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Tuesday, September 13, 2016
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Volume 67, Issue 2
Faith Restored
Earning your keep
Southern puts the “U” back in Union
BY EDDIE BYNOG DIGEST NEWS EDITOR
The Smith Brown Memorial student union is getting some much needed improvements this semester as the administration continues its focus of improving student life on campus. The new upgrades, which were assessed from student fees, have so far gone into adding new tables, seating and lighting to the food court with much more to come. Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Anthony Jackson, says that the idea to renovate the union came from an initiative to bring the union and student services up to students’ standards. “Most of our students are from out of state so we really want to make the union a home away from home,” said Jackson, “We’re trying to make it as comfortable as possible for our students,” he finished. Jackson also stated that students can expect to see improvements coming to the under utilized game room. “Last year we had 12 pool tables and none of them were used,” said Jackson Among the upgrades will be a karaoke stage, Playstation and Xbox consoles and new pool tables. Student union Operations Manager Tanisha Cousby said that with the additional changes she and Jackson are trying to bring some type of student aspect to the union. Stating that soon the glass surrounding the union will display Greek and other organization symbols to incorporate more of a student aspect into the union. When asked what the goal of the improvements were, Cousby stated it was to have a place for students to come that’s comfortable, nice, convenient and well put together. “Students pay a fee so in return lets show them where those fees go,” said Cousby,
Sophmore Accounting major Simone Pillette says that she loves the new improvements and disagrees that students wont take care of the new furniture in the food court. “I feel like the additions are much more student friendly and comfortable,” continued Pillette. “I think we’re going to take care of it and it’s going to look nice.” She also added, “It’s nice improvement the money could have been used to improve other things,”finished Pillette. A definitive date was not given on when students should expect a completely renovated game room and food court area but that it would definitely be finished before May 2017.
“In return we hope that students will give back to us by respecting the furniture,” she finished Jackson also echoed that sentiment. “I think one thing the students have to do is take ownership,” said Jackson “They are assisting us in making these changes so they should take some ownership and take care of their home, and Southern is their home,” Jackson finished. Junior Criminal Justice major Adriana Hamilton also worries that students may not take care of the new upgrades but feels the money for the improvements could have been spent more wisely. “I would’ve preferred to fix the elevator in the library,” said Hamilton “There were already chairs in the union and it seemed like they were enjoying those just fine.”
“Most of our students are from out-of-state so we really want to make the union a home away from home.”
- Anthony Jackson
Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs
Julian Alvarez/DIGEST Julian Alvarez/DIGEST Bathroom renovations in the Smith-Brown Students relaxing in the newly created Memorial Union Bathroom lounge located in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union Food Court.
A First in the Making:
Jaguar Alumni Candidate for Chaplain BY BRANDON PRINCE DIGEST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
This fall, 2015 Bachelor of Science graduate, Dallas Fort of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, plans to make his mark as he journeys to become Southern University’s first ever Army Chaplain. Fort was named a candidate for chaplain on April 8, 2016 and currently studying at Liberty Theological Seminary and will transfer to the Interdenominational Theological Seminary next year to complete his achievement. When asked if it was a surprise for him to accomplish this, Fort said, “It actually wasn’t my intentions to be the first but once
FORT
LTC Bissonnette did some digging, he later informed me that I would be the first.” According to Fort, the military has always been apart of his family, with his father and uncle being veterans. He knew that it would not only pay for his education but provide benefits for him and his family in the future.
“I felt in a sense that I was almost obligated to do it because there was a message that God wanted to get to the men and women in arms. A message that many have never heard before. I originally entered the military aspiring to become a doctor, but God had other plans for me,” said Fort. Although Fort’s future looks promising, the road to achieve his goal started with a process. According to Fort, Chaplain Corps go through a careful selection process, including a thorough background
Students contend for key leadership roles BY TRACI SMITH
DIGEST STAFF WRITER
The tensions are thick and heavy in the air as we approach our Fall 2016 elections. In addition to the usual freshman positions available, there are also other vacant positions such as Miss Sophomore and Senior Class Vice President. There is an abundance of equivalently equipped intelligent candidates who all believe that they are the person to get the job done. Being a student leader, representing your class and your university is the main focus of SGA. Jonas Vanderbilt, Director of Student Life, stated, “The purpose of SGA is to serve as a liaison between students and administrators, be a governing body for the students, and to provide events that will help with citizenship as well as the overall college experience.” With that being said a student leader must display a plethora of characteristics that will aid in upholding the student body. For Aysia Lewis who is running for Miss Freshman, being apart of SGA to her means representing her family, community, and university honorably and with dignity. Being apart of SGA is no easy task, it takes a lot of dedication and willingness to be the voice for the student body. They must come in with the right mindset and with a platform of what they would like to accomplish during their term. “To be able to gel well with other student leaders, be hard working, and have bright ideas to bring to the table,” stated Jonas Vanderbilt whose office supervises SGA. Candidates have their own platform and what they believe should be the emphasis of their term while elected. “My platform for the freshman class is unity,” stated Russell January. During his term he would like to promote togetherness, awareness, and a higher graduation rate. Action, dedication, and people who will take Southern University to the next level are what SGA is looking for. So do not hesitate to vote on September 13, 2016 for the candidates who will represent and amplify the student body to the highest degree.
See CANDIDATE page 3
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA