Category: Features

The Dishman Art Museum will host “Anomalous,” the fall 2020 senior thesis show, beginning Dec. 4.

The Dishman Art Museum is hosting a pop-up show titled "Confined Creativity" now until Nov. 28.

Sajeela Siddiq’s solo exhibition, “A Poetry of Line and Shape,” will have a virtual opening, Nov. 7, at The Art Studio, Inc.

SGA’s Wilson seeks to advocate for entire student body

Beaumont artist and LU alumna Elizabeth P. Fontenot looks to challenge viewers to think a little deeper with her upcoming “Entwined” exhibition at The Art Studio, Inc. opening Oct. 3.

“Russian Art and Soviet Design,” will be on display Oct. 3 through Nov. 14 in the Dishman Art Museum.

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas will kick off its 70th Anniversary Celebration, Oct, 29, from 7 p.m. to 8p.m. on Zoom.

When Hurricane Laura hit Lake Charles, Louisiana, Aug. 27, LU student Brandi Hamilton decided to help with the relief efforts.

The Dishman Art Museum is hosting a senior thesis exhibition through Sept. 26.

For the Deaf community, COVID-19 masks hinder the ability to read people’s lips and facial expressions.

Lamar University names new vice president of information management, decision support, Arne Almquist.

Light Strike Productions, in partnership with World Gym Fitness Center, will host “Date Night at the Drive-In," Sept. 19, to benefit LU film students.

A pictorial look back at LU art department's spring pour iron.

Lamar University alumni Kelly Asbury, who directed the Oscar-nominated films “Shrek 2” and “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” had died at age 60.

Lamar University awarded Qiang Xu the 2020 University Professor title

English bus company fosters employee empathy for passengers.

During the past two months, teachers around the globe have had to rapidly shift gears and transition to online or distance learning as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lamar University department of theatre and dance get creative in face of coronovirus pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic caused Lamar to close classes, Mary McNeely her professor gave the students the opportunity to sew face masks as a project. “I knew right away (sewing and donating masks) was something I wanted to do,” she said.

Post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance released their ninth studio album, “Afterburner,” April 24. The album incorporates different genres such as funk rock, experimental rock, metalcore and pop rock.

Starting a sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. There are many ways for beginners to easily start adding in sustainable practices to their everyday life.

Fiona Apple returns after an eight-year absence with "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" and she is as good as ever.

The University Press recently published a 14-day photo challenge to keep busy during isolation. The response was great, but as it looks like we will be shut in for a while longer, here’s another challenge.

Lamar University's art seniors at Lamar are rushing to finish their final thesis projects to graduate in May, but because of the pandemic, the question of whether their work will ever be displayed for an audience hangs in the air.

Lamar students look to different ways to maintain social relationships in a time of social distancing.

Throwaway culture has diminished as millennials are turning towards environmentally friendly means of reusing and repurposing antique finds to fill their households and keep money in their wallets. “Antiquing is a beneficial way to promote a sustainable household,” Madeline G. Hiebert, president of the Lamar University Green Squad said.

To celebrate National Museum Day on April 4, staff writer Tim Cohrs looks at the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum's printing exhibition.

In the wake of the spreading COVID-19 pandemic, grocery store HEB is fighting to help people while facing its own problems.

With the recent outbreak of the coronavirus, many Lamar University students are looking for ways to deal with not having to be in face-to-face classes and the mental struggles of quarantining without any social interaction.

As Lamar students transitioned to an online model this week, Cardinals who are also parents faced the additional challenge of becoming teachers to their homebound children.

UP photo editor Noah Dawlearn is holed up at home like the rest of us. We could sit and vegetate and let the world go slowly by, or we can practice a few skills and have some fun along the way. With that in mind, Dawlearn has devised a 14-day photo challenge.

“We know from the Hubble Space Telescope there are more than 1 trillion galaxies — each galaxy has on the order of a billion stars and as far as we know, there’s no other place where life exists,” Compton Tucker, senior biospheric scientist for NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, said during a Feb. 18 presentation on climate change at Lamar University.

The first time journalist John Dickerson had to interview people on the street, he was so nervous that it took him 45 minutes to ask a single question.

Lamar photography student Tommy Duran has led a creative lifestyle ever since he was a little boy growing up in suburban Sugarland.

Mardi Gras Southeast Texas took over downtown Beaumont this past weekend, as the festivities moved to Beaumont from Port Arthur, its home for 27 years.

Elmo Willard III was a pioneering civil rights lawyer in Beaumont who has left an enduring legacy.

A quirky evening filled with seances, an ex-lover, a furious wife, and a night full of twists and turns had Beaumont Community Players audience members at laughing at “Blithe Spirit’s” opening night, Feb. 21.

The cult of celebrity that surrounds Conrad Birdie in 1958 echoes the celebrity culture that surrounds us today. “Bye Bye Birdie” is a story of middle-America’s relationship with celebrity and how it entices people of all ages, removing those people from the realm of rationality. Beaumont Civic Ballet and Beaumont Community Players production of Michael Stewart’s musical comedy, presented Feb. 14 and 15 at the Jefferson Theatre, was fun but reflective.

Jordan Lay has a file folder full of Post-it notes in his office that he has carried around throughout his many years of coaching.

­­“Let there be spaces in your togetherness. Let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”

When Faye Nelson graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1957, she never dreamed that more than 60 years later, at 85-years-old, she would be walking with a master’s in art.

The Dishman Art Museum is hosting “Life is a Long Way,” a solo exhibition of work by David Cargill, through March 7.

Student Government Association president Edward Doan has more than 50 projects that he and his team are working on to make Lamar University a safer and more inclusive campus.

Beaumont Community Players production of "Driving Miss Daisy" runs through Feb. 1.

Beaumont Community Player’s musical rendition of the beloved movie, “A Christmas Story,” running through Dec. 21, is splendidly wholesome and leaves audiences with the spirit of the holiday season in their hearts long after the curtains are drawn.

Beaumont Community Players' production of "Winter Wonderettes" is holiday fun

The result was not only harmonious but added more recipes to my cookbook, my favorite being Nana’s sweet-potato casserole.

Many people celebrate Thanksgiving every year with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans and other side dishes associated with the holiday.

Richard Spinney has been Santa Claus at Parkdale Mall since 2002.

Daniel Chand, associate professor of political science at Kent State and a Lamar graduate, will give two lectures on campus next week.

"The Permanent Collection," in performance at Lamar University through Nov. 10, asks, leaving the audience with more complicated emotions than concrete answers.

When we visit an art museum, we do not see all the works a museum owns. We see a curated version of a collection. But do we ask who decides the works we see? 

The Lamar Opera Theatre will present “From Opera to Musical Theatre: An Evening with American Composers,” at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, in the Rothwell Recital Hall.

­LEWES, England — Peter Messer can be seen most days walking around Lewes, England. It is more than just for his health. The medieval town is the inspiration for his paintings.

“Good People,” written by David Lindsay-Abaire, will be presented by Beaumont Community Players through Nov. 9. The play shows how, in endeavoring to be “good” people, we can sometimes miss the mark and make choices that hurt ourselves, hurt others, and, in extreme cases, leave an aching bitterness in our hearts.

With Halloween just around the corner, there are certain techniques that are easy to learn to make that perfect for any boy or ghoul — um, girl.

“I look for the magic in the ordinary, that's basically what I do,” Keith Carter said. Lamar University’s Dishman Art Museum is hosting “Keith Carter: Fifty Years,” a photography exhibition that spans ethereal, century-old processes as well as digital-age techniques.

Lamar University students try on Halloween masks in Spirit Halloween next to Parkdale Mall, Oct 22. Spirit Halloween offers a variety of masks for every type of costume, from scary to humorous.

Dekker’s books fall under the genre of Christian fiction. Christian fiction is a genre dedicated to the narrative representation of Christian theology and ethics. They are stories that can be read as plain fantasy, but the deeper meaning represents biblical stories. The best example of this is Dekker’s “BoneMan’s Daughters.”

Lamar University’s Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble began their concert season, Oct. 17, in the Lamar University Theatre.

Daniel Walker was born blind. This doesn’t change what he can do, just how he does it. Walker has lived independently in his hometown of Brighton, England for eight years, including using public transportation.

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas’ current exhibit, Prince Varughese Thomas’ “The Legacy of Narcissus,” greets visitors with a neon sign that says, “Social media is the opiate of the masses.”

A play about a custody battle between a young mother and her own mother, and a social worker’s fight within the system may not seem like a fun way to spend a couple of hours. But Rebecca Gilman’s “Luna Gale,” as presented by Lamar University’s theatre department, is a thoughtful, amusing and inspired piece of art. The show is presented in the Studio Theatre through Oct. 6.

The Arc of Greater Beaumont will hold its eighth-annual Beaumont Buddy Walk, Oct. 26, at the Event Centre in Downtown Beaumont, beginning at 9 a.m. The event is a one-mile walk to raise awareness and support for individuals with Down syndrome.

DRIPPING SPRINGS —I sat in front of my computer with multiple tabs open, ranging from “Supernatural” convention ticket prices, air fares and hotel rates, and feeling at a loss with the lack of money in my bank account to pay for a trip to meet Jensen Ackles, who plays Dean Winchester in the TV show “Supernatural.”

BRIGHTON, England — The Brighton & Hove Bus Company launched an anti-hate crime campaign aimed to confront hate, reduce reporting barriers and promote inclusivity.

“Luna Gale” pushes past black-and-white thinking in a complex situation involving a social worker and teenage parents accused of neglecting their infant daughter — whose name is the title of the play. 

Lamar University gained three new drum majors for the Southeast Texas Showcase, LU’s marching band. Olajuwon Taylor, Melissa Ehrlich and Meredith De Leon are ready to stand tall while leading the band during halftime performances.

Beaumont Community Players production of "Mamma Mia," running through Sept. 28, is worth a visit.

Editor’s note: This is the first in an ongoing series on public transportation and accessibility in Brighton, England. These reports were compiled by Lamar University study abroad students. About a decade ago, Victoria Garcia was going through her daily life working in customer services at the Brighton & Hove bus company. Then, she was offered a role that no one in the U.K. bus industry had.

For lovers of public art, there is no place like Waterford, the oldest city in Ireland, where Vikings first landed in the ninth century. Now, Waterford is home to an extensive open-air gallery.

Apple will hold its annual event Sept. 10, in Cupertino Calif. The event traditionally features announcements of product upgrades.

Lamar University kicked off the semester with a week full of events to welcome students back to the campus. The activities ranged from Tug of oar, Tug of War in a canoe, to a silent disco.

The Dishman Art Museum is hosting the Lamar University Faculty Art Show through Sept. 13, 2019.

The Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp at Lamar University is a STEM program that teaches middle schoolers about math and science.

Hair stylist Natalie Hale was good at her job. She was fast and highly skilled. But one day, she realized she was slowing down. Instead of doing five men’s cuts in an hour, she was struggling to do two.

You may know him as Alex. Others know him as Shane, or “Sideshow Shane.” Whoever he is, he can be found every day at Kampus Korner performing magic tricks for strangers and friends alike.

Lamar Opera Theatre will present one of opera’s greatest romances, “La Traviata,” May 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rothwell Recital Hall. All performances are free and open to the public.

In 2010, the Texas State University System initiated the one percent rule, a state mandate that requires universities that construct any buildings over a million dollars to set aside one percent of the cost for the purchase of art — a mandate that Lamar University has taken full advantage of with the opening of the new Science and Technology building.

On April 15, Notre Dame, the 14th century Roman Catholic cathedral in the center of Paris, caught fire while undergoing repairs. People all across the world watched as the medieval spire fell and Parisian firefighters tried to put out the fire.

Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum will host the second annual Gladys City Live, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors will experience what life was like during the boomtown era of the early 1900s.

The Mueller investigation, launched in 2017, looked into possible Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, and whether or not President Donald Trump or his team colluded with Russia, and if the President obstructed justice during the course of this investigation.

Silence is an attribute the hearing world places on the deaf world. However, students are often challenged with a different form of silence that may not be recognized.

Soar through the sky with playwright J.M. Barrie towards the second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning to discover one of Disney’s most beloved characters — Peter Pan.

Singing, projections and emotion will supplement “Dance Unleashed,” the LU department of theatre and dance spring dance concert, April 12-14.

Have you ever felt stressed about finals or midterms? Or are you just stressed out by college in general?Well, you are not alone and there are many ways to fight that stress here on campus.

All it took was one assignment in a high school journalism class and encouraging words from her adviser for Monique Batson to realize that she was meant to be a journalist. Almost 20 years later, she said she made the right decision.

Mild-mannered Elwood P. Dowd has a friend, Harvey. The problem is no one else can see the six-feet tall rabbit but Elwood.

According to a 2016 study done by the Pew Research Center, younger generations viewed news media in a more negative light than the five previous years.

The South Texas State Fair is an annual event fundraiser for the Young Men’s Business League held March 21-31 at the Ford Park Entertainment Center.

The Lamar University department of theatre and dance opened William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” March 21. The show runs through March 24. The story is of mistaken identity between two sets of twins, in which they tangle themselves into each other’s lives, causing farcical confusion.

Measles, a disease that as recently as 2000 was declared completely eliminated in America, is back.

Three people were killed and three were injured in a shooting in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday. The shooting occurred on a tram near the 24 Octoberplein stop.

When most people try to conjure up Vincent van Gogh, they think of famous paintings, such as “Starry Night” and “Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear.”

It was 1995 and Debbie Bridgeman, then known as Debbie Wylde, was on her way to Chicago from Kentucky to cover a Duran Duran concert for WDDJ 97 FM. She remembers the posters she had of the band on her wall in the 1980s and said the moment seemed surreal.

Most people probably wouldn’t imagine a group counseling curriculum based on Beyonce’s “Lemonade” album and black women’s empowerment, but this is what Lamar professor Jessica L. Martin and her colleague Olivia Williams in Atlanta, is focusing her research on.

While Lamar’s intramural basketball and flag football leagues are in full swing, there are many other upcoming leagues available to join, including indoor soccer, cricket, softball, dodgeball and volleyball.

Since she was a little girl, Jackie Simien wanted to be on TV. She watched the news as if it were a sitcom and was inspired by her local news anchor to pursue a career in broadcast journalism.

Lamar University Theatre and Dance will present William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” March 21-24, in the University Theatre.

C. Brennan left her abusive household at 20. She started her own family and a very unhealthy relationship filled with infidelity by her husband and “gaslighting” — a tactic used to manipulate someone into questioning their own sanity, she said.

When Larry Spears Jr. was elected mayor of Orange in May, he became the youngest person to be elected to that office in the city’s history.

The Lamar University Cardinal Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Rick Condit, will present its annual spring concert, Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rothwell Recital Hall. The concert, titled “Video Gamer Jazz,” will feature New York based composer, arranger and performer, Kyle Athayde.

Beaumont Community Players will present the musical, “Disaster,” Feb. 22 to March 9 in the Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

Thirty-one years after leaving her childhood home, C. Brennan still feels the physical and psychological trauma left behind by her father, an alcoholic who tormented her, her mother and her siblings.

When Derrick Freeman was elected mayor of Port Arthur, his home town, it was the culmination of years of hard work inspired by his father’s dying words.

Love is fickle. It’s strange and it moves in ways no one thinks is possible, and today is one of those days that makes or breaks love — Valentine’s Day.

Lamar has more than 3,000 recycling bins on campus. Every classroom, office and dorm room has access to recycling. However, Lamar is currently recycling only eight percent of its waste, Alicen Flosi, director of sustainability, said.

What started as an interest in journalism in the third grade turned into a career for Shelly Vitanza, LU’s new director of public affairs, that led her to meeting many fascinating people and, ultimately, returning back to her home town of Beaumont.

Lamar University’s Gray Library will be assessing an online LibQual survey. The survey, which began Monday, will last about five weeks. The five-minute survey gives the students a chance to voice their opinions on the services the library has to offer ...

The Lamar University department of theatre and dance’s latest offering is Conor McPherson’s 2009 stage adaptation of “The Birds,” inspired by the short story from Daphne Du Maurier.

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas will host its winter Free Family Arts Day, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is centered around AMSET’s current exhibition, “The Art of Found Objects: Enigma Variations,” which focuses on art made from random objects such as paper or buttons.

Lamar University will host its first Pathway Program Open House, 10 a.m.to noon, Tuesday, in 106-A Montagne Center. The Pathway Program is designed to aide students with an English language barrier.

Cacioppo debuts exhibit ‘Happy Accidents.' Starting today and ending April 14, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas will show the artwork of Lamar University graduate Mike Cacioppo in an exhibition titled “Happy Accidents.”

Adam Steltzner, NASA rocket scientist and chief engineer of Mars 2020, will present a lecture as part of Lamar University’s Academic Lecture Series, Tuesday, 7:30-8:30 p.m., in the Live Oak Ballroom of the Setzer Student Center. The event is hosted by the College of Engineering.

LU Theatre and Dance will present “The Birds,” Feb. 7-9 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. in the Studio Theatre.

The Dishman Art Museum is hosting “Dream Weavers,” an exhibition of work by Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo, through March 1. The duo, who are internationally renowned for their illustrations will present a gallery talk, Feb. 15, at 5:30 p.m., followed by a free reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday afternoon, I watched the Beaumont Community Players’ outstanding and delightfully funny performance of Pulitzer Prize winning author Lynn Nottage’s award-winning play, “Intimate Apparel.”

The Christmas season in America begins before October ends. Public spaces decorate with red and green and play Christmas music, retailers push sales for gifts, restaurants and cafés roll out limited edition holiday flavors and families travel to see each other.

When it comes to finding a gift for everyone on your list this holiday season, we’ve got you covered while staying on a budget.

Going to college can be difficult, but going to college with kids can be absolute chaos. Imagine balancing not only a full load of classes, but parenthood amid all the stress. However, Lamar students with children are finding a way to do what they need to do to get a degree.

“In this universe, your choices don’t matter.” This statement is made in “Deltarune” right after you make your character and have it subsequently tossed into the garbage. It is the in-universe successor to the popular 2015 game “Undertale.”

Holiday Fun Guide.