Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985/549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
    Date: 3/1/02
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple 8

CLAWS TO "FLOOD THE FIELD" WITH FLAGS, FUN MARCH 13
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University will "Flood the Field" -- Alumni
Field, the university's baseball diamond -- with flags and fun on March 13 when the Lions take
on Tulane University in a 6 p.m. ball game.
     "Flood the Field" is the brainchild of Southeastern's "CLAWS" Committee, a group of
university staffers charged with "Connecting Lion Athletics With Students." The committee
comes up with creative ways to package athletic events with fun activities to increase student
interest and attendance.
     Last year, as a way to bring both students and community members out to the ball park,
the CLAWS Committee honored firefighters, making them the focal point of  fun, games and
giveaways during the game. This year, honoring firefighters -- and extending accolades to
include
law enforcement personnel   is even more meaningful, said CLAWS member Veda Abene,
assistant to the Dean of Continuing Education at Southeastern.
     "Since September 11, we all have a new appreciation of the day-to-day heroism of
firefighters and police officers everywhere," she said.
     Abene said everyone who attends the Southeastern-Tulane game will receive a small
American flag. Clay Magee, D.A.R.E officers for the Washington Parish Sheriff's Department,
will sing "'God Bless the USA," and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia will perform the "Star Spangled
Banner."
     "Roomie (Southeastern's Lion mascot) will arrive at the field in a fire truck," Abene said. 
     To help "flood the field" with flags, student groups are invited to bring their own
organizational flags to the game, said CLAWS member Brian Verberne, coordinator of the
Campus Activities Board. Student organizations can also enter a special contest to design flags
with Southeastern or patriotic themes. The flags can be made of any materials, but should be no
larger than 1 x 2 feet and include the organization's name.  
     The entries will be displayed on the Alumni Field fences. "Individuals can 'vote' for their
favorite flag by placing a contribution in collection jars," Verberne said. "Twenty-five percent of
the pledges will go to the student organization and 75 percent to the police and firefighters." 
     For more information about Flood the Field, contact Abene at 985-549-2301 or Verberne
at 985-549-2233. 
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp02.html