News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 3/9/04   Click on image for publication quality photo ROOMIE, YESTERDAY AND TODAY – Roomie, Southeastern Louisiana University’s lion mascot, will have a birthday party at noon on March 17 in the War Memorial Student Union Mall. The forever young lion has had several different “looks” over the years, as evidenced by these two photos, one from today and the other from the 1960s. BIRTHDAY PARTY POOL EXPERT – Jack White, a popular star of the pocket billiard game, will present a demonstration of billiard fundamentals – as well as his repertoire of trick shots – from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 17 at Southeastern Louisiana University’s War Memorial Student Union mall. The trick shot whiz will also be the emcee for a birthday party for the university’s lion mascot, Roomie, at noon. White’s exhibition is sponsored by the Campus Activities Board. SOUTHEASTERN TO STAGE “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROOMIE!” CELEBRATION       HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University thinks it’s about time that Roomie, the university’s lion mascot, has a birthday party.       So, at noon on March 17 -- St. Patrick’s Day -- the  shaggy symbol of Southeastern spirit will have his own special celebration in the War Memorial Student Union mall.        Southeastern’s CLAWS/Pride Committee, which is throwing the birthday party, chose a March date because the university usually celebrates the anniversary of Pride Day during that month. When better to honor a Green and Gold lion, the committee reasoned, than on a day famous for “the wearing of the green?”        Roomie, dressed in sequined coat and tails, will arrive in a decorated golf cart, be serenaded by his fans, and blow out candles on his cake. He will also receive special birthday greetings from Karen Soniat, executive assistant to President Randy Moffett; Kathy Pittman, director of Alumni Relations; Luke Causey, chair of the Student Government Association Senate; and Jonathan Gomez, a former Roomie who will represent the students who have worn the mascot costume throughout the years.       Master of ceremonies for the brief festivities will be pocket billiard and trick shot artist Jack White, who will entertain students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the union mall, compliments of the Campus Activities Board. Birthday party favors will include cupcakes and lion paw decals.        So, how many candles will Roomie have to extinguish? Depending on how you look at it, Southeastern’s First Lion is either hitting the “Big 4-0" mark or he’s a senior citizens with more than seven decades under his mane.       2004 is Roomie’s 40th birthday if his age is calculated from the year -- 1964 -- that he was actually named. He’s 73 if you go by the date – 1931 – that Southeastern first chose the lion as the school’s mascot.       Southeastern Louisiana College was only six years old when Elmer Sanders, a center on the football team and a future principal of Kentwood High School, nominated “Lions” in a special student election to choose a mascot. Sanders’ nomination was “among many suggestions – serious and some otherwise” from which the students selected, said “Le Souvenir,” the university’s yearbook.       The mascot was nameless until Southeastern acquired a live lion in the early 1960s and needed to call him something. Suggested monikers were narrowed down to “Lobo” and “Grego” -- a play on the school’s colors. In a November 1963 election “Lobo” won, creating a rather awkward situation: Southeastern now had a lion whose name was Spanish for “wolf.”        The following year, the administration came up with a popular solution when Lobo was renamed to honor Hollis R. “Roomie” Wilson, a beloved Southeastern biology professor, alumnus and Lions super fan who had died the previous spring.        “Roomie is the name synonymous with [Southeastern] spirit,” said a March 1965 edition of the “Alumni News. “It was only fitting that the college’s official mascot bear the name respected by so many Southeasterners.”       The question of whether Roomie should celebrate 40 or 73 years is not likely to generate a hot debate. After all, thanks to the continuing line of lively students who don his costume to bring him to life, Roomie is forever young.