Annual Faculty and Staff Holiday Open House scheduled
The annual Faculty and Staff Holiday Open House will be held at the President’s Residence
this Wednesday, Dec. 5, between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. We hope you will join us!

|
Volunteer for Late Night Breakfast It’s hard to believe it’s that time of the semester but with final exams quickly approaching,
that means it's time for Late Night Breakfast. Dining Services will be hosting a student appreciation Late Night Breakfast on
Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 9 until 11 p.m. in the Mane Dish, located on the 2nd floor of
the Student Union. This is always a well-attended event and a great way to wish our
students well on their final exams. If you are interested in participating as a volunteer server for Late Night Breakfast,
please contact Robin Parker at rparker@southeastern.edu to let her know if you are interested in the early shift (9-10), late shift (10-11)
or both shifts (9-11).
|
Traffic changes planned for commencement Motorists and visitors planning to attend Southeastern’s commencement ceremonies on
Saturday, Dec. 8, should anticipate heavy traffic and route changes affecting University
Avenue (Hwy. 3234) between Interstate 55 and North Cherry Street. Louisiana’s Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed will provide the
keynote address at the ceremony, where more than 1,000 students will receive associate,
bachelor, master and doctoral degrees at 10 a.m. in the University Center. Harold Todd, director of University Police, said the section of University Avenue
between West Lion Lane and SGA Drive will be restricted from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that
day. Local traffic will be allowed to proceed on University Avenue for as long as
possible but will be diverted through the campus as congestion increases. Prior to commencement, the University Center parking areas are expected to fill
early, and all traffic on University Avenue will be diverted to main campus via North
General Pershing Street and SGA Drive. Eastbound commencement traffic will be diverted
to West Lion Lane for parking at the University Center, and westbound commencement
traffic will be diverted to the campus at SGA Drive. “Traffic will begin to get heavy early in the morning,” said Todd. “We anticipate
the parking areas around the University Center to be filled before 9 a.m. We suggest
that students and their families carpool and arrive as early as possible for the ceremony.” Additional parking spaces around the University Center will be set aside for
vehicles with appropriate handicapped placards. Individuals requiring handicap accommodations
should try to arrive as early as possible. Vacant parking spaces in the Southeastern Oaks/Greek Village complex will also
be used for this event. Residents are requested to use the back gate near the laundry
facility and maintenance warehouse for entering and exiting between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Southeastern Lion Traxx shuttle buses will be in operation before and after the
ceremony to accommodate those parking in outlying areas or needing special transportation
assistance, Todd said. Shuttle stops will be marked with signs and/or canopies. Drivers not attending commencement are asked to use U.S. 190 (Thomas Street and
Morris Street) or Natalbany Road (Hwy. 1064) to avoid University Avenue traffic. Southeastern students wishing to return rental textbooks that day should wait
until after 2 p.m. to do so.
|
|

Southeastern to improve guest experience at commencement Guests at Southeastern’s winter commencement should expect several changes designed
to enhance the overall event experience. Updates include an increased number of attendants
to assist guests with directions and seating, the addition of bag checks and alterations
to the list of allowed items to enhance security, and live streaming of the ceremony
on the Southeastern Channel. Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management Kay Maurin said, for security
purposes, all commencement attendees are asked to limit handbags, camera bags, and
tote bags to only those that are necessary. All articles brought into the facility
will be subject to search, she added, and this may increase the amount of time it
will take for some attendees to enter the University Center. The doors to the University
Center will open at 8 a.m. to allow extra time for bag checks. “The safety of our graduates, faculty, staff, and guests is our top priority.
Bag checking is an important security practice and is utilized by colleges and universities
across the country,” said Maurin. “Our team will offer expedited entrances for anyone
not carrying a bag and all others will be subject to quick searches. We encourage
guests to arrive early and with their groups in order to go through bag check and
enter the arena together as quickly as possible.” To ensure a safe and comfortable commencement, Maurin said, the following items
are strictly prohibited from being brought into the University Center: beverage containers,
aerosol and spray cans, animals (except for service animals for persons with a disability)
balloons and beach balls, alcoholic beverages, weapons, signs, banners, flags, laser
pointers, noisemakers (including but not limited to whistles, air horns, bull horns,
sirens, thunder sticks) strollers, drones, confetti, glitter, streamers, silly string,
fireworks, party poppers and sparklers. Guests are asked to refrain from saving seats out of consideration for other
guests. Seating is available on a first-come first-served basis, so groups should
plan to arrive early to find seats together. “Commencement is a ceremonious occasion honoring our students’ impressive accomplishments.
Decorum and courtesy are important to our guests, the candidates and their families,”
said Maurin. “Guests and graduates are encouraged to remain for the duration of the
ceremony so that each graduate and their family can share their moment without interruptions.
Applause should be kept to a minimum so that each graduate’s name can be heard as
it is called.” As part of commencement decorum, Maurin added, guests should silence cell phones
and other electronic devices. Candidates should plan to meet their guests outside
the University Center, as guests are not allowed on the arena floor or stage. For those who are unable to attend commencement or simply wish to enjoy it from
the comfort of their own homes, the Southeastern Channel will live stream the event
for the first time. The live stream can be accessed by logging on to thesoutheasternchannel.com/programs/graduation/. “Many graduates have family and friends who are unable to travel to Hammond to
attend graduation. We are now live streaming the ceremony so those family members
and friends can see their loved ones cross the stage in cap and gown to the receive
their diplomas,” Maurin said. For more information about commencement, visit southeastern.edu/commencement.
|

Northlake Community Band to give free concert The Community Music School at Southeastern will present the Northlake Community Band
in a concert titled “Fall Potpourri” Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. Scheduled in Pottle
Auditorium on Southeastern’s campus, the concert is free and open to the public. Southeastern Professor Emeritus of Bassoon Jerry Voorhees will conduct the concert
that will include works by G. Holst, J. Jenkins, J. Williams, H. Fillmore, L. Anderson
and others. “The Northlake Community Band is a true musical jewel on the Northshore and the
surrounding communities, and we are very proud to have them as part of the Community
Music School,” said Community Music School Director Jivka Duke. “The band brings together
musicians from various walks of life, from current and retired professional musicians
to people who only recently started playing music again after many years of working
in a different career field.” Duke said the Northlake Community Band always welcomes new members. For more information, contact the Community Music School at cms@southeastern.edu
or 549-5502.
NORTHLAKE COMMUNITY BAND TO GIVE CONCERT - The Community Music School at Southeastern Louisiana University will present the
Northlake Community Band in a free concert titled “Fall Potpourri” Tuesday, Dec. 4,
at 7:30 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium. Members of the horn section include, from left,
Hailey Wilkinson, Angie Tyrone, Alex Martrain, Henry Hollins, and Chris Germany.
|
|