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Exclusive content @
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
www.southerndigest.com
Volume 59, Issue 16
Is ‘the Southern promise’ a broken one?
SU rally falls short against Alabama State
Architecture denied move see News, Page 3
see Commentary, page 7
see Sports, Page 4
Officials: four-day week saved nearly $800,000 Charles Hawkins II The Southern Digest
Southern University administrative officials, and students discussed the almost $800,000 savings in utilities alone and from campus closure on Fridays. During the fall of 2011, Southern University decided to do away with Friday classes for the next semester with the anticipation of savings from the expenditure bottom line. Flandus McClinton, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, spoke on the amount saved in utilities in comparison with previous years. “$786,935 was saved from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011 compared to January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012 in utilities alone,”
McClinton said. He said there wasn’t a known exact amount saved in teacher pay from eliminating Friday classes during the Spring 2012. Ella Kelley, Interim Associate Provost and dean of the Honors College, said, “1.2 million was saved with respect to faculty furloughs to the university.” She said there was a 10 percent reduction for the Spring 2012 semester and academic year. James Llorens, Southern University chancellor, spoke on the savings of this period. “It’s hard to quantify exactly the cost of it, but there were significant decreases in utility costs,” Llorens said. He said the efficiency in LED lighting in a couple of buildings played a large role in decreasing
utility costs. When it came to talks of reinstating classes on Fridays, Llorens thinks further research is still needed. “It’s something that will be open for some discussion because some like the four-day, but some faculty would like to go back to five-day class periods,” Llorens said. He said the original intent of it was to provide cost-savings, however the positive and negative academic outcomes need to be studied. “Does it provide more period for learning opportunity and discussion?” Llorens asked. He said this question needs to be raised for further decision on future changes. “The argument made by
professors is that they would fall behind if they have one exam day in a week,” Llorens said. He said the extra day gives students opportunity to use that day for research, homework, and study. “It is obvious the schedule will not be changed for spring semester,” Llorens said. He said the university is using other methods to balance budget such as reducing expenditures, increasing revenues in academics, and schools. “We will be reducing deans of schools, chairs of departments, and renewing effort in enrollment, and increasing online degree programs,” Llorens said. Llorens said some of the changes will start being
implemented in Spring 2013. Bernard Green, sophomore therapeutic recreation major from Baton Rouge, approved of the four-day week. “I’m enjoying it, I get a chance to work and do business,” Green said. However, he said the five-day schedule should be implemented because it will help students get hours faster, and by not having that extra day they’re losing hours. Desmond Ford, senior criminal justice from Baton Rouge, thinks the four-day week is working for him. “The four-day week gives me more time to make up work and speak with professors,” Ford said. He said it eliminates the cost for running buildings, and saving money is the best way to go.
SU crime stats show spike in burglaries in 2011 Burglaries doubled from 2010 to 2011; declines in drug arrests, weapon arrests & robberies Jade Smith
The Southern Digest
According to statistics from the Southern University Police Department, Southern University’s crime rate has not been high between 2009 and 2011, although some rates have been up and down each year. Burglary and aggravated assault both have increased each year. Between 2009 and 2010 the number of burglaries increased from 10 to 17. In 2011 there were 35 cases of burglary. This was the highest rate of all the crimes in 2011. Some students are providing opportunities for the perpetrators to commit crimes according to Operations officer, Lt. Floyd Williams. “They are allowing nonstudents to mingle among them, stay in their dormitories and they feel comfortable to commit crime because they’re not connected to the university, he said.” In most cases those who committed these crimes are not SU students.
2011 2010 2009 Crime Murder/Nonnegligent homicide Forcible rape/ sexual assault Non-forcible sex offenses Robbery Aggravated Assault Burglary Motor Vehicle theft Arson Negligent manslaughter Hate crimes Liquor Law Arrests Drug Law Arrests Weapon Law Arrests
Total 0
cam 0
Res 0
Non 0
Total 0
CAM 0
RES 0
NON 0
Total 0
CAM 0
RES 0
NON 0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9 4
6 3
3 1
0 0
11 3
10 1
1 2
0 0
1 2
1 2
0 0
0 0
35 0
6 0
29 0
0 0
17 2
1 2
16 0
0 0
10 7
0 7
10 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
1 0
1 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
8
4
4
0
17
4
13
0
16
5
11
0
1
1
0
0
5
3
2
0
4
4
0
0
CAM = ON-CAMPUS FACILITIES; RES = CAMPUS RESIDENCE HALLS; NON = NON-CAMPUS FACILITIES Source: Southern University Police Department
The number of aggravated assaults increased by 1. Only two cases were reported in 2009. Three were reported in 2010 and 4 in 2011. The number of robbery cases also increased from 1 to 11 between 2009 and 2010. The reason for many assaults and robberies is that students are not aware of their surroundings according to Police Chief Ronald
Stevens. For example there was recently a case where someone asked a student to borrow his phone. After the student agreed to let them borrow his phone, they ran off with it. Because of instances like this, Stevens finds it important to educate the people on how to refrain from being a victim of crime. During the upcoming
spring semester seminars will be scheduled to take place in every dormitory on campus. The police department holds seminars each semester to inform students, though not many attend. This shows that they lack interest in wanting to know how to stay safe. Williams said, “Crime in itself would drop a percentage because then they would know
the official student newspaper of southern university and A&m college, baton rouge, louisiana
how to not be victims and that would help us help themselves.” Some suggestions from Stevens are walk in pairs, not walking in dark areas and avoid having things in your car that can be seen. Students can also go to the school website and go to campus police safety to get See SU Crime Stats page 3