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Volume 72, Issue 1
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Inside this Issue:
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SPORTS WHO’S THE GREATEST QB ? PG. 5
NEWS ELECTION SPOTLIGHT PG. 3
A&E SOUTHERN GOES GLOBAL PG. 9
COMMENTARY ARE AIRPODS WORTH THE HYPE? PG. 11
Sophomore Class President creates internships for students Gabrielle Hutchinson
The Southern Digest
Sophomore class president Chandler Vidrine has initiated an internship placement program open to sophomore students of all majors. Vidrine has partnered with local businesses to offer a variety of internships, including both online and on-site positions, in the Baton Rouge area. “I wanted to make sure that my sophomores were well-prepared for the real world, so I’m trying to get them into those places of business to prepare them for that.” Ideally, every semester completed is one semester closer to a career. Some students may be faced with uncertainty early on or even wait until the junior or senior year to realize that they are in the wrong field. “That is not a bad thing,” Vidrine reassures, “but the majority of them are changing majors because they didn’t know or have direction regarding what their major actually
VIDRINE
entails.” Such was the case for Mathematics major, Aliska Franklin. As a junior, Franklin experienced a change of heart that caused her to choose a better major for herself. “I started out as an Elementary Education major with intentions of teaching upper elementary mathematics; however, as I started taking my 300 level courses, I realized that Elementary Education, in general, was not something I was really interested in,” Franklin shared. Since high school, Franklin has
been working closely with the local Boys and Girls Club of America, where she received hands on experience in elementary education and has developed pertinent skills from inspiring creativity to lesson planning. While it is still in Franklin’s plans, she realized that her previous major would limit her to teaching and stifle her love for Mathematics. Having realized that, Franklin says, “Literally a week before the Spring 2019 semester began, my mind and spirit led me to change my major to Mathematics & Physics with a concentration in Mathematics and a minor in Math Education.” It is Vidrine’s goal to uplift his class and give them the chance to make educated decisions on their career paths. After the application process, applicants will undergo interviews with a panel of upper-class student leaders. Students will then be walked through a series of orientation and trainings with the Department of Student Affairs, “so that we go out
The Legacy of MLK Lives On
The three winners of the 2019 MLK Unity awards from BRCC,Southern University, and LSU stand united in the Cotillion Ballroom on January 24. (Keith Lewis/ DIGEST)
Aliya Creecy
The Southern Digest
On Thursday, January 24, 2019, Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge Community College and Louisiana State University joined together to celebrate and carry on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream of peace and unity. The MLK Unity Reception was held in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union on the campus of Southern University and A&M College. Many individuals who have impacted the community, were given the opportunity to speak about African American history and give motivation to the collegiate students who attended. Introduced by Anthony Kenney, a senior
Mass Communications Major from Baton Rouge, LA and our current SGA President, was guest speaker Dr. Shawn Wilson. Dr. Shawn Wilson currently serves as the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and was chosen as the speaker for his progressive actions toward the enlightenment of the community. Dr. Wilson began his speech by giving credit to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his motivation. “Public service is a passion and there are a lot of people who inspire me and have changed the things that have happened for me and my family and Dr. King is certainly See UNITY page 3
www.southerndigest.com THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
and represent the university to the best of our abilities and respectfully.” Applying and preparing for internships alone can be daunting, but with the help of the Sophomore class, Student Affairs, and even the Department of Career Services, our students can go for it with confidence. There are local companies who are searching for interns, and sophomores are encouraged to consider them regardless of perceived obstacles. “There are internships for everyone, including on-site internships within the city limits and the online programs,” Vidrine explains. This alternative is offered so that students who have heavy class loads or busy work schedules can experience professional training without the hassles of transportation and scheduling. Interns will be paid for their work after placement, and even online interns can earn money by See INTERNSHIPS page 3
Campus Life southerndigest.com
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The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
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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 commentary 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-mailed 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.
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Tutoring Center for Student Success offers free and friendly academic tutoring to SU students seeking to improve or maintain their knowledge base in Math, Chemistry, Biology and Nursing classes. Our centers offer assistance Monday – Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. The learning centers are located in Stewart Hall, Room 155 and Pinchback Hall, 1st Floor. Traffic and Parking Friendly Reminder via the Director of Traffic and Parking: Please ensure all parking tag decals are visible in vehicles, which includes: laying flat on dash or hanging from mirror. If you have more than one tag i.e. commuter decal and handicap, please make sure both are visible. If you are faculty in a reserved spot, please be sure your number matches your parking spot. Miss Southern The time has come to show your Jaguar Pride and vote for Darby Alexis Smith, Miss Southern University and A&M College, as an Ebony Top 10 Campus Queen. Vote daily until January 31, 2019! High School Preview Day Spring High School Preview Day will be held on Feb. 23 at 1pm in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Track and Field Jaguars will race to LSU in Baton Rouge, LA on Feb. 1. Time is TBA. Basketball The women’s and men’s basketball teams will travel to Lorman, MS. on Feb. 2 to take on the Alcorn State Braves. Times are 3pm for women, and 5:30pm for men. Tennis Lady Jags will host the LSU Tigers on Feb. 3 at 5pm.
Study Abroad An informational will be held on Feb. 4 at 2pm in room 121 of the Honors College. Intramural Basketball Deadline for men and women interested in playing basketball is January 31, 2019. Stop by the intramural complex for more information. Art Gallery The Visual and Performing Arts Gallery will host “Exploring the Medium” from Jan. 31-Feb. 28. Opening night is Jan. 31 from 6pm-8pm in Frank Hayden Hall. Regular hours are Mon.-Thurs. From 10am-4pm. Mardi Gras Gala Southern University will host its annual Mardi Gras Gala on Feb. 13 from 8pm-12:30am at the Baton Rouge Marriott. Tickets are on sale now. Career Services Career Services Center is hosting the JCPenny Suit Up Fashion Show on Jan. 30 at 6pm in Hayden Hall. Spring Career Exploration Day will be held on Feb. 20 from 10am-3pm in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Save an extra 40% on during the JCPenny Suit-Up at the Mall of Louisiana on Feb. 10 from 5pm-8pm. Computer Science SU Dept. of Computer Science is hosting 50 Years of Computing from Feb. 21-Feb. 23. Call to Visual Arts Students are invited to submit artwork for the SUBR Campus Wide Invitational Student Art Exhibition Visual Arts Gallery/Frank
Hayden Hall Spring Semester March 14 – April 11, 2019 **SUBR Visual Arts faculty members will select from submitted artwork for the exhibit.** Timetable: Tuesday, February 12, 2019- Artwork due for judging - Deadline is 5:00 p.m. - Bring original artwork to Robert Cox, 22A Frank Hayden Hall or email high quality jpegs to robert_ cox@subr.edu - With your submissions, include your name, phone number, email, major, classification, title of artwork, year of artwork completion, medium, and dimensions. - Measurements for two dimensional (2D) work - height x width - Three dimensional (3D) work height x wide x depth Monday, February 18, 2019- Pick up all submitted artwork (accepted and rejected) by 5:00 p.m. - Artists will also be notified by email of artwork accepted for the exhibition Wednesday, March 6, 2019- Deliver accepted artwork for the exhibit to Robert Cox, 22A Frank Hayden Hall, no later than 5:00 p.m. - 2D artwork must be framed (with wire for hanging) - 3D artwork must be stable to sit or stand on its own without falling over Exhibition Dates: March 14 – April 11, 2019 Opening Reception: Thursday, March 14, 6-8 p.m. Contact for advice or any assistance regarding your artwork: Robert Cox Gallery Director Visual Arts Gallery 22A Frank Hayden Hall Office: 225.771.4103 Email: robert_cox@subr.edu
News southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - Page 3
Southern University + United States Election Spotlight Keenon Glover
The Southern Digest
As we come into the second month of 2019, the Student Government Association will be seeing their elections go under way. Currently, the SGA is led in the Executive Branch by President Anthony Kenney and Vice President Lela Murdock. These changes in leadership will be vital to the Southern experience, therefore we decided to ask a few students about their own perspectives of what should change here. One Nursing major expressed her concerns around her program. “I’ve been really concerned with how little success many people have in the Nursing program. I would like if we had more resources so there wouldn’t be such small numbers of us succeeding.” Ashley, a Sociology major, explained, “I think I would like to see some sort of event where they pull together the INTERNSHIP from page 1 commission, Vidrine says. When asked about the value of an internship, especially as early as possible, sophomore student Falon Gant fondly recalls a film internship she attended in New York, City. “My film internship really helped me believe that I can be successful in this field because of how much passion I have towards filmmaking” Gant began. Following her passion for filmmaking and directing, she applied for an internship and eventually went as far as to film and direct her first short film in Los Angeles at the Warner Brothers grounds. Without that, she would never have gained the experience or network needed to put herself out into the field with confidence. Both Franklin and Gant ventured out and secured opportunities for themselves, but now sophomore students can look forward to the same with some guidance.
less acknowledged majors to help us get a better sense of a career path.” A list of candidates who pass the SGA entrance exam will be made public on March 1, followed by the reading of election results on March 23. This upcoming election may be an interesting one for the student body of Southern University, but this is definitely not the most tense election on the horizon. Since election of Donald Trump as President in 2016, there has been a steady trickle down effect of political upset and uncertainty as to what the future U.S. Presidential elections, which will occur in 2020, may hold for this country. Trump’s favorability rating has hung at barely 41% since this time last year, leading many to believe that the next president may be one of the seven possible Democratic nominees. The most popular candidates have been Elizabeth Warren
- who ran for vice president under Hillary Clinton in the previous election - and Senator Kamala Harris of California. Harris is the second Black woman to be elected to senate, as well as the second Black woman to run for presidential candidacy, following Shirley Chisholm in 1972. If Harris wins, this will make her the first African American woman - as well as woman in general - to become the president of the United States. Recently, Harris has been largely criticized for her controversial stances on police reform, transgender rights issues and accusations of pandering to African Americans for candidacy support. Outside of these nominees, it has been speculated that Joe Biden - former vice president to President Barack Obama will announce his candidacy. Biden stated during his book tour stop in Missouri that, “I
think I’m the most qualified person in the country to be president. The issues that we face as a country today are the issues that I’ve worked on my whole life — the plight of the middle class and foreign policy.” Within the upcoming months, the discussion of who will be best fit to lead this country will definitely intensify, and so will the competition between these figures. The White House has been stage for abrupt events such as the investigation into possible treason involving the Russian government or the ominous death of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey - that will hold weight in these politicians’ credibility. Will we see a new era of American politics with the rise of the first Black woman as our president, our will the “Red Wave” of right-wing politics change the face of our democracy as we know it?
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UNITY from page 1 one of them.” Kenney recalls, “Dr. Wilson has been a timeless advocate for new revenue, maximizing federal dollars available to Louisiana, advancing the balance and comprehensive transportation policy for Louisiana and ensuring the Department is more collaborative in its works at every level.” Wilson elaborated on the importance of unity at institutions of higher learning. He mentioned the word “together” several times as he believes it is a “key element” in the theme which was The Dreams: Peace & Unity He celebrates peace and unity, “not just among our peers, but among communities, political affiliation, and institutions of higher learning.” Dr. Shawn Wilson, a few selected students who have demonstrated leadership and have contributed to the community received awards. Josie Alexander, a senior Psychology major at Southern University from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, received the Unsung Hero Award. In Alexander’s younger years, she recalls working with local community groups at her middle school. When asked about the moment she realized that there was a need for change, the Baton Rouge native responded by saying, “There was this one guy that I worked with. I told him what I wanted to be and he laughed.” The guy then told her, “Good luck at Southern University.” It was at that point in her life that she realized there were cultural biases that she would have to face. In spite of the negativity, she pushed forward and promoted peace in her community; as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “True peace is not nearly the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice.” Alexander has since been recognized for her work in the community and with her organization My Sister’s Keeper. She was found to be the “perfect person” to uphold the organization. Jasmine Elliott, a mass communication major from Baton Rouge, LA responded to a question about freedom. She feels that “freedom has been lacking” and that together we should “take action.” Elliot also encourages her peers to exercise their rights and vote. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired many and continues to be the driving force that motivates all communities to come together for peace and unity today, tomorrow and forever.
Sports southerndigest.com
Page 4 - Tuesday, January 29, 2019
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
An Inside Look at Sports Medicine at Southern University Dante Davis
The Southern Digest
“Better habits create better results.” As the Southern University Athletic Department comes off of a successful football season, it is hard to argue those words said by the newly promoted Athletic Director of Sports Medicine,
WORD
William Word, regarding the way that athletes take care of their bodies. Prior to the start of his tenure in August of 2017, the number of athletic trainers in the entire athletic department was only two. Two trainers were responsible for over three hundred fifty student athletes. This was one of the first things that Word addressed when he was hired, “Right off the bat, I wanted to make sure that we had some more hands.” Since then, the athletic department has added four additional trainers to its staff bringing the total up to six, with five of the staff having Masters in Sports Medicine, with plans on adding a seventh member. An understaffed training staff, however, wasn’t the only problem that Word knew that he had to tackle. The lack of any structured nutritional program or regime for the student athletes was another major point of emphasis for him, “The student athletes here didn’t take care of their
bodies as much as at other programs I had been at.” Word has since addressed this problem by helping the student athletes manage their time better and by educating them on the importance of proper nutrition and hydration as these are essential for peak physical performance, especially so for those athletes with aspirations of competing at the next level, “You[Student Athletes] got to this level somehow some way so make time and organize your schedule so that you can take care of your body.” Advising student athletes on how to take care of their bodies is not the only job that athletic trainers do as, unfortunately, injuries are very much apart of sports. Trainers are responsible for making sure that athletes are able to return to competition at one hundred percent or as Word notes, “From doctor’s visits to rehab, we are with the student athlete every step of the way.”
Utilizing some of the newest and best technology, the trainers are able to better combat the physical strain that competition puts on the body. While touring the training facility, Word showed off some new equipment like the Recovery Normatec Boots and a series of massage guns that are both meant to reduce muscle tension and swelling. With basketball season in full swing and the Spring season of competition right around the corner, Southern University Department of Sports Medicine continues to strive to become a more experienced and a better equipped department in order to better assist on field play as “Better habits create better results.” As aforementioned, Department of Sports Medicine is looking to hire an additional intern. If you are interested, submit a cover letter, a resume, and at least three professional references to William_Word@subr.edu.
Chopped:
Saints’ season ends in controversy Garland Johnson
The Southern Digest
The Saints were on fire winning 10 games in a row and finished the regular season with a 13-3 record tying the franchises best since 2009, the year they won it all. On Sunday, January 20th, the New Orleans Saints had a chance to repeat history against the LA Rams in a highly anticipated NFC Championship game. The Saints had home field advantage and were the favorite to win against a team that they had previously defeated in Week 9 of the regular season with a score of 45-35 thanks to high powered offense with weapons Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas leading the way. Early in the game the Saints managed to gain a 13-0 in the first quarter but the Rams were able to close the gap to 20-17 entering the 4th quarter. The Rams tied the game 20-20 and with 5 minutes remaining in the game, the Saints offense were able to get inside of the of the Rams 15 yard line after Ted
Ginn caught a long bomb. On 3rd and 10, Drew Brees threw a pass to Tommy Lee Lewis and before he could make the catch, he was lit up by Ram’s defender Nickell Robey-Coleman four yards in front of the ball and was not penalized for pass interference. That particular call would have potentially set the Saints up for 1st and goal and a trip to the Super Bowl. Eventually the Saints would settle for a field goal and the Rams would then kick a field goal on the proceeding drive sending the game into overtime where they win 26-23 after another clutch kick. “Rams complaining about how refs didn’t call some of our penalties as well but it don’t matter. Stuff that could’ve gotten penalized was small stuff compared to [what they got away with].” said Devin Raby, a sophomore civil engineering major from Baton Rouge Louisiana. The blatant no call quickly became popular and stirred up a lot of controversy around the league. The missed call
FILE-In this Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 file photo, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis (11) works for a catch against Los Angeles Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman (23) during the second half the NFL football NFC championship game, in New Orleans. The Rams won 26-23. New Orleans Saints fans have found some pretty creative ways to express their displeasure over the infamous “no call” during last weekend’s Saints-Rams championship game. But their newest tactic may make the loudest statement - a Super Bowl boycott. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
was collectively viewed as unacceptable by fans and players as the whole world watched and saw the Saints robbed of a chance to advance to the Super Bowl. Many players around the league commented on the no call including Rams defensive back and the culprit on the play Nickell Robey-Coleman whom admitted that the call should have been made. Some even feel as though the Rams shouldn’t be representing the NFC in the big game because
they are merely on the right side of a wrong no call. “You have to look at what could we have done to not even put ourselves in that position…..For this game, you’re going to look at it and be like, ‘What could we have done better?’ Had we been up by 13 and continued putting points on the board, we’d have made that like the first time we played Philly.” said Saints defensive end Cam Jordan in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio.
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Saints veteran TE Benjamin Watson called out Goodell on his silence and explains that it is detrimental to the integrity of the NFL and disrespectful for not addressing the fans. The issue has deeply affected the NFL’s credibility and fairness of the game, and will likely live on in the world of sports for years to come. In the words of Saints head coach Sean Payton, the Saints will have to use this season’s ending “find the will to make yourself better.”
VISIT: GOJAGSPORTS.COM
Sports southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - Page 5
Sports Commentary
Who’s the Greatest Quarterback of All-Time Garland Johnson
The Southern Digest
The quarterback is without a doubt the most important position on the field. When it comes to the conversation of who is the “GOAT” at the position, it is controversial and one can make an argument for many candidates. As can be expected however, that title isn’t handed to just anyone. NFL legends such as Joe Montana, Dan Marino, and Steve Young are some of the greatest in their era and have paved a way for greats in the modern era. The game has changed and the next generation of quarterbacks at the time such as Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning have surpassed the legends in many ways. These players have risen above the rest with stellar on field performance throughout the years and have proven to be the main four candidates to be considered the best.
With so many great quarterbacks, there are several areas that should be examined. Personal stats are commonly looked at first when comparing players. Drew Brees recently surpassed Peyton Manning for the top spot on the all-time passing yards list and has a firm lead over Brady who owns the number 4 spot. Drew Brees is also the only QB with multiple 5,000 yard seasons than any other quarterback and also is dubbed the most accurate quarterback of all time, setting the NFL’s completion percentage record three times in his career and has the most completions in history. Manning, Brees, and Brady, in that order, have the most passing touchdowns. If the award was given to the player with the best stats, Brees would blow the competition out the water with nearly every passing record in the books. The thing that makes Tom Brady or Peyton Manning better is their ability to win
DIGEST ART
games. Tom Brady has the highest win percentage (77.5%) and also has the most regular season wins surpassing Peyton manning for first place in both areas. This makes Brady the most winningest player ever to play the QB position. Winning is the most important part of any game and Tom Brady knows how to get it done. Brady has been to 10 straight postseasons and has the most playoff wins with 29. The most
A Life in the Paint Alesha Bethea
The Southern Digest
For professional and collegiate programs all over the country, the field of play and the impression it leaves has always been a major point of observation and media banter throughout sports history. That same pride can be seen from Southern University’s own A.W. Mumford Stadium and it’s own one of a kind field painter. Since 1981, Mr. Donnie Williams has been keeping the sports fields on Southern University’s campus among the upper echelon of SWAC football sports fields. The soon to be 59 year old field painter started painting the field in high school, and has served in his role ever since. When asked if he plans on ever fully retiring, Williams replied simply, “I’ll keep going until I can’t no more,”. Currently, he continues his field painting career at Baker High School, however he’s been painting the fields of several high schools within the Baton Rouge community for 38 years. Although his favorite fields to paint are football fields, Williams paints everything from soccer fields, baseball pitches, as well as softball fields. While Williams genuinely likes his job, he noted that the pay for
doing something he loves is just an added bonus. Williams has traveled with Southern’s football team to help carry equipment throughout the years as well, and while he likes all of the football coaches he’s worked with, Pete Richardson was without a doubt his favorite. With all of the experience that Mr. Williams has painting fields, he comments how nowadays “It’s just like pieces of a puzzle” to him. With he himself having been taught the craft at a young age, Mr. Williams mused that he wouldn’t mind teaching a dedicated young man the skill. More than anything else, field painting is a difficult job to complete because it’s so meticulous. It requires approximately seven gallons of paint, which is pricey in those amounts, to get the job done. That’s not including the equipment needed to get the best results possible for the project. Needless to say, it’s important to hire a competent and well versed field painter, a.k.a., someone like our own Mr. Donnie Williams. “The field is a really big deal to alot of schools, especially HBCUs. [So] for somebody to have been around doing the job for so long is really cool.” said Ryan White, a junior civil engineering major from New Orleans, Louisiana.
important factor that makes a quarterback great is winning the Super Bowl. Brady has five championship rings (5-3 in Super Bowl), Manning has two (2-2), and Brees has one (1-0) Brady alongside Belichick have produced the most championship runs than any other organization in the last 20 years. There are many arguments and cases for these quarterbacks but the people’s choice to be the GOAT would
ultimately be Brady because of his ability to simply win games. Winning and championships hold more value than stats according to most people. It is accurate to say that all are equal in skillset, playing styles, and stats but the number of Super Bowl titles give Tom Brady the edge over the other candidates. He has the most Super bowl titles by any player ever making him a unanimous GOAT.
Photos of the Week southerndigest.com
Page 6 - Tuesday, January 29, 2019
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Torrence Hatch aka Lil Boosie discusses life, music, his past and more during the “Microphone Check Live” event hosted by Southern University’s Student Government Association and Spotify in the Cotillion Ballroom on January 28. (A’Yanna Muigua/DIGEST)
Freshman guard, Isaiah Rollins pulls up for a jumpshot against Mississippi Valley on Monday, January 21 at the F.G. Clark Activity Center. (Bailie Boyd/DIGEST)
Trey McCray, senior social work major from Amite, LA and Alana Stevenson, senior rehabilitation major from Monroe, LA, sing a duet entitled “Best Part” by Daniel Caesar at the Phrozen Lounge event hosted by the Beta Sigma chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in the Cotillion Ballroom on January 22. (A’Yanna Muigua/DIGEST)
Senior guard, Courtney Parson shoots a floater over two Mississippi Valley defenders on January 22 inside F.G. Activity Center. (Bailie Boyd/DIGEST)
Torrence Hatch, better known as Lil Boosie, is interviewed by Ali Shaheed Muhammed and Frannie Kelley during “Microphone Check Live” event hosted by Southern University’s Student Government Association and Spotify in the Cotillion Ballroom on January 28. (A’Yanna Muigua/DIGEST)
Photos of the Week southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Southern University’s SGA President Anthony Kenny, joins LSU’s Student body President Stewart Lockett and BRCC SGA President Lindsey Harrell in signing the commitment of unity to unify the three institutions of Baton Rouge in the Cotillion Ballroom on January 24. (Keith Lewis/DIGEST)
Southern University Students participate in park beautification at the 5th Annual MLK Fest in Baton Rouge, La on January 21. (Aliya Creecy/DIGEST)
Education majors listen to the keynote speaker during the College of Education’s Convocation ceremony on Wednesday, January 23 in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union inside the Lakefront Room. (Da’Ravia Douglas/DIGEST)
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - Page 7
Southern University students participate in park beautification at the 5th Annual MLK Fest in Baton Rouge, La on January 21. (Aliya Creecy/DIGEST)
President-Chancellor Ray Belton addresses the attendees at the 2019 MLK Unity Awards Ceremony held in the Cotillion Ballroom on January 24. (Keith Lewis/DIGEST)
Jeemekkio Holliway looks at himself in the mock casket during the Level Up event in the Cotillion Ballroom on January 23. (Sydney Brown/DIGEST)
Arts & Entertainment southerndigest.com
Page 8 - Tuesday, January 29, 2019
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Say Yes to the Dress: Southern University’s Newspaper Wedding Dresses Tribute Alesha Bethea
“We really need to be friendly to the environment and not just throw stuff away”
The Southern Digest
Associate Dean, of the College of Sciences and Agriculture, Doze Butler’s Family and Consumer Sciences design class went full bridal mode when creating the wedding dresses made of newspaper. Apart of a series, the wedding dresses were the student’s fourth and final project of their fall semester so it’s no wonder they went out in style. All of the projects that the class worked on were based around the theme of sustainability. Ms. Doze Butler was inspired by New York Fashion Week’s 2018 winners who all utilized the same theme of sustainability in their fashion designs. Ms. Butler reminds students, “We really need to be friendly to the environment and not just throw stuff away”. For project one the class made dresses out of any five recyclable materials. Project two required the students to take second hand denim and enhance it. In project three, recycled books were used to make knick knacks and small appliances such as
- Doze Butler Associate Dean, College of Sciences and Agriculture
Dresses created by SU Family and Consumer Science (FACS) students currently on display in the John B. Cade Library. Sydney Brown/DIGEST
jewelry boxes and lamps. For their final project the class was asked to make wedding dresses from old newspapers. So, why wedding dresses? Ms. Doze Butler, who does all of the projects with her students, came across an article detailing the tragic and untimely death of Lashuntae
Benton and Annette January, two Southern University female athletes who were murdered at a party near LSU. Stricken by the tragedy, Ms. Butler was immediately moved to create wedding dresses in their honor. Ms. Butler tells the Digest, “It’s a tribute to them because
they’ll never have a chance to get married,” For Ms. Butler’s own dress design she uses only newspaper articles from the edition in which the young ladies’ story was published. Since the wedding dresses were a class project, they had a few requirements: all of the dresses had to be long,
they must all incorporate a veil, and each student had to write a paper detailing their inspiration for their dress design. Ms. Doze also pushed for consistency in her students’ work, so each dress uses a different but specific edition of the archived Southern Digest newspapers. Service learning students De’Ja Overton and Keith K. Taylor were tasked with retrieving what ultimately amounted in several bundles of newspapers everyday along with creating their own wedding dresses. Although the students were allotted three class periods to design their wedding dresses, many hours were spent outside of the classroom to complete the task. The Digest See FACS page 10
Phrozen Lounge Open Mic Night Kiyanna Givens
The Southern Digest
Last Tuesday, The Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity hosted their very own open mic night titled The PHrozen Lounge. A couple of weeks prior to the event, a flyer was posted on their social media (@ BetaSigmaAlphas) seeking talent and made apparent that others who might not have seen this post would be allowed to sign up for participation on-site. Aside from the live performances, there was also artwork displayed throughout the entirety of the event. Refreshments were served at this event as well. The smell of buttery popcorn and the sweet scent of Krispy Kreme’s donuts filled the air as everyone settled down in anticipation of the first performance. The first talent to hit the stage was a 20 year old music major named Audi Watson from New Orleans, Louisiana
(Twitter: @Shawty_Audi5k). She performed an original song named “Slip” that the audience received very well. A junior, mass communications major named Jalon Jones sang one of his original songs. Featured on his Soundcloud, J. Jones, he performed “Come Over” and stated that he was, “Very excited, yet nervous to sing in front of the crowd.” A duet that consisted of SGA’s Theodore Mccray (IG:@King.Couture_) and Alana Stevenson, winner of Ms. Black and Gold sang Daniel Caesar’s “Best Part”. Later on in the show, Alana performed “Dangerously in Love” by Beyonce(IG:@ awesome_alana15). Next up, a poet by the name of Jared White did some spoken word. He decided to do two of his poems, both of which the crowd enjoyed. A lot of the women in the audience really enjoyed his poem called “Librarian”. See PHROZEN page 10
Chelci Lamb, a senior music performance major from Houston, TX, sings “Never Enough” by Loren Allred duing the Phrozen Lounge event hosted by the Beta Sigma chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in the Cotillion Ballroom on January 22. (A’Yanna Muigua/DIGEST)
Arts & Entertainment southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - Page 9
STUDENT FEATURE
Finding his niche to success
Southern University student opens up about his road to entreprenuership, future ambitions and more
BUTLER Najeri Evans
The Southern Digest
One of Southern University’s own, Sophomore, Khemani Butler doubles as a local small business owner. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Business Management major customizes shoes and clothing. A considerable ambassador of Southern, Butler attended Southern
Courtesy Khemani Butler
Lab while dually enrolled in college classes. With compliments of his business classes, the artist says they help with the simplicity in running a business. Always having wanted to own a
business, Khemani’s future plans now include opening his own real estate business in addition to a sneaker shop. One of his popular shoes being a blue and yellow
Southern detailed Van, Butler prices the process at $35, provided the shoes. Most of his products are priced depending on the simplicity or complexity of the design, the average price for a customized shirt being
Courtesy Khemani Butler
$30, provided the shirt. First creating in the Summer of 2016, Butler learned to customize shoes watching a YouTube video. See FEATURE page 10
Southern goes global
International Affairs gives students more opportunities to study aboard Diamond Butler
The Southern Digest
Once in a while, there is a time in a person’s life when they want to travel and see the world, especially during their college years. The program for this opportunity is the studying abroad program. At Southern University, every year students are given a chance to study in countries such as France, China, Spain, and other amazing countries. Through this program, students get to gain a perspective on another culture, improve on any foreign language skills, gain good resume material and can learn more about themselves. Zaria Munson, a Freshman Political Science major comments that from this experience. “They would be able to experience out of the country travel, learn more about other people from other places, and learn about different cultures other than our own.” A sophomore Southern University student, who wishes to remain anonymous, agrees saying “This will give others a chance to break out of their comfort zones.” This year Southern University students have the chance to study in
Brazil, Senegal, Belize, and Ghana. Brazil is a country, mostly known for its vibrant forest and Amazon River, located in South America. Brazil is also home to a variety of animals, grand cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and to five Football World Cup championship wins. This beautiful country has a diverse culture, religions, music and culinary. Another nation on the list for the study abroad program is Senegal. Senegal is a popular location in West Africa along the coast of the North Atlantic Ocean and is full of dynamic markets and musical culture. This destination has stunning architecture, beaches, and wildlife. The most famous city of Senegal is its capital Dakar where it is full of invigorating nightclubs, bustling markets, and beautiful beaches. The third location on the list for the opportunity to study abroad is Belize. Belize is a small country located in Central America and is another place known for its distinct nature. Spoken in Belize is a mixture of various See ABROAD page 10
” Jamie the Jaguar” - Courtesy International Affairs
Arts & Entertainment southerndigest.com
Page 10 - Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Michael Jackson family condemns new documentary on accusers Andrew Dalton AP Entertainment LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson’s family members said Monday that they are “furious” that two men who accuse him of sexually abusing them as boys have received renewed attention because of a new documentary about them. The family released a statement denouncing “Leaving Neverland,” a documentary film featuring Jackson accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck that premiered last week at the Sundance Film Festival and is set to air in the spring on HBO and the U.K.’s Channel 4. “Michael always turned the other cheek, and we have always turned the other cheek when people have gone after members of our family — that is the Jackson way,” the statement said. “But we can’t just stand by while this public lynching goes on.... Michael is not here to defend himself, otherwise these allegations would not have been made.” The family points out that Jackson was subjected to a thorough investigation which included a surprise raid of his home, the Neverland Ranch, but was still acquitted at his criminal trial in 2005, in a case involving another young man. Robson testified at that trial, saying he had slept in Jackson’s room many times, but that Jackson had never molested him. Safechuck made similar statements to investigators as a boy. Jackson died in 2009. Both men filed lawsuits in 2013 saying stress and trauma had forced them to face the truth and admit they were sexually abused. The suits have been thrown out on technical grounds but are under appeal. The film’s director Dan Reed has said he has no doubts about the men’s validity. The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, which Robson and Safechuck have done on multiple occasions. The family insists that truth and evidence are on their side. “We are proud of what Michael Jackson stands for,” the statement said.
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
FEATURE from page 9 Wanting a pair of Gucci Huaraches without a source of income at 16, they were his first project. He describes them as a pair of “black huaraches with a green and red Gucci color scheme, comfortable shoe, modern/ sporty look.” Khemani’s favorite among his collection are a “Van with a sharp tooth design, with a Bape star, very colorful, creative, bright.” Butler brainstorms and contemplates thoroughly before putting his concepts on paper. Taking a lot of his inspiration from everyday life and internet culture, he remarks, “a lot of times clients have their ideas and I just try to bring it to life for them.” Khadijah Al-Uqdah, Sophomore Criminal Justice major from Inglewood, California compliments his work, “All of his
custom designs look clean... some of them are simple, but still catch your eye enough to notice it’s something unique. I really like how he’s designed shoes for certain organizations and schools, you don’t see too many things like that.” Outside of customs, the Baton Rouge native also sketches and paints, creating typically canvas paintings. “The first shirt I ever designed was a shirt that I took two different color shirts and cut them in half and stitched them together and then I just probably drew like a lightning bolt on it,” Khemani revealed. Gaining most of his support from social media and word of mouth, Butler can be found on both Instagram and Twitter @ manikustoms.
FACS from page 8 spoke with student Brittany Mixon, a 22-year-old fashion design major from New Orleans, who informs us, “Creating is about sticking to who you are and digging deep into yourself.” Ms. Mixon’s wedding dress showcases her “eccentric and vivacious” style which can be further admired through her clothing brand, Euphoria. William Waddell, a sophomore biology major from Oakland, California fawns, “I don’t know if I want to read them or wear them.” These passionate and purposeful wedding dresses will remain on display until March.
ABROAD from page 9 languages like English, Spanish, Garifuna, and Creole. The final location on the list for the study abroad program is Ghana. Once known as the “Gold Coast,” Ghana, is another place located in West Africa. This land has a vibrant culture filled with sunny beaches, exotic wildlife, and fantastic national parks. It is also known for its music, markets, stylish hotel, vibrating street life, and football games. Students are going to be able to visit places like Kakum National Park, National Monuments, and the Wli Waterfalls. Along with beautiful attractions, there is an energetic nightlife. Attractions feature the Easy Track neighborhood, dance clubs, wetland sites,
botanic gardens, and restaurants. Lakeshian Taylor, a 20-year-old sophomore, advises for any students interested in the program to “talk to someone who has done it and to make friends.” The travel dates for will be from May 11 to June 1, 2019. For additional information, students visit or call the Center for International Education, which is on the second floor of the J. S. Clark Administration Annex or email Dr. Nadia Gadson. Her email address is nadia_gadson@subr.edu. There will be an informational meeting on February 4, 2019, at 2 pm in Room 121 of the Honor’s College.
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PHROZEN from page 8 “She is a work of art, she is the rainbow in the sky after the clouds split to wash away a world of imperfections...I found myself searching in a library called life, in the section of love”. When asked his inspiration for the poem later that night, Jared stated that, “I wrote this poem for my girlfriend back when we made two years and I wanted to do something special for her.” One performance surprised the crowd as Chelci “CeCe Soul” Lamb took the stage. Chelci is a junior and member of The Human Jukebox. Last week she decided to show one her hidden talents by singing Never Enough from the motion pictures production, “ The Greatest Showman.”. A senior by the name of Lisa sang Chasing Pavements By Adele. Lisa Smith, member of the First Year Experience mentoring Program here on campus that helps students become more familiar with the campus and intended majors. Another singer named Dylan Robinson (IG: @TheRealdyl__) sang that night as well. His song of choice was Changes by H.E.R. and before going on he said,” this is my first time singing in front of a crowd on campus and I am very excited.” The PHrozen Lounge was one of the first events on campus this semester that gave many a chance to showcase their skills and talents in front of live audience.
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Commentary southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - Page 11
Kamala 2020? Maybe Logan Williams
The Southern Digest Recently on January 21, 2019, Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for president of the united states in 2020. She is an African- American woman from the state of California and is a graduate of an HBCU in Howard University in Washington, DC. While she is the only know person to announce that she will be running for president, her candidacy has been called into question by her track record as a district attorney in the Oakland area from 1990 to 1998. In this day and age when most people get their news from social media sites like Twitter and Instagram where people may or may not read the article and only read the headline, its easy to believe everything from sources that aren’t credible. Harris has supported topics such as Medicare for
all people, the legalization of marijuana, and has worked on lowering taxes for the middle class americans. In this day in age we can’t vote for someone just because they are black. We have to make the right decision for what will better the country. As for all the candidates that will be running for president in both the democratic and republican you must look at their track record throughout their careers. Weather they where a governor, a senator, an attorney general, and even a businessman you must look at what they will do to help the country progress. When Harris was Attorney General in California, she expanded the POST program which addressed racial bias. She also launched a program called OpenJustice, which was a platform that allowed people to track the killings by police officers. Her candidacy comes into question
when her office did things such as fight the release of prisoners even after the supreme court found that overcrowding prisons was unconstitutional. She changed her stance on the death penalty and sometimes didn’t hold the police accountable in police shootings After doing my research, her record a DA in the bay area of California was pretty good but as attorney general it could’ve been better. Kamala Harris obviously has a chance to make history but will she be the right person for the job? Will she be the one to move this country forward or will she set us back farther than we already are? Before you vote in 2020 make sure you do your research on the candidate and make an informed decision on who you would want to run the country.
Are AirPods Worth the Hype? Leah Williams and Johnna Johnson
The Southern Digest Does NOT having AirPods make you broke? According to social media, yes, it absolutely does. It’s crazy, $159 for some earphones is just completely out of pocket. Beats by Dre or Bose wireless earphones are different, because those actually have the sound quality worth paying that price. Jokingly calling people broke for not having a pair of AirPods is funny, but don’t some of y’all rely on refund checks from your loans to pay your bills? That sounds broke to me, but that’s none of my business though. My $30 apple headphones work just fine. Yeah, sometimes the regular headphones are annoying, don’t get me wrong. I don’t know which one I hate more, when my headphones get all tangled up, or when I’m walking with them in and they get caught on to something. One thing my $30 headphones can do that your $159 ones can’t do is catch my phone. If I drop it while my headphones are in, that wire will catch it before it hits the ground. What will your $159 Airpods do? I’ll answer that for you, they’ll let your phone hit the ground and crack. You can’t even pause your music, change the song, or change the volume with without
having to pull your phone out or talk to Siri. Then, don’t even get me started on the fact that y’all have to charge them to even use them. Overall, AirPods are on my top ten list of the most pointless “investments” I’ve ever heard of. Airpods have definitely taken over the headphone community since its release date back in 2016. While some find it unnecessary to have, others find it very useful and helpful throughout their busy schedules. The $160 wireless headphones had an internal battery that provides more than 24 hours of listening time per charge. If you’re an owner of an Apple Iphone 7 or newer, it doesn’t come with a headphone jack anymore, making airpods more useful. Airpods also connect to your icloud, making it more difficult for theft, but easier to connect to your other devices that you have connected to your iCloud. The most asked question about airpods is “ What happens if I lose one?” You can always just buy one earpod if you just happen to lose one. Though, if on a phone call or listening to music, and one comes out, it will instantly stop the music. Airpods on college campuses are becoming more relevant everyday. Freshman student here at Southern
“ALL THINGS NEW” Sonja Bell Current SU Student Happy New Year and Welcome Back! It’s 2019... A new year and a new semester! What a blessing it is to be here! I heard my Pastor say, “All Things New!,” which was the title of his message shared in service. Those words stuck with me, and just a few days later more inspiring words such as “new hope”, “new opportunities”, and “new determination” began to resonate with me. Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is
the courage to continue that counts.” So, I rejoice in my past successes and I let go of the failures of yesterday. It’s a new day to move forward into new things. Of course, I learn from my experiences good or bad; they help me to grow. However, I can’t allow missing the mark on a goal from last semester/year stop me. As Philippians 3:13 says, “I am forgetting those things which are behind me and reaching ahead…, for new opportunities and goals.” In order to do this, we cannot carry stress, fear or anxiety. We must travel light in this semester. I can’t tell you how many times God has come through for me. During
University, Kevin Jarrell who is an owner of airpods said, “I love my airpods. I love the fact that they are wireless and easy accessible. I can now charge my phone and listen to music at the same time now that I have them.” Another student, Senior Jocelyn Bellephant said,” I love that you can speak on the phone with ease and there’s no constraint with strings.” If you don’t own airpods you’re definitely missing out on all of the hype. But you still have time , because the Airpods 2 are on the way this way!
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moments when I panicked, he worked everything out. I’m encouraged to know there is no need to be intimidated. We are here, at Southern University, for a purpose. Let’s get the skills, the degree and the experiences of growth to help us become better for our purpose. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! We are not alone. We have the strength of God and the support of family, friends, faculty and fellow students. It’s going to be a great semester! “ALL THINGS NEW… LET’S GO SU!”
Career Services southerndigest.com
Page 12 - Tuesday, January 29, 2019
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
CAREER SERVICES CENTER
EVENT CENTER
The Professional Development and Leadership Institute is a conference intended to develop students’ professional and leadership skills. The two-day event is organized by the Career Services Center in partnership with local and national companies. Students who attend this event will have an experience that will empower them to reach their full potential. • Panel discussions with corporate recruiters, human resource managers, alumni, and senior leaders • Professional development workshops on career related topics • Seminar sessions on dining etiquette, resume writing, attire, credit, and banking • Networking opportunities • Interview preparation for summer internship opportunities To register for this special two-day event, complete the online registration at www.subr.edu/careerservices and click on the Professional Development and Leadership Institute tab. Contact the Career Services Center for additional information at 225-771-2200. Registration is mandatory. Participating students must attend both days (Friday and Saturday). Space is limited. Day 1 12 Noon - 4:00 PM, February 8th (Attire: Business Professional - Suit Up For Success) Day 2 8:00 AM - 12 Noon, February 9th (Attire: Business Casual) Registration Deadline: February 6, 2019 “Preparing Students for the Workforce”
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