Today
Friday
62/38
63/39
Saturday
Sunday
67/49
68/44
Exclusive content
Thursday, January 31, 2013
INSIDE news CAmPus brieFs PAge 2 one yeAr lAter: ‘tobACCo-Free’ still needs enForCement PoliCy
sPOrTs men seek to deFeAt Winless g-men JAgs seek to Avenge loss to gsu AthletiCs to nAme Court AFter Avery Johnson su FootbAll Works to identiFy 2013 signing ClAss trACk to FACe mCneese neXt
COLumns let’s tAlk PolitiCs: gun Control PAge 10
COmmenTary king’s dreAm or nightmAre? blACk men. similAr Journey. diFFerent destinAtion
PhOTOs Of The weeK some oF our FAvorite shots From our First Weeks bACk on CAmPus
www.southerndigest.com
VOLume 29, issue 1
SACS Probation Giving a whole new meaning to ‘academic probation’, Southern University and A&M College was put on Probation by its accrediting agency on December 20, 2012. shaWn JOhn & nOrman J. dOTsOn Jr. The Southern Digest
As of December 10, 2012, Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge accreditation has been continued with good cause and placed on six months probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges or SACSCOC. SACSCOC is officially responsible for the accreditation, review, & assessment of the performance of the membered institutions of higher education within the southern region area of the country. According to Chancellor James Llorens, following the most recent accreditation back in 2010 where the university received its accreditation there were some recommendations that came with that decision. “The first report we submitted was unacceptable in 2011, we got it back from SACSCOC and there
were still some of the issues that they wanted documentation on,” said Llorens. The university then put together and submitted another report based on three of the standards that the SACSCOC committee reviewed and accepted on two of the standards but needed more documentation on the final standard which is measuring student outcome. Due to the fact that this was the second report submitted, by necessity SUBR had to be placed on probation until the approval of the next report. Comprehensive standard 3.3.1.1 of the Principles of Accreditation concerns matters of meeting student outcomes and the effectiveness of educational program applies all parts of the respective university, where the related accreditation provides certification for all educational venues of the university, as is inclusive of all programs, branch campuses, off-campus sites, and distance learning programs.
According to the correlating issued report of December 20, 2012 by the SACSCOC, has maintained a good report in all other areas, as is meeting the standards held available for all universities of membership. “Basically what they (SACSCOC) are saying is that we have to demonstrate. We had submitted in out report that showed a sampling of degree programs that we had in our assessments,” Llorens stated. “Now they want us to do it for everyone to show documentation. So we’ll submit another report again March 1.” There will be a special committee coming to SUBR in April after the report and documentation have been reviewed. Chancellor Llorens stated, “we have marched all our forces” and have brought in a consultant that used to work for SACSCOC, Joseph Silvers, who has helped a number of institutions who have gone through this process.
“We know that we are assessing every program but it’s a matter of just documenting what assessment tool you use, how the you then use the results of that assessment,” Llorens said on the administration aspect of student outcomes. “For students its how are we using not only your test results but how are we documenting that you are gaining the program materials and how are you grasping the information that you need in those courses in your degree program.” Joseph Silvers, former vice president of SACSCOC, is scheduled to meet with the university officials next week about the report. Chancellor Llorens displayed confidence in the university obtaining full accreditation by June 2013 with no problems. “Out of everything that is out there they (SACSCOC) are just making sure that we have all the proper documentation needed to support our report,” Llorens said.
‘TOBACCO-FREE’ CAMPUS CLOUDED CLOUDED CLOUDED CLOUDED IN SMOKE “Southern University System has set the following 100% tobacco free campus... BriTTanY PaTTersOn The Southern Digest
After the Southern University Board of Supervisors approved a ‘tobacco-free’ system in October 2011, The university prepared for the policy to be effective January 2, 2012. Now in January 2013, the policy is posted to the Southern University website with a task force of prominent figures on campus in support but, facing a ‘smoky haze’ when it comes to enforcement. Act 815 of Louisiana law states that all Louisiana schools are to be smoke-free. The SU ‘tobacco-free’ policy states; “Consequences of violating the policy represent
a range of sanctions that could include but are not limited to verbal warning, written documentation/warning, and dismissal/ expulsion proceedings for both employees and students. Sanctions for student violators will be addressed by Judicial Affairs and for employees by Human Resources.” The policy has still not been completely implemented and a date is still not been revealed for the implementation and enforcement of both state and campus policy. The Southern University System through the Communities of Color Network, an affiliated program of The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living will utilize educating the students, faculty and community about both the
health benefits of being tobacco free as well as the dangers of smoking for both smokers and non-smokers. When the policy goes in to full effect, Chief Ronald Stevens said that Southern University Police Department’s job will be to issue a misdemeanor summons and the department will be in charge of enforcement. “When the legislature put this law in order, they made the violations punishable,” Ronald Stevens, Chief of SUPD said. According to the Louisiana state law the first offense is $25, the second offense $50, and every offense thereafter $100. Violating this law
See TOBaCCO-free page 3
to be implemented within 90 days of the effective date January 2, 2012.” THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
Campus Life southerndigest.com
Page 2 - Thursday, January 31, 2013
Classifieds
organization in Sales, Marketing, and Management. Whether you are a business major or not, it is still very essential for you to have business and marketing skills to Apt. For ReNT Looking for a place to stay? obtain the career of your dreams. There’s a 1 room for rent avail call Pi Sigma Epsilon will help you find the leader in you. Should you Ms. Renea @ 2009745 Today! dare to inquire about what endless opportunities our fraternity has to offer, the invitational is today at 5:52 p.m. and February 6 at 11a.m. and 5:52 p.m. in T.T. Allain Room today 313. Business casual attire. Make the Best Decision You Haven’t Spring 2013 Made Yet. For more information, Graduating Grad contact 225.771.5883. students
Campus Briefs
John B. Cade Library has scheduled training classes on using ProQuest/UMI for uploading dissertations and theses. For students who will be submitting their dissertation or thesis Spring 2013 it is imperative you attend one of these sessions. There are two sessions 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the 2nd floor in room 224 of the library. Email Ms. Proctor at angela_proctor@subr.edu for your confirmation of attendance.
Chat with System President Ronald Mason You are invited to a live online conversation, “SU System President’s V-chat” today at 6p.m. CST. Register at www.sus.edu/ vchat SHRM General Body Meeting Southern University SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management) Student Chapter will hold their first General Body meeting open to both undergraduate and graduate students. The meeting will be today at 6 p.m. in T.T. Allain room 214. Aspiring Human Resources Management Professionals are encouraged to attend.
Trying to decide on grad school? The Committee on Institutional Cooperation may be able to help. The Graduate school fair is from 1:30- 3 p.m. and graduate school workshop at 3 p.m. today. Both are in P.B.S. Pinchback (Engineering) Building. It is open to all disciplines contact Brenda McNeely for more at 225.771.2777.
S.U. Recruitment Celebration The Jaguar Nation celebrates National College Signing Day. Join the Blue and Gold Century Club, Inc. and The SU Quarterback Club as hosts of the 2013 S.U. Football Recruitment Celebration February 6 at 7 p.m. in The Cotillion Ballroom of Smith-Brown Memorial Union. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $20 a reserved table is $300. Come out and share in the fun and excitement as head coach Dawson Odums and the staff introduce the 2013 signing class. Contact Ed Lewis at 225.247.7458, Eddie Braxton at 225.301.7940, Doris Piper at 225.335.5209 or Robert Square at 225.931.4052 or see any club member for tickets. Hope to see you there.
Billiards Tournament Today is the last day to register for the Smith-Brown Memorial Union Billiards Tournament. Registration is $5 per person for the tournament on February 6 from 6-9p.m. Awards and prizes will be given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. Come out and give it your best shot. Sociology Club meetings The Sociology Club will hold weekly meetings from 5-6 pm on Thursdays in Higgins room 218. Stop by the meeting today. Pi Sigma Epsilon Spring 2013 Informational You are cordially invited to attend the Spring 2013 Pi Sigma Epsilon Professional Co-Ed Fraternity Informational. Pi Sigma Epsilon is the PREMIER national co-ed, and professional fraternal
Teens for Jeans Donate your jeans today for homeless teens. Drop them off a the S.O.L.D. office room 133 in Smith Brown Memorial Union. Donations are to be accepted until February 8.
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926 SU Goes Red SU goes Red Luncheon: Healthy Eating, Healthy Living and Healthy Hearts will be on February 14. For more information and tickets contact studentprograms@subr. edu. Way of Holiness Ministries Bible Class It’s time again! WOHM (Way of Holiness Ministries) Bible Class: Wednesday, February 20 at 7 p.m. in Higgins Hall. Join us & be enlightened. Black History Quiz Bowl The SU Ag Center will host the 19th Annual Black History Quiz Bowl on Feb. 21 at 3:00 pm at Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center Studio (Auditorium). Teams who would like to participate must register by February 13. Every team must have four members and the competition will include questions on current events, politics, history, sports and entertainment. For a copy of the study guide and more details contact D.r Owusu Bandele at obandale@cox.net or 225.771.2242. Study guides can also be obtained from Sheila Smith in Fisher Hall 102. Half Price Fridays While there is no class on Fridays, Smith-Brown Memorial Union is open. Burger Klng, The Bowling Alley and Lacumba’s playpen are open. If that’s not enough to bring you out of your room Lacumba’s playpen and bowling are half price on Fridays.
Who’s Speaking Out? What do you think Southern University needs to do to become better for current and future students? “I am very pleased with the new renovations around campus and enjoyed my Jaguar experience thusfar. The only thing I think Southern University needs to improve is the system for financial aid.” Autumn Payton Mass Communications Senior Walker, LA
“Although I am very pleased with the University’s progress regarding renovations and the future intramural center, Southern needs to become better organized and update their software.” Ryneisha Taylor Mass Communications Senior Hammond
“I think Southern University is improving many things already, but I would like for Southern to fix some of the streets and improve parking accommodations.” Ricardo Williams Mass Communications Senior New Orleans
“I think the faculty should be more organized in the registration process and do a better job releasing information to the students.” Omar Cook Mass Communications Senior Riverside, CA
Model Casting Calls 2013 Black 60’s Fashion Photo Shoot T.H. Harris Hall 1064 February 5 from 2-5 p.m. Light weight t-shirt and light weight jeans. No jewelry and make-up. Male and female models needed.
Have an event? Want to share it with SU? Send it to Digest@subr.edu
ISSN: 1540-7276. Copyright 2013 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 twice-weekly (Tuesday & Thursday) with a run count of 5,000 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. Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, Website: www.sacscoc.org. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Southern University and A&M College, an Historically Black, 1890 landgrant institution, is to provide opportunities for a diverse student population to achieve a high-quality, global educational experience, to engage in scholarly, research, and creative activities, and to give meaningful public service to the community, the state, the nation, and the world so that Southern University graduates are competent, informed, and productive citizens. Website: www.subr.edu.
PAGE 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS & PAID CLASSIFIED INFO
GET 36 ISSUES FOR JUST $40 Name:
ALL CLASSIFIED MUST BE PAID IN ADVANCE BY CASHIERS CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. NO PERSONAL CHECKS ACCEPTED. Students must have proper ID and phone numbers to get student advertising rates.
Address: City/State/Zip: Daytime Phone: (
CLASSIFIED The Southern DIGEST is not responsible for the contents, promises, nor statements made in any classified and reserve the right to reject any ad request with explanation. No classified ads will be accepted or processed over the telephone and must accept the type font sizes of The DIGEST.
)
For more information call 225.771.5833 or mail your subscription payment of $40 to: The Southern Digest Subscriptions, PO Box 10180, Baton Rouge, LA 70813. Business, cashiers checks and money orders accepted only. No personal checks or credit card orders accepted. Make all payments to The Southern Digest.
Rates do not apply to students who are representatives & employees of the company. In the event an error is made in a classified ad, immediate claims and notice must be given within 15 days. The DIGEST is only responsible for ONE replacement or run in the next publication. Classified are due ONE WEEK prior to run date. Paid Classified can be ordered by contacting the Student Media Advertising Manager at 225.771.5833.
PAGE 2 / CAMPUS BRIEFS All submissions must be received by 3 p.m. each Friday prior to Tuesday’s Issue and by 3 p.m. each Monday prior to Thursday’s Issue. PAGE 2 is only available to officially registered campus organizations, Southern University Departments. All briefs should include a date, time, contact name & number. Submit announcements to: The Southern DIGEST - Suite 1064 Harris Hall, Attn: PAGE 2 CORRECTIONS Fact and accuracy is our goal and our job. As the voice of the Southern University student body we are committed to ensuring to most fair, truthful and accurate accounts of our work. In the event of an error we will make all corrections on Page 2. Bring corrections to The Southern DIGEST office located in Suite 1064, Harris Hall.
News
southerndigest.com
Thursday, January 31, 2013 - Page 3
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Fin. Aid moved to Annex James Teague The Southern Digest Financial Aid finds a new home in the new T.H. Harris annex building, in an effort to have all student services in close proximity. This change of scenery has the head officials of financial aid feeling more comfortable and confident towards helping the students by putting them in a more structured and settled environment where they can easily complete their financial aid tasks. The move of all the ‘studentservice’ offices into a central location has some of the Southern administration satisfied with the usage of the new building. “Financial aid is one of the most critical departments here at Southern,” said Brandon Dumas, Vice Chancellor for student affairs. “The location and accessibility of the new building is very important,” Dumas said. Ursula Shorty, director of financial aid thinks that the structures of the building will not only help assist the students, but it also will help the office be more efficient towards them as well. The student community is taking notice towards the new move of the financial aid. Some are have said the new financial aid building is a great asset towards the Southern University campus experience as well as helping to beautify
photo by Ariana Triggs/DIGEST The Office of Financial Aid has relocated to the new addition of T.H. Harris Hall to make the registration process for students easier. The building was finished in the beginning of December and the office transitioned soon after. campus as well. “The building helps make this side of campus look so much better,” said junior, finance major, James Higginbotham. Senior, business management major Jonathan Irving said
location as having nothing to do with the problems that still may occur with the department, he made some suggestions of his own. “Better technology, better workers, and people who
“Financial aid is one of the most critical departments here at Southern,” Brandon Dumas Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs the building has a ‘centralized function.’ “It is not only aesthetically beautiful, but it allows the students a more centralized area to complete all financial aid process,” Irving said. Some still believe that the problems of financial aid will still exists for all students. Higginbotham sees the new
actually care about the students behind the desk can possibly be very few of the problem solvers towards fixing some of the troubles towards financial aid,” Higginbotham said. Some students don’t really know if the change of buildings is going to help but they hope that this can help uplift the campus.
While financial aid advisors and administrators are adjusting to the new environment, there are still some things that need to get moved into the new annex. According to Shorty, they have moved at least 95 percent of the building to the new location. Raymond Clarke, associate director of financial aid said, “There are still some stationary items such as supplies that need to get moved.” The plans of what is going to be done with the old financial aid building remain unknown. It was said that different departments are vying for use of the facility. Some even have insisted on maybe sharing the building with different departments. According to majority of the administration, the decision of what is going to be done with financial aid’s former building, the final decision will be designated by SUBR Chancellor James Llorens.
Tobacco-Free from page 1 is considered a misdemeanor. “Those people who violate the policy will be given a misdemeanor summons and they shall appear in court to answer to a judge for that violation,” Stevens said. Anyone who does not show up to court will have a warrant for that person’s arrest. In the Housing contract for all residential students, it states that smoking is not allowed in any residential area and Southern is a tobacco-free campus, upon signing each resident is held accountable according to the contract. “Students that continue to break the rules that is in the Housing contract will not be tolerated,” Tracie Abraham, Interim Director of Residential Life and Housing said. Students caught smoking in their rooms will be fined and repeat offenders of the housing contract will be forced to vacate campus. According to the ‘tobacco-free’ policy, “Residence Hall staff will be responsible for addressing all violations with residence hall students while on or around residence hall property including, but not limited to parking lots, walkways, courtyards, building entrances
get online @
and exits.” Signs are being posted to notify students and visitors alike; students have differing opinions on the need for a ‘smoke/tobaccofree’ campus and system. “No, I don’t agree with smoking, but there should be a designated area,” Timothy Smith, senior, English and liberal arts major, from Plaquemine said. “If it’s a law then it should be implemented.” Professor in World History Theopolies Moton said he agrees with the policy for health concerns. “I support this policy, because Nicotine is the one cause of cancer in the African community, “ Moton said. Phyla White a freshman nursing major from Slidell said, she ‘s glad the policy is at SU, “I don’t like smoking.” While Perry White a junior political science major from Chicago said, “I support it to some extent, in some instances tobacco is not healthy for you, but if you are outside then you should be able to.” For visitors, the policy applies as well stating, “Visitors who do not comply will be removed from campus at the discretion of
University Police.” The Tobacco-Free Policy states the following: Use of tobacco products (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, bidis, hookahs, smokeless or spit tobacco, snuf, snus) is prohibited by students, staff, faculty or visitors in all campus buildings, facilities or property owned or leased by Southern University System and outside areas of the campus where non-smokers cannot avoid exposure to smoke. “This is not just for the school but, the community as well. Informing them about Tobacco use and the damages of secondhand smoke,” Frankie Polland, Regional coordinator for communities of color network. One of the primary reasons for the SUS Tobacco-Free policy is for a healthy place, to live, work and learn. Part of this is the creation of a task force comprised of representation from nine departments on campus. The Department of Residence Life and Housing, Student Affairs, Student Health, Athletics, SU Law Center, SU Ag Center and the Department of Environment, Health, Safety and Risk Management have representation in the force.
www.southerndigest.com
Sports southerndigest.com
Scan the QR code or go to sdjaguarnation.blogspot.com for more coverage of SU athletics.
Page 4 - Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Second swing of SWAC play begins
Jaguars seek to rebound from loss against winless Grambling Aristide Phillips The Southern Digest
With the Men’s basketball team proving to be mortal in Southwestern Athletic Conference play after their loss to Alcorn State last Saturday, they will try to regroup as they host the winless Tigers of Grambling State Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Grambling State (0-19, 0-9 SWAC) will have their hands full come Saturday, the last time the two teams met was in Grambling where Derick Beltran and Malcolm Miller combine for 46 points as the Jaguars came away with a dominating 82-43 victory. Since that victory over the Tigers, Southern has defeated their opponents by an average of 24.3 points a game. But the loss to Alcorn State (816,6-3 SWAC) a team that was predicted by other SWAC coaches to finish eighth overall and that is currently fourth in conference play may prove to be beneficial for the Jaguars moving forward. “After coming of that loss we really need to be confident on the court and that’s my concern is getting these guys confident again.” Said Men’s head basketball coach
Roman Banks. Beltran and Miller both are both the leading scorers for the team both averaging a combined 32.2 points a game but in there contest against the Braves they were contained to only 25 points. And with that lost to Alcorn State future opponents including Grambling State will be looking to gain advantage over SWAC lead Jaguars. “Everybody will be looking and I think they would be paying attention after your first four games,” Banks said. “Malcolm is no surprise to anyone anymore so teams are doubling the post more and doing different things.” Banks is hopeful that his guys will learn from that game and to also shoot better from the free throw line. In the Jags lost to Alcorn State, they shot a dismal 54.3 percent from the line. Grambling State’s Terry Rose is the leading scorer for the Tigers and is sixth in the SWAC in scoring averaging 14.6 points per contest, and in his last meeting against Southern equaled his scoring average. “Every time your playing your rival you throw your records out the window,” said Banks.
SWAC Men
SWAC Overall W L W L Southern 8 1 14 7 Ark.-Pine Bluff* 7 2 8 13 Tex. Southern* 7 2 8 14 Alcorn State 6 3 8 16 Prairie View 4 5 9 13 Alabama State 4 5 6 16 Alabama A&M 3 6 7 13 Jackson State 3 6 4 14 Miss. Valley St.* 3 6 3 16 Grambling State 0 9 0 18 ——— NOTE: Texas Southern, Miss. Valley State and Ark.-Pine Bluff are ineligible for postseason play Saturday’s Games Grambling St. at Southern, 5 pm Jackson St. at Alcorn St., 5 pm Ark.-Pine Bluff at Alabama St., 5:30 pm Miss. Valley St. at Alabama A&M, 6 pm Prairie View at Tex. Southern, 8 pm Monday’s Games Jackson St. at Southern, 7:30 pm Grambling St. at Alcorn St., 7:30 pm Miss. Valley St. at Alabama St., 7:30 pm Ark.-Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M, 7:30 pm
Norman J. Dotson Jr./DIGEST Southern’s Malcolm Miller goes for the layup while two Arkansas-Pine Bluff defenders attempt to block the shot. Miller leads the team in scoring heading into Saturday’s game against Grambling State.
Jaguars set to avenge loss to GSU Deldrick Hunt The Southern Digest
Norman J. Dotson Jr./DIGEST Arkansas-Pine Bluff defenders surround Southern’s Joslyn Allen as she tries to go up for a shot. The Jaguars look to avenge their only loss in conference play Saturday as they entertain Grambling State.
This Saturday the women’s basketball team looks to extend their six-game winning streak against rival Grambling State Saturday Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. The Tigers are responsible for handing the Jags their only loss in conference play, a 92-76 win over the Jaguars Jan. 6. “It was one of our worst games of the year. I was extremely disappointed in our over all effort, intensity, and pace of the game. What we have to do is play some defense, and play jaguar basketball and everything else will take care of it self.” Women’s head basketball coach Sandy Pugh said. The Jaguars are going into Saturday’s match up tied for first place in the conference with Texas Southern. “We are the number one team, and as such every time we hit the floor we will bring everyone our A-game.” Pugh said. The Lady Tigers are currently in 9th place and have only one two of their last seven since the two last met in early January. Despite starting the season with
nine straight losses the Jaguars have gone 9-2 since then. They have been rolling through conference play with a average margin of victory of 12 points and will look to redeem their self. In their last match up the tigers bombed the jags from three point range making 10 threes. The Jaguars are currently in first place for 3-point field goal percentage defense and the lady tigers are first in the 3-point field goal percentage ironically. The Lady Tigers feature the number one leading scorer in the SWAC JoAnna Miller and the fifth leading scorer in the conference Cierra Ceazer. Southern features three top 25 scorers in Kendra Coleman, Adrian Sanders and Lechell Rush. “Adrian is very well capable of getting you 20-25 points a night because of her size she can hit the 3 ball, she can get to the mid range, and she can post up any small guard in this league. That’s a great combination. I’m looking forward to her and Kendra having a stellar night on Saturday and Monday.” Pugh said. The contest between the two teams is something the Jaguars is
SWAC Women
SWAC Overall W L W L Tex. Southern 8 1 11 9 Southern 8 1 9 11 Prairie View 5 4 8 11 Miss. Valley St. 5 4 8 12 Alabama A&M 5 4 6 13 Jackson State 4 5 7 11 Alabama State 4 5 6 14 Ark.-Pine Bluff 3 6 7 12 Grambling State 2 7 4 17 Alcorn State 1 8 1 17 ——— Saturday’s Games Grambling St. at Southern, 2 pm Jackson St. at Alcorn St., 2:30 pm Ark.-PB at Alabama St., 3 pm Miss. Valley St. at Alabama A&M, 3 pm Prairie View at Tex. Southern, 5:30 pm Monday’s Games Jackson St. at Southern, 5:30 pm Grambling St. at Alcorn ST., 5:30 pm Mississippi Valley State at Alabama State, 5:30 pm Ark.-Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M, 5:30 pm
excited and anxious about. “We take every game one game at a time. We’re excited about it, the students get geared up for this rivalry and when we come out we will definitely give them something to cheer for,” Pugh said.
Thursday, January 31, 2013- Page 5
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Track heads to McNeese
Jags close to completing 2013 recruiting class Deldrick Hunt The Southern Digest
Aristide Phillips The Southern Digest
The Southern Jaguars Track and Field team will look to improve upon their last outing at the Arkansas State Invitation as they travel to Lake Charles, La., to compete in the McNeese State Indoor meet Friday. The Jaguars meet in Jonesboro saw major success in the 4x400 relays, the men relay team took first place with a time of 3:21.83 in the finals and the women came behind Central Arkansas to take a close second with a time of 3:59.97. The runners in the men’s 4x400 relay that took first in the Arkansas State Invite consisted of Lloyd Benjamin, Lemanuel Mosley, Anthony Collins and Victor Nichols as the anchor. The runners in the women 4x400 relay that took second in the Arkansas State Invite consisted of May Dozier, Reyna Anderson, Raquel Sims, and Shanelle Zenon as the anchor. Head coach Brian Johnson is pleased with where his athletes are now saying that “they are starting to Jell on the men and the women side and it’s coming together.” And with the weather now starting to warm up for the Jaguar track team, their times are going up as well. “We had that ice storm where we couldn’t do nothing for a week, so this is the first meet off them having warm weather and our times
Ariana Triggs/DIGEST Sprinter Jordan Fordham pulls sleds with other sprinters in prepation for the Jaguars’ next meet in Lake Charles to compete in the McNeese State Invitational. are getting better and better,” Johnson said. And getting better will be key for the Jaguars moving forward, because 37 of the 62 athletes are freshman or sophomores on the team. And one freshman Reyna Anderson who also ran in the 4x400 meter relay also placed fourth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.09. Another freshman, Akil Bennett placed third in the long jump at the Arkansas State Invitational. “Akil Bennett is coming along and he’s learning, I’m breaking him down and showing him how to long jump,” Johnson said.
SU to honor Avery Johnson Aristide Phillips The Southern Digest
Southern University will honor the playing career of former Jaguar basketball alum and NBA head coach Avery Johnson in a court naming ceremony Feb. 2 in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. The ceremony will take place during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Grambling State, the game will be televised live on Cox Sports Television (Ch-37, HD Ch1037). “Its been a long time coming I think its something that’s past overdue,” men’s head basketball coach Roman Banks said. “ Your talking about one of our most celebrant athletes as it relates to this day in time and still have the marque name and was a great fish into the basketball program. Johnson, a New Orleans native, spent his last two season of eligibility at Southern University averaging 9.2 points a game but it was his playmaking that made him a house hold name on the bluff. Johnson first couple of months on campus was horrible he said, but that all changed when Johnson participated in a scrimmage between the junior varsity which he was on and the varsity squad. “There was no question after those two scrimmage who the best man on campus was,” Johnson said. “After Ben Jobe came in as coach the next year it was like a Disney Movie.” Johnson went on to averaged 10.7 assist in 1986-87 and 13.3 assist in 1987-88, leading all NCAA Division I players both years. The southern point guard compiled a career assist average of 8.97 per game, which is an all-time Division I record, if that’s not
enough he also set an NCAA record for assist in a game with 22 against Texas Southern on January 25, 1988 and was the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year and MVP of the conference tournament both seasons. “To do what I did especially from an assist stand point and still having the record that I have that stands today you got to have guys that can catch and shoot and that can play above the rim.” Johnson said. Johnson’s pro career started in 1988 first playing in the United States Basketball League and then moving on to play for several NBA teams but the highlight of his playing career was his second stint with the San Antonio Spurs. He became the starting Point guard and was keyed the nickname the “Little General” directing the Spurs to their first NBA championship in 2000. Johnson then transition from a player to coaching, receiving his first head-coaching gig in 2005 coaching the Dallas Mavericks. The first year head coach saw major success reaching a 50-12 record, making him the fastest coach to reach 50 wins, along with that Johnson led the Mavericks to their first NBA finals appearance, and in April 2006 Johnson was rewarded the NBA Coach of the Year Award. And on Saturday will cap the collegiate playing career for Avery Johnson, a man who dominated the SWAC as well as the college basketball world, and now the same court he dominated on will now have his name on it. Southern has also deemed Grambling game on Feb. 2 as “Alumni Night” and encourages alumni from both Southern and Grambling to attend. Tickets are available at the SU ticket office and are $7 for general admission.
With National Signing Day approaching on Feb. 6, the Southern Jaguars have been hitting the recruiting trail hard. Head football coach Dawson Odums and the “tank of gas rule” he said he would use for recruiting has proven to be very effective by targeting prospects within a full tank of gas from the Bluff. According to recruiting services and media reports, the Jaguars have secured 25 commitments already and of those 25 recruits 16 of the commits are instate players. This year’s recruiting class features New Orleans area talent that has always been a hot bed in recruiting for the jags. The highlight of the incoming class could possibly be Salmen High (Slidell, La.) standout Chuck Baker. Baker is a consensus three-star wide receiver prospect that decommitted from LSU to commit to the Jags. Along with getting back into the New Orleans area the Jags were also able to go into the Dallas area to grab recruits. “Recruitment is going great, we have a lot of guys from within the state of Louisiana which was our goal to really go out and recruit the state of Louisiana,” quarterbacks coach Chad Germany said. “ Hopefully we can hold on to those guys through signing day which we feel really good about the coaches are coming on board in the state it’s something that we
feel really good about.” It seems that the Jags have been able to answer their needs this recruiting season. “We were able to go out and get some offensive linemen, defensive linemen; we have a good group of receivers coming in, quarterbacks, safeties which was a big need for us.” Germany said. The offensive line has been a concern for Jags the last couple of seasons and last season the jags gave up the third most sacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. With only two safeties returning next season the Jaguars biggest needs were at safety and they have two players — Dionte McDuffy and Blake Monroe — they brought in at the position that are enrolled this semester. “Safeties were a big need us, we only returned two safeties on scholarship, and one had a knee injury. We have a transfer that’s coming in from South Alabama in Dionte McDuffy. He’s a big time football player we think can come in and really help us out and also another safety in Blake Monroe. Both of those guys are here on campus for spring workout.” Germany said. Also former LSU player and local area standout Corey White is enrolled this semester and is expected to participate in spring drills. This recruiting class is an important step as coach Odums looks to turn around the program in his inaugural season as a full time head coach.
photos of the week Disaster in Arizona Members of the Phoenix Police Department SWAT team prepare to enter the home of a suspected gunman who opened fire at a Phoenix office building, wounding three people, one of them critically, and setting off a manhunt that led police to surround his house for several hours before they discovered he wasn’t there, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in Phoenix. Authorities believe there was only one shooter, but have not identified him or a possible motive for the shooting. They don’t believe the midmorning shooting at the complex was a random act (AP Photo/ Ross D. Franklin)
Giffords on Guns Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously injured in the mass shooting that killed six people in Tucson, Ariz. two years ago, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, for a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence. She is escorted by her husband, Mark Kelly, right, a retired astronaut, Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., second from left, and the committee’s ranking Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, left. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Violence in Chicago Cleopatra Pendelton cries as she talks with Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy before a news conference seeking help from the public in solving the murder of Pendelton’s daughter Hadiya Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in Chicago. Hadiya, 15, who had performed in President Barack Obama’s inauguration festivities, was killed in a Chicago park as she talked with friends by a gunman who apparently was not even aiming at her. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
SuperBowl Prep A pedestrian walks past the Superdome where the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens will play the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/ Charlie Riedel)
SuperBowl 47 Comes to New Orleans, The city and fans prepare Workers cover a fence with Super Bowl signage outside the Four-year-old Angelina Knox, from New Orleans, dances Superdome where the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore on an NFL logo at the NFL experience Wednesday, Jan. 30, Ravens will play the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, 2013, in New Orleans. The city will host the Super Bowl XLVII Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Charlie football game Sunday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Riedel)
Workers cover a fence with Super Bowl signage outside the Superdome where the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens will play the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Sanders takes it on Adrain Sanders scored 28 points in the Jaguars 64-53 victory over Alcorn State. The last time the Jaguars face Grambling it came with a 76-92 loss.
January 31, 2013
State & Nation Teen performer at inaugural events fatally shot southerndigest.com
Page 8 - Thursday, January 31, 2013
Don Babwin
The Associated Press CHICAGO — A 15-year-old girl who had performed in President Barack Obama’s inauguration festivities is the latest face on the ever-increasing homicide toll in the president’s hometown, killed in a Chicago park as she talked with friends by a gunman who apparently was not even aiming at her. Chicago police said Hadiya Pendleton was in a park about a mile (2 kilometers) from Obama’s home in a South Side neighborhood Tuesday afternoon when a man opened fire on the group. Hadiya was shot in the back as she tried to escape. The city’s 42nd slaying is part of Chicago’s bloodiest January in more than a decade, following on the heels of 2012, which ended with more than 500 homicides for the first time since 2008. It also comes at a time when Obama, spurred by the Connecticut elementary school massacre in December, is actively pushing for tougher gun laws. Hadiya’s father, Nathaniel Pendleton, spoke Wednesday at a Chicago police news conference, which was held in the same park where his daughter died. “He took the light of my life,” Pendleton said. He then spoke directly to the killer: “Look at yourself, just know that you took a bright person, an innocent person, a nonviolent person.” Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy consoled him, the girl’s mother and 10-year-old brother. Hadiya was a bright kid who was killed just
as she was “wondering about which lofty goal she wanted to achieve,” her godfather, Damon Stewart, told The Associated Press. Hadiya had been a majorette with the King College Prep band. “She was a very active kid, doing dance, cheerleading, who felt like she could accomplish just about anything, a very good student who had big dreams about what she wanted to be, a doctor, an attorney,” said Stewart, a Chicago police officer and attorney. “She was constantly getting good grades.” Obama was asked about Hadiya’s death in an interview with Telemundo, which led to a discussion about gun control. Also on Wednesday, White House press secretary Jay Carney said the president and the first lady’s “thoughts and prayers are with” the teen’s family, adding: “And as the president has said, we will never be able to eradicate every act of evil in this country, but if we can save any one child’s life, we have an obligation to try when it comes to the scourge of gun violence.” In Chicago, gangs routinely and often indiscriminately open fire. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and McCarthy are pushing for tougher local, state and national gun laws and longer prison sentences for offenders. About three blocks from Hadiya’s school, she and a group of 10-12 young people, including members of her volleyball team, had taken refuge under a canopy at a park to avoid the rain Tuesday afternoon. A man climbed a fence behind the park, ran at the group and started shooting, and then jumped back over the fence and into a white Nissan. The group scattered, but
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Damon Stewart/AP Photo This undated family photo provided by Damon Stewart shows 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton of Chicago. Pendleton was shot and killed Tuesday in a Chicago park as she talked with friends by a gunman who apparently was not even aiming at her. Pendleton, who had performed in President Barack Obama’s inauguration festivities, is the latest face on the ever-increasing homicide toll in the president’s hometown. Hadiya was shot once in the back and a teenage boy was shot in the leg. Police said Hadiya had no arrest record and there was no indication she was a member of a gang or was the gunman’s target. In fact, McCarthy said there are no indications that anyone in the group was gang-affiliated. He said the police suspect that the gunman may be a member of a gang that considers the park its turf and that he mistook somebody in the group as someone from an encroaching rival gang. McCarthy vowed to put a police officer at the park “24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year” if that is what it takes to show the gang that the park belongs to no one but the community.
Comments by both Stewart and the girl’s father echo the message that city officials have long said: Gun violence is not confined to street corners in dangerous neighborhoods. Obama’s neighborhood, Kenwood, is just north of the University of Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry. “Her parents had done everything right and she was doing everything right,” he said. Stewart, who was 12 when his own brother was shot and killed, said his family and Pendleton’s family were so close that his own children saw the 15-year-old as an older sister. “The worst thing in the world was when yesterday I had to sit there and tell my children that their sister is gone,” he said.
New Orleans’ challenge: policing 2 huge parties Kevin McGill
The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans police force famed for its crowd control prowess is getting help from state and federal authorities as the city hosts an estimated 150,000 Super Bowl fans while preparing for the raucous buildup to Mardi Gras, which also draws thousands to the historic French Quarter and its restaurants, bars and strip clubs. The security challenges began in earnest Friday night with the first of the city’s major float-filled Mardi Gras season parades. This week, the parade schedule is on hold while the Super Bowl takes center stage. Mardi Gras preparations resume once Sunday’s game is over, and the parades roll again starting Wednesday. The city’s police force of 1,200 officers is bolstered this week by more than 200 Louisiana State Police troopers and hundreds of federal authorities from a variety of agencies. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was in town for a Wednesday news conference outlining security precautions, including Immigrations and Customs Enforcement scans of
Amy Sancetta/AP File Photo National Guardsmen patrol the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. It’s an unprecedented security challenge for New Orleans: the city’s increasingly raucous buildup to Mardi Gras gets suspended for a week as 150,000 visitors flood the town for Super Bowl. Joining the police department’s 1,200-plus officers for Super Bowl week are more than 200 state troopers and about 100 officers from surrounding local jurisdictions. cargo shipped to the game site and Coast Guard work to assure maritime safety and security along the Mississippi River. Game-day plans will include flight restrictions in the airspace near the Superdome,
pat-down searches of ticket holders and the use of dogs to sniff out contraband. Michael Anderson, head of the FBI’s New Orleans office, said no credible terrorism threats have
arisen. “This week, there is no safer place to be than the city of New Orleans,” added Raymond Parmer, a special agent with ICE. Even with all the help, the
combination of Super Bowl and Mardi Gras season means New Orleans Police Department officers are working more than three weeks’ worth of 12-hour days, on the lookout for everything from petty crime and public drunkenness to random gunfire and the threat of terrorism. It will be an exhausting stretch that city officials say will cost the city several million dollars in police overtime. “If we can, we’d like to give them some time down,” said police chief Ronal Serpas. “But if we can’t, they know it and they’ll stand up for it.” It’s also a unique chance for Serpas to show off one of the strengths of a department beset by scandals involving brutality and mismanagement. City officials have carried out numerous reforms aimed at cleaning up the department, which has seen five officers convicted of civil rights violations stemming from deadly shootings of unarmed residents after Hurricane Katrina. For years, though, crowd control has been the department’s bright spot, especially during Mardi Gras revelry on the narrow streets of the nearly 300-year-old French Quarter, home to fancy restaurants and art galleries as well as sleazy bars and strip joints.
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Thursday, January 31, 2013 - Page 9
We brought it to you first ...
Nationally recognized by the Associated Collegiate Press August 28 Issue — Top 10 Special Edition ACP Best of Show; Chicago; Oct. 31-Nov.4
Commentary southerndigest.com
Page 10 - Thursday, January 31, 2013
Talking Politics with Caesar Smith Jr.: Gun Control Politics play a part in our daily lives if one likes it or not, participating voluntarily or by force. Most don’t know how politics pervades life in total. To understand it, one must be objective, inquisitive, and above all else, understand the possible outcome of any policy, bylaw, or legislation coming from its policies. Backroom, closed door, and private committee meetings are meant to keep some details from public disclosure. One must observe any group or individual who wishes to polarize us more than we already are creates a dangerous atmosphere and it’s scary. One can never be too aware. In the days following December 14, 2012, there have been calls for tougher gun legislation. The nation mourned twenty students and six adults who were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. New York has moved to be the first in the nation to pass what has been called comprehensive gun control legislation. “This will be the toughest gun control package in the nation,” said Sen. Jeffrey Klein, leader of the Independent Democrat Conference that shares majority control with Republican senators. “All in all, it is a comprehensive, balanced approach that will save lives,” Klein said in an interview. Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York, has set out to overhaul and have the most restrictive gun control measures in the nation.
The governor confirmed the proposal previously worked out in closed session, called for a tougher assault weapons ban and restrictions on ammunition and the sale of guns, as well as a mandatory police registry of assault weapons, grandfathering in assault weapons already in private hands. It also calls and spells out how many bullets are to be held in ammunition magazines, the restriction is to be seven bullets, private sales to one other than immediate family would have to be subject to a background check through a dealer. Internet sales of assault weapons are banned. Those who are mentally ill and make threats to a therapist to use a gun illegally, are to report it to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services and their gun can be taken from them. Other provisions include owners being charged with misdemeanors for improper storage, having more than seven bullets in a magazine. Those who have higher-capacity magazines will have one year to sell them out of state. No matter how much gun control there may or may not be, it will never stop any individual or group of individuals from using their weapon(s) of choice to kill someone else. In my opinion, many are using these measures to push legislation that has been previously defeated. In some cases, it is nothing more than political opportunism.
From the desk of SGA President: 2013 is the year! Greetings Jaguars, Welcome back to The Yard! I am excited to welcome you all back for another dynamic semester here at Southern University! I also would like to thank you for entrusting the future of your higher education with us as well. I am distinctly honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as the President of the Student Government Association of the most prestigious institution with the most talented student body in the world. As elected representatives of the student body, our primary focus is to promote the wants and needs of all students, and work tirelessly to ensure your satisfaction as a member of the Southern University family. It is truly a great time to be a student at Southern University! So many changes have been done to boost the university’s efficiency it’s unreal. For example, the newly constructed T.H. Harris Hall Annex, where we’ve consolidated all major registration offices. Registration is as efficient as it’s ever been in the past decade. The coming weeks will be important as we prepare to continue offering the many wonderful events we traditionally host in the spring semester, such as Spring Fest. I am encouraged by the level of interest that has been expressed by up and coming student leaders in the spring election process and am hopeful that you share my elation regarding the completion of our newly constructed state-of-the-art Intramural
Willie McCorkle III Sports Complex. However, more important than anything, is the essential need to ensure that your wants and needs are heard. In addition to providing events, we plan to be more proactive than ever in relaying your concerns to administration. I assure you that the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the SGA are prepared to continue serving as advocates for your best interests. I am confident that this will be a fantastic semester. Please do not hesitate to contact me or any other member of the Student Government Association, with questions or concerns. As always, our sole mission is to serve you, the students. Let’s remember to support one another with our upcoming events and activities, and don’t forget #StandUnited. Willie McCorkle, III SGA President 2012-2013
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Obama Agenda will confront GOP on debt Charles Babington The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama appealed for “one nation and one people” in his second inaugural address. Any notion that the country’s bitter partisanship might fade, however, seemed tempered by the president’s newly assertive push of central Democratic tenets: safety-net programs for the poor, equal rights for gays and minorities and government spending on investments like schools and highways. Deficit spending, the president’s biggest conflict with Republicans, got only one passing mention. And he never uttered the word “debt.” Never fear, Republicans seemed to say in response. They will press the overspending issue time and again, starting this week in the GOP-controlled House. And the outcome of the two parties’ long-running conflict will help shape the government’s role in coming years, not to mention Obama’s legacy. All presidents want to drive the national agenda. Inauguration Day is their moment to lay out their visions. As Obama rudely learned in his first term, however, unforeseen events quickly intervene, and a president’s fate is to adjust, improvise and re-order priorities. After winning his first election with a call for greater unity and cooperation in Washington, Obama appeared to be taken aback by the ferocity of Republican resistance. It gave birth to the tea party in 2009, forced him to pass “Obamacare” without a single GOP vote, and fueled huge Democratic setbacks in the 2010 congressional elections. Last November’s election chastened Republicans a bit. But they still adamantly oppose the president’s tax-and-spend policies. That poses the central challenge to his hopes for an ambitious second-term agenda. Obama’s re-election as the nation’s first black president deepens his place in history. But his handling of a hostile U.S. House, as one “fiscal cliff” gives way to the next, will help determine the luster of his legacy. In Monday’s comparatively short speech, Obama recited a litany of liberal ideals. “Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law,” he said. He hailed equal pay for women, investments in infrastructure, regulation of markets and treatment of immigrants so they are “enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country.” His speech could have been called “It Takes a Village.” ‘’Preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action,” Obama said. His sharpest warning to Republicans began with his single acknowledgement of the fierce deficit-spending debate.
“We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit,” the president said. “But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.” He specifically defended Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Although Obama has expressed a willingness to slow the growth of these costly programs, he seemed to caution Republicans to back off the deeper cuts they propose. Obama starts his second term facing three immediate priorities: restoring the economy’s health, overhauling immigration laws and reducing gun violence. He also vowed Monday to “respond to the threat of climate change.” That issue, however, seems likely to wait its turn. The president chose the timing and outlines of his immigration push, knowing that many Republicans desperately want to improve their own standing with Hispanic voters. The other issues were thrust upon Obama, chiefly by the economic crisis he inherited four years ago and by last month’s massacre of school children in Connecticut. He briefly mentioned the school tragedy Monday, but cited none of the gun-control ideas he embraced last week. Restoring the economy has been Obama’s biggest challenge. Any relapse into recession could put millions of Americans out of work and vastly complicate his hopes for second-term achievements. From the start, two forces have pulled at him on the economy. Liberal economists implored the president to pour federal money into stimulus programs, saying the deficit’s resulting spike could be addressed later. But anti-deficit activists gained ascendancy in the Republican Party, demanding deep spending cuts without detailing who would pay the price. Deficit reduction remains the GOP battle cry. House Republicans recently agreed to postpone a showdown on the debt ceiling by three months but say they will use other coming budget deadlines to extract reductions in social programs from reluctant Democrats. “Spending has raged out of control and America’s debt has ballooned,” House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in her response to Obama’s speech Monday. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell promised Obama a “fresh start,” but reminded him of “the transcendent challenge of unsustainable federal spending and debt.” The Republicans’ highest-ranking official, House Speaker John Boehner, used a Lincoln quote to offer Obama an olive branch.
BLACK HISTORY & AMERICA: THE LAND OF PROMISE Speaker: The Son of Man Leader & Teacher of the New Nation of Islam Date: Thursday, February 7, 2013 Time: 6:PM Place: Nursing School Auditorium on the Campus of Southern University www.thenewnationofislam.com
Commentary southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SUITE 1064 T.H. HARRIS HALL POST OFFICE BOX 10180 BATON ROUGE, LA 70813 PHONE: 225.771.2231 FAX: 225.771.5840 ONLINE @ www.southerndigest.com
STUDENT MEDIA OFFICE
Director........................................Heather Freeman Publications Assistant...................Fredrick Batiste Business Manager...................... Camelia Jackson
CONTACTS (area code 225)
Student Media Front Desk.....................771.2231 Student Media Newsroom.....................771.5829 Advertising Office...................................771.5833 Student Media Services......................... 771.5819
SPRING 2013 STAFF
Editor-in-Chief.......................................Evan Taylor Managing Editor............................. Marcus Green News Editor.............................................Jade Smith Sports Editor.................................. Aristide Phillips Culture Editor..................................................... N/A Commentary Editor...........................Jessica Sarpy Photo Editor....................................... Ariana Triggs Staff Writer........................................ Deldrick Hunt Staff Writer.....................................Lauren Johnson Staff Writer............................................Shawn John Staff Writer................................. Brittany Patterson Staff Writer.................................... Alvonte Sample Staff Writer.................................... Caesar Smith, Jr. Copy Editor...................................... Ka’Lon Dewey Staff Photographer............................ Arielle Burks Staff Photographer........................ Marian Horace Staff Photographer............................Trevor James
SUBMISSIONS POLICY
The Southern DIGEST welcomes letters from readers commenting on current issues and other matters of general interest to the SU family and public. We set aside this space to publish these letters for others to enjoy. This newspaper is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on its editorial and opinion pages. The Southern DIGEST reserves the right to edit any contributions and or reject them without notification. Authors are encouraged to limit the length of submissions to 300 words. Letters should not include libelous statements. Offensive and personal attacks will not be permitted. The DIGEST will not print “open letters” addressed to someone else. All contributions must be type written, signed and must include the author’s address and phone number. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Southern University students should include their majors, hometowns and year in school. When referring to specific DIGEST articles, please include the date and title. All materials should be directed to the editor in chief of The Southern DIGEST, P.O. Box 10180, Baton Rouge, La. 70813. Materials may be delivered by hand to the DIGEST office located in Suite 1064 Harris Hall or can be e-mailed to digest@subr.edu.
Editorial policy
Staff editorials represent the opinions of the author and the majority opinion of the Southern DIGEST Student Editorial Board, which is comprised of the student staff of editors and columnists. The Southern DIGEST provides an open forum to educate, inform and enlighten the students, faculty and staff at Southern University, Baton Rouge, La.
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 Journalists (SPJ), Full member of the Associated Press (AP) and the Louisiana Press Association (LPA).
Thursday, January 31, 2012 - Page 11
Are we living in MLK’s dream or nightmare? Is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘Dream’ still alive, or has it turned into a terrifying nightmare? Dr. King fought nonviolently to establish equality for all Americans. He fought so that everyone would be given the chance to achieve his or her educational goals, and to provide themselves with the lifestyle they sought fit. Since Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech students can attend any school they choose and achieve the education to be anything they’d like. America has seen black pro-athletes, actors and actresses, judges, CEOs and a black president. The appearance of equality seems to be present. Yes, blacks are able to achieve more but do we achieve more? Has the later generations become complacent due to the implications of equality? Why achieve more? The novelty of being first has worn off, who cares about being the second of third black anything? What would Dr. King Jr. say to our generation if he were alive today? What would he say to the rappers who degrade women? How would he react to seeing young ladies dress?
Jessica Sarpy Would he be proud or would we get a stern talking to? I believe there was a time when Dr. King’s ‘dream’ was alive, when blacks unified and accomplished things much bigger than themselves. There was a time when we put each other first instead of stepping on each other in order to get where we wanted. Nowadays it seems like everyone is out for his or herself. We use to worry about getting beat up or killed by Anglo-Saxon, now we are killing each other over the most ridiculous things. Black women use to have a since of modesty, now we’re just poster boards for sexuality. Shaking our posteriors every time we hear ‘that beat’. Black women use to be the definition
of stability, we use to be strong and hold down our households without a man by our side. Now we copy and paste the drama from TV right into our lives. Women these days need a man to complete them. Men use to be men and actually raise the children they brought into this world and would marry a woman before he impregnated her. Nowadays its all Maury styled DNA test, and jigging when he’s “NOT THE FATHER!” It’s almost a sad nightmare of what Dr. King Jr. hoped for us. As we get ready for yet another black history month I pose a few questions to whoever reads this, what happened to us? Why can’t we unify? Why can’t we look out for one another? Did we replace the unified mind frame that our grandparents and great grandparents were raised on with the ‘crabs in a bucket’ way of thinking? Are you doing everything you can to make a better life than the one your parents provided for you? Most importantly, Is Dr. King Jr.’s ‘Dream’ alive within you? Is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘Dream’ still alive, or has it turned into his nightmare?
Black men. Similar journeys. Different destinations Individuality, more than just a word For the second time, Barack Obama has been inaugurated as the president of the United States of America…. As the president continues to jump hurdles, one begs to reflect on the standards that he has set with his presidency. A man of the people, someone to look up to, an aspiration or goal for the future… With Barack Obama said to have set a standard for black men, are we as young men suppose to follow his path because we are men or because we are black men? As young men in this society, we are taught from birth, to be strong and independent. We have certain standards to uphold; the backbone of the society we live in. We must grow up learning and gaining the necessary tools that will allow us to one day provide for someone or something and become a prominent figure. This can be a long road and for some of us. For those who don’t have individuals in our lives giving us these tools, we tend to be left behind in society or be perceived as inadequate. The fact is… our environments,
Marcus Green interactions, and experiences shape who we are and who we will become as people. Is the real journey becoming a man or is it becoming a good person who just so happens to be a man? First, we learn to say mommy, later we learn to say father…then we learn to protect, provide and profess from our father…. but do these lessons really become our own or just masks to our true instincts as we become our own individuals…. There are men who have kids but aren’t fathers. Millionaires that have money but aren’t providers. Profound men who intellectual but aren’t motivational speakers.
Do social norms create a perception of valuing material over character as a negative personality trait? When we go against what we’ve been taught for so long and begin to view the world as it only makes sense to us. Why can’t we be at peace with our accepted individuality? If a complete individual is one who has accepted all their imperfections… then a flawed man is on the right path to prominence. Barack Obama has been said to be the perfect example for the template of a proper black man. The fact is, he is a politician and no matter his image, he like any other human has simply adapted to his environment (political) with a pigmentation that has been deemed inadequate. He handles his life and situations how he should allowing the public to view him as a great man. Sometimes these actions also leave him to be perceived as ‘the bad guy.’ Differences and imperfections separate us as men and women and make this world interesting. Someone once told me, you are your own uniqueness define it for yourself.
ADVERTISER MEMBERSHIPS
The Southern DIGEST subscribes to the American Passage, Alloy M+M, 360 Youth, Zim2Papers, All Campus Media, Ruxton Group and College Publishers On-Line services.
Have a Grievance? Have a point you want to get across? See something on campus you don’t like? The Office of Student Media is a division of the Office of Student Affairs.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! Submit a Letter To The Editor
Page 12 - Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926