COURTBOUILLON A DILLARD UNIVERSITY student production
2 March 2009
www.ducourtbouillon.com
Council elections to be held today
NEWS
Tierra Nash
Demo political pundit James Carville shares communication tips
NEWS
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DU’s 1st ‘Fake the Funk’ features more than 11 acts as popular artists
EDITORIAL
Some positions, such as vice president of the Sophomore Class and treasurer of the Junior Class, have no candidate. tion. Some positions, such as vice president of the Sophomore Class and treasurer of the Junior Class, have no candidate. In those cases, according to outgoing Student
Government Association President Crispus Gordon, the class president may make appointments. The two positions to be decided today include Junior Class president and Sophomore Class attendant. Dillard rising sophomores, juniors and seniors will vote according to classification. Freshmen council representatives will be
See Council on Page 2
2 Foster joins McField as Miss, Mr. Dillard 2009
Week of activities set for 2009 Spring Fest by SGA April 13-19
ETOUFFEE
Elections for two Student Council positions for the 2009-10 academic year will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in downstairs Kearney, with runoff elections scheduled for next Monday at the same time and place if required. Twenty-one nominations total were accepted last Tuesday, and most of the positions had only one candidate, meaning that person has won the position by acclama-
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Faculty ‘right-sizing’ latest change as Dillard continues recovery
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INDEX Campus news ............................................ 2-3 Etouffee ............................................ 4-5 Editorial ............................................ 6-7 Sports ................................................8
Sharps, Love will head SGA Jeannine Cannon Copy Editor
Carmelita Foster, a junior psychology major from New Orleans and the Junior Class attendant this year, became Dillard’s 54th queen in runoff elections held March 12, defeating junior Brandy Vincent. Foster and Michael McField Jr. of Carson, Calif., will reign in the 2009-10 academic year. The two succeed graduating seniors Marcel Harris and Ashlee K. Yates. Runoff results also included psychology junior Chavalier Sharps’ election as SGA president over public health junior Jasmine Johnson and the election of Brandon Love, a sophomore political science major, over Shaunessy Carr, also a political science sophomore as vice president. Elections for the royal court are in combination with the class councils and
David Pittman | Courtbouillon Marcel Harris, Carmelita Foster and Michael McField, in foreground, participate in SGA induction recently. scheduled today. Foster works for the financial aid and scholarships office letting students know about scholarships through e-mails
and a Facebook group. She is also a member of the National Council of Negro Women, a member of Peer Educators and a member of K.B. Clark Psy-
chology club. Foster said she plans to be a voice of the student body while
See Runoff on Page 3
Schedule change puts class start after Labor Day Classes at Dillard next fall will start after Labor Day rather than before, a one-week delay compared to last year, according to the recently released academic calendar. Dr. David Taylor, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, was not available to discuss what role, if any, hurricane season played in the decision to have a later start date. Residence halls will open for new students the week before on Wednesday, Sept. 2, the same day that student orientation, advising and registration, also known as SOAR, will begin. Returning students can move into residence halls on that Friday. As a result, classes will run later. Dec. 11
will be the final day of classes, compared with Dec. 5, 2008, and residence halls will close at noon Saturday, Dec. 19, compared with Dec. 13 last year. The spring calendar starts at about the same time as last year’s, with campus opening on Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, compared with Jan. 5 this year. Classes will resume Jan. 11, with holidays for Martin Luther King’s birthday on Jan. 18; Mardi Gras, Feb. 15-17; and spring break March 29 through April 2. While hurricane season lasts from June 1 through Nov. 30 every year, both Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Gustav in 2008 hit in late August, just after Dillard
students arrived for fall semester, prompting evacuation of the campus and the city. Classes began Aug, 25, 2008, and Mayor Ray Nagin ordered mandatory evacuation of the city that Saturday, Aug. 30, for what he predicted would be the “mother of all storms.” Last fall, Dillard administrators had mentioned possible discussions with other area universities about a later start date for New Orleans college students. However, the provost was unavailable to discuss the link between the schedule and hurricane season as the Courtbouillon went to press. (Eric Wright contributed to this report.)
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Council
DILLARD UNIVERSITY
COURTBOUILLON
FROM PAGE 1
Volume 72, Issue 4
selected after incoming freshmen arrive in the fall, according to Rosaline Emmanuel, assistant dean and director of student engagement and leadership. Candidates are listed by class and office.
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-chief .................... Brittany N. Odom Managing editor ...................... Charley Steward
Senior Class All Senior Class positions have just one candidate each. They are president, Jasmine Johnson, a public health major of Houston; vice president, Maime Butler, a psychology major from Oakland, Calif.; and off-campus representative, Sabrina Bland, urban studies public policy major of Oakland, Calif.
Sports editor .................... Jeannine Cannon Photo editor ......................... David Pittman Faculty adviser ..................Cleo Joffrion Allen, Ph.D., APR
BUSINESS STAFF Advertising manager ....................... Jazmine Boutte
CONTACT US News ..............dunews1@gmail.com Features .......... dufeatures@gmail.com Opinion ......... duopinions@gmail.com Sports ............dusports1@gmail.com Photos ............ duphotos@gmail.com Advertising ..... duadvertising@gmail.com
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ABOUT US The Dillard University Courtbouillon is produced by mass communication students at Dillard University. The Courtbouillon publishes seven issues per semester. Publication dates for spring 2009 are Feb. 5 and 19; March 12; and April 2, 16 and 30. If you have a story idea, news tip or calendar event, contact us at the numbers or e-mail addresses provided above. To advertise, contact our business and staff members.
2 March 2009
David Pittman | Courtbouillon Political consultant James Carville gestures as he addresses DU students in Cook on March 25.
Good communication simple, relevant, repetitive: pundit James Carville addresses 140 during Dillard appearance James Carville, who has been called “America’s best-known political consultant,” described good communication March 25 as being simple, relevant and repetitive. The political strategist, who also is a film producer, talk-show host and Tulane political science professor, addressed a crowd of about 140 visitors, students, administrators and faculty on the subject of “American Politics in the Age of Barack Obama: Change or Status Quo?” The talk in Cook Center was sponsored by the Division of Social Sciences. Carville shared with audience the difficulties faced by President Obama in trying to make changes in Washington. He said that rather than trying to change the culture of Washington, Obama should circumvent the culture to get things done. He said the most effective communication device is the “sound bite,” a short, pithy comment of about three seconds. As an example, Carville noted that while many books have been written about how to live well, they all can be summed up in the biblical quotations: “Love your neighbor as yourself ” and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “These sayings crop up over and over,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be complicated.” He said that as a political strategist, he spends more time convincing people not to say something, calling it “the glory of the unspoken thought.” Carville, who ran Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign, said narrative, or storytelling, is always more successful than a litany, or list. He said that was a problem with John Kerry and Al Gore, who wanted to list everything they wanted to change. Instead, he said, Obama in a talk the previous day, kept going back to his main
message of “patience.” “He (Obama) kept coming back to it,” he said. Another example he gave related to movies, which he said always has a setup, conflict and resolution. Noting that while Obama has only been in office two months and has inherited three wars and an economy as bad as the Great Depression, Carville said the best thing the president has going for him is his ability to communicate. Carville said communication is the key to everything, not only in politics. He encouraged students to think for themselves and have an opinion about things rather than having ideas and opinions given to you. He encouraged students to get involved in politics, especially at the grass-roots level. “There are so many things you think you cannot affect, but you can,” Carville said. He kept the audience’s attention with jokes. For example, he said he enjoyed his four years as a sophomore at LSU and that when he graduated, he had a 4.0 (as in blood-alcohol content level). “I’m not here to give you something to think, but [rather] something to think about,” Carville said. Carville, who received both his undergraduate and law degree from LSU, has worked in 18 countries as a political consultant. He hosts a XM Radio sports show named “60/20 Sports” with Luke Russert. Married to Mary Matalin, former assistant to President George H. Bush, the couple reside in New Orleans and have two daughters. He and his wife starred in the HBO series “K Street,” and he co-produced the remake of “All the King’s Men” starring Sean Penn. (Mario Martin contributed to this report.)
Junior Class Two students, both of New Orleans, are seeking the position of Junior Class president. They are Gerald Lee, a music business major, and Chotsoni Mackyenn, a mathematics major. Other officers include: vice president, Jessica Forest, a mass communication/political science major from Houston; secretary, Kandyce Franklin, a mass communication major from New Orleans; parliamentarian, Brandon Oliver, an urban studies major from New Orleans; class attendant, Brandi Clay, a secondary education biology major from Lafayette; first gentleman, Darrius Miller, a biology major from Chicago; on-campus representative, Bianca Spears, a psychology major from Lockport; and off-campus representative, Kristi Coleman, a mass communication major from New Orleans. Sophomore Class One position is up for grabs in the Sophomore Class – class attendant. Three students are running: Kelsey Joseph, a nursing major from Vacherie; Casey Dupart of New Orleans; and Arielle Calloway, a mathematics major from California. Class officers without competition include: president, Alora Edwards, a criminal justice/accounting major from Los Angeles; secretary, Brittney Boudreaux, a nursing major from Lafayette; treasurer, Samantha Diggs, a nursing major from Nashville;; first gentleman, Juan Serrano, a political science major from Detroit; and oncampus representative, Whitney Boudreaux, a nursing major from Lafayette.
2 March 2009
Campus&Local
Spring Fest concert guest still mystery at presstime Andrea Sylvas Spring Fest 2009, which features a highly anticipated concert, fashion show and much more, has been set for April 13-19 by the Student Government Association. The headlining act for the highly anticipated Spring Fest concert “Acoustic Swag,” set for 7 p.m. Saturday, 17, on Kabacoff Quadrangle, is still a mystery. As the Courtbouillon went to press, SGA officials were unable to announce who would perform or comment on a campus-wide rumor that Baton Rouge rappers Lil’ Boosie and Webbie would be performing. Spring Fest activities will kick off at 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 13, with the “Flavors of DU Cookoff ” sponsored by Sodexho, ending at 1 p.m. Kabacoff Plaza. The day will end with a “Levee Breach” pool party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dent Hall Pool from 9 p.m-1a.m. On Tuesday, April 14, “830” Student Appreciation Day will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Kearny Lounge, with Cold Stone Creamery providing ice cream for the event. An off-campus laser tag competition, dubbed the “Blue Beam Classic,” will be held the same day from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Adventure Quest, located, 1200 Clearview Parkway, Suite 1105. Shuttles will be provided for the event, with departure set for 9:30 p.m. behind Dent Hall. The SGA will pay fees for the first 125 students, which includes all activities and food. The cost for all others will be $22. Sign-up
sheets for the free laser-tag slots will posted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. next Sunday and in downstairs Kearney Hall. A special edition of Wild Out Wednesday has been planned for April 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Kabacoff Plaza. The theme, “A Different World,” comes from a popular television series in the 1980s and early ‘90s that prompted an increase in enrollment at historically black colleges and universities. Free snowballs and $25 Visa gift cards will be given away, and various local vendors will be set up. The day will end with a latenight breakfast in Kearny Hall from 10 p.m. to midnight. On Thursday, April 16, the National Pan-Hellenic Council will sponsor a free “Recession” crawfish boil on Kabacoff Plaza, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A reggaethemed party, “Irie” (or “Great”), is set for 9 p.m. to 1 p.m. in Kearny, hosted by the SGA. The annual Spring Fest fashion show, “Exposed: Fads and Trends of American Fashion,” will cover looks from the 1920s to the present. Everyone is asked to bring new children’s books or school supplies for the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans. The show will begin at 7 p.m. on Kabacoff Plaza. Spring Fest will end Sunday, April 19, with chapel service at 10:30 a.m. and a gospel concert at 7 p.m., both in Lawless Assembly Hall.
Runoff FROM PAGE 1 planning community service projects and campus events. She also wants to implement a “more effective communication system” for all students. Through her experience as an attendant in the royal court, Foster says she realized how important Miss Dillard is in “shaping the future of this institution and improving the quality of life for students.” Foster said she learned from Yates how to “be assertive, open-minded and how it is a must to manage your time well.” Foster plans to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and then specialize in African American adolescents. She says she eventually would like to start a high school for inner-city kids, providing then with “the same amenities as parochial schools.” McField, who works for the New Orleans Hornets Buzz Control, will become the fourth Mr. Dillard, a tradition started by Miss Dillard 2006-07 Dianna Green.
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Study time
David Pittman | Courtbouillon John Kennedy, a senior history major from New Orleans, studies in downstairs Kearny recently. Only two weeks of classes remain for graduating seniors, four weeks for other students.
At least 73 sign up for recruiting train tour Kandyce Franklin
About 73 prospective students have registered so far to take a special free recruiting train ride to Dillard next weekend, and the Office of Enrollment Management is seeking DU student volunteers to help with the tour over the Easter break. Rebecca Armstrong-English, coordinator of campus tours and special events for the Office of Enrollment Management, said the Dillard Univer-
sity Passport to Opportunity Campus Tour will start next Thursday aboard an Amtrak train in New York and travel through Atlanta before arriving in New Orleans with the recruits. She said prospective students traveling by train are from New York; Newark, N.J.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Fort Washington, Md.; Alexandria, Va.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Atlanta. Additionally, some families are driving in from areas not specifically
He has an associate’s degree from Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy in Los Angeles with a minor in mass communication. McField is also a member of Phi Gamma Nu National Business Fraternity, Collegiate 100 Black Men, Dillard University Concert Choir bass singer, Vision Quest chorale tenor singer and was a SOAR leader last year. McField says he felt like it was time for him to step up to the plate: “Sometimes when you want to see why things are not going the way you think they should, you try and take matters in your own hands to see if you can make a difference.” Becoming Mr. Dillard is his way of trying to make a difference, he says. McField is looking forward to becoming the representative for all males on campus. He plans to boost the male morale by making himself available to those men who “are willing to help revive Dillard.” He believes Dillard men have the potential to help him in his efforts to improve male participation in campus activities. McField also plans to start his “Brother to Brutha”
targeted by the tour, including from St. Louis, Mo.; McComb, Miss.; and Lafayette. The tour is free, with students being provided transportation, lodging and meals, ArmstrongEnglish said. Activities will include a city tour, movie night, a community service project and a Hornets game. Any Dillard student who wants to assist with the tour may contact Armstrong-English at renglish@dillard.edu or 816.4670.
program, designed for Dillard men to serve as big brothers to high school and middle school boys to help instill the importance of community service. By the time these young men enter college, McField says he wants community service to already be a part of their everyday lives. Just for fun, McField says he wants to start his talk show, which will be taped every month, on Facebook called “What Women Want.” “The talk show is to let the men of Dillard know what educated women look for a young man, said McField. McField feels that he was impacted the most by the “hard work and dedication” of Harris. “Many people don’t realize all the tedious work he goes through and time and dedication he puts forth into this position,” said McField. “Marcel has done a great job as Mister Dillard.” Both Foster and McField emphasized the need for mentorship and effective communication. They are in the process of finding schools to adopt for mentorship purposes.
Etouffee
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2 March 2009
COURTBOUILLON
Student Success seeks pictures, stories for ‘09 Senior Book A Senior Book for 2009 graduates is the first step toward resumption of annual yearbooks at Dillard University, according to Dr. Toya Barnes-Teamer, vice president for student success. With a short timeline, Barnes-Teamer and members of the Student Government Association are seeking pictures and narratives about the Hurricane Katrina experience from senior students to include in the book.
The deadline for the 150-200 words will be Senior Day, April 16, and details will be provided in upcoming flyers to be posted around campus, she said. She encouraged students to start preparing their digital pictures and short narrative to be ready for the deadline. The best of the entry selections will be included in the Senior Book, she said.
The full-color Senior Book, estimated to be about 40 pages long, will be mailed to graduates in the summer. For that reason, especially, Barnes-Teamer emphasized the need for graduating seniors to complete the exit card so that the university will know where to ship the book on or around July 1. A full-fledged yearbook is being planned for the 2009-10 academic year, Barnes-Teamer said.
Doctor urges DU students to have safe sex African-American women rank No. 1 in contracting the sexually transmitted disease, Chlamydia, Dr. Keith Winfrey warned a Dillard audience in a recent speech in which he emphasized safe sex. Winfrey, a professor at Tulane Medical School who has a private practice in Alexandria, and Terry Gray, a health advisor for Orleans Parish, spoke to about 20 students on the topic “Sex Sells: What are You Buying?” Winfrey said STDs, including AIDS, are spreading rapidly, particularly among young African-American women all over the United States. He said attributed much of the problem of high rates of infection to women’s lack of knowledge, sexual inequality and intoxication. Winfrey also said many in the African-American community are not aware of “down-low” activities. For example, he said, many men in jail are in denial and believe that if they have sex in jail, they haven’t had a gaysex encourager. When the “down-low”man gets out of jail, he is not truthful with his mate, putting her at risk of becoming infected with an STD, including AIDS, he said. Winfrey took questions from the audience that indicated a strong interest in what STDs are curable and incurable. Students Brittany Hrigo, Asia Settle and Troy Lovely coordinated game activities related to the consequences of not using proper precautions during sex. (Constance Edmond contributed to this article.)
Jeannine Cannon | Courtbouillon Performing as Day 26 are, from left, Rodney Graham, a junior theatre major from Los Angeles; Marcel Harris, a senior public health major from Valejo, Calif.; Micheal Kelley, a sophomore art major from Atlanta; Michael McField, a senior business management major from Carson, Calif.; and Cory Falade, a junior accounting major from Dallas.
Freshman Dillard’s first ‘Funkmaster’ Deri’Andra Tucker receives standing ovation as Ciara Kristi Coleman Freshman Deri’Andra Tucker, 19, of New Orleans received a standing ovation along with the official title of “Funkmaster” at the Collegiate 100 Black Men’s First Annual Fake the Funk talent showcase Tuesday. The winner portrayed the singer Ciara before an audience of about 120. She was accompanied by two background dancers, junior Arieuna McGee and sophomore Kristi Coleman. Tucker performed three of Ciara’s hit songs, “Goodies,” “One-Two
Step” and “Promise.” Her picture will be posted around campus showcasing her as the official winner. The masters of ceremony for the talent show were Raphael Richard, senior urban studies major from Baton Rouge, and Marcel Harris, senior public health major from Vallejo, Calif. Other acts included: • Kriss Kross: Ricky Lewis, a senior from California, and Richard. • Day 26: Rodney Graham, a junior theatre major from Los Angeles; Micheal Kelley, a sophomore art major from Atlanta; Michael McField, a senior business management major from Carson, Calif; Cory Falade, a junior accounting major from Dallas; and Harris. • Five Heartbeats: Alan Carmel, a
sophomore business management major of St. Louis, and Coleman. • Jennifer Hudson: Sheena Adams, a senior political science major from Arlington, Texas. Other acts for whom names were not available included: Brandy and Monica, Beyonce’, Lil’ Wayne and Rick Ross, Xscape and Bone Thugs and Harmony. Richard, president of Collegiate 100 Black Men, said he was excited to see that a great number of his peers came out to support the organization. The event, the first of what the C-100 proposes to hold annually, had at least 11 groups to register, with no entry fee. (Jeannine Cannon and Charley Steward contributed to this report.)
Etouffee
2 March 2009
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COURTBOUILLON
As tax deadline looms, tips offered to maximize refunds Farah Akbar
As the April 15 deadline nears for federal tax returns, students should look very closely at ways to maximize their refunds, starting with whether or not to itemize and if you’re eligible for a tax credit. To take advantage of maximum deductions, students should file on the 1040 tax form if possible. As Helen R. Bougere, supervisor and coordinator for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in Howard House, explains, the first step is to understand whether or not you should itemize. The VITA site offers tax filing assistance to both students and the community. The standard deduction is based on the filing status of the students, whether single, married filing jointly or head of household. The standard deduction for this year’s income tax report is $5,450 for singles;; $10,900 for married filing jointly; and $8,000 for heads of households. If you have more deductions that the amount listed above, you should itemize using Form 1040. If you have less, there’s no value to itemization, so you can use Form 1040-A. Students who file under the standard deduction are not eligible to itemize their school expenses but will be able to receive the monies taken away from state and federal taxes over the course of the previous fiscal year if the student worked, Bougere said. Bougere recommends that “dependent” students file under that standard deduction. A student is “dependent” if parents provide more than 50 percent of support.
Associated Press file photo A woman drops her federal tax return in the mail slot at a post office in Palo Alto, Calif., on April 15, 2008. The personal exemption acts like a tax deduction and lowers your taxable income you pay taxes on less income. The personal exemption, which is the same for everyone, is $3,500. Be sure to read up on available credits – for example, the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, the Hope education credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. The EITC is a refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families; the refund has no effect on certain welfare benefits, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security income, food stamps, low-incoming housing or most Temporary Assistance to Needy Families payments. The latter two are based on educational expenses paid for
you, your spouse or your dependents. Eligibility for a Hope Credit, filed on Form 8863, requires the following: 1. As of the beginning of the year, the student has not completed the first two years of postsecondary education (that is, generally is a freshman or sophomore in college). 2. Enrollment in a program that leads to a degree, certificate or other recognized educational credential for at least one academic period beginning during the year. 3. Is taking at least onehalf of the normal fulltime workload for the student’s course of study for at least one academic period beginning during the calendar year. 4. Does not have a fed-
eral or state felony conviction for possessing or distributing a controlled substance as of the end of the year. Other specific deductions to keep in mind include: • Line 33 of the 1040 form: Students who pay on the interest in their 2008 qualified student loans may deduct it here. If the loan is taken out for other purposes, such as a car, it is not eligible to written off on line 33. • Line 44 on Form 8917, Tuition and Fees Deduction, where a student can write off the funds paid on tuition. All schools are required to send students W-2 form if anything was paid towards their tuition. Independent students are also eligible to itemize – write
off eligible expenditures – for tuition, fees, room and board, and books and supplies. Itemize deductions are also available for medical expenses, charitable contributions, casualty and theft losses, and gambling losses. For additional information or advice, students may visit Bougere at Room 105 Howard House, call her at 816-4698 or send an e-mail to hbougere@ dillard.edu. Help with taxes is available for students Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. They also may use the weekend hours for the general public: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. No appointment is necessary, Bougere said. For more information, visit www.irs.gov.
DU among list of 33 HBCUs to use Black College Common Application Clark Atlanta latest to join group; one $35 application fee for all
Common Application, started in 1998 by EDU Inc. President Robert Mason to increase the marketing and recruitment efforts of HBCUs nationally. In one step, Mason said, the EDU application allows a prospective student to receive acceptance letters, financial aid packages and scholarship ofCharley Steward fers to several different colleges. Managing Editor EDU recruiters, based in Atlanta, visit 3,000 Dillard University is among the list of 33 his- high schools a year on average, representing its torically black colleges and universities to which member institutions and getting more students undergraduates can apply with one application for to compete the application. To date, the compaa one-time fee of $35. ny says more than 75,000 students have used the Clark Atlanta University is the most recent addi- EDU application. tion to the list of schools using the Black College Although not well-known, national and state-
specific or group applications such as the Common Application and the Universal Common Application have been around for more than three decades. The Common Application, started in 1975, represents 346 institutions, including Harvard and Princeton universities and HBCUs such as Morehouse, Spelman and Xavier University. The Universal College Application, started in 2007, has 78 large public Ivy League institutions. The Black College Common Application is the first to serve only HBCUs. For more information, go to www.eduinconline. com.
Opinion&Editorial
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COURTBOUILLON
Faculty cuts due: This, too, shall pass
“The only thing constant is change”: The saying rings true as Dillard continues to recover four years post-Katrina. The latest step was the announcement Monday by Dr. David Taylor, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, that the university will be “right-sizing” faculty. Unlike other area universities, Dillard tried to keep its faculty intact post-Katrina. The thinking was the university would bounce back quickly. About 2,100 students were enrolled in 2005. Now we have less than 900. Taylor says the 112 current faculty would support a student population of 1,500 to 1,700 students. The administration hopes its 16-month-old recruiting plan will translate into 1,000 students in the fall; a 110 percent increase in applications has been noted already. In the meantime, however, Dillard must cut 33-45 faculty members. As the Courtbouillon went to press, the administration was preparing to send letters to all faculty. Some will receive contracts, others “letters of non-renewal.” First to go: remaining adjuncts, non-tenured faculty and then tenured faculty (although tenured faculty probably will have a reprieve through 2009 since tenured faculty should be notified by Dec. 15 of the preceding year.) The provost said consideration also will be given to which faculty best supports core mission and programming. Taylor says he expects “right-sizing” to continue over the next 18 months. The announcement is somber news, not only for faculty, but current and prospective students and for alumni. The provost, who must deal with a difficult problem not of his own making (in a way, like Barack Obama), says decisions will be made with “humanity” and in the best interests of Dillard and its students. What can students do? Dr. Toya Barnes-Teamer, vice president for student success, said in January that students can help Dillard recover by pre-registering for classes for an accurate count; maintaining “appropriate” grade-point averages and course loads; volunteering to assist with recruitment; and participating in extracurricular activities for a vibrant campus life. What can alumni do? Continue to support Dillard. The provost noted Dillard has an endowment of $39 million, unlike Spelman College with $300 million and Howard University with $500 million. While all the new construction on campus is essentially paid for, money matters in all other areas of DU operation. “This, too, shall pass,” says the Bible. When all is said and done and everyone has performed his or her role, we look forward to Dillard being the “right-sized” powerhouse of old, succeeding at its mission of accepting students where they are and taking them where they need to be.
Letters to the editor Questions, comments or concerns? Voice them!! Letters to the editor should be no longer than 250 words. Send your letter along with your name/title, address, e-mail address, phone number and classification/major if you are a student to: duopinions@gmail.com or mail to: Dillard University, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70122 Room 146 Cook Center. Deadlines for other spring issues are March 5, March 26, April 9 and April 23. Letters must be signed and will not be returned.
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The Courtbouillon is published by the students of Dillard University. Views expressed on the opinion pages are those of the individual writers, and not those of the administration, faculty or student body. The Courtbouillon reserves the right to edit all writings for space and libel.
2 March 2009
President Obama needs more than 2 months to repair U.S. financial woes: Give him a break! Brittany Odom Editor-in-chief Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the United States of America won’t regain a state of economic balance overnight, either. Perhaps now would be a good time to give President Obama some leeway to clean up this mess – offering him more than 60 days to work a miracle. The president inherited what he called “the worst fiscal situation in American history,” a deficit of $1.3 trillion. In an effort to reach his goal of cutting the country’s deficit in half by the end of his first presidential term, Obama has worked hard to help the struggling economy, including a $787 billion stimulus plan for the country. Some have been critical of every decision the president has made so far, claiming he hasn’t kept his promises. Some have even speculated that certain actions of his may push us further into debt before we get out of it. However, wasn’t the general consensus before he took office that things would get worse before they got better? If so, why the tough scrutiny? The Fact Check Web site claims to follow U.S. politics and reports on what is truth and fiction although it has come under fire because of the fact that many of their “facts” are not facts at all. Fact Check recently looked into Obama’s speech given last Tuesday about the economy. Much of the things
Politifact has set up what they call the “Obameter,” which keeps more than 500 promises the president has made along with a tally to keep track of how many have been kept. Brittany N. Odom Editor-in-chief they fact-checked were statements that required no checking. An example from a March 25 Associated Press article about Fact Check’s claims: The claim: “We will recover from this recession. But it will take time, it will take patience, and it will take an understanding that when we all work together, when each of us looks beyond our own short-term interests to the wider set of obligations we have to each other, that’s when we succeed.” The facts: “No one really knows when the recession will end. But Obama’s own budget forecasts the recession will continue through this year but with a relatively shallow 1.2 percent decline in the gross domestic product.” Where is that fact that needs to be reviewed in that? Obama simply stated that we will recover, and it will take time. A segment of Fact Checker, Politifact, has set up what they call the “Obameter,” which logs
more than 500 promises the president has made along with a tally to keep track of how many have been kept. It was interesting to note that after eight years of putting up with a president who made documented false statements, including many that brought the country to war, no meter existed on the site for former President George W. Bush. So, America, are we going to spend four years of tearing down everything our commander-in-chief says and does? He’s been in office for two months;; he promised a change. Can we give him a chance to give us that change? Obama committed an act of great bravery when he chose to vie for the job to clean up after such an incompetent administration. He needs our support as citizens in this time, not to be torn apart because we want the change he promised right away.
2 March 2009
Opinion&Editorial COURTBOUILLON
WORD ON THE AVE: Where did you go and what did you do for spring break? Michael McField: Senior business managment major, Carson, Calif.
“I went on tour with Dillard University’s Concert Choir. We went to Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Mississippi, Montgomery, Ala., and back to New Orleans to perform with the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra.”
Hueidesia “Dee Dee” Henderson: Senior biology major, Monroe
Andrew Augillard: Junior business management major, Destrehan
“I went to Pensacola, Fla., with some friends. We went to the beach and did a lot of sight-seeing. It was a muchneeded break.”
“Being the scholar that I am, I took it upon myself to use my spring break as a time to broaden my horizons through networking and studying. In doing this, I accomplished a goal of mine, which was to secure a summer internship.”
18 QUESTIONS The column “18 Questions” is a popular one with many Dillard students, who may ask questions serious or facetious, insightful or inane. It is named after the year the university was founded,1869. The following questions were compiled by writer Jazmine Boutte from the offerings of various students recently. If you have a question, send it to Boutte at ducourtbouillon@gmail.com . 1. Why do teachers give you B’s and C’s when they don’t teach? So shouldn’t you receive an A for effort? 2. Do Dillard students have the tenacity to fight for what we need and move administrators to action? 3. Why do officials steadily keep saying the conditions in Williams Hall will be fixed but problems continue to abound? 4. Why didn’t Dillard use spring break to fix the concrete instead of blocking students from getting into the Gardens now? 5. Why are we paying for Kearney to stay open until a certain time, but workers put up the food 30 minutes before closing time?
6. What happened to the Web site Juicy Campus? 7. Why not become a contributing Dillard alumnus? Do you really want future generations to have a discouraging experience at “fair Dillard”? Is that fair? 8. When did green become one of Dillard’s colors? 9. Why does my teacher leave a note on his or her door stating he or she will be out for the day and call? 10. Is Straight Hall irreparable? If so, why is it still sitting like an eyesore on campus? 11. Are the ducks that waddle around on the oaks edible? 12. When will the Beta Phi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha return? 13. What is more important to the administration: money or academics? 14. Why were run-off elections for SGA held the same week of the original elections? 15. Why do some professors lack compassion toward students attempting to pass a class, constantly falling back on the fact that they already have their degrees? 16. When did Dillard become a junior college? In 2005, 2006, 2007 or 2008? 17. Why are there “wanna-be” thugs on campus? Last time I checked, thugs don’t go to college! 18. What musical artist will we have for the Spring Fest concert?
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Final Four
Sports
2 March 2009
COURTBOUILLON
For first time, Louisville in The Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. — Angel McCoughtry had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Louisville claimed its first Final Four berth by upsetting top-seeded Maryland in the Raleigh Regional final. Deseree Byrd added 17 points and Candyce Bingham
had 15 for the third-seeded Cardinals (33-4). They never trailed and led by double figures for virtually the entire second half in continuing the most successful tournament run in school history. They’ll face the winner of the Oklahoma City regional, either Oklahoma or Purdue, Sunday night in St. Louis.
Stanford ladies back in competition The Associated Press BERKELEY, Calif. — Jayne Appel had a career-high 46 points and 16 rebounds in the third highest-scoring performance in NCAA tournament history, overwhelming Iowa State’s helpless defense and carrying Stanford back to the Final Four with a 74-53 victory in
the Berkeley Regional final on Monday night. Stanford’s physically imposing center with neon-pink fingernails and a dancer’s grace also surpassed Candice Wiggins’ single-game scoring record for the Cardinal (33-4), leaving little doubt about Stanford’s eighth Final Four berth.
Photo by Associated Press Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry reacts following the women’s NCAA college basketball tournament regional championship game against Maryland in Raleigh, N.C., Monday. Louisville won 77-60 and advanced to the Final Four.
Three clutch free-throws for Paul help Hornets pull win over Spurs Brett Martel
AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS — Chris Paul scored 26 points, hitting three clutch free-throws with 7.1 seconds left, and the depleted New Orleans Hornets pulled out a 90-86 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night. David West had 23 points, going 11-of-11 on free throws, and grabbed 16 rebounds. The Hornets were 32-of-33 from the foul line overall, making their last 31, to compensate for 37.5 percent shooting. Tony Parker had 20 points for San Antonio. Tim Duncan had 19 points and 15 rebounds and Manu Ginobili added 17 points. New Orleans appeared to have the game wrapped up when Rasual Butler’s free throws gave the Hornets an 87-80 lead with 29.6 seconds to go. Then Ginobili hit a quick 3, Butler turned the ball over trying to catch an inbound pass, and Michael Finley hit another 3 to pull the Spurs to 87-86 with 17.8 seconds to go. Paul was the difference in the end, taking an inbound pass in the back court, splitting Finley and Parker on the dribble, then alertly heaving up a shot from well behind the 3-point line as he was fouled by Ginobili. The Spurs argued vehemently that Paul was fouled before the shot. The officials gathered to discuss it, but ultimately put Paul on the line. Paul didn’t miss, and San Antonio was left with too little time to answer again. The Hornets came into the game missing three Photo by Associated Press key players because of injuries to center Tyson New Orleans Hornets forward David West (30) makes a shot over San Chandler (left ankle) and Peja Stojakovic (back) Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9), of France, during the second half of and the one-game suspension of primary reserve an NBA basketball game Sunday. James Posey, who was punished for throwing a
ball at the feet of a referee during a loss in New York on Friday night. Hornets coach Byron Scott responded by giving more playing time to backup point guard Antonio Daniels, who sometimes joined Paul in the back court. Daniels wound up with 10 points in 21 minutes. The victory lifted New Orleans (45-27) into a tie for sixth with Utah in the Western Conference playoff race. The Spurs (48-25), which lost for the first time in four games, remained in second, but their lead over Denver was trimmed to half a game. The Spurs led 47-43 at halftime and went up by six after Duncan’s driving layup early in third quarter, but wound up shooting only 26.3 percent (5-of-19) during the period as the lead slowly slipped away. The Hornets made 22 of 23 free throws through the opening three periods, including 7of-7 during a 9-0 run to close out the third quarter. The spurt gave New Orleans, which entered the game with a 36-3 record when leading after three periods, a 68-63 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Hornets held on in large part because of Paul’s 12 points in the final 12 minutes. Twice in the period, he drew fouls on 3-point attempts, making every free throw. He also forced Parker to turn the ball over out of bounds on a fast break and poked what looked like a certain defensive rebound away from Duncan. His ball-handling in traffic was spectacular as usual, allowing him to set up his teammates. He finished with nine assists, including a big one on West’s jumper with 39 seconds to go.