COURTBOUILLON A DILLARD UNIVERSITY student production
16 April 2009
www.ducourtbouillon.com
College parking in N.O.
NEWS
Tulane, UNO charge as much as Dillard
101-year-old alumnus visits Dillard campus, speaks to students
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Kandyce Franklin
crashed last spring, causing a lull in broadcasts, McLin said. DU informational technology specialists were able to get the server up after the semester ended, he added. Then students, led by Collins, engaged in extensive research and planning prior to resumption of broadcasting, the co-chairman said. McLin said the station has positioned itself to give students real-life experiences they normally would encounter only by working at a commercial station. The Monday/Wednesday lineup includes: • 7-8 a.m.: “Gospel Hour” with Jenson Ford and Janise Albston. • 8-10 a.m.: “Breakfast on the Oaks” with Channing Bias, Martin Bradford, Michael Oby,
Tulane University and the University of New Orleans charge as much or more for parking as does Dillard under certain circumstances, but faculty and students there apparently have more options, according to responses from other area colleges in New Orleans. Like Dillard, both UNO and Xavier distribute more parking decals than the schools have spaces available, according to officials. Delgado Community College had the cheapest parking decal rates at $25 per academic semester, according to spokesperson Vivian Folley. And at Xavier, faculty members park for free, officials said. Officials were contacted at Tulane, UNO, Xavier and Delgado to determine how much students and faculty paid for parking along with how many parking decals were current at each school compared with the number of parking spaces available. Despite several attempts, officials did not respond at Southern University in New Orleans. Dillard students pay $100 a
See Radio on Page 2
See Parking on Page 3
NEWS Director of financial aid, chief of campus police resign from Dillard
ETOUFFEE
3 WDUB’s weekday broadcast resumes;
live stream available on DU’s Web site
Gamma Sigma Sigma sponsors first pageant for plus-sized women
EDITORIAL
Farah Akbar | Courtbouillon Junior theater major Martin Bradford speaks on-air during an afternoon broadcast Tuesday. The radio station resumed programming this semester with a live stream available on the university’s Web site.
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Oprah show on teen sex sparks debate on advice to provide vibrators
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INDEX Campus news ............................................ 2-3 Etouffee ............................................ 4-5 Editorial ............................................ 6-7 World news ................................................8
The Mass Communications Department has resumed its weekday broadcasts of WDUB radio from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in Cook Center, offering hip-hop, R&B and news. The station was last on the air in spring 2008, according to Kevin McLin, department co-chair and station adviser. Nicole Collins, a mass communications graduating senior who is program director, said the station is available through online streaming at www.dillard.edu. McLin said that prior to Hurricane Katrina, the station content was aired as both a Webcast and a low-powered AM-FM station. However, Katrina destroyed the radio antennae on the roof of Cook, leaving only the use of a server to provide a Webcast as Dillard tried to get FEMA to replace the antennae, McLin said. The server
Lee, Joseph win Council spots on April 2 Induction of new Student Council members and representatives are expected to take place in the fall, following completion of April 2 elections for all but the incoming freshman representatives. Two candidates were selected during voting in downstairs Kearny (president of the Junior Class and Sophomore Class attendant). All the rest of the positions had only one candidate, meaning that person has won the position by acclamation. Some positions, such as vice president of the Sophomore Class and treasurer of the Junior Class, had no candidates. Each class
president will fill the vacancies in the fall Gerald Lee, a music business major from New Orleans, was elected Junior Class president over Chotsoni Mackyenn, a mathematics major. And Kelsey Joseph, a nursing major from Vacherie, won the position of Sophomore Class attendant, beating out Casey Dupart of New Orleans and Arielle Calloway, a mathematics major from California. The winners were announced by outgoing Student Government Association President Crispus Gordon. Rouseline Emmanuel, assistant dean and director of student
engagement and leadership, was unavailable to provide the election statistics. Gordon said he was “perplexed” why more students don’t seek positions of leadership on campus. A contributing factor may have been the lack of qualification in one area, he said, noting candidates must have a cumulative 2.75 grade-point average to be considered for office. Other positions filled by acclamation are listed by class and office.
See Election on Page 2
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COURTBOUILLON
DILLARD UNIVERSITY
COURTBOUILLON Volume 72, Issue 4
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-chief .................... Brittany N. Odom Managing editor ...................... Charley Steward Sports editor .................... Jeannine Cannon Photo editor ............................. Farah Akbar 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.
Radio FROM PAGE 1 Kiandra Metoyer, Christian Knight and Jilane Williams, with producer Brandon Watson. • 10 a.m. to noon: Eric Wright. • Noon to 2 p.m. Chanell Laurent. • 2-4 p.m.: Kristi Coleman and Robyn Murray with fashion tips.
16 April 2009
• 4-6 p.m.: Damalia Simon. The Tuesday/Thursday lineup includes: • 10 a.m. to noon: Brandon Watson. • Noon to 2 p.m.: Christina Witt. • 2-4 p.m.: Michael Oby. • 4-6 p.m.: “Rock Star Radio” with Martin Bradford. The Friday lineup includes: • 10 a.m. to noon: Shanice Mack. • Noon to 1 p.m.: “Cook’s Hour.” • 1-3 p.m.: Katrina Smith.
• 3-6 p.m.: Melinda Allen. • 5-6 p.m.: Lawrence Weber. Other team members include Brittany Odom and Jermaine Jackson, webmasters; Jazmine Boutte, promotions manager; and Jeannine Cannon and Tiffany Young, promotion assistants. Collins said the students are proud that they’ve finally gotten back on-air. (Vincent Michael Lewis contributed to this article.)
1925 Dillard grad recalls status of attending school Tierra Nash In the early 1900s, when Irene Olivia Reed came to Dillard University, going to Dillard “meant you were somebody,” she said. The 101-year-old alumna, the first in her family to attend Dillard, went on to an illustrious 50-year-plus career as a Louisiana educator and saw her daughter and three grandchildren also walk under the oaks for graduation. Reed met with faculty, staff and students on a special visit to the school April 9. The Bayou Goula native now residents in Puerto Rico with her daughter, Dr. Joan Campbell, and was in town for the Easter holiday. President Marvalene Hughes applauded Reed for raising such an accomplished family. Reed’s daughter, Joan Campbell, graduated from Dillard in 1957, as did Campbell’s late husband, Dr. Lyn Campbell Sr. Their three children – Reed’s grandchildren – also graduated from Dillard: Dr. Lyle Campbell, Class of 1985; Dr. Lynn Campbell, Class of 1987; and Lauryn Campbell,
Farah Akbar | Courtbouillon Irene Olivia Reed, Class of 1925, listens to Dillard President Marvalene Hughes during a recent visit. Class of 1990. Reed graduated in 1925 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She married the Rev. Samuel G. Reed, now deceased, had a son and daugh-
ter, and worked as a principal in Orleans, Jefferson, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. Reed said she can see a “big difference” in Dillard from her days as a student – more build-
ings, for one thing. “We appreciated our education, and we knew what we were here for,” she recalled. She advised students, “Don’t give up. Do your best.”
Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society inducts 16 students into Dillard chapter Jazmine Boutte Sixteen new members were inducted into the Delta Eta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society on April 9.
Five inductees were present: Jasmine Johnson, LaDerica McNairy, Charley Steward, Canae White and Edward Coleman. Other inductees include: Juan Davis, Sherman Coleman, Cory
Election FROM PAGE 1 Senior Class President: Jasmine Johnson, a public health major from Houston. Vice president: Maime Butler, a psychology major from Oakland, Calif. Off-campus representative: Sabrina Bland, an urban studies public policy major from Oakland, Calif. Junior Class Vice president: Jessica Forest, a mass communications/ political science major
Falade, David McBride, Brittany Katz, Niesha Guidry, Robert Lender II, Amanda Henderson, Bre’on Route, Jasmine Nicholas and Ivory Ellis. Founded in 1937, the soci-
from Houston. Secretary: Kandyce Franklin, a mass communication major from New Orleans. Class attendant: Brandi Clay, a secondary education major from Lafayette. Parliamentarian: Brandon Oliver, an urban studies major from New Orleans. First gentleman: Darrius Miller, a biology major from Chicago. On-campus representative: Bianca Spears, a psychology major from Lockport. Off-campus representative: Kristi Coleman, a mass communications major from
ety’s purpose is to recognize and reward high academic achievement and encourage students to appreciate the roles they must play as a participating citizen in a democratic social order.
New Orleans. Sophomore Class President: Alora Edwards, a criminal justice/ accounting major from Los Angeles. Secretary: Brittany Boudreaux a nursing major from Lafayette. Treasurer: Samantha Diggs, a nursing major from Nashville. First gentleman: Juan Serrano, a political science major from Detroit. On-campus representative: Whitney Boudreaux, a nursing major from Lafayette. (Tierra Nash contributed to this report.)
Campus&Local
16 April 2009
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COURTBOUILLON
Chief urges students to report thefts on campus Constance Edmond While some students have complained about thefts in Williams Hall, Interim Chief Andrew J. Menzies said only one official report has been made. He encouraged students to report thefts when incidents occur so that investigations can be undertaken. Menzies said the television in Williams Hall lobby was the only thing reported stolen in the dorm this year and
Financial aid dean resigns after one year
that the incident is still under investigation. Menzies said two actions should help make the dorm more secure. First, the key access problem has been resolved in the dorm so that no longer will anyone will be able to just walk into the dorm. Additionally, plans also are under way to have surveillance cameras installed this summer all over campus, he said.
In a separate incident, Menzies said four computers taken from the Information Technology Department were traced and recovered and the suspects arrested by New Orleans police. At least one student in Williams said she had an unreported theft. Freshman Carmen Henderson, of San Diego said her brand-new refrigerator was stolen, but she didn’t report it. She didn’t say why.
Menzies advised students to take the time to make a report. “It may take some time to resolve, but please be patient,” he said. Juana Green, office manager in the security office, encouraged students to also lock their room rather than leaving it open and unattended. To report a crime, call 816-4991; someone is available 24 hours a day, year-round, officials said.
Bourda quits; security squad title changing
Prospective students visit
Gabrielle Boykin Michael White, dean of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for the past year, resigned March 31, and Shannon Neal, associate director, is now serving as interim dean. An April 13 memo from Neal said White resigned because he decided to travel between his home state of Michigan and his adopted state of Wisconsin in pursuit of career opportunities. White joined Dillard University in February 2008 as financial aid dean. Dr. Toya BarnesTeamer, vice president for Student Success, which oversees the financial aid office, said White’s brought a higher level of customer service and compliance to his office. Barnes-Teamer said that until a permanent selection is made, Neal will serve as senior administrator while Josephine Hawkins will provide day-to-day management of operations. Barnes-Teamer said the office will continue to focus on enhancing customer service.
Parking FROM PAGE 1 year for parking decals while faculty members pay $200 a year. At Dillard, the number of parking spaces has declined by a third from 900 spaces to approximately 700 because of construction projects under way, according to Dr. Edgar Chase, vice president of Master Facilities Planning. At UNO, both students and faculty pay the same amount of $100 per year for parking decals, according to police Sgt. Valencia
Charley Steward Constance Edmond
From left, Demetrius Edwards, Destorian Cash and Gionanta Latimore wait outside the DUALS apartments Monday. The three were part of a group of more than 70 high school seniors visiting Dillard as part of the Passport to Opportunity Campus Tour.
Two major changes in Dillard security efforts are the resignation of Chief Willie Bourda and the move toward the Office of Campus Public Safety’s official designation as “Campus Police,” with personnel capable of bearing arms. Andre J. Menzies, who was operations commander under Bourda, is serving as interim and has applied for the permanent position. Bourda, who became police chief in June 2005 but left postKatrina and returned just last year, resigned effective March 27. Menzies said the entire staff has completed police training and will officially be known as “Campus Police” within 5-10 business days. All of the officers have gone through postcertification, which will allow them to carry arms, he said. Menzies said he and his staff are eager to build a strong Dillard police presence.
Groomes. However, she said, the cost of decals decreases as the academic year continues. This means that if a student purchases a decal in December, the cost would range between $50 and $80. And since UNO is not gated, unlike Dillard, students and faculty who choose not to have a decal may more easily opt to use pay lots at $3 a day or park off-campus on Elysian Fields or Leon C. Simon. Groomes said 6,500 decals were issued at UNO this academic year, compared with approximately 5,300 of parking spaces available.
areas or in Xavier-owned apartments and houses pay $140 for parking permits. Commuting Xavier students pay either $60 or $100, depending if they’re full- or part-time. Xavier has issued approximately 5,000 decals and has approximately 4,200 spaces. Delgado students and faculty fare considerably better when it comes to parking rates. Both pay $25 per semester, and faculty members get a second decal free, according to Folley. Delgado did not respond to the question of its ratio of parking spaces to number of decals issued.
Farah Akbar | Courtbouillon
“We have lost approximately 300 parking spaces due to construction since the year 2002,” Groomes said of parking space at UNO. At Tulane, the cost of parking for faculty can range from as low as $20 to as high as $650, depending on salary, according to the campus Web site (www. tulane.edu). For students, the cost ranges from $3 to $575, depending on whether you have a car or motorcycle and for how long you want your decal. For example, for faculty and staff, if your salary range is under $30,000, a permit would be $420 for the academic year
(September 2009 to Aug. 31, 2010). For residential students, the cost is $575 per academic year, and commuter students, $520 per academic year. Tulane has issued approximately 1,500 decals and has 2,039 parking spaces, according to Lt. Catherine Osborne. At Xavier, faculty members park free, according to officials, while student parking decals costs from $60 to $100, depending on factors such as where a student lives on campus, whether you’re a visitor or part of contract staff. All Xavier residents who live in the Commons and Village residential
Etouffee
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16 April 2009
COURTBOUILLON
Shaunessy Carr named DU’s first ‘Miss Fabulous and Thick’ Damalia Simon chosen as runner-up; Rubila Smith picked as ‘Miss Congeniality’ Kristi Coleman
Rubila Smith
Damalia Simon
on the Oxygen network featuring 10 plus-sized women A sophomore political sci- competing to become “Miss ence major from St. Louis is F.A.T.” the first to hold the title of Carr recited a poem to the “Miss Fabulous and Thick” music of India Arie’s “Vidat Dillard University. eo” during the talent porShaunessy Carr was named tion. She wore a white suit the winner of DU’s first Miss for business attire and a long F.A.T. Pagblue dress eant on April for formal 2 in a compeattire. tition against Carr recited a poem to the music Simon of India Arie’s “Video” two other perfor med students: Daan African during the talent portion. malia Simon, dance aca sophomore companied mass commuby drums nication from New Orleans, for talent. She wore a meand Rubila Smith, a political dium-length pink dress for science major from Chicago. formal wear. Simon was named runner-up, Smith read a poem that and Smith was named Miss she wrote and wore black for Congeniality. the formal portion. All contestants received A Greek fashion show, flowers and sashes, and Carr “What Can You Do Without received a gift card to Zea’s. Your Letters,” was held durSponsored by Gamma ing intermission. Sigma Sigma Sorority, the Pageant judges included Farah Akbar | Courtbouillon pageant’s name has foun- Chelsea Jones along with Shaunessy Carr, a sophomore political science major from St. Louis, poses dations in the comedy of alumni Tanisha Ross Johnin a fashion portion of the first “Miss Fabulous and Thick” Pageant. Carr Mo’Nique, who started a re- son, Rance Johnson and won the title over two other competitors. ality TV miniseries in 2005 Natalie Cooley.
Student-directed play festival set for April 22-25 in Cook Tierra Nash Two theater classes are offering its students a chance to direct, stage and star in a series of one-act plays during the Spring 2009 Student Theatre Festival, set for April 22-26 in Cook Center. The theme of the annual festival, the first on campus post-Katrina, is “Six Degrees of Style!,” based on the six plays, each averaging about 10 minutes, being presented by students from SPT 303 (Directing) and SPT 304 (Stage Managing). Additionally, a 2005 graduate will provide a seventh offering. All will be featured back-to-back each night, with one intermission. The plays will be performed at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, April 22-26, with a matinee set for 2 p.m. that Sunday. Ray Vrazel, assistant professor of theater who teaches the SPT 303 (Directing) class, said the festival offers theater majors the chance to have complete control of a production: They have control over the lighting, sound and the overall scenery of their acts. He called the plays “quirky short plays representing different points of view.” Cortheal Clark is theater department chair who teaches SPT 304 (Stage Managing). The plays, along with the student directors and stage managers, include: • “The Asshole Murder Case” by Stuart Ham-
ple, with sophomore theater major Kari Cojoe of New Orleans directing and Tedrine Glover, a junior theater major from New Orleans, as stage manager. • “The Road to Ruin” by Richard Dresser, directed by sophomore Joslyn Greenard of Houston and Leah Hawkins, a junior mass communications major from New Orleans, stage manager. • “Dr. Fritz or The Sources of Light?” by David Ives, directed by Canae White, a junior from Little Rock, and Marcel Williams, a freshman computer science major from Detroit, stage manager. • “Words, Words Words” by David Ives, directed by senior Roxie Wilson of New Orleans and Jeremy Jones, junior theater major from New Orleans, stage manager. • “Foreplay, or The Art of Fugue” by David Ives, directed by Rodney Graham, a junior from New Orleans, and Nicole Collins, a mass communications senior from Alexandria, stage manger. • “The Field” by Roberta Spera, directed by Jamal Manning, a junior from Oakland, Calif., with Williams as stage manager. A seventh play, “Late Bus to Mecca,” will be directed by 2005 Dillard alumnus Patience Rayford of Chicago. Collins also will be stage manager. All tickets will cost $2. For more information, contact Clark at (504) 816-4450 or the theater office at (504) 816-4587.
Twelve students selected for 21 roles in play festival Twelve students have been selected to star in the plays. While 21 roles have been cast, several actors have been cast in more than one role and play. The cast members are listed by play: • Starring in “The Asshole Murder Case” will be Darren Jones, Brandon Adams, Chris Robinson and Melinda Allen. • The four cast members in “The Road to Ruin” include Shantrell Green, Lawrence Weber, Robinson and William Oliver. • Two will star in “Dr. Fritz, or The Forces of Light”: Allen and Frank Delaney. • Jones and Green will return in “Words, Words, Words,” along with Ian Lawrence. • Oliver, Robinson, Lawrence, Allen and Green will join Farah Akbar in “Foreplay, or the Art of the Fugue.” • Weber and Abraham McNeil will star in “The Fields.” “Late Bus to Mecca” has not been cast yet. (Tierra Nash contributed to this article.)
Etouffee
16 April 2009
5
COURTBOUILLON
Student art show to run through April 30
Amy Bryan, gallery director
Students from variety of majors share 70 works in Cook gallery Gabrielle Boykin Seventy pieces of art by 10 Dillard students will be on display through April 30 in the DU Art Gallery in Cook Center. The student artists include one senior, six juniors and three sophomores. Along with senior art major Sunni Jones-Ford of Denver, the junior exhibitors are art majors Monica Tyran and Damion Hunter, both of New Orleans; art major Simmone Tassin of Kenner; theater major Tedrine Glover of New Orleans; sociology major Julia Turner of New Orleans; and art major Devin Whitlock of Los Angeles. Sophomore exhibitors include art majors Jerlisa Devezin and Erika Gibson, both of New Orleans; and Michael Kelley II, an art major from Atlanta. Gallery Director Amy Bryan said the annual exhibit was created to showcase students’ work. The show will not be judged, but all the work is being offered for sale at prices ranging from $500 to $25. “All the students had an offer for their work on the opening night,” according to Bryan. Whitlock was offered $500 for a graffiti-style painting of singer Gladys Knight, and Ford was offered $25 for her digital photos of Dillard’s campus. Various styles of art are in the exhibit, including drawings, paintings, digital photography, creations on paper, traditional printmaking, mixed-media masks, ceramic art and 3D designs. The largest piece in the exhibit is 47½-by-31 inches, and the smallest piece is 8-by-10 inches. For example, the painting by Whitlock of singer Gladys Knight depicts Knight wearing an Afro hairstyle and surrounded by words women say when they love or hate a man. On her face also is a blueprint for plastic surgery. The words “nip” and “tuck” are written by each blue print. Bryan said members of faculty and staff have called the student exhibit the best to date. John Barnes, chairman of the art department, said he was pleased with the diversity of the art. Barnes and Bryan also complimented the students on their hard work and effort to help put this show together. Bryan said a closing night event is scheduled, as was an opening event on March 30, which was attended by 100 students, faculty, staff and members of the community.
Farah Akbar | Courtbouillon Of the 70 pieces on display, top picture shows a man in blue by Monica Tyran; at bottom left is a mask by Damion Hunter; and at bottom right is a bowl created by Julia Turner. All the works are for sale at prices ranging from $25 to $500.
Opinion&Editorial
6
COURTBOUILLON
Dillard missing boat by YouTube underuse In this day and age when it seems you can find anything and promote anything on the Internet, it only seems appropriate that colleges would use Web sites such as YouTube to recruit students. For example, if you search the University of New Orleans on YouTube, you find the university has an account where it has all the TV commercials for the school. You also will find student videos showing campus life around the school. These include videos of the university testing out a newly installed siren system, a video of snow falling on the campus last December and fire alarms going off in one of the campus buildings. Search for Tulane and you find the university has an account where it has commercials and videos of various campus events. You also see videos with interviews with students. But what about Dillard? A simple YouTube search of Dillard University reveals user videos showing previous Greek step shows, neophyte shows and some choir performances. Nothing that really promotes
the school and shows what makes it special. Why not take a page from UNO and Tulane and create an account on the Web site and put up videos showing why students should attend Dillard? What makes it different from other colleges? Why not show some of the events on campus that make us unique such as graduation under the oaks? Dillard is not the only local college without much of a presence on the Web site. Searches for SUNO, Xavier and Loyola brings about the same results as a search for Dillard does – which is not much. Other universities such as Howard, Morehouse, LSU and the University of Southern California also have accounts on YouTube with videos showing campus life and students speaking of their experiences at their respective college. At a time when recruitment and retention is an issue, it makes sense that Dillard does everything in its power to recruit students. A step in the right direction would be to use Web sites such as YouTube to promote the school worldwide.
In quote: “An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It’s being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don’t.” -Anatole France
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. The deadline for the final spring issue is April 23. Letters must be signed and will not be returned.
Our policy
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.
16 April 2009
Suggestion of providing teens with vibrators misses point; knowledge, not sex toys, needed Charley Steward Managing editor Did anyone catch Oprah’s show last Thursday? I did when I walked into my mother’s salon to find everyone staring at the television. The topic of America’s favorite talk show with more than 8 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings, was how parents should have the sex talk with their kids and teens. Apparently, Oprah’s show was piggybacking a national survey in both “Seventeen” and “O” magazines. Oprah wanted to know how many parents actually talk to their children about sex in general. A few parents nodded, clapped and raised their hands. Oprah proceeded to ask about everything from oral sex to masturbation. They audience seemed somewhat horrified. I was appalled – not by what Oprah asked, not by what the teens already knew, not by what teens say they have seen and heard, not by what teens say they have done. What appalled me was the suggestion by a guest sex therapist that parents provide vibrators to teens. According to the survey results, most mothers (78 percent) surveyed think their daughters feel comfortable talking to them about sex. However, 39 percent of daughters surveyed said their parents actually do talk to them about sex. Dr. Laura Berman, a sex therapist and author of “The Sex Ed Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents,” suggested that parents start dis-
Charley Steward Managing editor cussing sex with their children as young as 9 and10: “You want to have this conversation early with your kids before they find themselves in circumstances where they have to make sexual decisions,” she said. (That’s a little young, I think, but OK, I can agree with her. ) She then suggested that as children get older, parents should provide more details. I don’t see anything wrong with that suggestion, either. Her last suggestion was that parents buy their teens external vibrators by the time they’re 14 and 15. My response was, “What?!” Berman said, “When they are 15 …you can introduce the concept of vibrators.” She defended the suggestion, saying, “You’re teaching them about their own body…so they don’t have to depend on any teenage boy to do it for them.” Just like everyone in my mother’s salon, many of the parents in the audience, and Oprah’s friend, Gayle King, I was completely shocked.
After Berman’s last suggestion, King said, “It’s too much information.” Oprah’s response was, “They already have the information. They are having oral sex, so what’s the big deal about a vibrator?” Although I don’t have children, I have four nieces: Three are 13, and one is 10. I don’t see my mother, their mothers or myself buying them a selfpleasuring toy. In my opinion, a vibrator will only heighten their curiosity. I was even more shocked by the fact that they didn’t mention anything about sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, even though April is STD Awareness Month. One mother asked, “When do we draw the line?” She said parents should be teaching their children self-control, and I agree. We also should be teaching them about the numerous dangers they face, from pregnancy to AIDS. The Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, reports that 19 million new STD infections occur every year ,and nearly 50 percent of these new cases occur between ages 15-19. The CDC said of females in the age group, one in four (3.2 million) has at least one of the most common STDs. And teenage girls reported having the highest rates of chlamydia diagnoses (3,005 cases per 100,000). The best defense against STD prevention and teenage pregnancies is knowledge, not vibrators. That is something for mature adults, not curious teens.
Opinion&Editorial
16 April 2009
7
COURTBOUILLON
WORD ON THE AVE: Do you think faculty cuts will affect students? Christian Knight: Junior mass communication major, New Orleans
Darius Miller: Sophomore biology major, Chicago
“It will add to the problems that we are already having at Dillard, and it may [influence] current student and incoming students to go other ways.”
“Faculty cuts will hurt the university because the amount of faculty already is, I believe, small. [With] the cutting of faculty, class schedules will be a little bit harder to make, and your class schedules will not be as flexible as you would like it to be …Any faculty that is cut, we will miss them dearly.”
Juan Serrano: Freshman political science major, Detroit
“I think it will affect the student body because if a perspective student sees that more teachers are being cut, they are going to know that something is wrong with the campus as it is. So I think that it will affect the amount of students we have coming in this year.”
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. Isn’t Dillard supposed to spray the trees in the spring? If so, why are there caterpillars walking around on the oaks? 2. Why is the director for the Center for Career and Professional Development not professional? Can we get a shirt and tie, please? 3. What age is too old to have a MySpace or Facebook? 4. How is it that Dillard claims to have no money, but the president can afford a milliondollar house? 5. Why do prospective students seem to take precedence over current students who already are paying to attend Dillard?
6. Why does the grass on campus still look a mess? 7. Why doesn’t the gym stay open later than 8 p.m.? 8. Why are so many professors getting laid off? 9. Why can’t Financial Aid keep a dean? 10. Why are some majors required to take a minor if it doesn’t show up on your degree? 11. Who’s better: Keri Hilson, Beyonce or Ciara? 12. Why are students who have a 3.5 GPA or higher ineligible for the designations “cum laude,” “magna cum laude,” or “summa cum laude” just because they dropped a class? That’s unfair! 13. Why doesn’t Dillard have any imperfections when representatives from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or SACS, arrive? 14. Why didn’t the SGA candidates who ran get re-elected? 15. Is having a baby the new trend? 16. Where is Dr. Lee? 17. Does anyone else think the Psychology Department needs to be re-evaluated? 18. Why do some people add you as a friend on Facebook, but when they see you in person, they don’t say hello?
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Nation&World
16 April 2009
COURTBOUILLON
Obama vows to address growing piracy threat
Photo by Associated Press President Barack Obama jokingly talks into the ear of the Easter Bunny during a temporary microphone failure during the White House Easter Egg Roll, Monday at the White House. Invitees included gay and lesbian parents and their children as part of the administration’s effort to reach out to diverse communities. Musician Fergie performed.
Thousands attend Obama’s 1st egg roll WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama welcomed thousands of children and families to the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday, calling it “one of the greatest White House traditions.” Obama and his wife, Michelle, appeared with on a balcony overlooking the South Lawn where thousands of children and families took a break from participating in the festivities to listen and cheer enthusiastically for the first family. The president’s daughters, Sasha and Malia Obama,
were also there, along with his mother-in-law Marian Robinson. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, stood on the driveway beneath the balcony. Michelle Obama waved enthusiastically to the crowd and the president pretended to whisper in the giant ears of a person wearing a bunny costume, drawing laughter from those on the lawn. Obama greeted the crowd, extolling the event as one that “reminds us that this is the people’s house.”
WASHINGTON (AP)— President Barack Obama promised Monday that the U.S. would seek to halt the increasing threat of piracy off the Horn of Africa. Obama also praised the military’s successful efforts to rescue merchant Capt. Richard Phillips, who had been held hostage there for several days by pirates. “His safety has been our principal concern,” the president said in his first remarks in public on the five-day standoff that ended Sunday with Phillips’ release. Obama spoke at an unrelated Transportation Department event involving the economic stimulus initiative. In a sharp warning to increasingly brazen pirates operating off the coast of lawless Somalia, Obama said: “I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region and to achieve that goal, we’re going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks.” “We have to continue to be prepared to confront them when they arise, and we have to ensure that those who commit
“I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region.” -- President Obama
acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes,” the president said. One day after Navy SEAL snipers killed the three pirates holding Phillips, Obama said he knew the cargo ship captain’s safe return was a “welcome relief ” to the man’s family and crew. “I’m very proud of the efforts of the U.S. military and many other departments and agencies that worked tirelessly to resolve this situation,” Obama said. “I share our nation’s admiration for Captain Phillips’ courage and leadership, selfless concern for his crew.” Earlier, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whiteman told reporters the successful end to the standoff could discourage future attacks on commercial ships sailing the Indian Ocean. But some penalties previously taken in such situations failed to deter lawlessness on the high seas, he acknowledged.
25-acre space in New Orleans suburb to become major film studio complex HARAHAN, La. (AP) -- A collection of blighted office buildings and warehouse space on a 25-acre site in this New Orleans suburb is being transformed into a Hollywood-style film studio complex that is expected to become one of the largest outside Hollywood. Louisiana Film Studios, a former Winn-Dixie grocery distribution center that stood vacant for years, is in the early stages of renovation. Already the privately financed project has landed two big-budget movies that are expected to begin filming in coming weeks. Once complete, the complex will provide more than 500,000 square feet of space for multiple film production work. “It’s not fancy,” said Daniel Forman, a New Orleans native and Louisiana Film Studios president. “But what we’ve learned is that production companies don’t want fancy. What
they want is functional space.” Plans call for creation of six adjustable soundstages and work space for wardrobe, among other functions. The facility opened in March, months ahead of its projected fall 2009 start, to accommodate the independent thriller “Dead of Night” and the action flick “The Expendables.” The New Orleans area already has several smaller production studios, including the Nims Center in Harahan and Louisiana Soundstage in LaPlace. Studios also have popped up in recent years in Baton Rouge. Even before being acquired by Louisiana Film Studios, the site was used briefly as a location for the movies “Meet the Spartans” in 2007 and “Cirque du Freak” in 2008. Forman said the goal is to be able to handle up to six projects at a time and some 3,000 workers.
Photo by Associated Press Artists and workers build the set for the upcoming filming of “The Expendables’’ at the Louisiana Film studios in Harahan recently. Louisiana Film Studios, a former Winn-Dixie grocery distribution center that stood vacant for years, is in the early stages of renovation.