Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 2/23/00
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple 55

SLU'S AMERICA READS PROGRAM CELEBRATES DR. SEUSS' BIRTHDAY
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University will highlight the activities of its
America Reads program with a week long celebration, Feb. 28-March 6.
     Activities will include a book drive, celebrity readers, and children's parties, including a
community-wide fete honoring the birthday of beloved "Cat in the Hat" author Dr. Seuss.
     The celebration begins on Monday, February 28 at Southeastern Head Start, located on
West Tornado Drive on Southeastern's North Campus. The preschool's students will enjoy a
breakfast of "green eggs and ham" and a visit from Seuss character the "Cat in the Hat," who will
hand out activity books designed to promote good reading habits. Celebrity readers plan to treat
the students to stories.
     America Reads/Dr. Seuss parties are also scheduled for Independence Elementary (1
p.m., Monday, February 28), Hammond Eastside Elementary (2 p.m., Tuesday, February 29) and
the Southeastern Lab School (9:15 a.m., Wednesday, March 1).
     The Hammond community's children can also enjoy a Dr. Seuss birthday party at 3:30
p.m., Thursday, March 2, at the Hammond branch of the Tangipahoa Parish Library (314 E.
Thomas St.) In addition to cake and ice cream and a visit by the Cat in the Hat, children and their
parents will receive activity packets and can have fun with face-painting and other crafts.
     Throughout the week, Southeastern's Financial Aid Office will challenge university
students, faculty and staff to donate books for kindergarten-third graders. The books will be
donated to an area elementary school.
     Collection boxes are located in the Financial Aid Office, Room 121, North Campus
Building A; Sims Memorial Library lobby and the Student Organizations Office, Room 109, War
Memorial Student Union.
     Through Southeastern's America Reads project, student tutors both volunteers, including
Greek organizations, and work-study students--work with children in grades pre-kindergarten-
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AMERICA READS  -- Add One
third to help bolster their reading ability. The program was founded at Southeastern in 1997
when a senior, Michael Taranto, brought America Reads to President Sally Clausen's attention
after learning about it in President Clinton's State of the Union address.
     Approximately 50 tutors are working with students in some 16 schools in St. Tammany,
Livingston and Tangipahoa Parishes.
     For additional information about the week's events or the America Reads program,
contact Southeastern Financial Aid at 1-800-222-SELU or 504-549-2244.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp00.htm