News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 11/14/03   Click on image for publication quality photo “CELEBRATION OF THE LIGHTS” HIGHLIGHTS "SEASON OF GIVING"        HAMMOND -- Holiday lights will begin to twinkle all over the Southeastern Louisiana University campus on November 18 when the university ushers in its “season of giving” with the “Celebration of the Lights.”        The event, which begins at 5 p.m., will feature holiday music, dance, and refreshments, with activities centered at Twelve Oaks and the Pottle Performance Circle on Western Ave. in the heart of campus. Community members, as well as faculty, staff and students, are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets to Friendship Circle to enjoy the ceremony.        “As we light our campus for the holidays, we also want to illuminate one of Southeastern’s basic missions -- giving back to our community,” said President Randy Moffett. “Many of our student organizations take the true meaning of the holidays to heart with service projects such as food drives, adopting local families, and hosting holiday parties for various agencies. I like to think that our campus lights represent their shining example.”        The program for Celebration of the Lights will feature performances by Southeastern’s Brass Quintet and Izzy Moving Dance Theatre and songs by students from Holy Ghost School and the Southeastern Lab School.  Members of the brass quintet are Chuck Arnold, Slidell; Kevin Messer and Rajah Kennedy, Baton Rouge; Trey Rickerson, Chalmette and Darrel Haynes, Luling.       Student Government Association President Ashley McKee will talk about student organization holiday service projects. Since the Celebration of the Lights is taking place during the university’s annual celebration of International Education Week, international student Raghuveer Dodda, joined by students from Liberia, Japan and India in native dress, will give a brief description of holiday customs in other countries.        President Randy Moffett plans to flip a ceremonial switch to illuminate holiday trees, displays, wreaths and lights throughout  Friendship Circle. Meanwhile, lights will also decorate roof lines and sparkle from large wreaths on approximately two dozen campus buildings.       Refreshments will be available. Southeastern’s Lion mascot – attired as “Roomie Claus” – will be joined by student athletes and other student leaders in handing out candy canes to youngsters in the audience.       “Admission” for the lighting festivities  is a non-perishable food item for the Celebration of the Lights food drive, which is being organized by Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.        As part of holiday and International Education Week activities, Southeastern will present a special concert, "Music -- The Universal Language," at 2 p.m., Thursday, November 20 at the Pottle Music Building Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.        The Faculty Woodwind Quintet  --  Chih-hsien Chien, flute; and faculty members Mary Kay Young, oboe; Deborah Andrus, clarinet; Jerry Voorhees, bassoon; and Janiece Luedeke, horn -- will also perform at 7:30 p.m., in Pottle Music Building Auditorium.         Southeastern student organizations and their holiday service plans include Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, food and clothing drive; Delta Sigma Theta sorority, donating food and furniture to a local family; Gamma Beta Phi service and honor society, hosting a Christmas Party and gifts for residents of the Berean Family Home for teenagers in Albany; Phi Mu sorority, hosting a Thanksgiving crafts party at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.        Also, Sigma Gamma Rho sorority will visit area nursing homes and sponsor a family; Theta Chi fraternity will provide food for a holiday dinner to a local family; Theta Phi Alpha sorority will prepare a Thanksgiving meal and present holiday gifts to an Options client; and Zeta Phi Beta sorority will visit nursing homes, sponsor a toy drive and adopt a family.        The  Student Athlete Advisory Committee is also hosting "Toys for Touchdowns" in connection with Southeastern home football games. The project collects toys for the Santa Bear Project and non-perishable food items and cash for the Tangi Food Pantry.        For additional information about the Celebration of the Lights or Southeastern student organization service projects, contact Southeastern Public Information, 985-549-2341 or publicinfo@selu.edu. Return to News Releases