February 12, 2015

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The Newspaper of Lamar University Vol. 91, No. 15

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Sculpting against hunger Thomas Freeman

EMPTY BOWL CLAY PROJECT TO RAISE MONEY FOR FOOD BANK

Courtesy Photo

LU TO HOST FREEMAN LECTURE AS PART OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH ExxonMobil will present “An Evening with Dr. Thomas Franklin Freeman” in celebration of Black History Month, Tuesday.

The presentation, hosted by Lamar University, is free and open to the public, and will begin at 7 p.m. in the University Theatre.

Freeman, who is distinguished professor emeritus of Texas Southern University, has given more than 69 years of service to become an icon of Texas Southern, the African American community and the nation, a release states. A former professor of psychology and philosophy at TSU, Freeman taught at Morehouse College, Virginia Union University, Houston Community College and Rice University.

In 1947, while a visiting professor at Morehouse, he taught one of the nation’s and the world’s greatest orators and most inspiring leaders, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A college graduate by age 18 and a Virginia Union University professor in his 20s, Freeman was among the black intellectuals hired in 1949 to teach at what was then Texas State University for Negroes. That year, he staged a debate in his logic class drawing from his own undergraduate experiences. Students begged him to coach a debate team that soon found success at out-of-town tournaments.

Freeman is perhaps best-known for founding and coaching TSU’s highly acclaimed debate team, which has won hundreds of awards, traveled the globe and during the period when Freeman and King became re-acquainted, helped desegregate college forensics.

An advocate for strong debate skills that translate readily into broad life skills, Freeman pushes students hard, occasionally resulting in them shedding a tear or two as they strive to please him.

Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington sought Freeman as a consultant for the 2007 movie, The Great Debaters, based upon the triumphs of a See FREEMAN, page 2

LAINIE HARRIS UP CONTRIBUTOR The Empty Bowl Project is a grassroots movement to end world hunger. The main idea is to have potters, craftspeople, educators and others work with the community to create handcrafted bowls that symbolize the empty food bowls in the world.

The second annual Empty Bowl Making Marathon will take place, Feb. 21, in the Dishman Art Museum on the Lamar University campus. The marathon begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. The event is open to the public, and participation is free.

The pieces made during the marathon will be auctioned, April 11, in the Dishman Art Museum. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.

Linnis Blanton, advisor of Feldspar, Lamar University’s student clay organization, decided to start LU’s Empty Bowl Project after being inspired by an event he donated a bowl to.

“I donated pottery to Houston a couple of years in a row, and it has really snowballed in Houston,” he said. “They raise around $100,000 in one day. I decided, ‘Well, why can’t we do it here instead of going to Houston just to do it?’”

Blanton spoke with his good friend Forrest Goodhue about hosting an event at Lamar.

“He actually encouraged me to do it, so it was actually both of us that made the decision,” Blanton said. “We decided to get the clay organization involved. Feldspar is the (LU) clay organization, and we also have Artist Common, which is the artist organization for students.”

Blanton referred to Hurricane Ike, and said he can relate on a personal level to the meaning of the empty bowl project.

“It was amazing — it wasn’t that long ago I was in the food lines asking for a hand out to help me, so we are giving back, giving back to the community,” he said. “That’s how you become a better person — by giving. It just makes you feel good that you’re giving back.

“It was a Buddhist Monk that told me, ‘It’s the giver that should thank the receiver,’ because a lot of people won’t let you help, you know, some people that need help. It’s like they are too proud to accept it, and we need to thank people for allowing us to give. It’s our privilege to give.”

Last year, the Empty Bowl Making Marathon raised more than $2,000, which was converted into 6,000 meals in the community.

The meals were distributed by the Southeast Texas Food Bank.

“When you help other people get what they need, then dormant forces come alive and people help you get what you need, so it’s just wonder-

LU NURSING FACULTY

UP Photo Lainie Harris

Linnis Blanton, Feldspar advisor and Kelly Costlow, Batson senior, trim the excess clay around the base of the bowl in the ceramics room in the Lamar Art Building, Friday. ful, and you actually get to see the results of the giving, whereas a lot of people don’t get to see it, they pass it on down the line,” Blanton said. “So it’s really good to be in a position that we can help out, and we get to bring that money over to the Southeast Texas Food Bank and hand it to them.”

Feldspar president, Kelly Costlow, Batson senior, who has worked with ceramics for more than four years, said that she was eager to take part in the event.

“It just sounded like a good idea, and I just wanted in on it and wanted to help out,” she said.

Blanton said that to participate, people simply need to show up at the museum.

www.facebook.com/UPLamar

See BOWL, page 2

‘Be The Match’ recruits marrow donors

RECOGNIZED FOR TEACHING INNOVATION Four nursing faculty members in the JoAnne Gay Dishman Department of Nursing at Lamar University will be recognized this spring for their innovative teaching.

The Texas Organization of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Education (TOBGNE) awards faculty for innovations in teaching and excellence in research.

Nursing instructors Maresha Moore, Cynthia Pipkins, Deborah Camak and Jennifer Thedford will receive the award based on their proposal of an idea that reflects innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

“This award is the only one of its kind given among all the schools of nursing in the state of Texas,” said Cindy Stinson, interim chair of the nursing department.

“We are very proud of our outstanding faculty.”

Their proposal, “Simulation Approach to Teaching the Nursing Process,” outlines two simulations the team developed. The simulations introduce first semester nursing students to the nursing process and the clinical decision-making approach nurses use to deliver effective patient care.

After review from a panel of individuals from TOBGNE-member schools, the proposal was selected for the Faculty Development Innovation in Teaching Award. The organization will honor the team of nursing instructors at its meeting in Austin later this spring.

“(People) show up and we’ll give them some clay, and they can get started and make something,” he said. “We should have students there to help, if they don’t have a clue what to do. It will range from beginners to advanced artists.”

Blanton said that participants are free to make anything they want.

“Everyone is invited to come and it doesn’t have to be bowls — they can make sculptures, do anything really with clay,” he said. “We’ll glaze them and fire them, then sell them. (People) can come back and buy their own bowl if they choose to with a donation, or somebody else can buy it.”

LAUREN VAN GERVEN UP EDITOR @thegerven Each year, almost 18,000 people in the U.S. need a bone marrow transplant.

About 70 percent of those patients do not have a matching donor in their family — they depend on unrelated donors who registered via the Be The Match Registry.

Several times during the semester, representatives of the registry visit Lamar to encourage students to sign up to be a donor.

Benita Davis, Be The Match community engagement representative, said that the largest population of patients who need a transplant are leukemia patients.

Other patients include people with lymphoma, anemia or any other kind of blood disease. In many cases, the transplant is life saving.

“We’ve had about 60 people sign up this week,” Davis said. “We want to get as many people as possible, but the key is to have committed donors. If somebody signs up, and then we call them and they say no, that’s frustrating. It costs about UP Desmond Pickens $100 to process the (saliva) samples, so Donte Marcel, Houston senior, swabs the inside of his cheek so his that goes to waste, as well as giving the paDNA can be checked. Marcel signed up with the Be The Match Reg- tient false hope.” istry to be a bone marrow donor, Feb. 5, in the Setzer Student Center.

To sign up to be a donor, people sim-

www.lamaruniversitypress.com

ply fill out a form and give a saliva sample by swiping the inside of their cheek.

Davis said that many people are scared off by the thought of donating marrow, but that the process really isn’t as bad as it sounds.

“If you ever become a match, the most common procedure is PBSC stem cell donation,” she said. “You take medicine for five days in a row, that sends the stem cells out of your marrow into your bloodstream — they take them out of your arm, just like donating blood — then they spin the blood to where there are just the stem cells.”

In 25 percent of cases, when a donor matches a baby, bone marrow needs to be harvested from the hip.

“You’re completely asleep, you wake up, and it’s over and done,” Davis said.

“You’re in recovery longer than you are in the actual procedure. Everybody I’ve talked to said they’d do it again tomorrow.”

Signing up doesn’t automatically mean that one will be called up to donate.

Davis said that only one in 400 people actually match a patient because of the genetic diversity. This is why it is important to have a large bank of potential donors.

See MARROW, page 5

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INSIDE Thursday, February 12, 2015 University Press

QUOTE OF THE DAY “If the freedom of speech is taken way then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

— George Washington

NOTICE The University Press can be read online at www.lamaruniversitypress.com. Advertising rates can be found on the site, along with practically all information that a person might be looking for.

Check out the student handbook at: http://students.lamar.edu/student-handbook.html To download a pdf of the campus safety brochure, visit http://students.lamar.edu/campus-safety/index.html

Page 2

Cupcake branding

CALENDAR February 12 History Day Setzer Student Center 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Stephen Gary, executive chef of the Brooks-Shivers Dining Hall, right, and pastry cooks Lucy Mendez, left, and Isidra Capelo put the finishing touches to a giant Lamar University logo made entirely of cupcakes in the Setzer Student Center Arbor, Wednesday.

The display featured 1,890 cupcakes which were sold for $2 each to benefit the Southeast Texas Food Bank.

Women’s Basketball vs. Houston Baptist Montagne Center 7 p.m.

Como Empezar su Negocio Galloway Business Building 114 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

A Dinner & Conversation University Reception Center 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

February 13 Basball vs. New Mexico State Vincent Beck Stadium 6 p.m.

February 14 Basball vs. Illinois Vincent Beck Stadium 2 p.m.

Basball vs. New Mexico State Vincent Beck Stadium 6 p.m.

UP Photo Jac’Quor Williams

BOWL •••••••••••••••••• FREEMAN ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Linnis Blanton, right, and Kelly Costlow work in the ceramics room in the Lamar Art Building, Friday.

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

During the auction, prices will range from $1 to a couple of hundreds of dollars, Blanton said.

“There will also be T-shirts for sale, and posters signed by Lamar alumnus and New York artist Paul Manes, who painted the empty bowl featured on the shirts and posters.”

Blanton said that the organizers are looking for donations to buy supplies for the event as they are currently providing their own supplies.

For more information, email linnis@blantonpottery .com or call 960-1620.

Depression-era Wiley College debate team and its coach Melvin Tolson.

A TSU professor of philosophy since 1949, Freeman has taught and influenced generation after generation of college students, many rising to the top in fields of law, education and government. Among his former students is the late U.S. Rep. Barbara Jordan, who honed her oratory skills as a TSU debater in the 1950s. For Freeman, educating young people is as much a calling as one that led him into the ministry. He also has been a church pastor in Houston for 60 years.

In 2009, Texas Southern named its newest academic unit the Thomas F. Freeman Honors College, and Freeman is its founding dean. He is also TSU’s Distinguished Director of Forensics, having directed the university’s debate team for 69 years.

February 15 Basball vs. Illinois Vincent Beck Stadium 11 a.m.

February 16 Basketball vs. Houston Baptist Montagne Center 7 p.m.

February 17 How to utilize social media in your business SBDC seminar Galloway Business Building 114 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

An evening with Dr. Thomas Franklin Freeman University Theatre 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

To submit a listing, click on the calendar link at lamaruniversitypress.com

Show only tickets available for $25

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EDITORIAL Editor Lauren Van Gerven

Thursday, February 12, 2015

UNIVERSITY PRESS

A TEXAN IN PARIS

The opinions that appear in editorials are the official views of the University Press student management as determined by the UP Student Editorial Board. Opinions expressed elsewhere on this page are the views of the writers only and are not necessarily those of the University Press student management. Student opinions are not necessarily those of the university administration.

UP EDITORIAL

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ON-CAMPUS FACILITIES The tuition and fee rates that students have to pay across the United States are indisputably expensive.

Student fees include expenses for more than just tuition and labs.

However, many students are not taking advantage of the services they are paying for.

For first-year students, university can often be an overwhelming shift from high school. To help students adapt to academic expectations, services such as the Writing Center and STARS tutoring are available at Morris Hall and the Gray Library respectively. Students can call ahead of time to schedule appointments or drop by to see if any tutors are available to help them with their course assignments. Not only do these services help students understand the task at hand, but also help them to develop effective study skills to ensure future success.

The Student Health Center on campus also provides many services for free or at a significantly reduced price. Besides being able to visit a nurse practitioner, students are also able to schedule appointments with a licensed therapist.

For students interested in maintaining a level of physical fitness, the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Center is equipped with all of the standard equipment one would find in a trendy gym, as well as a rock wall. Students only need to flash their CardinalOne card at the entrance to be granted access and not worry about paying outrageous, monthly gym fees.

Campus organizations that are looking for venues to host their events are able to book the Ballroom in the Setzer Student Center for free.

There are also numerous events that take place in the Set’ during the year that are free to students and often offer free food or other incentives for participants.

Many of the services mentioned above are free or significantly less expensive for students — because students have already paid for them.

There are many facilities and services that help to make the college experience rewarding and less stressful.

Take advantage of what’s on offer — you’ve paid for it, so use it.

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The Newspaper of Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology ©University Press 2014

Editor ................................Lauren Van Gerven Managing Editor .......................Kristen Stuck Sports Editor ..........................Grant Crawford Web Editor ..............................Melissa Conley Staff .............Desmond Pickens, Lainie Harris, .....................Mason Malmay, Molly Porter, ....................Coty Davis, Elizabeth Grimm, ............. Caitlin Duerler, Lane Fortenberry, .......................................Michelle Burdett Advertising .............................Melissa Conley Office Manager ..................Jac’Quor Williams

www.lamaruniversitypress.com Individuals who wish to speak out on issues should send a letter fewer than 400 words in length to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 10055, Beaumont, TX 77710, or drop letters off at our office in 200 Setzer Student Center.

The writer’s name, address, telephone number and ID number must accompany each letter. Letters received without this information cannot be printed. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, style and possible libel.

Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily those of the UP student management. Letters by the same writer on the same subject will not be published. Poetry and religious debates will not be published.

A view of Youcef Harichi exposition "L'oubli" in the Galerie Municipale Julio Gonzalez-Arcueil in October

People waiting in line for the Hokusai exposition at the Grand Palais in Paris, Nov. 2014

French art galleries open eyes to local art scene After spending my entire life in Southeast Texas, after graduating from Lamar in May 2013, I felt compelled to hop the pond and spend some time in Europe to not only gain practical experiences living abroad, but also to gain perspectives and insights about the world outside of Beaumont.

I moved to the French capital in January 2014 to complete the second semester of my study abroad program, where I earned a master’s in French studies. I ended up living there until the beginning of this year.

Paris became my playground — I would walk along the boulevards and brave public transportation to propel myself around the city. Posters for big-name attractions and exhibits at famous institutions and museums plastered the walls of the Metro tunnel.

However, big names garner big prices and impossible lines. To avoid tourists, and association with the typical American experi-

Photos by Caitlin Duerler

Liv Harari looks at a painting by Thomas Lévy-Lasne at the Centre Albert Chanot-Clamart in December.

COMMENTARY

by

Caitlin Duerler

ence abroad, I searched elsewhere for art.

The Collège de France, a 500-year-old institution, which provides free public lectures throughout the year on topics as varied as microbiology and archaeology, sponsored a symposium about the practical knowledge needed for the act of painting.

American artist Jeff Koons opened the colloquy and artists from all over the world spoke about their experience in the fabrication of a painting — from concept to finished project. The conference was an important event, which brought attention to the trends in painting today and countered the cry that, “Painting is dead,” that so many contemporary critics assert.

Besides lectures on art, Paris offers hundreds of free galleries representing work from categories as varied as indigenous works, antiques and contemporary.

Beaubourg, by the Centre Pompidou, and the Marais are two hip areas inundated with galleries. Vernissages, or exhibition openings, occur on Thursday or Friday nights, and visitors may help themselves to wine and cheese while rubbing elbows with members of the French art world while encountering fresh work from living artists.

One particular evening, I found myself hopping from gallery to gallery and attending four vernissages in one evening. By the

third show, warm from the consumption of beverages at the previous galleries, I found myself locking eyes with Ethan Suplee. However, at the time, I only knew him as ‘Randy’ from “My Name is Earl,” and was too embarrassed to ask him thoughts about the huge, white canvases streaked of spray paint that adorned the gallery walls.

To escape such trendy galleries, where the artistic merit of the work is questionable, municipal galleries in the banlieus, the suburbs outside of Paris, often feature retrospectives of local and international artists at all stages in their careers. I visited these galleries and wrote brief reviews for my art blog in a hopeful effort to build a portfolio for my forthcoming career as an arts writer.

During one such visit to a municipal gallery, I met an artist who gave me the opportunity to help with his exposition. I would translate brief texts from French to English, but my main task was to run around Paris picking up various works from collectors.

For some reason, the collectors always seemed to live on the sixth floor in apartments without elevators. The few weeks I spent climbing spiral staircases helped to balance my baguette and fois gras consumption.

Since returning to Beaumont, I have run into many familiar faces around town and campus who have asked me how it feels to be back after spending 15 months abroad. I honestly didn’t realize how much I loved my hometown until I returned. I also had not realized the opportunities available here to attend shows and participate within the arts community.

Although I had initially left to broaden my horizons beyond Southeast Texas, I am finding that my experiences overseas have helped me view my hometown in a new light.

Caitlin Duerler is a UP Contributor

Saint Valentine’s dark past Namesake of modern holiday died as martyr The holiday that is criticized as the most useless, commercial, “Hallmarky” of all is just around the corner. You’ve guessed it — Valentines Day. No credit for getting that one right, though. The hearts and arrow-carrying angels that have filled billboards and store displays, and the entire aisles filled with heart-shaped candy basically give it away.

Most men in relationships dread the day, while their female partners either openly express their appreciation for the holiday, or secretly hold on to the hope that their man will pull off even the smallest of romantic gestures while pretending that they don’t really care. There’s no shame in it ladies, everybody likes being appreciated.

Ironically, the saint for whom the day is named wasn’t exactly loved by the masses, and he definitely didn’t come to a loving end.

Saint Valentine of Terni — also know as Valentine of Rome — was a Roman bishop and martyr who was sent to prison where he was beaten with clubs, and because he remained committed to his faith, he was taken out of his dungeon in the middle of the night and beheaded. Not exactly a romantic end to the man in whose honor lovers now send each other chocolates and flowers every Feb. 14.

Apart from how his life came to an end, not much is known about Saint Valentine. As a matter of fact, there were about a dozen Saint Valentine’s in total, including a pope, so it’s not 100 percent clear which Valentine is the reason we celebrate the way we do.

The real reason 62 percent of Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day has little to do with the ancient martyrs. Around 1375, English poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the poem “Parliament of Foules.” No records of romantic celebrations on Valentine’s Day exist prior to when this poem was written. Chaucer, who often took liberties with history — placing his poetic characters into fictive historical contexts that he represented as real — links

COMMENTARY

by

Lauren Van Gerven

a tradition of courtly love with the celebration of St. Valentine’s feast day. In the poem, he refers to Feb. 14 as the day birds, and humans, come together to find a mate.

Even though we will probably never discover the exact origins of Valentine’s Day, it is clear that the celebration has a rich history and has been around for a long time.

The tradition of Valentine’s cards alone has been around for more than four centuries.

So yes, the holiday has been overly commercialized, but there is a lot of misery

and sadness in the world, so a day in celebration of love really shouldn’t be something to complain about.

And if one is worried that one’s love is too unique to be celebrated at the same time as that of millions of others, there’s a solution for that. The abundance of saints means there are multiple days on which one can celebrate Valentine’s. If Feb. 14 is too ordinary, one can opt to celebrate Saint Valentine of Viterbo on Nov. 3, Saint Valentine of Reatia on Jan 7, or even the only female, Saint Valentina, a virgin martyred in Palestine on July 25, 308.

If historical accuracy is not your thing, and you feel the need to partake in the commercialism, I suggest a box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers is a safe bet.

And ladies, if your man does happen to forget, feel free to be angry and disappointed, but do try to avoid the holiday’s namesake’s historical precedent of decapitation.

Lauren Van Gerven is UP Editor

UP cartoon by Lauren Van Gerven

Perfect Valentine’s

Page 4 Thursday, February 12, 2015

University Press

CLASSIC DATING TRADITIONS STILL MOST POPULAR AARYNN DAVIS UP CONTRIBUTOR A synonym for Valentine’s Day might easily be, “Appreciate Your Par tner Day.” However, beautiful red roses, stuf fed animals, and nice romantic dinners tend to be a little cliché. Do we really know what our par tner wants? What really makes a perfect date?

Katherine Ptacek, Nederland

sophomore, says that her perfect date would be something out of the ordinar y.

“It would have to be thinking outside the box,” she says. “If there was a really big concer t going on I would want to go to that — or go to a nice restaurant.

It doesn’t even matter if it’s nice or not, just tr y something new.

Or even something outdoorsy, like a picnic or horseback riding, or different little things like that.

UP Illustration by Desmond Pickens

I’m weird like that.”

Although Ptacek is looking for something unique, she does acknowledge she likes some traditional things.

“I love roses, so roses would be a big plus,” she says.

The problem with the current generation is that not many people are romantic, the 22-yearold says, so it is hard to find a date who knows how to really woo her.

“The most romantic thing that happened to me was back when I was in high school,” she says. “This is really weird, but I actually got my first kiss at 14years old on New Year’s Eve, right at midnight, and I still hold that to be like one of the most romantic things that I’ve done.

Ever ything else has been like blah, because I don’t meet a lot of gentlemen. Woman our age don’t meet a lot of stand-up guys that go the extra mile.

“Valentine’s Day shouldn’t have to be anything public, like Facebook of ficial or on Instagram. Valentine’s Day should be about spending time with someone you really care about.

The holiday can also be about showing loved ones and friends that you care about them, Ptacek says.

“What I’m doing this year is I’m being my own valentine,” she says, laughing. “I’m going to buy myself something and treat myself to stuff, because I don’t need someone ever y year. I might just buy myself some jewelr y and chocolates.”

Ptacek’s father, Ray, an Lamar alumnus, listened in on Katherine’s conversation, before chipping in with his theor y on what makes the perfect date.

“I was just going to say that I smile and listen to (my wife), pay attention and act like I care what she says. I’ve been married over 20 years, but if money and time wasn’t an issue, we’d be on a beach somewhere drinking margaritas, specifically, Cancun with

a beer of my choice — I’m tr ying to think what I can tell you that’ll be appropriate for the paper,” he says, laughing. “As long as they’re happy I’m happy. If momma ain’t happy, then nobody is happy.”

Despite being of fered the chance to describe the per fect date, where money or time is no option, most people seem to opt for the simple gesture.

“If I want something sweet and simple, I would like to go out for dinner, a movie, and just to chill and cuddle,” Tif fany Nguyen, Por t Ar thur freshman, says. “Even if money wasn’t an issue, I would want a movie night. Just Netflix and having dinner at home. If it’s nice outside, I would want to walk to the park or something.”

Jennifer Holt, Missouri City freshman, also thinks of the outdoors when it comes to romance.

“I did go on one date where my boyfriend at the time picked me up, and we got a big deal of pizza and then we drove to the lake by my house and sat on the bed of his truck,” she says. “He brought a little por table DVD player and we watched movies, ate pizza and looked at the stars by the lake. I like simple.”

People are taught that honesty, communication and happiness are what defines a successful relationship, but Ray Ptacek says that’s not what it is.

“One of you has to die,” he says. “If me and my wife are together for 40 years and we get divorced, ever yone’s going to tell me that it was an unsuccessful relationship — that we failed our marriage. But if we’re together 30 years and she dies, I’m a success. So when you get married, the best thing you can hope for is, one of you dies. That’s considered a successful relationship.”

So maybe the most romantic date is the one that lasts for more than just one day a year. Maybe “Till Death Do Us Par t” is the most romantic phrase of them all.

Pride Committee inducted into CVB Hall of Fame The Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau presented the Beaumont Pride Committee with an induction into the CVB Hall of Fame at its 25th annual reception at The Event Centre in downtown Beaumont on Feb. 3.

“It is a great honor for us to have the city of Beaumont and Beaumont CVB recognize our first LGBT Pride event,” Chance Henson, Lamar alumnus and Pride marketing chair, said. “It shows how much this area supports the LGBT community.”

The CVB recognized and honored the several meeting planners who chose Beaumont as their host city for conferences, sporting events and reunions during 2014, including the five Pride committee members, Shawn Hare, committee chair; Jennifer Daniel, committee co-chair and associate professor of mathematics; Henson, marketing chair, Olivia Busceme, entertainment chair and Jacqueline Hays, adjunct English instructor and volunteer chair.

Daniel said she and the rest of the committee are humbled by the CVB’s recognition.

“It shows that our beautiful town recognizes the benefits that celebrating diversity, equality and unity has on the entire community,” she said.

Henson said the committee, as well as volunteers worked diligently to put on the event in June 2014.

“But it was the community coming together that made it a success,” he said. “We expect Pride 2015 to be an even greater success.”

The CVB works diligently to entice groups, conventions and meetings to choose Beaumont for their meetings, the website states. The groups and events impact the local economy through hotel occupancy taxes and tourism dollars that significantly affect the economic development of Beaumont.

Beaumont hosted 152 events, welcomed 114 organizations and 97,535 convention delegates in 2014. The direct economic impact on Beaumont’s economy from convention business is estimated to be more than $21.7 million.

“The staff and I feel the Hall of Fame Reception is the most important event of our year because it’s a time where we can share our thanks and appreciation with the local planners who realize the financial impact their events bring to the economy of Beaumont and southeast Texas,” Dean Conwell, CVB executive director, states on the Website.

For more information about Pride 2015, visit the Facebook page or email beaumpontpride @gmail.com.

For more information about the CVB, visit www.beaumontcvb.com

University Press Thursday, February 12, 2015

Page 5

Spirit of Sacrifice Feb. 18 sees start of Lent, 40-day period during which Catholics reflect on life’s meaning KYLE SWEARINGEN UP CONTRIBUTOR “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up his cross each day, and follow me.”

With Lent approaching, Jesus’ words, from Luke 9:23 of the New International Version of the Bible, are on the tips of the tongues of Catholics across the globe.

Lent is the time of year when followers of the Catholic faith practice selfdenial. Starting on Ash Wednesday (this year on Feb. 18), the observance lasts forty days, ending on the Thursday before Easter Sunday.

“It is a time where we remember Jesus’ forty days in the desert, where he prayed and fasted without food or water,” Father Tino Barrera of Lamar University’s Newman Catholic Student Center said. “It’s called ‘Desert Spirituality.’ It is a time where we take out the unnecessaries and unessentials in our lives, and examine ourselves and see where we are in our relationship with God and our relationship with our neighbor.”

On Ash Wednesday, Catholics participate in a ritual to symbolize mortality.

“The faithful receive ashes on their foreheads, but you don’t have to be Catholic to receive ashes, which is a reminder where we came from,” Barrera said. “We were created from dust and we will go back to dust.”

While many people give up candy or

social media, Barrera said it is much more meaningful than that. “ O u r mortality is put in front of us for a time where we are called to repent of our sins, to renew ourselves, to get closer to the lord, and to do good things for other people — but also, at the same time, get rid of things we can do without,” he said.

Those times spent in idle recreation do not accomplish a lot, Barrera said, and during Lent, Catholics are encouraged to spend that time in personal prayer, adding that fasting is also part of the season.

“Ash Wednesday is a fast day, Good Friday is a fast day, and every Friday in Lent we abstain from meat,” Barrera said.

Though Catholicism follows set rules, the celebration of Lent differs from place to place and culture to culture.

“There are countries in the world that are 80- and 90-percent Catholic — these countries would often times cover religious statues and icons, so during the whole period of Lent these things were covered up,” Carolyn S. Clanahan, LU in-

UP illustration

by Desmond Pickens

structor of anthropology, said.

They would cover the artifacts with purple fabric — a royal color that is associated with God and religious items.

“If the poor people of Ireland couldn’t afford the purple fabric, they would take the statues and religious items out of the church until Lent was over,” Clanahan said. “If they were too big to move or they just couldn’t do that, then they would turn the statues to face the walls.”

Lutherans, Methodists and Anglicans also celebrate Lent. “(These denominations) cover all of the religious icons with black cloth, like they are in mourning, and they would replace it with white on Easter Sunday,” Clanahan said.

Some countries, like the Philippines, which is 80-percent Catholic, take the idea of sacrifice further, Clanahan said.

“This is a whole cultural and religious thing wound up together,” she said. “These people will march barefoot for four to five hours carrying heavy wooden crosses, and these crosses are around fifty pounds, not lightweight things. Then people along the sides of the road would be whipping them with sticks, so sometimes they will injure their own backs — this

is a form of penance and a form of worship.”

The Sunday prior to Easter is Palm Sunday, celebrates Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem.

“In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday includes a procession of the assembled worshipers carrying palms, representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem,” the Catholic.org website states. “The difficulty of procuring palms in unfavorable climates led to their substitution with branches of native trees, including box, yew, willow and olive.”

Father Barrera said that Lent serves an important function for spiritual life.

“It’s a shock for our system — it’s a shock that says we need to wake up,” he said. “It is a time to examine, a time to live without distractions, a time that we don’t give into those. Once we accomplish something, it will be easier to not be so glued to (distractions) all the time. We will spend less time watching TV, and more time doing something beneficial for ourselves and for society.”

The Newman Catholic Center at Lamar University will bestow ashes at 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Wednesday.

The Wesley Methodist Student Center will also bestow ashes on Feb. 18 in the afternoon.

President’s Day: more than just another Monday ALEXANDRA PENNINGTON UP CONTRIBUTOR When people think of Februar y, their minds tend to drift toward Valentine’s Day. In a month filled with love and candy, it’s easy to forget one of the least-celebrated holidays — Presidents’ Day. “Presidents’ Day does not have that direct influence on our daily lives that a lot of holidays have,” Jeff Forret, associate professor of histor y, said. “It’s always been among the more expendable holidays.”

In 1879, Congress created a holiday that celebrated the birthday of George Washington, America’s first president, closing government offices in Washington D.C. By 1885, the holiday expanded to include all federal offices. The holiday was celebrated on Feb. 22, on the day of Washington’s birthday.

During the 1950s, President Dwight Eisenhower oversaw construction of the interstate highway system. This allowed people to travel further and more easily. This led to the idea of establishing public holidays to give people three-day weekends so they could travel.

A Congressional committee was established and in 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was instituted.

Congress moved holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day to fall on a Monday, giving people the chance to have a three-day weekend. The Washington’s Birthday holiday changed from Feb. 22 to the third Monday in February. Several members of Congress proposed changing the name to Presidents’ Day to include Abraham Lincoln’s birthday as well, which is Feb. 12. The proposal failed, meaning that Presidents’ Day is still technically called Washington’s Birthday by the Federal Government. The holiday does not close schools and business, only government jobs, including the U.S. Postal Service, have the day off.

In the 1980s, advertising agencies caught on to the name and took advantage of the holiday to have mid-Februar y sales, and the term “Presidents’ Day” began to be the dominant name.

Distrust of the presidency led to the decline in popularity for the holiday, Forret said.

“If you were to ask the average American in the 1950s, ‘Do you trust your government?’ they would have said ‘Yes’,” he said. “And I don’t believe that is true any more.

“The office itself of the president was really transformed after Vietnam

In the 1980s, advertising agencies started taking advantage of the holiday to have mid-February sales, as depicted in this clip art from the period. This is when the term Presidents’ Day started to become the dominant name for “Washington’s Birthday.” and Watergate. We had two presidents in a row, Johnson and Nixon, who directly lied to the American people about what was going on overseas. Ever since then, people have been much more skeptical about what their government tells them.”

Forret said it is a shame that the holiday has become insignificant.

“People don’t think of Presidents’ Day unless they get a day off — it’s an event regardless,” Forret said.

“It’s still the office of the presidency.

There should be a certain amount of respect that goes along with that, regardless of who is in office.”

-Mardi Gras Port Arthur CalenderTODAY 6 p.m.

Lamar State College Port Arthur Parade Begins at Carl Parker Center on Lakeshore Drive

6 p.m.

Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade Rosehill down Procter Street ending at Houston Avenue

Concert featuring JAG

8:30 p.m.

Concert featuring Longneck Road

8 p.m.

Concert featuring Phillip Glynn Band

10:30 p.m.

Concert featuring Randy Rogers Band

FRIDAY 7 p.m.

Concert featuring Tracey Byrd

SUNDAY 2 p.m.

Umbrella Brigade Parade Inside the Entertainment area on Procter Street

Krewe of Krewe Parade Begins Rosehill down Procter Street ending at Houston Avenue 10:30 p.m.

Concert featuring Whiskey Myers SATURDAY 2 p.m.

Royalty March Parade 5:30 p.m.

Concert featuring Chris Ardoin & Nustep Motorcycle Run begins Rosehill down Procter Street, ending at Houston Avenue

Munchkin Parade Inside the Entertainment area on Procter Street 4 p.m.

Concert featuring Stark Experiment Truck Parade Rosehill down Procter Street ending at Houston Avenue 06:30 p.m.

Concert featuring Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns

There is even confusion as to the name of the holiday. Eight states, Texas included, call it “Presidents’ Day,” with the apostrophe after the S. Eight other states call the holiday “President’s Day.” Five states call it “Presidents Day,” with no apostrophe at all.

Massachusetts and Virginia are the only states to still use Washington in the name of the holiday. Massachusetts calls the third Monday in Februar y by its federal name. Virginia, Washington’s home state, calls the day “George Washington Day.” A few states officially include

MARROW ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Continued from page 1 “The younger the donor, the better it is,” Davis said. “People 18 to 44 years of age can sign up, and you have to be in generally good health. A lot of people think they’re not eligible, but there aren’t that many requirements.

There is no minimum weight limit, there are no travel restrictions, piercings, tattoos — none of that matters.”

Amber Williams, Winnie senior, donated stem cells after registering at Lamar.

“It was probably six months later that they called and said that I was a match,” she said.

“They did the blood work, and I ended up becoming a good match for this woman, and so it took a while — I guess because her doctors were unsure about what to do — but the donation process was really nice, the people were really nice, and they work with you really well.

You have to have a series of shots that increase your blood forming cells, so I did that.”

Williams said that she didn’t have to go out of town to get the pre-donation shots.

“I would just go to the blood center here in Beaumont, and they would give me the shots,” she said. “One time, the lady actually came to my house. They really will do anything and everything to work with you. The shots just make you feel really achy all over, but other than that, there were no other symptoms, just tired and achy.”

The day before the donation, Williams had to go to Houston to spend the night at Methodist Hospital.

“Then in the morning I did the donation

Abraham Lincoln’s birthday with the holiday.

In Utah it is called “Washington and Lincoln Day.” In Colorado, it is called “Washington-Lincoln Day.” Several states recognize Lincoln’s birthday separately as a state holiday.

Forret said without a day off work or school, most people forget about the holiday altogether, unless they are looking to get a good deal on a car or appliance.

Maybe it is time to rethink how we approach the holiday and remember the men for whom the holiday is named.

process, which was just through the vein in your arm,” she said. “It took about four hours, but it wasn’t bad. And everybody there is constantly calling you a hero. You’re just like, ‘No, no, I’m not a hero.’ You’re saving someone’s life, so they were all super nice. But, it’s a humbling experience for sure.”

One year after donating, if both patient and donor agree, a meeting can be arranged.

“We just came up on the year mark in October,” Williams said. “So, I have the opportunity to meet her. They know that I’m willing to.

I haven’t heard from her side of it. She still isn’t completely better, so they’re still waiting to see.

Williams said there is still the possibility that she may have to boost the patient with another donation.

“If she’s not doing well, I think they’re kind of hesitant to allow you to meet the patient,” she said.

Williams said that she had no side effects after her donation.

“They called and asked me if I was having any particular symptoms,” she said. “But I felt fine, I had no problems whatsoever once I stopped taking the shots. It was like if you went and donated blood, as soon as you’re done, you go on about your day.”

Davis said that it takes a donor four to six weeks to reproduce the donated marrow, but after donation, a donor is put on the inactive list for one year. After that, the donor will receive a call asking if they would like to be reactivated.

“When you sign up you’re registered until your 61st birthday, or until you take yourself off.” she said.

For more information about how to sign up to be a donor, visit www.bethematch.org

Page 6 Thursday, February 12, 2015

University Press

SPORTS

7 Thursday, February 12, 2015

UNIVERSITY PRESS

UP SPORTS BRIEFS Softball LU senior Casey Cromwell was named the Southland Conference softball Hitter of the Week for her efforts at the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala., this weekend.

Cromwell batted .353 (6-for17) in five games, with two home runs and seven RBIs. She posted a slugging percentage of .706.

“We need senior leadership from Casey, and she really delivered this weekend,” head coach Holly Bruder said. “We need her to play like a leader all season.”

Lamar freshman Laura Napoli earned honorable mention status in the voting for Pitcher of the Week. Napoli went 2-1 with two complete games and a 2.00 ERA. The Lady Cardinals return to action this weekend with five games at the February Freezer Tournament, hosted by Mississippi State.

Men’s Tennis Juuso Laitinen was named Southland Conference’s Player of the Week, Tuesday.

Laitinen finished 3-0 in singles matches, and 2-1 in doubles play.

“He lost his doubles match, but really came out determined to redeem himself in the singles contest,” head coach Scott Shankles said. “He just went out and handled his business.”

The team will return to the courts when they travel to the Univeristy of Texas at San Antonio.

Men’s Basketball Freshman point guard Kevin Booze scored a career-high 35 points Monday, leading to an 80-61 win over Abilene Christian University. Booze’s 35 points are the most scored by a Cardinal since Mike James set the LU single-game record of 52 during the 2011-12 season.

The victory moves Lamar back to .500 on the season (12-12, 6-6 SLC).

“Booze did an awesome job tonight in all aspects of the game, not just shooting the ball,” head coach Tic Price said. “He also did good defensively. I was proud to see him have a breakout game. It couldn’t have come at a better time for us.”

In the first half Booze scored 25, shooting 7-9, and 6-7 from beyond the arc.

Three other Cardinals finished the game in double digits — Anthony Holliday (14), Tyran de Lattibeaudiere (11), and Donovan Ross (10).

The Cards will return to action when they host Houston Baptist, Monday. Tip off is at 7p.m.

‘A CHANCE TO BE SPECIAL’ LU BASEBALL PREPARES FOR OPENER AGAINST NEW MEXICO STATE IN CARDINAL CLASSIC GRANT CRAWFORD UP SPORTS EDITOR @GrantLamarUP The LU baseball team will start their season Friday, competing in the Cardinal Classic at Vincent-Beck Stadium over the weekend.

Lamar returns 19 players this season, 13 of those being seniors.

“I’m pleased with where we’re at overall,” head coach Jim Gilligan said.

“We have a chance to be special. We have enough experience on our staff, and some new guys who will be impact guys.”

Six of LU’s top eight hitters from last year are returning.

“We have the ability to hit,” Gilligan said. “We are strong, we’re big and we have guys that can run. We can win in different ways, which is a requirement to be successful in Vincent-Beck Field. We’ll be potent when the wind blows out, because of the size and the strength of our kids.”

The Cardinals had three players named to pre-season All-Southland Conference teams. Senior catcher and first baseman Brandon Provost was voted to first team all-conference, while Reed Seeley and Kyle Markum were named to the second.

“They’re three of the good guys in our lineup, without a doubt,” Gilligan said. “We’ve got some new guys in the lineup, though, and they are going to be real offensive weapons.”

Gilligan said that there were two freshmen in particular, that he would expect to turn some heads this year.

“The two big guys for us are C.J. Moore and Eric Foshee,” he said.

“Moore is swinging the bat really well, and he’ll hit first or second in the lineup.”

Moore is an outfielder from Suffield Academy in Brooklyn, N.Y. He turned down an offer to

Head coach Jim Gilligan talks with his team before they begin practice at Vincent Beck Stadium,Tuesday. play professional ball in July, after being drafted in the 13th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Foshee comes from Vidor High School, and will be in the bullpen. In his senior year he struck out 96 hitters over 52 innings of work.

“I love it when we get local guys, especially when they’re as talented as Eric,” Gilligan said. “This is a big signing for us, and I think he’s got a chance to be a freshman impact player. He’s got a great mentality and tremendous upside, and I’m very anxious to coach him.”

Lamar will have to replace graduate Sam Bumper’s presence in the lineup, but Gilligan said he doesn’t consider it as a re-

Stijn van der Meer backhands a ground ball during practice at Vincent Beck Stadium,Tuesday.

placement.

“You don’t want to talk about replacements,” he said. “It’s all about the new guys. There’s a kid from the Netherlands that is swinging the bat as good as anybody on our ball club, and he’s been outstanding defensively. He’s his own guy.”

Stijn van der Meer transferred from Eastern Oklahoma, where he played in 55 games and hit for a .330 batting average.

Gilligan said he’ll either hit first or second in the lineup.

“I think we’re going to swing the bat,” he said. “It’s just a matter of who’s going to clean up the innings.”

Gilligan said there will be five or six guys competing for two relief-pitching spots, and that he’s not worried about the depth of the team’s bullpen.

“We’ll get Collin Chapman and Billy Love back in about two to three weeks,” he said. “That’s when our staff will get deep.”

LU return both leading starters from last season — Will Hibbs and Chase Angelle. Hibbs had a team-high 51 strikeouts to go along with a 5-3 record in 2014. Angelle led the team in starts with 15, finishing at 4-7 on season.

“The big thing is trying to get our pitching staff in shape,” Gilligan said.

“Hibbs and Angelle will look like they’re ready to go.”

Lamar is dealing with some injuries to infielder Jake Nash and outfielder Jacoby Middleton. Nash will be out for approximately 2-3 weeks, while Middleton, who was the third-best returning hitter, will miss the season.

Photos by UP Grant Crawford

Gilligan said it hurts to lose Middleton, but that it’s OK because he has another year of eligibility.

Other freshmen joining the team for the 2015 campaign include Charles Farrugia, Matt White, Josh Crain, Sean Hudson, Brennan Strovink and Ryan Erickson.

“Each kid brings their own possibilities for excitement,” Gilligan said. “I just hope a lot of the potential of these kids will be realized this year, and we have a great season.

“Even with the way that we’ve shifted around, we’re looking good. We look like we haven’t skipped a beat.”

Gilligan is closing in on his 1,300th career win, a number that only four active coaches have reached.

“It’s a milestone,” he said. “I’m always proud of every hundredth one.

The wins are attributed to former and current players.

“The big thing is getting the kids to the next level, and having them graduate. Those are the more important milestones.”

In the Cardinal Classic, Lamar will compete against New Mexico State University, Friday. The team will then have a double-header Saturday, first against Illinois University and then NMSU again. They will cap off the weekend with another game against Illinois, Sunday.

Gilligan said the early non-conference games will be treated like any other, and they’ll give LU a chance to compete with teams they don’t see often.

“It’s good that these teams are on the schedule,” he said. “They’re some good ball clubs, and we’re going to be tested early.”

Hibbs is expected to get the first start for Lamar, Friday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Vincent Beck Stadium.

Woodard announces 26 recruits on national signing day, Feb. 4 GRANT CRAWFORD UP SPORTS EDITOR @GrantLamarUP Lamar’s head football coach Ray Woodard announced a recruiting class of 26 players in a press conference on national signing day, Feb. 4. All the focus was on the 13 offensive players and 13 defensive players, coming from five different states.

“I think it’s the best recruiting class we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Woodard said. “It’s been a very exciting couple of months, capped off with a great class today. The future is very bright.”

Three transfer players signed with LU, adding to the three mid-year transfers. Two are quarterbacks, who will be looking to fill departing Caleb Berry’s role.

“We’ll have two quarterbacks that will be with us in the spring that haven’t even taken a snap for Lamar,” Woodard said. “Talk about a question mark. But we got two older guys who are very intelligent guys, guys that have played college ball, and they’ll have all of spring to fit in with the rest of this group.”

QB Joe Minden is a transfer from Stephen F. Austin. Minden appeared in nine games for SFA during the 2014 season, completing 43-56 passes for 487 yards.

“He was a starter two years ago, and coach Conque got the job and brought his son with him,” Woodard said. “You know, blood’s thicker than water. So he has one year left of eligibility, but wanted to play inside the conference and we’re very fortunate to get Joe.” Also joining the program is Carson Earp, from Navarro College. In 2014, he passed for 2,011 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“I coached eleven years of junior college ball and, including my transcript, I’ve never seen one like his — he had a 4.0 while at Navarro,” Woodard said.

Woodard said he expects the two quarterbacks to compete for the starting position throughout the spring.

“I think it will be a good battle,” he said. “By the end of the spring, we’ll see which one of them rises above the other, but it ought to make for some good competition.”

Other transfers include Brandon Langley (Georgia), Matthew Oubre (Louisiana-Monroe), Dominique Wheeler (Texas Tech), and Cameron Hampton (Texas).

“We had to take a number of transfers early on,” Woodard said. “I think we hit on six good players and good people. They’re happy to be here. I think all six of them see this as an opportunity, and I fully expect all six of them to take

Head coach Ray Woodard goes over highlight film of a signee during last week’s press conference on national signing day, Feb. 4. advantage and prosper while they’re here.”

Woodard said he thinks this is the most athletic class since Lamar brought the football program back in 2010.

“There’s a lot of versatility in this class,” he said. “We can move some people into the secondary from wide receiver, or vice versa. There’s a couple of lineman that have played both ways, too.”

The team has also acquired players with larger frames. Freshmen Jesse Brewster and Corey Nance both join

the program at 6’ 7” at the offensive line position.

Woodard said it’s difficult to sign players with a lot of size, and they will never turn down good linemen.

Lamar also signed two players from Beaumont schools.

Offensive-lineman Ethan Cothen comes from West Brook High School.

“He’s a bright student,” Woodard said. “He’s up for the Mirabeau scholarship. We got a big, strong local kid. We look forward to winning ball games with local players, and he’s one of them that’ll

do that for us.”

Rodney Randle joins the team from Ozen High School.

“He committed to us a little while back,” Woodard said. “By his commitment early on, it helped us get more players. I’m very excited about having a player of his caliber, especially from Beaumont, to be a part of our program.”

Woodard said they held back six scholarships last year, which allowed them to sign extra players this year.

“Unfortunately, this business is pretty cutthroat,” he said. “It’s very competitive in recruiting. We just had a lot more to sell this year, and it showed.”

Woodard said that the coaching staff is responsible for such a quality signing class.

“They’re the ones that did the work, and they did a heck of a job,” he said. “It was a great recruiting class because of their hard work.”

Woodard also took time to announce offensive coordinator Larry Kueck’s retirement.

“We’re going to bump Chuck Langston up to offensive coordinator,” he said. “I know he’s going to do a great job.”

Lamar will open spring camp with their first official practice, Monday.

Woodard said the new signing class should see a very productive spring.

Page 8 Thursday, February 12, 2015

University Press

— WORLD VIEW —

Maria Elena Sandovici, Bucharest, Romania,Associate Professor Political Science What is the most common misconception about your home country?

People will talk about vampires. No, we don’t have vampires in Romania. That does not represent my country at all.

Transylvania is a part of Romania and it is really beautiful. Transylvania is special to me because of its coexistence of different cultures. It is very multiethnic. It doesn’t need the vampire stuff to make it an attractive destination. Some people think Romania was part of the Soviet Union, but it never was. It was a communist country, but that pertains to generations past, and I never really experienced it. I grew up in a free country. I grew up in a cultural context where a lot of norms were being redefined, and that was interesting and fun.

We have just celebrated 25 years of independence, since the Romanian revolution.

What would you like people to know about your home country?

Bucharest is a little like New Orleans, a little like Paris, a little like Istanbul, but it has its own thing going on. It definitely has a very unique feel to it.

There is very cool stuff to be seen. One

of the things we are trying to promote as a cultural icon is the traditional Romanian blouse. These blouses have been a classic fashion staple for thousands of years. They are really cool. These blouses reflect years’ worth of tradition in embroidered symbols. They are very visually appealing. Why would anyone want to create some artificial myth about vampires, when we can actually talk about ancient tradition, and people’s relationship with nature, since the beginning of time? We can talk about the way symbols have travelled across cultures, even though people had no way of communicating with each other. You can find symbols on Romanian blouses that you can trace back to some of the oldest human cultures. That’s really magical.

What is a big cultural difference between the U.S. and your home country?

I spent time in New York with family as a kid, so I have been exposed to both cultures and both strike me as normal.

And occasionally both of them strike me as odd. There are so many different

Norman Bellard has been appointed to the new role as Assistant to the President for Community Relations and Athletics Program Liaison. In that role, he will oversee the Lamar Community Outreach program, supporting university efforts in the identification of community needs and alignment of potential Lamar resources, assisting as a liaison in high school and community college relations, supporting the growth and programming of the cardinal Club, and providing athletic program marketing support. “The university displays an excellence that extends to the vibrancy of the community, city, county and the Golden Triangle,� Bellard said. “It’s contribution to the quality of life,

lifestyles in the U.S. and Romania, and the caricature of a normal American or Romanian, is really just a caricature. It is hard to generalize in the U.S. because it is so diverse. People everywhere are similar in some ways. I really think people should try to find out and understand. I V Q W Y H H R P X S F Q J

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what you think and you have to listen. I always tell my students to travel.

What would you like people in your home country about the U.S.?

Everywhere I go in Europe, I have to clear up misconceptions about Texas.

Texas is such a unique place in the U.S. If they have never been here they don’t always understand how cool it is. I usually tell people you have to just go and check it out. The people who have come to see me have loved it and had a great time. For someone who lives in a different part of the world, it is really nice to come here.

Southeast Texas is a very interesting place.

World View is an ongoing series that aims to spotlight the international diversity that adds to Lamar University’s rich culture.

Compiled by Mason Malmay

Bellard appointed community relations and athletics liaison coupled with the millions of dollars the university contributes to the economy, truly makes LU an important and engaged partner with Southeast Texas.�

Bellard has served in numerous leadership roles in the university that had a direct impact on student life and student engagement including senior associate vice president for student affairs, interim vice president for student affairs, and most recently, senior associate vice president for residence life. Prior to coming to Lamar, Bellard served for 10 years as chief financial officer for Conn’s Appliance Incorporated, headquartered in Beaumont.

He will assume his new duties on March 1.

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