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Spring 2008 LouisianeThe Magazine of t he Universi t y o f L o u i s i a n a at L a fay e tt e

TechKnowledge: From cell phones to CajunBot II, students’ world is high-tech Editor’s not e I glanced I They will be missed. be will They supporter.Lafayette UL Trahan, Robertdevoted and generous a and 1950s, the in Institute Louisiana Southwestern of regation deseg- peaceful the in role his for cited often is who men of dean former a Abel, Glynn university: the to ties special with alumni Gras.” Mardi de Courir “Le poems, his Weof ponytail. one reprinteda and glasses rimless with then, even cool way was He issue. 1997 Fall its of cover the on Louisiana’sNovember.in laureate poet named was who emeritus, English of professor Lafayette UL word. his kept has he novels, his in characters honorable the of one Like writing. his on concentrate to him given had it opportunity the of because university the to loyal be always would he that me told He Gaines. Ernest about was 1993, Fall in for wrote I story cover first the that me reminded issue. this prepared have we as lot a time of passage the about thinking been now.right imagine can we than longer much live to possible be might it believes he that say to me. surprised that earnestness an with tered, coun- he good?” still were life of quality your if What impairment. flippantly.replied, I old,” years 120 be to there. clues No impassive. was face His results. We hope you enjoy this issue of issue this enjoy Weyou hope two for entries includes section Memoriam” “In the And, began. it red..” . leader,our behind dressedpassion’s in up line courir grand the of men the all morning the in “Early Dr.on Bourque,Darrell update an has also issue This Center,instance, Gaines for J. Ernest new the about article An I’ve because apropos, was conversation our of timing The on went He serious. was he that grasp to second a me took It of sort some have and 120 be “You’rewould you that assuming I sure not “I’m joking. was he thought I because smiled I said. he old,” years 120 be “Youto live could spoke. he time, long Finally,a like seemed what after over at the doctor as he reviewed my latest test latest my reviewed he as doctor the at over La Louisiane. La featured him featured Louisiane La –– Kathleen Thames Kathleen –– La Louisiane, La want www.Golfballs.com Blvd. Arnould 126 Inc. Golfballs.com Boulevard www.efollett.com Mary St. E. 210 Store Book Follettʼs—The Street Johnston 4313 Goods Sporting Bellʼs Thruway Evangeline NE Caffery 1818 Ambassador 4400 & 2863 Street Johnston 2678 Albertsonʼs Caffery Ambassador 4232 Outdoors and Sports Academy eaCjn‘fan’atic Cajun a Be cdaaMall Acadiana Avenue Sports Boulevard Coolidge 902 Eight of Pieces Caffery Ambassador 4409 Street Johnston www.LIDS.com 5725 / Mall Acadiana LIDS oiin o Stuff Hot Louisiana www.RagincajunGEAR.com Caffery Ambassador 4600 Shop Gift Hospital Childrenʼs and Womenʼs Thruway Evangeline NW 1229 Caffery Ambassador 3142 Road Pinhook W. 2428 Wal-Mart www.louisiana.edu/bookstore McKinley 600 Bookstore University Street Jefferson 505 Gifts and Drugs Teche collaborations that could fundamentally and brightest to bolster our homeland se- “NIMSAT is a key pub- Research impact the way the nation manages disas- curity. I will continue to work to ensure UL ters – regardless of their cause. Lafayette and NIMSAT have the funding lic-private partnership “NIMSAT is a key public-private they need to continue their success.” working to prepare us partnership working to prepare us for the By leveraging the expertise of its 20 next disaster that strikes, be it natural or public and private sector partners from for the next disaster that manmade. Its state-of-the-art technology across 10 states, NIMSAT is pursing an strikes, be it natural or provides the kind of testing we need to all-hazards approach to homeland security simulate disasters and smartly direct the and disaster lifecycle. Plans are to conduct manmade. Its state-of- Working Together response of government and the private research, develop applications, prepare the-art technology pro- sector,” said U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu. “I the next generation workforce of home- Public, private groups team up for disaster management • Christine Payton am proud that Lafayette is the home for land security and provide operational and vides the kind of test- this institute – bringing together the best decision support to enhance the nation’s ing we need to simulate new institute at the University San Diego State University and many oth- disasters and smartly of Louisiana at Lafayette is tackling ers. At NIMSAT’s core is a partnership NIMSAT’s National Level Partnerships A disaster management full force. between the public, private and govern- direct the response of The National Incident Management mental sectors leading to cross-cultural (Unified by the National Lambda Rail) Systems and Advanced Tech- government and the pri- nologies (NIMSAT) Institute is vate sector.” set to empower national, state and local incident managers Senator Mary Landrieu during catastrophic times. After witnessing the ef- ability to manage incidents on any gov- fects of hurricanes Katrina ernmental level. and Rita in 2005 and other NIMSAT will tap into supercomput- disasters that followed, NIM- ing systems across the nation, including the SAT leaders knew questions Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI) about management, homeland and the National LambdaRail (NLR). security, private sector supply In addition, the Institute has formed chains and critical infrastruc- a partnership with the Louisiana Immer- tures needed to be addressed. sive Technologies Enterprise (LITE) at UL “At the foundations of Lafayette. The facility is one of the world’s NIMSAT are efforts to en- most advanced technology resources for hance the understanding of industry, government and research. LITE’s threats and vulnerabilities supercomputers – 160-processor SGI Altix to the nation’s critical infra- 4700 – feature 4.1 trillion bytes and can structure and improve the compute and visualize complex disaster resiliency of private sector models, data and scenarios. supply chains that fuel the “Public-private partnerships are es- national economy,” said Dr. sential in facing many of the challenges Ramesh Kolluru, NIMSAT’s in preparing for disaster. NIMSAT will be executive director. NLR POP vital in the creation of these partnerships,” “NIMSAT will do this DwDM Fiber Route said James Lee Witt, chief executive officer by processing and analyzing OC-192 Sonet of James Lee Witt Associates, one of the

data using supercomputing drawn by Dave Reese Institute’s partners. “NIMSAT will bring and visualization technolo- together stakeholders and encourage the gies. The Institute is built on Academic Institutions: real-time coordination needed during a the expertise of researchers crisis to improve situational awareness and from UL Lafayette’s Colleges 1. University of Louisiana at Lafayette Organizations/Private Sector Partners: make good decisions.” 2. Louisiana State University (LSU/Ag Center) of Business Administration, 11. Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE) NIMSAT seeks to contribute to the 3. Tulane University Science, Liberal Arts and En- 12. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) mission of saving human lives, strengthen- 4. San Diego State University (SDSU) gineering, along with those of 13. James Lee Witt Associates (JLWA) ing the private-sector supply chains that its national partners.” 5. University of California, San Diego (UCSD) 14. Priority 5 drive the national economy and providing These national-scale 6. UC, Santa Barbara (UCSB) the nation’s critical infrastructure and key 15. Idaho National Lab (INL) partners include James Lee 7. Texas A&M University System (TAMU) resources that support the economy and 16. SGI, Inc. Witt Associates – a part 8. Arkansas Tech University (ATU) everyday life. n 17. CISCO, Inc. of GlobalOptions Group, 9. Mississippi State University (MSU) 18. Wal-Mart WalMart, SGI, Priority 5, 10. University of Alabama (UA) CISCO, Tulane University, 19. Rextag Strategies Corp. www.nimsat.org

 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008  h Engineers Study Alternative Energy

A $1 million Saturn diesel energy management. For ex- turbine generator has given ample, they are studying the Reach biofuel research at UL La- use of biodiesel, a renewable esearc fayette a boost. fuel made from vegetable oil, R It was donated to the to power the turbine genera- the College of Engineering by tor. Their goal is to assess Latest Addition Solar Turbines in Lafayette. economic and technical ben- The company, which is efits derived through the use Right Picard Center will focus on making children’s lives better owned by Caterpillar, has of biodiesel. corporate headquarters in “Other related work San Diego. includes the use of the so- he Cecil J. Picard Center for track schools’ short- • the Special Chil- People. “The new equipment lar turbine and generator Child Development will bring to- term and long-term dren’s Endowed Profes- positions UL Lafayette’s system in conjunction with gether several groups who share assistance to children sorship; and T engineering program with the Combined Heating and a common goal: improving Louisiana by displaced by Hurri- • a $2 million do- B e th G uille t a developmental capability Power Process,” Emblom meeting the needs of its children. canes Katrina and Rita nation earmarked for This Saturn diesel turbine not found at many colleges. said. “The CHP process is be- It’s under construction in University in 2005. building the facility. generator can power about 700 It will be used in conjunc- ing used by companies across Successful businesses Research Park, adjacent to the Louisiana As the center The center also receives homes. tion with other donated the nation to reduce energy Immersive Technologies Enterprise on expands the scope of support from the Ce- reach the right people equipment to form the cornerstone for a costs by first generating electricity and then East Devalcourt Street. its work, it will focus cil Picard Endowment fast-growing alternative energy research fo- using the waste heat to provide cooling or at the right time. Let the Named in honor of Louisiana’s on tracking children’s through the Community cus within the College of Engineering,” said heating for buildings and other applications.” superintendent of education from 1996- educational progress in Foundation of Acadiana. award-winning university Dr. William Emblom, an assistant professor The turbine generator is capable of pro- 2007, the 40,000-square-foot building Louisiana from birth to Then-Gov. Kath- of mechanical engineering. ducing enough electricity to power about magazine, La Louisiane, is expected to be completed within two age 25. leen Blanco spoke at Cecil J. Picard The new equipment will be used by sev- 700 homes. Along with an electrical genera- years at a cost of about $7.2 million. “We are well on a groundbreaking cer- do the reaching for you. eral faculty members who are working with tor, it’s permanently mounted inside a trac- The complex will house the uni- our way to becoming emony in December. “I area industries to make Acadiana a leader in tor-trailer that is fully transportable. Advertise your business versity’s: the national model for child develop- can think of no better way to cement • Center for Innovative Learning ment centers,” said Dr. Billy Stokes, the Cecil Picard’s legacy than to continue and connect with more and Assessment Technologies; center’s director. “With the access to the groundbreaking work he began with than 70,000 readers, • Educational Counseling unit; data we currently have, we are undoubt- early childhood education,” she said. including more than • Educational Foundation and edly the best resource for educational Picard had the third-longest ten- Fish DNA may Yield Valuable Clues Leadership Department; information in Louisiana.” ure of a state superintendent of educa- 50,000 college graduates. • Center for Gifted Education; and The center’s financial support has tion in Louisiana and was the catalyst • Department of Psychology. included donations by Loyd J. Rock- for many nationally recognized educa- Does the DNA of the electric fish hold se- fish frequently bite off the tails of this spe- The new facility will also include: hold and the Special Children’s Foun- tional initiatives. crets that could someday advance the treat- cies; the electric fishes have responded by • the Loyd J. Rockhold Distance dation, and includes: He was a teacher, coach and ment of human spinal cord injuries? growing back what has been removed. For more information, Dr. James Albert, an assistant profes- “You can cut off the back third of the Education Conference Center; • the Loyd J. Rockhold Endowed principal in Vermilion Parish and later contact Kathleen Thames at • a research library; and Chair served in the Louisiana House of Repre- sor of biology at UL Lafayette, is intrigued body and they will regenerate everything, (337) 482-6397. • a data and technology analysis unit. • the Paula Chavers Rockhold Em- sentatives and Louisiana Senate. n by the possibility. The eel-like, electric including the spinal cord,” Albert stated in The Cecil J. Picard Center for Child inent Scholar Endowed Chair in Child fish may also help scientists develop bio- Nature News in February. Development was established in 2005 Development; ccd-web.louisiana.edu If scientists can figure out which

at UL Lafayette after five years of de- com t. genes are responsible for an organism’s

velopment. Now in temporary offices aul ability to generate electricity, the informa- in O.K. Allen Hall, it employs about 20 tion might also be useful in the treatment evaluation and research professionals of medical conditions such as Parkinson’s who concentrate on issues such as early disease, epilepsy and muscular dystrophy. childhood and k-12 education, health Albert and some colleagues have and lifelong learning. started genome sequencing of the electric t es y of th e sellers group

The center’s staff is probably best Wern h er K ru t ein / Ph o v fish to try to get the information they need. known for evaluating programs, such as Electrophorus electricus “Sequencing gives you the pieces of the LA 4, the state’s early childhood educa- puzzle. But you have to sequence it 10 tion initiative, and Reading First, which batteries that could repair and replace times over and then do a lot of analysis of is intended to help schools improve chil- themselves. the data to put the puzzle back together,” dren’s reading achievement by using sci- y ne B roussard / cour South American electric fishes, found he said. A proposal to sequence the whole entifically proven instruction methods. only in the Amazon Basin, hold so much genome of the Electrophorus electricus promise because they have an exceptional is being reviewed by the Department of National collaborations include M ic h ael Wa work with the RAND Corporation to Construction of the Cecil J. Picard Center began in December. ability to regenerate. Electro-sensing cat- Energy’s Joint Genome Institute.

 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008  The BeauSoleil Team has Students done its homework. It cites 2005 census statistics that show the median household income in Louisiana was $36,729. Ac- cording to federal guidelines, a family with that income could afford a house that costs a maxi- mum of $100,000. So the cost Among The Elite of a 700-square-foot solar house could not exceed about $145 per UL Lafayette earns a place in the nation’s ‘solar village’ square foot. UL Lafayette’s interest in energy-efficient designs that he University of Louisiana at complement Louisiana’s land- Lafayette is one of only 20 col- scape and culture is not new. “It’s T leges and universities from around not a fashionable thing. It’s part the world chosen to compete in the U.S. of our program,” Gjertson said. Department of Energy’s fourth Solar De- For example, two of its cathlon. architecture professors, Edward Teams from those schools will each J. Cazayoux and Hector LaSala, design, build and operate a small energy- designed and built a solar house efficient house that’s T erri F ensel on university property more By early April, several designs were under consideraton for the BeauSoleil Home. One will be chosen by the end powered entirely by the than 20 years ago. Their innova- of the spring semester in May. Shown, from left, are students Chris Leger, Jean Paul Accomando, Chris Dufreche, sun. Their entries will Cat Guidry, Denisse Castro, Tim Dumatrait, Jeremy Cradeur and Dr. Geoff Gjertson, an assistant professor and tive design won an award from form a “solar village” BeauSoleil Team coordinator. the U.S. Department of Energy on the National Mall in and the house continues to be Washington, D.C., in Each house must pro- used as a teaching tool. Fall 2009. UL Lafayette Faculty and students prepared UL La- is the only Louisiana laboration among the UL Lafayette School duce enough electric- fayette’s application to compete in the 2009 university represented of Architecture and Design, the College ity and hot water to Solar Decathlon. Forty universities applied; in the decathlon. of Engineering and the College of Busi- only 20 were chosen. Other participants ness. Architecture, design, business and perform all the func- Gjertson said UL Lafayette wasn’t include Cornell Uni- engineering students, along with Louisiana tions of a home, in- intimidated by the caliber of the other ap- versity, Penn State, System Built Homes and other community plicants. “We may not have the resources Technische Universität partners, will design and build the BeauSo- cluding cooking and of some schools that may be able to throw Darmstadt in Germany leil Home over the next two years. washing clothes. A millions of dollars at a project, but we really and Ohio State. The Solar Decathlon gets its name make the most of what we have,” he said. UL Lafayette’s from 10 specific areas of competition: ar- house may earn extra “First and foremost, the design has BeauSoleil Team will chitecture, engineering, market viability, points by generating a to be there and it has to be an educational design and build the communications, comfort, appliances, tool for students.” BeauSoleil Louisiana hot water, lighting, energy balance and surplus of energy. At press time, 12 UL Lafayette stu- Solar Home over the transportation. Each house must produce dents were working on several possible next two years. Beau- enough electricity and hot water to per- the contest won,” he added, tongue- designs for the BeauSoleil Home. They Soleil means “beautiful form all the functions of a home, including in-cheek. were scheduled to hold a charette, or pub- sun” or “sunshine” in cooking and washing clothes. A house may Gjertson noted that UL Lafayette lic meeting, in early April to get feedback. French. earn extra points by generating a surplus was drawn to the solar decathlon, in One design will be chosen by the end of “It’s kind of our of energy. The team that earns the most part, because it requires more than the spring semester in May. CajunBot,” said Geoff points is the winner. meeting technical specifications. “It’s In addition to working on its design, Gjertson, an associate There are three main criteria for the really got a lot of subjective things the BeauSoleil Team is busy raising funds. professor in architec- BeauSoleil Home. It must represent the about living in a house and what a The U.S. Department of Energy provided region, be a marketable prototype and T erri F ensel T erri F ensel ture at UL Lafayette Geoff Gjertson Louisiana house means,” he said. $100,000 to each of the 20 schools com- Chris Dufreche examines one of the designs for the and team coordinator. have a balanced hybrid of passive and ac- In addition to promoting Louisi- peting in the decathlon. But the BeauSoleil BeauSoleil Home. CajunBot is the univer- tive systems. Cajun flavor to it. The competition in- ana’s culture, the BeauSoleil Home is Team needs an additional $300,000 to pay sity’s autonomous land The team’s name, inspired by the cludes a cultural aspect. It requires a team intended to be affordable and practical. for research, construction material and vehicle, which has competed in three pres- Grammy-winning Cajun band, reflects to serve a meal, prepared in its solar home, “We’re trying to make it a marketable transporting the home to Washington, D.C. tigious, national contests sponsored by the the team’s intent to relate the project to its to other teams, something we’re perfectly and viable housing alternative, rather than “We’ve been trying to get the word out U.S. Department of Defense. Cajun roots. suited to do,” Gjertson said. a very high-tech toy that’s beyond reach of far and wide and to develop partnerships The BeauSoleil Team represents col- “We’ll bring our own kind of Louisiana, “We figure we’ve got that portion of most people,” Gjertson said. and relationships with all kinds of different

18 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 19 Vehicle Shows students how to go green PR Major Earns Student Editor Post Fraternity Returns With Larger A junior majoring in public relations is member of several honor societies. the newest student editor of La Louisiane. “I have worked with Megan in her Membership ome UL Lafayette students are tinker- silent operation is an ad- Megan Broussard of Lafayette began role as president of the Public Relations tudents ing with an SUV to learn how solar vantage. “The solar utility her magazine duties in March. She will Student Society of America and she is a S S power can be harnessed as a practical vehicle is primarily useful also serve as student editor for the Fall dedicated leader who has the ability to energy source. for wildlife parks, areas 2008 issue. make deadlines under pressure,” said Dr. It’s a solar utility vehicle donated by BP, where noise or pollution is The position gives a UL Lafayette Dedria Givens-Carroll, an assistant pro- a global oil, gas and chemicals company. a problem,” he said. student the chance to be involved in fessor in UL Lafayette’s Communication Glenn DaGian, a 1972 graduate of USL, (now Current uses for the Department. known as the University of Louisiana at La- solar buggy include wildlife Broussard serves in the fayette), presented it to the university in Feb- areas, such as Yellowstone legislative branch of UL La- ruary. He’s director of Government Affairs National Park and the fayette’s Student Government for BP in Texas. Sandy Point State National Association. Each college The SUV is equipped with two electric Park in Maryland. DaGian has elected representatives: motors totaling 30 horsepower and more said the solar panel could a president and a minimum Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity has reclaimed its than 170 pound-feet of torque, which makes it be adapted to applications of two senators. She is SGA’s place on campus. one of the most powerful all-terrain vehicles involving boats. Liberal Arts president. The Zeta Omega chapter voluntarily available. BP’s 185-watt solar panel, which DaGian and BP are Earlier this year, Brous- disbanded in 1990 after its membership augments the vehicle’s battery system and also working on a charg- sard arranged the Liberal dwindled. It was founded in 1968. gives the SUV more range, is mounted on ing station that uses solar Arts Career Day Job Fair and Two years ago, it got a fresh start. “We top. The four-wheel drive vehicle is capable aul panels to recharge the SUV conducted a fund-raiser for were colonized as the second largest fra- of seating four people, can carry up to 880 when its not in use, elimi-

B lane F the Public Relations Student ternity on campus in 2006 and continue to pounds and can maintain a speed of 20 miles A Bad Boy Buggies representative demon- nating the need to have an Society of America. In 2007, grow our numbers,” said Noah Brandon, a per hour. It has a 30-mile range. strated the solar utility vehicle’s power by using electrical source to charge she was in charge of a fund- UL Lafayette senior who is Pike’s recruit- “Very few schools can touch this type its reverse gear to climb the outdoor stairs of the buggy. raiser for Kappa Delta and ment chairman. That was a major step to- of technology,” said Dr. Mark Zappi, dean of Martin Hall. DaGian developed the coordinated an International ward earning a charter in 2007. the College of Engineering. “Students will solar panel and attached it Coffee Hour to help UL La- This year, UL Lafayette’s chapter has be able to study it and drive it. The benefits will go on for to the vehicle, which was manufactured by Bad Boy Bug- fayette international students 51 members. It occupies the former Sigma many years.” gies in Natchez, Miss. The SUV given to UL Lafayette was become integrated into col- Nu house on Fraternity Row. DaGian, a political science graduate, said the vehicle’s the 14th developed by DeGian, BP and Bad Boy Buggies. n lege life. “The men of Pi Kappa Alpha have Broussard has worked worked two long years to reestablish their part-time at Le Centre Inter- fraternity on campus,” said Roquee A. national de Lafayette. She was Forson, UL Lafayette’s assistant dean of people. For example, we’re But Gjertson said public exposure is an intern for the Bobby Jindal students. “They are a welcome addition to looking at a partnership with also measured by “impressions,” which Campaign for Governor and our Greek family.” Catholic University of America, refers to the number of people who read for the American Heart As- Brandon said many Pike alumni have

which is in Washington, D.C., published information about a project T erri F ensel sociation’s office in Lafayette. told him they’re pleased about the chap- because it would be a great or see coverage by broadcast media. Megan Broussard She is a former reporter for ter’s return to campus and are “impressed help for the logistics of the “In 2007, decathlon officials cal- the Vermilion, UL Lafayette’s with the quality of men we have recruited competition up there. Maybe it culated that there were over 600 mil- almost every aspect of magazine produc- student newspaper. and the successes they’ve achieved on and could help us collaborate on part lion impressions, which means that tion, from planning content to editing This summer, Broussard will spend off campus.” of the project,” Gjertson said. 600 million people were exposed to articles to checking print quality dur- six weeks in France as a participant in For example, PKA received an academ- Many state and local lead- the project,” he said. That number ing press runs. The student editor also UL Lafayette’s Study Abroad Program. ic achievement award last year presented by ers have expressed interest in is expected to grow to a billion after serves as a liaison between the student After graduation, she plans to pur- UL Lafayette’s Office of Greek Affairs. the BeauSoleil Home, he con- documentaries about the decathlon are body and La Louisiane. sue agency work in the field of public The fraternity supports Faith House, tinued. The BeauSoleil Team is completed and distributed. “Megan’s resumé is already lengthy relations and eventually enter into cor- a local shelter for battered women. It has working with them to see how Gordon Brooks is dean of UL and impressive. It reflects active par- porate public relations, applying the raised $4,000 for the agency last year and they can help. Lafayette’s College of the Arts, which ticipation in campus organizations and writing skills she honed while working $10,000 this year. In addition to benefiting encompasses the School of Architec- events, leadership skills and a strong for La Louisiane. Andrew Bullock, president of the Zeta UL Lafayette students, the Beau- ture. He said the potential impact of the work ethic,” said Kathleen Thames, edi- “In public relations, it is important Omega chapter, said members helped reno- Soleil Home will draw national BeauSoleil House is huge. tor of La Louisiane. to know all styles of writing,” Broussard vate the shelter last year. “We also held a and international attention to “Every now and again, a project Broussard is president of the Lafay- said. “At La Louisiane, I’m learning tech- candlelight vigil for victims of domestic the university. comes along that has transformative ette chapter of the Public Relations Stu- niques specific to magazines that will violence in Louisiana, raising awareness of In 2007, about 120,000 powers. This is one of them.” n dent Society of America and a member make me a more well-rounded writer the issue and of Faith House,” he said.

T erri F ensel people toured homes in the “so- of Kappa Delta Sorority. She has main- and, in turn, a more effective public rela- The Zeta Omega chapter is one of five Scott Chappuis checks out a proposed design. lar village’ on the National Mall. beausoleilhome.org tained a 4.0 grade point average and is a tions practitioner.” PIKE chapters at Louisiana universities.

20 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 21 Fresh design earns accolades for senior student Zeus café to bring mediterranean Flavor to Campus

This is not your mother’s fruit bowl. quality of entry materials. All winners Students will soon have national students According to an agreement signed UL Lafayette senior Sarah O’Brien’s will be recommended as candidates another dining option alike, as well as in February, Sodexho and UL Lafayette innovative bowl expands and contracts for design internship positions for on campus: Zeus On the faculty and staff. will each receive a percentage of Zeus On tudents to store and display various types and IHA member companies,” said an IHA Geaux. If it attracts the the Geaux’s net profit. The restaurant will S sizes of fruit. It features separate com- spokesman. Zeus Café, a popular business we ex- also pay the university a monthly fee. partments that help minimize bruising The Elizabowl was O’Brien’s Lafayette restaurant that pect, Zeus may Pappion said UL Lafayette students and significantly reduce the transfer of second entry in the IHA competition. serves Greek and Lebanese even be allowed have expressed an interest in eating ethylene gas that causes over-ripening. She received an honorable mention food, will operate the new to open on other healthier and more diverse food than “I made the model out of thin in 2006 for a candelabra that’s size is takeout eatery. It will be campuses in the what has traditionally been served on located next to Rougeou UL System.” campus.

polypropylene cutting boards,” O’Brien adjustable. y of zeus caf é C ourtes told La Louisiane. A patent on her de- Two other projects have earned Hall, in a small building Zeus’s specially prepared hummus Zeus Café According to the American Heart sign is pending. her honorable mentions in a national known as On The Geaux. has four locations Association, most of the fats in a typical A patent is pending for Sarah O’Brien’s O’Brien named the bowl, “Eliz- competition. They were chairs con- On the Geaux was in Lafayette. Mediterranean diet are monounsaturated innovative fruit bowl. abowl.” The name, she said, is “a nod structed of cardboard for the American constructed in 2005. It replaced the Zeus On the Geaux is expected to fats, which don’t tend to raise blood cho- to the collars worn during the Elizabe- in March. Institute of Architecture Students’ Chair former Snack Hut, which had served offer an abridged version of Zeus Cafe’s lesterol levels as much as saturated fats. than Period, which I believe the bowl For students like O’Brien, who Affair competition. meals for several decades. On the Geaux menu, including its popular Chicken There is less heart disease in Medi- resembles.” is majoring in industrial design, the Earlier this spring, O’Brien pre- housed vending machines for snacks and Sharwerma dish and a Gyros plate. terranean countries than in the United Her design placed first in the 15th housewares show offers the opportunity sented her work at the IDSA district soft drinks. It was closed earlier this year, Hours of operation are tentatively States, according to the AHA. But the dif- annual Student Design Competition to meet potential employers or repre- conference in Savannah, Ga. She and due to consistently low sales. set for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. ference may not all be attributable to diet; held by the International Housewares sentatives of companies that might pro- some classmates had presented their “I think Zeus Café will be very suc- Students will be able to dine indoors or lifestyle factors may also play a role. Association. A total of 215 project en- duce their designs. This year, it attract- portfolios to a panel of three design cessful at our university,” said Patrick in a patio area next to the café. Zeus On A study funded by the National Insti- tries were submitted from 27 Interna- ed about 60,000 visitors from more than professionals. O’Brien was chosen to Pappion, general manager of Sodexho, the Geaux will accept the Cajun Card for tutes of Health suggested that a Greek- tional Design Society of America-affili- 100 countries, who were all focused on represent UL Lafayette’s program, along the university’s food service provider. “It payment of meals. The Cajun Card is like Mediterranean dietary pattern has signifi- ated design schools. buying and selling the latest products. with student representatives from eight is a favorite among American and inter- a debit card for UL Lafayette students. cant potential for cancer prevention. Her prizes: $2,400 and an all- “Winning projects are selected for other universities. expense-paid trip to the International their innovation, understanding of pro- Home + Housewares Show in Chicago duction and marketing principles, and www.obrien-design.com Students ‘Work With Their Hands and Give With Their Hearts’

Some UL Lafayette students spent “When students and young people the volunteers for their service. “Without Debate teams will Remember Newcomers from UL Lafayette their spring break working on a Habitat work with their hands and give with their these sheds, our jobs would be a lot more for Humanity project that will provide 12 hearts, then we know that our next gen- difficult,” she said. homes for families displaced by Hurricanes eration, and the generation that will come Some of the college students were UL Lafayette’s new Policy Debate Team Katrina and Rita. afterward, will continue to make an enor- housed in Bourgeois Hall on UL Lafayette’s has made a name for itself already. UL Lafayette hosted the 2008 X-treme campus during the six-day The six-month-old group partici- Spring Break in late March. It was joined project. pated in the Novice National Champion- by students from McNeese State University Candace Urbanowski, ships this spring. in Lake Charles, La., and Nicholls State president of the UL Lafay- Two UL Lafayette students, Justin University in Thibodaux, La. Also lend- ette Student Government Cantu and Dustin Domangue, placed ing a hand were members of UL Lafayette’s Association and a senior fourth out of more than 100 teams from AmeriCorps program, some university majoring in public relations, around the nation. They claimed an up- personnel, and Habitat for Humanity vol- was coordinator of this set victory over Binghamton University unteers and staff. year’s X-Treme Spring Break. in octo-finals. That was significant be- The workers began constructing 10 “We’ve learned how to cause Binghamton was ranked as the No. y ton

sheds near Kaplan, La. The units were to a swing a hammer appropri- 1 debate program in the country at the be used to store building materials during ately, how to cut safely and start of the competition. a Habitat for Humanity blitz in April. Six how to make sure our mea- During the championships, UL houses were to be built in less than two C hristine P surements are right,” she T erri F ensel Lafayette defeated teams from Cornell weeks. Six more residences are scheduled UL Lafayette students Kim Wooten and Matt Carlini were busy told The Advocate newspaper Shown, from left: Ezekias Mondesir, Josh Vercher, Jordan Landry, Samantha Marks, University, the United States Military hammering nails and sawing boards during Spring Break. Dustin Domangue, Justin Canten. Not shown: Brandy Stanton, Chapman Matis to be built there this summer. in Baton Rouge. Academy, New York University and other “You have really made a tremendous X-treme Spring Break is schools across the nation. difference,” Dr. Kim Hunter-Reed, execu- mous difference in our state and our na- a UL System initiative that started in 2006 The UL Lafayette Policy Debate Team had fewer members than many of its opponents, said Dr. Scott Elliot, its tive vice president of the University of tion,” she said. with McNeese State University and South- coach. “It was common for as many as 10 coaches from other schools to ‘scout’ UL debaters in preliminary rounds in an Louisiana System, told volunteers at the Melinda Taylor, executive director of eastern Louisiana University. Nicholls State attempt to figure out how such a small program could be beating such well-established teams,” he said. construction site. Habitat for Humanity in Lafayette, thanked University hosted last year’s event.

22 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 23 Damon Fontenot, impressive area to highlight in recruiting On Campus a senior nursing major, prospective faculty and it has been a fantas- has spent time in the tic student recruitment tool for us.” lab this semester. “The The high-tech environment sends simulators are like real powerful messages, she continued. children and babies,” “It tells the students that we put them he said. and their learning first. This investment The future nurses also tells prospective employers of our have a chance to play graduates that our students will graduate National Leader different roles during from this program each scenario. Some having utilized and New laboratory in Wharton Hall gives College of Nursing an edge • by Christine Payton may be nurses, some mastered the most may be doctors and advanced and sophis- others may be par- ticated technologies y lor ents. Between 50 and that they are likely to

F. J. G a F. 60 nursing students encounter in hospi- Shown, from left, are: Emily Broussard; Dr. Lisa Broussard, assistant will work through tals and other health professor of nursing and lab director; Kimberly Bell; Cathy Boutte; and the simulation lab care settings across Miranda Blanchard. each semester. the U.S. today.” The Maternal/ The benefits of

(respiratory infection), hyperbilirubinemia Child Skills lab is the second nursing Terri F ensel students’ training on (jaundice) and cellulitis (skin inflamma- lab at UL Lafayette that uses sophisticat- Instructors use comput- patient simulators is tion), and perform newborn stabilization. ed patient simulators. A lab that resem- ers to program patient apparent to Michelle With the birthing simulators, students bles a high-tech, hospital intensive care simulators’ behavior. Crain, interim chief can administer nursing care for preterm unit opened two years ago. It is equipped nursing officer at Our labor, preeclampsia (high blood pressure) with adult-size simulators. Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. and conduct general assessments related to “Simulation is sweeping the country She’s a 1990 and 1998 graduate of the Col- labor and delivery. as a new pedagogy in nursing education. lege of Nursing and Allied Health Profes- “We try to make this experience for We have been ahead of the simulation inte- sions and is a certified nurse practitioner. the students as realistic as possible,” said gration curve at UL Lafayette and we think “I think what the Sim labs have al- Dr. Lisa Broussard, assistant professor this gives our program a distinct advantage lowed for students is a greater sense of of nursing and lab director. “Before we in several ways,” Oberleitner said. critical thinking. They come out of college opened the lab, faculty members created “It solidifies our positioning as a na- and still have a need to master some skills, different nursing scenarios for the simula- tional leader in the integration of simula- but they can work quicker through this tors. Each semester, we’re going to build on tion technologies in nursing. It is a very because of their experiences in the lab,” those scenarios and create Crain said. new ones.” “I believe the simu- Instructors also can lation lab gives students use hand-held devices for real-world experience. “on the fly” changes while They are still in a lab students are administer- with simulators, but the ing care. “Faculty like patient response is so the ‘on the fly’ method realistic. The students Terri F ensel because it gives them the don’t need as much coax- Dr. Lisa Broussard, an assistant professor of nursing, is director of the new Maternal/Child Life Skills laboratory. opportunity to challenge ing when they’re starting students based on imme- out (in the workplace) new lab in Wharton Hall that ing simulators; newborn simulators will be diate changes in a patient’s because they have confi- mirrors a hospital pediatric, newborn added later this year. status,” Broussard said. dence in their skills. It’s Aand labor/delivery unit is about as “UL Lafayette is the only university in The simulators can phenomenal.” real as it can get. Louisiana and in the country, to our knowl- mimic real-world hospital In 2005, the Na- The Maternal/Child Life Skills lab is edge, that has a simulated neonatal, pediatric situations that students tional League for Nursing equipped with some of the latest technol- and labor/delivery unit,” said Dr. Melinda may not otherwise experi- named UL Lafayette’s ogy, including lifelike, computerized pa- Oberleitner, head of the Nursing Department. ence. “These scenarios College of Nursing and tient simulators. Interactive patient simulators provide can be played out in a Allied Health Professions There, senior nursing students test and immediate feedback for each nursing de- safe environment where a Center of Excellence for implement nursing theories and interven- cision. Students begin with assessment, students can still make Nursing Education. UL

tions on four infant simulators and two pe- which includes checking temperatures and mistakes without putting y lor Lafayette is one of only diatric simulators that are about the size of listening to and interpreting heart sounds. anyone in danger,” Brous- J. G a F. 10 such centers in the pre-K children. The lab also has two birth- Later, they treat symptoms for bronchiolitis sard said. Kimberly Bell, a senior, is shown in the newest lab in Wharton Hall. country. n

 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008  oprah backs obama ampus id Miss Jane Pittman, a fictional Des Moines that the movie made “a C character in a popular novel, huge impression on me” when she saw n and celebrity Oprah Winfrey it many years ago.

O D influence the outcome of Sen. Barack “I can’t even remember how old I Home for Good Obama’s bid to become the first black was when I was watching that movie. Author’s work will be preserved in new center in Dupré Library president of the United States? But I do remember when Jane Pittman That’s a question sure to be asked would encounter young people through- by scholars who will analyze every facet out that film, and she would ask, ‘Are of the historic contest between Obama ot long after Ernest Gaines lated into at least 17 languages and has faculty and students, and the people you the one? Are you the one?’ ” and Sen. Hillary Clinton, who wants to became writer-in-residence at earned him a National Book Critics Cir- of Louisiana have had the privilege of Winfrey recalled a scene with Pit- be the nation’s first female president. UL Lafayette in 1983, a col- cle Award, National Humanities Medal having Ernest Gaines here and being tman and a newborn, Jimmy Aaron. “I N Named one of Time magazine’s remember her standing in the doorway, league in the English Department and a MacArthur Foundation Fellow- able to interact with him on campus. 100 most influential people for the past asked about the status of his original ship, popularly known as “the genius With this center, his legacy will remain her body bowed, frail, old, and holding four years, Winfrey stepped onto the manuscripts. award.” A Lesson Before Dying was cho- here,” said Dr. Marcia Gaudet, head of the baby in her arms, and saying, ‘Are Ph ilip G ould national campaign trail for two days The author of The Autobiography sen by talk show host Oprah Winfrey as UL Lafayette’s English Department. She you the one, Jimmy? Are you the one’? Some of Ernest Gaines’ original manuscripts in December to stump for Obama. The of Miss Jane Pittman responded that his an Oprah Book Club selection in 1997. proposed the center and will serve as its “Well, I believe in ’08, I have found are displayed in Dupré Library, along with pens Illinois senator and former first lady are the answer to Miss Pittman’s question. papers were stored in several trunks in Gaines’ relationship with UL Lafay- interim director. he used to write them. seeking the Democratic San Francisco, where he had lived be- ette began in 1981 when he accepted an UL Lafayette will initially provide nomination in August. fore moving to Lafayette. invitation to serve as a visiting professor $250,000 for the center. Future fund- Ernest Gaines scholarship in the world,” In her introduction “What are you going to do with of creative writing for one year. ing sources include donations, grants, she said. of Obama at a rally them?” asked the colleague, Dr. Joseph “For 25 years, the university’s and royalties from a book about Gaines The center will coordinate research in Des Moines, Iowa, Riehl, a professor of English. to be published by the related to Gaines and possibly other Afri- Winfrey referred to The “I don’t know. No one university’s Center for can-American writers in Louisiana. There Autobiography of Miss has asked me (for them),” Louisiana Studies. are already plans to conduct an Ernest Jane Pittman, written Gaines replied. Manuscripts and J. Gaines Scholars Conference at UL La- by Ernest Gaines, UL “Well, I’m asking you,” memorabilia, such as fayette in Spring 2010. Gaudet envisions Lafayette’s writer-in- Riehl said. handwritten drafts of the Ernest J. Gaines Speakers and Writers residence emeritus. So the trunks were some of his published Series in 2011, which would draw major

Published in 1971, t ed P ress shipped from California to work and the pens he scholars and writers to UL Lafayette. his fictional story of a Lafayette. Their contents used to write The Auto- “The availability of the author’s papers lame, 110-year-old for- A ssocia became the foundation of a biography of Miss Jane will provide students with the opportunity mer slave earned criti- Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama, wife of Sen. Barack Obama newly established internation- Pittman and Of Love and to understand first hand the workings of cal praise and became al center for Ernest Gaines Dust, have been preserved literary genius,” she stated in a proposal required reading in schools across the studies, which will be built in the library’s Special for the center that was approved by the I have found the answer. It is the same country. In it, Pittman survived the Civil in a now-unfinished section Collections Department. University of Louisiana System and the question that our nation is asking: ‘Are War, was subsequently emancipated of the third floor of Dupré According to Louisiana Board of Regents. The collection you the one? Are you the one?’ I am from slavery and lived long enough to Library. Gaudet, the new center will also “enhance the university’s historic here to tell you, Iowa, he is the one. He enjoy a taste of the freedom promised Gaines recounted the will also include “all commitment to diversity,” she continued. is the one. Barack Obama.” by the Civil Rights movement of the story during an event held at books, journal articles, The Ernest J. Gaines Center will pur- Winfrey’s 17-minute speech in 1960s. the library in early March to essays, interviews, theses sue publishing ventures in cooperation Des Moines was posted in two parts Near the end of her life, Pittman celebrate creation of the cen- and dissertations on with UL Lafayette’s Center for Louisiana on You Tube, a popular web site where was living on a Louisiana plantation. ter. Now writer-in-residence Ernest Gaines and his Studies, Gaudet said. One of the first proj- people share video clips. By early April, She and other blacks there hoped for emeritus, he and his wife, work.” It will have a ects will help raise funds for the center. the part in which she refers to Gaines’ someone who could lead the black race. Dianne, had traveled from complete collection of all This Louisiana Thing That Drives Me: character had been watched more than “Anytime a child is born, the old people their home in Pointe Coupee published translations of The Legacy of Ernest J. Gaines is in press 36,000 times. look in his face and ask him if he’s the Parish near Baton Rouge, La. his writing. The center at the Center for Louisiana Studies. It is A total of about 66,000 people at- Gaines is one of the most “would anticipate, a coffee-table book of photographs that One,” Gaines wrote in the last chapter. tended rallies featuring Winfrey in Iowa, significant American authors as well, the eventual was compiled, edited and introduced The Autobiography of Miss Jane New Hampshire and South Carolina. of the 20th century. He is donation/acquisition of by Gaudet; Reggie Young, an associate Pittman was made into an Emmy A poll conducted in December by most widely known for The the remaining Ernest professor of English at UL Lafayette; and Award-winning television movie, star- the Pew Research Center for the People Autobiography of Miss Jane J. Gaines papers to the Wiley Cash, a doctoral student at UL ring Cicely Tyson, that was first broad- and the Press showed that 60 percent Lafayette. The photos are accompanied cast on Jan. 31, 1974. Winfrey told the of respondents said Winfrey’s support

Pittman, A Lesson Before Dying Ph ilip G ould university. It would more than 18,000 people gathered in would help Obama’s candidacy. n and A Gathering of Old Men. Ernest J. Gaines and Dr. Marcia Gaudet at the future site of the Ernest J. be the site of the only by quotations from Gaines’ fiction, essays His work has been trans- Gaines Center in Dupré Library. complete collection of and interviews. The first 100 copies will be

 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008  signed collector’s editions to be given to an excerpt donors who contribute at least $1,000 each to the Ernest J. Gaines Center. Gaudet proposed the center in

ampus conjunction with Gaines’ retirement in This Louisiana Thing That Drives Me: 2005. But the plan was shelved when C The Legacy of Ernest J. Gaines Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated n parts of south Louisiana later that year.

O (Editor’s note: The following is the intro- membering the past and rejoicing in its State government temporarily suspend- duction to a new book published by UL connection with the community of the ed creation of new university centers New Direction Lafayette’s Center for Louisiana Studies.) present. The cemetery is a peaceful sanc- until the hurricanes’ economic impact tuary, surrounded by sugarcane fields. could be assessed. ‘Creative, innovative things happen when you cross boundaries’ By Marcia Gaudet This is also the time known as grinding, Gaudet said scholars from across the sugarcane harvest in southern Louisi- the globe will conduct research at the When I read Gaines, the poet said, ana. Ernest Gaines may peel a few stalks Ernest J. Gaines Center. Last year, a pro- he dean of the B.I. in which other departments could The sky is not gray, but gold. of sugarcane and instruct a young child fessor from Japan and a doctoral student Moody III College of Busi- support any one of these three.” – Isaac J. Black or a new graduate student on the proper from Egypt traveled to UL Lafayette to Tness Administration is John noted that the College of way to chew it and spit out the pulp, view Gaines’ papers. exploring ways to partner with Business Administration has paid n Super Bowl Sunday 1981, Er- something he remembers from his own Gaines’ work has been the subject other colleges on campus and to more attention to international busi- nest J. Gaines received a telegram childhood growing up in the plantation of 15 doctoral dissertations at various strengthen three specialized busi- ness in the past couple of years. An Ofrom the University of Southwest- quarters. universities. More than 200 scholarly ness programs. international business concentration ern Louisiana offering him a position. Ernest Gaines has said that his articles have been written and 12 books Dr. Joby John began his post was added, for example. And, it now When he decided to return to Louisiana great obsession was to get the property published about him. on July 1, 2007. He replaced Dr. offers minors in French or Hispanic as our Visiting Writer-in-Residence, the where his ancestors are buried and to Gaines told the group gathered at Lewis Gale, who left the univer- language and culture. sky was certainly gold over our commu- maintain the cemetery, where he wants Dupré Library in early March that he sity in 2004. John has been getting to know nity. For the last twenty-seven years, we to be buried among the unmarked owes much of his professional success to Before he was hired by UL key business and community lead- have been privileged to be major bene- graves of his people. His writing has the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lafayette, John served for eight ers in Acadiana, in part, by serving factors of Ernest Gaines’ time, energy, given him the power to determine how He described his circumstances years as a full professor and chair on boards or committees for orga- and generosity. He has contributed im- his people will be remembered. Gaines’ when he was invited in 1981 to teach at of the Department of Marketing nizations such as Rotary, Le Centre measurably to Creative Writing at (the) narratives of his people have become the university for a year. “I was living at Bentley College near Boston, International and Lafayette General University of Louisiana at Lafayette while stories of identity, stories of one’s hand to mouth. I had just published In one of the largest private business Medical Center. continuing to build an international people. Gaines recognized the injustices My Father’s House three years earlier. I schools in the United States. Through those contacts, he has reputation on the merits of his artistic to his people, and he addressed those didn’t make any money. Everybody lost In a recent interview, John learned there is a need among small accomplishments. injustices in his writing with a gentle money on that book.” said the B.I. Moody III College businesses in Acadiana for profes- Gaines’ reputation as a writer and but powerful anger. Perhaps more im- In 1983, the university asked him to of Business Administration has sional development. “So, we want artist is secure. Equally secure is his portantly, he recognized the worth of be its writer-in-residence. He would be “solid programs. We have a cadre to find a way to deliver professional reputation as a man, as a teacher, as a his people. He saw in them something required to teach only one course a year of excellent teachers in every de- development workshops for small colleague, as a friend, as a person pas- worth writing about, something worth and could live in a house in Arbolada partment.” businesses, either through UL Lafay- sionately devoted to his people and his remembering – their character, their Subdivision, adjacent to campus, which UL Lafayette has six tradi- ette’s Small Business Development home state. He has deep concern for the concern for others, their ability to sur- tional business programs: ac- Center or through the B.I. Moody III

had been provided by Ray Mouton, an B LANE FAUL land and the people who provide him vive with dignity, their belief in him attorney and UL Lafayette graduate. counting, management informa- Dr. Joby John College of Business Administration,” with the roots of his artistic vision. and what his future could be. Gaines’s “When I first came to Arbolada, tion systems, economics, finance, he said. This concern is apparent in his stories give us a cultural narrative of that first night, I didn’t believe this was management and marketing. rarely found at the roughly 2,000 busi- John has also created the Acadi- quiet activism in preserving and refur- the people he knew so well, a history of happening to me. This house was too Because the college’s core offerings are ness schools in the United States: insur- ana Chief Financial Officers’ Roundtable bishing the cemetery on River Lake Plan- their lives and who they really were. beautiful. The furniture was so wonder- so strong, he can concentrate on devel- ance and risk management, hospitality with 35 participants from the largest com- tation where his ancestors, friends, and Along with his culture’s legacy of ful. There were flowers in the yard, pine oping interdisciplinary programs. management, and professional land and panies in Acadiana. It convened for the a brother are buried. He and his wife, poverty and injustice, Gaines also re- trees, oak trees.” “The interesting things in aca- resource management. first time in March; it will meet quarterly. Dianne, serve as President and Secretary ceived a strong legacy of personal dignity. Gaines’ good fortune was real. “I deme are really happening at the cusp John estimates that about 25 “Its purpose is to exchange ideas. of the Mount Zion River Lake Cemetery Using the language of his community, he was in that house from 1983 to 2003, or boundaries of disciplines. It’s not American business schools have insur- We benefit by being able to hear what Association in Cherie Quarters, Oscar, has made this place and these people a there in Arbolada,” he said. within disciplines. The creative, inno- ance and risk management programs; their needs are. As CFOs, they see the en- Louisiana. They ask friends, family, and model for the simple but universal rights “Sometimes, I wonder if what’s vative things happen when you cross about 10 have hospitality management tire business picture for their companies. students to join them for a graveyard to one’s own humanity, one’s own dignity, happening today is happening. I wonder boundaries. programs. Only four business schools in “It turns out that their major prob- homecoming, or beautification day, at one’s own voice. By giving voice to those if it is not a dream. “Industry is clamoring for that. It’s North America have professional land lem right now is labor. They’re not able the cemetery on the last Saturday of who traditionally had no voice outside of “If it’s not a dream, and it is actually saying, ‘We don’t want a cookie-cutter and resource management programs. to hire the people they need. We’re in October each year, the weekend before the ex-slave quarters, Gaines continues happening to me, I’m one of the lucki- person to do cookie-cutter things that UL Lafayette’s specialized programs the business of providing an educated All Saints Day. In a traditional gather- to fulfill his intent from the beginning est men on the face of the earth for all we’ve always done. We’re not going to were created to meet particular needs in work force. I’m hoping this forum can ing, people come together to pull weeds, of his writing career: to give voice to an the things I’ve gone through, places I’ve compete that way. We want to progress Louisiana, John said. So, he wants to be help us keep our curriculum relevant in plant flowers, whitewash the tombs, eat, unvoiced people, giving them the power been and returning home. I thank you and progress comes from being creative able to provide more graduates in those the region,” he said.” n drink, and talk among the graves – re- to affirm their own existence.n very much.” n and innovative.” fields and to capitalize on what other UL Lafayette has three programs colleges can contribute. “There are ways cobweb.louisiana.edu

10 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 11 One Generation at a Time Inherit the Atchafalaya Lafayette f Jean Kiesel Arcadia Publishing

ampus Jean Kiesel’s care-

ful selection of more k s h e l C than 200 images n

shows Lafayette’s o

O progress from its o First On Campus founding in 1822 B as Vermilionville New 440-space parking garage ready for business through the begin- ning of the 21st century.

Lafayette is part of Arcadia Pub- m t h e L Lafayette’s first pARking Barry Ancelet, Philip Gould Greg Guirard, C. Ray Brassieur is a minimum $1 fee for up to an hour. lots on campus are open to the public, lishing Company’s “Images of Ameri- garage may not be its last. It was Center for Louisiana Studies Center for Louisiana Studies o After the first hour, it will cost 25 cents as well as students, faculty and staff. ca” series, which focuses on individual not even open yet this spring for each additional 15 minutes. Students will be able to pay cash or U towns and cities, large and small. F r when university officials began trying to Dr. Barry Ancelet was a Univer- Inherit the Atchafalaya is the first The parking garage and parking use their Cajun Cards to park in the new Kiesel is the Louisiana Room librari- determine the best site for sity of Southwestern Louisiana printed collection of Greg Guirard’s facility. A Cajun Card, which doubles as an in the Special Collections Department another one. student in 1974 when he helped full-color photographs in over 12 a UL Lafayette identification card, is like of UL Lafayette’s Dupré Library. The Taft Street organize the first Tribute to Cajun years. Most of the images have a debit card. She has worked with historical Parking Garage, nestled Music, precursor of the music never before appeared in print. Simon Broussard, director of park- material related to Lafayette’s history among trees at the inter- component of Festivals Acadiens. The photos were chosen to ing and transit at UL Lafayette, said the for more than 20 years. For Lafayette, section of Taft Street and Photographer Philip Gould help convey the stories of Guirard’s parking garage can be used after hours she used that familiarity to put together St. Mary Boulevard, has had just arrived from California to fellow Atchafalaya Basin inhabit- for university- a mix of photos that depict key people, room for 440 vehicles. begin working at the daily news- ants – ordinary individuals who related special places and events. The four-and-a-half- paper in New Iberia, La. One of make a living from the 595,000- events.It’s adja- Kiesel will donate profits from story structure will be his assignments was to shoot the acre wetland. cent to Angelle sales of the book to Dupré Library. open from 6 a.m. to 8 Hall, which has Tribute, which was held in USL’s “Through Greg’s stunning p.m., Monday through a theater. It’s Blackham Coliseum. visual artistry and through the narratives he and his Atchafa- Thursday, and from 6 a.m. also near the For the past 30 years, Ance- Historic Lafayette D oug ugas to 3 p.m. on Friday. There D oug ugas let and Gould have participated in laya acquaintances share, we are Paul and Lulu Michael S. Martin and observed the annual event. treated to intimate glimpses of the Hilliard Univer- Historical Publishing Network sity Art Museum and the UL In One Generation at a Time, they Basin as only an insider could see Lafayette Alumni Center. chronicle the evolution of Festival it,” writes Dr. C. Ray Brassieur, an Broussard said an ad- de Musique Acadienne, one part assistant professor of anthropol- Historic Lafayette: An ditional 5,000 parking spaces of the popular three-day Festivals ogy at the University of Louisiana Illustrated History of would be needed on campus Acadiens. at Lafayette, in the book’s 40-page Lafayette and Lafayette to acccommodate demand. Ancelet, now a professor of introduction. Parish gives readers an About 3,500 students park French at UL Lafayette, offers Brassieur puts Guirard’s overview that stretches their vehicles at Cajun Field details about each year’s event work into historical and cultural from pre-Columbian and take a shuttle bus to cam- and explains the significance of contexts, providing supplemental inhabitants to the year pus and back. Others pay to the Festival’s adaptations over maps, timelines, and profiles of 2006. park in nearby private lots. the decades. boat styles and boat builders. Dr. Michael Martin, In 2002, UL Lafayette Gould’s photos document the Together, Brassieur and an assistant professor of students voted to pay an festival’s musicians, audiences, Guirad make a compelling case history at UL Lafayette, extra $25 per fall and spring dancers, dust and, sometimes, for the need to preserve a national has organized the content by era. Sec- semester for construction of mud. The most poignant images and natural treasure that the U.S. tions include, for example, the Territo- the parking garage and other are of legendary musicians who Geological Survey calls “one of rial and Antebellum period, 1803-1860; improvements to the parking have since died, such as Dewey the last great river swamps left in the Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861 and transit system. Balfa, Clifton Chenier and Canray the nation.” to 1877; and New South, 1878-1900. The original plan was to Fontenot. Brassieur observes: “Through Historic Lafayette also has profiles provide parking spaces for Ancelet cites Balfa’s observa- the everyday experiences of people of local businesses. 500 vehicles, but in 2005, tions that “a culture is preserved over time, a common wetland This publication is a fundraiser for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita one generation at a time” and heritage has been forged in the the Vermilionville Living History Muse- drove up the cost of materi- that tradition is an ever-chang- Atchafalaya. We are the inheritors um Foundation Board. The board helps als. So, the number of park- ing process. One Generation At A of that great heritage and it falls to support Vermilionville, a Cajun and ing slots was reduced to Time, Ancelet notes, “is a working us to insure that it has a chance to Creole living history museum on Bayou Vermilion that recreates life in Acadiana D oug ugas stay within the university’s history of the Festival de Musique pass down for many generations from 1765 to 1890. Barras Mueschke Architects of Lafayette’s design of a new parking garage accommodates several trees. budget. n Acadienne. . .” to come.”

12 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 13 New president has close ties TO UL Lafayette ampus r. E. Joseph Savoie’s connection with dent Government advisor. Southern Regional Educa- C the University of Louisiana at Lafay- He was also an adjunct as- tion Board, the national State n ette is strong and his experience in sistant professor. Higher Education Executive O D higher education is broad. Savoie received bach- Officers, the Council for Ad- Getting Ready “The university has been a very impor- elor’s and master’s degrees vancement and Support of tant part of not only my life, but my family’s. in education from USL. He Education, and the American Team to offer recommendations to UL Lafayette’s new president My mother finished here in the 1940s. I came earned a doctor of educa- Association of School Admin- here as a high school student on debate trips. tion in educational leader- istrators. transition team I was so enamored with it that I decided to ship and administration His awards and hon- is helping Dr. E. Jo- stay,” he said in a recent interview. from Columbia University ors include the 2007 CASE A seph Savoie prepare “I think my professional experiences Teacher’s College in New District IV Chief Executive to become the University of have prepared me for the responsibility (of York, a nationally recog- Leadership Award, which Louisiana at Lafayette’s sixth president). But my commitment is more nized graduate school of was renamed the “Dr. E. president later this year. than a professional commitment. It’s a per- education. Joseph Savoie Chief Execu- Savoie, Louisiana’s com- sonal commitment.” He has held many tive Leadership Award”; the missioner of higher educa- Savoie is a 1976 graduate of the Uni- state, regional and national Dr. E. Joseph Savoie 2004 University of Louisi- tion, will succeed Dr. Ray P. versity of Southwestern Louisiana, now positions. Former Govs. ana at Lafayette Outstanding Authement, who will soon known as UL Lafayette. M. J. “Mike” Foster, Edwin Edwards and Alumnus Award; and the 2000 Henry Ma- retire after 34 years as UL Before becoming the state’s commis- Kathleen Blanco tapped him for higher edu- son Award, which is presented by the Loui- Lafayette’s president. Savoie sioner of higher education in 1996, he cation committees and commissions during siana Chapter of the American Association was chosen for the univer- served as the university’s vice president for their administrations. Savoie was a cabinet of University Professors. sity’s top post by the Uni- University Advancement, executive director member in three governors’ administrations Savoie and his wife, Gail, have a versity of Louisiana System of the Alumni Association, program director – Foster’s, Blanco’s and Bobby Jindal’s. His daughter, Jennifer Blaire Saulnier, and a in December after a seven- for the Union Program Council, and Stu- regional and national affiliations include the son, Adam Savoie. n month national search. The transition team was formed primarily “to property; students; and athletics. They are a natural result of two decades of He has long-standing relationships make sure that we don’t “I want this to be a collaborative, par- underfunding. with many key leaders in Acadiana. “We disrupt the momentum of ticipatory process. . . These work groups “Longer term, we have to solidify the will make sure that we work together to the university,” Savoie said, will help us focus in on specifics. I’m anx- university’s academic status, such as its improve the community at large,” he said. in a recent interview. He has ious to hear from them,” Savoie said. designation by the Carnegie Foundation as Savoie described universities as “sta- spent time each week on UL bilizers” in communities. “They have Lafayette’s campus, meet- existed for 1,200 years. They have lived

Ph ilip G ould ‘Longer term, we have to solidify the university’s ing with a variety of groups Dr. E. Joseph Savoie and his wife, Gail, are shown at the University of Louisiana System meeting in through the creation and destruction of to learn more about the academic status, such as its designation by the December, where he was named UL Lafayette’s next president. dozens of countries. school’s strengths and areas Carnegie Foundation as a Research University with “UL Lafayette is over 100 years old. that need improvement. first state to implement performance- uating UL Lafayette. Such assessments It has seen any number of changes and “The university is very solid, aca- based budgeting. That accountability are routinely conducted in conjunction High Research Activity. One way we’ll do that is by crises and progress. It has provided edu- demically and financially,” Savoie said. system earned LeBlanc the Public with a leadership change. continuing to develop our graduate programs.’ cational opportunities, created economic In January, he appointed Jerry Luke Official of the Year award presented by The panel was led by Dr. James L. opportunities and improved the quality of Leblanc to lead his transition team. Governing Magazine. Fisher, president emeritus of Towson Dr. E. Joseph Savoie life of people in the region and it will con- Leblanc was commissioner of admin- As the state’s chief financial and University and president emeritus of the tinue to do that.” istration during former Gov. Kathleen administrative officer, LeBlanc was in Council for Advancement and Support The groups will complete their reports a Research University with High Research The role of a university president is Babineaux Blanco’s administration, from charge of a $30 billion budget. of Education. before he takes office “so we can hit the Activity. One way we’ll do that is by con- to make sure the assets of the university January 2004 through December 2007. Savoie said Leblanc “made strategic The panel’s recommendations range floor running,” he said. tinuing to develop our graduate programs. are being used for the greatest benefit of He had previously served in the Louisi- investments to improve quality of life in from student program requirements to Savoie won’t develop a long-term stra- “We will focus on student success. the people it serves, he continued. At the ana House of Representatives and was the state. He managed that through the faculty hiring to fund raising. tegic plan until he can gather more infor- The university has begun doing some of same time, the president must “always chairman of the powerful House Com- greatest natural and man-made disaster In April, Savoie formed presiden- mation and opinions from the public and those things and we can build on that. We have an eye out for what the university mittee on Appropriations. in American history and left over a bil- tial transition advisory teams com- UL Lafayette students, faculty and staff. But will take a very comprehensive approach to will need 10 years from now, 20 years In 1996, LeBlanc authored legis- lion dollar surplus in the process. posed of volunteer community and he already has a few overall goals in mind. student success.” from now. lation that established performance- “He’s extremely competent, well- business leaders. They will examine six “I think one thing we can do really Savoie said it’s important that “there “Thinking about the future is as im- based budgeting, a method of measur- tested and I trust him.” general areas: academics and faculty; quickly is address some physical issues be regular and open communications, not portant as responding to the present. Obvi- ing the value produced by public ser- Last fall, a panel of national educa- economic development and research; on campus, such as the appearance and only in the university community but the ously Dr. Authement has done that. I hope vices and programs. Louisiana was the tion specialists spent several weeks eval- university advancement; facilities and conditions of facilities. It is no one’s fault. broader community.” I can do as good a job.” n 14 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 15 Ragin’ Red® Locks Down Its Name Full Court Press oEc nomist weighs in on Farmers’ strike Template Simplifies

Raises Grad School When NBC Nightly News looked into mudbugs fell to $1 a pound early in the There’s only one Obtaining Facts while protecting its trade- Louisiana crawfish farmers’ economic season. Since it costs farmers about $500 ampus Ragin’ Red®. mark rights. Through the Enrollment woes in March, it sought the opinion of a to produce 500 pounds of crawfish, they About Universities The name of program, more than 210 C UL Lafayette economist. can’t make a profit when the wholesale the custom blend of licensed manufacturers n price is so low. seasoning became nationwide produce qual- A push to recruit more graduate stu- How does the University of Louisiana

O “Earlier this month, federally registered in dents paid off this spring. at Lafayette stack up against other higher ity products which sup- Louisiana farmers bor- February. The University of Louisiana at La- education institutions? port the university. rowed a page from “The federal reg- fayette’s Graduate School enrollment rose A new, web-based program makes it A local licensee, OPEC’s playbook in an istration is noteworthy nearly 11 percent, from 1,300 in Spring easier for prospective students to compare Fred Credeur of Credeur’s effort to drive up prices,” because it provides 2007 to 1,400 in what universities offer. The Voluntary Sys- Specialties in Opelousas, Teague reported. “They national protection for Spring 2008. tem of Accountability uses a standardized La., and UL Lafayette decided not to harvest the name. We had pre- “This increase format to present useful information, such worked with Targil Spices crawfish two days a viously obtained state- is a direct result of as graduation rates and students’ opinions. of Opelousas to develop 1,400 week.” wide registration,” said the hard work and A “Cost Calculator” enables prospective the custom blend of sea- Teague asked Matthew Tarver, UL D oug ugas soning. “Ragin’ Red® is dedication of the students to estimate expenses. Graduate School Ressler if the tactic

Lafayette’s assistant di- aul The University of Louisiana System, a mild seasoning with would work. “If they are rector for trademark licensing. “The extra staff and each grad- which is composed of UL Lafayette and reduced sodium that’s an all-purpose successful, I don’t ex- uate department Blane F level of protection provided by the federal product,” Credeur said. seven other universities, was the first in at the university,” pect it to last very long,” registration makes Ragin’ Red® the only Ragin’ Red® seasoning can be pur- NBC News producer Al Henkel, center, interviews Dr. Rand the United States to sign up to participate said Dr. C. Eddie Ressler, a UL Lafayette economics professor, on campus. Ressler replied. “I expect seasoning with that name in the country.” chased at several locations in Acadiana, in the program. “There’s a heightened Palmer, dean of the intrigue and cheating Ragin’ Red® is the first food product including Adrien’s, Albertsons, Cham- Spring 2008 national and state interest in accountabil- Graduate School. NBC News producer Al Henkel in- will push that price right back down.” in the university’s line of “branded mer- Graduate ity and transparency, and that is what we pagne’s, Super One and Fresh Market. “We implemented a terviewed Dr. Rand Ressler, an economics Rand holds the Edward G. Schlieder chandise,” licensed items that bear the School are all about,” said UL System President The seasoning is also available at the ‘recruiters all’ mis- professor, to get his views on the Loui- Educational Foundation/BORSF Profes- school’s logo or name. The university’s li- Enrollment Sally Clausen. University Bookstore and at RaginCa- sion. Everyone is siana Crawfish Farmers Association’s at- sorship in Money and Banking at UL censing program promotes UL Lafayette, Anyone interested in attending UL junGear.com helping to grow the Graduate School.” tempts to get paid more for their harvests. Lafayette. Lafayette can access the VSA’s consumer- That includes UL Lafayette Presi- Reporter Don Teague incorporated In a blog posted March 14, Henkel friendly College Portrait through the pro- dent Dr. Ray Authement. “We added part of that interview in a story that was previewed the story that would be aired spective students 50 new assistantships and increased broadcast March 17. on March 17. “Think OPEC on a much link on the uni- Typical Undergraduate stipends by $2,000 per year,” the presi- Teague told viewers that the state’s smaller scale,” he wrote. “. . . On a per- dent said. Thanks to the pay raise, grad versity’s web site, Costs per Year “$100 million crawfish industry is in cri- sonal note, I love crawfish. I wish we Without Financial Aid Bourque teaches now as poet Laureate students in master’s programs now earn www.louisiana.edu sis,” noting that the wholesale price for could bring you smell-a-vision.” (Full-Time, In-State $7,500 per year; students in Ph.D. pro- The College Students) grams earn $12,000 per year. Portrait concisely A UL Lafayette professor emeritus of English is Other recruitment tactics included: presents five pages Louisiana’s new poet laureate. • advertising UL Lafayette’s graduate of information Dr. Darrell Bourque, former head of the English programs nationwide via the Internet; sProfes or Contributes to PBS Documentary about UL Lafay- Department and Friends of the Humanities/BORSF • revamping marketing materials; ette’s status in the Endowed Professor of the Humanities, was given a • hosting workshops to provide in- 2006-07 academic two-year appointment by former Gov. Kathleen Blanco The head of UL Lafayette’s English Department was in formation to students interested in seek- Washington, D.C., in late March for the screening of a PBS year. It shows, for in November. The Louisiana Senate confirmed the ap- ing advanced degrees; and example: pointment. documentary, “Triumph at Carville,” at the National Mu- • enabling students to apply for seum of Health and Medicine. • 16,345 stu- Louisiana’s poet laureate traditionally delivers Grad School and pay a $25 application Dr. Marcia Gaudet, the university’s Dr. Doris Meri- dents are enrolled; readings across the state. fee online. Total: $11,039 wether/BORSF Professor of English, was a consultant for 58 percent are In an Associated Press article published in Novem- Palmer said the entire university the documentary about the Gillis W. Long Hansen’s Disease female and 42 per- ber, Bourque said poetry is a vital part of a people and benefited when 50 assistantships were Center in Carville, La. Her book, Carville: Remembering cent are male; their culture. “The ideas that we have about art, that we added. “Graduate students are the Leprosy in America, won the 2005 Chicago Folklore Prize. • 62 percent of undergraduate classes have about the world we live in, that we have about our people who assist with teaching courses have fewer than 30 students; and human mission are interrelated and connected to the t erri fensel and help with research projects,” he That prize is awarded by the University of Chicago each Dr. Darrell Bourque • 94 percent of seniors who participat- geography that we grow out of,” he stated. “The whole explained. So UL Lafayette could offer year for the best book on folklore published worldwide. From 1894 to 1999, the center was the only inpatient ed in a national survey said UL Lafayette of Louisiana is connected on some basic level that to me is almost poetry.” more undergraduate classes and give provides support for student success. Bourque’s published collections of poetry include The Blue Boat, Burnt Water more faculty members a hand. hospital in the nation for the treatment of Hansen’s disease. Until the 1960s, Americans diagnosed with the disease The VSA is a joint effort of the Ameri- Suite, Where Land Meets Sky, The Doors Between Us and Plainsongs. He has direct- UL Lafayette’s Graduate School can Association of State Colleges and Uni- ed the Deep South Writer’s Conference and was project director for Significant Voic- has 24 master’s degree programs; a post were legally quarantined there. The web site for the PBS program features an image of “Medicine in Louisiana” a mu- versities and the National Association of es, a reading series featuring poetry by young African-American writers in Louisiana. master’s certificate program; eight doctor State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Bourque received the UL Lafayette Foundation’s Distinguished Professor Award of philosophy degrees; and a doctor of ral on the first floor of UL Lafayette’s Dupré Library. in 1997. education degree. pbs.org/triumphatcarville/ http://instres.louisiana.edu/VSA/VSA.pdf

16 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 17 Tech Knowledge

If that single letter “K” doesn’t mean anything, you probably haven’t k been keeping up with communication technology. Although e-mail is still around, college students have moved on to a faster method of exchanging information: text messaging. It doesn’t require a stationary computer, so it’s perfect for a population that seems to always be on the move. All that’s needed is a cell phone or PDA (that’s short for personal digital assistant) with built-in wireless telecommunication. “K”, by the way, is text message speak for “OK.” y lor y lor y lor F. J. G a F. F. J. G a F. D oug ugas F. J. G a F. D oug ugas D oug ugas

24 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 25 y lor D oug ugas F. .J. G a F. D oug ugas y lor y lor y lor F. .J. G a F. .J. G a F. D oug ugas D oug ugas D oug ugas D oug ugas F. .J. G a F.

Cell phones are everywhere on campus. Apple iPods are ubiquitous, too. Treadmills at Bourgeois Hall keep track of calories expended during a brisk “walk” on an elliptical machine. And, CajunBot II, an autonomous land ve- hicle, is still a high-tech teacher, as shown on the previous page. Using digital cameras, which have made film practically extinct, profes- sional photographers have documented some of the ways UL Lafayette stu- dents use technology to learn and have a little fun.

“It is increasingly evident that the influence of technology on higher educa- tion will be more profound than any previous circumstance or resource that has impacted teaching and learning in recent history. Both the method and organization which currently characterize universities are being transformed. This transformation is accelerated by rapid and continuous advancements in communication technologies, changing population demographics, and the ex- pectations of the market place. The advancement of UL Lafayette will depend largely on its ability to anticipate and accommodate these changes. The Uni- versity must be prepared to compete nationally, and eventually globally, for a growing nontraditional technologically astute clientele. To do so effectively and economically will require a product-oriented organizational structure marked by cooperation and by a dynamic plan of action: The implementation of which will help define UL Lafayette as an Information Age University.” Source: 2002 SGA Student Technology Enhancement Program Plan D oug ugas

26 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 27 onday through Friday, Ray Lucas shooter killed two people at a dorm, then seemed to drop out of sight. Two and a half hours later, he resurfaced on is responsible for the safety of campus and killed 30 people in an academic building. Mwhat is essentially a small city. Virginia Tech administrators sent an e-mail alert to • He’s chief of University Police at the students after the first shooting. But a review panel that studied the crime said they could have done more. University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the The second-guessing that followed the Virginia Tech second largest university in the state. slayings galvanized colleges and universities across the country into examining their own responses to emergencies With 16,345 students and about 1,900 on campus. employees, it begins to approach the size Unlike most small cities, UL Lafayette is geographi- of Opelousas, La. • Numbers aside, a uni- cally compact. When a significant incident is reported on campus, University Police officers’ goal is to get to the versity is different than a municipality in scene in less than four minutes. many ways. Take crime, for instance. • Although the campus is densely populated, it presents “The amount of violent crime that hap- a challenge to university officials who need to communi- cate quickly with students, faculty and staff. pens on college campuses nationwide “We have learned that to be effective, multiple over- is lower than that of cities and towns of lapping technologies must be used,” said Joey Pons, direc- tor of Environmental Health and Safety at UL Lafayette. comparable size,” Lucas noted in a recent In March, the university implemented another tier interview. • Security on campus became a of its emergency notification plan. It activated FirstCall, hot-button issue across the United States an interactive communications network that uses voice, e-mail and text to alert registered users to emergencies after a disturbed student shot and killed on campus. 32 students on the campus of Virginia “Should an emergency develop on campus, this sys- tem would simultaneously begin notifying students, fac- Tech before taking his own life last year. ulty and staff via phone calls, text messaging and e-mail That tragedy had a chilling twist: The alerts,” Pons said. In Case of an emergency

Photography by Doug Dugas

28 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 29 Students, faculty card will drastically reduce the number of keys to university Unlike most small cities, UL and staff can provide ad- buildings that are issued to UL Lafayette personnel. Lafayette is geographically ditional e-mail addresses Equipment that enables Cajun Card access to buildings has and phone numbers been installed at all residence halls, Fletcher Hall and the new compact. When a significant for emergency voice Advanced Computer Technology and Research Hall. Installation incident is reported on and/or text messages. of the equipment is under way at Madison Hall and Angelle Hall. For instance, a student “The goal is to have Cajun campus, University Police may choose to include Card access at every building,” officers’ goal is to get to the his parents’ home phone Gastineau said. scene in less than four minutes. number as an additional Surveillance cameras also are contact number. being installed gradually. About 90 The FirstCall were in operation at press time. buildings. The 911 system worked well if the person calling for service is part of an Gastineau said the Cajun Card assistance could speak and state his or her location on campus. initiative by the Loui- system provides a record when a Cajun But if, for any reason, the caller couldn’t speak, the 911 dispatcher siana Board of Regents Card is used to enter a building; that could not determine the source of the call. Ultimately, the call and supported by the information is supplemented by surveil- could be traced by Mahler, but it was a time-consuming process. So University of Louisiana lance cameras. “I can tell whose card was he came up with PE911. System. used, but closed caption TV shows who “We have built a database of every university phone number, The University of used the card,” he explained. on and off campus, the physical building and room it’s located in, Louisiana at Lafayette Steve Mahler, director of Informa- the street address of the building, the building’s official name and was one of the first in tion Networks at UL Lafayette, has its common name. We’re adding the longitude and latitude of all the state to implement implemented another safety feature that the locations now,” he said. emergency messaging uses technology. PE911 makes it faster Mahler has configured the main telephone switch so that it when it rolled out a plan and easier to identify a phone used on provides the telephone number where the 911 call is originating with Mobile Campus in campus to place a call to 911. to the 911 operator. The 911 operator can then obtain location 2007. This system uses Mahler explained that a main trunk information from the PE911 database to send help to the correct text messaging to notify line delivers phone service to campus. location. The PE911 database can also be used for calls made di- subscribers to events on Wiring then branches off to phones in rectly to University Police. campus. Although FirstCall will now be the university’s emergency There are Code Blue phones at nine locations across campus. text messaging service, Mobile Campus will continue to serve as a Top: Through FirstCall, emergency Most of those phones are on poles that have blue lights attached. mobile communications tool for campus organizations and students. alerts can be transmitted to cell The Code Blue phones are secured to walls on each floor of the The more than 3,000 subscribers to MobileCampus.com phones via text message. Center: new Taft Street Parking Garage. should check the online registration page for FirstCall – ens.louisi- Code Blue emergency phones are “You hit a button and it automatically calls University Police. ana.edu – to add or confirm their contact information. on every floor of the new aftT Street It’s just like a speaker phone. We can talk to you, you can talk to “The missions of these companies are different and we think Parking Garage. Below: Ray Lucas, us. There’s a light on the top of the pole that flashes blue when this is an ideal way for them to coexist on campus,” said Pons. chief of University Police. someone activates it. We automatically dispatch an officer when a Other tiers of UL Lafayette’s emergency notification plan in- Code Blue is alerted,” Lucas said. clude the following. When a student calls Univer- • Departmental Radio Receivers These emergency radio sity Police on a cell phone, it takes receivers broadcast alerts through the National Weather Service a little longer to respond because Network. These alerts – known as local area emergency alerts – can the dispatcher has to determine the be broadcast to more than 125 emergency radio receivers that have caller’s location. “With Code Blue, been placed in offices throughout campus. the dispatcher knows exactly which • Campus Hotline In case of an emergency, a recorded mes- phone is being used.” sage is played on the university’s hotline: 482-2222. This hotline Top: Cpl. Thad Efferson is shown at University Police headquar- Lucas, who is also an attorney, has been in operation for several years. It has primarily been used ters on Hebrard Boulevard. UP operates 24 hours a day, seven noted that although campus secu- days a week. Above: Nicole Bell uses her Cajun Card to enter to distribute information related to severe weather but it can be rity is a top priority, any steps the Advanced Computer Technology and Research Hall after regular used for any emergency announcement. UL Lafayette has a backup business hours. Controlled access to some buildings is supple- university takes to keep students campus hotline that’s out of state. mented by surveillance cameras. Previous spread: OfficerD aniel safe must be weighed carefully. • University Web Site A text-only web site has been devel- Nickola on patrol. Officers make rounds on bikes, on foot and in “It’s an open campus. We’re an oped to automatically replace the university’s home page – www. vehicles. Bikes are effective because they can reach certain areas open society. There’s a tradeoff be- louisiana.edu – in case of an emergency. more quickly than vehicles. tween security and openness. “The safety of our students and our campus community is our “We are an institution of higher priority,” said Della Bonnette, vice president for Information Tech- business hours by requiring access with a Cajun Card. And, it is education and we have to be open nology. “These different forms of technology help us better prepare installing surveillance cameras at key locations. to the free exchange of ideas and for emergencies.” The Cajun Card, which serves as official identification at UL also the free movement of people. It UL Lafayette uses technology for campus security in several Lafayette, is a multipurpose card issued to all students, faculty has to be that way. We have to bal- ways that are not related to emergencies. and staff. ance those two competing needs. I For instance, it has started securing buildings after regular Lucien Gastineau, director of the Cajun Card System, said the think we do that very well.” n

30 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 31 killers and fertilizer are needed to keep gets crowded in a hurry,” Farmer said. De- Marching Band could use it for practices Sports grass healthy. Paint is used for stripes and pending on the season, rains can be brief. on occasion. Events such as Kiwanis Jam- logos on the field. The artificial turf will be ready for practice boree, an area high school football tourna- The new field will cost about as soon as rain ends. Cajun Field’s proxim- ment, could be held at Cajun Field without $700,000. It is expected to have a 10-year ity to the newly renovated weight room in the risk of damaging the playing field. life, with minimal maintenance costs. the Cox Communications Athletic Center ‘It’s an image thing’ “When you add up all the costs associ- is a plus; it’s convenient for strength coach- “This field will look great every day ated with a natural grass playing field, it’s es to use to condition student-athletes. of the year. It’s something that our coaches more economical to put in artificial turf,” Cajun Field can be used can use to recruit every day,” Farmer said. Faux Grass Farmer said. for more than Football Recruitment is the lifeblood of colle- Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns® will To make sure the natural grass sur- giate athletics, he explained. Artificial turf will take mud out of The Swamp gain another practice field face stayed in the best condition possible, The new field will also make a positive There’s already an outdoor practice the Athletic Department rarely granted impression on potential students – not just ouisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns® will It’s cheaper field next to the Alfred and Helen Lamson requests by other teams or organizations student-athletes – and on potential donors have already defeated one powerful Maintaining a natural surface requires Ragin’ Cajun Softball Park. When it rains, to use Cajun Field during football season. and athletic event sponsors, he continued. Lopponent – Mother Nature – by the equipment, supplies and labor. For in- the football team heads for the Leon Mon- The artificial surface, Farmer said, “will “It’s an image thing. It will help time they play their first home game on stance, crews use gasoline-powered lawn- cla Indoor Practice Facility. “But when we enable us to say ‘Yes’ more often.” For strengthen the image of our Athletic De- Sept. 20. mowers and string trimmers. Water, weed put 120 guys on that field at one time, it example, UL Lafayette’s Pride of Acadiana partment.” Installation of artificial turf this sum- mer will take away her ability to affect Cajun Field’s playing surface. it takes a team to score a field goal • By Drew Edmiston Scott Farmer, UL Lafayette’s senior associate athletic director, said switching from natural grass to artificial grass will ensure that the gridiron remains in opti- mum shape and always looks its best. “This field will become a showcase for our university, for our Athletic Depart- ment,” he said. Farmer ranks the ar- tificial turf as the second most important athletic B rad K emp B rad K emp B rad K emp B rad K emp facility improvement at I line up my kick with where I want it Before every kick, I look up, picture This is the most important part of my My head is down and I kick the ball UL Lafayette in recent to go, taking into consideration wind, the ball going through the uprights, kick. A good plant into the ground at a steep angle to get the lift and years. The first, he said, rain and field conditions. take a deep breath, then nod to the with my left foot keeps me balanced distance it needs. My goal is to, after was construction of the holder to tell him I’m ready. and directs where the ball will go. a second or two, look up and see the huge Leon Moncla Indoor ball right where I pictured it. Practice Facility, which opened in Fall 2007. It (Editor’s note: La Louisiane asked Drew cial turf, I was excited. I have practiced a lot do away with my pre-game field check ritu- placed for the kick can send it in the wrong enables all Ragin’ Cajun Edmiston, Louisana’s Ragin’ Cajuns® in the Leon Moncla Indoor Practice Facility, al, but I’ll probably still do it out of habit. direction. Any kicker will tell you that the teams to stay dry and safe kicker, how he expects artificial turf at which has artificial turf, as did my alma ma- The condition of the field and foot hold can make or break you, so there has when they must practice Cajun Field to affect his kick and to de- ter, Owasso High School in Owasso, Okla. placement are important, but there is a lot to be a lot of trust and confidence between during inclement weather. scribe what’s needed for a successful field It is a great surface to play on and it helps more involved in the success of a field goal. holder and kicker. The last part of an effec- “There’s no doubt goal. A senior, he has made 21 career me out a lot at my position. I will be able to It’s my name that is printed in the news- tive field goal is the kick. that the No. 1 strength field goals.) kick without worrying so much about stick- paper after a game winner, but a kicker’s Thankfully, I have been blessed in in the Athletic Depart- ing my “plant foot” firmly into the ground success depends a lot on efforts from other my kicking career with always having a ment today is the indoor “ he Swamp” has always been without it slipping out from underneath me team members. group of guys that I can count on when- practice facility because my favorite place to play. Maybe mid-kick due to bad field conditions. Once the offense has gotten the ball in ever I’m called onto the field. The new no one else in the Sun Tit’s the uniqueness of competing As much as I love Cajun Field, a little field goal range, the coach can elect to go for artificial turf will relieve some nerves for Belt Conference has that. on a field that’s two feet below sea level. bit of rain can turn it into a mud pit, even a field goal. There has to be great protection me and will have many benefits for some It sets us apart,” Farmer Or maybe it’s the excitement of hearing with its underground drainage system. from the line blocking the opposing team. of our other players as well, but we will said. the echoes of teammates yelling and About two hours before every game, I have A small miscue there can result in a blocked all remember the days when “The Swamp” He offered several cleats clacking as we walk down the walked the field, scoping out all the haz- kick and turnover, which ultimately could truly was ways artificial turf at Ca- long, dark tunnel to the field. Either ards and planning how I would approach a mean points for the other team. a swamp. n jun Field will benefit the B rad K emp way, once a Cajun plays in the Swamp, kick if the ball happened to be placed in a There has to be a good snap to the Scott Farmer, senior associate athletic director at UL Lafayette, shows University of Louisiana at anywhere else just isn’t home. little bayou on the field. Since the artificial holder so that he can make a good hold. off a new generation of artificial turf to be installed at Cajun Field. Lafayette. When I heard of the switch to artifi- turf will be more consistent, I could almost Even a small variation in the way the ball is

32 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 33 4 LA 34 sports blamed injuries players. ing. pen. m there’s knee you would trying turf bad locked from bers is usedtoformacushion. give themalittlepieceofmind.” you humidity onthefield. through dirt. Thatmeansless system –fasterthanitfilters runs intoanunderground drainage j the sorb Farmer said. ing them round. “Theimportance ofitbe coated insilicon will becushionedbysandgranules tiny pieces. rubber tires thathadbeenground into said. Inthepast,itwasoftenmadeof f foot ters rubber fillmaterial.And,moisture fil blades ofgrassare attachedto aback the 1960s:plasticfibersthatlooklike same aswhenitwasintroduced in you’re tentative,badthingscanhap “And usually, inathletics,when while makingaplay, forexample. know whetherhisfeetwillslip athlete tobetentativeifhedoesn’t a naturaltendencyforstudent- will provide,” Farmersaid.There’s for consistencyandthat’s whatit l uries, ace. consistent playing surface ong way inthepast decade Artifcal turfhas come a ented Artifcal turfprovides a

LOUISIANE round isthatitdoesn’t compact,”

through thecoatedparticles –and

Insteadofdirt, asyntheticmaterial

artificial

hasimproved dramatically, Farmer That’s whenyougethitand asmuchofthesun’s heatasblack lower get hurt. Thisartificial turf will and would But thefillerbetweenplasticfi Early The light-colorgranulesdon’t ab The artificial turf atCajunField The principleremains the “Student-athletes are looking

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and sur of - - - Sept * SunBeltConference Games Dec. 3 Nov. 22 Nov. 15 denton,Texas Nov. 8 No northTexas*Oct Oct. 11 Oct. 4 Sept. 27 Sept. 13 Aug. 30 - - - - - v. 1 Cajun Field’s playingsurfacewill requireminimalmaintenancetostayintopcondition. . 18 . 20 2008 Louisiana’s Ra

sand ral Farmer explainedwhatwillhappen: Cajun Fieldwilltakeabout90days. not causeburns,”henoted. carpet burns.Thisnewmaterialdoes skin abrasions.“Literally, theywere use thatdirt, bytheway, tobuildupour bring thatcrown down.W down thecenterpart ofthefieldto the sod.Thentheywillremove thearea about a4-inchcrown. for theartificial turf willonly have that’s whathelpsittodrain.Thefield That moundispretty significant but 18 incheshigherthanthetwosidelines. means thecenteroffieldisabout M Troy* Florida Atlantic* UT at ElPaso 63rd Homecoming Florida International Arkansas State* Louisiana-Monroe* Kansas State 8th AnnualHerbertHeymannFootballClassic Kent State Illinois Southern Miss grassfields,hasacrown onit. That iddle Tennessee* “The current field,likemostnatu Installation oftheartificial turf at The earlyartificial turf alsocaused “So first,theinstallerswillremove

will Football Schedule

give,”

Farmer

said. * e are goingto Cajun Field Champaign, Ill. Cajun Field Troy, Ala. Boca Raton,Fla. Cajun Field Cajun Field Monroe, La. Manhattan, Kan. Cajun Field Hattiesburg, Miss. gin’ C ajuns -

®

nect the field.And,it’s alsowhere youcon and notjustdumponthefield. seating area, itwillhaveaplace togo popcorn andsunflowerseedsfrom the comes down,bringingpeanutshells, will havedrainsinit.Sowhenthewater ends uponthefield.Thiscementpad tem. ball For example,waterdrainsdownafoot poured around thefield. surface toanexistingdrainagesys same time,installerswilllinkthenew spread andcovered withamat.Atthe crown onitsodrains outdoor practicefield,tobuildalarger 4 p.m. TBA TBA TBA 3 p.m. TBA 6 p.m. TBA TBA TBA 6 p.m. TBA stadium,unfortunately, anditall theartificial turf.” Aneight-footcementpadwillbe “It willenable severalpurposes. “That padserves The The sand-likematerialwillbe

only n gridiron primarily underground sea t during in f claims about anyway,” hejoked. have anyonein thestands an debris. artificial is than acturer em ame

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turf any - to - - - or higher–ona4.0scaleduringthe athletes posteda3.0gradepointaverage T Ragin’ Cajuns between a3.0-3.49. a3.50-3.99,while96more logged earned a4.0. vision toearn ing quarterbacksinthe Y National cer performer;andAshleyBrignac,Gatorade Stephanie L M 4.0 GPA duringthefallsemester, including – rackedup3.0orbetterGPAs. a totalof383Ragin’Cajuns–or45percent 2007 semester. Almost halfofULLaf solid earn student-athletes ear. Desormeauxwasoneofonlyfivestart ichael Desormeaux,startingquarterback; agin’ CajunPride With NewLook ailgaters ShowTheirRagin’ T An additional55student-athletes T An academicreport showedthat173of wenty-two Cajunsear he combinedGPA ofallLouisiana’s High SchooloftballPlayerofthe ynch, All-SunBeltwomen’s soc ®

was2.76. T A

to showtheir the university’s official logos.It’s anew, distinctiveway of threeour most popularmarks,”Simon-

to differentlogos,sowedecided toofferthemchoices

I L R

groups toaddtheirnameselementsofLouisiana’s G agin Cajuns “A tailgatinggroup canadditsnametothese de- One designfeaturesauniversityflagbearingthe Football BowlSubdi for tailgaters. a ana’ The universityhasteamedupwithsomeLouisi- co-branded withitsfansinthisway yette’s

A “To ourknowledge,nootheruniversityhasever these designs,tailgaterscanpersonalizepartsof university’s trademark licensingprogram.“With of PublicRelationsandNewsServicesthe Simon-Dronet, directorofULLafayette’s Office

T ned aperfect It hasdesignedtwologosthatenabletailgating s Ragin’Cajuns E

R student- Ragin’ Cajunpride.” S ® terlocking initials“UL.”“Fans aredrawn logos. Fall a successfulathletictradition. nant, whichisacommonsymbolfor symbol. Theotherspotlightsapen- round Louisiana’ gin’ Cajuns - Cajuns - - gos eachhaveversionsthat ® fanstocreateaspeciallook incorporate eithertheround, primary Louisiana’ letes matched those grades. of 3.0 or higher, while 85 male student-ath- dent-athletes – or over 60 percent – had GPAs E scores, but only slightly. males with equal academic 3.0 or higher outnumbered gender, females with a are broken down by director. senior associateathletics S mitment toacademics,”said our student-athletes’com- juns. “We areproud very of ever recorded bytheCa- of a point from the best GPA grades were onlyone-tenth The flagandpennantlo- ® cott Farmer, ULafayette’s i mark;theLouisiana’s Ra- ghty-nine of U ® T When the statistics The student-athletes’ wordmark;orthein- he women’s soccerteamcaptured the s Ragin’Cajuns S cores cores ,” saidJulie L Dronet said.

L s Ragin’ afayette’s 148 female stu ®

GPA T soccer 3.461 a consistently ranks in the top 30 nationally in attendance yearly attendance figures released by the a ing list. Lots of tailgaters also turn out to support Louisi- are filled for each home football game and there is a wait- D pride intheUniversityofLouisianaatLafayette,”Simon- inspiring tohavesuchloyaltailgaterswhowantshow offer fans an opportunity to show their affiliation. produce quality products which support the university and mark rights. Through the program, licensed manufacturers positively promote UL Lafayette, while protecting its trade- edu/Advancement/ facturers ispostedontheuniversity’s website:louisiana. that licensedmanufacturersoffer. Alistofthosemanu- reproduced ont-shirts,caps,flagsandanyotheritems Simon- do isgotooneofthemandorderwhattheywouldlike,” the righttoreproducelogos,soalltailgatersneed Cajun fans,”Simon-Dronetsaid. able tousethemidentifythemselvesasproud or whosegroupsdon’t haveofficialnames,willalsobe too. Sotailgaterswhodon’t belongtoorganizedgroups, signs. Butthenewlogoslooksharpwithoutaname, na’s mong all 296 ronet said. eam More than 175 official tailgating sites near Cajun Field “This isanotherphaseofourbrandingstrategy. It’s The university’s licensing program was created to “We have20locallicensedmanufacturerswhoown R agin’ Cajuns Dronet said.Thenewtailgatinglogoscanbe - D – 3.762inthe corded GPA foranyteaminthelastdecade a teamGPA ofatleast2.75. posted ateamGPA greater than3.0;10had ivision I baseball programs, according to PRNS/licensing/ ® Women’s tennisholdsthehighestre- baseball. M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field LA

LOUISIANE with a3.086GPA. honor formen’s programs, tured thehighestacademic Conference T which wonthe2007SunBelt ter that it had at least a 3.0. was the sixth consecutive semes- Spring of2005. team posted a 3.185 GPA. It S T higher GPA. a3.0or the teamearned consecutive semesterthat 3.461. best teamGPA, witha ix Ragin’Cajunteams he men’s golfteam,

|

T SPRING h e women’s volleyball This wasthe10th ournament, cap ournament, NCAA.

2008

Ragin’ - 35 ALUMNI Association

Giving More Members show support for university through Annual Fund

or the second consecutive gible for discounts from Dell Computers, year, the UL Lafayette Alumni Asso- for example. “We’ve had people tell us that Fciation’s Annual Fund has raised a the discount on the Dell computer they record-breaking amount. purchased was more than what they paid “Prior to last year, the largest dollar to be a member of the Alumni Associa- amount was in 1996, right after the Ragin’ tion,” Hare said. Cajuns defeated A&M,” said Dan Hare, In the past few years, the Associa- executive director of the Alumni Associa- tion has taken some steps to increase its tion. “The Annual Fund peaked again in membership, such as making it more 2006. This past year, it surpassed convenient for some graduates to join. It that amount. So we are pleased that set up payroll deduction for UL Lafayette the past two years have been record employees and extended the reduced breakers.” membership cost for new graduates to five Contributors to the The 2007 Annual Fund years, for example. Annual Fund receive: brought in about $343,000, accord- The Association works continually to ing to Association records. improve its programs and services, such as Find your seat n Alumni Association membership Through the Annual Fund, scholarships. Its scholarships are funded, donors can contribute to any area n Recognition in publications in part, by the Annual Fund. Scholarships With the Community Information Pages in AT&T Real Yellow Pages, you’ll find of the university, such as an aca- are also supported by the sale of prestige n La Louisiane magazine demic college. license plates. seating charts for major sports and entertainment venues in your area. And n Alumni Accents newsletter There’s a built-in incentive “We recently doubled our 10 schol- on YELLOWPAGES.COMTM you can find detailed maps and directions. Find your n Association voting privileges to donate: membership in the UL arship endowments. In the past, we had seat and the theatre with AT&T Real Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM. n Travel program offerings Alumni Association. A couple can $10,000 endowments that would each gen- join with a $60 donation to the An- erate a $500 scholarship annually. They are n Homecoming, reunion, and special events The new AT&T. Your world. Delivered. nual Fund; an individual can join now $20,000 endowments that each gener- invitations with a $40 contribution. Recent UL ate $1,000 a year,” Hare said. n Edith Garland Dupré Library privileges Lafayette graduates only need to At its annual Spring Gala in April, the n National discounts contribute $20 to become an Asso- Association announced the establishment n Discounts at UL Lafayette and Follett’s ciation member. of an endowed scholarship in honor of the “Membership matters,” Hare university’s president and his wife: the Dr. bookstores said. “The Association exists to sup- and Mrs. Ray Authement Endowed Schol- n Discounts from Lafayette area businesses port the university, while strength- arship for a First Generation Student. n Discounts to Performing Arts Department ening the ties between alumni and “While Annual Fund contributions events their alma mater.” for the past two years have surpassed In addition to the satisfaction n Volunteer and leadership opportunities previous years’ successes, the Alumni of helping the university, Associa- Association’s membership represents n Membership card tion members enjoy some specific only 9 percent of our alumni base,” Hare n Recognition gifts benefits, such as discounts from said. “We are thankful for the support- n Discounted membership to the Paul and area businesses and national com- ers that we have and encourage others to Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum panies, discounts on tickets to UL join them in their support to enable us Lafayette’s Performing Arts Depart- to maintain and continue to improve our n Complimentary entrance to Alumni ment events and complimentary programs and services.” Association’s hospitality tent at all home entry to the Association’s hospitality For more information about Alumni As- Ragin’ Cajun football games tent at all Louisiana’s Ragin’ Ca- sociation membership, call (337) 482-0900. juns® home football games. Association members are eli- www.louisianaalumni.org ©2008 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. 36 LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2008 ©2008 YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC. All rights reserved. LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 37 A Look Back Whittingon and her husband, ALUMNI JAMES WHITTINGTON JR., ’69, have a daughter, RACHEL WHITTINGTON SAFFO, ’02, who is married to DAVID SAFFO, ’04; and two sons, MATTHEW WHITTINGTON, ’03, who is married to GISELLE LUQUETTE, ’03, and Paul Whittington, who was accepted into LSU School Sacramento City Uni- of Veterinary Medicine after fied School District completing his third year at UL Teacher of the Year in Lafayette. Paul Whittington is June 2007. She teaches expected to earn his degree in students at Sutter veterinary medicine in May. Middle School in Sac- ramento, Calif., who are communicatively 1951 District Dental Society and the 1966 1974 handicapped. She also Texas Dental Association. A U.S. 1970 provides assistance A.J. ANTOINE is a retired educa- Navy veteran, Burnett was on GAY ANN PATIN BRASHER was MARY B. PERRIN was recently hon- KAROLYN BROUSSARD is president tor with 52 recently in- of Region 1 of to teachers there who active duty in World War II and ored at the 13th annual Women are in the Beginning years of ser- the Korean War; he served in the ducted into the of Excellence award ceremony. QHR Manage- vice. He was Hall of Fame ment Services. Teacher Support and Naval Reserve for 34 years. He is She has helped promote Louisi- Assessment program. a science and a Rotarian, Mason and Shriner. of the Na- ana’s native crafts, art and culture She oversees math teacher, tional Forensic ongoing client Cagle holds a bachelor’s He helped establish the Salt and and has been instrumental in degree in speech and principal, su- Light Charity Dental Clinic. Bur- League Debate helping artists, especially Creoles service and pervisor of sci- and Speech new business hearing therapy and nett received a bachelor’s degree and Houma Indians, market their a master’s degree in ence and math, in biology from SLI and a doctor Honor Society. work. She is the only Louisiana development Jeff DeBlanc, ‘46, was the first SLI alumnus to receive the and director She directs the in the Eastern speech pathology and Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award. President of dental surgery degree from artist represented in the pres- audiology from USL. of secondary education for the Baylor Dental College. He and forensics program at Leland tigious 20th anniversary Artist and midwestern sections of the Harry S. Truman is shown presenting the medal during Lafayette Parish School System High School in San Jose, Calif. United States. She also man- She is married to Elliot his wife, Janie, have a daughter, Book Exhibit at the National 1946 a ceremony in Washington, D.C. In an air battle over the for 38 years before retiring in That school’s debate team is ages a team of QHR regional Mulberg; the couple four sons and nine grandchil- Museum of Women Artists in Pacific during World War II, DeBlanc risked his own life 1986. Antoine then joined UL the largest in the United States, executives who advise hospital have a son, Jonathan. dren. Washington, D.C. She earned a to help fellow fighter pilots. He died in November 2007. Lafayette’s faculty, where he was with more than 300 members. bachelor’s of fine arts degree from management teams and boards an adjunct supervisor of student Leland High School named its USL and a master of fine arts on hospital operations. Brous- 1976 www.louisiana.edu/Advancement/PRNS/lala/2001-SPRG/alumni.pdf teachers in math and science for 1956 new auditorium in Brasher’s degree from Vermont College. sard received a bachelor’s degree 14 years. During his career, he honor. She holds bachelor’s in medical records science and a JACK LANGLOIS is one of ROSE M. GIGLIO BRYAN, a Real- She and her husband, WARREN three attorneys estab- was president of several profes- tor®, established Bryan Realty in and master’s degrees in educa- PERRIN, ’69, live in Lafayette. master’s degree in business ad- sional associations, president of tion from USL, where she was ministration from USL. She lives lishing a Houston office was a member of the Ragin’ champion tram- March 2007 in Farmers Branch, for DLA Piper, the nation’s largest the Lafayette Area Football Of- Texas, near Dallas-Forth Worth. a member of the university’s in Nashville. Cajuns football team from 1973- polinist while a ficials Association and chairman speech and debate team. She is law firm. He was formerly head 77. He and his wife, Kathy, have student at USL. She has achieved the designation 1972 of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer of the Lafayette Parish Vocational ® married to THOMAS BRASHER, ’70. LOWELL HINCHEE recently earned two sons, Michael and Jeff, and a Her father, Jeff of Graduate Realtor Institute JOSEPH WINSTON FONTENOT has a and Feld LLP’s energy projects Education Advisory Committee. Their daughter, CAROLE LYNN the designation of master certi- daughter, Elizabeth. Hennessy, was and is a certified real estate spe- real estate investment company practice in Houston. Langlois Antoine received the Phi Delta BRASHER HEINEN, ’86, is a third- fied flight instructor – acrobatic, the gymnastics cialist. Bryan earned a bachelor’s in Euless, Texas. He is a former received a bachelor’s degree in Kappa Outstanding Educator degree in secretarial science from grade teacher who lives with assistant vice which is held by only 15 of the and trampoline Award in 1989. He holds a bach- her husband and two sons in 91,000 certified flight instructors prelaw from USL and a juris doc- 1980 coach at USL Southwest Louisiana Institute. president of tor from Paul M. Hebert Law elor’s degree in science education San Jose. in the United States. He learned THOMAS COTTEN was recently for over 25 She has two children, Paul A. Bank of Amer- Center at LSU. from SLI and a master’s degree in Billings and Herbert E. Billings. ica in Addison, to fly in 1969 while serving in reelected to a years. He was inducted into the administration and supervision Texas. During the U.S. Army at Fort Lewis, two-year term USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in from USL. He and his wife, Sally, 1969 Wash. After completing his mili- TOM SANDAHL was named presi- as a board 1992. The Hennessys are the only his career, Fon- dent emeritus and director of car- have been married for 57 years. 1961 WARREN A. PERRIN was inducted tenot has been tary service, Hinchee received a member-at- father and daughter team induct- They have four children, who all into the Louisiana Justice bachelor’s degree in agronomy rier relations of Wright and Percy large for the ed into the Hall of Fame. Leigh JEROME A. LANDRY recently re- a senior infor- Insurance in February. The com- attended UL Lafayette, Michael Hall of Fame by the Louisiana from USL. He flew crop dusters Society of tired as president and chief exec- mation technol- pany is based in Baton Rouge, La. Antoine; Mark Antoine; DAVID G. State Penitentiary Museum and later taught aviation at the Louisiana CPAs. utive officer of Frontier Technol- ogy manager and a consultant to Sandahl earned a degree in busi- ANTOINE, ’79; and LISA ANTOINE Foundation in July 2007. The University of Louisiana at Mon- He graduated ogy Inc., an information technol- some Fortune 500 companies. ness administration from USL. 1900-1921 COLOMB, ’80. cum laude from ogy company in Reston, Va. He Hall of Fame was created in He received a bachelor’s degree roe. He left the teaching post to Southwestern Louisiana retired from the U.S. Air Force 2005 to honor members of law in management from USL. He pursue development of special- UL Lafayette with a degree in Industrial Institute in 1994 as a brigadier general. enforcement, the judiciary and is married to Margaret Chaplain ized aviation training. In 1999, marketing. Cotten operates his 1954 related fields. Perrin received Hinchee established Foundation 1977 own consulting and tax firm in Landry is a former senior vice Fontenot. MICHAEL LANGSTON, a U.S. Navy 1921-1960 DR. JAMES V. BURNETT is a dentist president at BDM International a bachelor’s degree from USL Flyers Inc. in Winter Haven, Baton Rouge. Cotten serves on Southwestern Louisiana in Fort Worth, Texas, who spe- and a juris doctor from Paul Fla. It offers specialized pilot chaplain, recently returned the boards of directors for the and TRW. He holds a bachelor from a two-year tour of duty Institute cializes in prosthodontics. He is of science degree in liberal arts M. Hebert Law Center at LSU. 1973 training in lifesaving, unusual Baton Rouge Area Foundation a fellow in the American College He is an attorney with the firm altitude recovery techniques. in Afghanistan and Iraq. This and The Center for Planning from USL and a master’s degree DIANNE BROWN WHITTINGTON is a summer, he will become the new 1960-1999 of Dentists and the International from Auburn University. Landry Perrin, Landry, deLaunay, Dartez clinical instructor in communica- Hinchee is also a Federal Avia- Excellence. University of Southwestern College of Dentists. In 1983, he and Ouellet in Lafayette. He is tion Administration Safety Team commanding officer of the Naval Louisiana and his wife, Theresa, live in tive disorders at UL Lafayette. Chaplain School in Newport, R.I. was named Texas Dentist of the Hollidaysburg, Pa. The couple a former president of the UL She holds a bachelor’s degree in representative. LEIGH HENNESSY was recently in- Year by the Texas Academy of Lafayette Alumni Association. It’s the only commanding officer ducted into the USA Gymnastics 1999-Present have four children, Jerome H. communicative disorders from position for chaplains in the U.S. General Dentistry. He has also Perrin is married to MARY B. Hall of Fame at the national gym- University of Louisiana at Landry, Courtney Cochrane, USL and a master’s degree in Navy. He will have seven weeks received a Distinguished Service PERRIN, ’70. 1975 nastics championships held in Lafayette Bernadette Landry and Jerome communicative disorders from of specialized training prior to Award from the Fort Worth DAPHNE CAGLE was named the San Jose, Calif. She was a world Landry Jr. Bowling Green State University. assuming his new post. Langston

38 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 39 Alumni Profile: Cyndie Guidry Wilkins from USL and a master’s degree stated in a press release. He is a in business administration from 1983 from Webster University. He and 1989 youth director at the Spirit and 2003 UL Lafayette. A CPA, she is a JOSEPH J. (Jim) GUIDROZ III is senior his wife, Dawn, live in Winter DANIEL SILAS is general manager of Truth Church in Lafayette. Frank SARAH BOLDING was recently staff accountant with Broussard, associate at BSA LifeStructures, Springs, Fla., with their two sons. Hampton Inn Springfield-South in received a bachelor’s degree in chosen to serve on the Society Poché, Lewis and Breaux LLP in an architectural firm that designs Springfield, Mo. He holds a Certi- business administration from USL. of Louisiana Certified Public Ac- Lafayette. lumni She’s a Big Wheel on Campus health care, education, research fied Hotel Administrator designa- countants’ first Young CPA board. A and technology facilities. He 1986 tion from the American Hotel and BRENDA HEBERT MELANCON will That board represents the more NADINE DUNBAR is chief attorney CYNDIE GUIDRY WILKINS, works in the firm’s Indianapolis J. MORRIS ARDOIN is director of Lodging Educational Institute. earn alternative teaching certifica- than 800 LCPA members who and chief executive officer of the office. Guidroz earned a bachelor’s communication of the Hebrew Silas received a bachelor’s degree tion in secondary family and con- are ages 35 and younger. Bold- Law Office of Nadine Dunbar in ‘73, learned to ride a unicycle degree in architecture from USL. Immigrant Aid Society in New in restaurant administration from sumer science this spring. Melan- ing received a bachelor’s degree Lake Charles, La. She is also a when she was 10 years old in York City. The oldest migration USL. He has three children, Lon- con received a bachelor’s degree Rayne, La. KEVIN D. HEBERT is a hydrogeolo- organization in the nation, HIAS don, Sterling and Grace. in child and family studies and a It’s a skill she uses today gist for Southwest Ground-water has helped rescue and resettle master’s degree in education from Would you like to send your best wishes to as a sixth-grade and seventh- Consultants Inc. of Phoenix, more than 4.5 million people UL Lafayette. She lives in Breaux Dr. Ray Authement? grade family and consumer Ariz. His professional duties in- escaping persecution since it was 1991 Bridge, La. Melancon’s daughter, sciences teacher at Fairhope clude project management and founded in 1881. “Today, we are CHRISTINE RASPBERRY DUNN, a Kiera Rowland, and son, Lukas groundwater studies. Hebert in the thick of Comprehensive CPA, recently became the 2007-08 Rowland, attend UL Lafayette. More than 65,000 men and Middle School in Fairhope, Ala. holds a degree in geology from Immigration Reform Advocacy president of the Acadiana chapter women have graduated from “At the beginning of my USL. He is married to Cheryl and work with refugees all over of the Society of Louisiana CPAs. the University of Louisiana course each year, I ride my unicycle for my students to Pantea Hebert. They have a the world, including Darfur, She will serve a one-year term. 1997 at Lafayette while Dr. Ray reinforce the importance of setting goals and working daughter, Dayle, and a son, Ben. where we are operating in five Dunn earned a bachelor’s degree SIDNEY “JAY” BIENVENU, works at Authement has been its very hard to reach them,” she told La Louisiane. of the Darfur refugee camps in in business administration from EPCI Systems in Verona, Wisc., president. In 2006, Wilkins was looking for a way to encourage Chad, helping refugees develop USL. She is an audit manager with where he develops software pro- Wright, Moore, Dehart, Dupuis grams for the health care industry. He’s the longest-sitting kids to get more exercise after hearing a news report that 1984 emotional/psychological survival TODD S. CLEMONS recently opened skills,” he told La Louisiane. Ar- and Hutchinson LLC in Lafayette. He earned a bachelor’s degree president of any public Alabama had the highest rate of childhood obesity in the the law firm of doin has lived and worked in New in computer engineering and a university in the United States. nation. So when her students expressed interest in uni- TARA G. RICHARD is a partner in master’s degree in telecommunica- Todd Clemons Orleans, London and Warsaw, Authement will retire this cycling, she decided to start a club. The group has since and Associ- Poland. In Warsaw, he taught Jones Walker’s litigation practice. tions from USL. spring after serving as UL tripled its membership. ates in Lake public relations to students in She joined the New Orleans firm Lafayette’s president since “We ride in parades, at pep rallies and for various Charles, La., Poland’s first private university. in 2000 after completing a clerk- 1974. Under his leadership, the community events,” Wilkins said. where he has He received a master’s degree in ship with Catherine D. Kimball, 1999 practiced law communication from USL. associate justice of the Louisiana MARGARET BIENVENU is a concierge university has made impressive progress. For instance, it: The Fairhope Middle School Unicycle Club is the first for 20 years. He Supreme Court. Richard primarily at Walt Disney World’s Yacht and • implemented selective admissions; of its kind in the Alabama public school system. Wilkins has served as a SUSAN CONNOR BEGNAUD is execu- practices in the fields of bankrupt- Beach Resort and its Port Orleans • was designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a also wrote and implemented the first middle school uni- prosecutor with the U.S. Depart- tive director of United Blood cy, creditors and debtors rights, Resort in Orlando, Fla. She also “Research University with High Research Activity”; cycle physical education curriculum in the state. ment of Justice, as an assistant Services in Louisiana, where she environmental law and energy leads “Adventures by Disney” • joined NCAA Division I, the highest level of collegiate This year, she obtained a $2,000 grant to purchase district attorney for Calcasieu has been employed for 19 years. law. She holds a bachelor’s degree tours in London and Paris. Bien- athletic competition; 25 unicycles and gear for the school’s Physical Education Parish and as a law clerk for She oversees operations for the in journalism from USL and a venu received a bachelor’s degree • flourished despite repeated state budget cuts; Department. Henry L. Yelverton of the Louisi- community blood center, which juris doctor from Paul M. Hebert in sociology from USL. ana Court of Appeal, Third Cir- has offices in Lafayette, Baton Law Center at LSU. • helped diversify the local and Louisiana economies In June, she was chosen Teacher of the Year by the cuit. Clemons earned a bachelor’s Rouge, Thibodaux, Morgan City ANDREW PERRIN recently opened after the statewide Oil Bust of the 1980s; faculty at Fairhope Middle School. degree in general studies from and Slidell. She also serves as an architecture firm, Andrew • developed University Research Park; and Wilkins holds a bachelor’s degree in vocational USL and graduated summa cum district director for a tri-state Perrin Design LLC, in Lafayette. 1996 • raised its gifted assets from about $500,000 to almost home economics education from USL. She is married to laude from Southern University area for the South Central Asso- STACY ANN BROWN is senior ad- He received a bachelor’s degree $150 million. Mason Wilkins. n Law Center. He is a member of ciation of Blood Banks. Begnaud ministrative project coordinator in architecture from USL and a the the board of directors of Big received a bachelor’s degree in for Ochsner Health System’s Cen- master’s degree in architecture One of his biggest accomplishments was relentlessly Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest general studies from USL. She ter for Health Research in New from Syracuse University. pursuing a name change for the university. In 1999, the Hennessy graduated summa cum is a member of the Louisiana Louisiana. and her husband, Kevin, have a Orleans. Brown is a part-time University of Southwestern Louisiana became the University laude from USL with a bachelor’s Board of Regents and a former daughter, Courtney. They live in inpatient medical records coder of Louisiana at Lafayette, a name that more accurately degree in speech and audiology. chair of the Louisiana State Bar JOHN N. FELSHER for Slidell Memorial Hospital. A was recently Lafayette. 2001 reflects its status as an institution with statewide and She earned a master’s degree in Association Intellectual Property promoted from registered nurse, she works part PATRICE M. GREIG, a fourth-grade national, rather than regional, influence. communication from USL two Law Section. She holds a bach- managing edi- ANITA ZIMMER was recently time in the intensive care unit of teacher, was named Teacher of the years later. Now a movie stunt- elor’s degree in political science tor to associate promoted to Touro Hospital in New Orleans. Year at Teche Elementary School If you’re a UL Lafayette graduate, attended the university woman, Hennessy lives in Van from USL and a juris doctor from editor of Sport manager in the Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in in Cecilia, La., for 2006-2007. She or just appreciate Authement’s many contributions to Nuys, Calif. Harvard Law School. Roy is is Fishing maga- Litigation Sup- health information management has served as fourth-grade 4-H Lafayette, Acadiana and Louisiana, you are invited to send married to John Harkins; they zine, based in port and Busi- from USL and a master’s degree in leader for three years. Greig is him your best wishes. have two children, Madeleine Orlando, Fla. In ness Valuation health care systems management enrolled in the master’s of Gifted 1981 and David. this new capaci- division of We- from Loyola University in New Education Program at UL Lafay- MARY ELLEN ROY, was recently ty, he does more gmann Dazet Orleans. ette. She received a bachelor’s You can send a letter or card to this address: featured in the 2007 “Louisiana RUSSELL WILLIAMS is a sound writing for the magazine, which and Company, degree in elementary education, Attn: Retirement Committee Super Lawyers” publication as engineer and mixer for “Fox is dedicated to salt water fishing. a New Orleans ALONZO FRANK is a gospel rap artist grades 1-8, from UL Lafayette. an expert in First Amendment Morning News” and “Good Day As a freelance writer, he has pub- CPA and consulting firm. She known as ZO. Drove Entertain- Public Relations and News Services law. She is a partner in the com- LA” in Los Angeles. He holds a lished more than 1,100 articles holds a bachelor’s degree in busi- ment’s Gospel Division released his UL Lafayette mercial litigation group of the bachelor’s degree in mass com- in more than 90 publications ness administration from USL. debut CD, “Fully Committed,” in 2002 P. O. Box 41009 New Orleans office of Phelps- munication from USL. Williams and contributed to four books. Zimmer, a CPA, is accredited in the fall of 2007. “My main focus ALI M. AL-ALAWI is an electrical Lafayette, La 70504 Dunbar law firm. She also spe- and his wife, Kimberli Williams, He also manages an e-zine, www. business valuation by the Ameri- on this CD is providing the youth engineer in Manama, Bahrain. He [email protected] cializes in intellectual property have a six-year-old daughter, JohnNFelsher.com Felsher holds can Institute of Certified Public with music that will impact their holds a bachelor’s degree in electri- Or, you can email a message to him at law and business litigation. Roy Nora Elizabeth. a bachelor’s degree in English Accountants. lives in a positive way,” Frank cal engineering from UL Lafayette.

40 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 41 member of Louisiana Gov. Bobby ’28; and two brothers, Lawrence ing officer of a mine sweeper in of Honor for “conspicuous gal- ROBERT TRAHAN, ’68, died Feb. 23, zee, Marcelle Langlinais, Yvette A l u m n i I n f o r m a t i o n F o r m Jindal’s staff. She focuses on Pitre and Floyd Pitre. the Gulf of Mexico and executive lantry and intrepidity at the risk 2008, in Lafay- Yandall, Marie Broussard, Celeste initiatives related to people with officer of a mine sweeper in the of his life above and beyond the ette. He was 61. Garborino and Adrienne Foret; a disabilities. She served in that OLIVE PITRE THOMS, ’28, died in South Pacific Ocean. He continued call of duty.” In January 1943, he In 2004, UL La- grandson; and several nieces and If you enjoy reading about where your former classmates are now and capacity in former Louisiana Gov. Opelousas, La., to serve in the Naval Reserve for was leading a section of six fighter fayette presented nephews. lumniwhat they’re doing, consider this: They’d like to read about you, too. Kathleen Blanco’s administration. on Dec. 29, 31 years. After his discharge from planes during aerial operations him with an

A Please fill out the form below and mail it back to UL Lafayette or go to Dunbar, who holds a bachelor’s 2006. She was active duty, Abel earned a master’s against Japanese forces in the honorary degree JAMES PATRICK DUGAL, ’74, died in www.louisiana.edu/lalouisiane to submit the information online. degree in political science (pre- 98. A longtime degree in educational administra- Solomon Islands. He continued of humanities. June 2007 at the age of 56. He law) from UL Lafayette, received resident of Rosa, tion from Stanford University. fighting even after he realized his The president worked for UL Lafayette for 30 Name a juris doctor from Southern Uni- La., Thoms From 1946 until 1969, he was plane no longer had enough fuel and chairman years. For the past eight years, versity Law Center. was a retired dean of men at USL. He often been to return him to his military base of the board of Lafayette Motors he was director of Computing First Middle Last Maiden name teacher and past cited for his key role in the peace- in Guadalcanal. After destroy- Co. Inc., he was named the 2004 Support Services. Dugal received member of VFW ful desegregation of the university ing five Japanese aircraft, he was Dealer of the Year by the Louisi- a bachelor’s degree from LSU in Address 2004 Auxiliary Post No. 2483. She held in the mid-1950s. He was manager forced to bail out of his damaged ana Auto Dealers Association. A Baton Rouge, La., and a master’s Street or Box HEIDI A. FISHER is a pharmaceutical a degree in education from SLI. of the Lafayette Municipal Au- plane into shark-infested waters. longtime supporter of Louisiana’s degree in computer science from sales representative for Sepracor Survivors include two daughters, ditorium from 1969 to 1972. He Despite injuries, he swam to an Ragin’ Cajuns® athletics, Tra- USL. He is survived by his par-

Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree Eugenia T. “Genie” Doucet and then served as the city’s director enemy-occupied island and man- han was a founding member of ents, Paul and Mary Ann Dugal of City State Zip in health information management ELIZABETH T. “BETTY” DUGAL, ’52; of Community Affairs. Abel was aged to survive until he could Louisiana Classics Inc., created Opelousas, La.; his grandmother, from UL Lafayette and is a regis- nine grandchildren; 16 great- a 1983 recipient of the Civic Cup be picked up by a U.S. military the Quarterback Club and was Irene B. Dugal; two sisters, Clau- Phone tered health information adminis- grandchildren; five stepgrandchil- Award of Lafayette and coordina- plane several days later. After the president of the Rebounders Club. dia Ann Dugal and Catherine Home Office trator. Fisher lives in Lafayette. dren; and several stepgreat-grand- tor of The Lafayette Centennial war, DeBlanc earned a bachelor’s He also served as president of the Lynn Cahanin; one brother, Mark children. Thoms was preceded Celebration. Survivors include degree from SLI, two master’s UL Lafayette Alumni Association. Dugal; one niece; three nephews; In Memoriam in death by her husband, Hicks his sister, Freda Abel Harper; a degree from LSU and a doctorate Trahan chaired fund-raising cam- and two great-nieces. E-mail Fax Thoms; one daughter, Muriel son, Daniel Glynn Abel of New in education from McNeese State paigns for United Way, St. Thom- JEANETTE PITRE DOUCET, ’27, died Elgie T. Sutton; and two brothers, Orleans; two grandchildren, Shane University. He taught mathemat- as More High School, Cathedral- BRYAN WOODWARD, ’93, died Oct. Major & Date of Graduation May 24, 2007, Joseph Floyd Pitre and Lawrence M. Gates and Christine E. Hymel ics and science in St. Martinville, Carmel Elementary School and 27, 2007, at the age of 38. He was or the semester you last attended The University at age 100 in Pitre. Her sister, JEANETTE PITRE of New Orleans; and one great- La., and was supervisor of math the UL Lafayette Alumni Associa- director of bariatric operations Opelousas, La. DOUCET, ’27, died May 24, 2007. grandson, Grafton Gabriel Gates of and school transportation. He tion. He was a founding member at the Metabolic Surgery Center She graduated New Orleans. also taught in New Iberia, La., of the Miles Perret Cancer Center at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Current Job Title from SLI with a EDGAR GLYNN ABEL, ’39, former and was employed by South Cen- and the Games of Acadiana Inc. Tenn. Woodward held a bachelor’s degree in educa- dean of men at LUCIEN BERNARD ‘FRENCHY’ GOV- tral Bell for several years. He is He also served as president of degree in exercise science from Business Name tion. Doucet UL Lafayette, ERNALE died Jan. 8, 2006, at his survived by a daughter, BARBARA the Greater Lafayette Chamber of USL, where he was president of taught in several died March 22, residence in DeRidder, La. He DEBLANC ROMERO, ’70; four sons, Commerce. Trahan received the Theta Xi fraternity. A licensed Business Address St. Landry Par- 2008, in La- was 87. While attending SLI from Jefferson DeBlanc Jr., Richard Lafayette Civic Cup Award for clinical exercise physiologist, ish schools before retiring from fayette. While 1937 to 1940, Governale was a DeBlanc, FRANK DEBLANC, ’79, ’87 outstanding community service, he received a master of public W. B. Prescott Elementary School a student at pitcher for the SLI Bulldogs and and MICHAEL DEBLANC, ’82; seven the Bishop’s Medal, and Cathedral health degree in nutrition from Professional Duties in Opelousas in 1962. She was an Southwestern ran track. After college, he played grandchildren; and four great- of St. John the Evangelist Parish Tulane University School of Pub- active member of the St. Landry Louisiana Insti- in professional baseball’s minor grandchildren. He was preceded honors for distinguished service. lic Health and Tropical Medicine. Parish Retired Teachers’ Associa- tute, he was vice league. Governale joined the U.S. in death by his wife, Louise De- He held a bachelor’s degree from Survivors include his wife, Deidre tion and the Veterans of Foreign president of the student body and Army and served in five battle Blanc. USL. Trahan is survived by his Estapa Woodward; a son, Wesley Wars Auxiliary. She is survived president of the Blue Key National campaigns during World War II, wife, Connie Roy Trahan; five Woodward; a daughter, Laura by two stepsons, Charles Doucet Honorary Fraternity. He also let- including the Invasion of Nor- LEE J. PITRE Jr., ’59, died Sept. 13, children, ALLYSON TRAHAN HEBERT, Woodward; his parents, Minor Q. Accomplishments and J.C. Doucet; one stepdaugh- tered in track, football, and base- mandy. He later worked for Cros- 2007, in St. Petersburg, Fla., at ’96, TODD TRAHAN, ’90, HUNTER TRA- “Buddy” Woodward and Laura ter, Emma Lou Moory; and many ball. After graduating from SLI, by Chemicals and was employed the age of 70. He was an electri- HAN, ’94, ASHLEY TRAHAN GUIDRY, Colgnet Woodward; and a broth- nieces, nephews and step-grand- he was named its assistant dean of by Brown and Root Construction cal engineer who worked on the ’98 and BRANDON TRAHAN, ’99; 12 er, Steven Woodward. children. Doucet was preceded in men. Abel served in the U.S. Navy when he retired. He was honored Apollo 11 mission at Kennedy grandchildren; two sisters, Carole death by her husband, Marshall during World War II from 1942 by several organizations for his Space Center at Cape Canaveral. Champagne and Annette Leblanc; JOHN DAVID DELOUCHE, ’03, died J. Doucet; a sister, OLIVE P. THOMS, to 1945. He was the command- work with athletic programs for During his career, he was em- and a brother, Matthew Trahan. Dec. 30, 2007, at age 38. He was youth. Survivors include his wife ployed by Westinghouse, General Contributions in Trahan’s honor employed by C.W. Technical Spouse’s Name of 61 years, Sethie Cole Governale Electric and Martin Marietta. Pitre can be made to the Robert Trahan Services in Lafayette. DeLouche First Middle Last Maiden name of DeRidder, La.; one son, GARY B. held a bachelor’s degree in electri- Internship Fund at Miles Perret received a bachelor’s degree in GOVERNALE SR., ’69 Spouse’s USL or UL Lafayette Graduation Date UL Lafayette Alumni Association ; three daugh- cal engineering from SLI. Survi- Cancer Services, the Cathedral business administration from ters, Barbara Governale, Jackie vors include his wife, Judith Pitre Carmel Foundation or the Uni- UL Lafayette. He is survived by and major, if a former UsL student Become a Member Because It Matters Schulz and Debra Lockerman; Jr.; two daughters, Kathryn Driver versity of Louisiana at Lafayette his father, Cliff E. DeLouche; his 11 grandchildren; and five great- and Karen Becker; a sister, Mary Foundation. mother, Darlene M. Marr; his Children grandchildren. Barton; and three grandchildren. stepfather, Robert Owens; two (if any are UL Lafayette students or USL graduates, please indicate) MICHELLE FORET SLOVER, ’70, of sisters, Renee DeLouche and Dar- Join Online or Contact Us: JEFFERSON J. DEBLANC SR., ’47, KENNETH DOYLE FUNK, ’60, died Knoxville, Tenn., died Feb. 11, lene DeLouche-Cox; two neph- Louisiana’s last Nov. 15, 2006, in Alexandria, La. 2007. She was a buyer for Miller’s ews, Evan and Christopher Cox; Phone: (337) 482-0900 World War II He held a bachelor’s degree in and Proffitt’s Department Stores; and his maternal grandmother, Fax: (337) 482-0931 Congressional animal science from Southwestern she was also IT manager for Prof- Marie Marr. Medal of Honor Louisiana Institute and a doctor fitt’s. Slover received a degree in Email: recipient, died of veterinary medicine from Texas home economics from USL. She [email protected] Nov. 22, 2007, A&M. Funk had a private veteri- is survived by her husband, Mike in Lafayette. nary practice in Houston. He was Slover; two sons, David Slover Current Date Website:

D enise G allagher He was 86. As retired from the U.S. Air Force and and Bret Slover; three brothers, Please mail this form to La Louisiane, Box 41009, Lafayette, LA 70504-1009 www.LOUISIANAalumni.org a Marine Corps U.S. Air Force Reserve. Funk has Jim Foret, John Foret and Jeff www.athleticnetwork.net or send it online at www.louisiana.edu/lalouisiane fighter pilot, he earned the Medal two children, Geoffrey and Kate. Foret; and six sisters, Renee En-

42 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 43 Foundation Professor credits “Now, you can run your simulations rap- Professor, students others for idly and get answers rapidly, doing calcu- teach each other his success lations in a few minutes and producing graphics to illustrate the results.” John Hathorn Dr. L. Dwynn Lafleur Despite the appeal of computers, Laf- leur said teaching students is what he en- or John Hathorn, teaching and creating itting on a shelf in Dr. L. Dwynn Laf- joys the most about his profession. Fhis own art are inextricably intertwined. Sleur’s office in Broussard Hall is a copy “When you’re teaching it, you’re learn- The professor of visual arts teaches of the manual of the first digital computer ing it,” he said. “I’m learning this stuff all painting and drawing. He is also the se- Teaching Honor on campus. over again, or really, some of it for the first nior project coordinator for the Visual time. That’s the part I really like about it.” Foundation says ‘Thanks’ to university president in a lasting way Having taught in the physics depart- Arts Department. ment since 1970, Lafleur said he has kept Spending whatever time it takes to Hathorn has exhibited regularly in Dal- the manual of the IBM 1620 to remind him ensure students are learning the material is las, Houston and New Orleans galleries. His hen the UL Lafayette Founda- fessor, is the first recipient of the Dr. Ray how far the university and the department something Lafleur said he learned from his work has been shown in solo exhibitions tion was established in 1957, Dr. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award. have come. The manual is also a symbol professors at UL Lafayette, including Uni- in university and museum venues in Loui- W Ray Authement was just begin- Lafleur was one of Authement’s students for Lafleur of how computers and research versity President Dr. Ray Authement, who siana, Texas and Mississippi. His paintings ning his career at the university as an as- in the 1960s. But the committee of faculty have progressed over the sociate professor of mathematics. members that chose Lafleur for the teaching past four decades. After 50 years of service – the past award was unaware of that connection. A native of Jennings, 34 as president – he will retire this spring. Recipients of the Foundation’s 2008 La., Lafleur graduated from The Foundation has named its annual Ex- Distinguished Professor Award are John Ha- UL Lafayette in 1962 with cellence in Teaching Award in his honor. thorn, a professor of visual arts; Hector Lasa- a bachelor’s degree in phys- Dr. L. Dwynn Lafleur, a physics pro- la, a professor of architecture; and Dr. Ardith ics. He earned his Ph.D. Sudduth, an assistant professor of nursing. from the University of Authement was responsible, in a Houston in 1969 and re- sense, for the Foundation’s coming of age turned to Lafayette shortly in the 1980s. During its first 25 years, after to begin what is now its board of trustees primarily managed a 38-year teaching career. contributions to the university. In 1981, Lafleur has taught the university’s president asked the late nearly every undergradu- Alfred Lamson, an independent oilman in ate physics class at UL Lafayette, to lead a major fund drive. That Lafayette as well as several campaign raised $10 million. graduate-level courses. He “Since then, we’ve grown tremendously, is the recipient of the Dr. in terms of our support for university capital Ray Authement Excellence projects and sophisticated investment fund in Teaching Award. management. We have a diversified portfolio Besides his teach- due to the strength of our investment com- ing duties, Lafleur also mittees and the expertise of board members performs research in com- over the years,” said Julie Bolton Falgout, putational acoustics and executive director of the Foundation. ultrasonics. His research By the late 1990s, the university’s en- involves penetrating the dowments had reached about $45 million. earth’s surface with sound The Investing in Our Future campaign, held for various purposes, in- in conjunction with UL Lafayette’s 100th cluding locating buried birthday in 2000, substantially boosted objects and measuring the L ucius Fontenot that amount. Today, the university’s gifted quality and properties of Dr. John Hathorn assets total more than $130 million. different sediment in wet- Falgout said the Foundation’s board lands or coastal regions. taught a modern algebra class that Lafleur have been included in numerous national of trustees will honor Authement in other Lafleur said computer advancements took in the early 1960s. Lafleur noted that group exhibitions and are represented in ways. “But the board was especially inter- have greatly reduced the time required to Authement’s class was held in metal build- many private and public collections. ested in finding a way to convey to future complete research. He vividly remembers ings in “little Abbeville,” an area of campus Gordon Brooks, dean of UL Lafayette’s generations that he was, first, an extraordi- the days when punch cards were the lat- near Rougeou and Griffin Hall that was College of the Arts, said Hathorn’s priori- nary teacher,” Falgout said. So it named its est technology that allowed for one or two considered the outskirts of the university ties are clear. “Student work first, personal Excellence in Teaching Award. computations a day. And he remembers 40 years ago. work last.” The UL Lafayette Foundation has when the IBM 1620’s memory – a whop- “He was such a good teacher. I think Hathorn, a recipient of the 2008 Distin- presented the Distinguished Professor ping 20K or 20,000 words – was consid- back and I’ve had three or four teachers guished Professor Award, said he considers that made me, and he’s one of them,” Laf- L ucius Fontenot Award since 1965 and the Excellence in ered “high-tech” in the 1960s. it a privilege to teach. “Its a huge opportu- Dr. L. Dwynn Lafleur Teaching Award since 1992. “I’m not a patient person,” he joked. leur said of Authement. nity to instill all kinds of things, in terms

44 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 45 of confidence and work college to design and build stages and a certificate program as a geriatric nurse Sudduth excels in research as well as ethic,” he said. props for plays performed at Burke Hall practitioner. teaching. Most recently, she and nursing col- Hathorn recently on campus. He is also set designer for the “Learning is a lifelong adventure, espe- league Dr. Sudah Patel presented their find- wrote a brief essay about Summer Youth Shakespeare Ensemble. cially in nursing and health care,”Sudduth ings from a study on student stressors follow- teaching. In it, he noted LaSala is an advocate for energy-ef- said. “I want to excite young students about ing Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. that teaching requires a ficient architecture and urban housing for nursing and let them know that nursing is a “We realized that our students were capacity to listen, and lis- downtown Lafayette. profession that provides caring and compe- feeling the effects of the hurricanes and tening carries an obliga- In 1983, he and UL Lafayette architec- tent care to all who need it.” that we could help alleviate some of their tion to nurture students’ ture professor emeritus Edward Cazayoux Dr. Melinda Oberleitner, head of the stressors,” said Sudduth. “We encouraged

f O U N D A T I O N talents. built an energy-efficient home on univer- Nursing Department, said Sudduth is them to talk with friends and family and “The capacity to lis- sity property. Their work received the U.S. popular with students, who describe her also told them about free resources on ten and to observe what Department of Energy’s Energy Design as “a clinical expert who is approachable, campus like counseling. We wanted them others may not hear or Innovation Award. Both are members of engaging and a great instructor. They often to take advantage of these offerings so their see in themselves, fur- the university’s BeauSoleil Team, which comment on her helpfulness and on her studies wouldn’t suffer.” thermore to shed some is participating in the U.S. Department of caring for students as individuals.” The two presented their findings at the temporary light toward Energy’s fourth Solar Decathlon. Sudduth sometimes incorporates prestigious World Psychiatric Association developing insight and Last year, LaSala learned that the games into her lessons to engage her stu- International Congress late last year. confidence, is what dis- Building Institute’s Outreach Center project dents. For instance, she has them partici- Sudduth received the Outstanding tinguishes a good listener received $280,000 in federal funds to buy pate in a game that helps them learn what Volunteer Award for her work as a nurse – one truly willing to property and plan the conversion assume the privilege and of a 14,000-square-foot warehouse obligation of what is adjacent to the center into a multi- heard,” he wrote. story complex that will incorporate Hathorn’s students apartments and commercial space. learn about the history of He said he values the oppor- art and study the master tunity that UL Lafayette gives him painters. “At the same to pursue his many professional

time, I encourage them to L ucius Fontenot interests. call all that into question. Hector LaSala “I am so grateful for the cre- And, in the same light, Over the past 16 years, Hathorn ertson are co-directors of the College ative freedom I am allowed in my I want them to call much of what they has led 17 trips by faculty and students of the Arts’ Building Institute, which teaching. My research exists be- receive from me into question,” he said. to Houston art museums. He and a enables students to turn theories into cause of it,” he said. He also challenges his students colleague, Allan Jones, obtained UL La- hands-on experience. Through the insti- to explore what is unfamiliar, pressing fayette Instructional Improvement Mini- tute, they earn course credit by working Heeding Mom’s each one to become a “visual archaeolo- Grants to help finance 12 of those trips. on community service projects. advice led to gist. We charge a student to excavate Over the past five years, for ex- rewarding career layers of possibilities, layers of infor- Young architects learn ample, more than 200 architecture mation, to get something that is really by serving others students have worked on projects at the Dr. Ardith Sudduth meaningful to him.” It is at that point, Acadiana Outreach Center in downtown he continued, when a student finds his Hector LaSala Lafayette, which provides shelter and r. Ardith Sudduth can’t pin- own voice. assistance to homeless and poor clients. Dpoint why she became a nurse. The professor said he learns from rofessor Hector LaSala wants his Projects include a communal amphi- But after decades in the profession, his students. “There are plenty of times Pstudents to learn more than how to theater, a gazebo, a meditation park and she’d have it no other way. when I wake up in the middle of the design buildings on a computer screen. transforming an existing warehouse into “My mother was a great moti- night thinking about a student’s work He encourages them to get their hands a distribution center for free clothing. vator because she insisted my sister as well as my own,” he said. When that dirty by working on construction jobs. Through the Building Institute, and I go to college. She didn’t care happens, he is reminded of the connec- And, he shows by example how they architecture majors have also assisted what our choice of major was – just tion between teaching and his own work. can use their talents to change lives. one of the Boys and Girls Clubs of La- that we went to college and gradu- In addition to teaching, Hathorn “Above all, I hope our program fayette by building playground equip- ated,” said Sudduth, an assistant

takes an active role in Department of Vi- allows students to experience the fulfill- ment, benches and a canopy over its professor in the College of Nursing L ucius Fontenot sual Arts’ activities. Brian Kelly, head of ment of pro bono work. My main mis- basketball court. and Allied Health Professions. Dr. Ardith Sudduth that department, credits him as “a major sion is to graduate students who realize Gordon Brooks, dean of the College At the time, most female col- voice in our department developing their responsibility to be not just archi- of the Arts, said one of its goals is to en- lege students sought degrees in teaching or it’s like to age and to be forced to deal with practitioner at the Lafayette Community into one of the premier visual arts pro- tects, but citizen architects,” he said. courage collaboration across disciplines. nursing, Sudduth said. Her sister became a age-related conditions. Health Care Clinic. Sudduth also received gram in the country. . . John possesses His work has earned him the 2008 “Hector is a prime example of a fac- teacher, while she became a nurse. “They go through different stages of the Col. Jean Migliorino and Lt. Col. Philip an endless amount of energy and freely Distinguished Professor Award from the ulty member who takes this seriously,” Sudduth earned a bachelor’s degree, aging, like walking with a cane or wearing Piccione 1951 Commemorative Endowed devotes that energy for the betterment UL Lafayette Foundation. He received its he said. two master’s degrees and a doctorate. glasses that depict eyesight with macular Nursing Faculty Award for Teaching Excel- and support of the department’s and Excellence in Teaching Award in 2001. Since 1994, LaSala has brought She is a nationally certified family nurse degeneration. They really get a sense of what lence. She holds the Hamilton Group En- university’s educational mission.” LaSala and colleague Geoff Gj- students from all departments of the practitioner. In December, she completed aging feels like,” she said. dowed Professorship in Nursing. n

46 LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2008 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008 47 Academics students Athletics

n Total Fall 2007 en- n Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns® n Almost half of UL Lafayette’s stu- rollment* was 16,345, compete in NCAA Division 1, the dent-athletes posted a 3.0 grade point including 1,414 graduate highest level of collegiate athletics.

g average or higher – on a 4.0 scale students. Football is a member of Division 1A. – during the Fall 2007 semester.

a Other Fall 2007 statistics: lance

n Students represented 48 states and possessions, and at

95 foreign countries. n There were 651 interna- tional students. n Female students, 58%

ette Male students, 42% y *The number of students at- tending in the fall semester is a university’s official afa enrollment. n 100 percent of all undergraduate programs at UL Lafayette that are eligible for accreditation by profes-

U L L sional agencies are accredited.

n The Carnegie Foundation n Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns® sports: n Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns® com- has designated UL Lafayette as a pete in the Sun Belt Conference. “Research University with High n Football Research Activity.” That puts UL n Baseball n Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns® used Lafayette in the same category n Softball the Leon Moncla Indoor Practice as Clemson, Auburn and Baylor n Basketball Facility for the first time in Fall universities. n Track and Field 2007. The new facility has a 120- n Golf yard practice field with drop-down n UL Lafayette is a public, selective n Tennis batting cages and a separate wing for admissions university. n Volleyball a basketball court. n The university offers 80 under- n Soccer graduate degree programs. n There are 29 master’s degree Noteworthy programs and one post master’s certificate program. n UL Lafayette’s Mathematics Department is one of the Top 100 n Doctor of Philosophy degrees university math departments in the nation, according to the National are offered in applied language and Science Foundation. The university’s Computer Science Department speech sciences, biology, cognitive is among the top 60 university computer science departments. Those science, English, Francophone stud- rankings are based on the amount of external research funding a ies, mathematics, computer science department receives. and computer engineering. A joint n The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has established the doctor of education degree is offered Ernest J. Gaines Center in Dupré Library on campus. It will be in educational leadership by UL La- an international center for studies of Gaines’ work. One of the fayette and Southeastern Louisiana most significant American authors of the 20th century, he is UL University. Lafayette’s writer-in-residence emeritus. His novels include The n About 1,100 students are gradu- Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, A Lesson Before Dying and A Gathering of Old Men. ated each fall and spring. n UL Lafayette’s Ragin’ Jazz is one of the top 10 college dance teams in the nation. It ranked ninth in the n UL Lafayette has 10 colleges and Division 1-A jazz category competition at the annual Universal Dance Association College Dance Team schools: Championship in January. The Ragin’ Jazz ranked 12th in the country in Hip Hop among Division 1-A univer- n College of the Arts sities. The competition was held in Orlando, Fla. n B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration n UL Lafayette is included in the Princeton Review’s 2008 edition of Best 366 Colleges. n College of Education n College of Engineering n The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is one of n College of General Studies the most affordable universities in the nation, thanks n College of Liberal Arts to comprehensive scholarship and financial aid pro- n College of Nursing and Allied grams, including out-of-state fee waivers to qualified Health Professions students. n College of Sciences n CAPE1, a small satellite, was sent into orbit from n Graduate School a site in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2007. It’s the n University College first satellite to be designed, built and launched by students at a Louisiana university.

48 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2008