STATE & NATION
SPORTS
HBCU NEWS
$1Bprojecttofinishin2011. pG. 5
Also: Coleman wins POTW. pG. 7
Senior to sit on city council. pG. 10
su men open hoops season
Corps begins work on closure
Wssu student wins election
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009
VOL. 54, ISSUE 15
BEEP gives more than treats By Billy WasHinGtOn digest staff writer
pHOtO By Wil nOrWOOd/diGest
a young girl swings a bat in attemt to free candy from a piñata held by a member of Beep at a Halloween party sponsored by the organization. the event took place last friday at the shelter for battered women.
Members of the Black Executive Exchange Program hosted a Halloween Party last Friday at a Battered Women’s Shelter from 4-5:30pm. B.E.E.P. is a HBCU student organization sponsored by the National Urban League (NUL) and is currently planted on 84 HBCU campuses nationwide. The Southern University chapter was the first to be established in 1969. The organization’s mission involves empowering students to create their own opportunities, to visualize the possibilities, and achieve their goals in the corporate world. An evening of face and hair painting, lots of candy, and costumes ranging from vampires to ballet dancers created a fun-filled experience for the kids and staff in attendance. “We want to share the excitement of the season with the children”, said BEEP 2009-2010 President and junior Business major, Damarcus Alexander. “No matter what conditions they {the children} were under, we want them to enjoy this day and forget about their past experiences.” B.E.E.P. decided to host the community event at the Women’s Battered Shelter because October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Halloween was the theme the organization worked around. “ It’ s a great experience to give back to these kids because this gives me an opportunity to be an inspiration to the kids,” said Dominic Rogers, a sophomore Business management/Marketing major, while painting kids faces and spraypainting little kids hair, Lindsey Robinson, a senior Therapeutic Recreation major from New Orleans, stated that the event was very enlightening to her and also expressed her joy for helping children learn and grow. Other members of B.E.E.P. shared similar feelings.
“This is an opportunity for the kids to see what Halloween is really about, positive things, which gives the kids something to do and unwind from past life experiences,” said Tiffany Shelling, a junior Psychology major from New Orleans ninth Ward. The kids were presented with two piñatas. The first piñata was easily opened by with a few strong swings of a broom stick by the kids. The second piñata was difficult to open; therefore, two members of B.E.E.P., Cedric Clarke and Eric Bentley stepped in to help. “This gives us a good time to help out the less fortunate and I look forward to doing more community service in the future”, said Cedric Clarke, Business Management major and native of Westmont, Il. The mothers of the children were pleased with the generosity from B.E.E.P. Shandra Munson, whose real identity couldn’t be revealed due to confidentiality reasons, hopes that B.E.E.P. or any other organization from SU would visit again to support the shelter in the near future. Munson added her feelings of joy from the sight of her happy children, which according to her, she hasn’t seen them like this in a long time. “The kids really enjoyed themselves and this is real nice and I am very appreciative”, said Meghan Allen, another member of the shelter whose name cannot be given out due to confidential purposes. The Halloween party not only inspired the kids but it also inspired a member from BEEP to organize a community event in the future. “I love to see kids excited during Halloween.” said El-Shaddai, a sophomore Business Economic major and native of Nigeria. “This is my first time actually celebrating Halloween and I think this is a good event for the kids. I hope someday I will See beep page 3
Postsecondary commission set to meet mid-Nov. By nOrman J. dOtsOn Jr. digest iNteriM editor-iN-cHief
The members of the Post-secondary Education Review Commission met Oct. 27 where the motion, introduced by David Voelker, to increase admission standards was unanimously accepted. This increase in standards is an attempt to improve graduation rates by attracting those students with higher grade point averages in hopes that these students will be better prepared for higher education. The motion states “ The management boards for the Louisiana State University System, the University of Louisiana System, and the Southern University System work with the Board of Regents and the Legislature to strengthen admission requirements at all four-year
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universities. This process should begin immediately so that set goals are met by 2018.” In total there are five goals, and the one that concerns Southern University states that all other four-year institutions should raise admission requirements to levels that project at least a 50 percent graduation rate for the freshman class that enters in 2012. This goal should also apply of transfer students. The plan is simply to make admission standards higher so that those elite students who are more likely to graduate will do so thus raising the rate of graduation. Community colleges are also apart of this review. According to some reports in most states enrollment in two-year and four-year institution are even but that is not case here Louisiana. There
INSIDE S O U T H E R N
are approximately 4,000 jobs across the state that are not filled that only requires a two year degree or certificate, but with more students leaning more towards four year institution there are less people to fill these empty positions. Even though only a two-year degree is needed the state does encourage students to pursue a four-year degree. To do so all four-year institution must come together and agree on at least 60 credit hours that they will accept from any two-year institution. This means that when a student obtains an associate degree and want to continue pursuing a bachelor’s degree they could transfer 60 credits that are approved, and be classified as a junior and continue on in their pursuit. This can only be done, however, if the student has obtained the
60 approved credits. The next meeting of the Postsecondary Education Review Commission is set for Nov. 16-17 discussing academic programs including role, scope, mission of colleges and universities and how they serve their geographic areas. This means that most colleges will have to change or refocus their mission statements. Also schools will be asked to review all departments that have a low achievement rates. Meaning that schools will have to decide whether or not to keep some degree programs that are not graduating a high amount of students. With this, universities in close proximity will be challenged to see if they need duplicating See commission page 3
CAMPUS BRIEFS................2 STATE & NATION................5 HBCU NEWS.....................10 NEWS.................................3 SPORTS.............................7 VIEWPOINTS....................11 U N I V E R S I T Y ,
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Classifieds emplOyment
Airport Texaco hiring cashiers for evening, weekdays & weekends shifts full-time. Excellent customer service skills req’d. Very competitive pay. Apply in person to Baton Rouge Metro Airport Texaco.
Campus Briefs TODAY su Karate CluB
The Southern University Karate Club welcomes all persons interested in training Shotokan Karate. Training is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon at the J.B. Moore Hall Auditorium. For more information, call Edwin Walker at 771.3721 or e-mail edwin_walker@ subr.edu. Beep meetinGs
The Southern University chapter of the Black Executive Exchange Program meets Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in Room 222 of T.T. Allain Hall. BEEP is open to all majors campuswide. Center FOr student suCCess
Students peer tutoring is available at the Center for Student Success in Room 107 of W.W. Stewart Hall. Follow the Center for Student Success on twitter to see exciting upcoming events. Twitter.com/ Jaguar_Nation insuranCe liCensinG
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COurses
SU’s Division of Continuing Education and College of Business will sponsor insurance licensing courses on the Baton Rouge campus. The courses, which are open to anyone interested in becoming a licensed insurance agent, will include continuing learning classes for those who are already licensed. Registration is ongoing for the classes. The starting date for the class will be determined at the end of registration. For more information about the courses or registration, call 225.771.2613. Free prOGram FOr FatHers
The SU Full Time Fathers Program offers free fatherhood sessions, job training and job placement assistance to non-custodial fathers. Other services include legal assistance, life skills, financial literacy and much more. For more information, contact the staff at 225.771.3054 or www.facebook.com/ fulltimefathersprogram. ClOtHinG driVe
The Full Time Fathers Program needs your help! Donations are being accepted for new and used men’s clothing and accessories. All sizes of business/casual attire are needed. Drop off donations in Room 307A Higgins Hall on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 p.m.- 5 p.m. Donations will be accepted until Nov. 18. Contact the staff at 225.771.3054 for
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more details. sOCial and BeHaViOral sCienCes underGraduate researCH COnFerenCe
The Department of Psychology is sponsoring the 11th Annual Social and Behavioral Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference today from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. Students in the departments of criminal justice, economics, history, political science, psychology, rehabilitation and disability studies, sociology social work and speech pathology are encouraged to submit abstracts. For more information, contact Dr. Reginald Rackley at 225.771.2990 or e-mail cozetrichard@ yahoo.com.
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Campus BRIEFS
Student applications for the 2009 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge’s campus competition are being accepted now until Monday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. The campus tournament will be held Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. Participants in the campus competition are eligible to be selected to represent SU 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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sUite 1064 – t.H.Harris HaLL p.o. BoX 10180 – BatoN roUge, La 70813 225.771.2231 pHoNe / 225.771.3253 faX www.soUtHerNdigest.coM issN: 1540-7276. copyright 2008 by the southern University office of student Media services. the southern digest is written, edited and published by members of the student body at southern University and a&M college. all articles, photographs and graphics are property of the southern digest and its contents may not be reproduced or republished without the written permission from the editor in chief and director of student Media services. the southern digest is published bi-weekly (tuesday & friday) with a run count of 6,000 copies per issue during the southern University - Baton rouge campus fall, spring semesters. the paper is free to students, staff, faculty and general public every tuesday & friday morning on the sUBr campus. the southern digest student offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - friday. the offices are located on the first floor of t.H. Harris Hall, suite 1064. the southern digest is the official student newspaper of southern University and a&M college located in Baton rouge, Louisiana. articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body. PUBLICATION ASSOCIATIONS the southern digest is a member of the Black college communications association (Bcca), National association of Black Journalists (NaBJ), University - wire Network (U-wire), associated collegiate press (acp), college Media advisers association (cMa), society of professional Journalist (spJ), full member of the associated press (ap) and the Louisiana press association (Lpa).
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Norman J. dotson Jr. COPY EDITORS Kenyetta M. collins erica s. Johnson
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NEWS
Friday, November 6, 2009 - Page 3
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Students represent SU at conference Student By tremaine sanders digest staff writer
Nine Southern University students who represent some of the best and the brightest of our student population attended this year’s Leadership Institute which took place Oct. 23-26 at the Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers in New York City. The group included Devin Addison, a junior finance major from Marrero; Aleice Allen, Senior Accounting and Economics double major from Houston; Yancey Dawson Senior Electrical Engineering major from Shreveport; Kayla Dunbar, Sophomore Mechanical Engineering major from Lake Charles; Brittnee Leonard, Senior Biology major from Lakewood, Calif.; Sherrie McMillan, Junior Health/Physical Education major from Baton Rouge; Lindsey Robinson, Junior Therapeutic Recreation major from New Orleans; Roshea Roussell, Junior Electrical Engineering Major from Dallas; and Dominique Waldrup, Senior Marketing Major from Houston. There are forty-seven HBCU’s and six law schools located in twenty-two states and the US Virgin Islands with a population of over 235,000 students represented in this leadership institute. The Leadership Institute and Recruitment Conference is a four-
day event that unites over 500 of the country’s most gifted juniors and seniors. These students participate in an array of different workshops on professional development and career opportunities. Students attend workshops, networking events and an annual dinner, attendees are also given the opportunity to rub elbows with top executives from a number of Fortune 500 companies. “There were industry round tables were we could actually sit down and meet with people from different fields and talk about what they do,” said Kalyla Dunbar. “There was also a career fair where we met different professionals and were able to give them our résumé’s and ask for advice and actually have opportunities for internships and co-ops in the future.” In comparison to the other universities represented, these students felt they compared equally to their counterparts at the conference. They confidently suggested that they might have even surpassed the competition they encountered at the leadership institute. Dominique Waldrop felt especially proud of the fact that Southern had representation not only from the Baton Rouge campus but also from the Law center and the New Orleans campus as well. Addison stated that, “the conference
beep from page 1 organize my own project.” The approach of this event was different for the organization according to B.E.E.P. Advisor Toni Jackson. “This is all about the kids. The first time, we looked out for the mothers and this time is for the kids,” said Jackson. “We will visit again in December around Christmas and February around Valentines Day,” Jackson continued. BEEP Community service projects will continue throughout the month of November with the “Gifts to the Hurt” food drive. Be on the look out for bins and flyers placed around campus. For more information about B.E.E.P. or to get involved, please visit www.nulbeep. org or email them at subeep@subr.edu and request an application.
commission from page 1 programs. Universities like Southern and LSU will have to defend programs that they both offer in order to keep them. There will also be a meeting in December focused on funding for higher education including a discussion about tuition. Those unable to attend these meetings will be able to watch a live taping of the proceedings by logging onto the Postsecondary Education Review Commission’s website at www.laperc.org.
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showed me how intense the competition will be when I graduate. I learned that it’s not just about your grades or what you do in class because networking and who you know is a huge part of it also.” Over the last twenty-one years, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund has awarded more than $91 million in scholarships, programmatic, and capacity support, enabling over 7,500 students to attend public historical Black Colleges and Universities. The college fund provides leadership training and teacher programs to students preparing for corporate, public service and teaching careers. University faculty or administration must recommend students to attend the conference. After being recommended these students must be interviewed by a TMCF Career Counselor. The student must also have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and possess excellent communication, presentation, and leadership skills. These students excitedly talked about their desire to go to the conference again. They recommended that all students inquire about what is necessary to be offered the opportunity to attend. The networking opportunities presented by the conference were invaluable to every student in attendance.
makes moves By breanna paul digest staff writer
Shelby Skipper transferred to Southern University on a football scholarship, but very well may leave as a professional dancer and not as a professional football player. The New Orleans native, known to friends as “Skip”, auditioned for FOX’s “American Idol” dance spinoff, “So You Think You Can Dance.” Before auditioning for the show, Skip did not know anything about the show or the auditions being held in the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner. Donald “Big Choo” Norris, who was very instrumental in creating the New Orleans Bounce style of dance and Skip’s best friend let him know of the show’s summer auditions and urged him to audition. He was the first person to dance to New Orleans Bounce in the show’s six seasons. See dance page 6
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Registering for classes may become harder By treVOr James digest staff writer
Due to the upcoming budget cuts next year, students should expect a few difficulties when registering for classes for the spring semester. There may be some classes cancelled and others full or closed due to the lack of funds necessary to pay the instructors or lack of equipment and supplies necessary for these classes. These few classes may serve as a problem for those attempting to graduate in May. “The schedule currently being used for spring registration is based on all of the full time tenure and tenure tracked faculty teaching the full course load unless, they have research projects that are paying for reassigned time by money from grants that’s paying for them to teach that course,” according Mwalimu Shuuja, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. The school is offering a full schedule based on their capacity to put courses forward determined by the number of credit hours each faculty member teaches which is twelve. Another factor is the highly demanded classes like English 111 and Intro to Mathematics. These classes will be harder to enroll in so in order to meet those requirements administration will be adding additional sections for these highly demanded classes. The only classes to be eliminated or even considered for elimination would be the classes with low or no enrollment at all
that won’t pay for it self. The issue of these changes effecting graduation dates was addressed as well. “We do not want to put any student in any predicament where the student may not be able to graduate, however, there is also a student responsibility in times of planning, and not just by the student but also by the department,” said Shuuja. Shuuja also stated that he would also like to stress that students should be capable of determining what courses will be required so that they can graduate, and the student should be prepared to demonstrate that the knowledge the student has acquired in their field or major can be shown even before they graduate but in a census by the department or a variety of test. When asked what did administration think the fault of our budget cuts were Shuuja stated that the governor was the sole explanation of the budget cut. “What the governor is saying is that the revenues for Louisiana have falling short of projections and because of that the cuts in higher education and health care that the state allows to be reduced are going to have to be reduced,” explained Shuuja. Southern University will be looking at about 5.6 million dollars of budget reduction. Despite this loss of funding, Southern University is working very hard to make sure that all classes necessary for each major is offered the most efficiently possibly, with or without the spring budget cuts.
7th man pleads in SU hazing BY tHe associated press
The seventh and final defendant in a November hazing incident involving the Southern University marching band pleaded no contest Thursday and was put on probation. Aubrey Harris Jr., 21, of Canton, Miss., entered his plea in Baton Rouge state court before District Judge Chip Moore. Harris was the seventh former Southern marching band member to plead no contest in the case. He was placed on active supervised probation for two years. The others were Lagarian Bridgewater, 23, of Baton Rouge; Clifton Taylor, 21, of Baker; Jeremy Dixon, 23, of Natchez, Miss.; Harvey Harrison, 20; of Atlanta; Carlo-Andres Carter, 20, of Stone Mountain, Ga.; and Joseph Webb, 22, of Columbus, Ga. Those six have received or will receive the same sentence, which includes performing 100 hours of community service, writing a 500-word essay on the dangers of hazing and penning a 500word report on a hazing death.
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All seven men pleaded no contest to criminal conspiracy to commit seconddegree battery, and misdemeanor hazing. The hazing incident was part of a Nov. 25 initiation into the marching band’s unofficial French horn fraternity “Mellow Phi Fellow” before the 2008 Bayou Classic football game in New Orleans, arrest records show. Harris’ attorney, Jim Holt, said Harris will not be returning to Southern. Prosecutor Steven Danielson said the incident occurred at an off-campus residence in East Baton Rouge Parish. Two victims were hospitalized but eventually released. A third victim, who was not hospitalized, withdrew from the initiation after being struck more than 50 times by a 2-by-4 inch board, the records indicate. A no-contest plea has the same effect as a guilty plea in criminal court but cannot be used as an admission of guilt in civil court.
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NEWS briefs digest News serVice
BET Black College Tour to stop at SU
The 8th annual BET Black College Tour will be at Southern University on Friday, Nov. 6. BET will be stationed on Mayberry Lawn from noon until 4 p.m. There will be a variety of activities going on throughout the day. The activities include a Free-Style Rap Battle, Singer’s Spotlight, 3-pt Shoot Out Contest, 2-on-2 Basketball Tournament, XBOX Station, Wrap-ItUp Promotions, and a Def Jam concert with a featured guest. Southern is one of 14 stops on the Black College Tour. The tour stop is only open to Southern University students.
Spikes to speak at Honors College ceremony
Please join the Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes Honors College at its pinning ceremony introducing the 2009-2010 Honors Freshman Class. The pinning ceremony will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6, in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Union. The guest speaker will be Dr. Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes, Southern University’s System President Emeritus. For more information, please call 225.771.4845.
BEEP Host 2nd Annual Give ‘til it H.U.R.T.S. Food Drive
Southern’s League of Black Executive Exchange Program (BEEP) Associates in the College of Business are currently hosting their 2nd Annual “Give ‘til it H.U.R.T.S. (Help Us Rebuild This State) Food Drive” for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. As an incentive to give, each person that makes a donation will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a free night’s stay at the Sheraton Baton Rouge Convention Center Hotel and dinner for two at the atrium buffet. BEEP Associates will canvass the campus on Thursdays and Fridays to collect nonperishable canned and packaged goods for the hungry men, women and children in our community. You may also schedule a pick-up by e-mailing subeep@subr.edu or calling Toni Jackson, BEEP Advisor, at 7715640 ext. 222., or simply drop off your donation at the Dean’s Office in the College of Business, room 234 of T. T. Allain Hall. The food drive will end Nov. 20. For more information or to host a barrel, contact Toni Jackson at 771-
5640 ext. 222.
HIV Prevention Program Observes World AIDS Day
Activities are open to all Southern students. Take advantage of free HIV testing and counseling provided by Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge. Information packets, snacks, and door prizes will be provided. Students will get a chance to participate in a balloon ceremony in memory of persons who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. The program’s co-sponsors are social work students and the Southern University HIV/AIDS Prevention Program for Young Women. For additional information please contact Linda Ricks at 225-603-9573 or linda_ricks_00@subr.edu.
Walker attends ethics conference
Southern University Army ROTC cadet Brandon Walker attended the National Conference on Ethics in America (NCEA) Oct. 19-21 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. The NCEA serves to promote awareness among undergraduate students of the ethical issues in collegiate communities and professional career fields. The goal is to challenge undergraduate students to think critically about relevant topics and to facilitate an approach for these students to utilize on their return to their college and university.
SU Ranger Challenge Team takes part in competition
The Southern University Army ROTC Ranger Challenge Team competed in the Annual Ranger Challenge competition held in Fort Benning, Ga., Oct. 23-25. Ranger Challenge is an annual event where ROTC squad-sized teams compete against other schools throughout the region in rifle marksmanship, assembly and disassembly of the M16A2, constructing a rope bridge, the Army Physical Fitness Test, land navigation, a 10-kilometer road march and the Malvesti obstacle course. SU Army ROTC finished fifth in their respective tier, which included schools such as Jackson State, Alcorn State, Florida A&M, Tulane and Tuskegee. Members of the SU Army ROTC that participated were Bernard Wheeler, Javiya Williams, Anthony T. Antoine, Chester Hawkins, Kristen Jones, Reginald Burrell, Kevin Ghanayem, Antonio Delane and Anthony H. Antoine.
STATE & NATION
Friday, November 6, 2009 - Page 5
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Lawyer: Jindal ‘crippled’ La. ethics
Corps starts $1B barrier for N.O. By Cain Burdeau associated press writer
HARVEY, La. — Mindful that the suburban West Bank of New Orleans has regained its preHurricane Katrina population and is primed for growth, the Army Corps of Engineers is launching a $1 billion effort to keep the next storm at bay. The new flood protection is already having a potentially dangerous consequence, though: It’s encouraging more people to move into another bowl-shaped area that experts consider perhaps the city’s most vulnerable flank. While New Orleans’ population plummeted by 300,000 after Katrina, residents quickly returned to the west bank of the Mississippi River, many under the mistaken impression that the area was safer. The fact that the West Bank didn’t flood was mainly chance, however. Engineers say the area’s 250,000 residents are exposed to surge from a storm coming in at just the right angle, thanks in part to navigation and drainage canals that feed in. So the corps broke ground last week on the West Closure Structure, a floodgate and pump system designed to close off those canals and bolster the area’s levees. “The levees are a big deal. They’ve got to get them done,” said Rosemary Veitel, owner of a clothing boutique at the Fountain Park Centre, a new commercial development with fake swans, spewing fountains and Roman statues more at home in Phoenix or Las Vegas than on the edge of the Louisiana swamp. Local officials see the West Closure Structure as the key to luring more business owners like Veitel. “This is the yellow brick road to progress,” Aaron Broussard, the Jefferson Parish president, crowed Friday at the groundbreaking ceremony for what the corps calls the West
Closure Structure. As the name implies, the West Bank is west of the Mississippi River and the French Quarter, in a place tourists pass through only if they’re on their way to swamp tours. So far, it has been spared catastrophic flooding. Katrina passed to the east in August 2005, and the West Bank was one of the only dry places in the city after levees failed on the East Bank, the main part of the metro area. But after Katrina, hurricanes Rita and Gustav pushed water levels dangerously high in canals on the West Bank. “When we had Gustav, we had water come in, but it was minor, thank God,” Veitel said. Roy Dokka, the executive director of the Center for GeoInformatics at Louisiana State University, said up to 70 percent of the West Bank could be underwater if a monster storm were to hit it. The West Bank project is one of two the corps is building to protect New Orleans, the other being a similar storm surge barrier on the East Bank that closes off the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal. With large areas of the West Bank undeveloped pasture, woods and wetlands, the improved levee system will spur development, especially since most of the East Bank is crammed with houses and businesses. “It’s the only land left for large populations to grow,” said state Rep. Ricky J. Templet, a Republican who represents a swath of the West Bank. “The sky’s the limit. On the West Bank, we were the last to get started on our flood protection. Some people will be able to sleep at night now.” They shouldn’t sleep too soundly, according to Robert Bea, a civil engineer with the University of California, Berkeley, and an expert on the New Orleans levee system. Bea called the West Bank project an example of the corps’ flawed levee building policies, designed
BY tHe associated press
pHOtO By CHeryl GerBer/ap pHOtO
the army corps of engineers begins a $1 billion project, the west closure structure, to close off navigation and drainage canals that feed into the west Bank and turn into conduits for storm surge during hurricanes, in Harvey, La.
to handle a 100-year storm rather than shelter the area for many centuries like dikes in the Netherlands. Bea’s advice to West Bank developers and homeowners: “Build high, build strong because the level of protection is not sufficient to build low and weak.” If anything, though, building requirements will get more lax after the levee system is finished. Tom Rodrigue, the flood plain manager for Jefferson Parish, said developers most likely would wait for the levees to be certified as acceptable by the Federal Emergency Management Agency before building. FEMA certification opens the door for cheaper flood insurance and building lower to the ground. The Army Corps isn’t fazed by the potential for development in this vulnerable area. “People tend to build and live around the coastal landscape,
and that’s a natural thing for Southeast Louisiana regardless of whether you have the risk reduction in place or not,” said Tom Podany, the chief of the corps’ Protection and Restoration Office in New Orleans. “What (the levee system) does is recognize that’s going to happen and provide for a way to increase their safety.” Counting the West Closure Structure, the corps is pouring more than $2 billion into finishing the long-overdue levee system on the West Bank. The agency now says it plans to have most of the West Bank hurricane protection done by 2011. “On the East Bank, they had a complete system that failed. On the West Bank, we didn’t have a complete system to fail,” said Jerry Spohrer, a levee manager on the West Bank. By 2011, he said, “we should be buttoned up pretty tight — the first time on the West Bank, which is amazing.”
state briefs La. swine flu death toll at 30
The state Department of Health and Hospitals says Louisiana’s swine flu death toll is now at 30, with six deaths related to the virus in the past week. Four — two boys and two women — were in the seven-parish Lafayette area. The other two are a boy from the fiveparish Lake Charles area and a woman from the five-parish area on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The department says more vaccine
is coming every week, and people should keep in touch with their doctors so they’ll know when to make an appointment. Officials say the state has ordered 332,700 doses, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta had sent about 253,800 doses to date. They say 544 providers in Louisiana have administered 31,094 doses.
Billboards highlight human trafficking
NEW ORLEANS—Ten billboards paid for by the federal government are going up in the New Orleans metropolitan area to alert people to the existence of human trafficking. The billboards are part of a campaign by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to highlight “the horrors and the prevalence of human trafficking,” which the agency says is equivalent to “modern-day slavery.”
Louisiana’s ethics system has been “crippled” as a result of legal changes made during Gov. Bobby Jindal’s 2008 special session on ethics, the chairman of the Louisiana Board of Ethics said Monday. “This is a convoluted and crippled ethics system we have today,” Ethics Board chairman Frank Simoneaux said. “It does not make sense. It does not work well.” Simoneaux said the main culprit is a law that moved judicial power from the Ethics Board to administrative law judges, called ALJs. The ALJs are hired by an appointee of the governor. The law stemmed from complaints from legislators and some local officials that the Ethics Board was violating due process protections sitting as both prosecutor and judge. Simoneaux said he agrees that there should be a division of powers between prosecutorial and judicial functions. But the law goes about it in the wrong way, he said. “Here we are today we can render (ethics) advisory opinions and the ALJs ignore them all together,” Simoneaux said. “You cannot have two bodies administering the same body of laws.” Simoneaux also questioned the law’s requirement that the Ethics Board follow the rulings handed down by the three-judge panels. “The Ethics Board is anchored in the constitution. Yet (the law) put the Board of Ethics in a subservient position to the ALJs. How can that be?” Simoneaux asked. Now a Baton Rouge lawyer, Simoneaux was one of Baton Rouge’s state representatives and served as a cabinet secretary during Gov. Dave Treen’s administration. Simoneaux told the Press Club of Baton Rouge that the issue needs to be publicly debated. He said he has discussed the problems with Jindal administration officials and House Speaker Jim Tucker who pushed the legislation. But he said he is getting no traction and suggested “a poisonous atmosphere” exists because of some lawmaker run-ins with the Ethics Board. Jindal declined to be interviewed on the subject. Jindal deputy chief of staff Stephen Waguespack and Tucker said they don’t understand Simoneaux’s complaints.
Page 6 - Friday, November 6, 2009
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La. judge done after flap over interracial wedding
By melinda deslatte associated press writer
At least four times in the last 2½ years, Keith Bardwell says he refused to marry interracial couples while serving as a Louisiana justice of the peace. He said from his experience and discussions, he had concluded that blacks and whites do not readily accept offspring of such relationships, so the children end up suffering. His latest rebuff to a bride and groom of different races turned out to be his last. After weeks of calls for his ouster, Bardwell resigned after 34 years in office Tuesday, leaving his reasons a secret. His one-sentence statement to Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne said: “I do hereby resign the office of Justice of the Peace for the Eighth Ward of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, effective November 3, 2009.” Beth Humphrey, who is white, has said she and her now-husband, Terence McKay, who is black, received their marriage license from the parish clerk of court, where they also got a list of people qualified to perform the ceremony. When she called Bardwell’s office on Oct. 6 to ask, Humphrey said the justice’s wife told her that Bardwell wouldn’t sign the license because they were a “mixed couple.” In interviews, Bardwell, who is white, said he refers interracial couples to other justices of the peace, who then perform the ceremony, which
happened in this case. “There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage,” Bardwell said in an October interview with The Associated Press. “I think those children suffer, and I won’t help put them through it.” Bardwell didn’t return repeated calls to comment about his resignation. Civil rights leaders and officials, including Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, wanted him out. Jindal said Bardwell made the right decision. “What he did was clearly wrong and this resignation was long overdue,” the governor said in a statement. Humphrey and McKay have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Bardwell and his wife. Their attorney, Laura Catlett, said the resignation won’t stop the lawsuit. “We’re saddened that it took national attention to this issue, which was decided back in 1967 by the Supreme Court, and also that it took public admonishment from other elected leaders in order for him to resign,” Catlett said. His quitting “does not in any way change the fact that he, with his wife’s help, discriminated against an interracial couple while he was a public official,” Catlett said. Bardwell was elected in 1975 in Ponchatoula, La., a town 55 miles north of New Orleans. His term was set to run through 2014, and he had said that even before the flap, he hadn’t intended to run for re-election.
dance from page 1 After wowing the judges with dancing techniques, Skip thought he was going to the choreography round, but the judges surprised him with a ticket to Las Vegas to compete in more rounds in the show. “I loved it! Look at the strength of your legs!” Mary Murphy, one of the judges on “So You Think You Can Dance” said. While in Las Vegas, he danced for a panel of six judges including famous choreographer, Debbie Allen. “I had all the judges on their feet after my solo dance,” Skip said. He recalls Debbie Allen blowing him kisses. “You had one of the best solo dances in the history of the show,” Debbie Allen told Skip. Allen also said that Skip has a talent that needs to be shown to the world. After the solo dance competition, there were contemporary and hip-hop rounds. “I did great in those rounds,” Skip said. He was cut after the ballroom round. Allen encouraged Skip to practice on his ballroom techniques and to audition again for the next season. “You have a gift that needs to be shown to the world,” Allen told Skip. After returning back to college life Skip, Ellen Degeneres became a fan of Skip’s while he was on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Degeneres was surprised that Skip got cut. “Ellen twittered about me. She said I was ‘incredible.’” Skip’s mother received an email from “The Ellen Show” saying they wanted to fly her son out to Los Angeles. “It was the first time I went to California. It was something brand new to me.” Skip said. Skip opened and closed on “The Ellen Show.” Ellen told Skip that he was “amazing” and that his dance was “one of the best things I’ve seen in my life.” Skip was even invited back to dance again on “The Ellen Show.” Soon after dancing on “The Ellen Show,” Skip received a phone call from Michelle McNulty, the casting director for “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew”, who personally invited Skip and his dance crew, Game Ova Boyz to audition for the show. Skip and the Game Ova Boyz dance once a month at the Airline Skate Center. Their next performance is on November 13. The group travels to the surrounding areas of New Orleans to perform at high school dances, wedding receptions, and parties. If you would like to watch more of Skip and the Game Ova Boyz, go to www.youtube.com/gameovatv or www.youtube.com/ theellendegeneressho.
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SPORTS
Friday, November 6, 2009 - Page 7
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Jaguars look to rebound
SU Men’s basketball schedule
By justin wOOten digest coNtribUtiNg Writer
After an early first round exit in the SWAC Tournament against Arkansas-Pine Bluff last season, the Southern men’s basketball team geared up for the upcoming season in an exhibition game with Xavier at the F.G. Activity Center Thursday night. After three-straight losing seasons and the worst season in Southern history last year, this season will be the first of many new faces in the starting lineup for coach Rob Spivery. Spivery and his Jaguars will look to improve on last year’s 8-23 campaign, where he saw all eight wins come from conference play (8-10). Defensively, coach Spivey wants to pick up full court man-to-man more. Offensively, he wants to push the ball up the court, playing a more up tempo style of game. Spivery is looking to get leadership from senior forwards
photo by Justin wooten/Digest
southern head men’s basketball coach rob spivery instructs players during a preseason practice. the Jags defeated Xavier 77-75 in overtime in exhibition play. sU opens the season on the road at baylor Nov 16.
Ernest Jones and Douglas Scott, the only returning starter, to fill to void left by Chris Davis and Barry Honoré. At the point guard position, Spivery said all three point guards on the team will see playing time, including point guard Jameel Grace, a 6-foot freshman from New Jersey. Other new faces include freshman forward
Madut Bol, junior guard Norm Nixon Jr., junior forward Bobby Lee and junior guard Blake Stanford. Thursday night was a good test for Spivery to evaluate the starting lineup and decide who gets the bulk of the minutes off the bench before conference play opens at Prairie View on Jan. 4. The Jaguars last had a winning record in the 200506 season when they won the
regular season and tournament crowns. Southern outlasted Xavier in a 77-75 overtime victory. Earnest Jones led the Jags with 14 points while Brian White and Julius Ingram each scored 13 to help pace the Southern offense. Xavier’s Wanto Joseph led all scorers with 15 poitns, followed by By Devin Andrew with 11 and Cordell Hadnot and Kevin Miller
Nov. 16 at baylor tbA Nov. 18 at oklahoma st. 7:05 pm Nov. 21 at Utah 8 pm Nov. 24 at byU 8 pm Nov. 27 vs. Wofford% 1 pm Nov. 28 vs. Presbyterian% 1 pm dec. 4 vs. sF Austin# 7:15 pm dec. 5 vs. c. Arkansas# tbA dec. 12 NeW orleANs 7 pm dec. 16 at southeastern la. 7 pm dec. 28 tAllAdegA 7 pm dec. 30 chicAgo st. 7 pm Jan. 4 at Prairie View* 7:30 pm Jan. 6 at tex. southern* 7:30 pm Jan. 9 grAMbliNg st.* tbA Jan. 11 JAcksoN st.* 7:30 pm Jan. 16 at Ark.-Pine bluff* 7:30 pm Jan. 18 at Miss. Valley* 7:30 pm Jan. 23 AlAbAMA A&M* tbA Jan. 25 AlAbAMA st.* 7:30 pm Jan. 30 AlcorN st. *tbA Feb. 6 at grambling st.* 7:30 pm Feb. 8 at Jackson st.* 7:30 pm Feb. 13 Ark.-PiNe blUFF* tbA Feb. 15 Miss. VAlley* 7:30 pm Feb. 20 at Alabama A&M* tbA Feb. 22 at Alabama st.* 7:30 pm Feb. 27 at Alcorn st.* 7:30 pm March 4 PrAirie VieW* 7:30 pm March 6 teX. soUtherN* tbA March 10-13 sWAc tourn. tbA home games in All cAPs *—denotes sWAc games %—las Vegas invitational #—stephen F. Austin etech lumberjack classic
with 10 points each. Southern opens the season Nov. 16 at Baylor and will remain on the road until its Dec. 12 home opener against New Orleans.
SPORTs SHORTS digest NeWs serVice
SWAC Tournament move to Shreveport-Bossier
SHREVEPORT—Southwestern Athletic Conference Commissioner Duer Sharp announced the Farmers Insurance SWAC Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournament will move to Shreveport-Bossier City. The 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament will be played March 10-13 at CenturyTel Center. The women’s and men’s tournament finals will be televised live on ESPNU. The conference and Shreveport-Bossier City officials inked a three-year deal to move the tournament from Birmingham, Ala., to northwest Louisiana. This will be the first time the basketball tournament will be played in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. CenturyTel Center has hosted numerous world-class concerts, sporting events and family shows since its opening in 2000. Among its amenities, the venue boasts a large center hung video scoreboard, able to show close-up action and instant replays, as well as 75 TV monitors located throughout the concourse areas. Approximately 8,000 seats will be available for the games.
2009-10 basketball television schedule today, with 14 games slated to be televised on ESPN2 or ESPNU. Both the women’s and men’s finals of the 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament will be televised live on ESPNU from the CenturyTel Center in Shreveport. The schedule will tip off Monday, Jan. 4 with Alabama A&M playing at Jackson State. On Monday, Jan. 11, Alabama State, the two-time defending regular season champions and defending tournament champions, will make the first of three appearances when its hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Prairie View A&M’s Lady Panthers, the three-time defending women’s regular season champion and defending tournament champion, will play at Alabama State as part of a Monday, Feb. 1 doubleheader. This year’s television schedule again features a Saturday men’s game on ESPN2 with Jackson State hosting Prairie View A&M. On the homefront, Southern has two nationally televised games. Southern’s Jan. 18 road trip to Mississippi Valley State and Jan. 25 home game against Alabama State will be televised on ESPNU.
SWAC announces hoops TV slate
Colemans recognized by Birmingham, Ala.— The Southwestern SWAC
Athletic Conference announced its
Southern linebacker André Coleman
earned Southwestern Athletic Conference defensive player of the week honors for his performance in Southern’s 24-10 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The junior from Baton Rouge Coleman had a team high 10 tackles (2 solo, 8 assists) to go along with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Coleman forced a UAPB fumble in the Golden Lions’ red zone and recovered the ball at the SU 10-yard line to preserve Southern’s lead late in the first half. In addition to Coleman’s honor, his brother, freshman linebacker Lynnon Coleman, finished the game with six tackles and a forced fumble — gaining him notice from the SWAC office. Quarterback Bryant Lee completed 12 of 17 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns and also had a rushing touchdown, earning him notice from the conference. Texas Southern quarterback Arvell Neson earned SWAC offensive player of the week honors. Nelson Nelson completed 19 of 33 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed 13 times for 73 yards and one rushing score in the Tigers’ 51-21 win over Alcorn State. Nelson threw scoring passes of 15, 23 and 10 yards and had a 32-yard scoring run in the victory. TSU running back Martin Gilbert earned the league’s top newcomer
honors. Gilbert rushed 27 times for 167 yards and one touchdown and caught three passes for 26 yards in the Tigers’ win over Alcorn State. Gilbert, who averaged 6.2 yards per carry, scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Grambling State kicker Ari Johnson earned the SWAC’s specialist of the week honors. Johnson made all five PATs and converted three of four field goal attempts in the Tigers’ 50-7 win over Mississippi Valley State. Johnson made his first three field goal attempts of the game in addition to all five PATs in scoring 14 points in GSU’s win.
White earns POTW honor
Southern University freshman Raven White was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference soccer offensive Player of the Week. White scored two goals including the game-winning goal that lifted the Lady Jaguars past Texas Southern 3-2 and into this week’s conference championship. White is currently ranked fifth in the SWAC in shots, averaging 2.86 per match. Her season totals include a teamleading 40 shots, three goals and six points.
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arts & entertainment
Friday, November 6, 2009 - Page 9
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Teens rob celebs by the associated press
LOS ANGELES—For a group of Hollywood-obsessed teens, entertainment news on the Internet offered more than a glimpse into the lives of stars. It helped them break into celebrities’ homes. The teens tracked the movements of stars such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton and broke into their houses, making off with millions of dollars in stolen possessions in a spree that lasted almost a year. With a few clicks on the Internet, police say, the suspects developed a wish list of designer clothes and jewelry, then raided the homes while celebrities were away. “They thought it was fun, kind of an adrenaline rush,” Los Angeles police officer Brett Goodkin said. “They would go in and steal the celebrity’s clothes and possessions, things they could never afford on their own.” Police last week arrested four young women and two men on suspicion of burglarizing 10 homes in the Hollywood Hills. In addition to Lohan and Hilton, other victims included “The Hills” star Audrina Patridge, Orlando Bloom, Megan Fox, Brian Austin Green, Ashley Tisdale and Rachel Bilson. Police said the teens scoured celebrity blogs and Web sites, looking for valuables, and then used the Internet to find where the stars lived. After watching a home, they would break into poorly protected properties through doors, windows and, in one case, a doggy door. The burglaries lasted from October 2008 until September. Items stolen “run the gamut of high-end designer clothing,” Goodkin said. “You could pick a designer, and they would be among what was taken.” Police displayed an evidence photograph Wednesday depicting approximately $2 million in stolen jewelry that was recovered and returned to Hilton. The thieves snatched dozens of items of flashy, gem-encrusted jewelry, then made off with it in the socialite’s Luis Vuitton bag. The suspects include 18-yearolds Rachel Lee, Courtney Ames and Alexis Neiers, and Diana Tamayo, 19. Several of the group graduated two years ago from the “continuation campus” at Indian Hills High School in suburban Agoura Hills, said Donald Zimring, superintendent of the Las Virgenes Unified School District. Such campuses are for students struggling to attain good grades in regular schools, but Zimring could not comment on their academic records.
WWII movie draws big names By stacey plaisance associated press writer
NEW ORLEANS—Actors Tom Hanks, Patricia Clarkson and James Cromwell walked the red carpet Thursday before a private screening of the Hanks-produced war film “Beyond All Boundaries” held at the World War II Museum in New Orleans. The film, which includes “4-D” elements such as props and shaking seats, opens to the public Friday and will be shown exclusively at the museum’s new Victory Theater. The theater is part of the museum’s $300 million expansion project that will continue through 2015. Clarkson and Cromwell were among more than a dozen celebrities who lent their voices to the documentary. Clarkson as the voice of Marguerite Higgins, a New York Herald Tribune correspondent, and Cromwell as the voices of Maj. Gen. Alexander Archer Vandegrift and Fleet Adm. William Halsey. The film includes vintage images that chronicle WWII — from Pearl Harbor to the Battle of the Bulge — and took five years to make. “I’m just glad that it’s here,” Hanks said. “I’m glad that it’s part of the bigger museum. I think things like this are natural resources for each city (in which) they exist.” Hanks said the film also captures a moment in the country’s history that “is now entering into the era of myth.” He noted that younger generations are far removed from World War II and hopes the film will bridge the gap. “It was all heroes long ago,” he said, but notes that there’s still much to learn from history. “World War II was fought by a bunch of 17-year-olds who were trying to kill each other, now that’s not that far away from a lot of things that are going on in the world today,” Hanks said. “If this museum and
photo by bill haber/ap photo
Actor Tom Hanks speaks to reporters as he arrives at the World War II Museum in New Orleans on Thursday. The museum is opening it $300 million expansion project with the screening of the Tom Hanks-produce war film “Beyond All Boundaries.”
we have done our job well enough, people will come and certainly take note of the past, pay homage to the sacrifice, but at the same time, walk away thinking, ‘Well, what would I do if the circumstances were the same?’.” Cromwell and Clarkson said they didn’t hesitate when asked to be in the film. “It was an honor to be asked,” Clarkson said. “It’s an honor to be a part of this. It’s a tribute to the people who have made the greatest sacrifice ever.” Cromwell said, “it’s good to give back when you’re in a position where it makes a difference, so it was my pleasure.” “Beyond All Boundaries” has been a
highly anticipated attraction at the museum. Also opening Friday are two other museum additions — a canteen that will showcase musical revues inspired by USO-style productions and a restaurant called The American Sector that will be overseen by chef John Besh. To mark the occasion, there will be a military flyover, procession of World War II veterans and entertainer Mickey Rooney is scheduled to perform with his band. The celebration will continue through the weekend with a Victory Stomp block party Saturday and a retrospective honoring the museum’s founder, the late Stephen Ambrose, on Sunday.
Lil Wayne, Birdman hit with copyright suit By jennifer peltz associated press writer
NEW YORK—A Florida man wants rappers Lil Wayne and Birdman to show him respect — for using his voice in an album track called just that. Thomas Marasciullo filed a copyright infringement lawsuit Friday in a Manhattan federal court against the rappers, their record label and various music distribution outlets. The lawsuit said Cash Money Records had him cut some “’Italian-styled’ spoken word recordings” in 2006, then used them without pay or permission on “Respect” and other tracks from the rappers’ joint 2006 album “Like Father, Like Son” and Birdman’s 2007 “5 (Star) Stunna.” A lawyer and representatives
lil’ wayne for Cash Money Records and Universal Music Group, which has a distribution and marketing deal with the label, didn’t immediately return messages Friday. The gold-selling “Like Father,
Like Son” hit the top of the R&B/ hip-hop album chart. Several short tracks that Marasciullo says he wrote, recorded and copyrighted — including “Loyalty” and “Respect” — feature a man’s voice delivering mob-movie-flavored repartee. Among the remarks, from “Loyalty”: “The main name in this game is respect and loyalty. Family is a big thing. When we do this kind of business, everything is with respect.” The lawsuit says Marasciullo’s recordings were used in four tracks on that album and five on “5 (Star) Stunna.” It seeks unspecified damages for Marasciullo, who lives in Florida’s Hernando County. He and his New York lawyer didn’t immediately return telephone calls. Marasciullo discovered his work had been used when
his daughter discovered his “Respect” while trying buy a ring-tone version of the Aretha Franklin classic by the same name, the lawsuit said. His son also became entangled in the case when he was fired from a recording engineer job at Cash Money Records after the father started demanding payment, according to the lawsuit. Birdman, whose real name is Bryan Williams, co-founded Cash Money Records with his brother, Ronald. Grammy-winning Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Carter, has emerged as music’s best-selling star in the last two years, though he now faces a year in jail after pleading guilty last week to attempted illegal weapons possession in a New York case stemming from a police stop of his tour bus in 2007.
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WSSU student wins council seat By james cherry& brittani parker black college wire
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.— Derwin Montgomery, a senior at Winston-Salem State University, won the East Ward seat on the Winston-Salem City Council Tuesday. Montgomery, a native of Hopkins, S.C., won unopposed with 741 votes, despite a write-in campaign to keep incumbent Jocelyn Johnson on the council. Montgomery defeated Johnson in the Democratic primary Sept. 15. “I think it was great,” says Sharrod Patterson, a senior and fellow WSSU student. Patterson compared Montgomery’s political accomplishment to President Obama. “History starts. It started with Obama, and it moved on over to Derwin. And hopefully [we can] keep that student spirit going, voting and actually trying to make a difference.” Montgomery said that he will be sworn in at City Hall, Dec. 7. “I’m excited about the opportunity to serve in this
capacity,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.” Montgomery, a political science major, became the first traditional student in WSSU history be nominated for that position. “I don’t know how to describe what I feel,” Montgomery said the day after the primary election. On campus, Montgomery campaigned with fliers, e-mails, and promotion from student organizations. He also helped register students to vote and started a carpool service to take students to the polls. Student leaders assisted him in carpooling. “I decided to help Derwin take students to the polls,” said Shaun Trotter, senior, exercise science major. “This was a great accomplishment not only for me, but for the social science department and the University as a whole,” Montgomery said. “The political science department, which is a part of Democracy Now, was very encouraging of my campaign.” Montgomery said that the first
Miles hit with probation the ncaa news
photo by the news argus/black college wire
Winston-Salem State student Derwin Montgomery won a seat on the city council Tuesday. The senior political science major won the East Ward seat, and will be sworn in Dec. 7.
issues he plans to address are public safety and economic development. Montgomery holds several leadership roles in campus organizations including Omega Psi, Followers of Christ Under Salvation and the Student
Government Association Student Senate. ——— James Cherry and Brittani Parker write for the News Argus, the WinstonSalem State University student newspaper, which originally published a version of this article.
PV puts hold on intakes after hazing reports By ryan rudd black college wire
In response to the recent events that have taken place on the Prairie View A&M campus, President George C. Wright has placed a moratorium, or temporary hold, on new membership intake processes involving all organizations on campus. Over the course of the past week there have been a number of questions surrounding the death of Donnie Wade on Oct. 20. Some university officials have suspected that the circumstances surrounding Wade’s death might be linked to inappropriate acts that are in violation of the university’s code of conduct. According to recent reports, Wade’s early morning run was part of a process he was being forced to participate in while attempting to join an organization. The university is using this opportunity to review its policies and procedures related to membership intake to make sure it is doing everything feasible to protect the students. Wright said, “In a meeting that took place earlier this summer, I pleaded with all the organizations to make certain
they follow all procedures when conducting the induction process. I feel as if students haven’t complied with my request, because they have chosen to beat around the bush while involving themselves in inappropriate actions.” According to Wright, the Organization Review Board (ORB), made the moratorium decision based upon several critical factors. First, the university thinks that many students don’t see actions that surround hazing as wrong. Secondly, the university thinks that students have created a code of silence against actions of wrongdoing, called “no snitching.” The third factor surrounding the board’s decision was based on a personal concern of the university president. Wright explained, “I am in my seventh year as president here at Prairie View, and in each of 12 semesters I’ve spent here, there has been a complaint or a report made about hazing or inappropriate behavior. We made this decision to ensure that students know how to police themselves when doing extracurricular activities. I’m all for student organizations, if their membership processes are done accordingly.” According to Wright, Wade’s
death hasn’t been the only incident surrounding hazing. At the first home football game last year, the band was inactive due to an investigation related to hazing. Shortly after, eight young women in the band, including one who suffered a concussion, were allegedly hazed by four of their superiors in the band. Months later, Wright said, he received a phone call from a student’s parent making a claim that her child had bruises on his body from hazing by members of an organization he was aspiring to join. Dr. Lauretta F. Byars, vice president for institutional relations and public services, said, “Over the past two semesters, we’ve had a number of incidents surrounding hazing that have been investigated. That led us to believe that despite all of the efforts that we put in place, we needed to review our policies and procedures to make sure they are effective and that students will abide by them.” With the indefinite hold placed on new member inductions into student organizations, it seems as if there won’t be a probate show this fall. However, the hold is not limited to Greek organizations on campus. In
fact, due to the recent decision made by the university, Beta Gamma Sigma a non-Greek organization had to cancel its honor society induction ceremony which was scheduled for Oct. 28. Brandon Green, an LCM from building 43 and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., said, “Our main objective is to assist young men in becoming positive role models. I feel by suspending Greek life on campus, the university is taking away the heritage of our campus and also destroying one of the main attractions of our campus as far as student activities are concerned.” Sheleah Hughes, director of public relations, said, “Seeing how less than five percent of students are involved in MIP related organizations, I don’t think that it will affect the student body much. I hope that this will affect how those who are in Greek organizations and those who strive to be in Greek organizations feel about the pledging process. I feel as if they need to reinvent themselves and form positive structures.” ——— Ryan Rudd writes for The Panther, the Prairie View A&M University student newspaper, which originally published this article.
The NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions has imposed a one-year postseason ban in all sports at Miles College for major violations involving 124 student-athletes and all 10 sports offered by the school. Other penalties include four years of probation until 2013, athletics scholarship reductions, a vacation of records in several sports, a four-year show-cause order for former Athletics Director Augustus James and a three-year show-cause order for a former track coach. From the 2004-05 through 2008-09 academic years, the college allowed 124 studentathletes involved in all 10 sports to practice, compete, receive travel expenses and receive athletically related aid while ineligible. The student-athletes were ineligible for a number of reasons, including failure to meet initial-eligibility, progresstoward-degree and transfer requirements. The violations occurred and remained undetected during the four years due to the failure of the college to have a viable athletics compliance system in place. As the committee continues to emphasize, Division II members are required to devote the resources necessary to affect a thorough and comprehensive campuswide compliance system operated by trained and competent personnel. The case also involves unethical conduct by two members of the athletics department staff. The former track coach directed and knowingly allowed six student-athletes to participate under assumed names during the 2006-07 academic year. In addition, James worked with an administrator at another institution to fabricate results from two women’s outdoor track meets to make it appear that Miles College had enough participants to meet NCAA sport-sponsorship minimums. In addition, the committee found James provided false and misleading information to the NCAA enforcement staff during the investigation. The committee found the college failed to exercise institutional control and monitoring of its athletics program. The school failed to establish a system of monitoring for the eligibility of the student-athletes to practice, compete and receive athletic aid. The college did not have written procedures for certifying the eligibility of initial enrollees, continuing studentathletes and transfers.
VIEWPOINTS
Friday, November 6, 2009 - Page 11
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Well damn! Can’t you drive? SPEAK OUT I’M JUST ASKING STATEMENT
I’M JUST ASKING is for entertainment purposes only. These remarks do not represent the opinions of the DIGEST staff, Southern University or the Office of Student Media Services.
1. Does SU call themselves fixing the streets in the back? 2. Why don’t they just fix the streets? 3. Did you know SUPD get paid to watch DVDs and sleep in their cars at the checkpoint station? 4. How old is it to trick or treat? 5. Who dressed as Cornel West for Halloween? Kofi Lomotey? Lady Gaga? 6. Who still hasn’t received a yearbook from 2008? 7. Did you know TODAY is the last day to drop classes? 8. How many classes will you be dropping? 9. Who’s going to be below full-time and fighting for financial aid next semester? 10. Who scheduled classes for next semester? 11. Who’s waiting for the purge date? 12. How many classes will you drop next semester? 13. Who wants to egg the Kappa House for putting those party promoting flyers on your car? 14. Who makes the final examination schedule? 15. Were they still intoxicated from Halloween? 16. Who is upset about having to study for finals with a hangover from Bayou Classic? 17. Has anyone seen the outfits from so-called “Pretty Wednesday?” 18. What is their definition of “pretty?” Do they own mirrors? 19. Why was the water cut off this past weekend? 20. When are they going to fix the sewage by the apartments?
Well damn! Is it just me or do people in Baton Rouge have NO clue as to how to operate a motor vehicle? Seriously I wonder who gave them their driver’s license. They probably knew the people giving the test. Some of things people do while driving just irk my nerves. If only people would follow simple rules that they SHOULD have learned during Driver’s Education OR through some sort of test. My mother always told me “Driving is a privilege and not a right.” If everyone would follow these simple tips, then there would be no wrecks or a need for those red-light cameras. 1. When about to reach your destination, how hard is it to signal that? Like really there is NO reason you should slow down for no apparent reason then just get off the road? Well damn, how hard is it to pull the lever thingy up or down?? 2. Please do not drive if you have no taillights. That is really annoying! The person behind you cannot see if you are stopping to turn or just stopping. Most likely you will not signal this turn so it makes the person behind you really annoyed… 3. While I am on the
BREANNA PAUL subject of turning, it does not take a COMPLETE stop to make a turn. 4. Just for clarification purposes, pulling the lever DOWN makes the LEFT blinker flash and pushing the lever UP makes the RIGHT blinker flash. Please make sure you turn whichever way you signal. It makes no sense to have the left blinker flash and turn right. 5. When signaling and trying to get into my lane and there is CLEARLY enough room for you to get in and you just sit there riding with your signal on and then when I pull up you honk! 6. When pulling out from a place and there are two lanes and someone is driving in the right lane and there is NO ONE in the left lane and the person in the right lane is clearly going over 50 miles per hour, why do you feel the need to pull out into the right lane going 10 miles per hour? 7. Just because we drive
the same kind of car and are both stopped at a red light does NOT mean that I want to race you. 8. Correct me if I’m wrong but the interstate is also known as the FREEWAY which means no red lights? If this is the case, why do people in the LEFT lane or in any lane for that matter feel the need to stop when there is NOTHING in front of them? 9. Please do not honk at me if I am not driving as fast as you would like me. This is only going to make me drive slower. Oh, and I’m not afraid of your honks, expletives OR middle fingers. 10. People over the age of 60 need to be required to take driver’s test. There is no need for them to be driving and most likely they will be driving slow in the LEFT lane. Don’t they have grandchildren that should be driving them to bingo or to the grocery store? 11. Is it me or does it seem like everyone who does not have insurance tailgate? They need to call State Farm because “like a good neighbor…”. Now these are just a few tips that will help Baton Rouge become one of the best driving cities in the state…maybe even the nation or the world!
What would you like to see on SUTV?” BY justin wooten
Digest photographer
hillary hall new orleans junior mass communication
hall
speakers.”
“I would like to see more activities that take place on campus, like sports highlights and motivational
willie smith new orleans sophomore computer science
smith
“I would like to see more of our on-campus events on SUTV.”
javen smith new orleans senior mass communication
“SUTV should show things smith that happens at Southern, like the stepshows, probates, programs etc.”
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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.edu.
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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.
Page 12 -Friday, November 6, 2009
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