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: Angey Murray
Date: 3/2/05

For more information visit www.selu.edu/roarfest

SOUTHEASTERN'S ROCK ‘N ROAR OFFERS FUN FOR ALL ON MARCH 12
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University’s Rock ‘n Roar Fest, a day-long festival showcasing Southeastern's quality academics and family-friendly atmosphere, will be held on campus Saturday, March 12, for its ninth consecutive year.
     Scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rock ‘n Roar includes a multitude of entertainment opportunities, academic displays, and other activities headquartered at the War Memorial Student Union. This year’s event is following its predecessor’s successful track record of providing a day of family fun for both  Literary Rally visitors and the community, said Kenya Varnado, who is coordinating the festival. 
     “Rock ‘n Roar is a day-long event with something for everyone and a great way to get the community, campus and the visiting high school students together to sit back, relax, and have fun while visiting and learning about our campus,” said Varnado, a Southeastern graduate and counselor in the university’s Office of Financial Aid.
     Rock ‘n Roar continues its partnership this year with the Hammond Downtown Development District’s Saturday marketplace, which will move to campus that day. Rock ‘n Roar patrons can also visit the Southeastern School of Nursing’s health fair, co-sponsored with North Oaks Health System, where they can receive information on self-breast exams, strokes, heart health and more; be screened for blood pressure, glucose, and body mass; and register for a door prize. Children can learn about scooter and fire safety. 
     Also planned throughout the day are a plant sale, arts and crafts booths, food booths and entertainment.
Families will find at Rock ‘n Roar IX also includes a petting zoo, puppet show, baby and children’s games, story tellers, popular camps for children, the University Police Department's free KidCare Photo I.D. program, and activities such as a space walk and interaction with Southeastern’s lion mascot, Roomie.
     Three traditionally popular camps will be available for local children. Camps include a dance camp from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Kinesiology and Health Studies Building for children ages 5-12, with a performance scheduled immediately afterwards at the stage in the Student Union park. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable running or tennis shoes. 
     Also on the schedule is the art camp from 9-11 a.m. at Clark Hall for children ages 5-12. Space is limited. Finally, a baseball camp will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. at Alumni Field. Children ages 6-13 are invited to participate and are asked to bring their baseball glove for a day of fun. Special passes to baseball camp participants for free admission with a paid adult ticket will be available for the Southeastern Lions baseball game at 3 p.m. that afternoon.
     Camp fees are $5 for the art and baseball camps. Dance camp fees are $15 and include refreshments and a gift item. Parents can pick up applications for camps at the Alumni Center, 500 West University Ave., or register online at www.selu.edu/roarfest. MasterCard and Visa payments are currently accepted for online payments; pre-registration for all camps is mandatory due to limited space.
     Rock ‘n Roar will also entertain teens from public and private schools from Washington, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and West Feliciana parishes. The students are coming to campus for the Southeast Louisiana District Literary Rally, where they will compete in 44 different subjects. 
     When the approximately 2,500 high school students finish their tests and wait for results to be posted, they can join area residents in gathering useful and entertaining information from hands-on academic displays, financial aid and career booths, and choose refreshments from the wide variety of food booths sponsored by student organizations and alumni chapters.
      For additional information about Rock 'n Roar, call the Alumni Center at 985-549?2150 or 1-800-SLU-ALUM, or visit www.selu.edu/roarfest.