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Retiree Reception scheduled
Please make plans to attend the Retiree Reception on Tuesday, March 28, at 2 p.m.
in the Alumni Center as we honor the 2016-2017 retirees.
Those being honored are: Ray Armstrong, Michael Beauvais, Mary Burke, Paul Carruth,
Priscilla Coleman, Charlotte Collins, O’Neil DeNoux, George Dorrill, Martie Fellom,
Cathy Harvey, Sharon Hoffman, Dee Hurtt, James Kirylo, Michael Lemay, Deborah Lerch,
Kristin Lobell, Mary Mocsary, Dorothy Nelson, Jeffrey Oescher, Carol Overmier, Alice
Peltier, Carol Perry, Barbara Schuldt, Beverly Sellers, Duane Shaffer, Linda Starns,
Mary Strong, Garry Thurmond, Debra Varnado, Raisa Voldman, Yakov Voldman, Sandra Williams
and Ann Woodward.
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Business ethics lecture to feature forensic accounting specialist
 Recognized forensic accounting expert Kelly Richmond Pope will be the featured speaker
at Southeastern’s annual ethics lecture sponsored by the College of Business.
The lecture, titled “Ethics Town Hall,” will be held Thursday, April 6, at 7
p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. The presentation is free and open to the public.
Pope is the creator and executive producer of the award-winning documentary “Crossing
the Line: Ordinary People Committing Extraordinary Crime,” an educational white-collar
crime documentary. She has conducted forensic accounting seminars worldwide for universities,
corporations, and governmental entities, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
A certified public account, she is an associate professor in the School of Accountancy
and Management Information Systems at DePaul University in Chicago and worked in forensic
practice at the accounting firm KPMG on anti-money laundering engagements, insurance
fraud investigations and fraud risk management projects.
Pope is also the founder of Helios Digital Learning, an education media and training
firm that specializes in helping students and professionals strengthen their ethical
decision-making abilities. Her latest documentary, “All the Queen’s Horses,” chronicles
the largest municipal fraud in U.S. history and was selected to participate in the
Tribeca Film Institute Industry Market forum in 2016.
A writer for Forbes.com and the “Washington Post,” Pope’s research has been published
in the “Journal of Business Ethics,” “CPA Journal,” and “WebCPA.” She co-authored
the book “A.B.C.’s of Behavioral Forensics: Using Psychology to Prevent, Detect and
Deter Fraud.” She holds a doctorate in accounting from Virginia Tech University.
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Southeastern connects students with employers at Tech-Connect Career Fair
Nick Curry, right, a senior mechanical engineering technology major from Covington,
discusses a possible career at Entergy with Eric Arteaga, an Entergy representative
at Southeastern’s Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology’s fourth
annual Tech-Connect Career Fair held Wednesday (March 22). Over 30 employers participated
in the fair this year, which was co-sponsored by Southeastern’s Office of Career Services.
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Southeastern earns honors at journalism conference
A group of Southeastern students tied for second place at the Southeast Journalism
Conference held recently at the University of Mississippi.
SEJC is comprised of the Best of the South competition, as well as on-site competitions.
Southeastern was represented by 19 students competing this year, with nine receiving
top awards.
In the Best of the South competition, five students received awards in their
respective categories of competition.
Tyler Waggenspack of Baton Rouge ranked second for Best TV Hard News Reporter,
and Amanda Kitch of Covington placed third for Best TV Journalist. Brooke Robichaux
of Destrehan was awarded fifth place for Best College Journalist; Maria Goddard of
Marrero placed fifth for Best TV News Feature Reporter; and Connor Raborn of McComb,
Miss., placed sixth for Best Magazine Writer.
Southeastern’s television station, the Southeastern Channel, also placed in the
Best of the South competition, ranking second in Best College TV Station and fourth
in Best Video News Program.
During the on-site competitions, nine of 18 competitors received awards in their
respective categories of competition, including five first place awards. These included
Raborn for Arts and Entertainment Writing; Jeremy Rhodes of Metairie for Radio News
Reporting; and Kaylee Collier of Albion, Mich., Kara Craighead of Reserve, and Jaime
Gelpi of Madisonville for Public Relations.
Other students who placed in on-site events were Natalie Ragusa of Belle Chasse,
who placed second for Feature Writing; Robichaux, who ranked third for News Writing,
and the team of Courtney Bruno of Kenner and Kitch, who placed third for TV News Reporting.
Associate Professor of Communication Amber Narro, past chair of the conference,
said the competitions evolve every year.
“The workshops are geared for real jobs where students could develop their skills
so it is relevant to the work they’ll be doing in the field,” Narro said.
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Camp REC registration now open
Camp REC is excited to announce that registration is now open for all 11 weeks of
summer camp. There are 11 weeks of camp planned with culinary and robotics programs
each week, swimming at our indoor pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and off-campus field
trips every Wednesday.
For those looking for activities for children the week of spring break, Rec Sports
and Wellness offers a spring break week-long camp, April 17-21, and are taking reservations
now.
There is a $25 registration fee to help cover the cost of each camper’s T-shirt.
In order to reserve specific weeks of camp, a $25 reservation fee that is credited
to the total for that week is required. The weekly cost is $145 for the first child
and $140 for the second child - this is for early registration. Walk up or late registration
is $160.
Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and early hours from 6:45 to 8:45 a.m. and after
care from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m., are offered at the rate of $15 for one and $30 for both
early and late care.
Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack are included in the weekly price. Field
trip expenses are also included.
Swimming lessons are also offered for $60 a week.
To make reservations or for more information, contact Kathy Cusimano at kathy.cusimano@southeastern.edu or at 549-2353.
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Puppy Pawlooza lifts spirits
In honor of National Puppy Day, Southeastern’s Campus Activities Board brought in
puppies for stress relief for students. Taking advantage of the opportunity was Micah
Bentivegna, a freshman athletics training major from Tickfaw.
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SLU mascot to undergo makeover based on fans' choice
Southeastern’s Lion mascot, “Roomie,” will undergo a general makeover based on an
online vote by students, faculty, staff and fans at large.
“Perodically, Roomie gets a facelift to keep up with changing trends,” said Erin
Cowser, executive director of Public and Governmental Affairs at Southeastern. “It
is time for an update, which will be revealed in the fall in time for football season.
We’re going to Lion Up and change it up a bit.”
A university committee of students, alumni, staff and stakeholders narrowed the
possible selections to two, and interested individuals can vote online starting Tuesday,
March 28, through Tuesday, April 4. Votes can be cast at southeastern.edu/roomiemakeover with everyone allowed one vote.
The winning selection will be announced at a later date.
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Southeastern Theatre presents ‘The Last Days of Judas Iscariot’
If Judas Iscariot, the Christian world’s incarnation of selfishness and betrayal,
were put on trial today, what would transpire?
The answer to that question will be played out on Southeastern’s Vonnie Borden
stage in Stephen Adly Guirgis’ “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot,” running at 7:30
p.m. each night April 4-7.
Admission is free for Southeastern students. General admission is $5. Tickets
are available one hour before the performances at the ticket booth located in D Vickers
Hall.
Adjunct Professor of Theatre Jessica Bouquet will be making her directorial debut
with the play, which she says is less about religion and more about forgiveness on
a human level.
“If you think this production is about religion, it’s not,” she said. “It is
a different perspective on who Judas Iscariot was as a human being and all the flaws
that come with being a human. It also shows the power of forgiveness – not just forgiveness
from a higher power, but forgiving ourselves and participating in our own salvation
or fate.”
The trial takes place in a realm called Hope, a plane between Heaven and Hell
and separate from Purgatory. Counsel will call for many historical figures to take
the stand, such as Mother Teresa, Sigmund Freud and Satan, to offer testimony. Judge
Littlefield, presiding over this astral court of appeals, will review the evidence
and accounts of the witnesses to decide the ultimate fate of Judas.
While the theme of this play is forgiveness, some aspects of it can get quite
dark and may not be appropriate for young children, Bouquet said.
“It is heavy material,” she added. “The language is harsh, but that is how the
playwright chose to write this play, and I have to respect that.”
Still, Bouquet believes the audience is sure to leave the theater with much to
ponder.
“There are many things this play covers, but it’s more about letting go of pride
and allowing ourselves to feel forgiveness and to forgive ourselves for things that
we cannot change,” she said. “It’s a human quality -- pride -- that many at some point,
even myself, possess, and this brings a solution to the forefront.”
Baxter Francis of Baton Rouge plays the lead role of Judas Iscariot, while Neal
Eli of Luling plays Jesus of Nazareth. Other cast members and their characters include
Justin Davis of Greensburg, Satan; Angela Griffitt of Mandeville, Henrietta Iscariot;
Alexis Durante of Hammond, Fabiana Aiza Cunningham; Taylor Sinclair of Hammond, Usef
El-Fayoumy; Colin Ross of Baton Rouge, Judge; Taylor Bennett of Slidell, Bailiff;
Shelly Sneed of Minden, St. Monica; Jordin Jones of Harvey, Loretta and Mother Theresa;
Morgan Age of Lacombe, Gloria and Matthias of Galilee; Matt Doyle of Mandeville, Pontius
Pilate and Simon the Zealot; Thomas Murphy of Hammond, St. Peter and Caiaphas the
Elder; Ben Norman of Hammond, Butch Honeywell and St. Thomas; Catherine Leger of Mandeville,
Mary Magdalene and Sister Glenna; and Tyler Meyer of Prairieville, St. Matthew and
Sigmund Freud.
For more information, contact the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at 549-2184.
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Vigil held for Southeastern graduate
 On Tuesday, March 21, a vigil was held for Yugesh Shakya, a Southeastern Nepalese
graduate, who was tragically killed recently. He and fellow Southeastern graduate
Vivek Basnet were trapped in a snowstorm for 10 days on a mountain in Nepal. While
Basnet is recovering from his injuries, Shakya succumbed to the extreme weather conditions
and passed away.
The vigil paid tribute to Yugesh incorporating Nepalese traditions, while at
the same time providing a supportive environment for Southeastern students during
their grieving process.
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The Center for Faculty Excellence News
As part of The Center for Faculty Excellence’s “Celebrate” initiative, the month
of March was dedicated to the celebration and recognition of the College of Nursing.
Students, faculty, staff and visitors left “Thank You” messages on the college appreciation
banner, which was presented to the College of Nursing’s Dean, Dr. Ann Carruth.
Southeastern’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) is committed to
preparing the next generation of health care professionals by emphasizing wellness
and prevention, promoting human development and services, and managing complex health
care needs.
Comprised of the Departments of Health and Human Sciences, Kinesiology and Health
Studies, and the School of Nursing, the CNHS utilizes innovative curricula to provide
excellence in education and promote real-world experiences that help students translate
research into practice.
 Pictured are, from left, Debbie Johnson, Ralph Wood, Eileen Creel, Jackie Guendouzi,
Ann Carruth, Eddie Hebert and Mark Terranova.
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Buyer Beware: faculty tackle trend of ‘Fake News’
Anyone plugged in, especially if they’re on Twitter, has likely heard the term ‘fake
news’ lately, but many questions surround this resurgence of partisan journalism.
Members of the communication faculty at Southeastern tackled these questions
at a panel discussion sponsored by the university’s Sims Memorial Library and Phi
Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Participants in the panel, held Tuesday, March 21, included four Southeastern
communication experts on the topics of media and research: Claire Procopio, Joe Burns,
and Joe Mirando; and Stephen Sanders of the library’s Reference Department.
Mirando, who has a strong background in newspaper reporting, said that while
fake news may seem like something new to most people, it is anything but.
“When you take a look at the kinds of things we hold dear -- like the Constitution,
the First Amendment, and the ideals behind us becoming a country and a democracy during
the American Revolution -- these were all put together by people who were manipulating
how we perceive the truth,” he said. “If you study the journalism of that period,
it was based on partisan politics, church concerns, etc. Truth was basically considered
to be ‘what best serves us.’”
In the late 1800s, Mirando said there was a shift in reporting in which journalists
began to embrace a style based on investigation and observable evidence. Conversely,
the old style fell into disfavor and even ill-repute. Mirando fears, however, that
with the advent of virtual reality and artificial intelligence technologies, the old
style of advocacy journalism will return and the trend of fake news production will
rise to new extremes.
With a background in radio and web technology, Burns also shares this concern.
He pointed to technologies such as Photoshop and Voco as examples. Currently in the
beta phase, once completed Voco will allow users to take a voice recording of a person
and, simply put, create a voice identical to theirs, he explained.
“I can literally erase the words she spoke and use her voice to say whatever
I want ‘her’ to say,” he said. “Fake news is going to go through video, audio, and
within a year these things will exist. If you would like to see me riding a unicorn
to work and yelling something like ‘I shall teach how to run through a plate glass
window today,’ you can do it; and it sounds like me saying it.”
So what are people to do in this brave, new “Orwellian” world? Procopio, who
specializes in public speaking and rhetoric, said consumers will have to take on a
more “buyer beware” attitude, while citizen watchdogs groups and reporters will face
more pressure than ever before to keep media and officials honest. But she warned
against the average news consumer becoming jaded from the deluge of propaganda and
hoaxes.
“Our temptation as consumers, I think, is to shut down, and to say ‘I don’t care
anymore, this doesn’t really affect my day-to-day so I’m going to quit being a significant
news consumer,’” she said. “I think the reaction one needs to have is the opposite.
You need to consume lots of news so your ‘detector’ will be able to go off and say
‘this feels off to me.’”
Sanders, who served decades as a chaplain in the National Guard, offered a perspective
taken from the pages of postmodernism, which holds that truth is often determined
by the most powerful.
“I think the answer is that the people who don’t have power want it, and they
use fake news to reach for it,” he said. “There are also those who use fake news to
protect and defend those with power from others trying to take power from them. This
makes it very difficult to sort out when you’re trying to listen to both sides. When
you begin to look at it from this dynamic it becomes, I think, easier to understand
what’s really going on.”
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Baseball, The Matt Riser Show, Buddies’ Bar & Grill, 
