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Volume 60, Issue 16
SU BOS committees to discuss policy, projects Evan Taylor
The Southern Digest The Southern University Board of Supervisors look to discuss revisions to board policies at Friday’s regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. in J.S. Clark Administration Building. SU BOS will take action and be informed on proposed revisions to the board’s educational assistance scholarship policy, salary threshold, and pay adjustments procedure; basketball head coach Roman Banks’ employment contract; priority project updates by campus and resolutions for Spring Commencement exercises system-wide. The governance committee seeks to take action on revising the board’s educational assistance scholarship policy. If approved the BOS will only offer 38 educational assistance scholarships per semester (only Fall and Spring) valued at $1,000 each. Personnel Affairs Committee chair Murphy Bell, added recommendations to the committee’s agenda concerning the board’s approval and involvement in unclassified positions’ salary threshold and increases, raises, supplemental pay, and pay adjustments. The committee will decide whether the current $100,000 salary threshold for board approval should be reduced to $60,000 due to anticipated budget cuts and potential reorganization and whether the board should have to approve all
pay adjustments for unclassified employees. Personnel Affairs committee will consider a position upgrade and promotion of current Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at SULC (a ninemonth employee position) to Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs (12month position) with base pay of $140,000 a year. The promotion comes from the office of SULC Chancellor Freddie Pitcher. The Athletics committee will vote on Roman Banks’ contract for employment. The terms according to the board packet, “The term of this agreement is for the period commencing on July 1, 2013, and terminating on April 30, 2018. The board has the option to extend this agreement for one (1) additional year.” For “satisfactory performance” the university will pay Banks an annual base salary of $165,000 with benefits as normally provided to SUBR non-academic unclassified full-time employees. With possible performance incentives up to $50,000 for NCAA Championship, $25,000 for advancement to the Final Four, $10,000 for LSWA or SWAC Coach of the Year and One month salary for attaining a Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 900 for three consecutive seasons, regular season championship, SWAC tournament championship, advance to second round of NCAA tournament and for each round advance in NCAA tournament. The Facilities and Property committee will take action for the renovation to the Southwest
Evan Taylor/DIGEST Southern University System President Ronald Mason, secretary to SU Board discusses an agenda item at the February board meeting. To the right of Mason is board chair Bridget Dinvaut. Dinvaut will discuss and vote on some of the items on Friday’s lengthy board agendas. Center for Rural initiatives in Opelousas, La. The proposed project according to the board packet, “The project will consist of adding restrooms, Director’s office, additional office space, conference room, storage room, a demonstration kitchen and enlarging the break room in the existing space and adding a folding partition wall to subdivide a large assembly room into two small rooms when needed at the center.” It is scheduled to begin June 2013.
The committee will be formally informed of the status on current priority projects by campus in the system. Highlights for the Baton Rouge campus includes the demolition of Morris Henry Carroll Hall, Mildred McKinley Satterwhite Hall, Ollie Butler Moore Hall and Octavia Head Clark Hall to be bid in June; baseball support facility to be completed in December and the intramural athletic complex, is 86 percent complete. Highlights from the New Orleans campus include
Permanent L. Washington Library renovation project is 40 percent complete and the continuation of Hurricane Katrina campus-wide repairs. At SUSLA, a building to increase classrooms at SUSLA that requires another 1.5 million to bid hoping to acquire necessary funds by August and an acquisition and renovation to increase capacity for the Nursing program.
See BOS Agenda page 3
FBI to find source of poisoned letters mailed to President Emily Wagster Pettus & Holbrook Mohr The Associated Press
OXFORD, Miss. — The investigation into poisoned letters mailed to President Barack Obama and others has shifted from an Elvis impersonator to his longtime foe, and authorities must now figure out if an online feud between the two men might have escalated into something more sinister. Paul Kevin Curtis, 45, was released from a north Mississippi jail on Tuesday and charges against him were dropped, nearly a week after authorities charged him with sending ricinlaced letters to the president, Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and an 80-year-old Lee County, Miss., Justice Court judge, Sadie Holland. Before Curtis left jail, authorities had already descended on the home of 41-yearold Everett Dutschke in Tupelo, a northeast Mississippi town best known as the birthplace of the King himself. On Wednesday, they searched the site of a martial arts studio once operated by Dutschke, who hasn’t been
arrested or charged. Curtis, who performs as Elvis and other celebrities, describes a bizarre, yearslong feud with the former martial arts instructor, but Dutschke insists he had nothing to do with the letters. The letters contained language identical to that found on Curtis’ Facebook page and other websites, making him an early suspect. Federal authorities have not said what led them to drop the charges against Curtis, and his lawyers say they’re not sure what new evidence the FBI has found. On Wednesday, dozens of investigators were searching at a small retail space where neighboring business owners said Dutschke used to operate a martial arts studio. Officers at the scene wouldn’t comment on what they were doing. Dutschke’s attorney, Lori Nail Basham, said Dutschke is “cooperating fully” with investigators. “The authorities state to me that no warrant
Everett Dutschke/AP Photo
In this photo released by Everett Dutschke, Authorities set up their equipment Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in Tupelo, Miss., as they search Everett Dutschke home. The Mississippi man charged with sending poisoned letters to President Barack Obama and others was released from jail See Poison Letters page 3 Tuesday. without explanation.
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Campus Life southerndigest.com
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Campus Briefs
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.
today Sustainability Week 2013 It’s sustainability week. Reduce your carbon footprint, do not leave the water running while brushing teeth, washing hands, shaving or washing dishes; keep showers less than 5 minutes, and do not buy bottled water, drink tap water from reusable water bottles.
Student Affairs Awards The Division for Student Affairs of Southern University and A&M College is pleased to announce the Annual Student Affairs Awards. These awards are designed to recognize excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching and institutional and community service. Faculty, Staff and Students are encouraged to submit nominations by 3 p.m. April 25. Individuals who wish to nominate someone for any of the Awards should review the award description, criteria and submission procedures. All nominations will be carefully reviewed and evaluated by the Division for Student Affairs. Recommendations will then be forwarded to the Vice Chancellor and the selection committee for final selection. The Awards will be awarded annually during the Annual Student Government Association/ Student Affairs Awards Banquet on Monday, April 29, 2013 in the Cotillion Ballroom at 6:00 p.m.
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. The Nutrition Zone Does high blood pressure run in your family? Are you looking to lose weight in a healthy way? 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.
Academic Honors Awards Program Southern University and A&M College will hold its Annual Academic Honors Awards Program on Friday, April 26, 2012, 10:15 a.m. in the Clifford T. Seymour Gymnasium. This student awards program will honor outstanding scholarship and academic attainment by SUBR students. Undergraduate students with cumulative GPAs of 3.0 and above will be acknowledged. We kindly request that you dress appropriately for this highly significant occasion and that you be in the gymnasium by 10:00 a.m. on that morning. Special seating is reserved for students being honored. Please sit in these
Plagiarism and Ethical Standards The Graduate Student Association will host a “Plagiarism and Ethical Standards for Graduate Level Writing” seminar on today, at 5 p.m., in room 218 J.B. Moore Hall. Dr. Sharon Parson will be the presenter for the event. Refreshments will be served. Opportunities to Study Abroad Want to travel and study? Want to gain some language skills and credits? Study abroad
areas, filling in from the front, as designated. An invitation is extended to your family to share in this event. Please encourage them to participate. The entire Southern University family is invited to the Academic Awards Program, students, parents, faculty and staff. The families of honor students are particularly encouraged to share in this event. We salute you on your accomplishments and urge your attendance on Friday. Spring Fest T-shirts The Student Government Association officials will distribute spring fest t-shirts to the student body on Friday April 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. only. Students need to present picture ID and must be a fulltime student at SUBR or in the SUSLA/SUBR connection program. Students will be able to choose between a royal blue tank (small-XL) or heather grey v-neck (small-3XL). Spring Fest Community Service Students, faculty, staff and administrators are needed to join the end of the year community service project on Saturday April 27 at Scotlandville Fresh Food Pantry at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church at 1620 77th Avenue. Volunteers are asked to arrive by 8:10 a.m. and distribution will begin at 9 a.m. and continue while supplies last. Email jael_gordon@ subr.edu for more information or to sign up as a volunteer. SUS Day at the Capitol Save the date…Southern University System Day at the Louisiana State Capitol, is Monday, April 29. Bible Study T.J. Jemison Baptist Student Center invites you to join us every Tuesday for Bible Study. We will continues April 30 at 6:30 p.m. on Harding Blvd. across from A.W. Mumford Stadium. If you have any questions contact us at 225.774.8924 or at TJJemisonBSC@yahoo.com.
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926 Praxis Fun Day Join us May 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Stewart Hall’s front lawn for free food, fun activities, music and dance. Admission is free. New services at John B. Cade Want to try out a tablet? Check out a Kindle Fire from the library. 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. 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
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.
at www.facebook.com/ southernuniversitybookstore Wesley Foundation Come join us at The Wesley Foundation at Southern University and A&M College for Sunday worship on 1st and 3rd Sundays at 5 p.m. Looking for a place to study the word? Join us for Bible Study Wednesdays at 6:30p.m. 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. 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.
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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 25, 2013 - Page 3
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
inside SWAC top pitchers
Southern is home to three of top twelve pg.4
Track dominance in the 60s A tribute to track that paved the way pg.4
Want to join us?
Find out what jons are open... pg.5
La. House rejects Medicaid revamp Melinda Deslatte The Associated Press
Lawmakers on a Louisiana House committee rejected a proposal Wednesday to cover more uninsured people in the state’s Medicaid program, as allowed under the federal Affordable Care Act. After five hours of debate, the House Health and Welfare Committee voted along party lines, 11-8, to defeat the measure. Republicans opposed the Medicaid expansion and Democrats supported it. Wednesday’s vote wasn’t expected to be the Louisiana Legislature’s final word on the Medicaid expansion, however. The Senate’s health committee planned to take a vote on the
idea next week. The health care law pushed by President Barack Obama allows the expansion to cover adults making up to 138 percent of the poverty level — less than $32,000 for a family of four. The federal government will pick up most of the cost. Expansion opponents, including Gov. Bobby Jindal, say it would still be too costly for the state and would expand an inefficient and outdated Medicaid program. Kathy Kliebert, interim secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals for the Jindal administration, said the expansion could shift people from private insurance to government-funded health care. She said federal regulations
about the expansion remain sketchy, and she questioned whether Congress would continue funding the expansion at the higher payment rates in later year or leave states scrambling to fill the gap. “There are many, many unknowns for the future which could result in significant impact for Louisiana taxpayers that could reach into the billions,” she said. Supporters say Louisiana could save money with the expansion while also offering thousands of working adults access to health insurance in a state where one in five residents are uninsured. Steve Spires, a policy analyst with the liberal-leaning Louisiana Budget Project, said
the expansion could provide an influx of money for the state’s budget, while pumping billions into the state’s economy, creating new jobs and improving health care coverage. “We cannot simply afford to maintain the status quo,” Spires said. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office estimates the Medicaid expansion could save Louisiana as much as $510 million over 10 years, with the state receiving up to $15 billion in federal funding to cover about 500,000 people through Medicaid. Analyst Shawn Hotstream said the savings are frontloaded when the federal government is picking up the full cost of the expansion and the state would start facing a cost in 2020 and thereafter.
say the judge publicly chastised Dutschke at a political rally that year. Brandon Presley, Mississippi’s northern district public service commissioner and a distant cousin of Elvis Presley, attended the 2007 political rally in Verona. He told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he remembers Dutschke giving a “militant” speech with personal and professional attacks Steve Holland. Presley, also a Democrat, said he was doing his own campaigning, though, and doesn’t recall details of the speech — just the tone of it, and the crowd’s reaction. “I just remember everybody’s jaw dropping,” Presley said. Dutschke, who ran as a Republican, said his speech included sharp criticism of Steve Holland’s record in public office. Steve Holland says his mother made Dutschke get down on his knees and apologize. Dutschke denies that, saying Steve Holland is exaggerating. Presley said he remembers Sadie Holland chastising Dutschke at the event, but he doesn’t recall whether Sadie Holland told Dutschke to get on his knees and apologize. “If he didn’t, he ought to have,” Presley said. Presley said of Sadie Holland: “I don’t believe the woman has an enemy in the world.... I don’t know anybody who doesn’t love Ms. Sadie Holland, except whoever this fool is who sent the letter. Whoever it is, they ought to be ashamed of themselves,
picking on Ms. Sadie.” Dutschke told AP on Tuesday that he has no problem with Sadie Holland. “Everybody loves Sadie, including me,” he said. After being released from jail Tuesday, Curtis described a long feud between himself and Dutschke, but said he’s not sure exactly what started it. The two worked together at Curtis’ brother’s insurance office years ago, Curtis said. Curtis said Dutschke told him he owned a newspaper and showed interest in publishing his book called “Missing Pieces,” about what Curtis considers an underground market to sell body parts. But Dutschke decided not to publish the material, Curtis said, and later began stalking him on the Internet. For his part, Dutschke, a former martial arts instructor, said he didn’t even know Curtis that well. “He almost had my sympathy until I found out that he was trying to blame somebody else,” Dutschke said Monday. “I’ve known he was disturbed for a long time. Last time we had any contact with each other was at some point in 2010 when I threatened to sue him for fraud for posting a Mensa certificate that is a lie. He is not a Mensa member. That certificate is a lie.” Curtis acknowledges posting a fake Mensa certificate on Facebook, but says it was an online trap set up
for Dutschke because he believed Dutschke was stalking him online. He knew Dutschke also claimed to be a member of the organization for people with high IQs. Dutschke had a Mensa email address during his 2007 legislative campaign. Dutschke started a campaign to prove him a liar, Curtis said, and allegedly harassed him through emails and social networking. Curtis said the two agreed to meet at one point to face off in person, but Dutschke didn’t show up. “The last email I got from him, was, ‘Come back tomorrow at 7 and the results of you being splattered all over the pavement will be public for the world to see what a blank, blank, blank you are.’ And then at that point, I knew I was dealing with a coward,” Curtis said. The voicemail for Curtis’ lawyer, Christi McCoy, was full on Wednesday and she did not immediately respond to a text message. A phone number Kevin Curtis provided to The Associated Press was not working and his brother’s number has been changed. The previous day, Hal Neilson, an attorney for Curtis, said the defense gave authorities a list of people who may have had a reason to hurt Curtis, and that Dutschke’s name came up. Dutschke, who spoke with The Associated Press by telephone several times during the search Tuesday, said his house was also searched last week.
Poison Letters from page 1
Tennis is having the best week ever
Tennis wins SWAC again pg.6
Baseball to play PVAMU
After sweeping Tigers baseball’s next move pg.6
Softball ready to fight for spot
Lady Jags take on Lady Tigers pg.6
How to represent
Caesar explains pg.7
Delivery from mental prison
Jasper talks Grace pg.7
Did you know you could get to N.O. for $5?
LaSwift can get you there pg.8
has been issued for his arrest,” she said Wednesday afternoon. Investigators in gas masks, gloves and plastic suits emerged from the business carrying five-gallon buckets full of items covered in large plastic bags. Once outside, others started spraying their protective suits with some sort of mist. Dutschke was seen outside the studio observing the search on Wednesday. Both men say they have met Wicker, and they each have a connection to Holland, who received one of the ricin letters. Authorities say the letters were mailed April 8, but the one sent to Holland was the only one to make it into the hands of an intended target. Her son, Democratic state Rep. Steve Holland of Plantersville, said his mother did a “smell test” of the envelope and a substance in it irritated her nose. The judge was not sickened by what authorities say was a crudely made form of the poison, which is derived from castor beans. Sadie Holland has declined to comment on the case. She was presiding judge in a case in which Curtis was accused of assaulting a Tupelo attorney in 2003. Holland sentenced Curtis to six months in the county jail. He served only part of the sentence, according to his brother. Running as a Republican, Dutschke lost a lopsided election to Steve Holland in 2007, and observers
BOS Agenda from page 1 The finance and audit committee will take action on the increase in Inter Agency transfer funding for Southern University Laboratory School and the student improvement fee passed as a referendum for an intramural complex at SUSLA. The committee will be informed on the 2011-12 fiscal year annual audit results, the interim financial report as of February 28 for SUS entities, SUNO’s bid for food service contract and 2012-13 board and system administration and board budget report. In the Academic Affairs committee,
resolutions from SUBR, SUNO, SUSLA and SULC are to be heard to approve the conferment of approximately 714 degrees from SUBR, 550 from SUNO, 208 from SUSLA and 173 from SULC respectively. The documents after passage will be affixed with the signatures of Ronald Mason, Southern University System President and Bridget Dinvaut, SU BOS Chair. Also before the personnel committee will hear a request for sabbatical leave for Professor Stanley Halpin to work on research and a book about enforcement and
interpretation of the federal voting rights act and the extension of leave without pay for Professor Okechukwu Oko to continue his research in Nigeria. Both leaves up for approval are for faculty at SULC and for the 2013-14 academic year. The SU Laboratory School committee will receive a status report of the lab school from committee chair Walter Dumas. The Student Affairs committee will be introduced to the outgoing and incoming student leaders system-wide. Next month’s meeting will be held on May 24.
Sports
southerndigest.com
Page 4 - Thursday, April 25, 2013
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Garcia, Holiday & De Leon in top SWAC pitchers Aristide Phillips
The Southern Digest When there is a core group of upperclassmen in a position that played together since signing their letters of intent, that’s a positive sign for a coach and the team; the Southern Jaguar baseball pitchers are a prime example. Redshirt senior Danny Garcia, senior Jesse ‘Doc’ Holiday and junior Jose De Leon all are within the top 12 pitchers in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. This nucleus of pitchers is one of the best groups of pitchers in the SWAC. Combined, Holiday, De Leon, and Garcia have 67 career decisions; the trio gave up only three earned runs against Grambling in 25 innings of play. “The young players look up to us as leaders so we just work hard everyday and lead by example and we make it happen,” said De Leon. Garcia who has been bit with the injury bug had his best game of the season against Grambling State pitching 7.2 innings only giving up two runs after facing 30 batters. In his past two starts Garcia
didn’t pitch past the fourth inning, because the right-hander was pitching with an injury to the middle finger on his throwing hand. The right handed Garcia was able to go the distance by taking a pain reliever before the game so that he could being able to pitch for over seven innings with no pain in his injured finger. “What ever is best for the team I’m there, if they want me to come out of the bull pin that’s fine for me,” said Garcia. Garcia is ranked 11th in the conference with an earned run average of 3.96 and has record of 4-2. The lone left hander in the group is Holiday, is the best statistically of the group with an ERA that ranks third in the conference of 2.79 and has a record of 5-2 and De Leon is ranked fifth in the conference with an ERA average of 3.43 and a record of 2-3. “Doc was messing with me because he had 11 strikeouts in seven innings and I had 11 strikeouts in ten innings, but as an athlete you always have to compete and competing in a healthy way,” said De Leon. The relationship that the pitchers have can prove to be
Ariana Triggs/DIGEST Junior pitcher Jose DeLeon pitches the ball during the 1st inning against Grambling, Saturday at Lee-Hines Field. beneficial this weekend as they face Prairie View A&M. “Finally we are clicking together because we haven’t been struggling but we haven’t been playing up to our true potential and now I think we are getting into that rhythm and we are going to use
our play to motivate us to a SWAC championship,” said De Leon. Despite the loss to Loyola on Tuesday, Southern, moved to first place in the West after sweeping Grambling. They will host Prairie View beginning Saturday with a chance
to secure a No. 1 seed in the SWAC tournament, set for May 15-19 in Fort Worth, Texas. “With our pitching staff we are better than everybody else, plain and simple, if we pitched the way we did this weekend we’ll be rolling,” said Garcia.
Southern Track leads with tradition of dominance Aristide Phillips
The Southern Digest They are a forgotten group of over achieving athletes that accomplished great feats for Southern University athletics and there is little to nothing left in memory of their dominance of the 60s. The Southern Jaguar track teams of the 60s produced All Americans, Olympians and genuinely athletes. Marcus Garvey once said “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots,” and for the Southern track and field program their roots were established in the 60s. The team had the best hurdlers in the world; back to back gold medalists; the best sprinters; the best quarter milers; best 600-meter runners; the best mile relay team on an eight lap track, 12 lap track, 15 lap track, and outdoors and the second best high jumper at that time. Track and Field News, considered by its readers as the bible of track and field sports, named Southern’s track team the “Team of the Decade” for the 60s and over the years the team was featured in magazines such as Ebony and Sports Illustrated. During that decade of reign Southern owns multiple SWAC records in the triple jump, Javelin, 440-yard relay, one mile relay, 440-yard hurdles, 120-yard high hurdles and 440-yard dash.
Their coach was Richard Dick Hill who was recently inducted into the Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame Dec. 19, 2012. Hill coached athletes such as Bob “Bullet” Hayes while at Florida A&M, Olympian Theron Lewis and gold, silver and bronze Olympic medalist, Willie Davenport. “They say winners find a way to win, and they had a lot of similar characteristics they had a lot of confidence in the fact that if they work hard that there will be some benefits and when they met the competition they felt that no one was going to out train them,” said Hill. That mindset possessed by the athletes was recognized by the students; shown by filling the seats of what they called “University Stadium” now known as A.W. Mumford Stadium for track meets. “It had a football atmosphere,” said Betty Kyles, who was a student and close friend to the track team. “When they ran nobody wanted to miss their races if you wanted to get something to eat you weren’t going to miss them run. When their event was coming up nobody was moving and they would make their competition look like they were standing still,” said Kyles. Even the state of Louisiana government took notice of their dominance, providing the university with a state of the art “Tartan Track,” the all-weathered track was a resilient liquid resin
1968 Jaguar/FILE The 1967 Track and Field team won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Championship in the 60s and were named the Track and Field team of the Decade by Track and Field News. The team produced mulitple All-Americans and two Olympians in track. when hardened, provided a soft rubberized running surface was the first of its kind in Louisiana and at the time was considered by many to be the fastest track surface in the world. With all of the national and conference championships, All-Americans, All-Conference athletes, national and international recognition the teams from the that decade has brought to Southern University it seems that all those accomplishments have been
covered up like the old Columbian blue track inside of A.W. Mumford Stadium. Tradition can sometimes be a deciding factor in an athlete deciding to continue his education at Southern or elsewhere. Just recently a talented sprinter named Devin O’Neal from Sylacauga, Ala. signed a track scholarship with Southern and according to a article in The Daily Home, O’Neal liked the fact that Southern has a very strong tradition
in track and field. O’Neal chose SU over rival school Grambling State. The track and field program is steadily improving this year with both men’s and women’s team’s fourth place finish in the SWAC Outdoor Championship and the women’s third place finish in the SWAC Indoor championship. The ceiling for the Jaguar track and field program can be limitless, if it embraces the baton that is their rich tradition.
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page 6 - Thursday, april 25, 2013
The senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT Body sinCe 1926
Tennis clinches fourth SWAC title
Tennis head coach Jeff Conyers seeks to follow basketball head coach Roman Banks’ footsteps to NCAA tourney ARISTIDE PHILLIPS
The Southern Digest
Southern won its fourth consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s tennis title Sunday, but winning that title wasn’t as easy as it was thought out to be. Senior and SWAC player of the year, Demetria Woods did not compete Sunday because of a non-tennis ailment. Woods went 6-1 in both SWAC roundups this season and has been a key to the Lady Jags success this year. The number one-seeded Jaguars struggled against second-seeded Alcorn State
in doubles. The Lady Jaguars had to win four of six singles matches to defend its title. The match that decided who would hold up the SWAC Championship trophy, was a singles match played between Alcorn State’s Chan Rutherford and Southern’s Morgan Taylor. Before Woods’ injury, Taylor was only to play in doubles matches. Taylor lost in a tiebreaker in the first set, but bounced back after suffering right leg cramps in the third to put up a 6-7 (17), 6-4, 6-3 victory. Taylor’s win was a reminder of what Tennis head coach Jeff Conyers instills in his players; being relentless.
“Anytime you feel like you’re down and out in a competition from start to finish you want to be relentless, the odds might be stacked against you a little bit but as long as you are fighting relentlessly you can overcome adversity,” Conyers said. Despite the injury, Woods was able to be with the team to witness gathering her fourth title as a tennis player. With the conference title under the Lady Jaguars belt, Southern is looking forward to finding out what team they will play with their automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which is set for May 16-27 in Urbana, Ill. With the tournament date
set, the Lady Jaguars won’t do anything different in training but will continue to fine-tune their flaws to prep for the upcoming tournament. “We want to focus a little bit more on doubles play and try to fine-tune some areas and also just practice the same way to get ready for the tournament and to get some extra practice before the semester ends to get ready for next season,” Conyers said. With the Southern Tennis team dominating their conference, going into the conference tournament to win a championship, and awaiting their pending bid to the NCAA Tournament brings similarities
to the Men’s Basketball team and their season’s success. When asked about the comparison Conyers said he would love to have that same comparison. “ Coach (Roman) Banks and his men went out there all throughout the season and represented the Jaguars in good fashion, they did excellent throughout the regular season and post season and played well against Gonzaga, so that would be a very good comparison,” Conyers said. The Lady Jaguars season will continue in May, as they will look to seek more hardware and win a NCAA National Championship.
Jag baseball renews after Grambling to face PVAMU TORRANCE LATHAM The Southern Digest
Just one week after completing an three game sweep of Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Grambling State University, the Southern University baseball team has quickly put that behind them to prepare for another critical series looming this weekend. The Jaguars (17-18 overall, 12-9 in SWAC) face Prairie View A&M (19-18, 8-7 in SWAC) at home on Lee-Hines Field, in a pivotal series as they try to remain atop the Western Division standings. In a season that began with justified optimism, SU fell into unfamiliar territory heading into last weekend, having to fight for contention of making the conference tournament. After playing a impressive series against Grambling, possibly their best overall baseball of the season, the injuryplagued Jaguars have resiliently battled to the top spot in the Western division of the SWAC. Junior third baseman Caleb Hatcher, who recently returned to the lineup Tuesday against Loyola after missing more than a month of play, knows the
significant implications of this upcoming stretch. “There is going to be more fire under our team because we do understand the importance of winning for the remainder of the year, and by winning this past weekend, just uplifted our team chemistry and morale to be successful in any game setting,” said Hatcher. With winning the vital series against Grambling, SU safely secured a spot in the SWAC tournament next month in Fort Worth, Texas. Senior outfielder and leader Derek Hopkins says that their team will now place focus on maintaining momentum heading into this weekend’s series against Prairie View. “We’re feeling extremely good after this past weekend. That was the first series all year we put the hitting, pitching, and defense together. We have the talent to do great things; it’s just a matter of staying confident and focused,” Hopkins said. The Jaguars have a reason to be confident as the regular season winds down, finally being able to field a healthy team coming down the final stretch. Outfielders D.J. Wesley, Tyler Kirksey, and Gavin Webster, along with shortstop
Jeremy Lopez, have come on strong recently after missing a large portion of the season due to injuries. Also, with the addition of Hatcher (.283 batting average) emerging back after injury, the Jaguars have more depth to a lineup that has seemed to settle down and find its rhythm hitting the baseball after battling inconsistency throughout SWAC play. As a team, SU has a .257 batting average (5th in the SWAC) and averages five runs per game (6th in the SWAC). “We have worked on hitting a lot, as well as having more games under our belt, making us more consistent and more confident in the batter box,” said Hatcher. Hopkins (.278 batting average) believes keeping it simple and honing in on the fundamentals will pay dividends for the team. “I think being more relaxed and not trying to do too much is helping us hit the ball well. We went through a stretch where we were swinging at bad pitches and trying to hit the ball 400 feet instead of taking what the pitchers are giving us,” said Hopkins. On the defensive side, solid pitching from SU’s three aces will be essential to
the team’s success this weekend. “Pitching is always crucial when you want to be successful because hitting isn’t always going to be there. If Jesse (Holliday), Jose (DeLeon), and Danny (Garcia) give us the same outings they have been and then Josh Powell coming in to close the game out we can compete with anyone,” Hopkins said. The extremely talented starting rotation has been impressive all season, among top three in both earned run average (4.39) and opponents batting average (.267), in the conference. In 25 innings last weekend against Grambling, gave up only three runs all series. When asked about what key players fans should look for in the series this weekend, Hatcher cited that a complete team effort will be needed moving forward, not only for this weekend but the future games following. “Heading into this weekend and the rest of the season contest, we are going to need contributions from the entire team. Everybody on this team is capable of accomplishing success. As a team, if everyone does their part, as a whole our team will be successful.”
Softball readies to fight Tigers for spot in SWAC tournament ARISTIDE PHILLIPS
The Southern Digest
This season has been a rough one for the Lady Jaguar softball team, but despite the record, quality wins over rival Grambling State in this weekend series could solidify a spot to put the Lady Jags into post-season play. The games will be played at Lady Jaguar field starting Friday at 3 p.m. and concluding with a double hitter Saturday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Southern (6-39, 3-11 Southwestern Athletic Conference) will look to have better success this weekend
then they had last weekend against Texas Southern. Texas Southern (30-13, 13-1 SWAC) are the clear frontrunners in the conference as their only loss was against Jackson State (23-27, 10-4 SWAC) who only allowed the Jaguars to tally up five runs in the three games played last weekend. After the loss Lady Jaguar’s softball head coach, Nancy Marshall gave her Jaguars words of encouragement to keep their focus on the next task at hand, which is beating Grambling in the season finale. “I told them that we still
have to fight until the end, we still have a chance to make the SWAC Tournament although those games did hurt us lets keep faith,” Marshall said. Grambling State (6-34, 1-13 SWAC) has gone through their own woes as well, their only conference win came in the first game of their weekend series against Prairie View A&M. Last year, when the Lady Jaguars faced Grambling State on their soil, they took two out of three. “The biggest thing we are going to have to do is to continue to play for seven innings and not let up at all
because Grambling is a team that is very scrappy and they are going to try to come in and fight their way in as well,” Marshall said. The battle for the final spot in the Tournament will be staged in at Lady Jaguar field. SU is currently in fourth place and needs only one win to clinch a berth in the tournament, while Grambling needs to sweep Southern in order to put the Lady Tigers into the tournament. “It’s basically determined by how we play. We win the game on Friday, we go to the SWAC Tournament we lose the game on Friday, it’s going
to be a battle on Saturday,” Marshall said. The Jaguars will need all the help they can get and senior Shawntall Steamer has been a trooper for the Lady Jags this season. Despite missing games this year, Steamer has the highest batting average (.330), the highest slugging percentage (.578), and the highest on base percentage (.407). Another key player on the Lady Jaguars squad is Alicia Barajas, she has the second highest batting average (.314), slugging percentage (.339), and on base percentage (.356) on the team.
Commentary southerndigest.com
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Thursday, April 25, 2013 - Page 7
Talking Politics: Making strides to represent Search for new LSU president was intentionally secretive, the process of selecting a new president for LSU was designed to keep the names of potential job candidates from public view, according to the head of the search committee charged by the Board of Supervisors with sorting through the list of candidates. Nola. com, The Advocate and the Reveille, LSU’s student newspaper, filed suit in Baton Rouge against the LSU Board of Supervisors last week over the board’s refusal to respond to public records request for a list of the finalists for the LSU presidency. The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met yesterday to discuss Medicaid expansion. The bill SB125 would provide health care for hundreds of thousands of working Louisianans. Gov. Jindal does not want to increase eligibility for the Louisiana Medicaid programs; he says the state cannot financially support it. He cites it being inefficient; true to form he has no other alternative or solution. One obvious solution is to expand or accept funding from the Affordable Care Act. There have been arguments to accept the funds in a time-limited manner until December 31, 2016. As a result of the ACA, we have an extraordinary opportunity to bring $15.8B federal dollars back to Louisiana over 10 years, which would create much needed jobs and shore up our health care infrastructure for some time to come. The House Health and Welfare Committee voted 11-8 along party lines to involuntarily defer the legislation sponsored by Barbara Norton (D), Shreveport. Republicans argue the proposition is too risky financially due to the federal government’s track record of changing the rules. Democrats argue the state should
Caesar Smith Jr . take advantage of the federal funds, which would pay 100% of the expansion and no less than 90% for the first decade. In the end lawmakers killed the bill, as it stands the Affordable Healthcare Act is of no benefit to the citizens of Louisiana. Speaking of representative government; to much is given, much is expected, SGA is no different. What should happen in the next SGA administration’s tenure? Pass a bill making provisions to allow 30 days to pass before financial matters with regard to funds in another organization’s account with a formal hearing with all parties to justify the need for transfer. Introduce language that clearly states amendments and referendums to be written and published in the Digest prior to it being voted upon by the student body. Require public meetings, minutes of public and committee meetings and events of the SGA with updates regarding cancellations and any change of venue to be published in the Digest; this should provide a clear line of communication and transparency between the student body and student leaders. Require itemized SGA travel expenses to be reported and published within seven days of return.
Report disbursements made to any campus organization from the Office of Student Programs within seven days of dispersal. There is ample room, time and space for the SGA to thrive if they chose to do so. Making strides to communicate with the Digest in reporting events, travel, and scheduled meetings with agendas including minutes is a wonderful way to encourage student involvement and reduce or eliminate any misconceptions. Change will not come unless it is through aggressive approach. Who has thought about the honesty, intelligence, dedication and interestingly enough, the inclusiveness of their student leaders, if they would treat the everyday student accordingly? Many run for office not realizing they instantly become public figures. They open themselves to criticism from the press, their peers and the administration; there should be an understanding and expectation to handle pressure as any other elected official. Returning phone calls, texts and e-mail are only a part of the task; it is admirable to admit fault and actively follow up on the issue. Thin skin and not accepting responsibility for actions are not an excuse for any elected official. The candidate ran for the position, the student body did not request or demand them to; it was their choice, so it should not be any complaints addressing the student body. If it is too much to accept or to flat out refuse to deal with that obligation; do not run, do not take office and waste the time of the student body by being ineffective. Do something!!!!!! Be careful of those who wish to polarize us more than we are, they are dangerous…
The Grace Column: Delivery from Mental Prison The time is now to live and abound freely in God’s grace. It is my prayer; each person who reads this is freed from mental imprisonment and bondage. During the past few weeks, I have been privileged to witness to students about God’s grace. One common theme resonated with me from all of those conversations. Each person believed their circumstance could be solved to a certain extent, whether it was financial hardship, broken relations, or deteriorating health. After each conversation, I became increasingly perplexed as to why each person doubted God’s infinite abilities. It almost made me cringe. There was a point and time during my life, when I did not fully grasp God’s love and willingness to bless His children. I was not able to grasp it due to the life I was living and because of unbelief.
As young people, we must learn to grab hold of God and never let go. God does not only bless and save the elderly, but everyone. God’s love is for everyone. His love and grace is the cure to mental imprisonment from every circumstance and situation. God has an infinite amount of abilities and powers. For scripture says, Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. The scope of God’s power cannot be measured. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. However, in order to receive God’s blessings, we must meet the conditions. The key to receiving the abundance of blessings God ordained for our lives is through repentance. As young people, we must turn back
to our “first love.” We must not turn back to our natural “first love” from high school, but our true first love, God. If we truly want to experience mental freedom as a generation and individually, we must submit our ways to God. The Time is now. True freedom only exists in God and his unmerited grace. I challenge you today, to turn to God and walk in the great life he has for you. God ordained a life of liberality and freedom from mental imprisonment for you before time. Do not fall victim to Satan’s deceptions and schemes. God has a better way for you. I am praying you receive the precious gift God so eagerly wants to grant. Walk in God’s grace, not in shame, defeat, and bondage. Remember you are blessed In Jesus Name.
**The Grace Column is written by Jasper Knighten. Find freedom in God’s grace from Mental imprisonment. Scriptures to Meditate on this week: Philippians 4:8, Romans 12:2, Jeremiah 32:7, Ephesians 3:20 and Romans 11:36.
page 8 - Thursday, arpil 25, 2013
The senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT Body sinCe 1926
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