Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985/549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
    Date: 11/13/01
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   92

Editors: Photo accompanies release   Please note local interest
DIVERSITY EXPERIMENT SHOWS SLU STUDENTS "THE REAL WORLD"
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University are getting a taste of "the real world"
-- on campus, not on television.
     Eighteen students of differing ethnic backgrounds have been paired up in a special
experiment designed to promote a better understanding of diversity. The students are shadowing
each other -- hanging out together on campus, sharing a daily meal, attending campus events --
during Homecoming Week, November 9-12.
     They will share their experiences at a special forum at 7 p.m., Monday, November 19,
in Southeastern's War Memorial Student Union ballroom, said the program chairman,
Brandon Leonard.
     The senior social studies education major from Patterson is a member of the Student
Programming and Resource Committee, the brainchild of Eric Summers, new director of the
university's Office of Multicultural and International Student Services. The committee is
planning a variety of events targeting diversity and entertainment, such as International Week,
November 26-30; Black History Month celebrations in February 2002; and a high school
leadership conference in March.
     "For the past few years, Southeastern has been trying to come up with a diversity program
that students could really learn from," said Leonard, who is also one of the "real world" pairs.
"The best way to better understand others is to live it. That's what we're trying to do with this
project. The teams will get a better idea of what it feels like to be the other person."
     Chosen by audition, the 18 participants are seniors Milo Herson, Baton Rouge; Dwilette
Wilkes, St. Louis, Mo.; juniors Jolanda Taylor, Franklinton; Holly Bissonnette, Heber
                             (MORE)
                                
SOUTHEASTERN "REAL WORLD"   Add One

Springs, Ark.; David Brignac, Baton Rouge; June Heisser, Madisonville; Jennifer Hargrove,
Bossier City; sophomores Nicole Stewart, Baton Rouge; Rachel Guidry, Lafayette; Shahidah
Rahman, Baton Rouge; Eben Brice, New Orleans; Jason Johnston, Baton Rouge; freshmen
Garrett Schwebel, Baton Rouge; Lou Dickinson, Slidell; Molly LeBlanc, New Iberia; Alison
Hungate, Ponchatoula, and Shelita Turner, New Orleans. 
     For additional information, contact Leonard or Summers at 985-549-3850.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf01.htm