The Lambda Society is an LGBTQ+ RSO that celebrates unity, diversity and equality for all students. On Oct. 1, the RSO met and discussed Louisiana queer history. One of the topics reviewed was LGBTQ+ Mardi Gras balls, where a king and queen would be announced. The court differed from typical kings and queens because the ‘queen’ would be a man in drag.

The club examined the 1973 fire at the UpStairs Lounge in the New Orleans French Quarter. No one truly knows what happened at the queer bar because the police never investigated.

Lambda also discussed New York’s first LGBTQ+ TV show, “Just for the Record.” The meetings discussed gay activist Blanchard “Skip” Ward’s story. Ward, a resident of Alexandria, focused on bringing attention to religious and rural members of the community about queer rights. Ward joined the Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Action Clause (LAGPAC), which focused on attaining legal and social equality for Louisiana’s gender and sexual minorities. He co-founded a gay humanistic group in Shreveport called “La Beau Monde,” the first organization tailored to its queer population. 

“Whether you’re queer or an ally, the RSO creates a sense of community. Everyone’s learning from each other and building themselves up to be a better person,” senior biology major and vice president of Lambda Society Agnes Ugokwe said. “Lambda offers a space for anyone to come as they are without the fear of being judged.”

Join the Lambda Society to celebrate National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, or contact Ugokwe at [email protected] for more information about the club.

Every Thursday and Sunday, ULM’s mock trial team practices to compete across the South. To prepare, members split into two teams and work on their theme, call order, directs, crosses and objection battles. Attorneys rehearse their opening and closing statements during private practice. 

“Mock trial is mainly to help future lawyers get experience,” senior political science major Wyatt Sage said. “But it is also just fun for students who want a team environment without doing sports.” 

At practice on Oct. 3, the team worked on a case study and picked characters to pin the blame on. This year’s case is “a train ride forty years in the making,” featuring characters from various other cases over the years. The case discusses a billionaire with kidney disease who dies while on a train due to poison. Although each passenger in the train car had a reason to kill him, the case follows a battle between the dead billionaire’s two children. Whichever child comes out not guilty will inherit everything in his will.

Cheer on the mock trial team as they compete at Ole Miss on Oct.19 and 20.

ULM’s toxicology club, Tau Omicron Chi (TOX), is open to toxicology, pre-pharmacy, and everyone in between.

“People should join TOX to be able to gain new perspectives on the field itself. TOX is not just geared towards pharmacy and toxicology majors. It is for everyone,” senior toxicology major and president of Tau Omicron Chi Ty’kiah George said. “You can learn so much about the fields and its many subfields. Also, you find very valuable insights about how to navigate into the field itself.” 

TOX educates its members on how diverse the field of toxicology is and its many opportunities to pivot into other subfields. The family-oriented club loves giving back to the community with service projects.

 On Oct. 2, TOX club members volunteered at Bawcomville Hope Church’s food distribution. Bawcomville Hope provides hot meals, new clothes, hygiene products, food and water. TOX members filled the attendee’s boxes with necessities, loading attendees’ goods in their form of transportation or serving hot plates to those in need. 

Contact George at [email protected] or TOX’s faculty advisor, Shannon Banks, at [email protected] if you are interested in joining.