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Exclusive content
Thursday, April 18, 2013
www.southerndigest.com
Volume 60, Issue 14
NBC to air Bayou Classic until 2015 Aristide Phillips
The Southern Digest The 40th Annual Bayou Classic will be broadcasted on NBC nationally, officials said Thursday, the contract will be renewed until 2015. This is news both Southern and Grambling State fans could cheer about without butting heads. The agreement between NBC Sports Group and The Bayou Classic will extend the national broadcast on NBC through the 2015 contest. “I’m extremely appreciative of the work and of the Bayou Classic committee to handle that deal,” said Southern University athletics director William Broussard. The Bayou Classic has been affiliated with NBC Sports Group since 1991. Last year, the nationally televised edition of the 39th Annual Bayou Classic saw a 19 percent increase in ratings. In addition to the national broadcast, the game will be available on-demand at Hulu. com and NBC Sports Network will work with the 12 regional sports networks to re-air the game allowing The Bayou Classic to reach 50 million plus homes. With the Bayou Classic game continuing to being televised next
season, Southern can add 7 of the 12 games on their scheduled to be televised. “At our level as a Division I FCS program to have seven games televised either regional or to a national audience obviously has a tremendous impact in recruiting being able to play in two professional football team stadiums next year (MercedesBenz Superdome, Reliant Stadium),” said Broussard. It will not only be the football team who will get the national exposure from the televised game the fans and band could see the televised game benefiting them. “To be able to play games on that national television is great for recruiting is a good opportunity for the university to be on display including the band, the cheerleaders, and our fans and to be able to continue that tradition with NBC is a big load of confidence,” said Broussard. With the confidence NBC showed by continuing its partnership with the Bayou Classic could boost the morale of Southernites who may feel different distant about investing in their alma mater. “For anyone who thinks that the people don’t believe in Southern and don’t believe in investing
Brett Duke/ AP Photo Southern University defensive backs Levi Jackson, Kevin King and D’Mekus Cook celebrate together after Southern defeated Grambling State during the Bayou Classic college football game Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in New Orleans. in Southern or that there is a waning interest in Southern this sends a pretty strong message that it is indeed not the case,” said Broussard. Last year’s game saw the 19 percent increase in ratings because of the competitive game that was
displayed on the field. Southern won the game 38-33 snapping a four-year losing stint to rival Grambling State. “NBC was extremely pleased last year not only with our ratings jumps but just quality of the on field performance the fact that it
was a competitive game it lasted about 30 minutes longer then the TV block had allotted and NBC said ‘you know what that’s fine we will eat the cost of that because it was a good game being played,’ so that just shows that there is a lot of confidence,” said Broussard.
America is a nation of soft targets, fear and vulnerability Allen G. Breed
The Associated Press When her cousin and 11 others were gunned down at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater last July, Anita Busch lost all interest in her favorite television crime dramas. And when she heard that three people had been shot dead at an Oregon shopping mall in December, she stopped her Christmas shopping and sneaked out the back door of a department store. “After Aurora, even my little niece who’s 11 was afraid to go into a mall, to go shopping,” the Los Angeles woman says. “I look around all the time. I think everyone does.” The United States proclaims itself the world’s foremost economic and military superpower — the mightiest nation on Earth, “land of opportunity” for those who want to work hard and prosper. But as Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon illustrate, the reality is that, from sea to shining sea, this is a nation of “soft targets,” full of opportunities for those who want to do it harm. And so the message Tamara Ruben sought to convey to her third- through seventh-graders as they celebrated Israeli Independence Day Tuesday at Temple Beth El Mekor Chayim in Cranford, N.J., was to not let fear rule them — “that as much as possible not to let this event to dictate our daily life and make us afraid and paranoid and change drastically our style of life.” “Enjoy the simple things — the simple things that give us contentment and joy in life,” says Ruben, director of the synagogue’s
school. Like Busch, so many Americans have a visceral reaction when the backdrops of everyday life — a school, a supermarket, a mall, a sporting event — become places of violence and tears. The Boston bombings had Tricia Kaye second-guessing, if only briefly, her decision to participate in her fifth Chicago Marathon this October. “I had that kind of gut reaction that there’s no way to secure a race like that, and that it’s better not to do it,” said the 35-year-old Chicagoan, who works for a national financial planning company. “But it quickly changed to ‘Screw that, I’m going to do it.’” Lt. Christopher Shane Henderson, a firefighter and paramedic in St. Petersburg, Fla., says he can’t take his 20-month-old daughter to the circus or a fair without the specter of 9/11 or some other tragedy casting a pall. “This absolutely impacts how you view people,” the 33-year-old father says. “I think it’s pretty disgusting that people can’t go to places and enjoy things with our families without the idea lingering in our heads that somebody has malintent.” Psychologist Timothy Strauman says these reactions are only too natural. Growing up in Philadelphia in the late 1950s and early ‘60s, Strauman remembers the “duck and cover” drills and the signs pointing out the nearest nuclear fallout shelter. “What we felt then was, you know, the WORLD could come to an end,” says Strauman, a professor at Duke University in
David Zalubowski/ AP Photo An overhead view of activities at the Century 16 theatre east of the Aurora Mall in Aurora, Colo., in this, July 20, 2012 file photo. But as Monday April 15, 2013 bombings at the Boston Marathon illustrate, the reality is that, from sea to shining sea, this is a nation of “soft targets” full of opportunities for those who want to do it harm. Durham, N.C. “Mutually assured destruction — that was the policy.” Personally, Strauman — who specializes in depression and anxiety — feels much safer today. “Anytime a high-profile event like this occurs, one of the things that it does is it makes people think that the event is likely to happen again,” he says. “It changes our sense of how likely this is to occur ... and so it makes it very difficult for people in the immediate aftermath to stop and realize that it’s still an
the official student newspaper of southern university and A&m college, baton rouge, louisiana
extraordinarily rare event.” It doesn’t feel that way, says Busch. Her cousin, Micayla Medek, was just 23 when she died in a hail of semi-automatic gunfire during a premiere for “Dark Knight Rises” at the Century 16 cinema last year. Busch listens in despair as politicians debate whether to debate tighter restrictions on high-powered weapons with high-capacity magazines.
See Soft Targets page 3
Campus Life southerndigest.com
Page 2 - Thursday, April 18, 2013
Campus Briefs
Need a quiet place to study and use the computer? Individual and group study rooms are available for 3 hour checkout. Faxing and printing services are now available in the 1st floor copy center. Need to do an job interview via skype, there’s a room for that. For more information in these new services visit the Ask Here desk at John B. Cade. All you have to do is show your valid SU ID.
today LIVETEXT CODES All LiveText codes have been exhausted. More codes are being ordered. Please refrain from seeking LiveText codes until this office informs the university community that codes are available. Study Abroad in London, Paris or Amsterdam Want to study abroad in Summer 2014? Come to the informational session April 24 at 3:30 p.m. in Moore Hall Auditorium. For more information please contact Chanika Jones at chanika_jones@subr.edu or 225.771.4225.
Sociology Club meetings The Sociology Club will hold weekly meetings from 5-6 pm on Thursdays (twice a month) in Higgins room 218. Bookstore hours The Campus Bookstore is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about specials and updates like the bookstore on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ southernuniversitybookstore
Visual Arts Student Exhibition Come see the works of artists in the Visual Arts department, join the artists and see the gallery will be open until May 2. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you have any questions contact Robert Cox, gallery director at 225.771.4103 or via e-mail at Robert_cox@subr.edu.
Wesley Foundation Looking for a place to study the word? Join us for Bible Study Wednesdays at 6:30p.m. The foundation will hold a Jambalaya fundraiser April 18 form 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 225.778.0076 for orders and tickets. The Wesley Foundation is located at 748 Harding Blvd. Next to Villa Apartments and across Harding from the football practice field. For more information contact us at 225.778.0076.
The Nutrition Zone Do you have an interest in preventing or managing any nutrition-related health issues? Stop by the Nutrition Zone can meet your needs. Dietetic interns and senior dietetics can offer weight, height and BMI measurements, dietary analysis, nutrition counseling and nutrition and wellness education classes. The Nutrition Zone is open every Thursday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in 154 Thrift Hall.
Seniors and Graduates The class of 2013 yearbook and cap & gown graduation portraits are being photographed; Monday April 15 through April 19. Pictures can be taken Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday until 4:30 p.m. The sitting is free and you can view your proofs online. Cap and gown will be provided by the photographer. To make your portrait appointment, go to www.thorntonstudio.com then go to schedule your appointment, click new user, complete form with registration password: subr click submit and login.
Opportunities to Study Abroad Want to travel and study? Want to gain some language skills and credits? Study abroad with the Center for International Education. You could spend this summer in Belize, Senegal, China or Liberia. Trips range from $3,000-$3,500 and financial aid can be used to study abroad. For an application contact 225.771.2613. New services at John B. Cade Library Want to try out a tablet? Check out a Kindle Fire from the library.
A serenade to Spring A serenade to spring the Southern University chancellor’s concert
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926 will be held April 21 at 5 p.m. at F.G. Clark Activity Center. The concert will include performances by The Southern University Wind Ensemble, Lawrence Jackson, director. The concert is free and open to the public.
Spring 2013 Final Exam Schedule
Ambassador Search Are you a defender of the Gold and Blue? Are you S.O.L.D. on serving SU? The office of S.O.L.D. is currently seeking new students for the Fall 2013 semester. Answer the ‘Call of Duty’ and become an university ambassador today! Email your resume with your concise class schedule to su@subr.edu. The deadline is Monday April 22. Half Price Fridays While there is no class on Fridays, Smith-Brown Memorial Union is open. Burger Klng, The Bowling Alley and Lacumba’s playpen are open. If that’s not enough to bring you out of your room Lacumba’s playpen and bowling are half price on Fridays. SUS Day at the Capitol Save the date…Southern University System Day at the Louisiana State Capitol, is Monday, April 29. Southern Niche Make sure to stop by Southern Niche and support Louisiana products in Pinkie Thrift Hall.
Read the Digest at WWW. southern digest .com
ISSN: 1540-7276. Copyright 2013 by The Southern University Office of Student Media Services. The Southern DIGEST is written, edited and published by members of the student body at Southern University and A&M College. All articles, photographs and graphics are property of The Southern DIGEST and its contents may not be reproduced or republished without the written permission from the Editor in Chief and Director of Student Media Services. The Southern DIGEST is published twice-weekly (Tuesday & Thursday) with a run count of 5,000 copies per issue during the Southern University - Baton Rouge campus fall, spring semesters. The paper is free to students, staff, faculty and general public every Tuesday & Friday morning on the SUBR campus. The Southern DIGEST student offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. The offices are located on the first floor of T.H. Harris Hall, Suite 1064. The Southern DIGEST is the official student newspaper of Southern University and A&M College located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. Signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body. Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, Website: www.sacscoc.org. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Southern University and A&M College, an Historically Black, 1890 landgrant institution, is to provide opportunities for a diverse student population to achieve a high-quality, global educational experience, to engage in scholarly, research, and creative activities, and to give meaningful public service to the community, the state, the nation, and the world so that Southern University graduates are competent, informed, and productive citizens. Website: www.subr.edu.
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News
southerndigest.com
Thursday, April 18, 2013 - Page 3
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
inside SU Spring Signees See who basketball, softball signed pg.4
Banks, Cador
Banks up for extension of contract, Cador on diversity panel pg.4
Tennis seeks win
Tennis goes after 4th SWAC championship win pg.5
Baseball to face GSU
Baseball beat Loyola to play GSU next pg.5
Campaign week
Take a look moments of the week pg.6-7
Softball to take on Texas Southern Softball has daunting task ahead pg.8
Track looks to win SWAC
Relay teams are brightest pg.9
Truth or Deception? Caesar talks election issues pg.10
Like leading rats to slaughter
Norman talks following whatever you’re told pg.10
Do you value SU media services?
Make a decision pg.10
Modern Oppression
Your choices create an oppressive environment pg.11
American Airlines resumes most flights All planes were grounded from coast to coast due to a massive technology failure. The airline cancelled amlost 1,000 flights and delayed 1,100. David Koenig
The Associated Press DALLAS — American Airlines resumed most flights Wednesday, a day after a massive technology failure forced the nation’s thirdlargest carrier to ground all planes from coast to coast. Some lingering problems remained. At midday, American and regional offshoot American Eagle had canceled more than 200 flights, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware.com. But that was a huge improvement over Tuesday, when American and Eagle cancelled nearly 1,000 flights and delayed another 1,100. “Our operations returned to normal this morning,” American Airlines spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said. Some of Wednesday’s cancellations were because of bad weather in Chicago and a lack of crews and planes in the right places. The airline added five unscheduled flights to accommodate passengers stranded in Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles, Huguely said. The company blamed the breakdown on a “software issue” that knocked out both primary and backup computer reservation systems, which are also used for everything from issuing boarding passes to determining how much fuel to pump into planes. The failure affected nearly two-thirds of scheduled flights aboard American and American Eagle. And it was a public-relations nightmare for American, which is preparing to merge with US Airways to become the world’s biggest carrier. Passengers took to social media sites to criticize the airline, which for hours could only apologize and say that it was trying to fix the
problem. On Wednesday, American posted a video apology from CEO Tom Horton that provided the airline’s most detailed explanation of the outage. “As you’d imagine, we do have redundancies in our system,” Horton said, standing in front of employees and banks of computer monitors in the airline’s control center in Texas. But in this case, the software trouble had wideranging effects. The man who will lead American in a few months, US Airways CEO Doug Parker, has said he would prefer to convert his planes and employees to American’s computer system rather than the other way around. US Airways declined to comment on whether Tuesday’s breakdown would cause Parker to rethink his plans. The computer outage began snarling operations around midmorning Tuesday. Eventually the Federal Aviation Administration issued a so-called ground stop for American Airlines jets around the country. Flights already in the air were allowed to continue to their destinations, but planes on the ground could not take off. And travelers could do little to get back in the air until the computer system was restored. Airlines rely on computer networks for flight reservations and many other functions, including tracking passengers and bags and updating flight schedules and gate assignments. The systems are also used to file flight plans and tell employees which seats should be filled to ensure that the plane is properly balanced. American’s system is hosted by Sabre Holdings, a onetime division of American that was spun off into a separate travel-reservations
technology company. American said the outage wasn’t Sabre’s fault, and other airlines that use Sabre did not experience problems. At airports, customers whose flights were canceled couldn’t rebook on a later flight. Passengers already at the airport were stuck in long lines or killed time in gate areas. Theoretically, an airline could do the same work as the reservation system manually for any one flight. But doing it for hundreds of flights isn’t practical. American and American Eagle operate about 3,300 flights a day. Brent Bowen, a professor of aviation technology at Purdue University, said massive system failures are inevitable as airlines grow increasingly reliant on technology. “As those systems get bigger and more complex, at some point you’re going to have a systemic failure,” Bowen said. Financially strapped airlines may have underinvested in technology during the past decade, making computer systems more vulnerable, he added. AMR has lost more than $10 billion since 2001 and filed for bankruptcy protection in late 2011. American’s problems on Tuesday were reminiscent of what United Airlines passengers endured for several days last year. After merging with Continental, United experienced computer glitches in the combined reservation system. On one day in August, 580 United flights were delayed, and its website was shut down for two hours. Another outage in November delayed 636 flights. The problems prompted an apology from United Continental Holdings Inc. CEO Jeff Smisek, who acknowledged that his airline had frustrated customers and would need to work to win them back.
Unlike Israel, the United States has friends to the north and south, and two oceans as a natural defense. But any sense of American invulnerability is an illusion, says Paul LaRuffa. The Hollywood, Md., man has a running discussion with a friend about how far government should be allowed to go in the name of keeping the public safe. More than most Americans, LaRuffa has some real skin in the game. On Sept. 5, 2002, LaRuffa had just closed up his Italian restaurant, Margellina, and was preparing to drive home when his car window exploded. A man shot LaRuffa five times at close range, took a briefcase containing about $3,500 from the back seat, and left the restaurateur for dead. He was still recuperating from his wounds when a sniper (or snipers) began stalking the towns and cities up and down Interstate 95, turning the simple act of pumping gas into a game of Russian Roulette. “I went through that whole paranoia,” he says. “I was scared like everybody else.” It wasn’t until the three-week spree had ended that LaRuffa learned that Lee Boyd Malvo — one of the so-called “D.C. Snipers” — was the man who’d shot him. “It affects how I look at life and living life and enjoying life and valuing life,” the 66-year-old retiree says. “But it doesn’t affect me where it haunts me or I look over my shoulder or I avoid going certain places.” LaRuffa has listened to the discussions about unmanned drones patrolling U.S. skies. He sympathizes with those who argue for armed guards in every school following the Dec. 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., that left 20 children and six adults dead. But, he says, “We can’t arm every square foot of everywhere.”
“We don’t want to live in a country where there ARE no soft targets,” he says. “There will always be evil, and we can’t get rid of it. We can try like hell to lessen it, but there are limits to what we can do and what we should do.” Kaye, the Chicago marathoner, is dealing personally with those limits. Normally, five to 10 friends and relatives gather on the finish-line grandstands to cheer her on. This year, she’s telling them to stay away: “Unfortunately, I don’t know that I’ll feel comfortable with them watching me finish ever again.” But Dr. Paul Heath has learned that despite your best efforts to avoid it, trouble may still find you. On April 13, 1995, the psychologist was at work in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs office on the fifth floor of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City when a young man rang the doorbell. The man introduced himself, and Heath inquired whether he might be related to a local family with a similar-sounding name. “Dr. Heath,” he recalls the man saying, “remember my name is McVeigh, but you don’t spell it ‘McVay.’” Six days later, Heath was buried up to his armpits in debris, staring out into the void created by a fertilizer bomb that Gulf War veteran Timothy McVeigh had parked out front. The explosion claimed 168 lives — including 19 children — and injured nearly 700 others. But it did not defeat the doctor, who helped found a survivors’ association after the attack. “We live our lives with the memory that that’s possible, but we don’t hide behind a wall for fear that somebody’s going to do something to us,” says Heath, now 77. “There have always been individuals and groups with negative objectives, and there always will be.” But, he adds, “We’re still America.”
Soft targets from page 4 “When you go through so much trauma, your perspective on life changes, your belief system changes,” Busch says. “You lose your innocence and, at the same time, you go back to a point of innocence. ... It’s like you just want to go home, and your definition of home is different.” Despite the tragedies the United States has faced in recent years, Ruben says the nation as a whole is “still at the stage of a great deal of naivete.” Ruben was two weeks old when her parents fled Iraq in 1950. She was going to high school outside Tel Aviv in 1967, when Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egyptian forces in what has come to be known as the Six-Day War. Since then, the Israeli occupation has been met with Palestinian resistance — including suicide bombings, which crested in the early 2000s. “The Western mind cannot really perceive the will to lose life, to kill yourself, to send your children with a complete purpose of killing yourself and others,” Ruben says. “This is a concept that is so foreign to the democratic American mind, even though 9/11 happened right in the heart of America. It raped America in such a violent way. I don’t see that that is interpreted as something that really exists and can come to here and hit home in such a way — that it’s an isolated case, that there are excuses for that, that they were disturbed people.” American parents have long warned their children “not to talk to strangers.” In Israel, Ruben notes, television ad campaigns instruct kids on how to spot a suspicious package, and to report it. Her two adult daughters live there now, and it is nothing to them to have their bags inspected or to automatically pop their trunks before driving into a mall parking structure. “It’s so much part of the culture, and you don’t even blink,” she says. “They know that they need to do these things in order to be safe.”
Sports southerndigest.com
Page 4 - Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Southern Basketball picks up six Aristide Phillips The Southern Digest
The Southern basketball program signed six new additions to the Jaguar basketball team Of the top 15 basketball players in the Baton Rouge area the Jags signed four of them. Two of those signees inked, was Tre’lun Banks, a 6-foot-1 guard out of Scotlandville high school who is also the son of head coach Roman Banks signed with the Jaguars along with his teammate, 6-foot-8 forward Jared Sam. The two were part of four straight state championship appearances with Scotlandville, helping the Hornets win the last two. Banks also signed another locals star in Christopher Thomas, a 6-foot-5 guard from Glen Oaks. “It’s a great start for us, being that this is the best recruiting class as it relates to trying to get some local talent in the last seven years, I’m excited, those guys got to come in and help contribute,” Banks said.
Banks also said that he doesn’t always look to the young freshman coming into play but thinks that some of those guys can see the court early because of the losses to seniors from this past season. The players Banks said could see the court early are Elex Carter, a 6-foot-8 forward from East St. in New Orleans and Sam. Carter averaged 7.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and 1.2 steals per game and was named the District 8-5A MVP in leading East St. John to the Class 5A state quarterfinals. The forward chose Southern over Tulane and UNO. “I think Elex and Jarad Sam could see the floor early because of their size, and can contribute right away but at least one can come in and see the floor right away and get some minutes and get that training in right away,”Banks said. Banks is intrigued by the possibility of having size to compete in the off-season, and along with Sam comes DaMontre McFarland, a center, who matches Sam’s height
SU Spring Signees
(As of 5 p.m. Wednesday)
Men’s Basketball
Name Rashad Andrews Tre’Lun Banks Elex Carter DaMontre McFarland Jared Sam Christopher Thomas
Pos. guard center forward center forward guard
Ht. Hometown/School 6-5 Jamaica, N.Y./Boys and Girls HS 6-1 Baton Rouge/Scotlandville HS 6-8 Reserve, La./East St. John HS 6-9 Arlington, Texas/Arlington Heights HS 6-9 Baton Rouge/Scotlandville HS 6-5 Baton Rouge/Glen Oaks HS
Name Cortnei Purnell Zeneka Willix
Pos. forward guard
Ht. Hometown/School 5-10 Pearland, Texas/Glenda Dawson HS 5-11 Winter Haven, Fla./Winter Haven HS
Name Amanda Pacheco
Pos. outfielder
Softball Ht. Hometown/School 5-9 Highland, Calif./Redlands East Valley HS
Women’s Basketball
at 6-foot-9 from Arlington Heights high school in Fort Worth Texas. Rounding up the recruiting class Rashad Andrews, a 6-foot-5 guard from Boy’s and Girl’s Club in New
York. Andrews played the game of his life in the State Championship game. He scored 26 points overall and went 5-of-5 from behind the
three-point line. “All the guys that we have signed can be great contributors to the success of Southern University basketball for the future,” Banks said.
Banks to extend contract, continue progress Aristide Phillips The Southern Digest
Tony Gutierrezr/AP PHOTO Southern head coach Roman Banks instructs his team in the first half against Prairie View A&M in the NCAA college basketball championship game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
Men’s basketball head coach Roman Banks is in line for a contract extension, the announcement came Tuesday from Southern University Athletics. Banks originally agreed to a three-year deal in 2011 that paid him $115,000 in base salary. A year later, Southern athletics director Dr. William Broussard changed Bank’s contract to include a number of performance-based incentives. Banks, who led the Jaguars to its first Southwestern Athletic Conference title and NCAA Tournament birth since 2006 took the job as head coach last season coming from Southeastern. On his first season on the bluff he turned a basketball program around prior to his arrival witnessing its worst finish in school history to finishing first in the western division of the SWAC and second overall in the conference.
This season Banks finished the season 23-10, achieved the schools first 20 win season since 1999, and nearly pulled the first ever upset over a number one seed as a 16 seed team in the NCAA tourney. Banks has strong ties to the Southern basketball program, his father Cleophus, played for the Jaguars in the 1960s, and his brother, Carlos Sample, played point guard for Southern during the late 1980s and early 1990s. “I think it’s a great situation, as a coach taking a job and knowing that this is a place where you want to be and a place where you can feel like you can move a program forward to hopefully another level,” Banks said. Even with the success that Banks and his program has enjoyed he said that there is still work to be done but feels that this is a place that can take in quality athletes and try to make the basketball program a winning environment. “I always vision Southern University being one of the top programs in the state of Louisiana,
and I stick with my guns by that and I want to work towards that and I’m just thankful that the athletics administration and the administration of the university to give me an opportunity to continue to build on this tradition that’s been set,” Banks said. In the midst of all of the accolades more came in after the season was over, Banks was named for the second year in a row as the Louisiana Coach of the Year the same time the All-Louisiana Men’s Basketball Team was released on Saturday by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Banks, who was thankful for the award said that the recognition was more of a reflection of the players and their achievements. “I don’t want to get caught up in individual goals I just want this basketball program and this basketball team to be the best it can be,” Banks said. With the on coming extension Banks can continue to bring the Southern men’s basketball program to new heights.
Cador seeks to raise SU profile, offer insight on panel Evan Taylor The Southern Digest
Southern University baseball head coach Roger Cador looks forward to the longrange task ahead with his appointment by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to the MLB Diversity Task Force. “We have some really brilliant people with some wonderful ideas. The Commissioner (Selig) wants this really bad,” Cador said. Cador is the only representative on the panel from a Historically Black College and University and in collegiate baseball. “This is a historical moment. Something
is going to happen with what we are doing. Southern University is a part of it,” Cador said. According to The Associated Press, “Only 8.5 percent of baseball players are African Americans in comparison to 16-18 percent in the mid 70’s and 90’s. “Major League baseball did their homework to get the word out. There are two major league teams with no African American players. It is a disparity and Bud Selig felt something has to be done,” Cador said. So far Cador has heard ideas concerning getting more parents involved and ways to show that baseball is a safer sport.
“We need to find qualified people to coach and get parents involved. We are looking at the serious injuries in football and showing that baseball is a safer sport option for kids,” Cador said. Cador believes the task ahead is going to be difficult to change the culture of baseball and get more African Americans playing baseball. “We have to get more African Americans playing baseball at a younger age. The place that has the most influence in the black community is the church. If we could get more churches involved and get more parents involved to coach and volunteer we can get more kids involved,” Cador said.
One of Cador’s concerns is directed toward the NCAA’s regulation on the amount of scholarships given for baseball players in college. “More scholarships need to be available, we are not going to attract the parents or kids with the amount of scholarships we offer now. You have to pay to play, we can do more there. MLB has to partner to make that happen,” Cador said. Cador said that MLB recognizes they will receive a mentally and physically mature product as opposed to what they receive
See Cador on Panel page 5
Thursday, April 18, 2013- Page 5
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Tennis plans for fourth win Lady Jaguars seek to bring home SWAC Championship for the fourth year in a row as they compete in New Orleans this weekend Aristide Phillips The Southern Digest
Photo coutesy Wil Norwood Southern senior Demetria Woods leaps to return a hit by Alcorns’ Kersten VanemSunday in the SWAC West Roundup at the Southern University Tennis Courts.
Cador
on Panel from page 4
directly out of high school. “With all of the members we just have to put all the pieces together,” Cador said. Cador said the panel’s challenge will be to put together a one-size fits all program to address the issues at hand. “Putting together a one-size fits all program is a huge undertaking. It must have flexibility,” Cador said. His placement on the panel will elevate Southern University’s profile according to Cador. “The beauty of it is Southern University’s name comes up whenever mine does. We are jointly connected at the hip. Being appointed to such a high-profile panel will elevate Southern University’s profile,” Cador said. Cador’s outlook on African Americans in baseball hasn’t changed very much but he feels there is something he can bring back to his Southern players. “Just because you hire someone doesn’t mean that person is the smartest person, when Selig called the committee together he is saying I don’t have all the answers. He has brought in smart people who understand the research and data and utilized ideas from vast amounts of people,” Cador said. He said he recognizes this at home, listening to his players and other coaches. Cador mentioned the panel is headed in the right direction in preparation for their next meeting in New York. “The panel will meet next month with all of the owners in New York. We are moving forward and going in the right place. The owners play a key role. It is a total package thing,” Cador said.
When people talk Southern athletics they talk football, baseball, and women’s basketball, but Southern Women Tennis is changing that thought process more so now then ever. The Lady Jaguar tennis team is on the brink of capturing its fourth Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in a row and its eighth conference championship under head coach Jeff Conyers this weekend in New Orleans, Friday through Sunday. Dominance in conference play might be an understatement for the tennis team as the SWAC announced that Southern took all of the singles slots on the All-SWAC first team. “We did pretty well in our first two round-ups and we’re seeded number one for this weekend and we just want to perform well and we are just hoping to go out there and bring the title back to Southern,” Senior Louis Alexis said. The conference also announced that Demetria Woods and Danielle Dixon as 2013 conference Player and Freshman of the Year. Along with Woods at the first spot and Dixon at the third spot, Gabrielle Moore (No. 2), who was perfect at 7-0, joined Alexis (No. 4), Laura Syori (No. 5) and Camara Davis (No. 6) on the first team. The Lady Jaguars also dominated the doubles first team, taking the one and two positions, Alexis and Moore joined Davis and Morgan Taylor on the
first team. “Its just been a great year, especially throughout my tenure here that we’ve totally taken the SWAC first team singles, and to have two doubles team out of three on the first team and to have the Freshman player of the year and the player of the year definitely speaks volumes,” Conyers said. The head coach felt the need to express that if it were not for the past players to achieve on the Jaguar Courts, the current achievements would not be possible. The Lady Jaguars SWAC roundup matches came in convincing fashion, after going unbeaten in all matches, the Jaguars will look to continue that dominance in the conference championship. “We are prepping the same way we do for every match we stay focus, right now we are working out the kinks and focusing on what each individual girl may need to improve on now,” Conyers said. Some programs that are used to success on the court can get them off track but Conyers feels that it is important to instill in his athlete’s mind the goal that they are trying to reach; which is a SWAC championship and a birth to the NCAA Regionals. “Coach (Roman) Banks set the stage for us, he has started us off with the first conference championship and hopefully we can go in this weekend and claim another one for Southern University,” Conyers said. Conyers who completed his undergrad and graduate studies at SU says he bleeds blue and gold, and added that each year that he can go out and win for Southern makes him a very happy coach.
Baseball hopes to keep momentum against GSU Aristide Phillips The Southern Digest
After a much needed 8-2 win over Loyola of New Orleans for the Southern Jaguar baseball team, the Jags will look to do the same as they face rival Grambling State in a weekend series at Lee Hines field with a Saturday double hitter at 12 pm and 3 pm and the series finale Sunday at 3 pm. When the Jaguars traveled to Grambling in March, the Jags took two out of the three game series and coach feels that the win against Loyola was a motivation booster after coming off a poor hitting performance against Texas Southern prior. “We needed the win. We haven’t been playing that well and in that win we played well. We didn’t make that many mistakes and we swung the bat decent,” said head baseball coach Roger Cador. At the mound for the weekend, the Jags will start with Jesse Holiday, Jose De Leon, and Daniel Garcia in that order. Although the final score showed 8-2 this past Tuesday, the Jags batting was as Cador said to be “decent.” In the Jags last game against Loyola, Southern came out and scored seven runs in the first two innings and from there, didn’t see a runner batted in until the bottom of the eighth. “We haven’t had much offense this season, we really have struggled and all we have been doing was hitting, but when you look at the defense we’ve been really able to do some good things and that’s what we been working on the least because of the field but we’ll figure it out right now we need to find balance,” Cador said.
DIGEST FILE Pitcher Jose De Leon throws on the mound in the 2013 MLB Urban Invitational in Houston. DeLeon will be on the mound this weekend when the Jaguars take on the Grambling State Tigers. The injury bug bit the Jaguars and throwing the young and inexperienced guys into the fire, but Cador doesn’t want to use that as an excuse for his athletes. “When you look at the fact that we’ve had so many people hurt and the fact that we are still just one half game out of the west really speaks volumes to the kids who have played, so we feel good about that even though it has not been a typical Southern University year,” Cador said. Tied for last place in the west with Grambling, it will be pivotal for the Jaguars to come out with a winning attitude to boost confidence.
“This weekend versus Grambling poses a whole different challenge in that it’s a conference game and we need to win because it’s a conference game, a rivalry, and we are playing in the negro league uniforms. It’s a lot of things involved this weekend,”Cador said. With the rotation of so many players, the Jaguars will have to find some kind of cohesiveness in order to be successful this weekend. “These games are really important to us and Grambling because we need to play our very best and hold our home field down,” Cador said.
You looking for more info on SU athletics? All you have to do is scan the QR code or go to sdjaguarnation.blogspot.com.
CampaignWeek-inPictures
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood SGA senator and SGA Presidential candidate Isaiah Edah-Dike became infuririated with the line of questioning regardign his top platform issue. Edah-Dike listed parking as his top issue citing he had written policy and procedure for traffic appeals court. One of the highlighted parts of the debate was when Edha-Dike revealed he was informed of the appeals court’s existence already on campus.
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Ayanna Spivey performed during her talent portion of the Miss Southern Revue. Spivey sung a segment from Beyonce’s “I was here” a cappella after a malfunction with the on stage keyboard.
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Ayanna Spivey adorned in her prototype outfit accompanied by background dancers performed to a sampling of Beyonce music at The Miss Southern Revue Thursday in F.G. Clark Activity Center.
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Breanna McQuarter, “SU’s girl on fire” performed a dance routine to a dance version of Alicia Key’s “Girl on Fire” Thursday at the Miss Southern Revue in F.G. Clark Activity Center.
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Sara Martin starts her opening statement for SGA Vice-President with a quote from Oprah Winfrey, Thursday at The SGA Debates in F.G. Clark Activity Center. Sara conquered the competition in the Nicholas Harris vying for Junior Class President spoke on his plans if elected. Harris won the election Monday to assume the position of Junior Class President. runoff against Di’Shun Melbert Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Ayanna Spivey hugs Julius McCray in celebration while Simone Bray looks SGA President 2012-2013 Willie McCorkle III presided as the master of ceremonies during the SGA Debate on after it is announced she will be the 2013-2014 Miss Southern University and Miss Southern Revue Thursday in F.G. Clark Activity Center. Monday in front of Harris Hall Extension.
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Ayanna Spivey (left) and Breanna McQuarter smile and pose in the first scene of the Miss Southern Revue Thursday. Spivey and McQuarter performed during the talent portion, posed in swimsuits and answered questions to earn the votes from the student body.
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Simone Bray answers questions in the SGA Debates Thursday. Bray prevailed over Phill Cox, Isaiah Edah-Dike and Tywond McGee.
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Breanna McQuarter vying for Miss Southern poses at the conclusion of her dance at the Miss Southern Revue Thursday at F.G. Clark Activity Center. McQuarter fell short to Ayanna Spivey in the Election Monday.
Photo courtesy of Wil Norwood Megan Henderson answers questions concerning her responsibilities and plans for the Association of Women Students office. Henderson won the position over Candice Perrilloux Monday in the Election. Henderson ran with a platform based on an acronym of S.T.Y.L.E.
Jonas Vanderbilt, director of Student Programs reads the results of the 2013-14 Student Government Association election standing to the right of the outgoing SGA President Willie McCorkle III, Monday in front of Harris Extension.
Page 8 - Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Softball faces dunting task, first place TSU The Lady Jaguars to take on Texas Southern Lady Tigers in weekend series starting Friday. Lady Jaguars hope to carry over win from Arkansas Pine-Bluff Aristide Phillips
The Southern Digest Southern Softball will have a daunting task this weekend as they will host the first place Texas Southern Lady Tigers in a weekend series Friday at 1 p.m. and a double hitter Sunday at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Lady Jaguar field. The Lady Jaguars are coming of an 8-6 win over Arkansas Pine Bluff and the team is hopeful the win will carry over into this weekend. In the Jaguars contest against the Lady Golden Lions the Jaguars connected with the ball 12 times and head softball coach Nancy Marshall feels that the Lady Jags can have success if they continue to focus on hitting the ball well. “The biggest thing for us to for is to continue to hit the ball the way we been hitting, our defense hasn’t been bad in our last few conference series its just we just have not been making good contact with the ball,” said Marshall. Defensively the Jaguars have played well at times in their game against the Lady Lions, the Lady Jags committed three errors. “I think they are more focused coming off this win and I think that they are going try to carry this win over to another victory on Friday,” said Marshall.
The Lady Jaguars have used this week working out in the weight room getting focused for practice to work on their defense and hitting to get everything into perspective for the weekend. The Lady Jaguars will look to senior shortstop Shawntall Steamer to play a big roll when at bat, Steamer on the season has a batting average of .340 and an on base percentage of .421. “Shawntall jammed her finger a little bit but she is a trooper and she’s going to step up and still play especially because this is Texas Southern,” said Marshall. Another Lady Jag that will be vital to the Jags success this weekend is freshman third baseman Alicia Barajas who has been a consistent at bat for SU connecting with the ball .319 percent of the time. Last time the Jaguars played Texas Southern was last season when the Jaguars was caught by the broom and was swept and the losses left a bitter taste in the Lady Jags. “Last year they and swept us with and had an attitude with it so are biggest thing is we are going to come in not with attitude like them but an attitude to win,” said Marshall. With freshman pitcher Delphia Holmes injured the Jaguars will rotate sophomore Carla Arismendi and sophomore Kendyl Stevenson.
Photo courtesy of John Oubre Southern’s Alicia Barajas attempts to tag Belhaven’s Jessica Paris as she slides safely into second base. Softball is preparing to take on the first place Texas Southern Tigers Sunday in a double hitter at LAdy Jaguar field. “We are not going to do anything spectacular in preparation for this weekend just make them realize that these games
are important this weekend and that these games can mean a whole lot in regards to our seeding,” said Marshall.
Thursday, April 18, 2013 - Page 9
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
SWAC Championships for track look promising
Johnson says the team has to get to the weekend to compete, but they are ready for the challenge. Men’s and women’s relay teams look brightest. Aristide Phillips
The Southern Digest The time has come for the Southern Jaguar track and field team and that time is the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships. The Jaguar track and field team won’t have to travel far either this weekend, as the conference championship will be held in New Orleans at Tad Gormley Stadium. “We are pretty much in that final stage, practices are not as hard, we are doing a lot drills to get ready for this weekend, pretty much the team is ready for the weekend we just got to get through this week to get to the weekend,” said head track coach Brian
Johnson. On the In last years SWAC championship it was Grambling State that took the cake winning its fourth straight championship and its safe to say that they will be the favorite going into this years championships runners going into this year as well. Southern Men’s team on the other hand wasn’t too far behind taking third place in the championship last year. In the field events the men dominated the field events indoor and are expected to do the same outdoor. D’Wayne Houston took Top Field Performer honors, scoring 20 points, he won the Shot Put and Weight Throw.
On the Women’s side of the track Alabama State took its third straight SWAC championship and the Women of last season finished sixth place. But this season the women team showed that they have improved coming in third in the indoor championships. For both the men and women relay teams has been one of the bright spots for both teams. ‘The girls look really good, the girls are not that far away from qualifying for regionals if they can run a 45.90 or 46 flat that will pretty much shoot them in for regionals,” said Johnson. Raquel Sims, Reyna Anderson and Jordan Fordham is all a game day decision but should be ready to compete this
weekend according to Johnson. Notable times from the indoor championships, Anderson took third in the 400m dash with a time 56.64, in Andersons last meet Anderson took third in outdoor at the McNeese State Relays and shed that time down to 56.08. The Jaguars track team has the potential to finish higher than last year and hopefully the warm weather will favor the Jaguar runners in New Orleans this weekend. “Both men and women teams are built for outdoor season and since we put out a good showing indoor I feel that we are poised to for the title outdoor, they are ready to go,” said Johnson.
Commentary southerndigest.com
Page 10 - Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Talking Politics: Truth and Deception The LSU Board of Supervisors is considering two hospital privatization agreements today that would place public hospitals under the care of private companies. Though state and LSU officials are attempting to transfer hospital operations by the end of June, a draft lease agreement posted on the LSU Board of Supervisors website noted the cost of the lease was “under discussion and subject to final agreement on appraisals.” Meanwhile, the state Senate passed legislation Tuesday requiring LSU to receive legislative approval before privatizing the LSU public hospitals. The resolution was approved without any debate or objections, but there are questions about whether it will have any effect. Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration said the resolution does not have the force of law, and the attorney general’s office has agreed that the deals do not need approval from legislators to take effect. The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare convened yesterday at 9:30 a.m. to consider bills that regard Medicaid transparency, abortion requirements, and health action plans. The Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs convened at 2 p.m. and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs convened at 1:00 p.m. Each will consider separate bills that would prohibit the Legislature from considering sales tax rebate legislation
during even-numbered years. The House Committee on Education convened at 1:00 p.m. to consider multiple proposed changes to the TOPS program. It is absolutely amazing how those who are elected to govern dictate policy to the student population on the Baton Rouge Campus and the students go along with it as if it is in their best interest. The ideas for Referendum 3 were great, but the way it was done was wrong. There was never a time when members of the Student Government Association came to our Office to discuss or go over a plan to do something to help the students who are here. Just because there are funds in an account held by the Office of Student Media doesn’t necessarily mean the SGA should have access to it for any purpose they deem necessary. There is not much trust or validity in that. Improvements to buildings and grounds are taken care of by funds that are already collected and must go through a bidding process. None of the reasons why they wanted to seize the funds were originally justified. Scholarships for those in need are handled through the Chancellor’s Office and additional scholarships can be obtained from the Board of Supervisors. Recently legislators have called for more funds to be distributed to our students because there were not enough issued. So it makes the SGA’s claim disingenuous in my humble opinion. Those funds were one-time funds to
Caesar Smith Jr. make scholarships, building improvements and campus beautification a valid reason to confiscate funds from the Office Student Media. They felt the office did not need, or did not think the office was utilizing those funds the way the SGA thought they should. In the end Referendum 3 passed, but it is not possible to pass a valid bill without it being written. Sources close to the issue have indicated the bill was written Sunday evening. There is speculation that the bill was not signed when the polls opened at 9:00 a.m. on Monday only reinforces its invalidity. My particular gift is in asking questions. I notice when things aren’t right and don’t make sense. I ask “why?” I try to live my life in accordance with those answers, even when it’s hard and really uncomfortable. There is no shame in failure; there is no shame in discovering that a theory for how to change
the university doesn’t work. There is deep, deep shame however, in pride that keeps one from admitting failure. If what they care about is making Southern a better place, that should be the theme of today, and we should be caring about that. What makes them think they’re succeeding? If they can’t name their failures, they either are not being honest with themselves or they are not aiming high enough. As a journalist, we have to back up what we say. We have to have facts, we cannot just write what we want and leave it. Bloggers and the internet in infinity can throw out anything as fact and no one has to check it. No one has to prove anything. Those things, in my opinion, are a terrible disservice to the American people. There was wrong doing by multiple parties in this past election and they know who they are. Sara Anne Martin cannot pretend she does not know, she is just naïve and has sailed through the political system here at Southern University as clueless as a child, but she is not stupid. In closing let it be known I am extremely loyal, a great friend in the trenches, but if you cross me, well, let us just say I will NEVER forget it and neither will YOU. I never want Southern to lose; when I speak it is because I am fighting for what is fair and just for everyone.
Active informed student body or rats to the slaughter? We all know the story of the pied piper and his music that led not only rats, but children of a certain village to their deaths. We also know of another musician who goes by the moniker who has caught some unpleasing attention for giving out “golden showers” to an underage youth, which has been highly debated, garnering many jokes and discussions that were cast aside. Even though people knew that there was a strong possibility he was guilty they couldn’t let their blind, naïve and ignorant adoration for him allow them to accept that he was wrong. Well, the student body has obviously applied this ridiculous adoration to their SGA and their officials. Where do they get the gall to tell us we are wrong for questioning why no one came to talk to us about these ideas? We actually like the first two. However, the bus thing, to be honest, is frivolous and a sadistic stroke of SGA’s own unwarranted ego and delusions of grandeur. In addition, the steps they took to sate their collective ego were underhanded, sneaky and just outright cowardly. At least have the fortitude to walk over to our
office and say, “look, we want to do this and this is how we plan to do it. We are going to use some of your surplus to do so’’ and I guarantee that you would have gotten further. Instead, you mislead your student body — who are oblivious to this apparent shafting of rights to information due to self-inflicted apathy and blindness — and paint us out as thieves and liars. The main argument out there is “why do you have this much money and we don’t have a yearbook?” Well if your university would have allowed us to pay late fees, that they caused mind you, under the reasoning that Southern University does not pay late fees you would have had one on time a long time ago. But, you wouldn’t know that because SU officials continuously sweep it under the rug. I even offered to write a story one time and that idea was thrown out from higher-ups outside this office. Did you know that SGA is supposed to inform you of a bill to add referendums to the ballot? Did you also know that SGA is supposed vote on said bills in a public meeting? Neither were done, seems to me that SGA doesn’t trust you to make informed decisions so
Norman Dotson Jr. they make them for you. Sounds something like tyranny to me, but hey … if you enjoy “golden spray tans” who am I to bring you an umbrella? In democracy it’s usually common sense that the people be informed about changes ahead of time, not have something slipped to you at night like a MDMA pill (a molly or mandy, for the uninitiated) and an eventual case of herpes. Yes, we have $1.6 million in surplus funds. Yes, it is partially due to not having a yearbook in two years. However, the majority comes from carryover funds accumulating for years with
good, old-fashioned money management. Yes, we know that after the 40 percent we would still have close to $1 million leftover, but that still does not take away from the fact that this whole situation is being handled wrong. Who is to say that we are the only department that they won’t do this to? Today, it’s student media funds. Tomorrow, it’s your concert fees or better yet your tuition. (NOTE: Students pay double per semester for concerts and “special events” than they pay with the current $25 Student Media Fee — which now is $7 per full-time enrolled student less than it was last academic year.) But, who cares about that? You get to ride on the bus they are “thinking” about buying. Too bad your SpringFest concert will consist of D-class “rapper classmates” who should focus more on school than music. Or better yet, a barbershop quintet bringing you a cappella music to the stylings of Drake. All we ask is that you open your eyes students, ask questions (to everyone including us), look up and realize that the sky doesn’t rain gold. The pipers are leading you like rats to a slaughter and you are letting them.
What would you have really known before this column? There has been a great debate going on between the SGA office and the Office of Student Media. I have seen a huge amount of rumors going around about the Office of Student Media which are beyond ridiculous. The facts have not been presented and plenty of people were in the wrong, but I am not going to waste my time and discuss it. I would just be setting myself up for arguments I personally do not care to have. I am however going to tell you, the students of Southern University, how important student media is. This column would not exist if it was not for the Office of Student Media and you would not be informed about the various topics of sex I have written about over the weeks. Without this column, you would probably not have been informed that an estimated 872,990 persons in the United States were
living with HIV at the end of 2010. Or, that out of the 1,155,792 diagnoses, 486,282 are African Americans. What about the statistics in Baton Rouge? Would you have been aware that there are roughly 2,024 Syphilis cases, 9,455 Gonorrhea cases, and 22,659 Chlamydia cases in Baton Rouge alone? Would you know that Chlamydia is the most common Sexually Transmitted Disease among people our age? Would you be aware that you can have Chlamydia and not have any symptoms? Would you even know the various ways you can contract Chlamydia? Without this column, you probably would not be aware how easily you can ruin your future through sexting. That anyone in anyplace can have access to every picture you have sent through cyberspace.
Kate McConnell I know the majority of you probably could not tell me what an erogenous zone is, nevertheless, show me where it is located before this column. How many of you, students of Southern University, are educated on date rape? How many of you are informed that you are more likely to be date raped by someone you
know, like a classmate or partner? Would you even know how to spot the signs that your drink has been drugged without this column? Voting on something you do not have the proper information about is like having sex with someone you know nothing about. You voted on something just because someone told you to do it. Would you sleep with someone just because your friend told you to? I could go on and on telling you about the benefits of this column, but it is too late. The students of Southern University have already spoken and proven to me, as well as the rest of the staff at the Office of Student Media, that you do not really care about the benefits we provide to you. Always remember that you are given one life to live. Never do something you will regret.
Commentary southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Thursday, April 18, 2013 - Page 11
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The level of media literacy surprises me. Do people read the news from news sources anymore? Has the internet become the place where real journalism goes to die? Scratch that the level of literacy surprises me. According to CIA fact book, “99 percent of people over the age of 15 can read and write” yet according to a USA Today article from 2009, “A long-awaited federal study finds that an estimated 32 million adults in the USA — about one in seven — are saddled with such low literacy skills that it would be tough for them to read anything more challenging than a children’s picture book or to understand a medication’s side effects listed on a pill bottle.” The study was conducted by The National center for education statistics. This issue prompted the question of how many students, faculty, staff members and administrators understand the purpose of this newspaper and the role of the Student Government Association and how their roles correlate. For clarification, this is called a commentary or editorial; it shares the perspective of the writer towards current events (news) on campus, in the city, state and world. Commentary or editorial writing is written to challenge the status quo founded in fact but, comprised with opinion. Not to be confused with a news story. This whole publication is called a newspaper; founded on the premise of freedom of speech and press to recount the news of the campus, city, state and world tailored to the student, faculty, staff and administration perspective. This is the place for the student voice to be heard on and off campus. Not to be confused with a press release, newsletter or brochure for the purpose of spreading propaganda of an issue from a perspective in which the publisher (and their involved parties) would gain from distribution of the message. Now that this clear, written and communicated; this commentary/editorial will discuss the reactive student body and their role in the reign of oppression by the student government association. Yes I said, oppression; to say this is the equivalent of American slavery would make this argument far-fetched and far from feasible but a representative government (SGA) that ignores your inquiries, fails to be transparent on your investments, shows a blatant disregard for your concerns and intellectual premise can be referred to as oppression. Since most recognize college as a training ground, a place to make mistakes and in some cases viewed as a place to go when you have nothing else or to meet your significant
Evan Taylor other before entering the ‘real-world’ of the workforce; Let’s talk in terms of the real world workforce employee and possibly employer. As an employee would you work at a company that has a track record of racial, sexual, or socioeconomic discrimination? I wouldn’t nor would I trust that working for that company would be different after I am employed; yet you have allowed the SGA to discriminate against you for whether you are popular, free labor, and or dispensable. Every student is a member of student government yet most are not involved due to the bureaucracy of the organization. Has any SGA member made you feel a part of YOUR organization by asking for your input, attendance or opinion about a policy they would like to implement on your behalf? Has any SGA member informed you of your rights and privileges in YOUR organization? Has any SGA member encouraged or even informed you of the constitution, bylaws, election code, and/or student government body meetings (senate, executive cabinet, general body)? As an employee would you invest your money into the company stock if your dividends or stock gains have never been presented to you? As an informed employee I would not invest my personal funds to a company that refuses to take into account the uses I have for my funds and the efficient process of gaining a return from my loyalty and investment. Has anyone who does not serve on SGA received a full line item budget of how SGA has spent YOUR money? Has SGA volunteered that information, despite the fact that they are legally obligated? Has anyone petitioned the senate or any other legal body and the policy was explained to you for the proceedings, or did you have to figure it out yourself? As an employee would you allow the administration of the corporation to create policies that affect you without your knowledge or input? Your employer just as your government legally obligates itself to provide information to you and policies should reflect the body that it represents. Has SGA surveyed you for any information
other than what artists you would like to see in the concerts? Has SGA notified you in a timely manner on any platform other than social media of events and initiatives they are doing on your behalf? Has SGA even made an attempt other than a forum in which you are connected to every administration but their own, to ascertain that information? As an employee would you accept working under contract with the intent to be compensated without compensation? I’m sure this answer is (popular expletive) No! Professionals and professors alike agree that generation Y (millenials) will not work for free and want to be compensated in some form for efforts. So why, don’t you hold SGA to the same standard? If my argument is not sound, allow me to clarify. You (student body) allow SGA (student government) to be a superior authority over your college experience. You (student body) allow SGA (student government) to oppress your power to hear, speak, participate and oversee the process in which you gain your education. You (student body) allow SGA (student government) to treat you as inferior in understanding and keep your interests, concerns and inquiries out of sight and mind. This problem didn’t start overnight nor can be solved in the same time. But, just as you protest refund checks, call the news stations about financial aid, threaten and curse out (which can be charged as assault by the authorities) professors, administrators, etc; hold YOUR SGA accountable. The worst thing an electorate can do is allow the elected to reign over them without their input. The Office of Student Media, a office of less perks, less recognition to students, and one that consistently can find its work on the ground of campus more than in the racks by which they are distributed has always been here to serve you. Whether it is lend a helping hand in revealing a policy or procedure, present the facts of legislation that may affect you, cover events, ask administrators and officials the hard questions, collect information to prepare you for a natural disaster, or ease your mind about an issue that has been blown out of proportion; we don’t have to say we are here to serve you, it’s our track record. In the words of scientist, speaker and author, David Brin, “When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.”
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Page 12 - Thursday, April 18, 2013
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