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Into the Dark Researchers shine a light in an unexplored world • by Sarah Spell

Yet, corals are not rocks or plants. They are living animals. “It’s a Dr. Seuss world down there,” observed Dr. Scott France, a UL biology pro- fessor. He and three graduate students, Mer- cer Brugler, Eric Pante and Jana Thoma, are pioneers in one of the world’s last frontiers. “We are explorers, going places where no one has gone before and finding new species,” said France. The oceans are vast, covering more than 70 percent of the earth’s surface. The sea is dark, deep, cold and highly pressur- ized. Using even the best available equip- ment, submersibles called remotely operat- ed vehicles or ROVs, fitted with lights and cameras, scientists can only explore a tiny bit of the deep sea at a time. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 95 percent of the world’s oceans remain unexplored. France, Pante and Thoma recently

L aure C orbari got a glimpse of that world. They spent Dr. Scott France and graduate students Jana Thoma and Eric Pante take a closer look at freshly 18 days in March aboard a research vessel, collected bubblegum coral. The trio, on board the F. G. Walton Smith, used a remotely operated the F. G. Walton Smith, collecting corals submersible, the Global Explorer, to collect samples at a depth of almost 4,600 feet in the Bahamas. in the previously unexplored waters of the northern Bahamas. Guided by scien- he deep. It is a place tists on board the ship, the ROV Global inhabited by fantastic Explorer combed the ocean floor more tcreatures: fish with than a mile deep, collecting sea life and see-through heads and multi- capturing high-definition video. France, directional eyes, giant sea spi-

, IFE, URI-IAO, an d NOAA chief scientist for the mission, acquired a

arty ders, polka-dotted squids. The $715,500 grant from NOAA for the expe- ocean floor has its own ge- dition. Scientific teams from other institu- ography, undersea mountain tions also participated. ranges and volcanoes, sloping There are only a handful of deep-sea hills, canyons and trenches. A ROVs available worldwide for scientific seemingly infinite variety of research. So, for marine biologists — es- corals occupy the seascape. pecially students — the chance to study at Branches of flamingo- sea is both rare and valuable. “If I’m train-

tlantic S tepping tones cience P colored corals reach out like ing students for the future, I don’t want gnarled, arthritic fingers. them to wait for the future to have this Deep A A colony of Paragorgia grows more than a mile below the Corals that look like earthly kind of experience,” France said. surface of the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Cape Cod, Mass. fringe trees bear a profusion Pante has participated in three research Paragorgia are also called bubblegum corals, because of their of frilly, lavender blossoms cruises. They took him to the North Atlan- sometimes pinkish color and lumpy texture. on dark, delicate stems. tic Ocean; southwest Pacific Ocean, near

2 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 New Caledonia; and the Baha- doesn’t necessarily mean they are mas, in the Atlantic Ocean. , IFE, URI-IAO, an d NOAA related. Likewise, species that are He said finding animals in arty far apart genetically may have some their natural setting adds an im- of the same physical characteristics. portant dimension to research. So, in addition to looking at physi- “Material is very different when cal traits, France and his team also it has been sitting in ethanol for use DNA analysis and comparison. months or years. It’s colorless, Thoma, Pante and Brugler it’s retracted, it’s wrinkly. So, it’s carry out the painstaking process. very interesting to see the ani- First, DNA is chemically extracted tlantic S tepping tones cience P mal when it’s freshly collected, from the coral. Then, a particular when it has all of its colors.” Deep A gene is isolated in the DNA and that Pante is poised to do some- gene is copied, perhaps millions of thing some young scientists times, to ensure that there is enough only dream of — name a new sample material available. species. During the expedition The DNA material goes in New Caledonia, he discov- through another series of chemical ered a coral with branches reactions, which yield a final prod- like golden lace. He’s writing a , IFE, URI-IAO, an d NOAA uct that can be read by a DNA se- scientific paper that will both arty quencer. Now, the genetic material describe and name the newly can be described as a unique pattern found coral. of four chemical bases. But research- Binomial nomenclature — ers still can’t know whether they are the formal system of naming looking at a new species. species — has given living crea- “Once we have the DNA se- tures some memorable moni- quenced, there are hours and hours kers. There are spiders named of editing and running various tlantic S tepping tones cience P for comedian Stephen Colbert kinds of software to analyze that,” and for actor/director Orson Deep A France said. “As you collect new Welles; a jellyfish named for species, you have go back and com- rocker Frank Zappa; and a nar- pare each of them to everything that row-waisted wasp whose name came before.” pays homage to Elvis Presley, The National Center for Bio- Preseucoila imallshookupis. technology Information maintains It remains to be seen a DNA sequence database; however, whether the name of Pante’s that database is incomplete, because coral will be frivolous or formal. the DNA of all known species in the What’s more important, says world has not yet been sequenced. France, is the training Pante is , IFE, an d NOAA So, “finding a match does not neces- receiving. sarily mean that we have found a “Many people, including new species,” France said. myself, may discover a new spe- It’s a process that can leave cies, but then send it on to an

MITS R esearc h group scientists with lots of unanswered expert in the field who gives it a Top: UL Lafayette researchers collected a fragment of this colony of Iri- questions. France and his students name. Eric is training to become dogorgia magnispiralis off the coast of New Jersey in 2005. The sample are also trying to find out how spe- one of those experts. So, the was used to describe this new species. Center: Metallogorgia melan- cies are related and where they are process of describing and nam- otrichos takes its name, in part, from its metallic sheen. A brittle star, a found. ing a species is an invaluable close relative of the starfish, clings to the coral’s inner branches. Bottom: “One of the things that genetics experience that goes far beyond A deep-sea red crab rests in an undersea garden of corals. could allow you to do, if you were classroom training.” looking at the right genetic marker, Grad student Mercer Bru- will also make a discovery. A pair of New is to be able to take it further and gler has studied corals on the sea floor in a Zealand biologists have calculated that 50 say, ‘Are these corals that we’re looking at manned submersible and is also describing percent to 100 percent of the samples col- isolated to specific places? Are they only a new species of coral. lected in previously unexplored areas turn found in that canyon? Are they only found France is not surprised by those out to be new species. But figuring out on that seamount?’ Ultimately, those are achievements. “I fully expect all of my stu- whether a species is truly new cannot be the kinds of questions we would like to be dents to have described new species by the determined at sea; it requires time-consum- able to answer,” France said. n time they complete their studies.” ing detective work in the laboratory. The odds are good that Jana Thoma Just because specimens look alike www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~scf4101/

LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 3 R esearc h Bone Structure Tissue engineer builds new framework for cell growth

rawfish, crabs and shrimp — they’re not only tasty staples C on Louisiana tables, they’re also potential ingredients for replacing bone through tissue engineering. UL Lafayette’s Dr. Wah Wah TheinHan is a physician and research scientist working in the Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering Research Laboratory. The lab is part of the Center for Structural and Functional Materials within the Department of Chemical Engineering. TheinHan’s work begins with a sub- stance called chitin. Translucent, flexible and tough, it is the basis of insect exo- skeletons and crustaceans’ hard shells. Proteins and calcium are chemi- cally removed from the shells, turning chitin into chitosan, a substance that is proving useful, especially in biomedical G aut h ier T ravis applications. For instance, it is used in Dr. Wah Wah TheinHan uses chitosan, a byproduct of crustacean shells, to help create bone- battlefield bandages that stop hemor- replacement material. rhaging within seconds. Non-toxic and non-allergenic, with anti-fungal and The scaffolding is as a fertile medium for anti-bacterial properties, chitosan also freeze dried, so that all growing cells. has the ability to rapidly clot blood. Be- moisture is removed. TheinHan com- cause chitosan molecules carry a posi- TheinHan then places pared the growth of tive electrical charge and human DNA is small sections of the scaf- cells on the nanocom- negatively charged, they have a natural fold in a Petri dish and posite scaffolds she affinity for one another. Chitosan is also adds a broth of special developed to that of biodegradable, so it is eventually ab- cells and nutrients. The cells grown on scaffolds sorbed by the body. cells are “preosteoblast made of pure chitosan. TheinHan is using chitosan to cells from mice,” she ex- After seven days, there build a three-dimensional framework, plained. These are early- G aut h ier T ravis were 150 times more or scaffolding, for a substance that stage cells, which, if left cells growing on the could eventually replace bone in the hu- in the mouse, would become bone cells. nanocomposite material. The results of man body. “Natural bone is a composite It takes about a month for the scaffold the study, which TheinHan co-wrote of both organic and inorganic materi- and cells to become engineered tissue. with Dr. Devesh Misra, director of the als,” said TheinHan. She combines chi- For decades, researchers have rec- Center for Structural and Functional tosan with nanohydroxyapatite, a form ognized the value of chitosan, but it has Materials, were published in the sci- of calcium phosphate that is created, one major drawback: it is not as strong entific journalActa Biomaterialia in atom by atom, in the lab. “We are trying as bone. So, TheinHan is trying to find December. to mimic the bone, to make this nano- the right combination to create the ideal TheinHan is also exploring the use composite material as close as possible scaffolding material, one that equals the of chitosan to heal wounds and deliver to natural bone.” strength of natural bone and also serves drugs to specific sites in the body.n 4 LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 Nest Success National Geographic takes note of pelican preservation effort

cott T. Walter is earning his Ph.D. to encourage the birds to spread out a bit: from the air. Walter says his work is “on a the hard way, spending four months moving young, still flightless birds to Whis- finer scale.” He and an assistant comb the Sa year beneath the blazing sun on key Island; and setting out pelican decoys islands’ beaches, monitoring 300 nests and barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. He is on Trinity Island, hoping to attract adult documenting them with digital photos. studying the nesting grounds of Louisiana’s couples looking for a suitable place to nest. “It’s a very laborious process of using state bird, the brown pelican. His efforts The study seeks to answer an impor- photo plots. To see into the colony, I drag caught the attention of National Geographic tant question: Will adult birds make their around this enormous ladder all summer. I magazine, which plans to include an article nests on the island where they were born, have stakes in the sand, so I know exactly about his work in its August issue. or the island where they first took flight? where to put the ladder, so that my photos Walter said his job is both challeng- “Brown pelicans have strong fledge- line up every time I’m surveying the nests.” ing and rewarding. Befuddled brown peli- site fidelity,” explained Walter. They have a The study is now in its third year. can chicks snap at him with their hooked tendency to return to the area where they So far, Walter has helped place identifica- beaks as he helps tag and relocate them “fledged,” that is, left the nest. Walter is tion tags on 1,000 birds; 500 more will to potential nesting grounds. For three moving the young birds about six miles be tagged this season. Each of the birds weeks, he feeds them fish by hand, sling- from their birthplace; the is banded and has a blood ing hundreds of pounds of pogy into their study will reveal whether sample taken. This year, the gaping mouths. translocation is an effec- researchers achieved a bio- After Hurricane Katrina laid waste tive way to create new logical first, determining the to the Louisiana coast, funding began to coastal colonies. gender of the birds through flow from Washington, D.C., to learn more Until now, biologists those samples. atton about the impact of hurricanes on coastal have studied pelicans Twice a week, Walter saltwater ecosystems. The University of K yle P looks for the banded birds, Louisiana at Lafayette, in collaboration recording their movement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service patterns. “The survey will tell us and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife whether there are any differences in and Fisheries, began a $200,000, multi- movement patterns by gender.” year study in 2006 to explore ways to help Because brown pelicans take ensure the survival of brown pelicans in three years to reach reproductive an environment vulnerable to powerful maturity, the researchers won’t be storms. Dr. Paul Leberg, a biology profes- able to fully measure the success of sor, directs the ecology and conservation their efforts until next year, when research aspects of the study. the first batch of translocated birds Walter works on the Isles Dernieres, returns to the area to nest. “the last islands,” Louisiana’s western-most Walter is on track to earn his barrier island chain, about 75 miles south- doctorate in May 2011, so he’ll be west of New Orleans. “Almost half of all able to see the project through to its the brown pelicans in Louisiana are nesting conclusion. He says he hopes all the in my study site, so if a really strong hurri- hours spent in the Gulf will pay off cane comes over that region . . . that could for the brown pelican. wipe out a large portion of the Louisiana “These islands are being de- population,” he said. graded rapidly, so the sooner we Of the four islands, only two are nest- can establish more populations, the ing grounds. Brown pelicans built about more likely it will be that we have 5,500 nests last year on Raccoon Island atton a total population of birds that is

and another 500 on Wine Island. Walter K yle P more spread out and less susceptible is trying out two management techniques Scott T. Walter holds a nine-week-old chick. to any one storm.” n LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 5 On Campus

Virtual Advantage High-tech tools link university, military training centers

t looks like a war ‘These immersive The 12-foot-tall zone in the Univer- by 9-foot-wide con- Isity of Louisiana at simulators provide traption resembles a Lafayette’s Abdalla Hall. for repeatable, event- three-sided box, with Actually, special 3-D one wall left open to glasses are needed to see driven research sce- enable a person to step the battle because it’s a narios where soldiers onto the treadmill. virtual war zone. UL Lafayette Dr. Carolina Cruz- can be placed in acquired the treadmill Neira, the W. Hansen stressful or seem- and designed and built Hall professor in Com- the projection cham- puter Engineering, and ingly dangerous op- ber around it to create a team of university erational situations a virtual environment researchers built a cave- with no risk to their to enter simulated like environment that worlds that can be takes users into a safety. We can see explored by walking. virtual dimension. Giant the effects of both UL Lafayette received screens form a backdrop $3.1 million in federal for an oversized tread- the cognitive and the funds for a research mill that is capable of physical workload on project for the U.S. moving in all directions. Army Research Labo- “It’s kind of like human performance.’ ratories in Maryland. a prototype for a Star “Specifically, Kathy Kehring Trek holodeck,” said we are conducting U.S. Army Research Laboratory Cruz-Neira, a pioneer in research on the levels the virtual reality realm. of stress on foot sol- “The screens immerse diers on a battlefield. you in a world generated by computers and We’re developing scenarios that would be you have 3-D perception just as if you were comparable to what they would find in watching a 3-D movie or an IMAX movie.” battle and we are measuring their reactions It’s the only one of its kind on a univer- and their mental abilities in these environ- sity campus; others are on military bases. ments,” Cruz-Neira said. Three projection screens surround Soldiers participating in the study will the omni-directional treadmill, while wear sensors to monitor their brain activ- eight high-definition cameras mounted on ity and temperature as they move through the screens capture the user’s movement. the virtual war zone. Projectors display computer-generated en- These environments could include vironments on the screens. While wearing sniper gunfire, car explosions or hand gre- 3-D glasses, users are immersed in a virtual nades. “They will experience things just as reality world. if they are in a war. They will have to react That world can resemble any location, quickly and computers will record their from the Sahara Desert to the streets of responses,” Cruz-Neira explained. Paris. It can also mimic environmental Researchers are developing these sce- conditions. “We can create simulations narios with actual testing on soldiers set to of various situations from heavy winds to begin by year’s end. Software applications earthquakes,” Cruz-Neira said. are also being developed to connect the

6 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 scenarios where soldiers can be placed in stressful or seemingly dangerous operational situations with no risk to their safety. We can see the effects of both the cognitive and the physical work- load on human performance,” Kehring said. Earlier versions of the treadmill fell short of creating the kind of virtual environment researchers were looking for. Today’s treadmill has a larger working surface and its design “enables the soldiers to go prone or crawl. These factors, and others, all contribute to increased physical immersion into the environment and more realistic effects from the physical workout,” Kehring continued. “You would not see the same realistic effects from the physical workload and fatigue using a joystick or game controller to move through a simulated environment.” According to Kehring, researchers can measure a wide variety of factors, such as “biomechanical motion, time to complete a task, path traveled, target acquisition and identifica- tion, virtually anything occurring in the environment.” Dr. Robert Stewart, vice president for Research and Graduate Studies at UL Lafay- ette, said the treadmill could have additional applications in the future. “The omni-directional treadmill is a very important piece of equipment as we develop research programs relating to 3-D and visualiza- tion. These programs could include training for emergency responders or even mobility help for the elderly.” D oug ugas University of Louisiana at Lafayette research scientists test the omni-directional treadmill in Abdalla Hall. Dioselin Stewart noted that multi- Gonzalez is walking in the virtual environment. Carsten Neumann monitors computers used to collect data. ple disciplines on campus could take advantage of the treadmill. military’s treadmills with UL Lafayette’s N.C., which houses another omni-direc- “I would envision faculty from treadmill, so soldiers can virtually travel tional treadmill. Three more are in place the College of Sciences, College of Engi- together through battlefields. at the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Battle Lab in neering and College of Education benefit- Kathy Kehring is the tactical environ- Fort Benning, Ga. ing from research opportunities that arise ment simulation facility manager at the “These immersive simulators provide with this treadmill. U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Durham, for repeatable, event-driven research “It’s an amazing piece of equipment.” n

LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 7 Work In Progress 328673 748 8025 98 475 52 13 256 8693 328 31 Suppose an automotive manufac- 1,15436 52 129 user-friendly, CBIT is turer in north Louisiana cuts 400 jobs, developing a computer- while a seafood processing company driven workforce im- expands, creating 200 jobs. pact simulator. “It will What is the overall effect on the allow you to ask ‘what O n C ampus Louisiana workforce? How can educa- if’ questions,” Kolluru SUPPLY DEMAND tional institutions prepare graduates 963 said. “What kinds of whose knowledge and skills match 742113 78 businesses do we want available jobs? to keep? What kinds of

These are the kinds of questions A nne D arrah businesses do we want UL Lafayette researchers will consider. done a phenomenal job of finding out to strategically recruit? The Louisiana Workforce Commission what kinds of jobs are being created and Meanwhile, the supply side – edu- (formerly the Department of Labor) has what business and industry say they cation – can provide strategic guidance signed a three-year, $6 million contract need. That’s the demand.” and direction. “What kinds of talents with a UL Lafayette research consortium The UL consortium will help make and skills and economic training and made up of the Cecil J. Picard Center job forecasts more accurate by includ- educated workforce do we provide and for Child Development, the Center for ing supply-side information, which Dr. build up, so that the state remains vi- Business and Information Technologies Billy Ray Stokes, executive director of able? Not just today, but 10 years from and the B.I. Moody III College of Busi- the Picard Center, calls “the educational now, 25 years from now. ness Administration. pipeline.” Stokes said UL Lafayette is “To us, it represents more than “Business and industry are the con- uniquely positioned to provide that just a project. It is a great opportunity sumers of the workforce we provide,” information through the work of the for the university to make meaningful said Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, director of Picard Center. contributions to the community and to CBIT. “The Workforce Commission has To make all that information the state,” said Kolluru.

Cajun Ambassadors receive honorary degrees

Artist George Rodrigue, Richard, a native of Scott, known best for his Blue Dog La., is an internationally ac- paintings, is the latest to earn claimed singer-songwriter and an honorary doctorate from poet. He is especially popular the University of Louisiana in France and Canada. His at Lafayette. He was honored Canadian album releases have during the Graduate School’s earned gold and platinum sta- commencement in May. tus and he has won two Felix Rodrigue follows Cajun awards, the French-Canadian musician Zachary Richard, equivalent of the Grammy who was presented an honor- Award. ary doctoral degree in fine arts An award-winning author, George Rodrigue in December. Zachary Richard Richard has published three Rodrigue, a native of New volumes of poetry and three Iberia, La., attended UL Lafayette for six semesters in the children’s books. He is also a film producer. In 2000, he pro- mid-1960s before transferring to the Art Center College of duced, narrated and scored “Against the Tide,” a television Design in Los Angeles. documentary detailing the history of the Cajun people. Rodrigue’s most famous series of paintings began Throughout his career, Richard has maintained strong when he painted his interpretation of a mythical loup- ties to Louisiana. He is a founding member of Action Cadi- garou, or werewolf. He found inspiration in photos of his enne, a volunteer organization dedicated to the promotion of studio dog, Tiffany, who had died several years before. He the French language and the Cajun culture of Louisiana. painted the loup-garou as a pale grey-blue dog and gave it Richard has been honored by the French and Canadian red eyes. Over time, he changed its eyes to yellow, creating governments. In 1997, he was decorated Officier de l’Ordre a friendlier image. des Arts et Lettres de la République Française. That same In October 2008, Gov. Bobby Jindal declared Rodrigue year, he was initiated into the Ordre des Francophones as the artist laureate for Louisiana. d’Amérique by the government of Quebec.

8 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 Hitler’s Man in Havana: Electronic Tribes, The Heinz LÜning and Nazi Virtual Worlds of Masculinity and Emotion Espionage in Latin Geeks, Gamers, Shamans, in Early Modern English America and ScaMMers Literature From the Bookshel f From Dr. Thomas Schoonover Edited by Tyrone L. Adams Jennifer C. Vaught University Press of Kentucky and Stephen A. Smith Ashgate Publishing Company University of Texas Press A biography of the only German In 2003, Dr. Jennifer C. Vaught edited spy executed in Latin America dur- In Electronic Tribes, scholars explore a collection of essays about grief and ing World War II was featured on social groups spawned by the popu- gender in early modern culture. CSPAN2’s Book TV this spring. larity of the Internet. Her latest book, Masculinity and Hitler’s Man in Havana was It’s edited by Dr. Tyrone L. Emotion in Early Modern English Lit- written by Dr. Thomas Schoonover, Adams, the Richard D’Aquin Pro- erature, zeroes in on works by some history professor emeritus at UL fessor of Journalism and Commu- 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century authors, Lafayette. CSPAN2 broadcast a talk nications at UL Lafayette, and Dr. including Shakespeare, Edmund he gave about his new book at the Stephen A. Smith, a professor of Spenser and Christopher Marlowe. International Spy Museum in Wash- communication at the University of It earned praise from Elise ington, D.C., in January. Arkansas. Denbo, a professor of English at Lüning chose to become a Nazi “As the title suggests, the work Queensborough Community College spy rather than serve in Hitler’s explores the implications of Internet in New York. In a review published army. He was sent to Cuba, where communication. Just what are we in the journal Renaissance Quarterly, he posed as a Jewish refugee to moving toward in terms of human Denbo wrote: collect information about naval and interaction? Is the Internet bringing us “Jennifer Vaught presents a commercial activities conducted by closer together or leading us to lives finely-researched study of masculinity the United States and other Allies in of isolation where our only connec- and emotion in early modern Eng- the Caribbean. tion to other human beings is through land, one that she places in context of Lüning proved to be an inept the pixels on a computer screen?” current critical debates while clarify- undercover agent. After his capture, asks Dr. Jim Parker, web master at ing particular areas that she builds on however, Cuban and U.S. officials Vanderbilt University, in the book’s and expands. portrayed him as a master spy for introduction. “Whereas previous studies have political reasons. Sixteen essays, including one focused on grief or ways in which Dr. Walter LaFeber, the Andrew written by Adams and Smith, cover excessive mourning reinforces reduc- and James Tisch University Profes- four broad areas: how electronic tive views of female identity (i.e., sor at Cornell University, describes tribes differ from other online groups, women as ‘leaky vessels’), Vaught Hitler’s Man in Havana as a “won- the social consequences of electronic concentrates on a variety of powerful derfully told story, at times too tribalism, the development of online male emotions (sadness, despair, joy) weird and funny to be true (yet it is) culture and what Parker describes that correlate with a shift in values . . . One of the more fascinating and as a “darker side of electronic tribes, from a warrior culture to a culture instructive tales of attempted espio- crime and counterculture.” that encourages virtue through feel- nage in World War II.” Dr. H. L. Goodall Jr., director of ing and intellectual enhancement, the Dr. Max Friedman, an the Hugh Downs School of Human self-fashioning of the courtier as well associate professor of history at Communication at Arizona State Uni- the man of sensibility.” American University, notes that the versity, said Electronic Tribes chal- Vaught is the Jean-Jacques narrative, “often gripping, is firmly lenges “existing wisdom, particularly and Aurore Labbé Fournet/ BORSF contextualized in the historical the idea that Internet users are best Associate Professor of English at UL events of the period. ... ” understood as communities. ... ” Lafayette.

LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 9 Students

Best in the Nation Engineering majors create upsurge in efficiency

ngineering students and fac- From its inception ulty are helping mid-size manu- Efacturers become more productive through 2008, the IAC and energy efficient. Their reward: being identified an average named the best university-based Industrial Assessment Center in the nation in 2008 savings of $173 million by the U.S. Department of Energy. per year for its clients.

The IAC conducts free, on-site as- sessments to evaluate energy use, waste disposal and productivity. Established in 2000, it is one of only 26 university- based centers across the country and the only one in Louisiana. Since its incep- tion, the center has worked with more than 200 businesses. It serves a wide area: all of Louisiana, most of Arkansas, plus portions of Texas and Mississippi. Team members have worked in printing plants, food processing facilities, shipyards and oil refineries. They’ve traveled 1,300 feet underground to evaluate a salt mine and more than 200 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico to examine an oil platform. In early May, team members visited Avery Island, La., to assess the McIlhenny Company’s TABASCO® pepper sauce factory. It was a return visit for the IAC, which con- ducted an assessment for the company nine years ago. “We believe in continuous im- provement,” said Troy Romero, McIlhenny’s vice president of operations. “We’re happy to be a partner with the university, giving students the opportunity to fulfill their roles as learners and helpers in industry.” Mechanical engineering senior Blakeley Blanchard and two juniors, Aaron Artigue and Ryan Kelley, spent four hours in the fac- tory, analyzing everything from the conveyor belt to the factory’s emergency lighting sys- tem. They took measurements with sophisti- cated equipment, including a thermal imag- Dou g Du as In the TABASCO® factory, from left, Blakeley Blanchard and Aaron Artigue check ing camera and an electronic light reader. the air compression system, while Ryan Kelley takes readings with a thermal- The trio analyzed the factory’s air compres- imaging camera. sion system, checking it for air leaks.

10 LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2009 identified a total of $173 nals and presenting papers at national and million per year in utili- international conferences.” He pointed out ties savings for its clients. the university strives for balance in teach- “In reality, we’ve had $34 ing and research. “So, we’re doing both. We million per year imple- train our students. Our students will learn mented,” said Kozman. all the things they need when they gradu- The students are ate, so that’s the educational side. At the paid for their work. Brit- same time, we’ve got some good research tany Aulds, a graduate going on.” student in mechanical And that seems to be a winning com- engineering, is the team’s bination for graduates. The U.S. Depart- student leader and lead ment of Energy tracks IAC students be- report writer. “Instead of yond graduation. “About 70 to 75 percent working at a desk or at of our students end up in energy-related McDonald’s, I have a job fields,” Kozman said. n that’s going to contribute to my understanding of engineering and energy,” students gain she said. Graduate and experience undergraduate students in any field of engineering may be part of the team. echanical engineering student Kozman said he en- Aaron Artigue pays attention to joys the camaraderie. “I M detail. That’s because, as part enjoy the students having of the Industrial Assessment Center, he fun, more than anything is responsible for making sure that all else. Engineering, to me, calculations in a client’s final report are is fun. It’s a hobby, in accurate and complete. addition to being a voca- Even though he is still a junior, tion. So, I want our stu- Artigue has conducted more than 80 dents to view it the same assessments over the past two-and-a- Dou g Du as way – working in energy half years. Aaron Artigue inspects the production line, where a batch of bottles IAC students like him are highly are destined for Brazil. efficiency is just a means to make that happen.” sought after in the energy industry Dr. Ted Kozman, associate professor Dr. Jim Lee, profes- because of the training and knowledge of mechanical engineering and the center’s sor of engineering and technology man- they receive. director, accompanied the student team. agement and the team’s associate director, Students and graduates receive As they do after each assessment, team said the real-world problems identified by support from the U.S. Department of members will create a detailed report with the IAC often fuel research. “We’re getting Energy through a web site and online recommendations for the McIlhenny Com- recognition in high-quality academic jour- forum that includes scholarship op- pany’s factory. Depend- portunities and links to companies that ing on their findings, were founded by or employ IAC alumni. those recommendations Nationwide, more than half of em- may be as complex as ployed IAC graduates receive a starting installing a new energy wage of $50,000 to $99,999, which indi- system or as simple as cates that IAC graduates begin at sala- placing motion sensors ries above the average of $50,892 for in rooms to prevent salaries across engineering disciplines, lights from being left on according to the National Association of unnecessarily. Colleges and Employers. About nine months The Department of Energy tracks after the assessment, IACs alumni to learn how many are Kozman makes a employed in energy-related fields. follow-up call to find An estimated 70 to 75 percent of UL out which, if any, of the Lafayette engineering alumni who have IAC recommendations participated in the IAC move on to pur- sue careers related to energy or energy have been implemented. Dou g Du as efficiency, as compared to 56 percent of From its inception Students use a thermal-imaging camera to measure the efficiency of n through 2008, the IAC the factory’s lights. graduates nationwide.

LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2009 11 AmeriCorps Student Becomes Fairy Godmother For a Day

What if you have a date to the prom, storage racks and also required to de- but can’t afford a gown? hangers, as well as sign his or her own Thanks to Amanda Noble, a sopho- a steam cleaner — community service more nursing major and member of UL tools to keep the project. Students St u d en t s Lafayette AmeriCorps, more than 100 donated dresses must come up with girls received free prom dresses this looking their best. an idea, then con- spring. It was the second year she came Donors were also duct research to find to the aid of some real-life Cinderellas. encouraged to pass out whether the “Last year we gave away about on accessories, such project is needed and 50 dresses. This year we had a goal of as shoes and eve- feasible. doubling the number of dresses we gave ning bags, to com- Noble drew away and we actually exceeded that plete the outfits. on her hometown goal,” she said. AmeriCorps for inspiration.“I Local media helped Noble spread set up a drop box am from New Or- the word that she was seeking gowns at Our Lady of leans and the (New that she could offer to young women Wisdom Catholic Orleans) Hornets who needed them. Church on cam- basketball team had a Gwen A u c oin During the one-day giveaway, re- pus. “I’m really Amanda Noble program like this. It cipients got to try on the dresses. “That just amazed at the had a big impact back makes it more special. They actually get response, at how many people donated home,” she said. “I did some research to pick out something they like,” Noble dresses and how many people came to and couldn’t find a program here.” explained. Some teens also received spa help at the giveaway event,” Noble said. Noble said she hopes to build on gift certificates that were donated for AmeriCorps members regularly par- the project’s success. “We’ll definitely do the project. ticipate in group activities, such as tutor- it again next year. This program helps Noble wrote a $625 grant, funded ing at-risk elementary school students girls who don’t have prom dresses, by Lafayette Junior League, to increase and helping build homes through a part- while at the same time promoting recy- the capacity of the prom dress recycling nership with Habitat for Humanity. cling and community service, which is program. The money helped pay for Each AmeriCorps participant is what AmeriCorps is all about.”

Choice Words: Students reveal what they read for fun

For the first time in more than 25 years, American adults to find out. Of the 119 students who responded, 74 percent are reading more literature, according to a 2008 study by said they are either reading or plan to read a work of fiction the National Endowment for the Arts. As it turns out, de- that is not part of a class assignment. spite all their twittering and iPhoning, young adults – ages UL Lafayette students who are ages 18 to 24 are finding 18 to 24 – are leading the literary pack. plenty to sink their teeth into, citing more than 140 titles. Nationwide, the younger demographic shows the big- Among those, books in the vampire-romance Twilight series gest and most rapid increases in reading in four literary – Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn – were forms: novels, short stories, plays and poems. Since 2002, mentioned most often. Others are jumping on their Harry 18- to 24-year-olds have seen the biggest increase – 9 per- Potter broomsticks for literary escape. cent – in literary reading, and Students are following the stories of superheroes- the most rapid rate of increase turned-vigilantes in the pages of the comic-book series, – 21 percent. Watchmen and exploring the fantasy world created by The literary good news Christopher Paolini. Brisingr, the third book in Paolini’s left La Louisiane wondering Inheritance Cycle, features helpful dragons and elves, what UL Lafayette students in troublesome dwarves and a magic sword. the same age group might be Students are dipping into the pages of perennial reading. About 69 percent of favorites such as Catch-22, Slaughterhouse Five, The UL Lafayette’s student body Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Hobbit and Lord are ages 18-24, enrollment re- of the Rings. But they are also tasting more rarified cords show. reads, including Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, the So, La Louisiane poetry of Langston Hughes, the short stories of Gabriel conducted an informal survey Garcia Marquez and the plays of William Shakespeare.

12 LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2009 why walk, when you can crawl?

176 roller bearings that up-and down movement.” 12 aluminum legs So, the Cajun Crawler’s platform 2 cordless drills remains parallel to the ground, while Reach 1 inspired mechanical the feet below move like a mechanical engineering class chorus line. “The way these all work It all adds up to the Cajun Crawler, together, it transfers the weight from the a one-of-a kind people mover designed one foot to the next without any of that and built by UL Lafayette students. vertical movement,” Tomasaitis said. It resembles a Segway, but instead of Before they began building the Right wheels, it has mechanical legs. Crawler, students tested the design in a Discovery Channel Canada sent a lab, using computer-aided drafting soft- New Orleans production crew to shoot ware. “We did a lot of 3-D modeling,” People. the Crawler on campus in early May. It Tomasaitis said. featured the vehicle on its science show, Five UL Lafayette alumni were part “Daily Planet,” on May 14. of the team: Chris Menard, Dustin Pre- A video that shows the Crawler jean, Kevin St. Aubin, Kurt Trahan and in action has been viewed on YouTube Spencer Malsh. They all graduated in more than 235,000 times. December 2008. Successful businesses The vehicle’s development began in The Cajun Crawler is powered by reach the right people Fall 2008, when Dr. Terrence Chambers’ two cordless drills. The triggers, in- students were brainstorming a design corporated into the left and right sides at the right time. Let the project. He’s an associate professor of of the handle, set the Crawler’s legs in award-winning university mechanical engineering and associate motion. The drills’ motors and recharge- magazine, La Louisiane, dean of the College of Engineering. able batteries are tucked neatly beneath “One of the students in the class the platform. do the reaching for you. suggested we look at the work of Theo “It made sense to use something Advertise your business Jansen,” Chambers recalled. Jansen is a that was already put together Dutch artist and engineer who creates as a working system. It and connect with more larger-than-life moving sculptures. His also helped keep the cost than 70,000 readers, fantastic “beests,” as he calls them, are down,” Tomasaitis said. immense, intricate skeletons made of He estimated that the including more than yellow plastic tubing, some as much as Crawler cost about 50,000 college graduates. 20 feet tall. Harnessing the wind, they $1,200. Students walk along the beaches of Holland, step- contributed ping gracefully across the wet sand. about $600; cash Chambers’ students borrowed and in-kind For more information, Jansen’s beest leg design for the legs of donations from the Cajun Crawler. area businesses contact Kathleen Thames at Don Tomasaitis, a covered the (337) 482-6397. graduating se- rest. One com- nior who led pany donated the design and aluminum. An- construction team, other cut the metal explained the design’s into parts. appeal: “When a per- Asked son walks, you kind whether the Ca- of have this up-and- jun Crawler has any down movement: practical applications, whenever you take Tomasaitis shrugged. a step, some of your “Not really,” he replied. energy is going to- “It might be a cool toy, ward lifting if somebody wants to your weight. be the first on their Jansen’s de- block to have one.” v is Gau t hie r

T r a sign avoids www.discovery Don Tomasaitis channel.ca

LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2009 13 14 LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 For Decades, students knew him as Mr. Sonnier, the janitor. Still Mr. N ow, he’s M r. Sonnier, the teacher. Sonnier

by Sarah Spell Photography by Philip Gould

t is a Monday afternoon in March. After a rainy weekend, the grounds at Port Barre Elementary are a wet, muddy mess. And the Port Barre Lil Red Hots are living up to their name. Recess was cancelled today. The puddles were just too tempting. “We tried,” confides the school receptionist with a sigh. “ButI as soon as we let them out, they headed straight for the water.” About 570 students, in pre-K to fourth grade, attend the school in the small St. Landry Parish community. At the end of the school day, buses are queued up near the front gate. A steady stream of kids wearing backpacks pours out of classrooms onto covered walkways. The din nearly drowns out a tinny voice on an outdoor speaker, call- ing out bus numbers. The on-duty teacher is trying to be heard, too. “Don’t cut!” she yells. “Stay on the sidewalk!” Joseph Sonnier is swimming against the tide, heading to his class- room at the rear of the campus. He is a big man with a ready smile. Six-foot-one and broad-shouldered, he towers over his charges. As he Joseph Sonnier greets school custodian Raymond Narcisse. passes them, his students call out to him: “Hey, Mr. Sonnier!” “See you tomorrow, Mr. Sonnier!” Sonnier has worked on this campus since 1981. The older students remember him as Mr. Sonnier, the janitor, the title he held for 26 years. Now, he is Mr. Sonnier, the teacher. “When I was still a custodian, they were just in kindergarten and coming up, said Sonnier in a recent interview. “You think that kids are not going to respect you because, ‘Oh, he was just a janitor.’ Those kids respect me more because they see what I’ve done and what I’ve accomplished.”

LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 15 Southern University, majoring in electrical engineering. His parents separated. His mother, who worked as a housekeeper, was in financial trouble. After one semester, Sonnier, the eldest of five sib- lings, dropped out of school and went to work to help sup- port her. Sonnier worked on con- struction sites, at a sawmill and a grocery store. In 1981, he be- came a custodian at Port Barre Elementary, accepting the job offer from his former principal, the late Wesley Jones. “He was my first inspira- tion,” Sonnier said. “After a couple of years, he and I got to talking. He sat me down and he said, ‘I taught you. I know what you’re capable of doing. You have more to offer the students than just cleaning up behind them. You can lead Joseph Sonnier speaks with students Madison Barron and Gracie Tilley. them.’ ” Even though it would be many years before Sonnier A first-year educator, Sonnier teaches math, science acted on those words, he took them to heart. “It stayed with and social studies to two groups of third graders, 50 stu- me,” he said. He became a catechism teacher. “I started do- dents in all. ing that first to see how I would like it.” Sonnier points out the colorful signs and messages he Sonnier kept working — and learning. On the elemen- has posted in his classroom. One reads, “Come prepared.” tary school campus, he not only served as a custodian, he Another, “Lend a hand.” became the go-to guy for technology. “When computers “I’ve created an environment where they can come into came to the school, I was asked to put them together and the classroom and feel welcome. I wanted them to know install several types of software.” When teachers ran into they have a caring teacher, to see a male teacher as a caring computer problems, they turned to him for solutions. individual,” Sonnier said. “I was involved with sports and with kids,” Sonnier Some of the students’ best papers are tacked up on a said. He was a basketball official for 22 years, a baseball of- bulletin board titled, “Double A Club.” “It stands for Awe- ficial for 16. He also coached Tee Ball and Little League. He some Achievers,” Sonnier explained. “I tell my students, oversaw the baseball and softball programs for the Parks and ‘Always strive for your personal best.’ ” Recreation Department in the nearby town of Opelousas. “I Higher education has been a lifelong dream for the was in charge of a lot of things. That was a way to supple- 47-year-old. It took him eight years, while working full- ment my income as a custodian.” time, to earn his bachelor’s degree in elementary education. At home, he and his wife, Felicia, emphasized educa- Neither of Sonnier’s parents completed high school. tion — by their words and by example. While their sons, His father left school in the eighth grade and his mother Shaun and Maurice, were in high school, Felicia earned a dropped out when she was a junior in high school, both degree in accounting from Louisiana Technical College. Af- because of family obligations. ter both boys had graduated from high school, Sonnier said Even though his parents lacked diplomas, “they to himself, “Well, I think it’s my turn.” stressed the importance of education,” Sonnier said. Yet, the He enrolled at UL Lafayette, but was able to attend familial pattern of sacrifice would repeat itself. most of his classes in Eunice, La., thanks to the 2 + 2 ele- Sonnier ran track and played basketball until his sopho- mentary education program, in which UL Lafayette instruc- more year, when he began working nights, helping his father tors teach courses on the LSU-Eunice campus. clean office buildings. But he never neglected his studies. He began in August 2000 as a part-time student. He A bright and able student, Sonnier was elected vice presi- attended night classes, slowly earning college credits. By the dent of his senior class and graduated fifth in his class at Le- spring of 2005, however, the remaining classes he needed onville High School in 1979. The following fall, he enrolled at were not offered at night.

16 LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 With the approval of St. Lan- old he was, took the initiative to go dry Parish school officials, Son- ‘I never had the back to school to make himself better, nier began a grueling schedule that attitude to give up. and the university supported that.” would last for the next two-and-a- The 2 + 2 elementary education half years. His workday began early I didn’t have that program that made it possible for each morning. “I would come to Sonnier to take upper-level classes work at 5. I’d work till 7. Then I attitude because close to home was created in 1998 would leave and go to classes. Most through a partnership between UL of the time my classes ended at 8 at it was always Lafayette and LSU-E. Most 2 + 2 par- night. So, I had to come from class ticipants are non-traditional students and come back to work, finish my my motto, ‘God who live in rural areas served by eight hours.” Most nights, he got LSU-E and would find it difficult to only two or three hours of sleep. brought me to it, commute to UL Lafayette, McNeese Weekends brought little relief, He’s going to take State University in Lake Charles, La., but did give him a chance to spend or LSU at Alexandria, La. some time with family. Shaun at- me through it.’ ’ Alice Voorhies, a UL Lafayette tended a junior college in Texas. instructor and coordinator of 2 + 2, Maurice was a student at the Uni- said that when they graduate, those versity of Louisiana at Monroe. students usually take teaching jobs in Both played football, which meant Sonnier and his wife often the small, rural commuities where they live. attended out-of-state games. “Their teams would travel to “We have provided about 250 certified teachers to areas Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Utah. Wherever they went, I that just would not have had them otherwise,” she noted. was there. I would take my homework with me. In May 2008, Sonnier graduated with a 3.85 grade “I didn’t see it as a burden, because I knew it was some- point average, the sixth highest in his class. In the fall, he thing I wanted to do. I wanted to become an educator.” traded in his custodian’s coveralls for a shirt and tie and There were personal challenges, as well. In December returned to Port Barre Elementary School. But he hasn’t left 2006, Sonnier’s father died of complications from Lou Geh- his previous job behind completely. rig’s disease. “I was in the middle of finals, but I didn’t want “I clean my own classroom. I tell the custodians, ‘Y’all to have to retake any courses. It was kind of rough, but I got don’t even come in my room. I got this.’ My room’s going through it.” to be cleaned by myself and my students. ... That’s part of Finals rolled around again the learning, too. Teaching them how to following May and Sonnier would be responsible, how to clean up after suffer another loss. His mother themselves. I look at it as a part of died of cancer. Again, he pushed teaching, so I don’t mind doing it.” through, taking his final exams Along with a sense of responsi- in the midst of grief. He earned a bility, Sonnier shares something else perfect 4.0 grade point average in with students: humor. each trying semester. “I told them, ‘Guess what, you “There were times when I was made history.’ so overwhelmed with the work, ‘We made history?’ but I never had the attitude to “I said, ‘Yes, you’re the first class give up. I didn’t have that attitude, at Port Barre Elementary to be taught because it was always my motto, by a custodian.’ ” At this, Sonnier ‘God brought me to it, He’s going laughs aloud. to take me through it.’ ” But he is not done “making his- He credits his family, especially tory.” Once his two required years Felicia, for supporting him. He’s of supervised teaching are done, he also grateful to “great professors intends to re-enroll at UL Lafayette who stood by my side when I was to pursue a master’s degree in admin- going through all of this. They kept istration and supervision. “I want to me going, they kept inspiring me.” become a principal ... That’s my ulti- In pursuing his education, mate goal. Sonnier developed a new identity. “I believe God has a way of using “People looked at me not as a cus- people for certain things. And I really todian, but as a person who’s being feel that I am, I guess, a messenger educated by the university. that you can do anything if you set “It wasn’t the idea of me being Sonnier plans to continue his education your mind to it. a custodian and going to college, it to become a school principal. “It’s not where you start, it’s was that somebody, no matter how where you finish.” n

LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 17 Power House By Sarah Spell Photography by Doug Dugas

n a spacious warehouse in the middle of Lafayette, a dream is being built. • It is made of wood and glass, of photovoltaic cells and polystyrene foam. • It is being built from memory. From moonlight shining on a weathered cypress porch. The smell of gumbo simmering on the stove. The sound of mu- sic and laughter drifting across the bayou. • It is being created from a vision, a de- sire to make la bon vie — the good life — affordable. • Dr. Geoff Gjertson is faculty advisor for the BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home project. “We’re building some- thing that’s affordable, reproducible and appropriate to our culture,” he observed. • That “something” is an 800-square-foot house that will generate its own power from rooftop solar panels, collect its own water when there is rain and heat the water with solar energy. In fact, it’s designed to produce more energy than it uses.

Members of the BeauSoleil team consider color swatches for the home’s interior. Shown, from left, are: Elizabeth Rountree, interior design student; Greg Jefferson, architecture student; Megan Durio, interior design student; Dr. Geoff Gjertson, faculty advisor; and Catherine Guidry, architecture student.

18 LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 19 ‘I’m interested in creating architecture that connects people to the natural environment, rather than separating them from it. Between air conditioning and television, we’ve been separated from the natural environment, to our detriment. When you can reconnect to nature, you have a richer life.’

Eddie Cazayoux

$50,000 a year. The HUD (Housing and Urban Development) calculator that’s avail- able online basically shows that a family that makes only $50,000 a year can only afford a $120,000 house. So, that was our goal — to get the production model down to $120,000,” Gjertson explained. “The problem with a lot of so-called ‘affordable’ housing is that it saddles people with a cheaply built house that’s very ex- es y o f Tea m B eausoleil c ou rt Combining technology and tradition, the home’s southern façade features solar roof pensive to maintain. So, our goal is to not only design a house that ultimately would panels and functional cypress shutters. be affordable when it goes into production, but a much better house, too.” hile its technology come a cultural ambassador, when the The BeauSoleil home is designed to is contemporary, its de- BeauSoleil team tests its design on an inter- meet national standards for environmen- sign incorporates tradi- national stage: the 2009 Solar Decathlon to tally sustainable construction. The Leader- W tional features such as the be held on the National Mall in Washing- ship in Energy and Environmental (LEED) kitchen’s high ceiling. Its soaring, 13-foot, ton, D.C. The UL Lafayette team is one of design standards are set by the U.S. Green five-inch height enables heat to rise and only 20 in the world qualified to compete Building Council, a consortium of industry cooler air to settle. in the bi-annual event organized by the and non-profit leaders. Gjertson said even It’s an accommodating host, offering U.S. Department of Energy. though the Decathlon does not require just the right setting for an intimate din- Among the competition are teams competing teams to meet those standards, ner for two, or enough room for a bal du from Rice University, Cornell University, the BeauSoleil team has embraced them maison, a traditional house party, complete Ohio State and Penn State. The BeauSoleil to increase students’ working knowledge. with live music and dancers two-stepping team will also take on Germany’s Technis- “Eventually, these standards are going to be on the porch. che Universität Darmstadt, winner of the mandatory, especially in public buildings,” Its design can expand with a grow- 2007 contest. he explained. ing family. Countertops in the kitchen Gjertson acknowledges that his Ger- To achieve the goals of sustainability and bathroom are suitable for those with man counterparts created a beautiful, and affordability, Gjerston enlisted the help disabilities. It’s designed to withstand hur- energy-efficient house. “But it might cost of one of his mentors, Eddie Cazayoux, a ricane-force winds and can be elevated to a million dollars to build. It’s unrealistic to UL Lafayette professor emeritus. During provide housing in areas prone to flooding. think that most people would spend that his 13 years as director of the university’s The project takes its name from the kind of money on a house.” School of Architecture, Cazayoux helped French word for sunshine, but its title also Instead of merely following the con- create a highly regarded program that gives a nod to the Grammy Award-winning test rules, the UL Lafayette team increased provides challenging, hands-on opportuni- ambassadors of Cajun culture, BeauSoleil the degree of difficulty by creating a state- ties for students. An expert in sustainable avec Michael Doucet. (Doucet and the of-the-art, sustainable home that the aver- design, he knows how to create homes that band are supporters of the project.) age Louisiana resident can actually afford. work in concert with Louisiana’s hot, hu- In October, the house itself will be- “The median income in Louisiana is mid climate.

20 LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 Blessed be this house

The Rev. Chester Arceneaux blessed the BeauSoleil home at a dedication ceremony March 4. The pastor of Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church on UL Lafayette’s campus penned a prayer especially for the occasion.

Cazayoux has helped build a strong Cazayoux stresses the im- foundation for UL Lafayette’s BeauSoleil portance of passive design. In project. In 1983, he and colleague Hector architecture, “passive” refers LaSala designed an experimental home, to design elements such as the Cade Energy Research House, that was positioning a structure to take then built by students. The project won an advantage of prevailing winds Energy Design Innovation Award from the and the path of the sun. “You U.S. Department of Energy. Cazayoux also do everything you can possibly established the UL Lafayette Building Insti- do passively and then you add tute, which gives students the opportunity energy or a mechanical system to design and build structures. to supplement that,” he ex- His approach is simple, but not sim- plained. plistic. “I’m interested in creating archi- To help students gain tecture that connects people to the natural insight into passive design, environment, rather than separating them Cazayoux invited a unique from it. Between air conditioning and group of visitors to campus television, we’ve been separated from the for a roundtable discussion. “The work we begin today should enliven our natural environment, to our detriment. “I brought together an older faith and make us grateful. We know the familiar When you can reconnect to nature, you white lady, an older black lady, have a richer life.” a Creole Native American, a words of the Psalms: ‘If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor.’

“In a sense, we are God’s own co-workers. Let us pray for His help in this celebration. May we use the gift of the sun, the wind and water and realize that we are called to be good stewards of the earth and to protect our environment. May we become aware of the earth’s beauty and seek renewable energies in green building technology. May we use our gift of creativity and build upon God’s kingdom so that our children’s children may also enjoy the benefit ofG od’s creation upon this earth.

“Lord, we ask you to bless the BeauSoleil house. My brothers and sisters, may the Lord bring this construction to its successful completion. May His protection be upon all those who labor and work. May His blessing be upon the benefactors who provided gifts so this may be built and may He bless our great university as we realize that each of us is called, through our gifts, to continue to build Professor Emeritus Eddie Cazayoux and architecture students make our world through the resources that we are given sure everything goes according to plan; he has been involved with the BeauSoleil project since its inception. Shown, from left, are: Christopher on earth. Almighty God, bless us, Father, Son and Leger, Jeremy Credeur, Gretchen Lacombe-Vanicor and Cazayoux. Holy Spirit. Amen.”

LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 21 Native American, two Cajun and Cazayoux are among 28 guys from around Pecan Is- faculty team members. land and a young guy I had The entire project has a designed a house for that’s to- budget of $625,000. This fig- tally off the grid.” The elders, ure includes several big-ticket some of whom were in their items: designing and building 80s and 90s, had all lived “off the house; warehouse rent; the grid” before there was transporting the house to any other option. Washington, D.C.; and team “We talked about what travel costs. The U.S. Depart- life was like. About water — ment of Energy gives each how they collected and used team $100,000. “We had to water. About keeping food go out and raise the rest. And in the house. Cleaning your the community has respond- clothes, sewerage, keeping ed. They are investing in our yourself warm in the win- ideas,” Guidry said. Support tertime and cool in the sum- has come in the form of mon- mertime. How do you do all ey and in-kind donations. that without running water, Louisiana System Built without electricity? Homes of St. Martinville, La., “It was a real eye opener has been a key contributor. for the students,” Cazayoux The company manufactured said. Students also studied and put together the walls examples of local architec- of the BeauSoleil house from ture, including Cajun and structural insulated panels. Creole structures. Made of foam sandwiched Cazayoux and Gjertson between particleboard, the said that passing on those panels are strong and energy cultures to students was efficient. crucial, because students are “I think a lot of the time, at the heart of the BeauSoleil projects like this have had the endeavor. “As much as pos- goal of mass production, but sible, I try to step back and never really got the producer get out of their way. This involved,” Gjertson said. is really their project, not “But Louisiana System Built mine,” Gjertson said. Homes is helping us build Over the past two years, the first one, so it’s not a huge more than 200 students have Architecture students create a model of the Louisiana BeauSoleil Solar stretch for them to think that devoted some 100,000 hours Home. From left: Denisse Castro, Jared Leger and Christopher Dufreche. they could actually build the to the project. final production model.” Catherine Guidry is one Meanwhile, a California- of eight graduate students of different people and how to work to- based company, NanaWall who have been involved with the BeauSo- gether.” Systems Inc., is helping develop what leil project from the start. She serves as its At the university level, the project Gjertson calls the most innovative feature public relations officer. “I’m an architec- draws on interdisciplinary talent and of the BeauSoleil home, the transitional ture student, but the business education expertise, incorporating numerous de- porch. The porch is based on a traditional that I’m getting is intense. Being able to partments, including architecture and home design called a dog trot, which in- work with professionals in the community, engineering, industrial design and interior cludes an open breezeway. with professors and with other students design, renewable resources, computer In the BeauSoleil home, this covered has shown me how to work with a variety science, business and marketing. Gjerston area divides the space into two distinct

22 LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 ‘I’m an architecture student, but the business education that I’m getting is intense. Being able to work with professionals in the community, with professors and with other students has shown me how to work with a variety of different people and how to work together.’ catherine guidry zones, with the kitchen on one side and the living room, bathroom and bedroom on the other. Surrounding the transitional porch are six doors, hung on an overhead track, designed by the BeauSoleil team and To test their design, team members installed solar panels on the roof of Madison Hall produced by NanaWall. on the UL Lafayette campus. The panels feed energy back into the university’s power The doors, which rotate around the system. Shown, from left, are: Dr. Robert Henry, a UL Lafayette engineering professor; track, can also function as walls, offer- engineering student Thomas Bosch; and architecture students Gretchen Lacombe- ing great flexibility. The breezeway can be Vanicor and Scott Chappuis. transformed into an indoor space, creating additional dining space adjacent to the kitchen or making the living room larger. be removed for the trip. Once it arrives on “It’s an opportunity for them to gain Fixed, pull-down mosquito screens allow the mall, the team will have just four days an intense, intimate experience with sus- the space to be used as a sleeping porch. to reconstruct it and prepare it for visitors. tainable design that they wouldn’t be able “NanaWall has versions of the doors, That includes everything from making sure to have any other way. Even though they’ll but the exact system they are doing for us the plumbing works to exterior details, never have this exact project again, they’ll has not been done before. So, they’re real such as adding native landscaping and set- be prepared for almost anything after hav- proud of it and they want to showcase ting out trash and recycling receptacles. ing gone through this.” that,” Gjertson said. Gjertson said the real-world chal- He also said he hopes the BeauSoleil Showcasing a prototype home on the lenges and limitations of the competition Louisiana Solar Home will have far-reach- National Mall in- ing impact. volves even more “Team than designing BeauSoleil is and building an proposing a new shower innovative house. FE paradigm for liv- sink Along with the ref. freez. ing on the Gulf Decathlon judges, Living Room Bathroom Coast — one that some 200,000 visi- is sustainable d/w Transitional tors are expected Porch and takes into to tour the BeauSo- Bedroom consideration our Hall leil home. Kitchen climate, culture For the Beau- Laundry and the ever- Soleil team, the W/D increasing energy FE devil may be in the Porch crisis. One of the details. ways to do that Packing will is to live much be a chore. To make it easier, the team has have brought out the best in his students. more efficiently, with less of an impact created a schematic drawing — a place for “I think that’s something a lot of academ- on the environment. I think it will return everything and everything in its place. It ics think they have to shield their students us to a way of living that is actually more will take two 18-wheelers, plus a smaller from, because it stifles creativity.” Instead, generous and more resilient.” n truck, to haul equipment and gear. Gjertson said having a meaningful challenge The home’s roof panels will have to “actually forces them to be more creative. www.beausoleilhome.org

LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 23 True Colors

HWays UL Lafayette h Enriches the Community

As the latest dean of Community Service, Dr. David Yarbrough has been given the task of completing a detailed database that lists all the ways UL Lafayette’s faculty, staff and students serve others. It is an unenviable task. There are times when the associate professor must feel like Sisyphus of Greek mythology, condemned for eternity to push a large rock up a hill, only to have it roll down before it reaches the summit. The sheer volume of information is almost overwhelming. A recent survey showed that faculty, staff and students volunteered about 508,000 hours last year. • Beginning with the Fall 2009 semester, about 100 first-time freshmen will be required to perform community service. That mandate will be extended to all incoming freshmen over the next three years because of a belief, shared by administrators and faculty, that there are valuable lessons to be learned through assisting others. On the following pages are examples of how UL Lafayette already makes a tangible difference.

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to do when a helicopter hits the water; how are requiring employees to meet the same Marine Survival to launch a lifeboat; how to swim through safety standards, such as those established Training Center fire or debris; and how to survive without by the International Maritime Organiza- equipment. Trainees also learn how to tion and the Offshore Petroleum Industry properly use enclosed lifeboats. The center, Training Organization, which are in place Anyone who travels located near the Lafayette Regional Airport, in 22 countries. over water needs to know was the first of its kind in the United States. “Whether you are working in the how to survive during an “We’re preparing people for worst-case Gulf of Mexico or the North Sea, the safe- offshore emergency. UL scenarios,” said Jim Gunter, the center’s ty procedures are the same. So, a language 1Lafayette’s Marine Survival Training Center director. “We want them to have options barrier doesn’t become a safety barrier,” has passed on potentially life-saving skills for survival.” Gunter said. to more than 75,000 people, such as what Companies from around the world The center brought the first state-

survival success storY by Harry Sowle

Editor’s note: In 1969, Harry I was a Vietnam vet, Sowle was 20 years old, brash and sure didn’t need anyone and brazen. Drafted into the U.S. who didn’t know anything Army, he was trained as a heli- about aviation telling me any- copter pilot. Flying in tandem thing about survival. Or, so I with armed Cobra helicopters, thought. he dipped the more nimble craft Fast forward almost 20 into the jungle canopies of Viet- years. nam, scouting for the enemy. In My daughter was a fresh- 1971, he was awarded the Dis- man at UL. My wife and I had tinguished Flying Cross for ma- just celebrated our 21st wed- neuvering his chopper during the ding anniversary and retire- rescue of a GI in an area without ment was on my mind more a landing pad. and more. In the 1980s, Sowle became In my 20 years as a com- a commercial helicopter pilot in mercial pilot, I had logged al- the oil and gas industry, ferrying most 10,000 flight hours with- passengers in the Gulf of Mexico. out any accident or incident. All his years of training were I had performed hundreds of needed to prepare him for a sunny thousands of takeoffs and land- November day in 2003, when he ings. I had safely carried tens would have to rely on what he of thousands of passengers. had learned almost 20 years be- I was the best pilot who had fore in an offshore water survival ever lived and still smarter class on UL Lafayette’s campus. than a sack of hammers. Nothing was going to In May of 1984, I was hired as happen to me. In a few years, a helicopter pilot. As a new em- I would cash in my retirement ployee, I was required to take a account and dote on my grand- water survival course. children. At the time, I thought the But on the morning of idea of being taught how to Nov. 23, 2003, something went survive in water was ridiculous. wrong. I considered it a waste of my At 10:27 a.m., I lifted off time and the company’s money. a platform in the Gulf of Mex- There was just no way I was ico with two passengers for a ever going to have to escape 30-minute flight to another rig. from a sinking aircraft, much From a five-foot hover, I tilted less jump 50 feet into the water the nose of the helicopter down from a burning rig. I was too v is Gau th ie r

T r a slightly and added power to ac- good a pilot and way too smart Retired faculty member Margaret McMillan helped establish emergency celerate away from the helipad. to ever get into that kind of response training for offshore workers. Pilot Harry Sowle put that training As the helicopter started trouble. to use when his helicopter went down in the Gulf of Mexico in 2003. to move forward, a turbine

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To my own surprise, of-the-art “dunker” available for industry for about 10 or 15 seconds, training to the United States. The modular I actually panicked. I knew egress training simulator, with its metal it was impossible to break frame and removable side panels, resembles the window and escape, but a helicopter. Its exits and seating can be I tried anyway. In struggling, arranged to mimic many types of aircraft. I only succeeded in cracking Occupants are actually dunked in the wa- the window and cutting my ter, so they can practice getting out safely. hand. UL Lafayette began teaching offshore That bit of desperate safety courses in the 1970s when the pe- stupidity got me thinking troleum industry was seeking an in-water of sharks. Then, panic gave survival program for its workers. Margaret way to a strange and danger- McMillan, who was then teaching health ous complacency. and physical education at the university, The Gulf water was was asked to organize the program. warm. The sound of escap- “There was life-saving equipment on ing air bubbles seemed the rigs, but no one knew how to use it,” pleasant, almost comforting. recalled McMillan. She collaborated with I was thinking of my wife the U.S. Coast Guard to develop training In 1984, Harry Sowle began his career as a commercial pilot, and daughter when another protocols. The classes were a combination working in the Gulf of Mexico in the oil and gas industry. thought entered my head. of lectures and in-the-water exercises, car- Never stop looking for a ried out at the university’s indoor pool. wheel spinning at about 18,000 rpm failed. way out. In 1976, McMillan retired from teach- When it came apart, it took the rest of the I turned and looked to my left. My pas- ing and formed McMillan Offshore Survival engine with it in a horrendous, grinding sengers were gone and the door was open. Technology. The company continued to howl. Shrapnel from what used to be a Open. offer courses at UL Lafayette, through a beautiful 600 horsepower engine exploded I tried to move toward the door, but contract with the university’s Petroleum outward like a bomb, peppering the sides I was still strapped in my seat. I had been Training Service. In 1988, McMillan was of the helicopter, tearing jagged holes in the underwater for a least a minute. It was get- instrumental in the creation of the Marine metal and severing the tail rotor drive shaft. ting darker and very The heliport itself was in the center of hard to think. I re- the production platform, which is uncom- leased my seatbelt and mon in the Gulf, so we were still over the reached for the open platform railing when the engine let go. I door. had no power and almost no airspeed. At I kept my focus about 150 feet in the air and still over an on the door frame, obstacle, I was in the worst possible posi- although I didn’t know tion to recover and land safely. why. Then I remem- My only thought was that I had to bered a training course land the helicopter upright to give my pas- from what seemed sengers a chance to escape without injury. about a thousand years Relying on experience and instinct, I some- ago. The door frame. how managed to clear the platform. Get one hand on the I had more than 30 years of experi- door frame and pull ence and training to fall back on, but I yourself out. Never had not even begun to think about what I mind anything else. would do once we hit the water. As you clear the door, I was too intent on controlling the use your other hand to helicopter to inflate the floats. When we inflate the life jacket. It es y o f M S T C cou rt hit the water, the helicopter immediately will take you where you At the MSTC, trainees learn what to do in turned over and began to sink. need to go. case an aircraft lands in the water. Maybe five or six seconds had elapsed I did. I didn’t know which way was up since the engine failed. That’s when my or down. I just did what I’d been taught. Survival Training Center. real problems started. A few seconds later, I splashed to the sur- McMillan, 89, is known internation- Hanging upside down from my seat- face and saw my passengers just a few feet ally for her life’s work. In 2005, she became belt underwater, I reached for the door away, floating safely in their life jackets. I the first woman to be inducted into the handle, but it was no longer where it was drew the sweetest breath of my life. Offshore Energy Hall of Fame for her pio- supposed to be. I could not, absolutely My next thought was, “Wow. The in- neering efforts in offshore safety and the could not, find it. structors were right. The training worked.” development of the MSTC.

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students have spent more than 250,000 AmeriCorps hours making a difference. They have tu- economic tored at-risk children in housing projects. impact Earlier this year, Helped Habitat for Humanity build houses President Barack Obama for low-income families. Engaged elemen- signed legislation that tary school students in visual and language 3 2 will triple the size of the arts activities through the Writing in the Every dollar of state AmeriCorps national Galleries program at University Art Mu- service program over the next eight years. seum. The list goes on. funding invested in A former community organizer, he There are monetary rewards. Ame- UL Lafayette generates used the occasion to riCorps members who ask Americans to vol- complete the program an $8.62 return. unteer. “All that’s re- earn education awards quired on your part is of $1,250 to $2,362; a willingness to make a some also receive a difference,” he said. small monthly living al- The University of lowance or work-study To Protect and Serve Louisiana at Lafayette payment. needed no encourage- But Dr. David Yar- 5 More than 3,000 law enforce- ment. brough, UL Lafayette’s ment professionals have gradu- It has the only dean of Community ated from the Acadiana Law Enforcement campus-based Ameri- Service, points out that Training Academy on UL Lafayette’s cam- Corps program in Loui- an education award pus and become certified police officers. siana and a solid history doesn’t even pay for a About 85 percent of them have of service learning. semester’s tuition. worked in Acadiana during their careers, UL Lafayette’s AmeriCorps mem- estimates Keith Kellar, ALETA’s training AmeriCorps began bers choose between coordinator. in 1995 at the urging two levels of commit- of Dr. Joseph Savoie, ment in a service year: then UL Lafayette’s 450 hours or 900 hours. vice president for Uni- Dou g Du as That works out to about From left, Paige Broussard, Christian versity Advancement. 10 hours per week and Fontenot, Katie Fasnacht and Allison AmeriCorps’ goal, he 20 hours per week, re- Leger. told La Louisiane a year spectively. later, is to enhance the Why have so many learning culture at the university so stu- students volunteered to devote so much of dents gain “a sensitivity for their responsi- their time to AmeriCorps? Latest grads: ALETA’s 129th class graduated bility for service to their community.” “They’re a good group of students. in March 2009. Fourteen years after AmeriCorps was They epitomize being engaged at an age established on campus, Savoie is president and a responsibility that’s beyond most col- The university was a founding partner of the university and over 400 AmeriCorps lege students,” Yarbrough replied. when the academy was created 32 years ago. Today, it provides facilities for the academy, while the Lafayette Parish Sher- iff’s Office supplies its staff. Library, where four The academy offers tracks for law Treasure Trove listening carrels enforcement officers and corrections of- are equipped ficers. Although it primarily serves eight The Louisiana Folk- with computers Acadiana parishes, other agencies rely on

es y o f M S T C cou rt 4 lore Digital Archive and headphones. ALETA. The state Attorney General’s Office houses the collections of the The musical sends its investigators to the academy, for Center for Louisiana Studies, in- mélange also has a example. And, the Louisiana Department cluding the archives of Cajun and presence on MySpace, of Public Safety uses ALETA’s curriculum as Creole Folklore. where worldwide users can a model for training crash investigators. The archives hold priceless sample recordings. Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mike recordings of music, stories and Material from the ar- Neustrom was a professor of criminal jus- conversation. Modern-day musi- chives is featured in the tice at UL Lafayette and director of ALETA cians pluck history from the files; Louisiana Folk Masters se- from 1977 until his election as sheriff in researchers can eavesdrop on local ries, which has produced two 2000. He served as director of University culture in Edith Garland Dupré v is Gau th ie r music CDs. Police from 1970 to 1974. T r a

LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 27 H True Colorsh 6 On Track for the Future Gifted Goals 8 For 30 years, the univer- sity’s Center for Gifted Educa- tion has offered summer enrichment pro- grams for gifted and creative students from kindergarten to eighth grade. During the rest of the year, it shows educators how to teach the smartest kids in their classes and consults with parents of gifted students. It’s the only center of its scope in Louisiana. There are only about 20 com- prehensive centers in the nation.

economic J oe y Benoi t This artist’s rendering shows the proposed, student-designed monorail. impact

Is a monorail – especially one designed by college students – an outlandish option spending for mass transportation in Lafayette? Not necessarily. What if the elevated railway could 9 be constructed within existing, public rights of way? What if its operating costs were less $287 million Student spending than what taxpayers pay now for a city bus system? What if it’s modeled after a mono- $150 million Faculty and staff rail that has been in operation since 1903 with only one accident? UL Lafayette’s Transit spending Design Studio has taken a practical approach to moving people. Jerome Malinowski, a Visitor spending professor of industrial design, is in charge of the Studio. (He helped design an American $125 million icon, the Ford Mustang.) Malinowski believes the monorail design, which UL Lafayette $72 million Operating expenditures students have been working on for the past five years, is ready to be tested. The next $47 million Capital outlay and step: secure about $5 million to build a prototype. construction average annual expenditures

$32 million Health insurance the crustacean that Breaux Bridge, La., has payments ‘All Things Crawfish’ become known for. It will create an online $23 million Retiree spending archive with the material. 7 A mama crawfish and a baby Leaders of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish $19 million Affiliated organizations crawfish are walking down the Festival Association called on the Work- bayou. The baby spies something looming shop to create the archive in time for the up ahead and nervously festival’s 50th anniversary $755 million asks, “Momma, what’s that?” next year. The project will Annually in Louisiana with $726 million of that “Don’t worry about give the world access to a total spending impact felt in Acadiana that, cher. That’s just a cow. unique repository of Loui- Cows don’t eat crawfish.” siana culture, said Charles The toddler sees an- Richard, the Workshop’s other scary outline and director. his mother reassures him, The Workshop is col- Child Advocate “That’s just a dog. Dogs lecting information, includ- 10 don’t eat crawfish.” ing the history of the craw- Dr. Val MacGYVers is an Then the baby sees fishing industry, to create advocate for children, in and out of the something coming toward the “all things crawfish” classroom. Since 1996, she has taught them. “What’s that, Mom- archive. “We are asking courses about child abuse and neglect, ma?” people in the community to helping future teachers, counselors and “You better run, cher! share their memories and law enforcement officers recognize signs of That’s a Cajun! They’ll eat their memorabilia. We’re abuse. She has educated hundreds of par- A llison Bo h l anything!” With her crawfish crown, Diane looking for everything from ents in community workshops. MacGyvers UL Lafayette’s Cinemat- Domingues Townsend was the photographs and home is the advisor for Service Force for the ic Arts Workshop is looking 1959 Queen of Breaux Bridge’s movies to personal stories,” Prevention of Child Abuse, a UL Lafayette for this kind of humor – Centennial Celebration, which Richard said. student group devoted to teaching young and anything else to do with preceded the Crawfish Festival. And yes, even jokes. people about abuse.

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Compassion UL Lafayette nursing faculty member. are especially vulnerable to lasting trauma The foundation of their work is evi- because their battlefield is often an ur- in Action dence-based research using mind/body ap- ban one, similar in some respects to their proaches for healing after trauma. “This is a homes. “There really is no front line in Ready 4 the PTSD prevention model,” said Laroussini. the war on terrorism. The risk of suicide Volunteers follow Guard members to bombers is with every parked car, every Return 11 their weekend drill sites, offering 30-min- individual you hire to do laundry. There Shell shock. Battle fatigue. Post-trau- ute, deep relaxation sessions using guided are some protective measures taken, but matic stress disorder. imagery on audio compact discs and other the point is, their bodies, as systems, are In any era, by any name, they are the techniques, such as light touch and aro- on alert 24/7.” unseen wounds of war. matherapy. The therapy sessions are usually Descriptive terms such as “energy Recurring night- work” and “alternative therapy” can raise mares. Flashbacks. A eyebrows, she said, although such methods sense of impending have been used successfully and reliably in dread. A state of hyper- Eastern medicine for centuries. “In West- vigilance: anticipating ern medicine, we really haven’t developed danger and bracing for medical language to fully explain this com- the worst. plementary, holistic approach,” she said. Jill Laroussini, a UL Lafayette nursing instruc- tor, has a special place in her heart for soldiers Cultural Links who bear those invisible Travelers on South- scars. For 14 years, she 12 west Airlines reached and her students have into their seat pockets this spring and got served the homeless; a taste of Acadiana. Spirit, the company’s many of those patients in-flight magazine, featured Cajun Country are military veterans. as a destination in its April issue. It cited Part of the standard Dr. Bob Carriker, an associate professor treatment for stressed and head of UL’s History and Geography vets has been talk thera- Departments, as a boudin expert. py, Laroussini explained. That, he is. But research is revealing Carriker and a friend, Nolan The- that for many, talking riot, cooked up the site, www.boudinlink. about their experiences com, then stuffed it with tasty tips. This can reinforce trauma, year, that cultural hunger led to the first- instead of diminishing it. ever Boudin Cook-Off, held in downtown That’s something Larous- Lafayette. The flavorful festival fired up sini already suspected. some good-natured competition among “The vets on the boudin makers and helped raise money to street have taught me preserve historic properties. that talking about it is NuNu’s of Youngsville, La., took first

not a good thing for Dou g Du as place in the People’s Choice division. them. Although, after Nurse Jill Laroussini touches Austin Minor in a healing session. 9/11, a lot of them had a lot to say. After the Gulf War, a lot of them set up in a spare room at an armory. La- had a lot to say. It traumatized them, retrig- roussini and her team bring in comfortable, gered a lot of feelings for them.” padded tables and adjust the room’s lighting Lifetime Learning In 2005, Laroussini and one of her to help create a relaxing atmosphere. former students, Jody Mittiga, a registered Guided imagery, also called directed 13 Almost 11,000 people nurse and UL Lafayette alumna, created meditation, employs soothing music and took continuing educa- Ready 4 the Return. It’s a volunteer initiative spoken words to help listeners “develop tion classes at UL Lafayette in 2008. Some that brings simple, effective stress-reduction the perception of safety” to “re-regulate received necessary training through safety techniques to National Guard soldiers. their autonomic nervous systems,” Larous- and business courses. Others were there “We come as healers. They come as sini explained. to have fun, taking courses such as Belly warriors,” she said. Ready 4 the Return also offers training Dancing or Basics of Photography. Among the eight-member volunteer to military family members, or anyone in- The Continuing Education Depart- team are Nancy Ortego, a UL nursing in- terested in learning healing techniques. ment offers four terms each year. Online structor, and Betty Landreneau, a retired Laroussini said today’s combat troops registration makes it easy to sign up.

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2008, as Hurricane Ike grazed the coast on Community Design Workshop, to create a Rebuilding Community its way to Texas. redevelopment plan. 14 Since then, residents have been swept Since its inception in 1995, the CDW The town of Delcambre is up in a tide of bureaucracy. Delays in receiv- has worked on some 75 projects in sev- fighting to survive. UL Lafayette is a cham- ing state and federal funding to rebuild – and eral Louisiana cities and towns, including pion in that battle, creating redevelopment the costly requirements to elevate homes Breaux Bridge, Carencro, Opelousas, Lafay- and marketing plans for the coastal com- and make them more wind resistant – have ette and Jonesboro. It incorporates urban planning and landscape design, along with architecture, housing and preserva- tion. Faculty members provide expert consultation and planning services, while fifth-year architecture students gain valu- able experience by transforming plan- ning concepts into drawings and models. In October 2007, the CDW un- veiled a waterfront development plan for Delcambre. The mixed-use plan calls for elevated homes and businesses and a boardwalk along the canal. A new mari- na and improved facilities for the town’s annual Shrimp Festival are designed to boost industry and tourism. Once the plan was complete, Sam- mons called Dr. Geoff Stewart, a UL Lafayette marketing professor, to help move the redevelopment forward. co mm uni ty d esi g n w o rk s h p This semester, graduate-level mar- A redevelopment plan calls for a boardwalk along Delcambre Canal and a new marina. keting students began developing plans in four areas: industrial development, real munity following two devastating hurri- forced some of them to move elsewhere. estate development, retail development canes within three years. Remaining residents haven’t given and tourism. The project will extend over In September 2005, Hurricane Rita up on rebuilding. In March 2007, some of the next three years, so several marketing roared ashore, causing Delcambre Canal to them asked Tom Sammons, an architecture classes may have a hand in shaping Del- flood the town. Floodwaters came again in professor and director of UL Lafayette’s cambre’s future.

Better Teachers, ents asking to enroll their children in the low-cost sessions. But enrollment is limited Generous 16 Better Readers to 60-85 children each semester. “The thrust of the program is to pro- Greeks There is strong demand for the kind vide experience for our undergraduate and of help UL Lafayette’s Reading Center pro- graduate students so that when they go 15 vides through its Reading Clinic. out in the field, they will have had some In 2008, UL Children in grades 2 through 6 receive experience with struggling readers, with Lafayette Greeks raised $86,530 and individualized assess- assessment, and they provided 14,945 volunteer hours for ments and tutoring can apply that in their charitable causes. plans. They attend own classrooms,” said There are nine sororities on campus: one-on-one tutoring Dr. Elizabeth Webre, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Omicron Pi, sessions once a week an associate profes- Delta Delta Delta, Delta Sigma Theta, during the fall, spring sor of curriculum and Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, Sigma Gamma and summer semesters, instruction, who is the Rho, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Zeta Phi in which UL students center’s volunteer coor- Beta. There are 11 fraternities: Alpha help them improve dinator. Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha their reading skills and Graduate students Psi, Kappa Sigma, Lambda Chi Alpha, their self-confidence. are typically teach-

Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Phi The center re- J a m ie Or illion ers who are working Kappa Theta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma ceives as many as 800 From left, Tanajia Greggoire works with toward certification as Alpha Epsilon and Theta Xi. calls a year from par- UL student Rebecca Napier. reading specialists.

30 LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 H True Colorsh Determination Speaks Volumes economic impact 19 Randy Young is 47 years marks as those whose care is being paid old. With the help of the for by insurance providers, the clinic is jobs UL Lafayette Speech, Language and Hearing able to serve clients over an extended 17 Clinic, he is learning to communicate again. period of time. As long as clients and stu- Because of a 2003 stroke, subsequent dents are benefiting by working in clinic surgeries and a life-threatening infection, settings, the therapy continues. 7,783 some of the motor pathways in Young’s Some clients, such as Young, may brain are damaged. He understands con- experience communication problems after Non-university jobs created by versations going on around him and knows some event. Others may have developmen- university spending what he wants to say. But most times, he tal disorders. On average, some 70 clients simply can’t get the words out. attend therapy sessions twice a week dur- Sometimes, Young can make simple ing the fall and spring semesters. The clinic replies, such as “yes” or “no.” He often conducts about 30 diagnostic assessments Student-Athletes mentions the name of his 6-year-old son, per semester. Ashton. He helps out at the motorcycle and Damico said the clinic provides state- Go The Distance lawn mower repair shop where he used to of-the art services for clients, while pro- 18 work. He uses scripted phrases written on viding students the training they need to Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns® make time index cards, such as “May I help you?” to become independently practicing speech for community service. better communicate with That’s no small feat. customers. In addition to competing in games, At the clinic on matches or meets, they must go to class; UL Lafayette’s campus, study; complete class assignments, such Young is learning to use as term papers; attend team meetings and a programmable device practices; work out regularly in the weight that may make it easier room; and travel to out-of-town games. for him to express him- Baseball players have especially hectic self. The DynaVox is schedules. There were 54 regular season a compact, electronic baseball games this year, including 15 in box with a series of but- other cities. tons on its face. It can Despite the demands on their time, UL be customized to speak Lafayette’s 400 or so student-athletes man- for Young, programmed aged to: with phrases he relies on • visit hospitalized children; frequently at home and • collect nonperishable goods for FoodNet, at work. a nonprofit food bank; “His determination • help sponsor Cajun Fingerprints, a com- is amazing,” said Denise munity awareness project for children, Laborde, a supervisor in

with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Depart- the clinic. “He works at it J a m ie Or illion ment; every day. Frankly, most Graduate student Emily Ensminger helps Randy Young learn to • conduct free sports clinics; people would have given use a programmable communication device. • mow lawns for people in need of assis- up.” Staff and students tance; have been working with Young since the fall therapists. Student clinicians work with cli- • visit Juvenile Detention Center residents; of 2004. Like many patients who utilize the ents, both children and adults, under staff • assist with Senior Olympics; clinic, Young turned to the university for supervision, as part of their requirements • participate in substance abuse prevention services when his insurance ran out. for graduating in communicative disorders. programs at area schools; The clinic offers evaluation and therapy Students also work in the community, at • talk with kids living at a local shelter for services for a wide range of communicative hospitals, schools and nursing homes. women and children; impairments at reduced fees and on a sliding Recently, a graduate student and cli- • conduct a food drive and deliver Thanks- scale that varies with clients’ incomes. ent created a support group for those with giving meals to 20 needy families; Holly Damico is director of the clinic. impaired speech. The group meets once a • distribute water bottles and talk with “As a teaching institution, the university month on campus. kids at the Martin Luther King Recre- supports our clinic, so we’re not trying to “We are known, not just right here ation Center; and pay for our own clinical staff out of our in Lafayette, but throughout the region as • collect donated toys and deliver them to clinical fees,” she said. a center for therapy services, for support underprivileged kids. And because the clinic’s clients do group services and for information,” said Source: UL Lafayette Athletic Department not have to meet the same therapy bench- Damico.

LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 31 H True Colorsh

Angelle Hall – Thirteen university Entertainment musical ensembles and three vocal ensembles economic perform here. It’s sometimes booked by high development 22 Many major enter- schools and private groups such as dance centers tainment venues and schools. The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, 20 events have strong connections to the composed of community members and UL University of Louisiana at Lafayette or are Lafayette students, gives concerts here. part of the university. Below are some examples. Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum – This top-flight museum on campus • Enterprise Center of Louisiana offers compelling traveling • Center for Business and Information exhibitions and an impressive Technologies permanent art collection. • Small Business Development Center Cajundome – The • National Incident Management Systems 12,800-seat facility on campus and Advanced Technologies Institute is used for events ranging from concerts by big-name enter- 2008 economic impact tainers to UL Lafayette basket- for centers’ clients ball games.

$1.2 billion in increased revenues $1.8 billion in retained revenues In 2008, students presented the musical “Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know.” $101 million in savings $56 million in increased investments Burke-Hawthorne Hall Audito- rium – Student actors, dancers, directors, About $28 million in cost avoidance choreographers and designers learn their crafts through public performances at this campus facility.

Toxicology Testing EarthShare Gardens

21 When some UL Lafay- UL Lafayette students

H . Go rd on B r oo k s 23 ette students look for are caring for the earth UL’s State of La Danse heavy metal, they don’t check their iPods. and helping to feed the hungry at the Instead, they examine sediment ex- same time. tracted from Bayou Vermilion. They’re Festival International – Herman Alumnae Danica Adams and Elizabeth interested in the possible presence of heavy Mhire, a former art professor at UL Lafay- Brooks established EarthShare Gardens, an metals, such as copper and lead. They also ette, was the catalyst for this festival, which organic community garden project, in 2005, conduct some bacterial testing and check began in 1986. It is the largest outdoor, free while they were still students. Four years fish tissue from time to time. Francophone event in the United States. later, UL students are The students are taking Dr. Paul Festivals Acadiens et Créoles – Dr. still involved, working Klerks’ environmental toxicology course. Barry Ancelet, a professor of French at UL in the garden as mem- He’s an associate professor of biology who Lafayette, has been a driving force for this bers and volunteers. studies the long-term effects of environ- festival, which began as the Tribute to Ca- The gardens are mental contaminants on aquatic ecosys- jun Music Festival in 1974 on campus. located in north Lafay- tems. About 45 students have examined KRVS 88.7 FM – KRVS is a listener-sup- ette, on the grounds of the bayou’s sediment each fall and spring ported, 100,000 watt public radio station on the former Holy Rosary Institute. for the past eight years. Their findings are campus. It provides indigenous Louisiana Two plots of land serve different func- sent to the Lafayette Parish Bayou Vermil- programming, as well as National Public tions. One is the Community Supported Ag- ion District. So far, Klerks reported, there Radio programs, to about 650,000 listeners riculture Garden. Members plant, water and haven’t been any alarming results. in a 12-parish area of south Louisiana. It has tend the rows; the produce is sold through This testing is not required by any a worldwide audience via the Internet. subscription at the beginning of the season, agency. But it gives students a chance to Bayou Bijou – This on-campus the- and distributed on scheduled harvest days. learn how to collect and analyze samples ater presents films from around the world The Donation Garden supplies fresh, and gives the Bayou Vermilion District that are not usually shown in local com- healthy food to St. Joseph’s Diner and The valuable data, Klerks said. mercial theaters. Salvation Army.

32 LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 H True Colorsh

oped a master plan for improvements. Acadiana “We wanted to make sure that the plan Service Tradition Outreach didn’t just sit on a shelf. We wanted Builds to prove that we were going to create 25 In 2003, Hector change,” he said. 24 LaSala, a UL University faculty members and alumni Beginning with the Fall 2009 semester, Lafayette architecture professor, learned that had already been making valuable behind- UL Lafayette will make community service Acadiana Outreach Center needed his help. the-scenes contributions as volunteers. mandatory for first-time freshmen. The non-profit, faith-based organiza- But over the next six years, more than tion assists the poor in a nine-parish area. 200 students under LaSala’s and Gjertson’s It had received donations of food, clothing supervision helped transform the center and other items. But it lacked shelves, so it through about 25 service learning proj- couldn’t efficiently organize and store them. ects involving art, architecture, industrial J a m ie Or illion Dr. David Yarbrough

Dr. David Yarbrough, dean of Commu- nity Service and an associate professor of Child and Family Studies, said the universi- ty will start small, with about 100 students. Over the next three years, the requirement will be extended to all first-semester stu- dents. There are usually about 2,700 first- time freshmen each fall. “We have about 20 years of literature y to show that students who are engaged in community service during college end up Ro b in Ma being more engaged in those types of activi- Architecture Professor Hector LaSala in the Recovery Action Center; his design students ties after college,” he said. created the center’s inspirational artwork. Yarbrough has been charged with com- pleting the collection of information from LaSala had never design and renewable faculty about their own and their students’ visited the center, resources. They de- public service. which is in downtown signed and construct- A recent economic impact study Lafayette. “When I ed covered seating showed that faculty, staff and students vol- went there, I realized areas, renovated some unteered about 508,000 hours last year. Of that the exterior spaces buildings and began that total, students volunteered 393,203 did not match up with a community garden. hours, while faculty and staff served the center’s mission. Their work continues. 115,000 hours. They wanted to give As the Center’s University personnel and students people hope, but the look has evolved, so have used informal associations to deter- place needed as much has its mission. It is mine how they can help others. “They’re al- help as the clients,” moving away from ready engaged in the community,” he said. he recalled in a recent providing its clients Faculty members are “expected but not interview. with temporary as- required” to perform community service, LaSala and col- sistance. Now, it is Yarbrough continued. league Geoff Gjertson focused on offering He views the level of involvement by

decided to do more Te rr i Fensel permanent solutions faculty – by engaging classes in community- than just provide UL industrial design majors created com- to help its clients oriented projects or on an individual basis shelves. They and pact furniture with built-in storage for the achieve self-suffi- – “as more of a tribute to who faculty are as their students devel- Acadiana Outreach Center. ciency. opposed to what they’re expected to do.” n LA LOUISIANE | spring 2009 33 Sports

Judgment Day Super Bowl puts NFL ref to the ultimate test • by Sarah Spell

“ t’s everybody’s dream,” said Greg Cajuns: cornerback Ike Taylor of the Pitts- Gautreaux. “Just like a football play- burgh Steelers and cornerback Michael Ier, you can’t play in a bigger game Adams of the Arizona Cardinals. than the Super Bowl. And for officiating, For Gautreaux, the matchup did not you can’t referee a bigger game than the disappoint. Super Bowl.” “If I had to write a script — if I had to For NFL officials, accuracy counts. say, ‘I want to go to the Super Bowl and this Only the best refs make it to the Super is what I want to do,’ I don’t think I could Bowl. So, it’s clear that Gautreaux, a 1976 have written a better script than what hap- UL graduate, has earned his black-and- pened to me at the Super Bowl this year. To white stripes. The highest-rated field judge get the determining call of the game — and in the NFL in 2008, he made the right call get it right — that’s hard to beat,” he said. more than 99 percent of the time. After 34 years of officiating, Gau- Also on the field for Super Bowl XLIII treaux, 54, found himself in the right place on Feb. 1, 2009, were two former Ragin’ at the right time, making the right call. t e d / Ge tty i m a g es s illus tr a s p o rt With the world watching, alumnus Greg Gautreaux makes the crucial call of Super Bowl XLIII, signalling a touchdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Santonio Holmes. Some 70,000 fans watched from the stands, while millions more tuned in via television.

34 LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2009 With two minutes, 37 seconds left in Pineville, he declined the offers. “I wanted the game, it looked as though the Cardi- Think you know as much as an to go to USL,” he said. “I wanted to be nals, with a 23-20 lead, might carry the closer to home.” NFL ref? Take our quiz to see if day. But, starting from the Steeler’s 22-yard Gautreaux spent what would have line, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger calmly you could wear the stripes. been his first college semester earning extra led his team downfield, deep into Steelers’ money by working in his father’s sign shop. territory. Then, it all came down to one 1. Which team gets to call the coin In January 1973, he enrolled at USL, where pivotal pass. toss before each regular season he would earn a degree in education. With 35 seconds left on the clock, the game? While attending USL, Gautreaux Steelers were at the 6-yard line. With the began officiating, first at recreational and offensive line holding off Arizona defend- 2. How many kicking balls are junior high school games, then as a high prepared for a regular season NFL ers, Roethlisberger dropped back to the 13 school official. “The competitive spirit I game? and let go of a high-and-outside pass des- had in sports just transferred to officiating. tined for wide receiver Santonio Holmes. 3. How many teams participate in When I officiate, I compete against myself, Three red jerseys crowded Holmes in an NFL game? because I want to get everything right.” the end zone and the ball, barreling toward 4. Does a receiver have to have His dedication and determination did him, missed the outstretched hands of Car- only one foot – or both feet – in not go unnoticed. While working USL dinal Aaron Francisco by mere inches. bounds for a pass to be ruled scrimmages, Gautreaux made an impres- Holmes was already in motion. Lean- complete? sion on then-head coach Nelson Stokley ing over the white boundary stripe, he 5. During the opening kickoff, the and assistant coach Gerald Broussard. The snatched the football from the air. Grip- football sails through the up- two men drafted a letter of recommenda- ping it with both hands, he stretched out rights. What’s the score? tion that helped Gautreaux become an his 5-foot, 11-inch frame. Pointing his toes NCAA official. like a ballet dancer’s, he strained to touch 6. What does it mean when the re- Gautreaux immersed himself in what ferree puts his hands on his hips? paydirt while falling out of bounds. he calls his “hobby” — officiating. “I of- In the stands, Steelers’ fans and foes 7. How deep are the end zones? ficiated college football, basketball and screamed and shouted, rode waves of emo- Answers on Page 36 baseball, all at the same time, so I was gone tion. Gautreaux, on the sidelines, watched a lot. But when I was at home, I always with calm intent. Then, he charged into the tried to make it a priority to spend time end zone and thrust his arms into the air, NFL rules forbid using a football as a with my family. making the call: Touchdown! prop; however, Gautreaux, the closest offi- “Family and faith are the two most Holmes’ acrobatic catch would ulti- cial, didn’t see the celebration. Neither did important things in my life. And, then, you mately give the Steelers a 27-23 win and the six other referees. “I did what I needed know, football.” their sixth world championship. But not to do, staying in my position, watching,” In 1999, Gautreaux joined the now- before officials decided to review the play, said Gautreaux. defunct NFL Europe league. “It was great. causing Steelers’ fans — and members of After Gautreaux turned away to set up Maybe one weekend I’m working in Barce- Gautreaux’s family seated in the stands — the next play, Holmes began shaking the lona, Spain. The next weekend I might be to hold their collective breath. ball. A moment later, Gautreaux looked in Berlin ... It was a paid vacation.” “My wife said it was the longest 90 back. “I did see him throw the ball in the It was also a proving ground. “There seconds of her life,” Gautreaux recalled. air, but that’s not a foul,” he said. was always someone there from the NFL Replays from various angles con- A foul would have forced Pittsburgh office who observed you and interacted firmed his on-the-spot analysis: Holmes to kick off from its 15-yard line and could with you — on the field and off the field — indeed had both feet in bounds to score have possibly changed the outcome of the to see how you’d gel with the NFL guys,” on the play. Gautreaux said he never had a game. (NFL officials settled the matter more Gautreaux said. doubt. “I felt good about it. I was confi- than two weeks later, fining MVP Holmes “They wanted to know, ‘What kind dent in my decision.” $10,000 for his end zone enthusiasm.) of person are you? You might be a good Yet, controversy would linger, not over But because Gautreaux wasn’t familiar football official, but how’s your personality? Holmes’ catch, but what he did afterward. with James’ pre-game antics, he said he’s How do you get along with other officials?’ ” In the end zone, he celebrated by mimick- not sure what he would have done if he After four years working in Europe, ing NBA star LeBron James’ pre-game ritual. had witnessed the entire scene. “Even if I’d he earned a chance to join the NFL. James likes to get basketball fans fired up have seen it, I can’t honestly say I would Gautreaux was flown to New York, where by pouring talcum powder onto his hands, have flagged it or I wouldn’t have flagged league executives quizzed him and psy- then creating courtside clouds with it. it, because that has to come instinctively.” chologists grilled him. The process took t e d / Ge tty i m a g es While NFL officials weren’t looking, It’s an instinct honed over decades. several days. Holmes performed his own version of In 1972, Gautreaux graduated from NFL officials wanted to know: Was the stunt. First, he shook the football as Teurlings High School in Lafayette, where Gautreaux ready? How would he respond though it were a container of talc. Then he he had played basketball and baseball. to the pressures of professional football? s illus tr a s p o rt tossed the ball skyward, pretending the ball Although he was offered walk-on spots “I guess I did all right,” he jokes. itself was a powdery shower. in both sports at Louisiana College in “They hired me.”

LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2009 35 36 sports forbearance and forgiveness are the people andIlikedealingwith people.” hesaid. “Iliketohelp of service,” set ofkeyskills–workingwith people. him opportunities topracticeanother ects, suchasLafayette’s skatepark. maintenance. Healsomanagesnewproj- program, therapeuticrecreation andpark programs, tennisprograms, anaquatics Gautreaux overseesyouthandadult for LafayetteConsolidatedGovernment, athletic programs andparksmaintenance have beensuccessful–atanylevel.” of mywifeandchildren, Icouldn’t dreams cometrue.“Without thesupport Bennett, withhelpinghimmakehisNFL their three children, Daniel,Jennifer, and favorite ref. dium inT Bowl throng inRaymondJamesSta - family memberswere among the Super there are 70,000peopleinthestands.” he continued,“Y years ofexperience.” replay thatpicture inyourmind. Y game. In your mind, you see that action. a snapshot,ofcriticalmomentsinthe ing toGautreaux. cause youdon’t wanttogetblockedout.” where thedefensiveguy’s gonnago,be- between things.Y to getthatangle,where youcansee it’s developing...It’s allaboutangles. LA LOUISIANE |Spring2009 cused imagination.” instincts andwhathedescribesas“fo- 100 percent ofthetime?Well-honed not afoul?It’s rightonthatline.” right onthatgrayline.Isitafoul?Oris are professional athletes,theyallperform the gameare more intense.“Theseguys move fasterandthepaceflavorof the speedofgame.Theprofessionals ence betweencollegeandpro-level playis for sevenyears.Hesaidthebiggestdiffer ou seethefeet,youball.Y For some,qualities likepatience, “I’ve alwayswantedtobeaperson Gautreaux’s management role gives In hisfull-timejob,asheadof Gautreaux credits hiswife,Betsy, and More thanadozenofGautreaux’s And whenitallcomestogether, “It’s concentration.It’s years and “Y And, “it’s visualimagery,” accord- “When you’re officiating,youhave “Y So howdoesaref getitrightnearly Gautreaux hasbeenanNFLofficial ou learntotakeamentalpicture, ou havetofeeltheplay, seehow ampa, Fla.,tocheerontheir ou’re notworriedthat ou have to anticipate ou havetoanticipate ou - what you’re doing. Y you haveconfidence, thatyouknow What youare communicatingisthat ciating, youneedtobeacommunicator. helped meinfootballofficiating. Inoffi- And Ithinkallofthishas and service. life, aboutbeingapersonofcaring and brother alldiedwithinfouryears. I gotintotheNFL.”Gautreaux’s parents unfortunately, bothof themdiedbefore love tolookattheNFLonSunday. But, brother lovedfootball.Theyusedto Michael diedin1998atage47. even takehimhome,”Gautreaux said. wouldn’t livelong,thattheyshouldn’t born, thedoctorstoldmyparents he confined toawheelchair. “When hewas spina bifida,aconditionthatkepthim through times. sometrying my life.” in in myabilitytobalanceeverything you know, fivetoone,IshouldbeOK.’ said, withalightlaugh.“I‘Well, guilty. So,Istarted goingtodailyMass. started missingSundayMassandIfelt I dislikedwasmissingSundayMass. Friday. “With the NFL, one of the things tends morningMassondaythrough willing toturntheothercheek.” But somepeoplecan’t dothat.They’re not my stripedshirt, notme,Greg Gautreaux.’ yelling atyou,don’t takeitpersonally.’ ficials is,‘Whenacoachisinyourface, with inevitableconflict. “the sidelinesofofficiating”–dealing utmost valueinwhatGautreaux calls hardest tocultivate.Buttheyare ofthe everything right.’ because Iwanttoget pete againstmyself, When Iofficiate,com ferred toofficiating. had insportsjusttrans ‘The competitivespiritI “They alltaughtmesomuchabout “My daddylovedfootball. His brother, Michael,wasbornwith That faithhasalsoseenGautreaux “I thinkfaithhashadastrong role “I talkedtothepriestaboutit,”he A devoutCatholic,Gautreaux at - “I lookatitas,‘They’re gettingon “One ofthethingsItellyoung- Greg Gautreaux ou’re communicat - - - about it.’” you’re notincontrol of,youcan’t worry you getitright.Andifit’s something that you’re incontrol of,youmakesure iandcrossdot every t.Something every taking care ofdetails,making sure you into theNFL?’Ialwaystellthem,‘By he’s beenaskedhundreds oftimes. likely beansweringthesamequestion Referees AssociationConference. He’ll speaker attheBritishAmericanFootball manner thathecanaccept,that’s thekey.” can explainsomething,orpresent itina with acallthatgoesagainsthim,butifI going on. where Iwanthimtounderstandwhat’s I’m gonnadealwithhiminamanner the coach,‘Coach,I’llprayforyou,’but burst, Gautreaux remains calm. mean itsarcastically.” a littleprayerforyou.’Andhedidn’t you feelthatway, butI’mgoingtosay turn andsay, ‘Y body mightcursehimout,hewould never sawhimgetupset.Whensome- patience. Ineverheard themancurse, have totrustyou. ing tocoachesaboutplaysandthey Source: www.nfl.com/rulebook is 360feetlongand 160feetwide. 7. Theendzonesare30feetdeep. The field encroachment orneutralzoneinfraction. have oneofthreemeanings:offside, 6. Thehands-on-the-hipssignalcan 5. 0-0.Akickoffmaynotscoreafield goal. in bounds. But theNCAAonlyrequiresonefoottobe 4. IntheNFL,bothfeetmustbeinbounds. of officials. 3. Three–twoteamsofplayersplusateam and usedexclusivelyforthekickinggame.” are to be specially marked with the letter “k” to thestartingtimeofgame.Theseballs in theofficials’lockerroomtwohoursprior shipped by the manufacturer, will be opened new footballs,sealedinaspecialboxand 2. Adozen.Herearetherules:“Twelve (12) team willdefend. will receiveorkickand,also,whichgoalhis captain getstochoosewhetherhisteam 1. Thevisitingteam.winningteam “People askme,‘Howdidyouget This year, Gautreaux willbeaguest “I knowhe’s notgonnabepleased ‘“Unlike mydaddy, Imightnottell out- When facedwithanangry “My fatherwasanexcellentmanof Answers toquizonpage35: n ou know what? I’m sorry ou knowwhat?I’msorry Shifting Into Overdrive Ragin’ Cajuns® Athletic Foundation revs up fund raising

ome LOyal UL Lafayette fans The cornerstone of more, along with a range of correspond- and former Ragin’ Cajun student- ing benefits. One of the rewards for giv- Sathletes have rallied behind a the RCAF’s efforts is ing $250 or more is a priority parking structured effort to raise money for the an annual fund. Seven pass for basketball and football games. university’s athletics program. “Only current Ragin’ Cajuns Ath- They’re members of the Ragin’ Ca- levels of giving to the letic Foundation members are eligible juns® Athletic Foundation’s board. The annual fund have been to enjoy the best and most convenient foundation was formed in 2007 to pro- parking privileges and special gifts as- vide financial support for the University established, from $100 sociated with each contribution level,” of Louisiana at Lafayette’s 16 intercol- to $10,000 or more, said Scott Farmer, senior associate ath- legiate varsity teams. It was announced letic director. “The fact that Ragin’ Ca- in April. along with a range of jun student-athletes benefit at the same John Bordelon, who played foot- corresponding benefits. time makes this a great program for all ball for UL Lafayette in the 1970s, is Ragin’ Cajun fans to become a part of.” president of the RCAF’s board. “Our The RCAF is expected to launch a goal is to provide a strong financial base coaches’ salaries, for example. capital campaign later this year. for the strategies of the Athletic Depart- The cornerstone of the RCAF’s ef- Donations to the foundation are tax ment. Right now, athletics has one of forts is an annual fund. Seven levels of deductible. n the smallest budgets in the country. We giving to the annual fund have been have to consolidate our fund-raising established, from $100 to $10,000 or www.rcaf4ul.com efforts and provide a more consistent plan,” he said in an interview. Other board members are Dr. Frank ® “Jay” Culotta Jr., Ed Domingues, Charlie 2009 Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns Moncla Jr., C.R. “Rusty” Cloutier, Robert Football Schedule Daigle and Curtis Hollinger. Domingues ran track for UL Lafayette in the 1960s; Hollinger was a member of the Ragin’ Cajuns tennis team in the 1980s. Bordelon acknowledged state bud- get cuts for higher education that are expected for the 2009-10 fiscal year that begins July 1. “Some of the budget cuts will trickle down to athletics and we need to have outside funding to meet our priorities. We have to be able to provide for the general operation and advancement of the Athletic Depart- ment despite the economy,” he said. The RCAF will seek unrestricted gifts that will be spent on the basis of priorities determined by the university and its athletic director. The money could be used to help pay for facility improvements, academic center re- sources, scholarships, recruiting and

LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2009 37 ALUMNI Association If it’s not this book, Cajun Nation Clubs, chapters help alumni keep in touch it’s not the real book. niversity of Louisiana at Lafay- areas such as Washington, D.C., Atlanta, ette alumni are all over the map. Los Angeles and Denver. UAnd Alumni Association Executive A Lafayette company is helping the Director Dan Hare and his staff regularly Alumni Association picture those demo- connect with graduates all across the graphics. C.H. Fenstermaker and Associates country. Inc. specializes in engineering, environmen- Hare recalled some of the places he’s tal consulting, surveying and mapping. visited. It took the database and created a “I’ve been to a crawfish boil on a map showing where alumni turn up across beach in California, and to a crawfish boil the 50 states. Hare uses the visual aid in just down the presentations and finds it especially useful road from Mt. when he is talking with future graduates. Vernon, in the “They’re getting ready to embark on the Washington, D.C., next chapter of their lives. It’s exciting, but area. I’ve been there’s also a great deal of uncertainty. It to crawfish boils in helps them to know – and to see, in a tan- Atlanta, Denver, Dallas gible way – that there’s a network of sup- and Houston.” port out there for them. Hare said crawfish “That’s part of what we do within the boils, “hosted by loyal Alumni Association. Networking, helping volunteers” have become new graduates make connections – and a signature spring event for keeping strong connections between the Ragin’ Cajun alumni. alumni and the university.” Part of his job is to UL Lafayette alumni may join two identify and recruit future types of constituent groups: Ragin’ Cajun volunteer leaders who will UL Lafayette grads gravitate to the Clubs, which are geographically based, and southeast. Shown here are the numbers carry on Ragin’ Cajun tradi- Alumni Chapters, which reflect a specific of alumni in Louisiana, plus the top 10 tions and lend support to their alma mat- college, major or interest group. states outside of Louisiana. er. To do that, he and his staff keep tabs on Both clubs and chapters hold social where alumni reside. functions. Some include an aspect of ser- The Association maintains a database vice, along with fellowship. Several groups of alumni addresses, which is updated have funded scholarships. The Alumni daily. It now contains 73,588 records. Band is an active chapter whose members That total does not reflect the exact perform at UL Lafayette basketball games, number of living alumni, Hare explained, often filling in for the student band be- only those for whom the Association cur- tween semesters. rently has records on file. Nonetheless, The association stays in touch with its the database is an interesting reflection of members, but just because an alum isn’t where students go after they graduate. part of an organized group, that doesn’t Most stay in Louisiana. More than mean he or she is excluded, said Hare. 52,000 addresses, or 70 percent, are within “Even if we don’t have an established the Bayou State. The second-largest group club or chapter in a particular area, we will of Ragin’ Cajuns, 10 percent, hang their often create an opportunity for alumni to hats in Texas. The rest live throughout the get together.” n United States and abroad, with pockets of UL Lafayette alumni in major metropolitan www.louisianaalumni.org

©2009 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, AT&T logo and all other marks contained 38 LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2009 herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. ©2009 YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC. All rights reserved. If it’s not this book, it’s not the real book.

©2009 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. LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 39 ©2009 YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC. All rights reserved. ALUMNI

from SLI. He and his wife, Arlene the first person to be named Out- sulting, which has offices in the 1951 O’Donnell, live in Champaign, standing Liberal Arts Graduate. United States and Asia. They spe- LilyB Moskal was recently in- Ill. The couple have six children. He holds a doctorate in Chinese cialize in cultural and folklore- ducted into history from Princeton. Backus related issues and have consulted the Louisiana and his wife, Anne, live in Taylor with clients in many countries, Center for 1955 Lake Village, Texas. including Egypt, China, Japan Women and Dr. DONN BOWERS was elected and Vietnam. Government’s chief of staff at Hall of Fame. Memorial Hos- 1974 She is a certified pital in Gulf- After 25 years as a businessman, 1979 motivational port, Miss., in JOEL C. RICHERT has returned to CHERYL RINGUETTE CIAMARRA is a speaker who October 2008. teaching. He taught high school speech patholo- has conducted many leadership He is medical for three years in the 1970s before gist in private workshops to encourage more director of the taking over a family-owned bulk practice in women to get involved with Wound Man- oil and fuel distributorship, Rich- Birmingham, public service and to seek elected agement and ert Oil Inc. He served as president Ala. A com- office. Over the past 25 years, she Hyperbaric Medicine Department of the Louisiana Oil Marketers munications has spoken at national and state and has held many staff leader- Association. In December 2008, consultant, she conventions and conferences ship positions. Bowers received a Richert received a master’s degree serves on the held by professional and political bachelor’s degree from SLI and a in chemistry and environmental National Right organizations. Moskal served on medical degree from LSU Medical sciences from McNeese State to Life Board as director for Ala- local, state and national boards School at New Orleans. University. He teaches science bama Citizens for Life. She also of the Federation of Republican at Notre Dame High School in hosts the “Focus on Life Radio” Women and has campaigned for Crowley, La., where he also serves program on WXJC in Birming- several candidates for public of- 1957 as department chair. He works ham and hosted “Inside Pro-life,” fice, including a son, Quentin Kenneth Melvin Bonnet retired in part time in the McNeese Chem- an Eternal Word Television Net- Dastugue, who was elected as the 1985 from the Internal Revenue istry Department, mentoring work worldwide radio special. youngest member of the Louisi- Service, where he was a comput- graduate students. Richert holds a Ciamarra is a lay missionary of ana Legislature in 1981. She also er analyst. He earned a bachelor’s bachelor’s degree in health, physi- the Gospel of Life, a program de- organized networking groups for degree in accounting from SLI. cal education and recreation from veloped by Priests for Life, a pro- women in Louisiana and Florida. Bonnet and his wife, Joycelyn Ev- USL. He is married to Donna life, not-for-profit organization. A former licensed real estate bro- ans Bonnet, live in Metairie, La. Dauterive Richert, ’74, who re- She holds a bachelor’s degree in ker, Moskal earned a bachelor’s The couple have four children. cently retired after 25 years of speech pathology and audiology degree in speech communication teaching. She is an active commu- from USL. She also earned a mas- and broadcasting from SLI. She nity volunteer. The couple, who ter’s degree in communications and her husband, Tom Moskal, 1970 live in Jennings, La., have two disorders from Louisiana State live in Lafayette. They have two Charles Backus was recently children and four grandchildren. University Medical Center. She daughters, Danon Dastugue and named the first recipient of a new- has five children. Cheré Dastugue Coen, and two ly endowed $2 million chair at sons, Quentin Dastugue and Paul Texas A&M University Press. The 1978 F. Dastugue. Edward R. Campbell ‘39 Press JON DONLON is a professor at 1981 Director’s chair was established Tokai University in Japan, where Attorney RANDALL FORET has by John Tom Campbell in his late his research focuses on the in- joined the law firm of Curran 1952 brother’s honor. It is believed to tegration of festivals and social Tomko Tarski LLP in Dallas in JOHN LYONS O’DONNELL JR. is re- be the first such chair for a press capital. Donlon earned two its oil and gas section. Before tired after two careers. He served director in the country. Backus bachelor’s degrees at USL, one attending law school, he was a as a U.S. Air Force pilot for 33 has served as director of Texas in photography and painting in drilling fluids engineer, working years before retiring in 1980. A&M University Press since 2000. 1978 and another in humanities on offshore drilling rigs along O’Donnell retired in 1994 as He was previously director of the in 1983. He holds a doctoral de- the California coast and in the director of facilities at the Uni- presses at Syracuse University gree in leisure behavior from the Gulf of Mexico. Foret earned a versity of Illinois Division of In- and Vanderbilt University. Backus University of Illinois. He and his bachelor’s degree in education tercollegiate Athletics. He earned earned a bachelor’s degree in wife, JOCELYN H. DONLON, ’79, ’82, from USL and a juris doctorate a bachelor’s degree in education history from USL, where he was own Donlon and Donlon Con- from Temple University’s Beasley

40 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 School of Law. His practice fo- cuses on business, securities and energy-related litigation. A Look Back

Jody Thibodeaux is director of Acadiana District Senior Olympic Games, which includes eight south Louisiana parishes. She also is president of the Louisiana Senior Olympic Games board of directors. The Senior Olympic Games is a non-profit organiza- tion that helps promote physical fitness and improved quality of life for those who are 50 and old- er. Thibodeaux holds a bachelor’s degree in education. 1982 VERNON TANNER is executive vice president of North Georgia Bank. As a member of the Georgia Bankers Association, he was vice chair- man of Georgia’s largest banking conference. Tanner is an acvtive A physical education class performed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Cypress community service volunteer. He Grove on May 26, 1928. The grove, once a pig sty, was used for performances recently served as chairman for a public facilities authority, helping and commencement ceremonies before it was intentionally flooded during to create an $11 million bond to 1928 World War II. build new school facilities. An or- dained deacon in the Presbyterian Church of America, Tanner also teaching research and service and law enforcement instructor in eastern University in 2008. She participates in triathlon sprints by Spring Hill College faculty. Arkansas. Seamans and his wife, is married to Darren W. Brackens throughout the southeastern Unit- Broussard is a doctoral candidate Olga Seamans, have two children. Sr. and has two children, Ashlie ed States. He holds a bachelor’s at the University of Southern Charles and Darren Brackens Jr. degree in business administration Mississippi. She holds a bach- Allen Ulrich is president and from USL. Tanner and his wife, elor’s degree in public relations part owner of Halo Inspection Karen Escoyne Tanner, ’82, have from USL and a master’s degree Services, which inspects rig- 1996 been married for 25 years and live in public relations from USM. ging and lifting services for the DR. ROBIN CRISLER-ROBERTS is a in Athens, Ga. They have three offshore oil industry. He holds a laboratory animal veterinarian sons, Jon Tanner, Daniel Tanner Sam Seamans serves his commu- bachelor’s degree in political sci- at Indiana University School and David Tanner, a UL Lafayette nity of Moun- ence from USL. He and his wife, of Medicine. In July 2008, student who is majoring in busi- tain Home, DEBORAH REEDER ULRICH ’93, live she earned certification as a ness and is a member of the Ragin’ Ark., as both in River Ridge, La. They have specialist in her field, becoming Cajun basketball team. priest and police three children, Matthew, Allison officer. A suf- and Reagan. fragan bishop in the United Epis- 1900-1921 1990 Southwestern Louisiana SHAREE BROUSSARD copal Church of , a commu- 1991 Industrial Institute nication arts North America, SHARON CHARLES-BRACKENS is instructor at he is rector of St. Thomas’ Angli- president and owner of Nutri- 1921-1960 Spring Hill can Church in Mountain Home. tion and Health Services Inc., Southwestern Louisiana College in Mo- He holds the rank of sergeant in in Mobile, Ala., which provides Institute bile, Ala., was the Mountain Home Police De- health education lectures to cli- named Ala- partment, where he is a communi- ents and consultation services to 1960-1999 bama’s Educa- ty resource officer. He is a certified health care providers. She holds University of Southwestern tor of the Year hospice chaplain and chaplain a bachelor’s degree in dietetics Louisiana 2008 by the for the Fraternal Order of Police, from USL and a master’s degree Public Relations Council of Ala- as well as his own department. in administration from Central 1999-Present bama. Also in 2008, she received Seamans, who holds a bachelor’s Michigan University. Charles- University of Louisiana at the Dawson Service Award, degree in general studies from Brackens earned a doctorate in Lafayette which recognizes outstanding USL, is a certified training officer health science from Nova South-

LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 41 a Diplomate in the American crash and Pope Benedict’s visit Alumni Information Form College of Laboratory Animal to New York City. A former news Medicine. She earned a bachelor’s producer in Lafayette and Baton degree in animal science from Rouge, she is married to Will S. If you enjoy reading about where your former classmates are now and USL, and a master’s degree Brown, ’01. what they’re doing, consider this: They’d like to read about you, too. and doctorate of veterinary A lumni Please fill out the form below and mail it back to UL Lafayette or go to medicine from Louisiana State A research grant allowed MICHAEL www.louisiana.edu/lalouisiane to submit the information online. University. She and her husband, EBLE, an assistant professor of art Dr. Christopher Roberts, also a at the University of Minnesota Name veterinarian, live in Danville, Ind. Morris, to create an art exhibit focusing on coastal erosion and First Middle Last Maiden name MICHELLE M. CARR is a partner wetland loss in Louisiana. The and clinic director at Acadiana works in “Endangered Land- Address Doctors of scape,” are based on aerial photo- Street or Box Chiropractic in graphs of Louisiana’s southeastern Lafayette. After coastline. A New Orleans native,

earning a bach- Eble earned a bachelor of fine arts City State Zip elor’s degree in degree in painting from USL and general studies a master’s degree in painting and Phone at USL, she drawing from the University of Home Office continued her Mississippi. He is married to Pilar studies at Texas Blanco Eble, ’97. The couple have Chiropractic College, complet- four children, Ben Michael, Eli, E-mail Fax ing a bachelor’s degree in human Miles and Oliver. biology and earning a doctorate Major & Date of Graduation of chiropractic degree. During LEE A. WHITE was recently named or the semester you last attended The University her internship, she participated in a partner in the Jackson Walker the hospital rotation program at LLC law firm in Dallas. He is a Houston Medical Center, which partner in the real estate practice Current Job Title included family medicine and group. White earned a bachelor’s neurology. Carr is licensed to degree in accounting from USL Business Name practice acupuncture in Texas. and holds a juris doctorate from She also serves on the Texas Louisiana State University. Business Address Chiropractic College Alumni As- sociation Board. She has one son, André Carr. 1998 Professional Duties MICHELLE DOUCET is the owner of Doucet Legal Nurse Consulting 1997 LLC. As a certified legal nurse Elizabeth Robichaux Brown is consultant, she works with at- coordinating producer of Fox torneys on medical-related cases. News in New York City, where She also attends independent Accomplishments she provides news content to medical examinations. Doucet, nearly 200 Fox News affiliates who earned a bachelor’s degree in around the world. Brown has nursing from USL, is a member covered major news stories, such of the National Alliance of Certi- as the 2008 political conventions, fied Legal Nurse Consultants. the recent Hudson River plane

Spouse’s Name

First Middle Last Maiden name Spouse’s USL or UL Lafayette Graduation Date UL Lafayette Alumni Association and major, if a former UsL student Become a Member Because It Matters

Children

(if any are UL Lafayette students or USL graduates, please indicate) Join Online or Contact Us: Phone: (337) 482-0900 Fax: (337) 482-0931

Email: [email protected] Current Date Website: D enise G allagher Please mail this form to La Louisiane, Box 41009, Lafayette, LA 70504-1009 www.LOUISIANAalumni.org or send it online at www.louisiana.edu/lalouisiane

42 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 death by her husband, Robert L. Church of the Ascension. He was from USL. Marino was nomi- 2001 Weber, and their daughter, Karen a past recipient of the Heymann nated for the Pulitzer Prize. He is In February, LAUREN MATHEWS was Louise Weber. Foundation Civic Participation survived by his wife, Geraldine promoted to associate professor Award. Survivors include his wife, LeBlanc Marino of Lafayette; four of biology and biotechnology at MAITLAND A. “BUTCH” STEELE, ’50, Mary Flannagan Edmiston; two sons, Michael Marino of Manhat- Worcester Polytechnic Institute died Nov. 10, 2008, in McComb, sons, David Edmiston, ’82 and tan, N.Y., Vince Al Marino of in Worcester, Mass. She was also Miss., at age 81. He held a bach- Steven Edmiston ’84; two daugh- Brooklyn, N.Y., Jonathan Marino granted tenure. Mathews joined elor’s degree in civil engineer- ters, Susan Guidry and Nancy E. of Lafayette and Donald “Seppi” WPI as an assistant professor in ing from SLI and was a lifetime Schuler; a stepson, Scott Hymel; a Marino of San Francisco; seven 2003 after completing a post- member of the American Society sister, June Lacy; nine grandchil- grandchildren; and two great- doctoral fellowship at Columbia of Civil Engineers. Steele worked dren; one nephew; one niece; and grandchildren. He was preceded University. An ecologist, she con- as a civil engineer for Freeport one cousin. in death by two sons, Brooks Ma- ducts research on genetics in con- Minerals, retiring after 29 years. rino and John Marino, ’90. servation biology and molecular He served in the U.S. Navy during Lynn J. Desselle, ‘61, died April ecology, specifically in the areas of World War II and in the U.S. Naval 1, 2009, in Family and friends held a memo- phylogeography, evolutionary pro- Reserve. At the time of his death, Lafayette. He rial service in July for PAUL ABDON cesses and the evolution of social Steele was a deacon at First Baptist was 70. Des- CALLAIS, ’90. He is believed to have behavior. She earned a bachelor’s Church in McComb; he taught selle was dean fallen off the deck of a family- degree in zoology from Connecti- Sunday school for more than 60 of UL Lafay- owned boat on June 25, 2008; cut College and a doctorate in years. He is survived by his wife of ette’s College the U.S. Coast Guard called off environmental and evolutionary 58 years, DONNA COCHRAN STEELE, of Applied Life its search in the Caribbean Sea biology from UL Lafayette. ’50; two daughters, Barbara Brown Sciences from two days later. Callais was presi- and Beverly Gaia; a son, Allen 1981-98. He had dent and chief executive officer THOMAS L. STAGG works in New James Steele; six grandchildren; previously served as an assistant of United Community Bank in Orleans as a clinical social worker and four great-grandchildren. professor and department head. Gonzales, La. He held a bachelor’s with the U.S. Department of Desselle held a bachelor’s degree in degree in business administration Veterans Affairs. He holds a bach- Hardy F. Edmiston Jr., ’52, died agronomy from USL and a master’s from USL. He was also a graduate elor’s degree in general studies Dec. 5, 2008, degree and doctorate from Iowa of the Louisiana School of Bank- from UL Lafayette. in Lafayette. He State University. He was district ing, a program of the Louisiana held a bachelor’s governor of Rotary International Bankers Association, and the LSU CHRISSY THREAT earned a doctorate degree in busi- from 1999 to 2000. He is survived Graduate School of Banking. Sur- in history in December 2008 from ness administra- by his wife of 45 years, Barbara vivors include his wife, Danielle the University of Iowa. She lives tion from SLI. Avant Desselle, ’63; one son, Lynn LeBlanc Callais, and their three in Boston, where she is an assis- He served in the Joseph Desselle Jr.; one daughter, children, Christopher, Claire and tant professor of history at North- U.S. Air Force Valerie Desselle Landry; three sis- Caitlyn. He is also survived by eastern University. Threat holds a from 1952-54. ters, Janelle Michel, Doris Cloutre his mother, Gloria Bienvenu Cal- bachelor’s degree in history from A devoted and enthusiastic sup- and Nancy Cosper; five brothers, lais, and two brothers, Charles the University of California, Santa porter of the university, he was Ronald Desselle, Jules Desselle, Michael Callais and Corey Callais. Barbara, and a master’s degree in engaged in volunteer and phil- Phillip Desselle, Ernest Desselle His brother, Peter Callais, died in history from UL Lafayette. anthropic efforts for more than and John Desselle, ’86; and four November 2008. He was preceded 50 years. Edmiston was an active grandchildren. He was preceded in in death by his father, HAROLD member of the UL Lafayette Foun- death by a sister, Eugenia Desselle. JOSEPH CALLAIS, ’59. In Memoriam dation for many years and ulti- JOSEPH GIAMMALVA JR., ’69 CLIFFORD J. “FROSTY” COUVILLION MARION FLEMING WEBER, ’44, died mately served as a board trustee , died Jan. 1, 2009, at the age of 87. emeritus. His contributions to Dec. 31, 2007. He earned a bache- died Sept. 19, 2008, in Baton Valedictorian of her graduating the university included extensive lor’s degree in education from USL Rouge, La. He was 84. Couvil- class, she held a bachelor’s degree Athletic Department projects and a master’s degree in guidance lion attended SLI. A staff sergeant in home economics and chemistry and programs, such as serving as and counseling from Loyola Uni- with the U.S. Air Force, he served from SLI and was an instructor chairman of a UL Lafayette foot- versity New Orleans. Survivors in the Pacific Theater and was of chemistry at her alma mater ball season ticket drive. He was a include his wife, BEVERLY A. DIS- awarded the Purple Heart. Fol- from 1944 to 1945. After earning member of an advisory task force ALVO GIAMMALVA, ’69; a daughter, lowing his military service, he a master’s degree in textile chem- for UL Lafayette’s Investing in Gina G. Bellott; and a grandson, worked for the U.S. Postal Service istry and clothing from Pennsyl- Our Future fund drive. Edmiston William Joseph Bellott. and retired as postmaster in Cot- vania State University in 1946, was a recipient of the Alumni As- tonport, La. He is survived by his Weber was an assistant professor sociation’s Distinguished Service VINCE MARINO, ’71, ’78, died Feb. wife of 61 years, LUCILLE DUFOUR of textile and clothing at Louisi- Award. An independent landman 15, 2009, in Lafayette after an ex- COUVILLION, ’44; a son, CORNEL ana State University for two years. and oil and gas operator, he was tended illness. He was 91. Marino COUVILLION, ’73; two sisters, Patri- In 1963, she joined the Penn State founder and president of Cree Oil was editor emeritus of The Adver- cia C. Tassin and Louisa C. Bor- faculty as a part-time instructor, Co. and co-owner of Workover tiser, Lafayette’s daily newspaper, delon; three grandchildren; one later becoming assistant to the Equipment Rentals/WE Services where he worked for more than great-grandchild; and numerous dean in the College of Human Co. He was past president of the 50 years before retiring in 2001. nieces and nephews. Development, the position she Lafayette Association of Petroleum Marino also taught at UL Lafay- held until her retirement in 1983. Landmen and U.S. Congressional ette for 20 years. He served in the She is survived by a son, Robert ombudsman for the petroleum U.S. Army’s Signal Corps in the Fleming Weber; two daughters, industry. Edmiston helped raise European Theater during World Meredith Anne Weber and Ruth funds for many community ser- War II. He earned a bachelor’s Eaton Weber; and three grand- vice organizations, local youth degree in journalism from LSU www.athleticnetwork.net children. She was preceded in sports events and the Episcopal and master’s and doctoral degrees

LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 43 Foundation

Best in Their Class UL Lafayette Foundation salutes faculty for exemplary teaching, research

or the first time, the UL Lafay- Dr. Russell Hibbeler, a professor of chemi- ette Foundation honored two fac- cal engineering, and Dr. Mary Farmer-Kai- Fulty members with its Dr. Ray P. ser, an associate professor of history. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award “When the committee voted, there in April. was a tie. That says a lot about the cali- It typically presents one teaching ber of these professors. The Foundation’s award and three Distinguished Professor board of directors decided to honor both,” Awards every year, based on the recom- said Julie Bolton Falgout, executive direc- mendations of a committee composed of tor of the UL Lafayette Foundation. faculty members. Distinguished Professor Awards were This year, the field of candidates for presented to Dr. Christine DeVine, associ- outstanding teacher was narrowed to two: ate professor of English; Dr. Devesh Misra, professor of chemical engineering; and Dr. William Rieck, professor of curriculum and instruction. Honorees receive a stipend and their names are inscribed on plaques that are permanently displayed in Edith Garland Dupré Library. The Distinguished Professor Award was established in 1965. The Excellence in Teaching Award, which began in 1992, was renamed the Dr. Ray P. Authement Excel- lence in Teaching Award in 2008.

sense of urgency Drives EnGlish Educator Dr. Christine DeVine

r. Christine DeVine is a popular profes- Dsor whose students give her high marks. She has nurtured a small in-house seminar for graduate assistants and new professionals into an annual conference that featured speakers from across the na- tion and overseas this year. She has devel- oped some new academic courses. But there’s more. “Dr. DeVine has been one of the most productive scholars in the English Department since joining the faculty ... and has built a national repu- tation as a scholar of Victorian literature,” wrote Dr. James McDonald, professor and

L ucius Fon t eno head of UL Lafayette’s Department of Eng- Dr. Christine DeVine lish, in a letter of recommendation for the

44 LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 UL Lafayette Foundation’s 2009 teachers. “In speaking with Distinguished Professor Award. graduates of the program, many DeVine’s list of accomplish- share that his courses are chal- ments is especially noteworthy lenging but upon completion because she began her academic of these courses, the candidates career only eight years ago. “I refer to the experience as piv- came to this profession late in life, otal in their teacher preparation so I feel as though I’m trying to process. These testimonials hurry along to get all done that I speak to the type of teacher he want to get done before I retire,” is and how he ‘pays it forward’ she said in a recent interview. to his students,” she said. A native of England, DeVine Rieck also encourages high and her husband owned a small ad school students who are inter- agency in Chicago for many years. ested in becoming teachers. For Many of their clients were small nine years, he’s been organizing and medium-size candy companies a Future Teacher Day for area in the area. In the late 1970s, huge high school students who are European candy manufacturers interested in earning an educa- stepped in. “Overnight, we lost tion degree. It’s part of an edu- something like 75 percent of our cation class they can take while business, bought out by these big still in high school that counts global concerns,” she said. for college credit. While helping to run the ad Rieck began his career as a agency, she had taken some creative high school chemistry teacher writing courses and spent a year in the 1960s and later served as researching and writing a screen- an assistant professor at Trenton play about the Bloomsbury Group, State College in New Jersey. a collection of British writers and He spent two years as an area thinkers who were influential in the manager with DuPont Chemical first half of the 20th century. When but returned to his first love of

the agency closed in the early L ucius Fon t eno teaching in 1972. Rieck came to 1990s, she took the opportunity to Dr. William Rieck the University of Louisiana at seek a bachelor’s degree. Lafayette in 1991. “I started at DePaul and in my example, is classroom management and Almost 20 years later, he first semester there, I went to my advisor instructional design. He shows future in- still enjoys his work. and said, ‘What I’d really like to do is go structors how to map out detailed lesson “As long as I’m capable of teaching, to graduate school and become an English plans and offers insights gleaned from his I’m going to be teaching,” he said. professor,’ and she thought I was crazy,” 45-year career as an educator. DeVine said, chuckling at the recollection. “I tell my students, ‘When you’re Small-scale efforts “She thought I was just some bored house- teaching, you have to be reasonable.’ Not yield big results wife who had suddenly gotten this strange all students are the same. They have to be notion into her head.” treated as individuals. I do the same with Dr. Devesh Misra But DeVine knew she belonged on a my students.” college campus. In a letter nominating Rieck for the n anonymous quotation is posted McDonald summarized her contribu- UL Lafayette Foundation’s 2009 Distin- A on Dr. Devesh Misra’s office door in tions by noting that she “brings a keen guished Professor Award, Dr. Gerald Carl- Madison Hall: “The spirit of knowledge is mind, an impressive work ethic, and im- son, dean of the College of Education, said an enviable thing; those who possess it are portant international and interdisciplinary he is “demanding, but fair. forever refreshed, forever challenged, for- knowledge and insights to her work.” “Students have commented that ever rewarded and forever young.” they have been successful in passing the “I really believe this is true,” he said Veteran professor final Praxis exam because of what they in an interview. “Knowledge – seeking ‘Pays it forward’ learned in his class. Students are fortunate knowledge – it keeps us energized. When because he includes his scholarship and new ideas are bubbling up, that makes life Dr. William Rieck research in the classroom, which serves as exciting.” a model for students.” Misra is full of new ideas – and ex- s a professor of curriculum and in- Dr. Christine Briggs, head of Cur- cited about sharing them with colleagues A struction, Dr. William Rieck helps riculum and Instruction, said Rieck’s high and students. students become teachers. expectations for teacher candidates serve He dreams big, but works on the One of the courses he teaches, for as a guide for them to become highly able scale of the tiny, using nanotechnology

LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 45 in materials science. Nanoparticles, ously exposing them to cutting-edge related to history. So she applied to made atom by atom, are measured in research, Misra sees himself helping to graduate school. She entered a policy nanometers, one billionth of a meter. lay the groundwork for his students’ history studies program, knowing that

t ion These bits of manmade as many of its graduates matter can be just found work as legislative a few nanometers researchers or in govern- wide. A human hair, ment as in academia. for example, is about “I didn’t start teach- 80,000 nanometers ing until I was in my

Founda thick. Ph.D. program, so I Misra is especially always kind of feared interested in the use I wouldn’t like it or I of nanotechnology to wouldn’t be good at it,” develop biomaterials. she recalled in a recent In January, he received interview. a patent for a new drug She shouldn’t have delivery system that worried. The associate uses magnetic nano- professor of history can’t particles created in UL imagine a more reward- Lafayette laboratories. ing career and is an ex- In 2004, he estab- ceptional teacher. lished the Center for “Her classes always Structural and Func- fill early and all of her tional Materials. “Ma- students consistently terials science and en- evaluate her as a chal- gineering form a bridge lenging, caring, devoted, of knowledge between passionate and thought- the basic sciences, such ful instructor,” wrote as chemistry and phys- Dr. Bob Carriker, head ics, and the engineer- of UL Lafayette’s History ing disciplines: chemi- Department, in a letter cal, mechanical and recommending that she electrical engineering,” receive the 2009 Dr. Ray he explained. P. Authement Outstand- In developing ing Teaching Award.

the center, Misra has L ucius Fon t eno “Furthermore, her aca- brought eight post-doc- Dr. Devesh Misra demic/scholarly magne- toral fellows on board. tism pertains to every “Their presence on campus has helped careers and their future success. level of student, from the marginal to the center become more competitive “To get to work in an emerging the honors and graduate students. Her and to make rapid progress in research.” field, that’s very exciting for students. dedication is universal.” The interdisciplinary center has They are excited about the opportunity Farmer-Kaiser makes no distinction also created what he calls a “synergistic to work with new ideas.” between undergraduate and graduate environment.” Says Misra, “We work to- classes. “I want to teach my freshman gether, we share ideas and talk. There’s a ‘Her dedication classes and I want to teach those up- real feeling of team spirit.” Is universal’ per level undergraduate classes and the The results speak for themselves. graduate students. All of those different Since the center was established, Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser layers are really important to understand Misra has managed and executed research when you’re teaching,” she said. projects totaling almost $4 million. hile Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser was Farmer-Kaiser also sees value in In 2002, he received a patent for Wearning a bachelor’s degree in his- helping high school history teachers. a fine-grained steel. Two more patents tory, she kept her career options open. She “has made herself a point – one for nanorods that could be used Her interest in politics and government person for Teaching American History for digital storage and another for an was heightened during an internship in grants from the U.S. Department of Edu- enhanced drug-delivery system – are Washington, D.C. So she considered at- cation. Through those grants, she posi- pending. tending law school or taking a job with tions herself to instruct secondary school Misra has developed two materials the federal government. teachers of Acadiana in new approaches science courses. By teaching students Then she discovered that she to teaching history,” Carriker noted. hands-on fundamentals and simultane- might be able to find a career that Farmer-Kaiser said UL Lafayette

46 LA LOUISIANE | Spring 2009 has a duty “to produce good The kindness of the teachers in our community. It people of south Louisi- only benefits the university and ana and the region’s cul- I think we have an obligation ture were strong draws. to produce graduate students “I think the people down who not only know history here are just wonderful,” but understand that historians he observed. teach, too. And whether you’re Hibbeler primarily teaching graduate students, teaches undergradu- undergraduates or teachers in ate classes. He has a the community, it’s about un- reputation for giving derstanding how people learn heavy doses of home- and presenting the subject work and weekly exams matter in a way that is going to to students taking his hook them.” fundamental course in The trick, she added, is to engineering. He said help others learn, “without real- he wants to ensure his izing that they’re learning.” students are grounded in the concepts and prin- Professor keeps ciples of the course so standards high they will be successful in upper-level classes, Dr. Russell Hibbeler in graduate school and in their professional r. Russell Hibbeler became careers. Dan educator because he en- “We need to do the joys teaching. best we can to educate “Part of that enjoyment is and guide them. When figuring out the best way to get a student finishes here, students to learn and improve if he does not know his their skills,” he said. The civil skills well, that’s a reflec-

engineering professor received L ucius Fon t eno tion on the school and the UL Lafayette Foundation’s Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser everyone here,” he said. 2009 Dr. Ray P. Authement Out- Hibbeler has writ- standing Teaching Award. ten four engineering Hibbeler was working at textbooks that are used Argonne National Laboratory throughout the world in Illinois before he came to as standard texts in en- UL Lafayette in 1973. He only gineering mechanics, stayed a semester before moving mechanics of materials to Chicago to work, but it was and structural analysis. enough time to get hooked on Several are in their 12th Acadiana’s quality of life. edition. He hopes to While attending a confer- finish a fifth textbook, ence in New York in the late about fluid mechanics, 1970s, he ran into Dr. James this summer. Reeves, then dean of UL Lafay- Dr. Mark Zappi, ette’s College of Engineering. “I dean of UL Lafayette’s told him that if there ever was a College of Engineering, job open, to let me know,” Hib- describes Hibbeler as bler recalled. “one of the most glob- Not long after, he was ally recognized engi- about to accept a position at neering educators.” His North Carolina State University books, Zappi continued, when he received a phone call “are considered the from UL Lafayette. Would he bible of how to teach like to return? basic engineering me-

Hibbeler has taught at UL L ucius Fon t eno chanics to undergradu- Lafayette ever since. Dr. Russell Hibbeler ate students.” n

LA LOUISIANE | SPRING 2009 47 Th roug h t e lens v is G aut h ier T ra Singular Sensation: Chris Fabre, a freshman majoring in biology, is the only student who travels the campus by Segway. Fabre, who lives about two blocks away, has put more than 700 miles on his machine so far. Top speed: about 20 mph.

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