Navigating the financial aid system in college can feel like a huge challenge, and Centenary College of Louisiana is no different. With rising tuition and living expenses, having the right financial aid can sometimes make or break a student’s ability to continue their education. To get the inside scoop on how things are going at Centenary, The Conglomerate spoke with Lynette Viskozki, the Director of Financial Aid.

Mardi Gras break begins for Centenary students after classes on Friday, February 28th, so it may be surprising to learn that parade season begins sooner than that! Here is a list of local parades that are free to attend and celebrate the season.

In the Spring of 2022, President Chris Holoman announced two initiatives related to the college’s Forward campaign: a varsity football program and a state-of-the-art renovation of Centenary’s science building, Mickle Hall. With varsity football having started their first season in the Fall of 2024, students are questioning when, exactly, Mickle Hall will see its turn. With so many of our students studying the sciences, this building renovation would enrich Centenary’s overall education.

The 2024 Film Prize short-film festival offered an exciting array of five-to-fifteen-minute short films that spanned multiple genres. From fast-paced comedies like “Sex Date” and “Game Day Ritual” to poetic and grounded dramas like “Blood and Milk,” this year’s selection featured something for everyone. This was my third time attending Film Prize, and like every year, I was in awe of the talent and production quality displayed in the chosen films . . .

Hurricane Francine was originally projected to hit most of Louisiana head on as a Cat 2, only to shift more towards Mississippi. Despite that shift, she still made landfall hitting Terrebonne Parish on Wednesday, September 11 with wind speeds of around 100 mph. As she made her way inland, she died down to a tropical storm.

Earlier in September, the Louisiana State University body was faced with a question of how to deal with an act of prejudice that has riveted and divided the campus community. The Delta-Tau Delta Fraternity at LSU has demonstrated an act of Anti-Palestinian hate after the hanging of a banner that read, “What do Nicholls + Palestine have in common? Getting BOMBED.” While this hate speech is unacceptable under Greek-life and administrative rules, it is something that, like many college campuses, has been dusted under the rug by the administration and has only been brought up by other students according to The Reveille, LSU’s student magazine . . .

In March of 2023, The Conglomerate published an article Titled “50 Cent to Save Shreveport,” where we reported on the murmurings of, household name, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s recent interest in Centenary’s very own hometown. A year later and those murmurings have become a reality as Jackson and his team have already purchased multiple downtown properties, put on events, opened new businesses, and made changes to the skyline.

The Louisiana state senate made news back in June for passing SB 294, a bill that “Confirms the protections of free speech and First Amendment protected activities on college and university campuses.” 

While this act, proposed by Denham Spring’s Sen. Valerie Hodges (R), parades as a victory for Louisianian’s First Amendment rights, certain clauses within the bill limit the ways in which Louisiana students can protest on college campuses.

Dear Reader, Happy holidays and welcome to our final issue of the fall 2023 semester! I can speak for all of the editorial board when I say that we are so incredibly proud of what we have accomplished this semester . . .

It's sleeting, it's snowing! The pile of ice is growing . . .

Dear Reader,

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our poetry issue! As an English major, I adore both reading and writing poetry, but I’m not going to lie, I still have a hard time defining what exactly poetry is. I’ve heard people say that poetry is how people think, and this is true to a certain extent. Some people might think in poems, but other people might think in prose. Additionally, poetry goes beyond just being a reflective piece of writing. It is a vast genre of literature that has many different forms, and I like the fact that a sonnet, a blackout poem, and a haiku all look very different from one another . . .

As we all know, the talented Aimee Nezhukumatathil visited our campus this semester on Monday, October 23, 2023. While she was on campus, she gave a guided tour of Centenary’s Arboretum, visited a poetry class, and, of course, spoke at the official Corrington Award Ceremony. If you were not able to attend the ceremony, there is, fortunately, a recording on Centenary’s Facebook page!

On October 25, 2023, the House of Representatives elected its 56th Speaker after more than three weeks of attempting to replace Kevin McCarthy, who was historically removed on October 3, 2023. Desperate to return to business after three failed nominations, the Republican Party united behind their fourth choice, a candidate low enough in party ranks to appease moderate sects and staunchly conservative enough to appeal to the far-right: Mike Johnson.