Category: News

Play about Father Moye’s Project to take place Friday

The OLLU community is invited to the performance of “Father Moye’s Project: Providence and Living Legacy” Friday at 2 p.m. in Thiry Auditorium. This original one-act play was written and is directed by Antoinette F. Winstead, MFA, ACDP, OLLU’s Drama Program Head and Mass Communication faculty member. This play was made possible through funding from a NetVue Grant for Reframing the Institutional Saga, allowing for us to “re-examine and reframe” Our Lady of the Lake University’s (OLLU) “history, identity, and heritage in light of its present context.”

This memory play will take you from the beginning of Father John Martin Moye’s call to “serve the underserved,” and the Sisters of Divine Providence who kept his legacy alive, through the founding of OLLU, and the impact their dedication and hard work has had on the lives of so many who have benefitted from his providential vision to educate young girls who would not have otherwise received an education, to the present day and how his “Project” and the Congregation of Divine Providence continue to impact the lives of those who attend and have attended OLLU.

For additional information, please contact the Mission and Ministry Division at missionandministry@ollusa.edu or call 210-528-7171. The play is sponsored by the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, Mission and Ministry and the Drama Program.

ITS Office warns of ‘phishing’ scams

The Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) would like to bring to your attention multiple phishing emails targeting our students with fraudulent job opportunities. These phishing campaigns aim to deceive unsuspecting job seekers. Students may unknowingly respond to these bogus job offers and fill out an online form with personal and sensitive information. The perpetrators subsequently contact students via their alternative email addresses (e.g., Hotmail or Gmail) or by phone, giving the impression of a legitimate interview. During this follow-up communication, the perpetrators may send the student an image of a check and instruct them to deposit it using their bank’s mobile app. These actors will then request that the student return a portion of the deposited funds through various means, such as gift cards, direct deposit, or cryptocurrency. Remember, the checks that students deposit are fake and have no value; however, the money returned from the students’ accounts is real and the students are accountable for those funds.

Here are some pointers to look for so that students don’t become a victim.

  • Look at the Email Sender information. Many of these bogus emails come from disposable Gmail accounts (i.e. taynaubunge78934@gmail.com). Ask yourself, “The job I responded to is with ABC company, so why are they using a Gmail account to communicate?”
  • Look for a Caution Banner. Email originating from an external email address will have a caution banner.
  • Read the email aloud. Listen for broken English.
  • Look for font variations. That’s a tell-tale sign actors repeat their campaigns simply copying/pasting paragraphs
  • Actors become threatening if you do not comply with their requests.
  • Check with OLLU Center for Career Development and Testing (CCDT). The center can assist with identifying fake job announcements. Staff also can help you locate legitimate internship and career opportunities; email them at ccdt@ollusa.edu.

What to do if you fall victim to a scam:

  • Stop all correspondences.
  • Click the PhishNotify or the Report button located on your Outlook ribbon.
  • Block email address and phone numbers.
  • Contact your bank and inform them you are a victim of a financial scam.
  • Monitor any future bank activity for unauthorized purchases.
  • File a police report with campus police.

Be advised that all students have been granted access to the Information Security Awareness training, which includes important information on phishing campaigns. Please check your OLLU inbox for an email from InfoSec IQ to start your training. InfoSec IQ is the university’s security training vendor. Emails that come from notifications@securityiq-notifications.com are legitimate and safe to click on.

Get ready for Fall Fest fun

OLLU’s biggest fall event – Fall Fest – is set for next week on Nov. 7. It takes place on the Library Lawn from 12:30-3:30 p.m.

The event includes inflatables, rides, games, food and lots of fun.

Classes will be canceled from 12:30 to 5 p.m., so you have plenty of time to enjoy the festivities.

Dos and Don’ts of submitting conference abstracts and proposals

Join Dr. Wallis Sanborn III and Dr. Christopher Carmona as they discuss the dos and don’ts of submitting to abstracts and proposals for conferences.

The session will take place:
Wednesday
5-6 p.m.
Via Teams Link

Additional topics to be covered: 

  • How to apply for travel scholarships
  • How to submit for publication
  • What is the difference between creative submissions and academic submissions

 All graduate and undergraduate students are welcome. 

Sponsored by the Department of English, Mass Communication, and Drama, the Rubén M. and Verónica Salazar-Escobedo School of Mass Communication and Theatre, and the Center for Mexican American Studies and Research.

Learn about the spring 2025 Costa Rica study tour

Students are invited to take part in a Study Abroad Program to Costa Rica in spring 2025. The study tour, sponsored by OLLU’s Business Programs Department, will take place March 27-April 6, 2025, and will explore Costa Rica’s culture and agriculture. It includes a river safari, visits to sustainable farms, beach visits and a tour of the country’s coffee and chocolate manufacturing.

The cost is $4039.70 (double occupancy) and includes airfare, transportation, hotel, meals, expert guides, cultural excursions and travel insurance. There are limited spots on the tour. If interested, email Professor John Phelps at jcphelps@ollusa.edu.

Explore Costa Rica_originalDownload

President’s Cabinet approves additional holidays

The President’s Cabinet has approved the following additional holidays for staff:

  • Nov. 27 (Wednesday before Thanksgiving)
  • Jan. 2 and 3
  • March 14 (Friday of Spring Break)
  • April 17 (Holy Thursday)

The additional holidays were requested by the Staff Assembly leadership.

In approving the extra holidays, the Cabinet members cited the “much-needed time for rest and rejuvenation for our dedication staff.”

They added, “Thank you for your continued service and commitment to our university. Your hard work is greatly appreciated.”

Staff, faculty Halloween costume contest set for Thursday

Staff and faculty are invited to a hOLLUween Costume Content on Thursday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the MARC Ballroom.

The following are the costume contest categories:
Most Original
Funniest
Scariest
Best Group Costume

Refreshments will be served.

For more information, email the Staff Assembly at sac@ollusa.edu.

Men’s basketball starts season with win over Wayland Baptist

The men’s basketball team opened the season with an 82-80 victory over Wayland Baptist University (WBU) Oct. 25.

Head Coach Marcus Thompson said, “I’m beyond proud of this group and how they handled adversity on the road. We were down by 12 or more twice and to battle back is a credit to the work this group has put in during preseason. It was ugly and dysfunctional in a lot of ways, but we will always take learning from a win! The players really stepped up in big moments and we just thank God for the opportunity!”

History
The Saints were 6-3 against the Pioneers prior to the game.

Basics
The Pioneers jumped out to a 14-point lead to start the game. The Saints stormed back in the last three minutes of the first half. They drew fouls and were able to take a one-point advantage into halftime. Trey Law had nine points at the half and Rob Gil had three assists. The Saints shot 48.1 percent from the field in the half and hit 4-of-9 three-pointers.

Wayland opened the second half in similar fashion to the start of the game. They went up 57-49 after the first eight minutes. The Saints inched closer in the following minutes and were down 66-63 with just over seven minutes left. The Saints eventually led by three points with over one minute remaining and didn’t look back. They won 82-80 behind an impressive 51.9 percent shooting from the field.

Offensive/defensive standouts
Law led the Saints with 15 points. Gil grabbed a team-high six rebounds and eight assists.

Dylan McDougal led WBU with 17 points. Niko Noumeros had a team-high 11 rebounds. Brett Leach and Noumeros led the squad with five assists each.

Inside the box
OLLU combined for 28-of-54 shooting for 51.9 percent, 5-of-15 from three-point range for 33.3 percent and 21-of-31 from the free-throw line for 67.7 percent. WBU shot 28-of-72 for 38.9 percent, 7-of-22 three pointers for 31.8 percent and 17-of-21 from the free-throw line for 81 percent.

The Saints grabbed 33 rebounds while WBU collected 42.

Up next
The Saints host Southern University at New Orleans on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.