Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985/549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
    Date: 3/8/02
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple 46

SLU'S "TOGAMAN" TO PRESENT POPULAR LECTURE MARCH 13
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University English professor Wade Heaton will
present his popular lecture, "The Toga:"Non Vestis, Sed Conceptio (It's Not Clothing, It's a
Concept)," at noon Wednesday, March 13, in the War Memorial Student Union Theatre.
     Heaton has earned the nickname "Togaman" after five years of presenting his lecture on
the cultural, political, military, and social aspects of the toga to schools, universities, civic
groups, and classical societies. 
     While working with Southeastern's Latin Club in 1997, he threw together an old Mardi
Gras costume to show students that the real Roman toga bore no resemblance to the Hollywood
version seen in movies such as "Animal House." 
     "I always regretted having to say, 'But the real ones looked different,'" Heaton said. "So,
I decided to improve the production by reconstructing a facsimile of the real thing."
     To recreate an authentic "tunica clavica" and imperial toga, Heaton ordered fine Italian
wool and enlisted the aid of a Southeastern colleague, historical costumer Annabel Servat. 
     "The costume was not just transformed, but the presentation as well," Heaton said. "The
lessons learned from folding and draping, as well as wearing, five pounds of heavy wool brought
about a new understanding of the connections between the clothing of peace and the clothing of
war."
     Heaton has continually improved upon the costume and has added the garb of an armed
and armored Roman legionary and the female version of the toga, the "stola" to his presentation.
     The lecture is free and open to the public. For additional information, visit Heaton's
website at www.togaman.com.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/news/spring02.html