The August 28 Digest by Southern Digest

SPORTS

NEWS

Barker left mark

VIEWPOINTS

White speaks his mind

Jags prepare of ‘09 season

SU alum passes away. PG. 3

Also: Hoops schedules released. PG. 5

Also: Norwood speaks out. PG. 7

estABLished in 1928

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2009

VOL. 54, ISSUE 2

Lomotey, SU on alert

Tucker Commission, upcoming SACS visit could impact SU’s future BY NORMAN J. DOTSON JR. DIGEST INTERIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

From the Tucker Commission to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools review, this upcoming year is full of many obstacles and challenges here at Southern University. Chancellor Kofi Lomotey feels that by proper planning and by staying positive SU will overcome these obstacles without any problems. “My thoughts on these issues are to wait and see. I am hopeful that there are no preconceived agendas by anyone in terms of what is going to happen with higher education.” Lomotey stated. The Tucker Commission, with Gov. Bobby Jindal’s recommendations, is in charge of finding ways to align Louisiana’s job needs with college training, cutting those programs that have a poor performance rating and to establish LSU as a flagship

FILE PHOTO BY NORMAN J. DOTSON JR./DIGEST

Southern University Chancellor Kofi Lomotey, shown here speaking to students during the spring, said proper planning will be key in helping the university during the upcoming SACS review and rumblings from state officials to consolidate higher education.

university. Louisiana House Speaker Jim Tucker discussed the state having more four-year institutions than community colleges where in other states it’s the exact opposite.

“Southern needs to watch this process carefully.” - Koﬁ Lomotey SU Chancellor

“In most states, young people coming out of high school go to community college, ﬁnish their basics, and then go to a four-year school. We don’t do it that way and consequently, our system is far more expensive.” Tucker said during a radio interview with a New Orleansbased station. The commission— originally

called the Postsecondary Education Review Commission—was proposed by Tucker concerning graduation rates and looking for ways for higher education to get more accomplished using less money. Many speculate that this commission is a way to justify closing down many fouryear institutions. “There are many of those who believe that we have too many institutions and too many boards. To have three boards for a four-year institution is somewhat unusual; for example, Georgia has one board for all of their four-year institutions including its three HBCUs,” Lomotey said. “So by reducing the number of boards, this could have an impact on Southern University. I mentioned also the interest in reducing the number of institutions and if this has See ALERT page 3

Students feel pinch from cuts Fall elections near BY MARY DAVIS DIGEST STAFF WRITER

One thing that’s noted about the relationship between students and teachers is their different views on various topics. However, the students and professors of the university share the same outlook when it comes to the lack of classes and the over enrollment of others. As the effects of budget cuts weigh in, students are witnessing a decrease in classes offered, and professors the loss of their jobs or co-workers. These budget cuts have had a tremendous effect on classes available to students at the university. LaKeith Lewis, a senior

psychology major, stated he felt the effects of budget cuts when two of the classes he’d preregistered for were cancelled. “I was angered by it because I took my time to pre-register for classes during the spring and the constant cancellations of classes is making the entire preregistration period a waste.” Students got a glimpse of the effect of budget cuts when they prepared to pre-register for the fall. During the pre-registration period at the end of the spring semester, student’s struggled to ﬁnd enough courses to qualify them as full-time students or to bring them closer to graduation. With the shortage of classes already affecting student’s opportunity of graduating on

time, students are extremely enraged to return to school to discover that some of their classes had been cancelled, pushing their graduation date further away. While cancelled classes postpone graduation for most, it leaves others in overcrowded classrooms. “Overcrowded classrooms are uncomfortable, and prevent students from learning as much as they can, (there is) heat, noise, lack of chairs and room, and the inability to see boards and hear discussions.” ShaunTaLana Gray, senior secondary education/English major said.

Former SGA prez, VP in race for Senate seats BY WIL NORWOOD DIGEST PHOTO EDITOR

The Student Government Association will begin the Fall 2009 student elections on Monday, but most positions will already be ﬁlled. Only 10 elected positions were ﬁlled prior to the fall election period. “We look to have a good year,” said Jonas Vanderbilt, coordinator of student programs. “We have students eager to work.”

See PINCH page 3

See ELECTION page 3

TAYLOR

WALLACE

THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE DIGEST WILL BE FRIDAY, SEPT. 4. ISOLATED T-STORMS HIGH

89° | 70° LOW

INSIDE S O U T H E R N

CAMPUS BRIEFS...............2 SPORTS..........................5 NEWS.............................3 VIEWPOINTS......................7 U N I V E R S I T Y ,

B A T O N

R O U G E ,

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THE SOUTHERN DIGEST 4 - DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK SATURDAY, AUG. 29

SUNDAY, AUG. 30

MONDAY, AUG. 31

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1

PM T-STORMS

ISOLATED T-STORMS

SCATTERED T-STORMS

ISOLATED T-STORMS

HI - 89°/ LO - 68° 30% CHANCE OF RAIN

HI - 87° / LO - 65° 30% CHANCE OF RAIN

HI - 88° / LO - 64° 20% CHANCE OF RAIN

HI - 89° / LO - 71° 50% CHANCE OF RAIN

Classifieds

and organizations on the campus of Southern APARTMENTS FOR University Tuesday, Sept. RENT 1 from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Newly renovated apts. Stewart Hall Auditorium. 3 blocks off SU campus. 1 bdrm $525. 2 bdrm $625 SEPT. 2 +dep. H20 & trash incl. No pets. Call 928.0444.

Campus Briefs TODAY DIGEST PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

The Southern DIGEST is scheduled to run on the following dates during the Fall Semester: Sept. 4, Sept. 11, Sept. 15, Sept. 18, Sept. 22, Sept. 25, Sept. 29, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Oct. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 6, Nov. 10, Nov. 20 and Dec. 1. STEP OFF NATIONAL COMPETITION

The national PanHellenic council organizations has partner with sprite to launch the largest stepping competition ever. Featuring 30 events in over 20 cities, with the largest combined stepping prize pool in history with $1.5 million in scholarships up for grabs. The Sprite step off qualifying rounds will begin in September, those organizations who qualify will have an opportunity to advance to the national finals in January 2010 in Atlanta. For more information visit spritestepoff.com. SEPT. 1 MEET THE ORGANIZATIONS

Come and get acquainted with the various clubs

MEET THE GREEKS

The Southern University Pan-Hellenic Council presents “Meet the Greeks” Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Smith-Brown Memorial Union’s Royal Cotillion Ballroom. There will be information and displays. Those attending are asked to wear business attire. SEPT. 5 ULL SPIRIT BUS TICKETS

Get your bus tickets to the first football game of the season as the Jaguars face the Ragin’ Cajuns in Lafayette Saturday, Sept. 5. Seats are approximately $40. Fifty seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Sign up for the trip in Suite 227 of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. SEPT. 28 HONDA CAMPUS ALL-STAR CHALLENGE

Student applications for the 2009 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge’s campus competition are being accepted now until Monday, Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. The campus tournament will be held Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the SmithBrown Memorial Union. Participants in the campus competition are eligible to

be selected to represent Southern University in the 2010 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship Tournament. For more information, contact the Honors College at 771.4845 or go to www. hcasc.com.

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DIGEST PHOTOGRAPHERS Norman J.Dotson Wil Norwood April Buffington Trevor James Justin Wooten

LAYOUT EDITOR Darrius Harrison

CARTOONIST Wil Norwood

SPORTS EDITOR Larry Young Jr.

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NEWS

Friday, August 28, 2009 - Page 3

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Barker left mark in academia BY ROSALINDA CLAY DIGEST STAFF WRITER

Twiley W. Barker Jr., a Southern University alumnus and a founding member of the University of Illinois’ political science department, died July 13 after a long battle with a respiratory illness. “I want my students to think, look at the problem, look at the possible solutions, and do some logical reasoning,” Barker said in an interview. “I expect a lot; the challenge is to try to get it.” Dr. Barker was raised in Franklinton, La., where his father was principal of the high school for blacks and his mother taught elementary school. He received his bachelors degree from SU after a stint with the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. He earned his masters and doctorate in political science from the

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He taught at Southern for five years up until his departure in 1952. Barker originally planned to go into medicine, but SU professor Rodney Higgins motivated him to pursue other options. Recruited in 1962 to help set up the political science department at the University of Illinois-Chicago, he received UIC’s first Silver Circle Award for teaching in 1966. “He was one to set a very high bar of achievement,” says U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun, the first black female U.S. senator from Illinois. “He wanted everybody to be the best they could be. He managed to motivate young people. I wanted his approval. That became a great motivation for my performance in his class. He was a very elegant man.”

ELECTION from page 1 Elections Commissioner Theopolies Moton said only 12 upperclass candidates met the 2.5 grade-point average requirement and passed the pre-election constitutional exam to qualify. Freshmen candidates did not have to fulﬁll the GPA requirement. In addition to passing requirements, some applications were not turned in. Filled positions include two freshman, three sophomore, and four junior class senate seats. Myeisha Webb became Freshman Class President after being the only student vying for the position able to pass the exam. “Actually, I wasn’t sure”, said Webb. “ It was quit a difﬁcult test. I wasn’t sure who’d actually pass.” All justice positions are vacant with no candidates vying for the positions. According to Moton, there was a small

turnout for justices and none that applied were able to pass either the GPA requirement or the exam. “Vacancies will be ﬁlled by appointed candidates from each of the class’ presidents when a suitable candidates are found. They will then have to be conﬁrmed by the senate.” Moton stated. The only position that any freshman will be running for is Miss Freshman. The Miss Freshman revue will be held in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union Thursday at 7 p.m. Student Elections will be Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Lakefront Room of the union. Runoff elections, if necessary, will be held Thursday, Sept. 10 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Lakefront Room.

PINCH from page 1 While students are angered about prolonged college stay due to the lack of available classes, instructors are enraged about something a bit different. Many professors at the university argue that the university is not properly equipped to adhere to the code of providing students with the best education obtainable. Professors in various departments argue that the university is not equipped with technology essential for preparing students to work in a society overwhelmed with technology. The Criminal Justice department, which has over 500 students enrolled into the program, is one of the many departments feeling, perhaps, the biggest effects of budget cuts; as chairpersons struggle to find offices to house their staff and as instructors struggle to find classrooms to teach students enrolled into the given course. Though professors have pleaded for better work environments for themselves and better learning environ-ments for the students at the university, they assure that their voices alone will not get much accomplished; but guarantees that if students come together, use their voices and no longer accept the poor customer services granted to them, administration would begin to provide quality customer service. Assistant Provost Cecilia Golden explains to the DIGEST that, “we use the model of expansion, rather than contraction. In the past they would have all these courses and all these professors and ten under enrolled courses, so you would have fewer students (in each class) and you still had to pay the professor the full amount. (In contraction) we look at whether the course is full then we put the professors in so then we’ll know we’ve got the students.” For those students approaching graduation and in need of a course only offered this semester it is overload. Golden says that administration is asking the professors if it at all possible to provide an independent study for singled out students. An alternative, the student can cross register.

ALERT from page 1 any bearing then there will be questions of retention and other measures to determine the quality of an institution and which ones will be retained or let go.” Colleges must go through the process of getting its accreditation reaffirmed every 10 years, and it will be ten years this upcoming spring semester since Southern University has done so. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or SACS, is a board that accredits all colleges and schools in the southern region. Lomotey and others have been taking steps to better prepare the campus for the upcoming review in 2010 for two years. Lomotey explains that the first step in reaffirmation in accreditation is to submit a document called a certification of compliance that outlines the school’s compliance with the designated guidelines setup by the SACS board. Then there is an off-campus review team to review this document and then there is an on-campus team that comes around March 2010 to follow up on the things listed in submitted certification of compliance by the school. “There is also a new aspect of the

SACS review called QEP, or Quality Enhancement Plan, every institution must develop a plan that is designed to improve the academic achievements of students on its campus which is also submitted in this process that has to be approved also.” Lomotey said. “Our QEP is dealing with writing across the curriculum, and so within the next couple of months faculty as well as students will hear more about this plan because the on-campus visitors will interview members of the student body, faculty/staff, and administration staff about the quality of the university.” After this is complete the institution will have a chance to respond to these reviews in writing and in the annual SACS board meeting in December 2010 all institutions that were reviewed will be notified on their accreditation status publicly. “I would finally like to add that we are very, very optimistic about our accreditation being reaffirmed. We have a few minor issues to deal with but we are in the process of addressing those” He went to state “Southern needs to watch this process carefully.”

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SPORTS

Friday, August 28, 2009 - Page 5

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SU hoops schedules released DIGEST NEWS SERVICE

Tournaments around the country await Southern’s men’s and women’s basketball teams as the teams released their 2009-10 schedules. The men’s schedule includes two tournaments along with trips to Brigham Young and a pair of Big 12 Conference foes. The women’s slate includes a tournament hosted by Ohio State. The Jaguars of coach Rob Spivery will be trying to rebound from last season’s 8-23 campaign. They finished fifth in the SWAC with an 8-10 mark. Meanwhile, coach Sandy Pugh enters her 10th season two wins shy of her 150th as head coach of the Jags. The women finished the 2008-09 with a 16-14 overall record and a 11-7 mark in Southwestern Athletic See schedules page 6

2009-10 SU Men’s Basketball Schedule Nov. 11 Nov. 18 Nov. 24 Nov. 27/28 Dec. 4 Dec.5 Dec. 12 Dec. 16 Dec. 17 Dec. 19 Dec. 22 Jan. 4 Jan. 6 Jan. 9 Jan. 11 Jan. 16 Jan. 18 Jan. 23 Jan. 25 Jan. 30 Feb. 6 Feb. 8 Feb. 13 Feb. 15 Feb. 20 Feb. 22 Feb. 27 March 4 March 6 March 11-14

XAVIER-NO 7 p.m. at Oklahoma St. 7:30 p.m. at ByU 7 p.m. at Las Vegas Invite TBA at SF Austin 8:30 p.m. at C. Arkansas 6 p.m. UNO 7 p.m. at SE Louisiana 7 p.m. TALLADEGA 7 p.m. CHICAGO ST. 7 p.m. at Baylor 7 p.m. at Prairie View* 7:30 p.m. at Tex. Southern* 7:30 p.m. GRAMBLING ST.* 7:30 p.m. JACKSON ST.* 7:30 p.m. at Ark.-Pine Bluff* 7:30 p.m. at Miss. Valley* 7:30 p.m. ALABAMA A&M* 7:30 p.m. ALABAMA ST.* 7:30 p.m. ALCORN ST.* 7:30 p.m. at Grambling St.* 7:30 p.m. at Jackson St.* 7:30 p.m. ARK.-PINE BLUFF*7:30 p.m. MISS. VALLEY* 7:30 p.m. at Alabama A&M* 7:30 p.m. at Alabama St.* 7:30 p.m. at Alcorn St.* 7:30 p.m. PRAIRIE VIEW* 7:30 p.m. TEX. SOUTHERN* 7:30 p.m. at SWAC Tournament TBA

—Home games in ALL CAPS *—SWAC game

Jaguars prepare for ‘09 by morrIs dIllard DIGEST SPORTS WRITER

Last year’s Bayou Classic game in the Louisiana Superdome drew 59,874 fans who saw Grambling defeat Southern 29-14 and deny SU a shot at the Southwestern Athletic Conference title. What can we expect from our Jaguars this season? “The guys have to make personal commitments and take sacrifices to be successful at winning a SWAC championship,” said head coach Pete Richardson. After finishing with a 6-5 PHOTO BY WIL NORWOOD/DIGEST record in 2008, the Jags have Southern quarterback Bryant Lee fires off a pass during Monday’s huge expectations heading into practice session. The Jaguars open the 2009 season at UL-Lafayette. the 2009 season. “Overall the offense returns a lot of experience including in total offense with 292 yards quarterback Bryant Lee and firsta gifted wide receiver and per game last season, the jaguar offense returns multiple starters quarterback,” said Richardson. See jaguars page 6 Ranking eighth nationally including first-team All-SWAC

Page 6 - Friday, August 28, 2009

schedules from page 5 Conference play. SU finished second in the SWAC and earned a bid in the postseason Women’s NIT. The teams open the season with games at the F.G. Clack Activity Center, with the women taking on Dillard in a Nov. 10 exhibition while the men open against Xavier-New Orleans Nov. 11. The men’s nonconference slate includes traveling to face Wofford and either Presbyterian or Seattle in the Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 27-28. The women’s nonconference slate includes early tilts against Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana and UL-Lafayette. The week after the Vegas trip, the men will compete in the Stephen F. Austin Invitational, facing host SFA on Dec. 4 and Central Arkansas the following day. In early season games, Southern — which opens the campaign in a Nov. 11 home game against Xavier of New Orleans — will visit Oklahoma State on Nov. 18 and Brigham Young on Nov. 24. The Jaguars will also travel to face Baylor on Dec. 22. The women will leave Ohio State’s Buckeye Classic in November to finish its pre-SWAC schedule against South Alabama (Dec. 12) before hosting Tougaloo (Dec. 14). SU then travels to face Nicholls State before heading east to play Florida. The teams open the 18-game SWAC campaign at Prairie View A&M on Monday, Jan. 4.

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2009-10 SU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Nov. 10 DILLARD 6 p.m. Nov. 17 NW STATE 6 p.m. Nov. 19 SE LOUSIANA 6 p.m. Nov. 21 at UL-Lafayette 2 p.m. Nov. 28/29 at Ohio St. Tourney TBA Dec. 12 at South Alabama 5 p.m. Dec. 14 TOUGALOO 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at Nicholls State 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20/21 at Florida Tourney TBA Jan. 4 at Prairie View TBA Jan. 6 at Texas Southern TBA Jan. 9 GRAMBLING ST.* 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 JACKSON ST.* 5:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Ark.-Pine Bluff* TBA Jan. 18 at Miss. Valley* TBA Jan. 23 ALABAMA A&M* 2 p.m. Jan. 25 ALABAMA ST.* 5:30 p.m. Jan. 30 ALCORN ST.* 2 p.m. Feb. 6 at Grambling St.* TBA Feb. 8 at Jackson St.* TBA Feb. 13 ARK.-PINE BLUFF* 2 p.m. Feb. 15 MISS. VALLEY* 5:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at Alabama A&M* TBA Feb. 22 at Alabama St.* TBA Feb. 27 at Alcorn St.* TBA March 4 PRAIRIE VIEW* 5:30 p.m. March 6 TEXAS SOUTHERN* 2 p.m. March 11-14 at SWAC Tournament TBA —Home games in ALL CAPS *—SWAC game

SU soccer falls in opener DIGEST NEWS SERVICE

HAMMOND—The Southern University soccer team fell 8-0 in their season opener at Southeastern on Sunday. SLU scored three goals in the first

half and five in the second. SU (0-1) was outmatched from the first kick as SLU kept the ball on the Jaguars’ side of the field throughout the match. The Lady Lions out-shot the Jaguars 26-0, on their way to the shutout.

Goalie D’Nae Capron was the Jaguars’ lone bright spot as she recorded eight saves in her collegiate debut. Capron allowed eight goals off of 16 shots on goal. SU returns to action today at Nicholls at 4 p.m.

Grambling basketball player dies GRAMBLING (AP) — Henry White, a 6-6 guard who played last season at Hill Junior College in Texas and recently signed with Grambling State, has died. Grambling spokesman Ralph Wilson confirmed White died at a Shreveport hospital Wed-

nesday morning. White, 21, reportedly fell ill Aug. 14 during preseason practices being conducted by a GSU assistant basketball coach. A statement from the university says White had been hospitalized following participation in

conditioning. The statement says GSU has since launched a full investigation into the circumstances that may have contributed to White’s death. A prep standout Milwaukee’s Washington High, White had two years of eligibility remaining.

productive receiver with great athletic ability. Stewart led the SWAC with 76 catches for 1,385 yards and 12 TDs, earning him a unanimous selection to the 2008 All-SWAC Team. Sounds like we have a lot to look forward to this season, but, is that true? As we all know, defense wins championships. So what does that say about the defense? “We lack experience on the defensive side of the ball and we have new players in the secondary” said Richardson.

Last season, SU’s scrappy play led to several games slipping through their grasp which they led at halftime, and are now forced to chase around opposing quarterbacks with inexperienced pass rushers. Once again, the Jaguars are faced with mental decisions that can make or break their season. In this case it’s all about who wants it more. The Southern Jaguars will open the season on the road against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 5.

jaguars from page 5 team HBCU All-American wide receiver Juamorris Stewart. Lee threw for 2,682 yards and 20 TDs while completing 62 percent of his passes and also running for 534 yards with six touchdowns. For his efforts, he has been added to the watch list for the Walter Payton Award, presented annually upon the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision. On the other hand, former Istrouma standout Juamorris Stewart is best known in the Southwestern Athletic Conference as the league’s most-

VIEWPOINTS Friday, August 28, 2009 - Page 7

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From the SGA President’s desk

Dear Students of sound mind, body, and soul,

“The more efficient a force is, the more silent and the more subtle it is. Love is the subtlest force in the world. The law of love governs the world. Life persists in the face of death. The universe continues in spite of destruction going on. Truth triumphs over untruth. Love conquers hate. Truth resides in every human heat, and one has to search for it there and to be guided by truth as one sees it. But no one has a right to coerce others to act according to his own view of truth.” —Mahatma Gandhi This quote as said by

STANLEY WHITE JR. SG A PRESIDENT

Mahatma Gandhi is extremely relevant to our lives as individuals, as well as the Southern University student body. The force more efficient Gandhi speaks of can be found in a student body more united. The love we posses for another as peers supersede any destruction that could come

forth. If we, the student body, understand this, our power and effectiveness are great. The Jaguar pride that we often see and constantly speak of is a true pride woven deep within the fabric of every student and alumnus of this honorable university. I affectionately ask each student to realize this, know this and live this, and then we can truly act on “ONE ACCORD.” As of now many of us, the students, have discussed or heard of some of the situations and issues we face in respect to our football game student seating, food services, and class cancellations. In addition to these issues we should

move to continue to educate ourselves about life and our scholastic studies. For with more knowledge comes wisdom and more wisdom breeds understanding. With newly gained understanding then can we solve our problems. We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking as we had when we created them, a paradigm shift is needed. We should not ignore our ignorance, but instead conquer what we don’t know, because to conceal ignorance is to increase it. Love! Love!

WIL NORWOOD

I’m pretty sure everyone can relate to this. We all hear person after person complaining about something that is going on at Southern. Whether it is about parking, financial aid, unfair teachers, books not being available, or classes being cancelled. Now here’s where this editorial kicks in. What is being done about it? No, I don’t mean “what is the faculty doing about it,” I mean what are YOU the students doing about it? “….” I’m sorry, what was that? Oh, nothing. I did hear correctly, then. Oh, you don’t get what I’m trying to say? Let me reiterate. Let’s say that there

is a problem that you noticed. A week goes by, and the problem not only persists, but it is making life incredibly difficult for you, but you won’t say anything about it. How does the problem get solve? It doesn’t. Luckily, The Southern Digest, who is not responsible for my opinion on this subject, has a forum for students to be heard called Speakout. You don’t know what Speakout is? Well, let me tell ya’! Speakout is a part of the Digest where a member of the Digest staff goes around the campus asking students to voice their opinions on subjects that affect their life on

the campus. It is a way for students to directly express the way they feel about what is happening on campus and the world around them with a provided audience in the student body and everyone else who receives a copy of the paper. As a result, the powers that be are made aware and are obligated to at least address them. “Well, if the speakout is there, what’s the problem?” you ask. In theory, it should take about 10 minutes to do. But today it was about an hour or two. This is where the annoyance starts. “Why,” you ask, “did a 10-minute task take over an hour?” Well, for one, we could barely get anyone to do it. Today’s’ excuses includes but is not limited to: “I have an appointment, hair, I might get in trouble, and my favorite “What’s Speakout?” It only takes two minutes per person. We get quick info, a quote (not an essay), and

How did the recent budget cuts affect your academic life thus far? BY trevor james Digest Photographer

makala clark baton rouge freshman mass communications

clark

Peace & Blessings, Stanley White Jr., SGA President

Don’t be afraid to speak your mind The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” — the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

SPEAK OUT

a headshot. We can do this while you’re walking if we have to. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not angry. If you don’t want to do it, that is a very valid excuse. Just say I don’t want to. What does annoy me though, is when a student has a very good outlook on something and is afraid to have it expressed in the paper. That really does disappoint me, when a person who seems like they have what it takes to be a leader of tomorrow, is afraid to voice their opinion on a college newspaper, in fear of someone noticing they forgot to wear their contacts. So why all the big fuss over a little column in a college newspaper? Simple, this is still a reflection of you. No matter what race, sex or clique you represent you are represented by the university’s image. The silence you show in the paper, will speak volumes for you in the future to come.

“Not getting the money needed for books and it’s hindering me from completing my assignments.”

desmond grover baton rouge freshman computer science

“They don’t have the math lab’s we need, and the grover assignments that our teachers have given us can’t be done.”

james cobbs chicago freshman social work

cobbs

“The book vouchers are not fully satisfyng my needs.”

krystal bryant

houston freshman accounting

bryant

“Our first day of school, we didn’t have a teacher in my history class.”

SUBMISSIONS POLICY

The Southern DIGEST welcomes letters from readers commenting on current issues and other matters of general interest to the SU family and public. We set aside this space to publish these letters for others to enjoy. This newspaper is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on its editorial and opinion pages. The Southern DIGEST reserves the right to edit any contributions and or reject them without notification. Authors are encouraged to limit the length of submissions to 300 words. Letters should not include libelous statements. Offensive and personal attacks will not be permitted. The DIGEST will not print “open letters” addressed to someone else. All contributions must be type written, signed and must include the author’s address and phone number. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Southern University students should include their majors, hometowns and year in school. When referring to specific DIGEST articles, please include the date and title. All materials should be directed to the editor in chief of The Southern DIGEST, P.O. Box 10180, Baton Rouge, La. 70813. Materials may be delivered by hand to the DIGEST office located in Suite 1064 Harris Hall or can be e-mail to digest@ subr.com.

Editorial policy

Staff editorials represent the opinions of the author and the majority opinion of the Southern DIGEST Student Editorial Board, which is comprised of the student staff of editors and columnists. The Southern DIGEST provides an open forum to educate, inform and enlighten the students, faculty and staff at Southern University, Baton Rouge, La.

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