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Tuesday, OcTOber 22 2013
www.southerndigest.com
VOLume 61, issue 11
SUPD Chief Stevens revamping department LAUrEn JOHnsOn
The Southern Digest The Southern University Police Department is currently being improved and revamped to make the university a safer environment for all students on and off campus. Ronald Stevens, chief of SUPD accepted the position two years ago after turning down the offer four times. He stepped in and revamped the entire department and made it his goal to include his cops in all decisions including shift work, uniforms and leave. Stevens said to lower crime rates, investigators were recently added to the department. “We beefed up enforcement with respect to drug activity and we put undercover agents out and amongst student body,” Stevens said. Stevens said with the implementation of more enforcement, it has become more effective because it was their goal to make the university a safe environment for everybody. “Before I got here the investigations were done by the police officers as well, but with investigations it takes proper equipment and skills to properly investigate,” Stevens said.
Currently SUBRPD has 21 filled positions and 10 available positions in which Stevens along with his staff are in the process of interviewing and hiring persons to fill those positions. “Until those slots are filled we supplement them with outside agencies such as EBR Sheriff Department, Baton Rouge City Police, Baker and Zachary,” Stevens said. Stevens said that although he only has seven officers patrolling the campus, outside agencies could be contacted within minutes. “We have the ability to pick up a radio or telephone and all of those outside agencies in the area will be on the campus in less than two minutes,” Stevens said. Stevens said that shift work consists of 12 hour shifts, working two 12 hour days, then off two days then come back and work three days giving each cop every other weekend off. The 12 hour shifts allow more security coverage in the 24 hours. During each 12 hour shift patrollers are assigned to drive and get out of cars, patrol dorms, walk apartments and check buildings. “During the day most students are going to class, leaving personal items in their dorms and usually where and when thefts take place,”
Meagan L. Williams /DIGEST Southern University Police Department deputies handle a situation outside in front of Smith and Brown Memorial Student Union. So to cut down on number of thefts police patrol the housing area more in the day and there is someone at that checkpoint, but at night someone is at the Harding Blvd. checkpoint, because that is the only open access to the campus at night.” said Stevens. When asked about funding for
outside agencies help for football games and other extra activities. Stevens replied that the athletics department pays each cop $40 per hour to patrol during those functions “We encourage every student and faculty and staff on campus to sign up for first call, so that
any emergency on campus will be reported to first call then a mass message is sent out to all persons.” said Stevens .To sign up persons should go to subr website click on first call and register.”
Southern launches new online degree programs MArCHAnDrEA sEALs The Southern Digest
Southern University launches new Online Degree Programs that are starting this fall. The programs include Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and Master of Business Administration. The online degree programs were made to help give students a better chance to get a college degree. It is beneficial for students that work, that have a complex schedule, and for students that did not finish school, they now have a second chance. The online degree programs are only available for off-campus students only and last eight weeks of a semester. If you live on-campus and moving off campus later, you have to wait for a year to apply for the online degree programs. Ebrahim Ehosravi, professor and chairmen of the department of computer science said “The online program is the same course and materials from our regular classes here at Southern. Right now, we have 4 students registered for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program, one from
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DIGEST GRAPHIC The Southern University System now offers 100 percent online programs, with the newest addition being Bachelor of Computer Science. The program also has Associate programs in Business Management and Applied Science in Health Information Technology.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA