AUGUST 27 ISSUE by Southern Digest

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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

New Year, New Campus Volume 73, Issue 1

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Boley Hall, Mayberry and Dunn Dining Halls get a much needed face lift Dante Davis

The Southern Digest

Students arrived on campus for the start of the fall semester to find that Southern had been busy during the summer. Namely, several buildings on campus have been cleaned, upgraded, and improved in a series of renovations. The three most obvious cases being both dining halls, Mayberry and Dunn, along with one of the mixed-coed dormitories, Boley Hall. The two dining halls have received slight, but very obvious, and especially in Dunn’s case, very necessary improvements. Both dining halls are sporting new lighting, artwork, and signs to go along with new furniture. Dunn took the new furniture look to the extreme, completely replacing all the old, all plastic chairs with new, stylish metal and wood chairs with matching wood tables. Dunn is also featuring a new, raised island counter that completes the new look and feel of the old dining hall. Additionally, Dunn has had its ventilation system reworked to improve the air flow of both air conditioning and heating. Mayberry has also adopted the new metal and wood chairs, opting to replace the high top tables and chairs with a countertop along the windows.

Mayberry, particularly, has benefited from the new lighting with the room looking seemingly bigger and noticeably brighter. The Associate Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs, Anthony T. Jackson, credits the students with having the vision for the look and feel of the two dining halls, “If the students were not involved in the process, then I don’t think that it would have been as successful as it is.” Both dining halls feature new signs indicating the various dining options within each dining hall. Jackson heavily credits the students with embodying what it means to be a Southern University student, “they [the students] came up with the names of the new areas, the robes, the color schemes… we just tried to change it up to make sure that it was something that the students wanted. Over the past two years, various dormitories around campus have had incremental improvements in the form of new furniture, flooring, and/or air conditioning units. Boley Hall had seen bits and pieces of these incremental changes throughout that time, but this summer brought with it a complete renovation with the rooms receiving new, laminate wood flooring, air conditioning units, vents, and outlets. See FACELIFT page 3

BannerSunited

Behind the new U#s, Campus Changes Diamond Butler

The Southern Digest

Southern University has been through many changes from new buildings to new students and, now, to a new system for student account and record keeping. Recently, Southern University officials decided to update the old portal system known as “banner” that has been in use by the students. The banner system allows students to access their current academic record and progress, financial aid statues, and their personal student information. The new banner system, called BannerSUnited, is meant to unify the school system’s multiple banner Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems into one single application. It is then shared between the five Southern University campuses allowing for a “seamless” transition for students wanting to attend classes at a campus closer to home. According to Southern University’s IT support staff, the purpose of this system change is, “...to create a more efficient, consistent, and feature-rich student information system.” This means that regardless of what campus a student is attending, that student’s information will be accessible within the system.

This system is very different from the previous system and there are many positive benefits and opportunities that it will bring. One being that with the newly issued ID cards, students are able to use that same ID on all five campuses. Because each school would be using the same system, it would then be easier for students, new or transfer, to obtain their classes. Students would not then have to go through the long process of getting the verification of what courses they have already taken, as well as being able to get a quicker confirmation if a class previously taken is not accepted in the curriculum. Other features of BannerSUnited is a new “U” student identification number, a new term code structure, a new studentlevel code, and the course subject code changes. The “U” student identification number is a nine-digit number that will be mostly used by the new freshman class. It is another variation of the “S” number that students have been using for past semesters. With this number usage, the old identification number will be retained to be an “alternate ID.” Other benefits include, the new term code structure and student-level See BANNER page 3

Completely remodeled booth with updated Dining Wall art in Dunn Hall. (Dante Davis/DIGEST)

Left- New furniture placed in Boley Hall in wake of hall renovations. Right- New ceilng to floor wall graphic in Mayberry Dining Hall. (Dante Davis/DIGEST)

Valdry Center now Open for Business

The finished product: one of the many construction projects completed over the summer is the Valdry Center for Philanthropy. (Dante Davis/DIGEST)

Dante Davis

The Southern Digest

About 18 months ago ground had just been broken and construction was beginning no the, now fully functional, Valdry Center for Philanthropy. In a partnership between the Southern University Foundation and the Valdry Foundation, the Valdry Center aims to promote philanthropy and philanthropic studies. The center’s first floor features two modern classrooms with all the

www.southerndigest.com THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

capabilities that students have come to expect: a plentiful supply of electrical outlets, ethernet ports, a projector with HDMI support, and drop down mics. The floor also features a large auditorium capable of holding about two to three hundred people. The auditorium is and has been available to outside organizations as a host location for balls, banquets, and other events. The second floor features several offices See VALDRY page 3

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SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SUITE 1064 T.H. HARRIS HALL POST OFFICE BOX 10180 BATON ROUGE, LA 70813 PHONE: 225.771.2231 FAX: 225.771.5840 ONLINE @ www.southerndigest.com

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Director.....................................Jermaine Proshee Publications Mgr. ................................................ Business Manager....................... Camelia Jackson

CONTACTS (area code 225)

Student Media Newsroom.....................771.2231 Advertising Office.................................. 771.5833 Director’s Office ....................................771.5812

SPRING 2019 STAFF

Editor-in-Chief..........................................Jacqueline Morgan

Managing Editor.......................................... James Eaglin, Jr. Copy Editor................................................ Contara Mayfield

A&E Editor........................................................ Najeri Evans Multimedia Editor......................Jairus Moore | Aliya Creecy

News Editor.........................................................Dante Davis Photo Editor....................................................... Keith Lewis

Sports Editor...............................................Debrandin Brown

Staff Writer......................................................... Aliya Creecy

Staff Writer......................................................... Dante Davis Staff Writer......................................................Keenon Glover Staff Writer....................................................... JulianAlvarez Staff Writer........................................................ Jalyn Garner

Staff Writer.................................................... Kiyanna Givens Staff Writer................................................... Diamond Butler Staff Writer.................................................... Logan Wiliams Staff Writer...................................................... Sydney Brown

Staff Writer.................................................. Garland Johnson Staff Writer....................................................Diamond Butler

Staff Writer........................................................Paris Duncan Staff Photographer................................................ Bailie Boyd

Staff Photographer...........................................Jodeci Ashford

SUBMISSIONS POLICY

The Southern DIGEST welcomes letters from readers commenting on current issues and other matters of general interest to the SU family and public. We set aside this space to publish these letters for others to enjoy. This newspaper is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on its editorial and commentary pages. The Southern DIGEST reserves the right to edit any contributions and or reject them without notification. Authors are encouraged to limit the length of submissions to 300 words. Letters should not include libelous statements. Offensive and personal attacks will not be permitted. The DIGEST will not print “open letters” addressed to someone else. All contributions must be type written, signed and must include the author’s address and phone number. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Southern University students should include their majors, hometowns and year in school. When referring to specific DIGEST articles, please include the date and title. All materials should be directed to the editor in chief of The Southern DIGEST, P.O. Box 10180, Baton Rouge, La. 70813. Materials may be delivered by hand to the DIGEST office located in Suite 1064 Harris Hall or can be e-mailed to digest@subr.edu.

EDITORIAL POLICY

Staff editorials represent the opinions of the author and the majority opinion of the Southern DIGEST Student Editorial Board, which is comprised of the student staff of editors and columnists. The Southern DIGEST provides an open forum to educate, inform and enlighten the students, faculty and staff at Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA.

PUBLICATION ASSOCIATIONS

The Southern DIGEST is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), College Media Advisers Association (CMA), Full member of the Associated Press (AP) and the Louisiana Press Association (LPA).

The Office of Student Media is a division of the Office of Student Affairs.

School of Nursing Applications for admission to the Southern University School of Nursing (SUSON) are now available online at www.subr.edu. Click on Academic Affairs and follow the School of Nursing Undergraduate Program link. The deadline to apply is August 31, 2019. The SUSON will be holding its annual WIC clinic weekly, Monday - Friday from 9am - 3:30pm in the nursing building. For more information or to set up an appointment, contact the clinic at (225) - 771 - 3324.

Counseling Center The University Counseling Center’s annual Fall Meet and Greet will be held this Thursday from 11am - 3pm on the front lawn of the Counseling Center. Students will have the opportunity to meet the staff, learn about resources, enjoy free food, and win prizes. Office of Student Leadership and Engagement The annual Organization Fair, “Explore The Possibilities,” will be held tomorrow at 5:30pm in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union Courtyard.

The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926 Lacumba Spinners The SU Lacumba Spinner are holding auditions on September 20-21 in the Intramural Complex. Students are required to wear all black dance attire, bring a $25 registration fee, and student ID. All interested individuals email your name and classification to su_lacumbaspinners@yahoo.com Financial Aid The Office of Financial Aid will remain open from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm until August 30. The office is now open to all via the JagQ. Midnight Madness Midnight Madness basketball will be held on Thursday in the Intramural Complex from 10pm 2am. All are welcome. Student Government Association The SGA Fall 2019 Elections are underway. There are various positions available for students to apply for. For more information on SGA elections and the link to file for office, visit http:// www.subr.edu/page/1687 or email sgaelection@subr.edu with questions and concerns.

SU One Card If you have completed the registration process and have not received your Southern University ID “SU1 Card”, please follow the attached instructions to obtain your card. Only first time students, transfers and returning students who require an ID at this time should complete the SU1 Card ID Form. The ID office is currently located in J.B. Moore Hall auditorium. Jaguar Athletics Friday Women’s soccer faces off against against Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, TX at 7PM. Saturday Women’s volleyball will play both Georgia Tech and Long Beach State in Atlanta, GA. Times are TBA and 4PM CT. Jaguar football takes on McNeese in Lake Charles, LA at 6PM CT in the first game of the season. Sunday Women’s volleyball will play UNC Asheville in Atlanta, GA. The time is TBA.

Editor’s Welcome What’s Up Jaguars MORGAN

The Southern Digest is pleased and very proud to be coming back at you yet another semester with the latest and greatest of all things Southern University. As we head into a productive semester, we at the Southern Digest want to peak your interest in the only HBCU newspaper that has been the sentinel of an enlightened student body since 1926. To my freshmen, welcome to The Yard and welcome to our extended family that everyone else calls readership. To my returning students, we hope to see you emptying newspaper racks this semester as copies fall hot off the press. To the graduating seniors, we do hope that you indulge in what the Digest has in store for you as begin your transition to SUccess. Last, but certainly not least, our devout readers: welcome back to your weekly routine of reading the Digest. This semester we are dishing out only the best of what Southern has to offer our community. The Editorial Board and myself have spent the summer revamping the aesthetic and intellectual appeal of our material so that you can get the inside scoop of the newest wave of Southern excellence while also waking up parts of your enlightenment you didn’t even know existed! So sit back, excitement won’t allow you to relax, and enjoy our publication. We know you will! Go Jags!

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New Opportunities Arise:

The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926

The Immense Influx of Freshmen Kiyanna Givens

The Southern Digest

At the beginning of last week, August 19, every hallway, sidewalk, and annex was swarming with first-time freshman. With about 1,500 freshmen, this is the largest number of freshmen Southern University has seen in years. Many are wondering what will transfigure from this vast change aforementioned. The other classes have had a lot to offer in the past. They may not have been as great in numbers, but what they lacked in quantity, they made up for it in quality. Plenty of entrepreneurs, artists, and organizations have spawned from the previous freshman classes. So being a larger size, the fall 2019 freshman class in particular might bring in some new opportunities and put Southern University on the map. Academically, this is a great opportunity according to, Dean of the College of Business, Dr. Donald Andrews. During an interview he explained, “We can do more for them at a Historically Black College University than at any other institution...all

of our students are going to find great opportunities here because we create value... students today are using technology in tremendous ways and have plenty of power in that respect but they still need to remember the importance of face-to-face communication.” It is evident that the newer classes are different in terms of their social media usage compared to older generations and this can pave the way for many new and bright ideas. This class in particular could possibly stir up student life in a remarkable way as well. Some upperclassmen have noticed this as well. Junior, mass communication major from Baton Rouge Louisiana, Deana Moncreiff, stated, “Because we have so many more freshmen, we can have so many leaders in different aspects...community leaders, more organization leaders, on-campus leaders... this will definitely lead to more student oriented organizations and creative ideas because this class in particular gives off a very individualized impression... everybody is different and unique.” A representative from the

freshman class decided to share her input on the impact she feels her class can produce as a whole. Freshman, psychology major from Shreveport Louisiana, Latrise Williams, expressed her thoughts on the matter and shared, ”Being from a huge class I think it is safe to say that we can bring more opportunities to help our community and our school in various ways. The more helping hands and open minds we have on deck, the greater chance we have to make a difference at Southern University.” According to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, the school has gathered hundreds of students from all over the world. Freshman students from places like Georgia, California, New York, and even across the seas, have all gathered here at Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College to be “defenders of the gold and blue.” With such a profound number of diverse cultures and backgrounds, it can be inferred that this class will definitely make a huge impact on campus. What will the future be for SU23? We will just have to wait and see.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - Page 3 FACELIFT from page 1

The bathrooms in each room also received upgrades in the form of new tiling, sinks, and a hotter shower through the improved heating system. Boley Hall is one of the cheaper on-campus housing options at Southern University, thus making it a popular housing option among upperclassmen and returning students, “The renovations make the room and bathroom brighter with the light color furniture,” said, resident of Boley, Angelique McClellan. In the wake of these improvements, Director of

Residence Life & Housing Tracie Abraham would like to know how satisfied students are with the changes and what other changes should be made, “I would love to hear from any of the students to know if they like it,” said Abraham. These renovations are just the start of a broader plan to continue the improvements across the various buildings on Southern’s campus. It isn’t a secret that some of the buildings on Southern’s campus are old and decrepit, so these renovations are just the first step of the process. BANNER from page 1

VALDRY from page 1

Courtesy SUBR Website

Initial framework being laid for the Valdry Center for Philanthropy (Dante Davis/DIGEST)

,a conference room, and acts as the administration for the Southern University Foundation and the center itself. The Annual Fund Director for the Southern University System Foundation, Robert Harrison, says that the building is here to serve Southern University and its community, “Not only is this a place for the foundation to rest, but it’s a philanthropy center, we’re going to have classes, we’re going to have lectures, we’re going to have seminars based around philanthropy.” The center, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela School of Government at Southern University, will eventually begin offering a variety of different classes centering around philanthropy, research, and the different aspects that come with the management of nonprofits along with bachelor’s, a master’s, and PhD program. The center will

offer courses such as Constituent Relationship Management: Securing Major Gifts and Increasing Non-Profit Financial Literacy, highlighting the center’s goal towards increasing awareness for philanthropy and philanthropic acts. The Valdry Center and Valdry Foundation both get their name from the Valdry’s, a family comprised of Warren Valdry, his wife Virginia Valdry, and brother Leon Edward Valdry. These three Southern alumni have been making sizable donations to Southern University for about fifty years. The center serves to honor this family’s generosity by not only bearing their name, but by teaching and encouraging others to do the same. “I told the dean and the president of this university, “I will come back, and give back to this university, and give back to the students of engineering,” said

Valdry. Valdry then went out and encouraged and gathered other alums to also give back to their communities and give back to their universities. The foundation gives out a number of different scholarships and grants based on both need and merit. The center provides the Southern University System Foundation central location on campus to continue its work by giving students direct access to the foundation’s staff. A scholarship recipient and volunteer at the Valdry center, Munachimnso Orimma, credits the foundation for helping him grow as a person, “They don’t just care about your GPA, they just want to see you grow as a person.” The center offers the Southern University System several different advantages. This is just one of the many things that Southern University is doing to better itself and the community.

code. These changes will give campuses better control over resignations, create unique calendar year identifiers, allows a school to manage its semesterly class schedule better, and helps with student classification and information tracking. Finally, the new course subject code is a revised version of the Louisiana Common Course Catalog, in which, it will create a clearer path to identifying what classes are apart of the Common Course Catalog matrix and what lessons are transferable within the Louisiana higher education system. Combining all these advantages, students can expect to have a quicker banner that has more frequent updates during the resignation and class selection process. Mia Anderson, a 22-yearold accounting student, is one of many students who find this new system beneficia saying, “. . . it will bring a better sense of organization.” However, with the sudden announcement of the new system, there was some confusion among the student body.

Ebony O’Conner, a sophomore business management student, states that her confusion was because, “....it was at such short notice, right before school had started.” When considering that, it may have been more beneficial that towards the end of the last spring semester if the administration had notified students of the system so once it is implemented they already know what to expect. Regardless of the confusion, students seem to be adjusting to the idea of a new system at a good and steady pace. The latest developments of BannerSUnited Southern University were unable to deliver a failproof system, resulting in a temporary revisit to the old Banner system. Hopefully, this is not the end the university’s updates of student and campus life. Southern University students can look forward to having a more modern school that will help them advance more in the field of their choosing.

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DIGEST ILLUSTRATION

Logan Williams

The Southern Digest

It’s almost football season and the Southern University Jaguars are preparing for the 104th season of football on The Bluff. The Jaguars look to improve on a 2018 campaign that saw them go 7-3 in regular season play, only to fall to Alcorn State in the SWAC championship game. This season, the Jaguars look to rely on key starters coming back including Hunter Register, Montavious Gaines, and Ladarius Skelton, in order to make a run at a SWAC title. The Jags will be playing two more games than last season, opening up the season in Lake Charles when they travel to play McNeese State on August 31.

McNeese finished the 2018 season with a 6-5 record. This game will be an early road test for the Jaguars this season. Southern goes on the road again for a September 7 matchup against the Memphis Tigers, who are coming off of an 8-6 season a year ago that seen them lose in the Birmingham Bowl to Wake Forest. This game will be a great opportunity for Southern to see how they stack up against FBS competition. Southern has their first home game when Edward Waters comes to town to play in the 2nd Annual Pete Richardson Classic. The Tigers are coming off a tough 4-7 season last year. The Jaguars will then hit on the road to renew a spirited rivalry with Florida A&M in Tallahassee on September 21. Southern has not played the Rattlers

since 2011, when they lost 38-33 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Austin Irvin, a sophomore business management major from Alexandria, Louisiana, said, “The FAMU game is the most anticipated game of the season because we haven’t played them in a while.” After one of the biggest games of the year, the Jaguars head to Pine Bluff to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Jaguars have beaten the Golden Lions the last five times they’ve played them, most recently beating them 56-24 on Senior Day last year. After a bye week, the Jags are at home for the Isaac ‘Doc’ Greggs Tribute Game, an October 12 contest with Prairie View A&M. The Jaguars beat the Panthers 38-0 in a game that saw Southern turn

the corner in route to their success last season. On October 19, the Jaguars head to Dallas to play Texas Southern at the Cotton Bowl in the State Fair Showdown. The Jaguars beat TSU last year and look to beat them again this year. One of the biggest games of the season happens on October 26 in Lorman, MS as the Jaguars travel to play Alcorn State. Last season, Alcorn beat the Jaguars on a rainy homecoming night in Baton Rouge and in the SWAC Championship Game, which ended their season. This is a game that could be a preview of another SWAC championship and could reveal who will be in Atlanta in December. “They’re going to show up against See PREVIEW page 5

New Chapters: Cheer team qualifies for Nationals Debrandin Brown

The Southern Digest

In establishing a winning culture, analysts and former competitors will tell you that the first step to building a winning culture is through consistency and stability. For Southern University, consistency and stability have always been the leading factors in finding the right coaches and building the type of programs that can be geared towards success. Take the Southern University cheerleading squad for example; they are hoping to have found just that in their newly appointed head cheerleading coach Taylor Stewart. In the 2019 NCA/NDA Collegiate Camp in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Southern University’s cheerleaders placed 1st in the

Rally Routine over Florida International University to gain a silver during the three-day camp. The Southern University cheer team has put itself in a position to compete in the 2020 NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida in one of Stewart’s first events serving as the Jags’ coach. As someone who has had experience cheering for most of her life, Stewart has said that she believes that her and the squad are capable of doing great things this semester and going forward. “As a kid, I really wanted to open my own All-Star gym, so having the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level is a great opportunity,” said 1st year cheerleading coach, Taylor Stewart when asked what her reasons were for wanting to take on coaching after years of

Courtesy: SU Cheer

participating in the sport. Stewart added that being able to represent an HBCU in competitions such as the most recent one that SU has

competed in was also a great example of why she wanted to be at a university such as Southern. Getting a foot in the door to possibly represent Southern

at Daytona in 2020 isn’t an accomplishment that Stewart takes lightly, and she briefly See NEW CHAPTER page 5

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Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - Page 5

Chioma Eriken: 2019 Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Jayln Garner/DIGEST The Southern Digest

The Southern University Women’s soccer team had a bad start to their season last year, finishing with a record 4-10-3. This season however, there is a sense of urgency to do better and be better in order to eventually hoist the SWAC Championship trophy. One of the reasons that the Women’s Soccer team will be better this season is the talented Chioma Eriken, Southern’s sophomore goalkeeper. In her second year as goalkeeper, Eriken says that she feels as though with time comes greatness. This offseason, Eriken’s talent managed to catch the eyes of the SWAC and she was voted the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. After speaking with Ericken, it did not take long to get a feel for how she felt after receiving such an honor. “I felt really happy about that, because I know I did a lot last year.” said Ericken in reference to her stellar freshman season. “ I feel a little pressure that I [may not] be able to do it this

year, (GOTY in the SWAC) but I think that I [at least] have the opportunity to do it again,” said Ericken. Last season Eriken had a saves percentage of .847 and led the nation in saves with 165; averaging ten saves per game. Although she felt the saves were admirable, the young goalkeeper noted only her need for improvement, which she believes she has done. “You don’t want those kind of numbers, I’m glad I could do those numbers last year, but this year I’m working more on my defense and my teammates to make sure that doesn’t happen again.” said Ericken when asked what areas of her game she had been working on. With those areas being worked on, Eriken believes that it can help her team become more of a cohesive unit towards the end of the season. Getting mentally prepared right before a game has a tendency to make most overwhelmed emotionally, and in preparation of this, Eriken prepares mentally for the game by making sure to be in constant communication with

DIGEST ILLUSTRATION

her teammates. This includes understanding what’s going on in their heads to make sure that they’re on the top of their game too. Team chemistry plays a huge role in the team’s success as much as it does to her own game, so for Eriken and her teammates, last year’s game against rival Grambling State on October 5 turned into a mental blur because they lacked that communication and teamwork

in crucial moments. In the game, Eriken broke Southern University’s record where she garnered the most saves in a single match with a 22-stop effort. Although the result wasn’t what she hoped it would be last year, Eriken hopes that this year it can end in a win for the Jags. For Ericken, personal accomplishments don’t mean much when the ultimate result ends in a tough team loss. Maybe this year the battle will be won in Southern’s favor on October 20 when they go up against the Tigers again. By her senior year, Chioma Eriken hopes her and her teammates will be able to win the SWAC Championship, go deep into the tournament, and not so much on breaking school records but winning records is more of her end goal. Being named 2019 Louisiana Freshman of the Year last year, Eriken felt very appreciative and honored, but also kept her larger goals in mind. “ Even though it was an honor to me I want them to feel how it feels to be successful; I want to get honors with my team because they’re important to me.” In the end Chioma Eriken and the Women’s Soccer team have big goals this season and plan to fulfill them all one game at a time. The team will head to Nacogdoches, Texas to play Stephen F. Austin on Friday August 30 at 7:00p.m.

PREVIEW from page 4

Alcorn, especially after last year,” said Joshua Williams, a sophomore therapeutic recreation major from Baton Rouge Louisiana. After one of the toughest games of the season, the Jaguars then turn their focus to the homecoming game with Alabama A&M on November 2. Homecoming is always big at Southern as Alabama A&M looks to avenge their loss a season ago. The Jaguars’ last three games on the schedule include Virginia University at Lynchburg, at rival Jackson State, and rival Grambling State in the Bayou Classic in New Orleans. The SWAC is deep this year and the Jaguars have key contributors coming back. Can the Jags get over the hump and get to Atlanta or will they fall short again for the second year in a row? NEW CHAPTER from page 4 spoke on what this victory means for herself and the squad going forward. “[To be] constantly in and out of session and in and out of practice [over the duration of a three day camp], it felt good to see us perform up to our standard.” said Coach Stewart. Current success aside, Stewart has demonstrat a clear mindset as far as her aspirations for her squad this upcoming year and into the future. “We’re looking to compete at a high level, and we’re looking to bring home some hardware.” said Coach Stewart on what the squad expects from itself in the upcoming competitions. With the football season, and eventually the basketball season being around the corner, Taylor voiced her excitement to be able to cheer during in-game settings again. “We want to help support our football team so that they can take us down to the SWAC championship,” said Taylor. Look for your 20192020 Southern University cheerleaders during the first home game of the 2019-2020 football season as the Jaguars take on Edward Waters for their home opener on September 14.

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Page 6 - Tuesday, August 27, 2019

The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926

89th Miss Southern, Alacia Brew, discusses upcoming events with Men’s Federation President Byron Hall and member John Square III at the “Creating the Best U,” event held in the Cotillion Ballroom on August 19. (KEENON GLOVER/DIGEST)

Members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc. strolling through the crowd in the Student Courtyard during Jagchella’s First Pretty Wednesday on August 21. (Jodeci Ashford/DIGEST)

Winner of the Trap N Paint, Jalisha Phillips presents her take on the beloved Lacumba in the University Event Center on August 20. (KEENON GLOVER/DIGEST)

FYE Mentors and Members of SGA introduce themselves to new students of Southern University during the “Creating the Best U” event held in the Cotillion Ballroom on August 19. (KEENON GLOVER/DIGEST)

Students enjoy the silent party hosted by The Association of Women Students (AWS) during Union Madness in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom on August 21. (BAILIE BOYD/DIGEST)

Students shooting pool and socializing in LaCumba’s Play Pen during Union Madness on August 21. (BAILIE BOYD/DIGEST)

An eventful week for “JagChella” as LaDonte Lotts hosted Jiggaerobics in the Ballroom on Tuesday August 20. Many came to the event and received a full workout with a preformance by Level. (BAILIE BOYD/DIGEST)

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Honor Roll: SU Gifted Cycles Following Contest Win

The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926

Najeri Evans

The Southern Digest

Last Wednesday, the Southern University Alumni Federation and Procter & Gamble/ Metamucil held a gift ribbon cutting ceremony outside the Horace J. Moody Intramural Sports Complex to introduce six brand new cycles to the Southern University campus. The bikes come as a result of Southern winning the Metamucil Two Week Challenge back in March 2019. For the contest, registered faculty, students, and alumni across several HBCUs took Metamucil once a day for a 2 week period, with the school having the most registrations to be awarded $10,000 toward any on-campus health program of their choosing. Alumni Affairs Director, Derrick Warren shared his thoughts, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very grateful to the P&G Metamucil family for awarding Southern University this valuable gift of health and wellness. Naturally, we are also thankful to our students, alumni, administration, faculty, staff and supporters for uniting as one to win the grand prize. Spin classes are a great way to get fit and have fun.â&#x20AC;? With the addition of six cycles to the recreation center, cycling classes are being implemented for students, faculty, and alumni alike. Alongside the emerging opportunity for cycling classes, alumni are being celebrated with a special rate for the recreation center. Now, for $120/year or $60/semester, alumni can be granted access to all the Intramural Complex has to offer at a reduced rate.

SU students, along with Center Director of Recreation and Wellness, Dale Auzenne; Alumni Affairs Director, Derrick Warren, Coordinator of Intramural Sports, Tyronne Tanner, Coordinator of Fitness & Wellness, Nena Verrett-Gipson, and Coordinator of Marketing and Membership, Sheldon Jones. (Courtesy SU Media Relations)

(Courtesy SU Media Relations)

The Intramural Sports Complex, also referred to as the recreation center, has

been operating in the back of campus since 2013, and features a variety of workout

equipment, basketball courts, a See HONOR ROLL page 10

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Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - Page 9

Language Barriers: Adjusting to Foreign Professors Keenon Glover

The Southern Digest

Since its formation in 1880, Southern University has seen an immense growth in the demographics it is made up of, going from an institution serving approximately 200 students to nearly 7,000 as of 2018. With this growth, there has also been a change in the makeup of educators, shifting the cultural nature of the school as well. The presence of international educators will be noticed in every aspect of Southern University, whether it be the College of Business or the Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences. However, while these professors are people who the students will constantly interact with, as well as be reliant upon, it can also be acknowledged that these professors hold a distinct status in the socio-political climate of the modern world. With over half of those living in America’s largest cities speaking a foreign language, the question is raised

if Southern is an environment that welcomes the diversity that comes with a growing language. Dr. Patricia Meyinesse, professor of Agricultural Economics, expresses that she has felt nothing outside of welcomed during her time as an educator at Southern. “I can’t say I have a problem. I am from Jamaica, we have a dialect of English. The students of Agriculture are very respectful of their professors, but again you don’t get respect you earn respect. So we respect the students, and they really have not done anything egregious. And if they do, they know they’re gonna hear from me. But, I wouldn’t say I have been disrespected.” Dr. Jung Im-Seo also attested to the support she has felt from students. “Sometimes there is difficulty, sometimes it isn’t difficult.” Dr. Seo is an AMTX Assistant Professor, and has built steady and lasting bonds with her students, even in spite of difficulties with language. “So far, so good. I do have an accent, because I used to live in South Korea. And some students, they get used to it. At first, they’ll be like ‘What, what is she saying?’

H(D)CU: Profiling SU’s Diversity, Demographic Changes

But, after taking my class, they start to understand. So with that, not much difficulty. Most of my students are taking me again, so they already know about my accent.”

Dr. Devaiah Kambiranda also echoed the notion of support from students. See BARRIERS page 10

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Keith Lewis

The Southern Digest

One of the more prominent stigmas surrounding Historically Black Colleges and Universities is the lack of diversity seen on campus. Specifically, Southern University and A & M College is ranked below average, coming in at 1,823 against other universities around the nation in overall diversity, according to collegefactual.com. Currently, 92% of students identify as black or African

American, 3% white, 1% Hispanic and 4% other. The presence of multicultural individuals now resonate on campus. The Office for International Students employs an objective to provide an “open and equitable learning environment” to all of its students. Southern University also paves a way for these students to obtain their visa and immigration status, See PROFILING page 10

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rock climbing wall, and fitness classes as well. SUAF National President, Laquitta Thomas shared in excitement, “We are extremely fortunate to have the best alums on the planet and we owe a debt of gratitude to our Procter & Gamble/Metamucil SU alumni who made us aware of this wonderful opportunity! Special thanks also to the entire SU Nation for supporting the Metamucil challenge by registering and for always representing the best HBCU well! Please go by the Intramural Recreation Center and take these awesome new bikes for a ‘spin’!” With much more coming to the Intramural Complex this fall, be sure to take advantage of all the expanding health and wellness opportunities the university has to offer. For any additional questions or comments, contact SU Alumni Affairs at (225)-7714200 or Coach Sheldon Jones at (225)-771-3212. BARRIERS from page 9 However, he is conscious of the state of the world, and wants his students to keep an open mind, especially for their own sake. “I think our students need to keep an open mind, because we are a global society right now. There are alot of people who are moving around to different countries. Some of the projects you do you might have to go to Africa or Asia. And people may come from there. With some of the accents, although it may look funny, they are trying to get into a conversation. In a global society you need to adjust… And what if, when you go to that country, you might be treated the same way I’m treated right now? So you need to keep an open mind, and then accept things as it is.” Dr. Kambiranda’s comment holds even more weight in an era such as now, with the number of hate crimes increasing over 17% between 2016 and 2017. Education is an international affair, and Southern is far from exempt from this. As this institution grows, one can hope that it also maintains the progressive attitude that has brought it this far in the first place.

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Kodak Black pleads guilty to federal weapons charges FILE - In this Aug. 27, 2017 file photo, Kodak Black arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

MARCUS LIM

Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — Rapper Kodak Black pleaded guilty on Thursday to federal weapons charges stemming from his arrest just before a scheduled concert performance in May. Black entered the change of plea in a Miami federal court. Prosecutors charged him with crimes including falsifying information on federal forms to buy four firearms from a Miamiarea gun shop on two separate occasions. Black, 22, was able to obtain three of the weapons: a 9 mm handgun, a .380-caliber handgun and a semi-automatic Mini Draco weapon. Authorities said one of the guns was found at the scene of a March shooting in Pompano Beach. Black also faces drug, weapons and sexual assault charges in other states. When U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno asked Black why he needed so many weapons, he shrugged and said he needed them for

“protection.” In a previous hearing, his attorney, Bradford Cohen, said the rapper faced threats from gangs and other rivals. Black is a Florida native who was born to Haitian American parents as Dieuson Octave and who now goes by the legal name of Bill Kapri. He has been in federal custody since he was arrested during a Miami-area hip-hop festival in May that was marred by several violent incidents. Authorities are still investigating three unrelated shootings in the Miami area with possible connections to the festival, one of which involved a property owned by President Donald Trump. Moreno previously denied Black’s request for bond, ruling that he was a danger to the community. The rapper, known for the singles “ZeZe” and “Roll in Peace,” could face up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13.

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PROFILING from page 9 known as F-1 or J-1 status. The different races seen amongst our international students varies from the second most populous country in the world, India, to the diplomatic capital of Africa, Ethiopia. The Office of International Students provides an opportunity of higher learning for foreign students, while allowing students from America to receive an education in foreign territories through its study abroad program. This can translate to a more culturally literate campus. Beyond our international students, one can see the Latino and White students rise in enrollment. This may stem from the increase in recruiting outside of East Baton Rouge Parish. Jesus Castro, a junior computer science major from Beaumont, Texas explains that, “Southern University Human Jukebox came and played at my high school for a battle of the bands, and from there I was hooked”. Castro explained that before him, only about one or two non-black students attended Southern University. Three years later, Southern is a common school of choice in every graduating class. Racial diversity is on the rise and between recruiting, The Office of International Students and a vision of choice, equity, and an increasing sense of belonging, it will keep growing. The false narratives of HBCUs not being diverse often omits elements such as environmental differences, age, income gap, and educational background. In any particular class you can meet an independent student who pays out of pocket, works three jobs to pay for tuition, and manage to maintain a 3.5 GPA. This same student could be best friends with someone who never worked a day in their life, come from a well–off background, and both would learn a great deal from each other. The goal is never to see how different one is to another but how can another benefit or help others grow. Diversity allows students to view the world in different aspects that they may not have had alone. Southern University is a gumbo pot of race, ideology, backgrounds, and way of living, but the goal of graduation and uplifting the Gold and Blue is shared through all.

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Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - Page 11

HBCUs: The Importance of the H Kennon Glover

The Southern Digest

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have experienced a dramatic rebirth in recent years, and although there is more than enough logistic evidence to support this notion, one has to look no further than the cultural significance these institutions have adopted to understand this. Just last year, Beyoncé used her stage during the Coachella music festival as a platform to pay tribute to HBCUs, a clear juxtaposition to the crowd made up of white youth she performed in front of. There have been many stops in the realm of the mainstream world in between the period of that performance and the creation of these institutions through the alumni of HBCUs, which includes

a variety of figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Toni Morrison, Spike Lee, Alice Walker, Jerry Rice, Taraji P. Henson and many others. This growth of respect and acceptance towards HBCUs is more than overdue, and it is clear that there will be much more to come. However, as with any other aspect of the collective Black experience getting shine, we have to make sure that the root isn’t removed from the tree. This conversation may appear as another example of Black people laying claim to inventions in order to keep anyone else from doing so, and it may actually be that. However, this is a concern that is not only valid, but necessary. With students (both Black and White) of PWIs attempting to brand their universities as “HBCUs” due to them being able to hit a little two-step, it is important for all of us to remember the historicity and necessity of HBCUs.

Acceptance Without Retention: A Failed Southern Dream? Sydney Brown

The Southern Digest

Imagine: you’ve just been accepted to Southern University, home of the prestigious Jaguars. You anticipate the next four years to be the best of your life, and you decide to use Google to find out what it is like to be apart of the Southern family. You start your search, and to your surprise you see that Southern has an acceptance rate of 99%. How should you feel about this information? If Southern is allowing 99% of people who apply to be admitted to the institution, how many will be out within four to six years? Can this source even be trusted? With misleading information like this easily accessible, it would lead one to wonder how this would affect the students’ experience. Between difficulties with financial aid and registration, incoming students are already exposed to a harsh reality with the intake process. Deceiving details can make this reality even more difficult, while creating a self-fulfilling prophecy: holding these students back from finishing in the promised time period. It is not satisfactory that students are receiving information from unverified sources stating a 99% acceptance rate with less than 50% graduation rates. It is even less satisfactory that these are the only sources out there. As a student, I can attest that out of the 5 staff members who I have attempted to contact, only one of them had any knowledge of the exact retention rate. Due to a busy schedule, I was still unable to receive accurate information. This is with me being a student who has several professional connections on campus, imagine the difficulties if you had none. SUBMISSIONS POLICY

With the proposed idea of Southern reaching a population in the tens of thousands, students should be accommodated with that in mind. Students need to know what to expect before arriving on campus. Incoming, transferring, and returning students should not have to dig for weeks in order to get an estimate on topics such as acceptance, retention and graduation rates. This manifests into a larger problem, leading students on a wild goose chase that puts their education on the backburner. Although this may seem like a harsh criticism of Southern, it is instead a call to action. So what would be the best approach to an issue like this? The solution is a lot simpler than you would think: clarity. When a student decides to research information that pertains to Southern University, they should be met with everything they need. Statistics on graduation, acceptance, and retention should be at our fingertips, not something we have to chase down administration in order to get. When this issue is solved, not only will it help strengthen the students’ trust towards our school, it may help improve these numbers in general. As students, we deserve transparency; as the institution, Southern should prioritize that. Also, to make things a lot simpler for students when they do find the information they are looking for, the information should be up to date. When looking up statistics for SU, a lot of our information is dated back anywhere between 2014- 2017, this should be the first thing to change. Students need up to date information, we need easier access to information, and lastly we need a more organized way to find this information.

(And yes, this does go beyond “Swag Surfin’” and “Before I Let Go”.) In the state of our society, it is becoming increasingly obvious that history repeats itself, and the history of institutions is the most prone to repetition. The University of Mississippi is a prime example of this, a college laden with Confederate history, that now is made up of approximately 13% Black students. This is also the same institution where students have attempted to brand it as an “HBCU,” due to these Black students holding parties that compete with the average HBCU homecoming. Yes, this is also the same institution that, in 2013, allowed White students to march through the campus waving Confederate flags, shouting racial slurs at Black students as well as singing “The South Will Rise Again.” It doesn’t require much critical thought to see the contradiction and hypocrisy.

This example is not intended to take anything away from Black students attending PWI’s, as anyone who decides to pursue any goal in order to further their quality of life is worth acknowledging. It is instead intended to show the purpose of HBCU’s; for Black students to be able to pursue an education without the racial stress that they will experience at every other turn of their lives. Black youth have their entire lives to experience the sensation of foreignhood and otherness, and it can be extremely detrimental if this experience disrupts their period of higher learning. It can also be difficult for a school to remedy this issue if racial blind spots are a commonality of this institution’s history. This is why we cannot afford to overlook HBCU’s, nor can we overlook the meaning of the H: historically, as history can decide the future.

Tech Advancements in the Southern Community Julian Alvarez

The Southern Digest

Recently, Southern University has been improving efforts to get students in the door of a booming industry; computer science and project management. It is no mystery that gaining the fundamental baseline knowledge needed to perform in the technology industry is challenging. In light of this, the university has been introducing new programs, webinars, and guest speakers every year to prepare students for the job market. Six years ago, the computer science department did not have as many options as they do now. The curriculum was flawed in that students were not taking classes which provided flexibility in the tech industry. Students had limited options in comparison to currently having option of choosing one of four concentrations that were introduced around 2016. Students can now learn how to develop apps, protect data, analyze data, and be business savvy with technological capabilities. These advances do not only affect computer science students. All students that have some interest in working with technology at any capacity are now able to experience real world problems. For example, in the summer of 2019, DXC Technologies, a global leading IT services and solutions company, hosted a cloud computing camp where students came from all walks of life within the university. The program had undergraduates and graduate students from both STEM and non-STEM fields, ranging from electrical engineers to mass communication majors. The camp was a simulation of how the real world works in this rising industry. On the very first day, I myself had several thoughts going through my head like: “What have I gotten myself

The Southern DIGEST reserves the right to edit any contributions and or reject them without notification. Authors are encouraged to limit the length of submissions to 300 words. Letters should not include libelous statements. Offensive and personal attacks will not be permitted. The DIGEST will not print “open letters” addressed to someone else. All contributions must be type written, signed and must include the author’s address and phone number. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Southern University students should include their majors, hometowns and

into this time?,” “Will I make it?,”and “Am I ready to take this on?” I have no doubt in my head that each student had barriers to overcome, and the few that did overcome those obstacles left the camp a better version of themselves. Before this camp, I was very reserved and preferred to be led than to lead. This program completely broke me out of my shell because I learned how important it was to collaborate with your team. The instructor placed emphasis on making sure every team tracks each others’ progress with daily stand up meetings, sprint reviews, and a lot of other jargon you would probably have to Google, like I did. The simulated environment put pressure on every participant, and those who contributed and finished were rewarded for their efforts. The pressure came from case competitions that caused some teams to fall apart. First, second, and third place awards were given to those who worked vigorously to provide a solution to real world problems. Besides my DXC experience, the computer science department has started programming boot camps for incoming freshmen, along with free certification classes that will set Southern students apart from their competition. From this, I have taken away that STEM students should focus on their coursework, but it will be the things you do in addition to school that will help you in your endeavors in the long run.

Got News? Do you know of any pressing issues on campus affecting students? email us: digest@subr.edu

year in school. When referring to specific DIGEST articles, please include the date and title. All materials should be directed to the editor in chief of The Southern DIGEST, P.O. Box 10180, Baton Rouge, La. 70813. Materials may be delivered by hand to the DIGEST office located in Suite 1064 Harris Hall or can be e-mailed to digest@subr.edu.

Career Services Page 12 - Tuesday, August 27, 2019

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