STATE & NATION
slaughter sanctioned
SPORTS
VIEWPOINTS
Also: Stewart works out for pros. pG. 5
The time to act is now. pG. 7
sU’s legacy is in jeopardy
discipline key for mitchell
Also: Flood victims learn lessons. pG. 4
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FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2010
Panel discusses commissions’ impact on schools
VOL. 55, ISSUE 11
TOP DOG/UNDERDOG
Lawmakers, SU officials, faculty and students discuss Commission on Streamlining Government, Tucker Commission By Billy WashinGton digest a&e editor
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus held a public forum surrounding the Commission on Streamlining Government and the Postsecondary Education Review Commission PERC — the much-talked about as the Tucker Commission — at the Claiborne Building in downtown Baton Rouge with panel discussion. The panel included political science instructor Dr. Frank Ransburg, physics professor Dr. Diola Bagayoko, computer science professor Sudhir Trivedi and system presidential chief of staff Melva Turner. Other panelists include state Sens. Sharon Weston Broome (D-Baton Rouge) and Ben Nevers (R-Bogalusa), state Reps. Michael Jackson (D-Baton Rouge) and Regina Barrow (D-Baton Rouge) and LSU System President John Lombardi. According to the Executive Summary of PERC, the commission finds state needs to dramatically improve graduation rates. Louisiana Citizens also need access to a level of postsecondary education that is aligned with both their academic preparation and career aspirations. The commission created certain recommendations to improve graduation rates and some of these recommendations can affect HBCU’s within the state of Louisiana. The recommendations include the following follows: •Set minimum admission requirements correlated with target graduation rates at all four year institutions.
•Institute and fund course redesigns that have proven track records in increasing student progression and success. PERC also find that the state needs to align institutional missions and program offerings with economic priorities and workforce needs, reevaluate postsecondary funding to place less emphasis on enrollment and increased emphasis on institutional quality and performance, enhance tuition and financial policies, and realign the governance of Louisiana’s postsecondary education system. The panel opened with an elaboration of streamline government and its purpose. The Board of Regents should conduct a study on the efficiency and cost of merging institutions. “The streamlining government commission was set up to identify at least $802 million in state general funds savings for the 2010- 2011 fiscal year, said Broome. “The primary task assigned to the committee was to examine state agencies including constitutional, statutory activities, functions programs and services. They were to eliminate, privatize, and consolidate in an effort to reduce the size of state government,” continued Broome. The process of streamline government can be beneficial and hazardous. According to Ransburg, we must first learn who controls the government See PERC page 8
photos By BoB Child/ap photo (left) and april BUffinGton/diGest (riGht)
connecticut forward Maya Moore, at left, and southern guard hannah Kador, at right, will lead their respective teams into sunday’s Ncaa tournament between the defending national champion huskies and swac champion Jaguars in Norfolk, Va. tip-off is 11:16 a.m. cdt on espN2.
Jaguars brace for UConn juggernaut in NCAA Tournament opener By morris dillard digest sports writer
As one of the teams playing in the NCAA Tournament, the Southern University women’s basketball team appears ready for a heated contest against the No.1-ranked team in the nation — Connecticut (33-0). As days count down, the inspired Jaguars (23-8) prepare for the moment on center stage with a chance at the Big Dance against a team bent on extending its string of historic performances of the 20092010 season. The Jaguars travel to Norfolk, Va., Sunday to face the Huskies at the Ted Constant Convention Center in the Dayton Regional’s No. 16 seed vs. No. 1 seed matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:16 a.m. CDT and will air on ESPN2.
SU ticketed itself into the tournament after a 60-47 win over Alabama State to claim the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. “It’s a great challenge,” said 10th year head coach Sandy Pugh. “What they have done for women’s basketball has been outstanding in this run that they have.” This is Southern’s fourth trip to the NCAAs, all under Pugh’s leadership. The Jaguars’ last trip to the tournament was also its last trip to Norfolk, falling 96-27 to Duke in 2006 as a No. 16 seed. SU lost 88-61 as a 13th seed at Colorado in 2002 and 92-57 at Texas as a No. 16 seed in 2004. “When you hit that heat, that heat is going to come at you real quick,” Pugh said. Earning SWAC tournament MVP honors, junior guard
Hannah Kador has carried the leadership role of team over the past several months with her outstanding performances in complicated situations. “Hannah plays with a lot of intensity and with a lot of passion,” Pugh said. Kador found a place in school history with 51 3-pointers this season, ranking her ninth on the schools all-time list for 3-pointers. “I have a wonderful group of young ladies who have bought into what we we’re trying to teach and convey.” “We’re fortunate and blessed to be here and we’re going to go to Norfolk and do the best we can and play hard,” Pugh said. SU has won 17 of its past 19 games, winning the See UNDERDOG page 5
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Campus Briefs TODAY nUrsinG sChool appliCations
The Southern University School of Nursing is accepting applications for the Fall 2010 semester until April 1. Applications are available online at www.subr.edu. Click on the Academic Affairs link and follow the School of Nursing Undergraduate Program link. All students must meet the following criteria: have been admitted to SUBR, have a cumulative GPA of 2.6 or above, submission of SAT/ACT scores and writing proficiency and completing of all courses listed in the first three semesters of the nursing curriculum plan with a minimum grade of “C.” Beep meetinGs
BEEP Meetings are held every Tuesday at 11 a.m. in T.T. Allain Room 222. These meetings are open to all majors. For more information contact Toni Jackson at 225.771.5640 ext. 222 or at subeep@ subr.edu.
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los jaGUares latinos
Los Jaguares Latinos, Southern University’s Spanish Club, meets Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in Room 320 of T.T. Allain Hall. If you are unable to attend the meetings but still like to participate, please send your name, contact number and valid e-mail address to SouthernUSpanishClub@ gmail.com pi Gamma mU
Pi Gamma Mu, the international honor society in social sciences, is inviting juniors, seniors and graduate students to join. Students must be in the upper 35 percent of their class, have a grade-point average of “B” or better and 20 semester hours in social science courses. There is an international initiation fee $40 and an additional local chapter fee of $10. If you are interested in joining Pi Gamma Mu pick up an application from Dr. Shawn Comminey, Louisiana Epsilon Chapter Adviser, in Room 429 of Higgins Hall. MARCH 20 jaZZ BrUnCh & silent aUCtion
The Southern University Center for International Education will hold its Sixth Annual Jazz Brunch and Silent Auction Saturday, March 20 in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The brunch is held annually to raise money for scholarships to
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support students and faculty members as they participate in the center’s Study Abroad programs held in Mexico, Africa, China and Belize. The international education program also assists faculty members in their quest to work in other countries as well as those from other areas who come to the U.S. The silent auction includes items from various countries and other items donated by local patrons. Tickets are $35 each, and the amount is tax-deductible. For more information, call 225.771.2613. MARCH 29 Css seminars
The Center for Student Success is offering three seminars at Stewart Hall’s Lawless Auditorium in the upcoming days. CSS will offer its “Time Management Skills” seminar March 29 at 4 p.m. and March 31 at 1 p.m. Participants will learn how to become more efficient learners and discover how to get good grades, work and have fun at the same time. CSS’s “Effective Note Taking Skills” seminar is slated for March 30 at 2 p.m. This seminar is designed to teach students effective note-taking skills that will help with time management while taking and reviewing notes.
For more information call 225.771.2230 or mail your subscription payment of $40 to: The Southern Digest Subscriptions, PO Box 10180, Baton Rouge, LA 70813. Business, cashiers checks and money orders accepted only. No personal checks or credit card orders accepted. Make all payments to The Southern Digest.
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
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Recreation Area is now registering players for a Madden 10 Tournament that will be held March 31 at LaCumba’s Playpen. Registration is under way until Friday, March 19, and the registration fee is $5 per person. finanCial aid alert
The Financial Aid Office is requesting that students apply for financial aid early. Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible for the 201011 award year. Students must file a FAFSA annually for eligibility consideration. SUBR’s school code is 002025. Please visit www. fafsa.ed.gov to complete a FAFSA online. Students and parents should apply for PINs at www.pin.ed.gov. Your PIN will serve as your electronic signature to process the FAFSA. The preferred deadline for Summer 2010 and Fall 2010 is March 31. The final loan deadline for Summer 2010 is June 11. For more information, contact the financial aid office at 225.771.2790.
issN: 1540-7276. copyright 2008 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 bi-weekly (tuesday & friday) with a run count of 6,000 copies per issue during the southern University - baton rouge campus fall, spring semesters. the paper is free to students, staff, faculty and general public every tuesday & friday morning on the sUbr campus. the southern digest student offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - friday. the offices are located on the first floor of t.h. harris hall, suite 1064. the southern digest is the official student newspaper of southern University and a&M college located in baton rouge, Louisiana. articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body. PUBLICATION ASSOCIATIONS the southern digest is a member of the black college communications association (bcca), National association of black Journalists (NabJ), University - wire Network (U-wire), associated collegiate press (acp), college Media advisers association (cMa), society of professional Journalist (spJ), full member of the associated press (ap) and the Louisiana press association (Lpa).
ADVERTISER MEMBERSHIPS the southern digest subscribes to the american passage, alloy M+M, 360 youth, Zim2papers, all campus Media, ruxton group and college publishers on-Line services. STUDENT MEDIA OFFICE www.subr.edu/studentmedia director - tba assistant director - tba publications asst. - fredrick batiste advertising Mgr. - camelia gardner CONTACTS (area code 225) advertising office - 771.2230 digest Newsroom - 771.2231 student Media services- 771.3004 the Jaguar yearbook - 771.2464 yearbooK Newsroom - 771.4614 ego Magazine Newsroom - 771.4614 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 land-grant 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.
The Office of Student Media is a Division of Student Affairs.
2010 SPRING DIGEST STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Norman J. dotson Jr.
A&E EDITOR billy washington
MANAGING EDITOR Mary davis
DIGEST STAFF WRITERS Morris dillard briana brownlee patrick galloway evan taylor
COPY EDITORS Kenyetta M. collins erica s. Johnson
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DIGEST PHOTOGRAPHERS trevor James Justin wooten
WritinG profiCienCy eXamination
LAYOUT EDITOR darrius harrison
PROOFREADER darryl J. edwards
The Writing Proficiency Examination is scheduled for Thursday, April 1. Only those students who have officially registered (the Writing Proficiency Examinatio must appear on the student’s class schedule) will be allowed to take the test. Students can begin signing MARCH 31 in at 3:15 p.m. at their appointed sites. To ensure that the test begins on time, madden 10 toUrnament The Smith-Brown there will be no admittance Memorial Union after 3:45 p.m. Please report as follows: •A-E: School of Nursing Auditorium •F-L: Lee Hall Auditorium •M-P: Harris Hall/ Classrooms •Q-Z: Stewart Hall Auditorium Florence Wellons, communication skills lab coordinator, is available for tutoring in Room 2024 Harris Hall. For additional help or information, students can call 771.2870 or visit www.subr.edu/artshuman/ csl.
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PAGE 2 / CAMPUS BRIEFS all submissions must be received by 3 p.m. each friday for Tuesday’s Issue and by 3 p.m. each wednesday for Friday’s Issue. page 2 is only available to officially registered campus organizations, southern University departments. all briefs should include a date, time, contact name & number. submit announcements to: the southern digest - suite 1064 harris hall, attn: page 2 CORRECTIONS fact and accuracy is our goal and our job. as the voice of the southern University student body we are committed to ensuring to most fair, truthful and accurate accounts of our work. in the event of an error we will make all corrections on page 2. bring corrections to the southern digest office located in suite 1064, harris hall.
NEWS
Friday, March 19, 2010 - Page 3
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SU Nursing earns state’s top honor By tremaine m. sanders digest staff writer
The Louisiana Nurses Foundation and the Louisiana State Nurses Association named Southern University’s School of Nursing the 2010 ‘Nursing School of the Year’ at this year’s Nightingale Gala. The School of Nursing won this award based on several criteria. First-time passage rate on the NCLEXRN, accreditation status, and innovations in education and teaching are notable among these criteria. Dr. Wanda Spurlock, associate professor in the School of Nursing stated that, “This award serves as a testament to the commitment of the school’s faculty and staff to provide students with a quality educational background that prepares them to enter the professional nursing workforce. Our
graduates leave equipped with the necessary competencies to make a significant contribution to improving the health of the citizens of Louisiana, the nation, and the world.” Dr. Cheryl Taylor, Director of the School of Nursing’s Nursing Research Department, was also an award recipient. She received the ‘Outstanding Nurse Researcher Award’. This award is given to a registered nurse who has made outstanding contributions in both formal and informal nursing research. These contributions have positively impacted healthcare and the community at large. When asked about winning the award Dr. Taylor said, “I am eternally grateful to my nursing colleagues of Louisiana and the Nation for acknowledging and celebrating my research contributions to Nursing and Health Care. It is an honor for
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me and thousands of research study participants to make a difference in health care by continuing my legacy of leadership in community based participatory research.” Another big winner at the gala was Dr. Jacqueline Hill, associate professor and Chair of the School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. Dr. Hill received the ‘Nursing Administrator of the Year Award’ and the ‘Outstanding Community Achievement by a Registered Nurse Award’. Dr. Hill said, “I consider it an honor just to be nominated by my colleagues, for both awards, but especially the ‘Nursing Administrator of the Year Award.’ I believe that I can only be as good as the wonderful group of faculty and staff I lead, as well as having a supportive dean who encourages me. I am grateful to God for placing me
in a position to serve.” Dr. Enrica Singleton, professor emeritus of the graduate program in the School of Nursing, was inducted into the Louisiana State Nursing Association Hall of Fame. Dr. Sandra Brown wrote, in her nomination letter, that, “Dr. Singleton has truly shared a lifetime commitment to the profession of nursing. Her pioneer work in the realm of nursing administration and organizational structure has obtained national prominence and has helped to shape the health care delivery system for the state of Louisiana.” Of winning the award, Singleton said, “I’m honored and humbled to receive this symbol of recognition form my professional piers. I hope I have the vision to make meaningful contributions to the professional.”
Colleges may lose $84M by the associated press
The Jindal administration is asking Louisiana’s public colleges to brace for losing as much as $84 million in another round of midyear budget cuts. The cuts would be absorbed in the few months remaining in the fiscal year that ends June 30. A wave of notices were sent out late Wednesday to state agencies, warning them of potential budget cuts to help cope with an unexpected, further drop in tax revenue this year. The Division of Administration asked for a quick response about how target reduction numbers would be implemented. A dollar figure for the budget deficit hasn’t been decided, but economists told The TimesPicayune it could be as high as a $400 million shortfall in the $29 billion budget. The next round of cuts would be on top of $248 million that Gov. Bobby Jindal recently cut.
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state & nation Page 4 - Friday, March 19, 2010
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Sanction levied against Slaughter by the associated press
file photo by jim mone/ap photo
Marius Hansen, left, of Norway and Cory Bowden of Fargo, N.D., unload a container of sandbags to be placed around the parking ramp of the Moorhead Center Mall Thursday in Moorhead, Minn.
Fargo residents learn from mistakes FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Before this flood season, officials in Fargo asked homeowners to clear paths in their yards so that firm and straight walls of sandbags could be placed to protect their homes. One resident cut down his tree. Another went so far to use a torch to melt the ice off his ground. Last year, Fargo wasn’t so prepared. Homeowners put sandbags right on top of snow instead of the bare ground, allowing water to seep underneath and in some cases, causing dikes to
collapse. Other less-sturdy barriers toppled over, and floodwaters flowed into homes. The flood-weary city is well versed in flood preparation because it’s learned from its mistakes, especially after last year’s record-breaking flood. As a result, many here feel they’ve already won the flood fight against the Red River even though it’s not expected to crest for a few more days. “Our people our quite euphoric,” Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said Thursday as he tried to mute the celebration.
Former Southern University System President Ralph Slaughter was sanctioned Monday and ordered to pay $8,000 in fines and attorney fees by state District Court Judge Tim Kelley. Southern Board of Supervisors lawyer Lewis Unglesby filed a motion for sanctions against Slaughter. He claimed Slaughter had filed frivolous motions to disqualify both Kelley and fellow state District Judge Janice Clark from deciding his lawsuit. “The recusal motions were unfounded, legally and factually,” Unglesby said. “It”s just another saga of the Ralph Slaughter disaster.” Slaughter lost his job after his contract ran out in June. He is suing in both state district and federal courts for retaliation and wrongful termination by the Southern Board. After Monday’s hearing in Kelley’s court, Slaughter vowed to appeal and keep fighting. “We’re going to appeal everything he (Kelley) has touched to the (state) Court of Appeals,” Slaughter said.
He contends both Kelley and Clark have conflicts of interest. Kelley is married to state Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis, which makes her Gov. Bobby Jindal’s chief budget architect. Slaughter contends a conflict of interest because Davis’ office has some control over university budgets. He also argued that Davis’ office is over the state Office of Risk Management, through which Unglesby is contracted to represent Southern. Slaughter said Kelley ruling on the motion that involves Kelley directly has a “chilling effect” as a precedent on the ability of someone to seek recusal of a judge. Last fall, Clark recused herself from another suit Slaughter filed against the Southern Board after Slaughter complained she was represented in an unrelated civil case by the DeCuir, Clark and Adams law firm, which also represents Southern. In December, Kelley threw out Slaughter’s loss-of-wages suit and, in the process, called Slaughter the “least credible” witness he had seen in his 13 years on the bench.
SPORTS
Friday, March 19, 2010 - Page 5
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Discipline key for Mitchell
Jags work out for pros digest NeWs serViCe
By darrius harrison ego MagaZiNe editor-iN-CHieF
With a new determination and a new team discipline, it seems hard to criticize what new Southern head football coach Stump Mitchell is bringing to the table to this point. With this new sense of discipline that seems to be Mitchell’s approach to success, he believes winning games on the football field will only be a part of that success. The university tabbed Mitchell to succeed former head coach Pete Richardson, whose 17-year reign at the helm of the football program at the end of last season. The former Washington Redskins running backs coach/associate head coach repeatedly said discipline is a point of emphasis for the program under his watch. “I know we are going to be successful because I surround myself around positive men, and I did have a choice in a selection process of our coaching staff,” said Mitchell. The head coach is not the key. Of course, he must have a plan, but he must also surround himself around others who have knowledge of what to get done and the ability to teach.” Mitchell believes by instilling those values that will make his athletes professionals off of the field, some may become professionals on the field as well. “It’s not about the X’s and the O’s that the staff puts together,” said Mitchell, “it’s about the Yeses and the Nos. Some of these players were saying no to some of the things he [Richardson] was hoping they would say yes to.” Mitchell inherits a team that went 6-5
Photo courtesy of su student media
southern head football coach stump Mitchell addresses the team after the spring scrimmage. Mitchell has stressed discipline ever since taking over the football program in mid-January.
(3-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) last season. Although he signed over 30 high school and juco players to letters of intent for the upcoming season, Mitchell said the program does not need rebuilding. “Some of these guys need to get their discipline in line to where it should be, to where it was when coach Richardson recruited them, but for some reason they have gone away from what he thought they were and as a result.” What I will bring to these young men is what they need, winning football games is just going to be part of the process.” Part of the process, ironically, included Mitchell’s hiring in January. First, several candidates were narrowed down, and interviewed by the Board of Supervisors’ nine-member athletics committee. “I knew the process of hiring someone else was the right process, rather it was me or someone else,” Mitchell said. Mitchell’s track record is extensive and begins when he was drafted out of The Citadel in the ninth round of the 1981
draft. He played for eight years with the St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals before joining the coaching ranks. After holding various coaching positions on all levels, including a stint as head coach at Morgan State, Mitchell returned to the NFL, as the running backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks from 1999 to 2007. The two years which followed, Mitchell served as the assistant head coach/ running backs coach for the Washington Redskins before being offered the head coach job at Southern. He didn’t accept the head coaching job “right off,” Mitchell said. He wanted to give newly hired Skins’ general manager Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan a chance to meet him, although his mind was made up on his next move. “I had given (Athletic Director) Greg (LaFleur) my word that I would be the next head coach, had they offered me the job … no money nor anything was going to deter me from where I thought God wanted me to be,” said Mitchell.
Unbeaten UConn in unfamiliar NCAA tourney bracket By Pat eaton-roBB assoCiated Press Writer
STORRS, Conn.—Connecticut’s quest for a second straight NCAA tournament title will begin in a bracket filled with unfamiliar opponents. The top-ranked Huskies (33-0), seeking their seventh national championship and an unprecedented second consecutive undefeated season, will play Southern University (23-8) in the first round Sunday in Norfolk, Va. A victory over the Southwestern Athletic Conference champions would extend the Huskies’ record streak to 73 consecutive wins. UConn’s bracket includes just one other Big East team, No. 15 St. John’s, and only one other top 10 team, No. 8 Ohio State. It
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also includes No. 11 Florida State and No. 16 Iowa State. “I’m certainly surprised,” senior center Tina Charles said. “Usually, we have a harder road. But I’m definitely happy with whatever situation we have.” This will be the first time in UConn’s 21 years as an NCAA tournament team that none of its tournament games will be played in Connecticut. The Huskies haven’t opened the tournament outside the state since 2006. That year, they played the regional semifinals and finals in Bridgeport. This season the regional will be in Dayton, Ohio. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said he likes the idea of being away from home for all six games and thinks it might actually help the Huskies get some calls
from the officials. “When you’re perceived to be playing at home, trust me, you don’t get those 50-50 calls,” he said. “I don’t care what anybody tells you, you don’t get those calls. “If you’re good, you can win anywhere,” he added. “It doesn’t really matter.” Connecticut has made it to the Final Four 10 times, including seven appearances in the past 10 years. UConn forward Maya Moore said she knows that if the team does it again, it would likely face old rival Tennessee, a team she has never played, in the national semifinals. “I’m sure everybody would want to see that,” she said. “Anytime you can get two competitive teams on the court on the national stage, that’s great. That’s what I think any great program wants.”
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Southern University hosted its Pro Day Monday as various NFL teams looks at some of the seniors from the Jaguars football team first hand, tight end Warren Matthews, quarterback Bryant Lee, running back Brian Treat and defensive end Don Holloway participated in the workouts. Pro Days are chances for seniors around the country to be given a chance to be evaluated by NFL personnel before the NFL Draft, which will be held April 22-24. Stewart, who is getting most of the attention from scouts, said that overall his workout was “good, not great.” Players had issues with field conditions. “The field conditions weren’t all that great” Stewart said. Stewart will continue to work out in Baton Rouge. He’s also been working out with Olympic gold medalist sprinter Michael Johnson. Stewart is projected to be selected in the later rounds or get picked up as a free agent. “He (Johnson) helped me become more explosive off the line, my overall quickness and techniques, mental things and how to execute,” Stewart said.
UNDerDOG from page 1 SWAC regular-season and tournament championships before their final trip of the season. SU ranks sixth nationally in steals per game (12.4), eighth in scoring defense (52.9 points per game), 11th in 3-point defense (27.5 percent) and 19th in fieldgoal percentage defense (35.2). Meanwhile, the defending Big East and national champion is currently on a 72-game winning streak and showing no signs of slowing down. “It’s UConn, you know,” said Pugh. “You’re playing the best, they’re on a historic run and we get a chance to be apart of that.” UConn as reached the Final Fours 10 times in the past 25 years under head coach Geno Auriemma, including last season’s national championship run. UConn is 11-0 against Top-25 teams this season, winning by an average of 24 points including the addition of a perfect 16-0 record in Big East play for their fourth consecutive league title. The statistical side of things spotlights UConn as favorites to control the game with its defense. The Huskies rank first nationally in scoring defense (46.8 ppg), first in field goal-percentage defense (30.5), second in 3-point defense (24.3 percent) and 13th in blocked shots (5.5).
arts & entertainment Page 6 - Friday, March 19, 2010
Sony buys cache of MJ music
Rae’s return worth wait By billy washington digest a&E editor
By linda deutsch & ryan nakshima associated press WRITERs
LOS ANGELES — The man who spearheaded the recordbreaking deal in which Michael Jackson’s estate will get up to $250 million in the next seven years said Tuesday that Sony Music Entertainment bought a treasure trove of new Jackson music, some of it recorded “quite recently,” some in collaboration with other artists. John Branca, who negotiated the deal along with co-executor John McClain and team of attorneys, was clearly elated about the deal. He said in an interview with The Associated Press that this is only the first of more deals that will bring Jackson’s music to his fans and introduce it to a world of potential new fans. “The remarkable thing is to make the biggest deal in history in a market with declining record sales. It’s a pretty big thing,” Branca said. “It’s a testament to Michael’s incredible talent and his music. It’s really an honor to be part of this.” He added that “there’s more to come” but declined to elaborate. He also would not discuss the finances or specific details of the deal. Branca is the lawyer who met the superstar singer when both were young men and is seen
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PHOTO By cliff schiappa/AP PHOTO
In this Feb. 24, 1988 file photo, Michael Jackson performs during his 13-city U.S. tour in Kansas City, Mo. The estate of Michael Jackson has landed the late King of Pop the biggest recording deal in history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years, according to a person familiar with the deal.
as the architect of Jackson’s financial empire. They worked together for 30 years. He and John McClain, a lifelong Jackson friend and music producer, are coadministrators of the Jackson estate. The estate has benefited from their deal to release the movie, “This is It,” compiled from footage of rehearsals for a series of concerts that was in preparation when Jackson died last June at age 50. Branca said he is convinced that Jackson would be delighted with the results of their negotiations. “John McClain said it best,” Branca said. “He said that Michael probably wouldn’t have wanted ‘This is It’ released because he was such a perfectionist and it was
rehearsal footage. But if he had seen that we could get $60 million for his mother and children and it became the biggest concert movie of all time, he would have said, ‘Thank you very much.’” He said he has not heard all of the 60 plus songs discovered by McClain but he said what he has heard is “classic Michael Jackson.” Among the songs are two recordings that were never released that he made for charity with other stars. There are also songs he recorded for his famous albums that were never included in the final product. “Michael had a tendency to over-record,” Branca said. “He would record 20, 30, 40 songs for one album. These are the vintage songs.”
The recent material was recorded within the last three years. The old and the new are likely to be combined on some of the albums to come, he said. Among the songs in Jackson’s vault is a collaboration with Paul Anka on a song called, “Love Never Felt So Good,” which Branca described as “quite good.” Beyond the recorded material, he said Jackson left more songs that he composed but that don’t have his voice on them. They would not have the same value, he said. When he died, Jackson left recorded music including studio sessions from some of his most-popular albums and recently recorded songs made with the likes of Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am.
China without Google: ‘a lose-lose scenario’ BEIJING (AP) — China without Google — a prospect that looks increasingly likely — could mean no more maps on mobile phones. A free music service that has helped to fight piracy might be in jeopardy. China’s fledgling Web outfits would face less pressure to improve, eroding their ability to one day compete abroad. Chinese news reports say Google Inc. is on the verge of making good on a threat to shutter its China site, Google.cn, because Beijing forces the Internet giant to censor search results. The reports indicated that Google had, in fact, already stopped censoring results, but searches Tuesday for sensitive topics like “Tiananmen massacre” appeared to still return only whitewashed results. A Google spokesman, Scott Rubin, denied censorship had stopped and would not confirm whether Google.cn might close. The extent of a possible pullout from China is unclear. But on top of a local search site that Google says it may close, services that might be affected range from advertising support for Chinese companies to online entertainment. “If Google leaves, it’s a lose-lose scenario, instead of Google loses and others gain,” said Edward Yu, president of Analysys
International, a Beijing research firm. Google says it is in talks with Beijing following its Jan. 12 announcement that it no longer wants to comply with Beijing’s extensive Web controls. But China’s industry minister insisted Friday the company must obey Chinese law, which appears to leave few options other than closing Google. cn, which has about 35 percent of China’s search market. Google CEO Eric Schmidt said last week something would happen soon, but Rubin, speaking by phone from Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, said no action had yet been taken. Such a step could have repercussions for major Chinese companies as well as local Web surfers. It would deliver a windfall to local rival Baidu Inc., China’s major search engine, with 60 percent of the market. But other companies rely on Google for search, maps and other services and might be forced to find alternatives. China Mobile Ltd., the world’s biggest phone company by subscribers, with 527 million accounts, uses Google for mobile search and maps. Baidu offers mobile search, but China Mobile passed up a partnership with it earlier after they failed
to agree on terms, according to industry analysts. Millions of mobile customers might lose access to Google’s Chineselanguage map service. A key issue is whether Beijing, angry and embarrassed by Google’s public defiance, would allow the company to continue running other operations, including advertising and a fledgling mobile phone businesses in China if Google.cn closes. China promotes Internet use for business and education but bars access to sites run by human rights and political activists and some news outlets. Officials who defend China’s controls by pointing to countries that bar content such as child pornography are stung that Google has drawn attention to how much more pervasive Chinese limits are. Chinese Web surfers are blocked from seeing Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and major blog-hosting services abroad and a Google pullout would leave them increasingly isolated. Google hopes to keep operating its Beijing research and development center, advertising sales offices and mobile phone business, according to a person familiar with the company’s thinking.
Corrine Bailey Rae, a very familiar but somewhat-forgotten name within the American music world, released her highly anticipated sophomore album, which is entitled “The Sea”, in January. Rae’s music is a mixture of soul, indie, jazz and blues, which gives her a unique style, which in turn is, hard to imitate. The British singer/ songwriter created The Sea with a touch of grief and sorrow, not meaning that the entire album is depressing. The sorrowful tones are actually an ode to her late Scottish husband Jason Rae, the saxophonist of an eight member Scottish band Haggin Horns, who passed in 2008. “The Sea” contains melodic and tantalizing chords which can be found in songs like “Are You Hear,” “I Would Like To Call it Beauty” and the smooth but hypnotizing sounds on “Diving For Hearts” can make anyone want to feel like a hippie and spread flower power everywhere. Her first hit single “Closer” is mixed with the same melodic sound but has a more soulful twist with sounds ranging from the electric guitar, bass guitar, electric piano, drums, strings, and horns. Majority of her music is created with live instruments, which again makes Corinne Bailey Rae the successful artist she is today. Her style in delivery is also consistent from her 2006 self-titled debut album. Rae is labeled as a singer but, she can also be classified as a “crooner”. For those who do not know what a crooner is, a crooner is one who has their own swag of singing. Erykah Badu, India Arie, Devin the Dude, and Z-Ro all share this attribute and all have had successful careers within the realm of music. The main attribute that makes “The Sea” an album everyone should enjoy is the lyrics. In “Closer”, Rae elaborates on the trials of love to a “T” by singing, “I don’t want to give you up/I’m tired of the pull and push/I’m tired of the making love/Don’t you feel like you’ve had enough?/I want you to journey with me, explore all the innocence/I don’t mind us to build tension but we’ve got to move in the same direction.” Overall, “The Sea” is a sign to the resurrection of the Hippie Movement, which was a time where everyone enjoyed the goods and bads of life. It was also a time when people tapped back into their “spiritual selves.” This album definitely shows a different side to Corrine Bailey’s talents and it’s hard to predict what will be the theme for her future album.
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20 Questions I’M JUST ASKING STATEMENT
I’M JUST ASKING is for entertainment purposes only. These remarks do not represent the opinions of the DIGEST staff, Southern University or the Office of Student Media Services.
1. Who heard about the fight between the football players and the Kappas? 2. Who knows what happened? 3. Did the Kappas wear bow ties to the fight? 4. After the fight did the Kappas say, “Man, he messed up my bow tie?” 5. Did a Kappa/football player punch everybody? 6. Did he try to break it up? 7. Was he wearing shoulder pads AND karrying a kane? 8. How come the football players didn’t fight this hard at Bayou Classic? 9. Dang, what would happen if people were that serious about classes? 10. Did the conversation go like this, “You can’t have my Bio 104! I want your English 110!” 11. If the players get suspended, will we still have a team? 12. Since the Alphas and Kappas are suspended, who’s going to win the Bayou Classic Step Show? 13. Will the Sigmas and Iotas, or maybe Ques, get a chance to step during the Step Show? 14. So um, who’s tired of eating in Mayberry or Dunn? 15. Why does Dunn have those little gnats flying around? 16. Do we have to have red beans and fried chicken EVERY Monday? 17. Why do they serve the same food every day every week? 18. What happens to the leftover food at the end of the day? 19. Do the workers take it home? 20. Is that why they are so stingy with portions?
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Letter to the editor
Southern’s legacy is in jeopardy SPEAK OUT
The Postsecondary Review Commission, or more commonly known as the Tucker Commission, monumentally stands in opposition to our very existence. Many people in power, including Gov. Piyush Jindal, supports this commission that could possibly destroy HBCUs in this state. The recommendations that this panel presents would require us to raise admission requirements as an “attempt to improve graduation rates,” which is a blatant contradiction in itself. How can you raise an institution’s rate of graduation if enrollment will obviously decrease due to admission requirements being set to an above average standard? It also requires all schools to change their role, scope, and mission statements to minimize “mission creep.” First off, what the heck is a “mission creep” and secondly what’s wrong with the mission we already have in place to achieve? But my problem this time isn’t with the red state politics, but instead with my peers. There have been countless forums, rallies and other desperate attempts to reach the masses of mindless drones that drift from class to class on campus. But sadly no one shows up. Yes, I called you mindless because that’s how you’re acting right now about this dire situation. Wake up people! This is important to our future and no one seems to care. There was an open, public forum about the Tucker Commission yesterday downtown where any and all questions could have been answered but there was no one there to ask them. Of course there were a few students there including myself; but what did any of us do to make sure that there would be other students there? As journalists our main goal is
NORMAN DOTSON JR. to inform and educate our target audience, and to a certain extent we at The DIGEST have done so but we haven’t been doing the most that we can do. It’s not just us here in The Office of Student Media. The Southern chapter of the NAACP was in attendance but what did they do to make sure people would be there? Sure they had a forum two hours before the event, but who knew about it? Did they do all they could to ensure that other students knew about this event? More importantly, where was SGA? I understand we all have lives outside of whatever we are involved in here at SU, but we do have obligations to uphold. Two people involved with SGA were there and they weren’t the people who should have been there. Where was the president? Where was the vice president? Where was Miss Southern? Don’t you all think that something like this needed your attention? We didn’t put you in those positions to sit around and do nothing. We, as leaders, have failed those who depend on us. However, we can’t take all the blame for this. We are all adults with minds of our own. Why haven’t we tried to get educated on what’s going on around us? It seems that our generation is content with whatever happens, good or bad. That attitude will be the undoing of everything that people before us died to achieve for us to have today. Do you any of you know what you are apart of? We are the only HBCU in this country to have a
system, which makes our institution as whole the largest black school in the nation. Do any of you know what that means? Do any of you care? Or are you going to play into what the red state politicians think of us? Or are we too dumb to understand that we have an opportunity to change this world like no other generation has done in history? There are so many people fighting for us but it means nothing if we are not present to stand behind them. This is our livelihood at stake and instead of fighting tooth and nail for it this we want somebody else to do it for us. Oh, but I bet if Jindal said he was canceling SpringFest for us everybody would get pissed then, but that’s just ignorant. Fight for something real and have some pride about who you are. Stop spitting in the faces of all those who have done so much to ensure that we would have a chance to compete with the rest of this world. Truthfully, we are a disgrace compared to the civil rights activists of the past. They had less than we what we have today and yet somehow did more. They had a strength and sense of pride that we can only pray to have a portion of. If we only had just a small amount of what they had combined with every advantage we have today, we could truly move this world forward without putting forth a real effort. Pride cannot be taught in school or even at home, its something you have to find within yourselves. Something self engineered created by your drive to be something more than those before you. This is the legacy that I hope to pass on to my future someday, as it was passed on to me. Our pride is under attack, what will we do to protect it?
What are your plans for Spring Break? BY patrick galloway
Digest staff writer
CHRISTINA L. LAVERQUE BATON ROUGE sophomore NURSING
LAVERQUE
“I will probably just chill, go out to the country and ride horses or something.”
gerald sayles new orleans sophomore computer science
sayles
“Work, relax and hang with whoever stays at school.”
mary stuart denver sophomore criminal justice
stuart
“I plan on going to Panama City Beach, Fla., for Spring Break.”
kenneth foster new orleans junior psychology
“I will try to enjoy myself a little bit, find new foster experiences, look for some ladies and do my best to develop myself spiritually.” 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 opinion 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-mail to digest@ subr.com.
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.
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photo by norman j. dotson jr/ digest
Members of the Southern University chapter of the NAACP came out to voice thier opinions and ask questions gathered from students at a forum Thursday. The NAACP has organized a few programs in regards to the Tucker Commission.
perc from page 1 before on can understand the process of streamlining government. “We have too many elections and elections are expensive,” said Ransburg. “We need to set up a system where one can hold an office until the next election is held. The person that’s put in office determines the process. James Madison once said, ‘The purpose of government is to protect men from each other’ and that why we need a concrete system for giving pay raises to state employees otherwise we will have people politicking with people’s lives,” expressed Ransburg. Trivedi believes the streamlining government can be good and bad. “This concept can be good for private businesses but bad for those who are working within the public sector, so there is two sides to take into consideration,” said Trivedi. The legislature should also reconstruct the postsecondary education system so that there is one governing board for all four-year institutions and one governing board for all technical and community colleges. This is known as the 1 board concept. “Each institution has specific goals and objectives and a historical structure and the idea of bringing all institutions together and ending up better is a bad approach and plain foolish”, Lombardi valiantly expressed. “We think that the Southern System has a history that is extraordinarily important to this state, and we think that the University of Louisiana System
in similar ways even though we’re different in characteristics and therefore are successfully managed,” Lombardi continued. The Southern University System has 14,000 students across Louisiana. According to Turner, SU is creating new standards and moving forward with providing student services to African Americans. “Forty-five percent of African Americans in Louisiana did not receive a diploma in 2005- 2006. In Louisiana the all time graduation rate was 71% for white students and 49% for black students. High school dropouts will amount to 6.5 billion dollars in loss wages over the last five years. The SU System has a great need to serve the under served,” expressed Turner. PERC is very crucial for the entire student body to be aware of and members from the NAACP chapter of SU were in attendance along with a SGA senate member, Demetrius Sumner, to get answers and speak their minds about the five focus areas of PERC. “ I know that everybody has a lot of classes and other engagements but I would like to see more student involvement with the SGA and they should guide the student body and enlighten them on these issues,” said Turner. “We all need to speak the qualities of Southern University to the masses and let people know what the students of SU are doing,” continued Turner.
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