Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 11/11/99
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   1

CLAUSEN TO RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARD FOR PROMOTING DIVERSITY
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University  President Sally Clausen's advocacy
of cultural diversity on campus and in the community has been recognized by the National
Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS), which will give her its 1999 "Golden
Award" on Sunday, Nov. 14 in Dallas, Texas.
     "Dr. Clausen has been an open advocate (for cultural diversity) and has not only  talked
the talk,' but has  walked the walk,'" said Nick Bruno, Southeastern's director of Auxiliary
Services and the person who nominated Clausen.. Because of Clausen's efforts, "The advocacy of
diversity and appreciation and celebration is not only expected within the institution, but also
within our communities and our service region," he said.
     After being named Southeastern's first female president in 1995, Clausen made cultural
development and appreciating diversity part of Southeastern's mission and core values. Her
efforts to promote understanding and appreciation of diversity have included recruiting African
American administrators and faculty; forging partnerships with international universities and
governments; encouraging community-university discussions on race relations, and increasing
minority enrollment from 9.8 percent to 15.3 percent.
     Clausen has hosted visits by Haitian President Rene Preval and Costa Rican Vice President
Astrid Fischel and has traveled to Germany and France to promote partnerships with international
universities. She has encouraged open discussions on race relations through programs such as a
campus-community "town meeting" during Black History Month and "Skin Deep" seminars in
residence halls. Cultural programming has included a lecture by internationally renowned Mexican
author and diplomat Carlos Fuentes and an art exhibit honoring New Orleans' first African
American mayor, Ernest "Dutch" Morial.
                             -SLU-
     This press release is available on the World Wide Web:
www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf99.htm