Southeastern Louisiana University

Effective May 13, 2012, the University will begin a four (4) day workweek (10 hour/day). The officially recognized work schedule for employees of the university will be from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with a 30-minute lunch break. The university will resume the four and a half day (4 ½) workweek on August 5, 2012.
     The university will observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 28, as a Presidential Closure Day. The university will also be closed on Wednesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day, which is a designated holiday with pay.
     It is recognized that work schedules within offices/work units may need to be varied from the officially recognized schedule in order to provide coverage due to special circumstances. The university has a Flexible Work Hours Policy to facilitate such requests. The policy can be located on the Human Resources website.
     Time reports for classified employees are to reflect actual hours worked during the workweek. In the event an employee is required to work in excess of their officially recognized schedule, a request for approved overtime/k-time must be processed in advance through regular channels.
     It is recognized that during this period there may be problems that arise. Please feel free to contact Sam Domiano at extension 2282 or Nettie Burchfield at extension 2088 as the need arises.

Annual Heart Walk a success

The general public was invited to take part in last Friday’s Tangi Heart Walk benefiting the American Heart Association and take advantage of free health screenings that were offered. More than 200 individuals, including students from the Southeastern Laboratory School, participated in the event, and over $4,000 was raised.
The walk started at the Pennington Student Activity Center at 12:30 p.m. with participants invited to walk one lap around campus. KSLU – 90.9FM provided entertainment for the event, and Smoothie King distributed smoothies to participants. Blood pressure readings and body fat composition screenings were provided by Southeastern nursing students and Pennington Center student employees following the walk. Also, a Zumba class was held at 1 p.m. with participants asked to make a donation to the AHA in exchange for class registration.

Above: Participants in the Heart Walk included, from left, Connie Budden, Jennifer Henderson, and Staci Horgan.

Southeastern now has Weight Watchers at Work Program

Join Southeastern’s Weight Watchers at Work Program to become a healthier you! The At-Work meetings are held every Tuesday at noon in Room 107 of the Pennington Student Activity Center. Weigh-in begins at 11:45 with the meeting beginning at noon. Our Southeastern group has already lost 34.2 pounds in one week and taken over 25,000 steps with our pedometers!
Join Tuesday, May 8, or Tuesday, May 15, to receive your two-month free membership to the Pennington Student Activity Center. Bring a friend or family member from the community and they will also receive the two-month free membership to the Student Activity Center. Please contact Amy Oberschmidt at (985) 549-5738 or amyo@selu.edu with any questions. Our At-Work group welcomes you to join us as we journey toward overall health and wellness.

Southeastern Library partners with Humane Society for Exam Stress Relief

Students facing final exams this week flocked to Sims Memorial Library Thursday (May 3) to de-stress with some furry friends, courtesy of the St. Tammany Humane Society and the library staff.
     The Humane Society brought in a variety of large and small people-friendly pooches for a few hours, giving students the opportunity to play with the pets in the library breezeway between studying for finals.
     “It’s awesome to see the dogs out here,” said student Sarah Link. “With all the stress of finals it’s nice to be able to play with the dogs and just relax for a little while.”
     Students were encouraged to interact with the animals as part of a popular stress relief method called dog therapy, a movement that libraries and schools around the nation are beginning to join.
   “The event went very well,” said Beth West, reference/distance learning librarian who organized the event. “We had a lot of people stop by throughout the day. I think the students definitely benefited from this.”
     The St. Tammany Humane Society also had information on internships and volunteer opportunities for interested students.

Above: Southeastern students Kristen Shelton of Gonzales and Stephen Rutherford of Covington play with Bowie, a rescue dog brought to the university’s campus Thursday as part of “Puppy Therapy,” a program intended to help students de-stress before final exams.

Register now for Southeastern Summer Day Camp

Registration for the Southeastern Summer Day Camp has begun through the Division of Extended Studies. Camp will be held in two-week sessions as follows:

Session I:     May 29 - June 8 (NO camp on May 28)
Session II:   June 11 – 22
Session III: June 25 - 29 and July 9 - 13 (NO camp the week of July 2 - 6 due to holiday)
Session IV: July 16 – 27

     The cost of each session is $200 per child. Children in pre-k through sixth grade for the 2012-2013 school year are eligible to attend the camp. Southeastern employees can drop children off as early as 6:45 a.m. and pick them up before 5:45 p.m. at the Charles E. Cate Teacher Education Center. Camp activities are held between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
     For a printable registration form, visit www.southeastern.edu/escamps. Completed forms can be dropped off at Extended Studies in room 103 of the University Center. For more information contact Extended Studies at 549-2301.

Ice Cream Social scheduled Tuesday

Traffic changes planned for Southeastern Commencement May 12

Motorists and visitors planning to attend Southeastern’s commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 12, should anticipate heavy traffic and route changes affecting University Avenue (Hwy. 3234) between Interstate 55 and North Cherry Street.
     Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler will speak at the ceremony, where approximately 1,200 students will receive associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at the 10 a.m. ceremony in the University Center.
     Mike Prescott, director of University Police, said the section of University Avenue between West Tornado Drive and SGA Drive will be restricted from 7:30 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 be filled early, and all traffic on University Avenue will be diverted. Eastbound commencement traffic will be diverted to West Tornado Drive for parking at the University Center, and westbound commencement traffic will be diverted to the campus at SGA Drive.
     Individuals requiring handicap accommodations should try to arrive as early as possible.
     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, Prescott 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.

Dual Language Collaborative Pre-K program celebrates Earth Day
The Dual Language Collaborative Pre-K program at Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center in Walker celebrated Earth Week 2012 last week with the planting of citrus trees donated by the Livingston Parish Veterans Association in memory of veterans who served the country. Also planted were a rose bush donated by Denham Springs Mayor Jimmy Durbin and his wife Maurice and flowering plants donated by Walker Mayor Bobby Font and the City of Walker.

Right: At the Earth Day celebration in Walker (from left) James Parent, maintenance supervisor at the center, Livingston Parish Veterans Association representative Lynn King, and Dale Zuelke of Denham Springs plant one of the citrus trees donated by the veterans group.

About Boating Safely Course – May 12 in Madisonville
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s state-approved About Boating Safely course will be taught Saturday, May 12, at the Madisonville Town Hall (enter on Water Street, next to Morton's), from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
     Students will learn about the different types of boats and personal water craft, safety equipment the Coast Guard requires to be aboard a vessel while underway, rules of the road such as which boat has the right-of-way under varying operating conditions, how to dock a boat, trailering and towing, various aids to navigation, and how to read a marine chart.
     The cost is $30. Discounts are available for multiple family members who share materials. The fee includes the About Boating Safely course book, a CD of the course for later review and other valuable material explaining federal rules.
     Register online at http://uscgaux-northlake.com/boating-safety-2/boating-safety or call 985-845-9266 and leave your contact information if you receive the voice mail message. Other times and dates are available at http://uscgaux-northlake.com/2012-calendar.

Special Olympics Louisiana State Summer Games May 18 – 20

Southeastern will welcome Special Olympics Louisiana for the 12th year to the campus for the annual State Summer Games to be held May 18-20. More than 600 athletes and their coaches from throughout Louisiana are registered to attend after qualifying through parish and area competitions held in 13 state areas.
     Competition events this year are in track & field, bocce, power lifting and volleyball. On Friday, May 18, opening ceremonies will start the games at the new Southeastern track at 7 p.m. The Southeastern community is invited to come out and cheer on the athletes and coaches as they parade around the track followed by the lighting of the Flame of Hope by athletes and Louisiana Law Enforcement officers. The lighting of the Flame of Hope will officially open the 2012 State Summer Games.
     On Saturday, May 19, competition will begin at 7:30 a.m. with track & field events followed by other events starting in early morning. All events will end by noon or earlier on May 20.
     All events, including opening ceremonies and all competitions, are free, and volunteers are needed for Saturday and Sunday activities and events. Volunteers can walk-on and sign up for an assignment and get an official t-shirt at the People Power Pool station. For more information, contact Special Olympics Louisiana’s state headquarters at 1-800-345-6644 or 345-6644.

Lion Legacy
Lion Legacy, Southeastern’s first student giving campaign, was launched this semester by two students, Heather Miletello and M.J. Ahmad, who wanted to give back to the university that provided them so many opportunities.
     The mission of Lion Legacy is to promote a spirit of philanthropy, the giving of time, talent and treasure, throughout the student body that will last beyond their years spent at Southeastern. The goals of the campaign are to educate the student body on the importance of philanthropy and the Southeastern Foundation; raise funds for scholarships, campus improvements, technology, and student recruitment; and to unify the student body in a common cause.
     To be a philanthropist at such a young age is to be commended. Believing in the mission of our university and investing in its excellence for future generations sets Lion Legacy donors apart from others and, by pure example, makes them leaders.
     To date, Lion Legacy has over 50 donors contributing more than $7,000 to the Southeastern Annual Fund.
     If you see a student wearing a Lion Legacy “Give ‘til it feels good” t-shirt, thank them for their commitment to the success of our university.
     Learn more about Lion Legacy by visiting www.selu.edu/give/lionlegacy and like us on facebook at www.facebook.com/lionlegacy.

UL System releases Beyond Economic Impact
The University of Louisiana System has released Beyond Economic Impact, a companion publication to its economic and community impact report. The electronic publication features workforce impacts, profiles of faculty members, events on campuses, service-learning activities, and an inside look at days in the life of faculty at the nine universities.
      “A few years ago, we released a report on the economic impact of our (then) eight universities, which have since grown to nine with the addition of the University of New Orleans. With a $3.5 billion annual impact and an $8 return on every $1 the state invests in University of Louisiana System schools, the independent study demonstrated that institutions of higher learning have a direct impact on the economic success of a state and region,” said UL System President Randy Moffett. “This publication extends that work by spotlighting the power behind that economic impact: our committed and talented faculty and staff.
      Beyond Economic Impact was created collaboratively with the nine UL System universities with a special section devoted to each institution. Southeastern's section includes features on David Norwood, associate professor of physics; Suzette Bryan, associate professor of communication, and Ed Gautier, director of purchasing and Special Olympics Summer Games chairman.
      In addition to special sections for each campus, it contains a recap of the recent UL System Academic Summit, information on the new UL System online academic publication called the Journal of Service-Learning in Higher Education, and profiles a system-wide student service activity benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
      “In the University of Louisiana System, we value the work of our people and know that they are the driving force behind the economic and quality of life impacts on the state of Louisiana,” said Moffett. To view Beyond Economic Impact, visit www.ulsystem.edu/BeyondEconomicImpact.

Southeastern hosts 26th annual Deep Delta Civil War Symposium June 1-2
“Lee’s Generals” is the theme of the annual Deep Delta Civil War Symposium to be held June 1-2 at Southeastern.
     Sponsored by Southeastern’s Department of History and Political Science, the symposium will be held in the War Memorial Student Union.
     Now in its 26th year, the symposium is one of the largest Civil War conferences in the United States and annually attracts a national audience, as well as many local Civil War enthusiasts.
     “It is a great pleasure for us to honor the late Professor T. Harry Williams by dedicating this year’s symposium to his memory. Dr. Williams was one of the most eminent historians ever to hold a position in the Department of History at Louisiana State University,” said Bill Robison, head of the Department of History and Political Science. “Though many in Louisiana know him mainly for his landmark biography of Huey Long, he was one of the leading Civil War historians of all time, and his legacy remains alive and well.”
     Robison said Frank J. Wetta’s presentation “T. Harry Williams: Pragmatic Historian” will open the symposium at 3:15 p.m. on Friday. Wetta is the author of “Celluloid Wars: A Guide to Film and the American Experience of War;” “Battle Histories: Reflections on Civil War Military Studies;” and other works.
     The symposium will also include social hours and book sales of speakers’ publications. Special prices are available for tickets purchased before June 1. Participants may also purchase conference tickets at the door. Discount prices are available for spouses and children. Fee information and a complete schedule are available online at southeastern.edu/deepdelta.
     Teachers in the Teaching American History grant program may be eligible for a grant for symposium fees and are asked to contact TAH grant coordinator Ann Trappey at Ann.Trappey@tangischools.org.
     Friday’s additional presenters and their topics include:

4:30 p.m. – “Stonewall Jackson: The Christian Soldier in Life, Death and Defeat” by George C. Rable, author of “Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg!”

7:30 p.m. – “The Generalship of Robert E. Lee” by Charles P. Roland, author of “The Confederacy.”
Saturday’s presentations include:

8:45 a.m. – “Lee’s Most Maligned General: Fighting Dick Anderson” by Lawrence Lee Hewitt, author of “Port Hudson: Confederate Bastion on the Mississippi.”

10 a.m. – “Jeb Stuart, R.E. Lee, and Confederate Defeat at Gettysburg” by Joseph G. Dawson III, author of “Army Generals and Reconstruction: Louisiana, 1862-1877.”

11:15 a.m. – “P.G.T. Beauregard and the Petersburg Campaign” by A. Wilson Green, author of “Whatever You Resolve to Be: Essays on Stonewall Jackson.”

2 p.m. – “The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions: James Longstreet in War and Peace” by William L. Richter, author of “The Army in Texas during Reconstruction, 1865-1870.”

3:15 p.m. – “Jubal Early: Confederate in the Attic” by Thomas E. Schott, author of “Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia: A Biography.”

4:30 p.m. – “John B. Gordon and the Gospel of Reconciliation” by Ralph L. Eckert, author of “John Brown Gordon: Soldier, Southern, American.”

7:30 p.m. – “A Confusion of Tongues: The Ebb and Flow of Robert E. Lee’s Reputation Since 1964” by Brian Holden-Reid, author of “J.F.C. Fuller: Military Thinker.”
For additional information about the Deep Delta Civil War Symposium, contact the Department of History and Political Science, 985-549-2109 or hips@southeastern.edu, or visit www.southeastern.edu/deepdelta.

Call For Proposals -- Study Abroad 2013
The Office of International Initiatives is requesting faculty proposals for study abroad programs to be offered during 2013. The CFP document can be found on our website: http://www.selu.edu/acad_research/programs/ii/study_abroad/study_abroad_faculty/forms/2013_Call_for_Propos.pdf
Note the deadline for proposals is June 7, 2012. For more information, contact Kent Neuerburg at kneuerburg@selu.edu or call the International Initiatives Office at 549-2135. Our students look forward to traveling and learning with you in 2013!

Sociology and Criminal Justice news
Michael Graham, Derrick Jameson, and Dan Bright were each falsely convicted, served years in prison, and were subsequently exonerated. They spoke about their experiences on April 23 at the Student Union Theatre when the Southeastern Criminal Justice Association and the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice hosted Voices of Innocence.
Although each man had been involved in criminal activity prior to incarceration, none of them had committed homicide, the crime for which they were sentenced. Through a combination of luck and the persistent work of friends and allies, Graham, Jameson, and Bright were eventually cleared of the charges for which they had been imprisoned. Now they are affiliated with the organization Voices of Innocence, and they speak out in order to inform people about injustices that persist in the criminal justice system.
Voices of Innocence is an advocacy program that works for criminal justice reform so that innocent men and women are not wrongfully incarcerated.

Above: Michael Graham, Derrick Jameson, and Dan Bright in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice.

And the winner of “The Battle of the Sexes” is...

RaceTrac logo

the FEMALES with a grand total of $4,615. As the winners of the contest, the ladies will receive $2,000 for their athletic programs, courtesy of RaceTrac, and also receive a Southeastern female-only RaceTrac sponsored party in their honor. Details of the party will be shared in a future edition of ByLion.
    As the runners-up with a total of $2,445, the men will receive $1,000 for their athletic programs.
     Jason Kilpatrick, RaceTrac regional marketing manager, said RaceTrac truly enjoys its partnership with Southeastern.
     "Thank you for letting us be a part of Southeastern's culture and memories," he said.

Southeastern in the news

BR Advocate
SLU student group hosts Farmers Market
http://theadvocate.com/news/livingston/2676199-123/slu-student-group-hosts-farmers

Florida Parishes employment up
http://theadvocate.com/news/2747171-123/florida-parishes-employment-up

Cornell Daily Sun
Angry Birds and R2-D2 Analyzed
http://cornelldailysun.com/section/science/content/2012/04/28/angry-birds-and-r2-d2-analyzed

Hammond Daily Star
Puppy therapy popular with students
http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2012/05/04/community/community_news/307.txt

AAUP may censure Southeastern
http://www.hammonddailystar.com/articles/2012/05/06/top_stories/education/5496.txt

Southeastern hosts Civil War seminar
http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2012/05/04/community/community_calendar/8165.txt

WAFB.com
Stressed by Exams? Southeastern Students to Try ‘Puppy Therapy’
http://livingston.wafb.com/news/community-spirit/53134-students-trying-puppy-therapy

Southeastern hosts 26th annual Deep Delta Civil War Symposium June 1-2
http://tangipahoa.wafb.com/news/business/53157-deep-delta-civl-war-symposium

Southeastern Biologist to participate in USA Science & Engineering Festival
http://tangipahoa.wafb.com/news/business/53168-southeastern-biologist-paricipates-usa-science-and-engineering-festival

This Week in Athletics
The Southeastern men’s and women’s track and field teams compete in the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships, the Lion baseball team looks to pull closer in the league race and the men’s golf team learns its NCAA Regional fate during this week in Southeastern Athletics.
     The Lions and Lady Lion track teams will head to San Marcos, Texas to compete in the league meet at Texas State Track and Field Stadium. The meets runs Friday through Sunday and live results will be available at www.Southland.org.
     The baseball team (33-16, 17-10 Southland) heads into its final road Southland Conference action this week having won its last four league series after Sunday’s wild 12-11 comeback victory. The Lions have pulled within three games of league-leading Sam Houston State in the Southland standings and will face the Bearkats in a three-game series, which begins with a 6:30 p.m. contest on Friday. The series continues on Saturday at 4 p.m. and concludes with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday. All three games will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net. Live stats will be available at www.gobearkats.com.
     The men’s golf team will find out if it will participate in its sixth NCAA Regional in school history this week. Head coach Tim Baldwin’s squad will be looking for its third straight trip to the postseason on Monday, when the 81-team field is announced live on NCAA.com at 8 p.m. (CST)

Monday, May 7
Men’s Golf, NCAA Regional Announcement, NCAA.com, 8 p.m.

Friday, May 11
Baseball, at Sam Houston State, Huntsville, Texas, 6:30 p.m. (KSLU)*
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, at Southland Outdoor Championships, San Marcos, Texas, All Day

Saturday, May 12
Baseball, at Sam Houston State, Huntsville, Texas, 4 p.m. (KSLU)*
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, at Southland Outdoor Championships, San Marcos, Texas, All Day

Sunday, May 13
Baseball, at Sam Houston State, Huntsville, Texas, 1 p.m. (KSLU)*
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, at Southland Outdoor Championships, San Marcos, Texas, All Day

* - Southland Conference contest

Professional activities
During the 32nd International Sea Turtle Symposium (ISTS) held March 11-17 in Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico, Dr. Roldán Valverde (Biology) was elected President of the International Sea Turtle Society (http://www.seaturtlesociety.org/). As such, Dr. Valverde has been charged with organizing the 34th ISTS, which will take place in New Orleans in April of 2014.
     Charles Elliott (History and Political Science) wrote the text for the official (and now-touring state-wide) exhibition of the Louisiana Bicentennial Commission and his “Becoming Louisiana: The Path to Statehood” has been published on CD as part of the exhibition-catalog accompanying the exhibition.
     On April 25, Mary Mocsary (English) presented “Reviewing the Past, Applying It to the Present, and Looking to the Future through Our Students’ Curricula” at the 40th Annual Conference of the Louisiana Association of Student Assistance Programs held in Lafayette, La. During her presentation, Mary shared data she has collected from June 2010 to February 2012 to support her findings that college freshmen, high school seniors, and junior high eighth graders are very knowledgeable of pop culture, but less aware of current events and core information that students should know at a certain grade level.
     Dayne Sherman’s (Sims Library) novel, Welcome to the Fallen Paradise, has been named the sole Louisiana pick for the American Library Association’s Booklist magazine’s annual “Hard-Boiled Gazetteer to Country Noir.” The list was released on May 1 and is available at http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=5423722. Sherman is on a named list with authors such as Elmore Leonard, Bonnie Jo Campbell, and Daniel Woodrell.
      Dr. Lynette Ralph’s (Sims Library) paper, entitled “Using Education Informatics to Improve Library Services to Doctoral Students: An Embedded Approach” has been published in the International Journal of Doctoral Studies, Volume 7, pages 235 – 244. This paper received a Best Papers award which will be presented at the InSite International conference to be held in Montreal, Canada June 22-27.

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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