The Renaissance
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College Fair opens doors for LSMSA students Alyssa Martin Staff Writer
Some students find it hard to remember that their time at the Louisiana School for Math Science and the Arts (LSMSA) does not go on forever, but at the College Fair on Wednesday, September 24 all LSMSA students were found thinking of their futures after high school. The LSMSA front lawn was the hub of excitement, with more than 45 college and army recruiters, each with tables, speaking to the interested students. These recruiters (often graduates of the college they represented), answered questions, handed out brochures, and gave away free pens. LSMSA sophomores, juniors, and seniors were
required to go to the college fair, and the student body made the most of their time at the fair. Many sophomores and juniors found the experience to be thought-provoking and helpful to their future college searches. “There were definitely colleges there that I never would have considered, such as Tulane,” says Emma Pitney (‘17). “I never thought of going to an in-state school but now I’ll start looking at in-state as well as out-ofstate colleges.” Students were offered the option to go to a oneon-one session with a few select universities. Some seniors had interviews with their colleges of choice on that day as well. “It is an honor to host the many colleges and uni-
Fire! Fire! Fire! Danni Yang Staff Writer
Five years and a multitude of publishers later, Dr. Clayton Delery, the current Director of Academic Services at The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA), is proud to announce the release of his book, “The Upstairs Lounge Arson: Thirty-Two Deaths in a New Orleans Gay Bar June 24, 1973.” It was published a year after the fortieth anniversary of the deadliest fire in New Orleans’ history. “The Upstairs Lounge Arson” describes, in detail, the public’s reaction to the controversial subject of homosexuality. Growing up in New Orleans, Delery first heard about the fire as
a teenager. The story peaked his interest. “There were rumors going around that someone was out to kill gay men. Being a 15 year old little gay boy, I was pretty scared.” said Delery. Thirty years after the fire, Delery saw news coverage of a memorial plaque being revealed in honor of the victims of the fire. He realized that there had not been any books written about it, yet it was a story that deserved to be told. While doing more research in the area, his connections with the local libraries helped him separate truth from lie. Thirty-some years had passed since the event and stories had turned from fact to
versities that participate in College Fair each year,” said Leah Lentz, counselor. “Our students are amazing and because of this institutions travel far and wide to meet with them.” Among the colleges represented were Louisiana State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tulane University, Centenary College, Millsaps College, Rhodes College, Remington College, Texas Christian University, Agnes Scott College, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana Scholars College, Fisk University, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Hendrix College, Louisiana Tech University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Nicholls State University, University of Alabama,
Our Lady of the Lake College, Xavier University of New Orleans, LSU at Alexandria, Louisiana
fiction. The story of Luther Boggs came to Delery’s mind as he remembered the task he undertook digging for the truth. Boggs was one of the thirty victims of the fire. Although he survived the initial burning, he died several weeks later in the hospital. Rumor spread that Boggs was a school teacher who, while dying in the hospital, had been visited by the principal and fired for being homosexual. While this makes a great story to tell, the real truth is, Boggs had not been fired at all; in fact, he wasn’t even a teacher. Bogg’s story may have been a lie, but that does not mean the hatred of homosexuals did not exist. According to Delery’s research, some
of the early police statements declared that it was the victims fault in getting burned for being in a gay bar in the first place. Both the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Louisiana refused to acknowledge that the fire existed. While it was reported at first that the fire was a hate crime, extensive research revealed that the fire was actually set off by an angry ex-patron of the gay bar. The man originally set the fire off just to scare people, but the highly flammable material on the staircase burned the place down. For Delery, the responses of the police and government are part of the reason he wrote this book. “People need to be informed of the
October 2014
College, Northwestern State University and Oglethorpe University.
Excited students attending booths at College Fair. Taken by Elizabeth Fontenot
Dr. Clayton Delery in his natural habitat. Taken by Elizabeth Fontenot
injustices against gays so that things like this don’t happen again,” he said. The hatred culminated when a minister was almost fired from the Episcopal church for holding a memorial service for the victims. There was no support from religious affiliations or the local government in uncovering the arsonist.
The Renaissance
October 2014
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Meditation: you have the right to remain silent Danni Yang
Staff Writer
A graduate of the class of 1992 has returned to her alma mater as a teacher of yoga and meditation. Twenty years ago, Lillian Gray, now the facility manager at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA), started to learn the art of meditation. In 2012, she received her first certificate from the Agame Yoga and Meditation Center in Baton Rouge. That same year, Gray started teaching yoga on Sunday nights at LSMSA. After requests from several students, this year she is offering meditation as well. In her early twenties, Gray was introduced to Buddhist meditation. Buddhist meditation combines different meditation techniques that increase mindful-
ness, concentration, tranquility, and insight. “Through meditation, I have learned acceptance and tolerance for many things in life,” Gray said. As a dancer when she was young, Gray felt that yoga came easily to her. The physical aspects were not as difficult since she had a background in dance. Gray used yoga as physical therapy for recovering from various dance and other sports injuries. Gray benefitted from learning the yoga sutra, written texts for yoga. “I feel stronger now than I ever was as a dancer,” said Gray. Physical strength is not the only reward from yoga. Through yoga and meditation, one can learn how everything in the whole world is more interconnected to each other than previously imagined. Important skills in yoga and meditation include
aspects of breathing patterns and the calming of one’s thoughts. This process helps a person to achieve peace. Meditation and yoga also have the ability to teach a person how to deal with any difficult situation life throws at him/her. “Learning to let go of all expectations is the ultimate way to achieve peace,” said Gray. There are many different forms of yoga that can fit different personalities. Gray’s personal favorite is Mysore Ashtanga yoga and Yoga Nidra. Mysore Ashtanga is a one-onone yoga group class where the physicality and pace are adjusted based on a student’s personal level. It employs a breathing technique called Ujjayi breath, described as an ocean breath, when both inhalation and exhalation is done
Mrs. Lillian Gray guides the students through a meditative exercise. Taken by Aliyah Newell
through the nose. Yoga Nidra is a sleep-like yoga that is the most relaxing and sleep-inspiring of all the yoga techniques. It is the deepest possible state of relaxation while still remaining conscious and is often described as lucid breathing. Gray instructs
yoga and meditation Sunday nights in the dance studio. She has almost completed her next certification for yoga at The Yoga Center in Covington. Gray recommends everyone to learn yoga or meditation in some point of life since it helps us to learn the interconnection of the universe.
Movie review: “The Year of Living Dangerously” Victoria Dowden Staff Writer
“The Year of Living Dangerously,” released in 1982, was recently featured in Dr. Pamela Francis’s Cinema at Six series. The story focuses on a love affair set in Indonesia during the overthrow of President Sukarno in the 1960’s. The film stars Mel Gibson as Guy Hamilton, a journalist from Sydney who is desperate for a story, andSigourney Weaver as Jill Bryant, an officer for the British Embassy in Indonesia. Linda Hunt also stars as a dwarf named Billy Kwan, a
photographer contact for Guy Hamilton. In the beginning, Hamilton, a foreign reporter for an Australian network, is assigned to fly to Jakarta on an assignment where he meets the raucous members of the community of correspondents including journalists from all over the world, and a rather quirky ChineseAustralian, Billy Kwan. Hamilton is horribly unsuccessful in his endeavors, because he was not introduced to his contacts who were going to guide him around Indonesia. Kwan decides to help Hamilton
and schedules interviews for him with the high-ranking professionals who usually do not care to talk to journalists. He also introduces Hamilton to Jill Bryant, whom he is close friends with. After resisting Hamilton for weeks, Bryant falls in love with him. The plot was a bit weak, it could be improved considerably. There was an excess of focus on the love story, which was unnecessary considering the fact that a revolution was going on. Also, there was not enough focus on the most complex character, Billy Kwan. Out
of all of the characters in the movie, he had the biggest opportunity for development out of all of the characters; I was left with a plethora of questions concerning his backstory as the credits were rolling. For instance, in the movie, Kwan keeps files on the people he cares about. But this quirk of his was never explained. His entire life was left as a confusing mystery. Otherwise, this movie was amazing. The cinematography is topnotch, with beautiful styles of lighting and many shots that appear to be set up perfectly.
“The Year of Living Dangerously” movie cover. Courtesy of imdb.com
So many events were packed into two hours, but it managed to tie them together in a way that was not rushed or incoherent. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.