HOMECOMING Special Edition Southern University vs. Fort Valley State
baton
THURSDAY, October 15, 2009
rouge,
louisiana
Vol. 34 • No. 24
a people’s publication
Bond Proposal Remains on November Ballot Mayor Kip Holden says it’s not a victory yet, but at least it’s one step closer. “People should have a right to vote. We may disagree what’s on the ballot itself, then you vote no or you vote yes if you’re for that, but bottom line always has been to move this forward,” Holden said.
Stage set for Southern Homecoming Homecoming Festivites Already in Progress Southern University, Baton Rouge will celebrate its Homecoming 2009 week with a number of activities, including a gospel concert, spirit day, an electrifying Greek show, and the annual parade in Scotlandville, all leading up to the Saturday, Oct. 17 football game against Fort Valley State. Events kicked off with a convocation and gospel concert, Sunday, at 6 p.m. in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union. Gospel recording artist and pastor William Murphy was the special guest. “Spirit Day,” was held Monday. All university faculty, staff, students, alumni, and fans were asked to wear blue and gold. The Department of Visual and Performing Arts held its’ Visual Arts Gallery Grand Opening from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. in the Visual Arts Gallery of Frank Hayden Hall. The gallery featured works of art by Southern visual arts students. The exhibition will run from Oct. 13 – Nov. 25. Gallery hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday. Sabrina Whitney, was crowned Miss Southern University 2009-2010 during the Miss Southern University Coronation, Wednesday, Oct. 14 in the Felton G. Clark Activity Center. See homecoming, on page 3
BATON ROUGE - The Baton Rouge Metro Council voted 6-6 on Monday to keep Mayor Kip Holden’s nearly $1 billion bond proposal on the November 14 ballot. The vote comes just a week after three council members wanted to hold a special council meeting to remove it. Members Joel Boe, Trae Welch, and Chandler Loupe approached Mayor Kip Holden’s office last week to request Monday’s meeting. All three argue the mayor’s office was not up front about several issues surrounding the proposal. The majority of the metro council voted last month to put the proposal on next month’s ballot. The proposal includes money for parish infrastructure improvements, and the nature museum “Alive” on the banks of the Mississippi.
It would have taken seven votes to pull the plan off the ballot. At Monday’s meeting, it was standing room only for nearly four hours. The first portion of the meeting was a public hearing where people voiced their opinions. “It seems to me there’s a lot of deception, there’s a lot unknowns here. When you ask for a billion dollars, you’d better have your stuff together,” said resident Darryl Muhammed. “We have a vision for Baton Rouge. They may not all be the same but I believe we have visions so don’t take that from us, don’t take it because of politics,” said Catherine Scott Brown. The three council members say they See BOND, on page 2
Metro Council voted 6-6 on Monday to keep Mayor Kip Holden’s nearly $1 billion bond proposal on the November 14 ballot.
President Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Miss SU Coronation, Ball Held at Felton G. Clark Activity Center
Elyssa Lassiter, Kenya Warren, Miss Senior Miss Junior
Miss Southern University, Sabrina M. Whitney
President Barack Obama makes remarks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, about being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision designed to encourage his nascent initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and replace unilateral American action with international diplomacy and cooperation. Nobel observers were shocked by the unexpected choice so early in the Obama presidency,
NATIONAL/state & Community watch
which began less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama woke up to the news a little before 6 a.m. EDT. The White House had no immediate comment on the announcement, which took the
STATE & LOCAL NEWS
See peace prize, on page 2
Business News
BATON ROUGE - Southern University held the coronation and ball for Miss Southern University, Sabrina M. Whitney, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m., in the Felton G. Clark Activity Center. Whitney is 21-year-old senior criminal justice major with a minor in political science from Tallulah. She is the daughter of Rev. Fred L. Jones, Sr. and Ruby L. Williams. She is an honor student, was elected Sophomore Class Senator 2007-2008 and Junior Class Senator 2008-2009 and is a member of the Collegiate 100 Black Women of Southern University, Pre-Law Society and Student Ambassadors Program. Whitney is the executive director of “Up ‘Til Dawn,” a collegiate fundraising pro-
Religion news
Brianna Andrews, Miss Sophomore
Erin Rogers, Miss Freshman
gram for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital and the President/Founder of SU Feed the Children, a program that provides canned and nonperishable food items to Feed the Children sites throughout Baton Rouge. After graduation, Whitney plans to attend graduate school to pursue her Master’s in Forensic Science and a Ph.D. in criminal justice and criminology. Sabrina aspires to be a forensic scientist/special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Members of her court include: Elyssa Lassiter, Miss Senior, a mass communications See coronation, on page 2
health news
Millions of Americans suffer from headaches, stomach problems and other ailments like shortness of breath, abdominal pain, or even more long-term ailments like eczema and hypoglycemia. ...Page 9
INDEX
Girl Scouts Extravaganza Southern University’s Marching Band and the Center for International Education will donate 20 new snare and tenor drums to the country of Belize as part of the departments’ Belize Music Project....Page 10
Over 1,000 girls and adults celebrated the beginning of the Girl Scout membership year at the annual Girl Scouts Louisiana East (GSLE) Extravaganza on September 26 at the Alario Center in Westwego, LA...See Page 3
LA Economic Outlook
The Louisiana Economic Outlook for 2010-2011 was released today at the annual Biztech Top 100 Luncheon, providing a glimpse of what eight of the state’s large metropolitan areas have to look forward to in the years to come.....See Page 7
the Year of the Priest
The Immaculate Conception Church Parish in Baton Rouge honored their priest, Father Thomas Clark, S.J., Pastor and Father George Lundy. S.J., Southern University Campus Ministries.. See Page 8
Local & State............................2 Special...............................4 & 5 Commentary.............................6 Business....................................7 Religion....................................8 Health.......................................9
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