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COURTBOUILLON A DILLARD UNIVERSITY student production

8 October 2009

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ETOUFEE

Charlie Coleman to lead freshman class

Collegiate 100 chapter selects beauty queen from 9 competitors

Freshman Class president with 53 percent of the votes Installation of the 2009- against Terry Webb of New 2010 Freshman Class Coun- Orleans, a nursing major, in cil was scheduled to take the runoff election Sept. 23. place at 11 a.m. today in the The primary was held Sept.

Chapel, according to Fresh- 17. man Class President-Elect Also elected were: Charlie W. Coleman.

-- Vice president: Tajeve Coleman, a political sci- Wright-Young of Houston, a ence and English major from biology/pre-med major.

Shreveport, won the title of -- Secretary: Rachel Wil-

Angelica R. Boyd

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liams of Baton Rouge, a psychology and Spanish major.

-- Chaplain: Bridget Sisney of Jackson, Miss., also a biology/pre-med major.

-- Freshman attendant: Farren Washington of New Orleans, a biology/pre-medicine major.

See Runoff on Page 2

AKAs, Kappas, SG Rhos set to make members

Art exhibit opening

ETOUFEE ‘Miss Evers’ Boys’ is first of four productions for theater department

Gabrielle Boykin Two sororities and one fraternity are returning to Dillard’s campus this fall – Alpha Kappa Alpha and Sigma Gamma Rho sororities and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

It’s been seven years since the Kappas took in new mem-

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SPORTS Students must now pay to get into volleyball, basketball games

5

OP-ED

DU Town Hall meeting unbeknowst to some, confusing for others

INDEX

Charlie Coleman

Photo by Stephawn Spears | Courtbouillon Kanitria Mason, a mass communication freshman from Jackson, Miss., views part of the photography exhibit “People I Know” by Terrence Sanders in Cook Hall. Mason attended the opening reception Oct. 1. The work by Sanders, editor of ArtVoices, will be on display through the end on the month.

for the AKAs, according to Joshua Mitchell, president of Dillard’s National Pan-Hellenic Council.

All three groups plan to conduct membership intake this semester along with the other groups who were in good standing on campus.

The other groups include Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta sororities along with Phi Beta Sigma, Omega Psi Phi and Iota Phi Theta fraternities (the latter has no members at present, but is in good standing on campus).

Each chapter scheduled informational meetings last week and this week. However, membership intake dates will

7 Refund checks, not debit cards, to be given this semester only, official says

Campus news ............................................ 2-3 Etoufee ................................................4 Sports ................................................5 Opinion ............................................ 6-7

Sheba Washington Dillard has begun issuing refund checks rather than debit cards to students who qualify, effective Sept. 25. ager, said the change was made in part because of the increase in the number of students, but the school will revert to debit cards next semester.

“With the new student population increasing, we felt it was easier for students to have their refunds issued by checks rather than a debit card. Some students have a hard time accessing their debit cards,” Western said. “Basically, it makes it a little easier for new students this semester.

However, some students have com-

See Greeks on Page 2

plained that checks delay receiving the refund and the money is not as accessible with a check during times of emergency, such as a storm evacuation.

Western said the issuance began 14 days after classes started, with a new list of students posted each week. She said in

See Refund on Page 3

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COURTBOUILLON

8 October 2009

Runoff results

DILLARD UNIVERSITY Honors reception

COURTBOUILLON

FROM PAGE 1

Volume 73, Issue 2

Jerome Bailey Jr. of Houston, a mass communication major.

EDITORIAL STAFF Wright-Young and Sisney received 100 percent of the Editor-in-chief .................. Charley L. Steward votes in the runoff, according to SGA data provided.

Managing editor .................... Jeannine Cannon Washington garnered 129 votes and Williams 114.

Sports editor ............................Mario Martin Dabney got 82 votes, winning by one vote over his opPhoto editor .................... Stephawn Spears ponent. Deshawn Dabney of New Orleans, a theater Faculty adviser ..................Cleo Joffrion Allen, major.

Ph.D., APR Three members of the council were unopposed for the primary: Chris Neal, treaBUSINESS STAFF surer, a biology/pre-mediAdvertising manager cine major; Mickal Todd, a .................... Kandyce Franklin parliamentarian, a political science major; and Kia Hill, CONTACT US Photo by Stephawn Spears | Courtbouillon on-campus representative, also a political science major.

News ..............dunews1@gmail.com Junior Rubila Smith speaks to Rachel Williams, a freshman honors student, during the honors program reception All three are from Mobile, in Kearny West at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30. Other new and returning honors students include Candace Banks; Tatiana Ala. Features .......... dufeatures@gmail.com Coleman said he already Britten; Alexandria Broadnax; Ashli Carter; Curtrell Charles; Tandraer Crosby; Jasmine Dominic; Beatrice Flowers; Yvette Hooker; Shantae Johnson; Brittany Katz; Briana Katz; Lauren Lemonious; Curvell Lewis; Angell Luter; can see the members of the Opinion ..........duopinions@gmail.com Ebone Pierce; Amanda Sisney; Amanda Smith; Jazzmin Smith and Tanesia Patterson. The reception honoring class council uniting. He said students of the Thompson/Cook Honors Program was sponsored by the Division of Academic Affairs. Dr. Carla he looks forward to working Sports ............dusports1@gmail.com as a team.

Morelon-Quainoo is director.

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 six issues per semester. Publication dates for fall 2009 are Sept. 24; Oct. 8 and 22; Nov. 5 and 19; and Dec. 10.

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.

New freshman officers to join colleagues elected last spring Angelica Boyd will join the student Cabinet elected last spring, led by Student Government Association President ChaValier Sharps, a psychology major from Shreveport.

The SGA vice president is Brandon Love, a political science major from Metairie.

Miss Dillard is Carmelita Foster, a psychology major from New Orleans, and Mr. Dillard is Michael McField, a business administration major from Los Angeles.

Senior Class -- President Jasmine Johnson, a public health major from Houston.

-- Vice President Maime Butler, a psychology major from Oakland, Calif.

-- Secretary Canae White, a theater arts major from Little Rock, Ark. -- Treasurer Cory Falade, an accounting major from Dallas.

-- Parliamentarian Cierra McKinney, a sociology major from Oakland, Calif.

-- Chaplin Beatrice Flowers, a psychology major from Chicago.

-- On-Campus Representative Arlisha

Greeks FROM PAGE 1 vary by group.

Mitchell said AKA’s Beta Upsilon Chapter and the Beta Gamma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi were suspended from campus because of

Norwood, a history major from Houston.

-- Off-Campus Representative Lauren Youngblood, a music business management major from New Orleans.

-- Class Attendant Mabel Mora, a biology major from Los Angeles.

-- First Gentleman Marcus McNeil, an accounting major from New Orleans.

Junior Class -- President Gerald Lee, a music business major from New Orleans.

-- Vice President Jessica Forest, a mass communication/political science major from Houston.

-- Secretary Kandyce Franklin, a mass communication major from New Orleans.

-- Treasurer Alan Carmel, a business management major from St. Louis.

-- Parliamentarian Brandon Oliver, an urban studies major from New Orleans.

-- Chaplin Yvette Hooker, a criminal justice major from New Orleans.

-- On-Campus Representative Bianca Spears, a psychology major from Lockport.

-- Off-Campus Representative Kristi Coleman, a mass communication major from New Orleans.

-- Class Attendant Brandi Clay, a second-

“non-compliance of the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s constitution and by-laws as well as Dillard University rules.”

He said the Omicron Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho was not suspended but became inactive after the last members on campus graduated in 2007.

ary education major from Lafayette.

-- First Gentleman Darrius Miller, a biology major from Chicago.

Sophomore Class -- President Alora Edwards, a criminal justice/accounting major from Los Angeles.

-- Vice President Jasmine Preston, an international business major from New Orleans.

-- Secretary Brittany Boudreaux, a nursing major from Lafayette.

-- Treasurer Samantha Diggs, a nursing major from Nashville.

-- Parliamentarian Ashley Leigh, a, African world studies/political science major from Brooklyn.

-- Chaplin Arielle Calloway, a mathematics major from Sacramento, Calif.

-- On-Campus Representative Whitney Boudreaux, a nursing major from Lafayette.

-- Off-Campus Representative Ahnyel Jones, a nursing major from New Orleans.

-- Class Attendant Kelsey Joseph, a nursing major from Vacherie.

-- First Gentleman Juan Serrano, a political science major from Detroit.

The AKA chapter’s suspension was lifted last December after its suspension in 2004.

The Kappas, suspended since 2002, had their suspension lifted last year as well, Mitchell said.

However, the groups could not accept new members until this semester since the DU

National Pan-Hellenic Council only allows Greek organizations to take in new members in the fall, Mitchell said.

Cynthia Charles, dean of the library, is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho and the adviser for the chapter. She will be conducting membership intake this fall.

8 October 2009

Refund

Campus&Local COURTBOUILLON

FROM PAGE 1 case of an emergency, checks would be mailed to a student’s address.

DU seeks to top Xavier in annual UNCF Walk/Run

Students are determined to be due a refund and funds are posted on their account once all their fees are paid.

Western said most delays in refunds result from student loans still being processed: “It takes time for the funds to be posted to the student’s account be-

cause all the aid hasn’t come in.”

-

nancial aid application early to make the refund process go more quickly.

Dillard Review accepting work through Oct. 23

Donated Mazdas

Students interested in submitting their work to the Dillard Review: A Journal of Arts and Letters have until Oct. 23.

The annual review includes -

Kristi Coleman At least 150 Dillard students have signed up so far for the 22nd annual United Negro College Fund Walk/ Run on Sunday at Audubon Park – Riverview Area, according to Mr. Dillard Michael McField, a senior business management major.

The Student Government Association is coordinating the event, which not only serves as a fundraiser for UNCF, but also is a competition between Dillard and Xavier University students and faculty for the most money and participants.

Xavier beat Dillard in participation last fall.

Students and faculty can sign up for the event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day in lower Kearny.

The tax-deductible registration is $30, for which you get a T-shirt, race number and zoo admission.

McField said the money raised will be used for scholarships. The UNCF provides scholarships to students at 39 private, historically black member colleges, including Dillard and Xavier. The event has generated more than $1.5 million in scholarships.

Registration for the walk/ run will start at 7:30 a.m., with the event set for 9 a.m.

The walk will start 5 minutes after the run has begun.

The Saintsations and Dillard cheerleaders will lead the warmup at 8:30 a.m.

In addition to the competition, vendors will be set up, and appearances have been scheduled DU President Marvalene Hughes, Mr. and Miss Dillard, Miss Xavier, Ronald McDonald, DJ Captain Charles and others.

For more information, contact McField at mc.

3

Charley Steward | Courtbouillon President Marvalene Hughes stands with Dillard University trustee Jay Amestoy, Mazda North American vice president of public and government affairs, Oct. 1 on Kabacoff Plaza. The company donated four new Mazda6 vehicles to the university.

screenplays, research and songs (both lyrics and scores). Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy, associate English professor and director of creative writing, said the work should be original, unpublished and in English.

To submit work and for more information about the Dillard Review, email Saloy at msaloy@dillard.edu. The subject line should read “For Dillard Review.” Writing should be sent in Microsoft Word (no layouts).

Photos of art should be sent as a jpeg or a PDF.

University food drive adds Bibles to list for first time David Pittman The 15th annual university food drive has added something new to the list – Bibles – and the unit or department that donates the most items by Nov. 20 will win a catered dinner.

Dr. Kevin J. Bastian, dean of Student Success for Support Services, said what used to be

called the Thanksgiving Basket food drive has been renamed Thanksgiving Baskets and Bibles because of the university’s work with the Mary Magdalene House for women and Timothy House for men. Both ministries have said they need Bibles, Bastian said.

Any non-perishable items will be accepted throughout

the drive. Perishable items will be accepted on the last day in Henson Hall. Cash donations will be used as vouchers to purchase a turkey or ham. Bastian said the donations will be given to churches and agencies in the New Orleans area for those who are in need as well as to members of the Dillard community (students, faculty and

Four out of 40 selected as new DU Diamonds Robyn Murray Four new members of the DU Diamonds have been selected from 40 competitors, bring the total number of dancers on the team to eight for the 2009-10 year.

Dance team coach Jana M. Smith said the new dance team members are Melanie Martin, an early childhood education major; Taylor McGhee, nursing; Tiffany Scott, business management; and Mya Jackson, biology/pre-med.

The four new members join team members Kristi Cole-

man, a junior mass communication major; Areiuna McGee, a junior business management major; Deri’Andrea Tucker, a sophomore mass communication major from New Orleans; and Cierre Spears, a junior political science major.

Smith said 40 students participated in the tryouts held Sept. 14 in Dent Hall dances studio, but 10 dropped out the again on Sept. 19.

Smith said the highest number of DU Diamonds at one time was 16 and the smallest

team had four.

Smith said the criteria to be a part of the Diamonds include a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher and dance experience.

Smith said separate tryouts for men were held Sept. 20.

Smith said she is undecided about how many males she wants for the team.

The DU Diamonds perform at games and other school events. Smith said while all the members received book vouchers last year, team members were unable to receive any this academic year.

staff) who are in need.

Sodexho Catering will sponsor an event for 50 people from the winning unit or department that donates the most items.

The winning unit must pick a date from Nov. 20 through Dec. 18 for the event.

Bastian said the drive is meant to ensure that Dillard “remains a beacon of light.”

Foreign Service rep says jobs plentiful Unlike in private industry, federal hiring is stable, according to a State Decampus recently.

Daniel Stewart, a Morehouse graduate and U.S. said that contrary to popular opinion, you can succeed in the State Department no matter what your major. Stewart said the State Department offers internships, scholarships and international jobs.

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Etouffee

8 October 2009

COURTBOUILLON

Collegiate 100 names beauty queen

Jessica Forest

An Oakland, Calif., urban studies junior was crowned “Miss Collegiate 100” by the Collegiate 100 Black Men of Dillard University on Tuesday night in Cook Theater.

Sabrina Brand competed against eight other contestants to win Kristi Coleman of New Orleans, a mass communication junior.

Tedrine Glover, a senior theater major from New Orleans, was The other pageant contestants were: -- Sierra Spears of New Orleans, a political science junior.

-- Simmone Tassin of Kenner, visual arts senior.

-- Bridget Sisney of Jackson, Miss., a biology freshman.

-- Charne Thomas of Algiers, a chemistry/pre-dentistry freshman.

-- Alexandra Samuels-Zecher of Waukegan, Ill., a music industry freshman.

-- Michaela Miller of Antioch, Calif., a nursing freshman.

-- Megan Ellison of Baton Rouge, a nursing freshman.

This year’s theme was “The Academy: Taking Bright Women and Making them Royalty.”

Contestants were judged in the categories of business attire, swimsuit, talent and formal wear/questions and answers.

The scores of each were tallied by each judge and combined to determine the winner.

Judges for the pageant were Carmelita Foster, Miss Dillard 2009-2010; Nick Harris, Collegiate 100 adviser; Sonya Heisser, a counselor in Dillard Student Support Services; and Edward Coleman, father of 2008-2009 Miss Collegiate 100.

Bland recited a self-written poem for her talent portion and wore a long black evening gown for the question-andanswer segment. Glover also recited a poem for the talent portion.

During intermission, Dillard students Mitch Moffett, Tracci Lee and Lawntai Hudson performed. Hudson also hosted the show along with Corey Falade, president of the Collegiate 100.

The Collegiate 100, established here last fall, crowns Miss Collegiate 100 to serve as its female representative.

‘Miss Evers’ Boys’ cast set; four productions planned NEW ORLEANS – Senior Canae White will portray nurse Eunice Evers’ in Dillard’s production of “Miss Evers’ Boys” on Nov. 6-8 and Nov. 13-15 in Cook Theater.

Theater Chair Sherry Marina announced recently that White and seven others have been cast ductions set by the department for its 2009-10 season. The others are an all-student-run production for Black History Month in February 2010; “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ” in March; and “My Name is Free,” a musical written by Dillard alum Franklin Davis, next April.

Season subscription tickets are now on sale for $40 for the four productions. DU student tickets are $5. The productions

start at 8 p.m. except for Sunday matinees, which are set for 3 p.m.

“Miss Evers’ Boys,” by David Felshuh, is a depiction of the “Tuskegee Experiment,” a 40-year secret experiment on poor African American males.

Other cast members announced include senior Martin Bradford as Caleb Humphries; senior Avon J. Manning as Dr. Eugene Brodus; junior Christopher Robinson as Ben Washington; sophomore Andy Feith as Dr. John Douglas; freshman Jhory T. Buskey as Hodman Bryan; and freshman Darren M. Jones as Willie Johnson. Freshman Cherelle Palmer is White’s understudy as Miss Evers’.

(Angelica Boyd contributed to this report.)

Eatery nestled away in library surprises some

Ralph James A year later, Café a la Cart in William Alexander Library remains a mystery to at least some students on campus.

Take biology senior Jyra Smith, for example, who was surprised to learn you can actually eat in the library.

“I had no idea the school added a lounge to the library.

That’s great. Dillard is really expanding these days,” said Smith.

Café a la Cart opened last fall in the library downstairs (in the pre-Katrina computStephawn Spears | Courtbouillon er room space).

Operated by Sodexho, Above, Sabrina Brand, Miss Collegiate 100; below, runner-up Tedrine the café is open from 8 a.m.

Glover. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.

It serves a variety of beverages, snacks, coffee, fresh fruit salads, sandwiches and Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Café a la Cart employee Wendy Alridge said business is good: “Students are always coming in and out to snack while studying.”

The cafe also has three personal study rooms and tables in the lounge area for eating.

Sports

8 October 2009

COURTBOUILLON

Midnight madness

5

Students must pay to see volleyball, basketball games Sheba Washington Dillard students will be charged a dollar to get into school volleyball games and $2 for basketball games this semester, ending free admission for these sports events, Athletic Director Kiki Barnes said the decision was made to charge for the events to generate revenue for DU athletics. All other sports will remain free to students, Barnes said.

“The money earned from each game will be contributed to future athletic programs… It is important that the athletic department earn money in order to support future programs,”she said.

The general public will be charged $5 for the volleyball games, a reduction from last year, and $10 for basketball games, the same fee as last year.

According to Barnes, the average number of students attending basketball games last year ranged from 250 to 300, with the Xavier vs. Dillard game generating the highest student attendance. She said 1,500 people, including students from Xavier and Dillard attended the 2008 game.

Barnes defended the increase, noting, “A drink is $1.25. The game is cheaper than purchasing a drink out of the vending machine. I hope it [the fee] won’t affect attendants and students coming out and support their university.”

So far, the fee hasn’t hurt attendance.

Stephawn Spears | Courtbouillon Small forward James Burke, a senior international business major, demonstrates his dunking skills in Dent Hall of basketball practice. The 2009-2010 men’s and women’s DU basketball teams will open the new season on the road.

The men’s schedule begins with an exhibition game against the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) on Monday, Nov. was hosted by local radio personalities Dillard’s own DJ Mike Swift and DJ Hurk of Power 102.9. It also featured the DU cheerleaders, DU Diamonds and the Bleu Crew.

against Alcorn State University on Sept.16. Some 355 attended, generating $200 in tickets sales, Barnes said.

“This is the largest attendance and ticket sales, out of three years of volleyball games,” the coach said. women’s basketball team will play Mid Continent University, and the men’s basketball team will play against Columbia State.

At least one student expressed support.

Senior Domonique Stewart said, “I don’t see a big deal in instituting a fee to attend the games. Yeah, it was free, but it doesn’t matter. I will still attend the games to support my university.”

Volleyball games resume after 2 cancellations for illness Mario Martin

ladega College in Alabama were canceled after several

Flu, or something like it, prompted the cancellation of at least two Dillard women’s volleyball conference games, but the team was back in play for the Oct. 3

according to DU spokeswoman Mona Duffel-Jones.

She said the university also had been told that a few players on the competing teams also were ill.

However, volleyball coach Yolanda Brown said she expects the team to “get back on track.” She added, “Whenever you take an unexpected break due to illness, it takes time to recover.

“We are looking forward to playing [again] in front our home crowd,” said Brown.

Unfortunately, the team came back for a 0-3 defeat, falling short in all three sets to the lady Wolfpack 25-19, 25-18 and 25-12.

The team’s games against University of Mobile on Sept. 24 at home and a Sept. 26 road game against Tal-

The DU Volleyball team record is 3-5 overall and 1-1 in conference so far. Last year the team overall record was 7-17 and 2-6 in conference.

Ten new players added to the roster this year: Faron Bradley, Jessica Goods-Morris, Yladrea Marshall, Amber Mccoy, Paula Ogbevon, Zorana Piljevic, Cenquis Rockett, Velencia Wise, Charisse Presley and Megan Laday.

Five players returned to the team this year, including Roshawnda Buchanan, Danta Cobb, Banikah Jackson, Keisha Smoke and Shonte Walton.

Dillard women’s basketball loses two, gains five new players The Dillard women’s basketthis season to counteract losing two.

“Our team has chemistry and is more versatile,” said guard Alrieon Bevins, a senior, describing the addition of Jazzmin

Smith, Jasmine Archie, Nadine Wallace, J’Ashala Haynes and Naomi Greene after the lost of point guard Meaguell Lewis and forward Joslyn Greenard.

Power forward Jazzmin Smith, a freshman business accounting major, is from Lake

Charles, where she attended St Louis Catholic High School.

Smith is the tallest of the new team members at 5-foot-9.

Point guard Jasmine Archie, a junior business major, is 5-foot-1. She attended Omaha (Neb.) South High School.

Small forward Nadine Wallace, sophomore biology major from Dubberly, is 5-foot-4. She attended Doyline High School.

Small forward J’Ashala Haynes, a freshman psychology major from Baldwin, said attended West St. Mary High

School. She is 5-foot-7.

Point guard Naomi Greene, sophomore biology major, is from Opelousas. Greene, who is 5-foot-3, attended Opelousas High School.

(Vincent Lewis contributed to this report.)

Opinion&Editorial

6

COURTBOUILLON

Is black-on-black crime getting worse in U.S.?

In September alone, a great number of innocent young people have died for nothing. Most of these unfortunate crimes were because of one young African American hating or envying another African American, and for what? Our generation, especially, has been

away from us this semester because of a carjacking. Christopher Evans was a freshman whose life was taken away for no reason.

Another black young man is

charge for his death.

A Southern University student, Yuri Clement, was shot and killed this semester petty things. off-campus in Baton Rouge.

In the Southside of ChiCrimes such as this are cago, two rival gangs were really getting out of hand.

- Dr. Martin Luther King did tian Fenger Academy High School. Derrion Albert, a lence to see it come to this. sophomore and honor stu- Malcolm X was killed by dent at the school was walk- his own people because he ing to the bus after school was changing some of his when he tried to help one views. The purpose of the of his friends get out of the civil rights movement was to bring black people together – beaten continuously in the head while gang members I am pretty sure if some yelled out, “put that n***a to of these activists were here sleep.” today, they would be very Now four black young disappointed. We have lost degree murder charges. One of the suspects admitted Albert never threw a punch.

Chicago police reported 34 deaths and 290 shootings last school year. Most of them were black-on-black crimes.

One of our own Dillard family members was taken

8 October 2009

our ancestors made for us.

We need to stop the blackon-black crime and understand that people have died to give people of our generation the very opportunities we’re squandering.

Please: Stop the hate, and love one another.

Memorable quote “The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think - - rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men.”

-Bill Beattie

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 fall issues are Sept. 17, Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Oct. 29, Nov. 12 and Dec. 3. 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.

Open letter requests more transparency at DU Charley Steward Editor-in-chief

Dear DU administrators: I’m writing to express some of the frustration the Courtbouillon staff is having with some of you regarding getting pertinent information about the university.

Transparency and accountability are basic tenets of democracy, and I’m sure you’ve heard from your PR strategists that the same is good business practice for any institution. Nevertheless, only a few people who will remain nameless (mostly deans and faculty within divisions) are excellent sources about what’s going on around campus. Unfortunately, I can say the same of only a handful administrators. Our issues and needs are dismissed as unimportant to you.

After calling 50 times a day and leaving hundreds of emails (of course, I exaggerate, but please understand where I’m of the highest campus positions don’t answer their emails nor do they return phone calls.

I must admit you are teaching us two things: patience and persistence. However, you are supposed to be the professionals who set the example for us as students. Just like you have a job to do, we have one to do, too. We are striving to be professionals, and we ask you do the same and treat us as such.

You have every right to decline an interview, but please don’t have us stalking you. We understand you are busy with

Charley Steward your duties and are humans with personal issues outside of school. However, it takes less than a minute to respond to an email or place a simple call.

About three weeks ago, I contacted someone in a high email and numerous times by phone. To this day, I have not received a response. I only asked for a comment on an issue, not a long interview. It’s contacted this person before and never received a response nounced; then we had a talk.

We shouldn’t have to do that.

When we do catch you, we get comments like: “Just watch the news.” “How do I know you are from the Courtbouillon?” “That information is this info to the Times-Picayune news organization with whom you speak because your primary audience reads the Courtbouillon.

It’s apparent you don’t take

us seriously, but we as the Courtbouillon staff are serious about our work. From your perspective, are we doing something wrong? Do we need to approach you in a different way? Are we not giving you enough time? What is it? What can we do better to make things go more smoothly?

We are not only doing this for the paper, but we are doing this for this school – our school. Just recently, the parent of a student said he picked Dillard because he saw the newspaper. The Courtbouillon can be a great recruitment tool. But it won’t be if we can’t get the best possible story because you refuse to respond. (Just to be clear: The story will run, but it would be a much better story with your response than without. After all, we are seeking balanced accounts of newsworthy events.)

We have to compete with some of the best colleges and universities. Half of our percentage points in news writing classes (and some of us have to take three) come from these articles.

Whether a reporter is a student or has a degree, journalists are journalists. We are all adults, although some of us still have some growing to do. Please treat us the same way you treat the Times-Picayune or any other established media outlet.

Whether or not you agree, we are a team on opposite ends of the same campus. Can we come together for once to build up this school?

8 October 2009

Opinion&Editorial COURTBOUILLON

WORD ON THE AVE: Did you know about the Town Hall meeting? Did you go?

Vincent Lewis: Senior mass communication major, New Orleans

“Yes, I did know about the meeting. I knew about it, but I didn’t know what it was about. If they didn’t [post flyers], they should have put flyers where students could see them.”

Precious Igwike: Freshman biology major, New Orleans

Alan Carmel: Junior business major, St. Louis, Mo.

“No, I did not know about the Town Hall meeting. I don’t stay on campus, though. I feel that the people who are over these events do not put enough posters up, and they don’t go around to tell enough people about the events.”

“Yes, I did know about the meeting, and I attended. There was a lot of back and forth between students and administration due to miscommunication.”

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 Jeannine Cannon from the offerings of various students recently.

If you have a question, send it to Cannon at ducourtbouillon@gmail.com .

1. When is probate?

2. What was the point of a Town Hall meeting if administrators don’t answer any questions?

3. When is Homecoming?

4. Why don’t we have a football team?

5. Why do we have Homecoming if we don’t have a football team?

6. When will the Courtbouillon update its Web site?

7. When is the radio station coming back on the air?

8. Who is the SGA going to get for the Spring Fest concert this year?

9. What happened to “Wild-Out-Wednesdays”?

10. Is President Obama coming to Dillard when he comes to New Orleans?

11. What is the big idea about this whole QEP? 12. Will there be more student jobs available on campus soon?

13. What kind of trees are those on the Oaks? (Really?)

14. When will the air conditioning in the DUALS be fixed?

15. Why can’t we walk through when the Greeks are at the flagpole?

16. Where can I buy an apple pie like the one in Kearny?

17. How does Dr. Toya Barnes-Teamer get so much done?

18. Shouldn’t Dillard provide more parking if it wants higher enrollment?

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