Pig premiered off-Broadway in 2004. Hailed as a provocative comedy that makes the audience
think, in 2005 the play received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway
Play and was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.
"Fat Pig is the kind of story you might overhear someone gossiping about in Starbucks or your
friend telling you about it one day over lunch," said director Veronica Gutierrez
of New Orleans, a senior majoring in general studies with a concentration in theater.
"The play is true to how beauty standards for women today can be ridiculous. LaBute's
play demonstrates how men are often pressured to make a 'smart choice' about a woman
rather than a choice that is best for them," she continued.
Gutierrez said audiences can expect to be moved by the piece.
"Fat Pig is so much more than a play," she added. "It is a piece of art that frames the harsh
reality of modern society. Tom finds himself drawn to an incredible woman until his
coworkers quickly extinguish his light."
"The most beautiful aspect of a play like Fat Pig is there is something for everyone," she said. "There will be laughter, awkwardness,
moments of pure happiness, lust, hatred, resentment, and possibly even a tear or two.
Watching the actors breathe life into a script that means so much, not only to me
but hopefully for anyone who sees it, has been a thrill."
The cast includes Lydia Caballero of Slidell in her Southeastern Theatre debut
as Helen, Trey Tycer of Slidell as Tom, Jaimee Rome of Abita Springs as Carter, and
Kayla Hill of Walker as Jeannie.
Along with Gutierrez, the design/production team includes Kelsey Hymel, Biloxi,
assistant director; Katy Truluck, Denham Springs, stage manager; Chelsey Davis, Crown
Point, assistant stage manager; Anthony Gary, Paulina, costume and makeup design;
Matthew Green, Mandeville, scenic design; Taylor Michel, LaPlace, propmaster; MJ Ricks,
Lacombe, lighting design; and Matthew Doyle, Covington, sound design.
For more information on "Fat Pig," call 549-2115.
Province named Southland Conference TV sideline reporter
Former Southeastern Channel sports anchor and reporter Jessica Province has been selected
by the Southland Conference Television Network as sideline reporter for its football
broadcasts.
A 2012 communication graduate of Southeastern, Province will conduct sideline
reporting for the upcoming Southland Conference Television/ESPN3 broadcast of the
Southeastern-McNeese State game Nov. 15 in Strawberry Stadium. Province also recently
reported for the Oct. 4 Southeastern-Northwestern State and Oct. 18 Northwestern State-Sam
Houston State broadcasts.
"It's an honor to work with the Southland Conference Network," Province said.
"From the beginning of my career at the Southeastern Channel, I was exposed to Southland
Conference schools and athletes and learned exactly what it took to make it in the
business. The Southeastern Channel gave me the opportunity to learn and grow as a
reporter and prepared me for the jobs I have now.
"I hope to showcase exactly what it means to be 'Southland Strong' and share
the stories of our schools, athletes, coaches and students," Province said.
Formerly Jessica Poumaroux of Baton Rouge, Province studied electronic media
at Southeastern and served as anchor/reporter for the Southeastern Channel student
sportscast, "The Big Game." An episode for which Province anchored and reported was
nominated for a 2011 student Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts
and Sciences. Province also handled sideline reporting for Southeastern Channel football,
basketball and baseball broadcasts.
Province hosts a pair of weekly sports shows for FOX Sports New Orleans, including
the football recruiting show "Dreams of Saturday" and "Louisiana Sunday Kickoff."
She worked as the pre-game show host and sideline reporter for COX Sports Network,
the Ragin' Cajun Network and ESPN3 for football broadcasts of Louisiana-Lafayette
games the past two years.
After graduating from Southeastern, Province began work with WAFB-TV News in Baton
Rouge as an associate producer.
"Jessica is an outstanding talent with a tremendous on-camera presence," said
Rick Settoon, general manager of the Southeastern Channel. "She has proven herself
in the professional world and has a terrific future ahead in the industry. We're very
proud of her accomplishments."
Province, who recently married former Southeastern baseball player Chris Province,
won the coveted Miss Southeastern pageant crown in 2009. In 2012 she was named Miss
Baton Rouge, and in 2013 she was second runner up to Miss Louisiana.
Southeastern English instructor's short story to be published
Spring, a short story by English instructor Alan Marsh, was recently accepted for publication
in the fall 2014 edition of "New Plains Review," which is coming out this month.
According to Marsh, the story is about the parallel journeys of families struggling
for existence - some human, some not.
"I felt honored to be published by this journal, as they only accept one piece
of fiction in their biannual publication," he said.
"New Plains Review" is published semiannually in the spring and fall by the University
of Central Oklahoma and is staffed by faculty and students. They are committed to
publishing high quality poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction by established and
emerging writers, Marsh said.
"Over the years, "New Plains Review" has expanded its range to invite writers
beyond the university community," he added. "They receive hundreds of submissions
from all over the country, and the authors they publish range from the well-known
to the soon-to-be-discovered."
University expands Follett partnership
Auxiliary Services is pleased to announce that Southeastern has expanded its partnership
with Follett Higher Education Group. In addition to managing our University Bookstore,
effective Nov. 1, Follett will also assume the operations of Textbook Rental. As
a part of the agreement, all policies, procedures, and costs related to the Textbook
Rental program will remain the same.
Follett Higher Education Group, based out of Westchester, IL, has been in the
college bookstore industry for 140 years. With over 930 stores, Follett is the largest
operator of college bookstores in North America. Follett is currently operating over
800 stores throughout the country offering textbook rental systems.
We are excited about expanding our partnership with Follett.
For question, please contact Connie Davis, director of Auxiliary Services, at
cdavis@southeastern.edu or 549-2094.
Athletic training program hosts High School Athletic Training Day
On Friday, Nov. 7, the athletic training program hosted High School Athletic Training
Day on campus.
Over 130 high school students enrolled in sports medicine classes from six area
high schools attended and were taught athletic training skills by Southeastern athletic
training undergraduates. This annual event provides high school students the opportunity
to visit campus, learn about the athletic training program, and engage in hands-on
experiential learning.
Southeastern Ceramics Club to hold Pottery Sale Dec. 1
Just in time for holiday gift-giving, the Southeastern Ceramics Club will hold a pottery
sale Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the north lawn walkway outside of the Student
Union.
The club was organized to help Southeastern students sell and promote their work.
For more information, call 549-2193.
Associated Press
WISE Council approves $2 million in state funding for UL
http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2014/11/10/wise-council-approves-million-state-funding-ul/18823017/
Catholic Commentator (BR) Spiritual Oasis: St. Albert undergoing renaissance at SLU
http://thecatholiccommentator.org/pages/?p=22608#more-22608
Hammond Daily Star Four heroes, four stories
http://www.hammondstar.com/news/four-heroes-four-stories/article_54b58700-6a0a-11e4-84f1-3ba6f44befc6.html
WISE funds approved
http://www.hammondstar.com/news/wise-funds-approved/article_5a67220c-6c63-11e4-9510-53811b259d4f.html
SLU freezes spending
http://www.hammondstar.com/news/slu-freezes-spending/article_7eb9b53c-6ad5-11e4-bec6-0f22940e1246.html
This Week in Athletics
The Southeastern football team will look to clinch the Southland Conference championship,
the volleyball team will compete in the league tournament and the basketball teams
will continue non-conference play during this week in Southeastern Athletics.
The Lion football team (8-3, 6-1 Southland) will look to win its second straight
Southland championship on Thursday, when it travels to Nicholls for the 6 p.m. River
Bell Classic. The game will be televised live on WHNO (Charter Channel 14). The contest
will also be broadcast live in the Hammond area on the flagship station of Southeastern
Football, KSLU-FM (90.9), as well as affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations
Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH).
A limited number of tickets for the game will be available at the Southeastern
Athletics Ticket Office through Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Fans can contact the Southeastern
Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466.
SLU enters the final week of the regular season tied with Sam Houston State atop
the Southland Conference standings. The Bearkats host Central Arkansas next Saturday
in Huntsville, Texas.
Should the teams finish tied atop the Southland Conference standings, both teams
will be considered Southland Conference champions. Since the two teams did not play
during the regular season, the tie between the Lions and Bearkats would have to be
broken by Southland tie-breaker rules to determine which team receives the Southland's
automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs.
Should Southeastern close the regular season with a victory at Nicholls, the Lions
would be all but assured a playoff berth regardless of the automatic bid outcome.
SLU put itself in that position with Saturday's 28-9 win over No. 11/13 McNeese State
– the program's first victory over a ranked opponent this season. The 24-team Division
I Championship field will be announced on Sunday at 10 a.m. on ESPNU.
The Southeastern volleyball team (11-17) will compete in the Southland Conference
Tournament this week in Natchitoches. On Friday, the Lady Lions open tournament play
facing No. 2 seed and two-time defending tournament champion Central Arkansas at 11
a.m. Should SLU upset the Bears, the Lady Lions will face either Sam Houston State
or Houston Baptist on Saturday at 11 a.m.
The first two days of action will be streamed live on the Southland Digital Network.
Sunday's championship match is set for 2:05 p.m. and will air on ESPN3. The winner
receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The SLU men's basketball team (0-2) will continue its road trip to open the 2014-15
season this week. On Saturday, Southeastern will travel to Macomb, Illinois for a
7 p.m. contest at Western Illinois. The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond
area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.
The Lady Lion basketball team (0-1) will open its home schedule on Tuesday, hosting
Southern at 7 p.m. Tuesday's game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM
(90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net, where LionVision subscribers can
access a live video stream and live stats will be available. The first 100 fans will
receive a trading card featuring head coach Yolanda Moore and the SLU coaching staff.
On Friday, the Lady Lions will travel to Troy for a 12 p.m. contest.
Tuesday, November 18
Women's Basketball, vs. Southern, University Center, 7 p.m. (KSLU) (LionVision)
Thursday, November 20 Football, at Nicholls, Thibodaux, 6 p.m. (WHNO) (KSLU) (WHMD) (WJSH)*
Friday, November 21 Volleyball, vs. Central Arkansas (SLC Tournament – First Round), Natchitoches, 11
a.m. (SLC Digital Network) Women's Basketball, at Troy, Troy, Ala., 12 p.m.
Saturday, November 22 Volleyball, Southland Tournament Semifinals, Natchitoches, 11 a.m. (SLC Digital Network) Men's Basketball, at Western Illinois, Macomb, Ill., 7 p.m. (KSLU)
Sunday, November 23 Volleyball, Southland Tournament Championship, Natchitoches, 2:05 p.m. (ESPN3) Football, Division I Championship Selection Show, 10 a.m. (ESPNU)
Professional activities
Dr. Francesco Fiumara (Languages and Communication) is the co-author (with Dr. Sarah Annunziato, University
of Virginia) of the recently published contribution "Targeting the parents through
the children in the golden age of Italian television advertising: The case of Carosello,"
which has just appeared in vol. 3.1-2 of Journal of Italian Cinema and Media Studies.
Four members of the Department of History and Political Science recently participated in the 33rd annual Gulf South History and Humanities Conference
in Galveston, Tex. Randy Sanders and Samuel Hyde each presented papers from forthcoming book projects in a session dedicated to the
sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. Keith Finley served as commentator in a session highlighting political development in the early
20th century, and Ronald Traylor provided comments for a session centered on social developments in Louisiana in the
early 19th century.
Dr. Thomas Meyer (Dept. of Accounting and Finance) and colleagues have had their manuscript, "Changes
in the Covalence Ethical Quote, Financial Performance and Financial Reporting Quality",
published in the Journal of Business Ethics.
C. Roy Blackwood (Columbia Theatre/Fanfare) participated in a joint board meeting last week in Baton
Rouge of the Louisiana Citizens for the Arts and the Louisiana Partnership for the
Arts. Blackwood chairs the Louisiana Presenters Network on the LPA Board and is organizing
the Gulf States Performing Arts Network comprised of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The mission is to provide "block-booking" opportunities that reduce presenters' costs
while also increasing exposure and booking opportunities for performing artists of
the three-state region.
Dr. Debra Jo Hailey (Dept. of Teaching and Learning) presented at the 6th Annual Louisiana Studies Conference
held at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches on Sept. 20. Her presentation,
"Their Louisiana Legacy: Lessons Children Learn from Your Family Stories," was part
of a larger panel titled, "Interpreting Louisiana Culture."
Dr. Debra Jo Hailey and Dr. Stacy Garcia (Dept. of Teaching and Learning), along with their students Courtney Hutchinson,
Kayleigh Odor, and Sydney McPherson, presented twice at the Louisiana Early Childhood
Association Conference on Oct. 24. The Southeastern undergraduate teacher candidates
shared their research-based family involvement activities during the presentations
titled "Bringin' It Home: Math and Literacy Family Involvement Activities for Pre-Kindergarten,
Kindergarten and First Grade" and "Bringin' It Home: Math and Literacy Family Involvement
Activities for the Primary Grades."
Dr. Rhett Allain (Chemistry and Physics) was the keynote speaker at the fall 2014 meeting of the North
Carolina Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers. The title of his
talk was "The Best Estimations and Models from Dot Physics." He also gave an invited
seminar at High Point University in High Point, NC.
Dr. Hye-Young Kim (Physics) is the sole author of Chapter 5, titled "An Efficient Coupled Dipole Method
for the Accurate Calculation of van der Waals Interactions at the Nanoscale," in the
Springer special topic book Applied Spectroscopy and the Science of Nanomaterials, Progress in Optical Science
and Photonics 2, P. Misra (ed.), Springer Science+Business Media, Singapore 2015 [DOI 10.1007/978-981-287-242-5_5].
ByLion is published weekly online (bi-weekly during the summer session) for the faculty and staff of Southeastern Louisiana University. Send submissions to publicinfo@southeastern.edu, SLU 10880, fax 985-549-2061, or bring to University Marketing and Communications Office in East Stadium. Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
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