NEWS ADVISORY – University Campuses to Conduct Sept. 11 Memorial Activities

NEWS ADVISORY – University Campuses to Conduct Sept. 11 Memorial Activities – Sep 10, 2003

BATON ROUGE, LA – All eight campuses within the University of Louisiana System will conduct memorial activities tomorrow in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedies.

Student government associations and campus organizations from each university spearheaded the events planned for students, faculty, staff and communities.

“This is a unique opportunity for our System to be unified in a common cause: to remember the victims and heroes of Sept. 11 and honor our classmates in the military,” said ULS Student Board Member and Louisiana Tech University Student Government President Jennifer Porter.

The activities, which range from handing out patriotic ribbons to conducting memorial services to creating and embellishing permanent memorial areas, will honor the victims of Sept. 11.

In addition, several universities plan to recognize students, faculty and staff members who currently serve in the military.

“Sept. 11 is a day that we as Americans should never forget,” said ULS President Sally Clausen. “The fact that students have taken the lead in preparing memorial events speaks volumes about the future of our country.”

The following is a list of activities and events on each university campus:

Grambling State University
Contact: Vickie Jackson, 318-274-2591
Noon: Long-Jones Hall Flagpole

A memorial service will include:

the Posting of Colors by the Grambling Air Force and Army ROTCs,

the “Star Spangled Banner” performed by the Tiger Marching Band,

an invocation by the Rev. Connie Breaux,

greetings from Student Government Association President Adonis Ducre,

a recognition of student soldiers by Grambling Acting President Neari Warner,

the presentation of the American Flag by Sgt. Dewayne Jackson of the 527th Engineering Battalion – Afghanistan, and

a performance by the Entourage Performing Arts Group.

Louisiana Tech University
Contact: Wiley Hilburn, 318-257-4427
4 p.m.: Adams Circle Flagpole (next to Keeny Hall)

The Air Force ROTC will perform a flag retreat ceremony.

It will include a performance of “Taps” by buglers from the music department.

McNeese State University
Contact: Candace Townsend, 337-475-5636
Noon: University Quadrangle

The Student Government Association and the Zeta Phi Beta and Delta Sigma Theta sororities will hand out flags and host a candlelight vigil.

Nicholls State University
Contact: Michael Delaune, 985-448-4141
Noon: Peer Education Program Quadrangle

Student organizations will lead a remembrance service that will include singing of the national anthem and the tolling of the bells from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in honor of the victims of Sept. 11. Selected students will also recite three brief patriotic readings.

Also, there will be a ceremonial groundbreaking for a memorial garden planned for the grassy area west of Ellender Memorial Library.

In addition, the entire university will observe a campus-wide moment of silence at 8:35 a.m.

Northwestern State University
Contact: David West, 318-357-6466
7:30 a.m.: Student Union Ballroom

A memorial service will include a moment of reflection, an open microphone for students, a tribute to the first plane that crashed into the World Trade Center at 7:46 a.m., and the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Southeastern Louisiana University
Contact: Rene Abadie, 985-549-2341
Noon: Student Union Park

A memorial service conducted by the Student Government Association, Gamma Beta Phi and Campus Activities Board will include the reading of names of Southeastern students, faculty, staff and alumni currently serving in the military.

The event will also serve as a fundraiser for a permanent bell to be placed in the middle of the War Memorial Park on Southeastern’s campus in honor of the victims of Sept. 11.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Contact: Julie Dronet, 337-482-6397
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Corner of Rex Street and St. Mary Street

The Student Government Association will hand out patriotic ribbons between class periods to the students, faculty, staff and community.

University of Louisiana at Monroe
Contact: Veronika Avery, 318-342-5444
Noon: ULM Library plaza area

A memorial service will include a moment of silence, prayer and the playing of “Taps.”

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For More Information Contact:
Catherine Heitman
225/342-6950