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www.southerndigest.com
Volume 58, Issue 12
Southern overpowers Selma in 3-game sweep see Sports, Page 5
For a century, underground railroad ran south see Culture, Page 6
SGA activities criticized
Non-La. students frustrated James Teague
The Southern Digest
Jessica Sarpy
The Southern Digest
Despite the candidates campaign runs, Romney and Santorum have been the frontrunners for the Republican nomination leading Paul and Gingrich with every passing primary. Gingrich came in third Saturday behind Romney and Santorum, with 29, 665 votes and managed to beat Paul who had only 11,460 votes. Since statehood, Louisiana has been a traditionally conservative state full of middleclass whites and African Americans. According to a CNN poll, about 40 percent of Louisiana voters are still politically conservative. Santorum expected the win, with his campaign driven largely by conservative religious voters who have propelled him to previous victories.
College life hasn’t been an easy adjustment for students; especially for those whom have traveled from outside the comfort of their state to get an education elsewhere in a new state. The outcry coming from students at Southern University is being heard as the subject of improving life on campus for out-of-state students is up for discussion. It’s not easy for out-of-state students dealing with the ongoing problems of school; from dealing with financial aid, finding out that they owe the school money for funds that they have already paid for, the everyday problems at school, worrying about financial stability, and dealing with being homesick. Sean Lawrence, a junior from Carson, Calif., said, “Southern University doesn’t go out of their way to understand certain problems an out-of-state student may have. I don’t have the luxury of living in the area so if I have a problem with something like housing, it may affect me more that someone who is isn’t from here.” Out-of-state students feel as though that the administration is not putting in the time and effort to help make semesters away from home more comfortable. “In regards to out-of-state students, more attention and services should be provided to communication channels,” said Reginald Brown, a senior from Tacoma, Wash. He said administrators could move some departments such as the Registrar’s Office, Residential Life, and the Bursar’s Office into one central area in order to help students who have to go back and forth for campus signatures and paperwork. Some students think that a lot of the staff aside from professors do not possess the proper social skills when it comes to dealing with people. Khalid Washington, a junior from Bloomington, Ill., said, “I am mildly dissatisfied with how outof-state students are treated.” In-state students always have questioned out-of-state students
See La. Primary page 3
See Out-of-State page 3
Members of the Student Government Association are trying to get more students involved in SGA activities by connecting with students through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, but are failing to reach students who do not use these sites. “We’ve had a couple of students complain photo by trevor james/DIGEST over the promotional aspect of our events. We have a couple of people over that and SGA president Demetrius Sumner discusses upcoming student events to occur in the they trying to do better,” said Don Batiste, remainder of the spring semester. SGA stressed their use of social websites and fliers to a junior mass communications major from push their events despite some not so good turn outs. Baton Rouge. For students who actually have the time The SGA has been busy this semester issue of the SGA, “I haven’t attended one. producing programs like the Little Miss SU I never know when they are,” Provost said. to attend events like Melissa McKenzie, a SGA has noticed some of the advertising senior nursing major from New York, they pageant, The Mr. Sophomore pageant, and enjoy them and want more students to I love SU Friday. Some students seemed failures and are addressing them. “We had an event during the fall that had attend. to be bothered by the lack of black history “I like to go to the pageants, they are a bad turn out but for the most part a lot programs last month. Daniel Smith, a freshman from White of stuff turned out well; other things could always entertaining, and it’s more fun Castle, La., said “Southern University is an have been a lot better. I think it was due to when students attend,” McKenzie said. Some of the upcoming SGA events in HBCU. I don’t understand why we didn’t bad promotion,” Batiste said. Aside from advertising issues, another April are: the Mr. Junior pageant will celebrate that more last month.” Other than social networking sites the reason students are not attending SGA be on the fourth of April, the SpringFest SGA has been trying to reach even more events is that they simply don’t have the Greek show will be on the April 27 and the Concert on April 28. time. students through flyers. When asked who will be preforming at Denzel Starks a sophomore music education “A lot of students complained that there weren’t enough flyers out so we are trying major from New Orleans said, “I haven’t the spring fest concert Batiste said, “Right now I can’t really say. We’re still trying to to get more of those circulating around attended one. I never have the time to.” Amethyst Armstrong a senior criminal book people. We tried to get J. Cole but he campus,” said SGA event board member justice major from Bastrop, La. expressed is too expensive.” Don Batiste. “It’s all a working progress. There are Some students like senior child that her time has become more precious. “Due to the fact the I’ve been focused on only four members on the activities team development major from Plaquemine, La., Sylvia Provost have not attended an event graduating in May I haven’t been able to and we all are doing the best we can,” Batiste said. yet this semester due to the advertising attend an event,” Armstrong said.
Santorum takes Louisiana Marcus Green
The Southern Digest
Grand Old Party (GOP) candidate Rick Santorum continued his journey to the Republican nomination with his victory Saturday in the Bayou State’s Republican presidential primary. The win granted Santorum his 11th victory in the primary, and his sixth conservative Southern state win over frontrunner Mitt Romney. According to recent polls, Santorum toppled Romney Saturday with an amount of 91, 305 votes to Romney’s 49, 749 votes. All four GOP candidates made campaign stops in Louisiana before the primary, Santorum in New Orleans, Newt Gingrich in Lake Charles, Pineville and New Orleans, Mitt Romney in Shreveport, and Ron Paul in Pineville and Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.
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