october 26th issue

STATE & NATION

Deficit up next for Obama

SPORTS

VIEWPOINTS

Also: SU cagers prepare for season. pG. 5

Opinions editor ponders reasons. pG. 7

SU football losing its roar

Jags lick wounds after loss

Taming deficit will lead rest of term. pG. 4

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2010

VOL. 56, ISSUE 13

Midyear cuts “detrimental” by eVan taylor dIGeSt ONLINe MaNaGeR

Southern University Chancellor Kofi Lomotey prepares for mid-year budget cuts and looks forward to future collaborations with Louisiana State University.

Lomotey and the SU executive staff spent the last week looking at how to come up with the $400,000 cut to take place mid-year.

The cut is a result of the shortfall of last year’s budget and more cuts are anticipated for the end of the year and for the shortfall of this year’s budget. The end of the year cuts will be made when the stimulus money runs out. The Baton Rouge campus faces an $11 million to $15 million cut for the end of the year; making program losses and personnel cuts more likely.

“I want to keep students informed. Understand that these cuts originate from the

governor’s office and not from the chancellor. The state has not historically valued higher education. It’s devastating,” said Lomotey.

The cuts will decrease the amounts of funding for operations but the most detrimental will be the cuts to personnel.

“Personnel cuts will hurt the university the most,” Lomotey said. “All of the cuts are detrimental, but personnel is the most problematic in terms of efforts to move forward.”

The executive staff first looked towards non -personnel cuts such as, travel and supplies.

“We have cut the maximum we can in non-personnel areas; they are at a bare minimum.

We are looking at a number of projects to help raise funding,” said Lomotey.

These areas include the curriculum and professional development at Southern Laboratory School, leadership development at SU, new turf for

SU alum up next in series dIGeSt NeWS SeRVICe

photo by april bUffinGton/diGest files

Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) presents Chancellor Kofi Lomotey with the inaugural flag that was hung at the White house on the day of President Barack Obama’s inauguration at the “Chancellor’s day Parade given by the two ROtC programs.

for teaching and learning excellence.

Which will spearhead our efforts to better our retention and graduation rates,” said Lomotey.

the football field, renovations for softball, replacing the track, and Felton G. Clark professorships.

“In spite of this cut we are still focused on moving the university forward. We have just established our center

See lomotey page 3

SU Board waiving out-of-state fees by norman j. dotson jr. dIGeSt edItOR-IN-ChIeF

photo by norman j. dotson jr./diGest

Su SystemPresident Ronald Mason Jr. addresses the public comment submitted by Sudhir travedi, faculty senate president, concerning information that was not explained in detail inside the board packet. all board packets and minutes can be found on the system’s website.

SHREVEPORT—In these tough economic times out-ofstate students receive a muchneeded break in paying tuition.

The Southern University Board of Supervisors approved a proposal that would allow for chancellors to waive outof-state fees in their Saturday morning board meeting held on the Shreveport campus’ downtown center.

Many other public postsecondary institutions, both statewide and nationwide, already offer this waiver to their students who come from

different states that meet the requirements needed for them to qualify.

According to the proposal first time freshman and transfer students enrolled after the effective date set in Spring 2011. The waiver only applies to out-of-state fees and not to registration or application fees.

Also they will be awarded at a first come, first served basis.

First time freshmen must have earned a 20 on the ACT or a cumulative high school GPA of 2.0 or higher and do See fees page 3

Dr. Rani Whitfield, the The Hip Hop Doc, will be the next speaker in Southern University’s 2010-2011 Chancellor’s Lecture Series.

Whitfield, a Southern graduate and Baton Rouge native, will speak Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union’s Royal Cotillion Ballroom. All lectures are free and open to the public.

He is an author, founder of the Hip Hop Health Coalition, and has spoken on health issues on nationally syndicated radio shows.

Whitfield is a board certified family physician with a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine. Nicknamed “Tha Hip Hop Doc” or “H2D” because of the lively way he converses with youth, Whitfield speaks around the country on subjects such as HIV and AIDS awareness, heart disease, preventative medicine, teen pregnancy, physical fitness, drugs of sexual assault, discrepancies in health care, diabetes and other diseases that are prevalent in the AfricanAmerican community.

Whitfield is a board member of the Louisiana Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports, a member of Mayor Kip Holden’s HIV/AIDS task force, serves on the Baton Rouge General Hospital Ethics committee and the American Heart Association’s National Board.

He earned a bachelor of science degree with honors from Southern in 1992, received a medical degree with honors from Meharry Medical College 1996, completed an internship and residency in family medicine at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, in 1999 and a sports medicine fellowship at Ohio State University in 2000.

For more information, contact Southern University’s Office of Media Relations at 225.771.4545.

THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE DIGEST WILL BE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5.

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Campus Briefs TODAY GradUate stUdent association

The Graduate School Association, which represents graduate students, will hold meetings on the first and third Thursdays of the month in Suite 1055 Harris Hall. For more information, contact the Graduate School or call 281.795.7235. first semester freshman scholarship

Scholarship open to all first-semester freshmen majoring in accounting and finance. Applicants must have a 22 ACT score, 3.0 GPA, good problem solving and computer skills. There is an essay required. Contact Ms. Toni Jackson in Room 235 B in T.T. Allain Hall via phone 225.771.5883 or via e-mail toni_jackson@ subr.edu for an application and further details. food & nUtrition eXperts needed

The Dietetics Program is looking for male and female students who can become food and nutrition experts to work in healthcare settings, the food industry, sports nutrition, corporate wellness programs, and in the hospitality industry.

Learn more about scholarship and career opportunities in 109 E Pinkie Thrift Hall or call 225.771.4660. food prodUct deVelopers and entrepreneUrial eXperts needed

The Food Management/ Culinary Management emphasis prepares students

THURSDAY, OCT. 28

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for an exciting and challenging career in the nation’s largest business: food. Graduates assume a variety of careers in the food industry as research chefs or product developers or in food systems management as managers in the expanding hospitality industry.

For more information come by Room 109 E in Pinkie Thrift Hall or call 225.771.4660.

Good Grief sU!

The Student Government Association knows that you as SU students are fed up! Fed up with customer service issues, classroom problems, dorm situations, maintenance, and even the lack of intramural and workout facilities that your are paying for. For 20102011, your Grievance officer Kenyata Fountain has been hearing your concerns, but in order for your voice to be heard you must fill out and submit a SGA Complaint form.

This form is located in the SGA Office on the second floor of Smith-Brown Memorial Union. You can also access the form on the SUBR website under the current students click on SGA and documents to retrieve one online. We are halfway through the semester but that doesn’t mean you have to have half of a college experience.

Make 2010-2011 the year of good grievances because your voice now can change the future. mUmford stadiUm notice

Gate No. 3 at A.W. Mumford Stadium will be

FRIDAY, OCT. 29

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closed for the remainder of Southern University home football games. Students will only be able to enter through Gate No. 6.

The first step is to learn more at a 45-minute orientation session, which provides an overview of the CASA program and requirements of being a CASA volunteer. Upcoming GiVe ‘til it h.U.r.t.s. food orientation dates are Oct. driVe The SUBR League 26, Nov. 4 and Nov. 13. For of BEEP Associates in more information, please partnership with College of call 225.379.8598.

Business will have canned OCTOBER 27 food drive. Donations can be brought to the College of Business in Room billiards toUrnament 234. Drive ends Nov. 19.

Smith Brown Memorial For more information Union will be hosting a contact Ms. Toni Jackson Billiards Tournament. Those at 225.771.5883 or via interested can register in e-mail at toni_jackson@ LaCumba’s Playpen in the subr.edu or Room 235 B Union. It is $5 per person to in T.T. Allain. enter. The Tournament will be held on Oct. 27 from 6 p.m.9 p.m. Awards and Prizes will join beep A leadership and be given to the first, second, professional development and third place winners. organization open to all NOVEMBER 4 majors campus-wide.

Meetings are held every Tuesday at 11 a.m. in “my hometown” lectUre Room 222 of T.T. Allain. series Contact the BEEP advisor Southern University’s at subeep@subr.edu or Foreign Language Depart225.771.5883 for more ment is currently holding information. presentations in the “My Hometown” lecture series by Fulbright Scholar Language ebr casa CASA of East Teaching Assistants.

The lecture series provides Baton Rouge Parish is currently looking for the Fulbright Scholars the volunteers. CASA, the opportunity to share with Court Appointed Special students and faculty their Advocates, trains and insight into the culture and supervises volunteers customs of their respective to speak up for the best homelands.

All presentations are free interests of abused and neglected children living and open to the public and will be held in Room 323 of in foster care.

Volunteers must be 21 T.T. Allain Hall.

Tanzania native Mchanga or older and must complete a 32-hour training course Saleh, who teaches Swahili, held on evenings and will give a presentation Nov. weekends. No special 4 at 11 a.m. Senegal native experience other than the Oumar Camara, who teaches desire to help a child is Wolof, will give a presentation Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. needed.

NOVEMBER 17 career awareness and planninG seminar (caps)

GET 36 ISSUES FOR JUST $40 Name: Address: City/State/Zip: Daytime Phone: (

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For more information call 225.771.5833 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.

Nov. 17-19, A twoday event filled with career planning exercises, workshops, counseling and lectures that emphasize the selection of realistic career choices, the charting of career paths, resume’ preparation, development of good interviewing skills and life skills. Open to all majors. Contact Ms. Toni Jackson at toni_jackson@ subr.edu or stop by Room 235B in T.T Allain Hall.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

SuIte 1064 – t.h.haRRIS haLL P.O. BOX 10180 – BatON ROuGe, La 70813 225.771.2231 PhONe / 225.771.5840 FaX WWW.SOutheRNdIGeSt.COM 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 twice-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).

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STUDENT MEDIA OFFICE www.subr.edu/studentmedia director - tBa assistant director - tBa Publications asst. - Fredrick Batiste advertising Mgr. - Camelia Jackson CONTACTS (area Code 225) advertising Office - 771.5833 dIGeSt Newsroom - 771.2231 Student Media Services- 771.5812 the Jaguar yearbook - 771.2231 yeaRBOOK Newsroom - 771.5829 eGO Magazine Newsroom - 771.5829 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.

FALL 2010 DIGEST STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Norman J. dotson Jr.

A&E EDITOR Billy Washington

MANAGING EDITOR Mary davis

DIGEST STAFF WRITERS Morris dillard erin Fulbright Patrick Galloway Samantha Smith evan taylor

COPY EDITOR erica S. Johnson PHOTO EDITOR april Buffington LAYOUT EDITOR darrius harrison

DIGEST PHOTOGRAPHERS david Clark III Robert Florida Jr. trevor James Polite Stewart

OPINIONS EDITOR Breanna Paul

PROOFREADER darryl J. edwards

PAGE 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS & PAID CLASSIFIED INFO CLASSIFIED the Southern dIGeSt is not responsible for the contents, promises, nor statements made in any classified and reserve the right to reject any ad request with explanation. No classified ads will be accepted or processed over the telephone and must accept the type font sizes of the dIGeSt. aLL CLaSSIFIed MuSt Be PaId IN adVaNCe By CaShIeRS CheCK OR MONey ORdeR. NO PeRSONaL CheCKS aCCePted. Students must have proper Id and phone numbers to get student advertising rates.

Rates do not apply to students who are representatives & employees of the company. In the event an error is made in a classified ad, immediate claims and notice must be given within 15 days. the dIGeSt is only responsible for ONe replacement or run in the next publication. Classified are due ONe WeeK prior to run date.

Paid Classified can be ordered by contacting the Student Media advertising Manager at 225.771.5833.

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.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - Page 3

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Officials check on discolored water by the associated press

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard said Saturday that an area of discolored water near a Mississippi River pass south of New Orleans appears to be an algae bloom, but another spot 10 miles away could be oil.

Jeff Hall, spokesman for the Unified Area Command, said tests could determine if the suspected oil is from the BP spill.

The Coast Guard sent two flights over the West Bay area near Venice on Saturday. Two boats also went out to check the waters.

Hall told The Associated Press that tests will be done Monday on water samples from an area where a marine investigator believes there’s an algae bloom near Venice. The area of discolored water there was about 2.5 miles long and 300 yards wide, Hall said.

About 10 miles away, Hall said a crew spotted what appears “some kind of silvery, weathered oil.” The crew in that area didn’t have a sampling kit but investigators could go back out and take samples that could be tested to determine whether it’s oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill, he said.

Six months after the spill started, the federal government maintains much of the oil is

photo by matthew hinton/ap photo

In this Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 photo, boats, at top, travel through an area of brown or dark red water that was spotted in West Bay just west of the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River near New Orleans, as Southwest Pass is seen at top left. Coast Guard crews are checking the area to see whether it’s oil or an algae bloom.

now gone from the Gulf. But independent researchers say they are discovering significant amounts of crude below the sea’s surface, including on the ocean floor. They fear the oil that remains could harm species lower down the food chain.

The Times-Picayune reported in its Saturday editions that fishermen on Friday spotted what appeared to be mileslong strings of weathered oil, and a photojournalist with the newspaper captured the images

in a flight over the water.

Hall said the material discovered Saturday that appears to be weathered oil is “away from where those photographs were taken.”

The Deepwater Horizon rig exploded April 20, killing 11 people. About 172 million gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf before the well was initially plugged July 15. It was permanently sealed Sept. 19.

Robert Barham, secretary of the Louisiana Department

of Wildlife and Fisheries, told the Times-Picayune that if oil is confirmed by his agency, the area will be closed again to fishing.

The Mississippi River delta is a primary wintering ground for hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese, some of which already have begun arriving.

The West Bay area leads into several shallower interior bays that attract ducks, geese and myriad species of shore and wading birds each winter.

fees from page 1 not require more than one remedial course.

Transfer student that have completed at least 12 credits of coursework should have a cumulative GPA 2.o on college-level work and need no more than one remedial course. Also they must have taken collegelevel English or math and be able to return to their previous institution ant/or have attended a Louisiana college or university which classified them as a resident for purposes of tuition and fee assessment, according to the proposal.

Other business discussed during the meeting was the acquisition of a building for the satellite campus for the Agricultural center located in Opelousas. The Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives had been operating in a temporary building for more than four years but according the chancellor’s report the campus finally

acquired a location on 1209 Diesi Street and will service a 10parish area.

“Citizens in 10 parishes surrounding Opelousas are tackling the increasing challenges on the families. With poverty as a contributing factor in all these challenges, the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center has positioned itself to effect change,” the report said.

According to Board member Walter Guidry, this center will work with young people and train them as farmer and ranchers and even gives them goats which is what he called “big business in Louisiana.”

In the report Chancellor Leodrey Williams added, “Now we have an excellent facility that will serve as a permanent headquarters for the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives.” The report when on to

say that the facility needed modifications to provide adequate office and parking spaces.

There is also room enough for expansion in the future.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m.

After jokingly mentioning spray painting the goats blue and gold to solve our “mascot problem” Tony Clayton, Board of Supervisors President went on to thank SGA Presidents from the Baton Rouge and Shreveport campuses, Demetrius Sumner and Randale Scott respectively, for all of their efforts at the capitol in support of Southern in front of state legislators.

Board packets as well as board meeting minutes are available online at www.sus. edu. Also the next board meeting be Friday, Nov. 26 in New Orleans.

lomotey from page 1 Lomotey shared some of the funding and projects that the university will utilize to move towards the future of SU. He discussed upgrading, with the help of federal funding, the chemistry and computer science labs this year and improving several buildings to proper Americans with DisabilitiesAct standards.

The university is state funded but it has external funds that are not to be used towards operating expenses.

“These external funds will be used towards things like the Chancellor’s Lecture Series and the Jazz on the Bluff.”

Lomotey met with LSU Chancellor Mike Martin and discussed the options and possibilities of collaborative programs. The chancellors shared common ground as they are both facing the seventh budget cut in their terms.

“We talked about the ways our institutions can work together, the increase of joint faculty, and possible dual degree programs with Southern and LSU. We have a very good relationship and talked about a lot more things we could be doing together,” said Lomotey.

The meeting was just a meeting of the minds and did not result on any concrete initiatives for the collaboration of SU and LSU. Lomotey said, “We took notes and intend to meet again and concretize our plans. We were in agreement. We will move forward with a shared agenda.”

Lomotey will be available to speak on the issue during his open hours Mondays at 9 a.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. He will be taking his weekly walk with SGA President Demetrius Sumner at noon Wednesday.

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STATE & NATION Page 4 - Tuesday, October 26, 2010

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Deficit next on agenda

BP CEO backs drilling

By ben feller

By jane wardell

AP White house correspondent

ap business writer

WASHINGTON — Preparing for political life after a bruising election, President Barack Obama will put greater emphasis on fiscal discipline, a nod to a nation sick of spending and to a Congress poised to become more Republican, conservative and determined to stop him.

He is already giving clues about how he will govern in the last two years of his term.

Obama will try to make gains on deficit reduction, education and energy. He will enforce his health care and financial overhauls and try to protect them from repeal should Republicans win control of Capitol Hill. He will use executive authority when blocked by Congress, and steel for scrutiny and investigations if the GOP is in charge.

While trying to save money, Obama will have to decide whether to bend to Republican and growing Democratic pressure to extend Bush-era tax cuts, even for the wealthy, that expire at year’s end. Obama wants to extend them for people making less than $200,000 and married couples making less than $250,000, but a broader extension is gaining favor with an increasing number of Democrats.

Moving to the fore will be a more serious focus on how to balance the federal budget and pay for the programs that keep sinking the country into debt.

In other times, that discussion might seem like dry, Washington talk. Not now.

People are fed up with federal spending, particularly as many remain jobless.

The White House refuses to talk about how the president will have to adjust his style or goals if power in Congress tilts right, for fear of undermining what Obama is still campaigning hard to do: keeping Democrats in power. There is no conceding as Obama recruits voters and rallies supporters all the way to Nov. 2.

Yet if polls and analysts are on target, Republicans are poised to win big, possibly taking control of the House

file photo by charles dharapak/ap photo

In this June 10, 2010, file photo President Barack Obama makes addresses reporters in the White House Cabinet Room in Washington after meeting with Congressional leaders, from left, Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., the president, Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. With Republicans poised to win big in the Nov. 2, 2010, election Obama is already giving clues about how he will govern in the last two years of his term.

and gaining seats in the Senate, where Obama’s party already lacks the votes to overcome bill-killing delay tactics. Obama probably will operate in an environment with even fewer moderate Republicans.

The president has signaled that at the start of the new year, he will speak more directly to the country about the financial choices ahead. “If we’re going to get serious about the deficit, then we’re going to have to look at everything: entitlements, defense spending, revenues. ...

And that’s going to be a tough conversation,” he said.

It’s one that will be framed by a bipartisan debt commission, whose ideas this December will give Obama political cover on where to suggest unpopular cuts.

Obama says the most frustrating part of his presidency is that he had to keep spending money and adding to the deficit in his first six months in office “to save the economy.” He has from the start called deficit reduction a goal, but one that had to get bumped in favor of sparking the economy.

Almost 60 percent of likely voters now say cutting the yearly budget shortfall is the priority, even if that means the government can’t spend on new education programs, develop alternative energy sources or enact his health care overhaul or alternative energy policies, an Associated Press-GfK poll found.

Obama defends the huge economic stimulus plan and the bailout of U.S. automakers, and doesn’t blame people for getting tired of all the spending. But he does accuse Republicans of showing a lack of genuineness about fixing the systemic

get online @

problems that have driven up the debt long before he won the White House.

And there rests the true trouble.

Even though Obama and the Republicans ostensibly share the goals of reducing debt and creating jobs, they disagree fundamentally on their approaches. That problem appears to be worsened by the lack of a serious working relationship among the leaders.

If divided government simply leads to more division over the budget and economy, newly empowered Republicans and a Democratic president seeking reelection may both pay the price.

“It’s going to be very hard to find common ground,” said James Thurber, a professor of government at American University. “To a certain extent, (Obama’s) strategy depends on the strategy of majority of the House, and what can be found in the Senate, where’s he’s basically going to be deadlocked.”

House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio said if Obama and his team are going to work with the new Congress, then they must accept the end of government stimulus efforts as a means for creating jobs. Boehner and fellow Republicans have outlined a plan for governing that includes deep spending cuts and a repeal of Obama’s health care law, among other changes.

Boehner is likely to ascend to House speaker if his party wins a majority.

“They’re going to have to signal some kind of willingness to work with Republicans to cut spending,” Boehner told

The Associated Press. “Cutting government spending is what the American people want, and it’s an approach neither party has tried yet.”

The federal deficit was a near-record $1.3 trillion for the just-completed budget year.

Obama may succeed in getting Republican support for trade pacts on a new education law that insists on school reforms. He will go for an immigration overhaul and energy legislation, but have to accept smaller, piece-by-piece results. Capping of greenhouse gas emissions, for one, seems to be going nowhere.

“It’s a very different reality for the president for the next two years, which is not to say that nothing gets done,” said Norman Ornstein, a political scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. “Even in a rancorous and nasty environment, it seems to me there may some areas of opportunity.”

Either real compromise or political pressures may pull Obama and enough Republicans together to get some priorities done. President Bill Clinton managed to rebound and work with Republicans after they swept into office in 1994, teaming up on welfare and balanced-budget legislation.

Never to be ignored are the core Democrats who helped get Obama elected and who, in some cases, are disgruntled about the pace of progress.

“He’s got to be careful to manage his base,” said Ann Crigler, a professor of political science at the University of Southern California. “His election is going to start Nov. 3.”

www.southerndigest.com

LONDON — BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley defended potentially dangerous deepwater drilling on Monday, even as he attempted to strike a penitent note for the devastating Gulf of Mexico spill in his first external address since taking the top job.

The American also stressed BP’s commitment to the United States despite the ongoing political and public fallout there and talked up the company’s ability to withstand the expected financial hit from the spill.

Dudley said that deep waters are becoming an increasingly important source of energy to fuel the global economy amid predictions that the world could be consuming 40 percent more energy than today by 2030.

“We are one of only a handful of companies with the financial and technological strengths to undertake development projects in these difficult geographies,” he told the annual conference of Britain’s leading business lobby group. “And it can be done safely.”

“That’s why the response to what happens in the Gulf of Mexico matters so much,” he added at the Confederation of British Industry’s gathering in central London. “We — together with the rest of the industry and our regulators around the world — simply have to ensure that public confidence in deepwater drilling is restored.”

Deepwater drilling is projected to grow to account for 9 percent of total oil supplies in 2020, from 7 percent currently.

U.S. President Barack Obama recently lifted a moratorium on new deepwater drilling in the Gulf, imposed after the April 20 explosion that kicked off the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The U.S. leader is due to announce further recommendations under a Presidential Commission in the coming months.

Dudley, who took over from gaffe-prone former CEO Tony Hayward early this month, also sought again to reassure business leaders that the company has the financial strength to shoulder the anticipated heavy costs of the Gulf spill.

“Our underlying operational and financial performance is sound,” he said, stressing the company’s wide geographical reach.

To help cover the costs of the spill, BP has begun shedding assets around the world, with a goal of raising $30 billion.

SPORTS

Friday, October 22, 2010 - Page 5

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SWAC champs picked to repeat

SWAC WOMEn’s basketball PrEdICtEd OrdEr OF FINISH

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Allen, Kador get preseason first-team nods; Allen tabbed preseason defensive POTY DIGEST NEWS SERVICE

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern was predicted to win the 2011 Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball title in voting from the league’s coaches and sports information directors.

However, head coach Sandy Pugh said during Wednesday’s SWAC conference call that she is not putting too much stock into preseason predictions.

“At practice, we won’t talk about first-place votes. We’re going to talk about getting ready for the University of Iowa (in the season opener Nov. 12),” Pugh said. “That’s just how we are and how we do things at Southern.”

The Southern women’s basketball team returns 10 players after going 23-9 and winning both the 2010 SWAC regular season and tournament championships last year. They earned 19 of 20 first-place votes.

“I’m sure that’s probably why we got the nod,” Pugh said. “It is what it is, and one way or

the other we have to go out and compete hard. All it did was put a tag on our backs.”

Southern tops the order of finish with 199 points, with Prairie View (151), Alabama A&M (142), Grambling State (134) and Texas Southern (117) rounding out the top half of the league. Alabama State (108), Alcorn State (88), Mississippi Valley State (70) and ArkansasPine Bluff (64) were next while Jackson State (31) rounds out the predicted order of finish.

“I think this league is going to be extremely tough and difficult,” Pugh said. “I was really surprised at how some of the schools landed (in the preseason polls). I just think that shows the parity of the league. We’ve got our hands full if we are going to repeat. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Prairie View’s Dominique Smith was picked as SWAC preseason player of the year.

Smith, a senior guard who was also named to the preseason first-team, averaged 13.8 points,

PrESEaSON aLL-SWaC tEaM G G F F C

DIGEST SPORTS WRITER

Halfway through the 2010 college football season, Saturday revives the historical matchup between Southern and Prairie View A&M. The only difference is the change in scenery this year.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference’s two longesttenured members lock horns at Shreveport’s Independence Stadium as the Shreveport Football Classic, with kickoff at 4 p.m.

The Jaguars (2-4, 1-3) hold a considerable edge in the series. However, momentum has shifted to the side of the defending SWAC champions.

The Panthers (4-3, 3-2) won three of the last four meetings — all three wins the grand total of six points. PVAM escaped Mumford Stadium last season with a last-second 16-14 win.

Both teams enter Saturday’s game looking to avoid let downs after having opposite results last week. Southern suffered a heartbreaking 49-45 loss at Jackson State while PV reeled

off its third-straight win with a 45-12 homecoming win over Lincoln.

“Well, we’re not going to have no let downs,” PVAM head coach Henry Frazier III said during Monday’s weekly conference call. “We lost three in a row (earlier in the season), so we’re looking for guys with character and guys who are self-motivated. When you lose three in a row, not a whole lot a coach can say. Those things have to come from within and we won three in a row.”

On the other side, penalties continue to be the bane of Southern’s existence this season. The Jags were flagged 16 times for 195 yards against JSU, a season high for penalties called and penalty yardage.

“For the most part, we shot ourselves in the foot,” head coach Stump Mitchell said. “Again, we had too many penalties. Playing these teams, you cannot have as many penalties as we had in our games.”

When asked about looking forward to playing PV, Mitchell answered, “it’s definitely going to be a challenge.”

First team Dominique Smith Prairie View Sr. Hannah Kador Southern Sr. Tanika Jackson Alabama St. Sr. Freda allen Southern r-Sr. Gabrielle Rosiji Tex. Southern Sr.

Player of the Year: Smith, Prairie View defensive Player of the Year: allen, Southern

PHOTOS BY APRIL BUFFINGTON/DIGEST FILE The Southern duo of forward Freda Allen, left, and Hannah Kador, right, earned first-team All-SWAC preseason honors as the defending conference champions were picked to repeat. Allen also picked up preseason defensive player of the year honors.

3.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last season. She garnered All-SWAC second team honors in 2010 for her efforts.

Southern’s Freda Allen was named preseason defensive player of the year. Allen joins Smith on the preseason first team after leading the team in

rebounds (5.7 rpg) and blocked shots (34).

“She’s the heart and soul of this team,” Pugh said. “She’s our toughness meter. I tell her all the time I have the utmost respect for her. I’m looking forward to a great senior year from her.”

Joining Smith and Allen on

Southern looks to stop Panthers’ streak

BY MORRIS DILLARD

team Points Southern (19) 199 Prairie View A&M (1) 151 Alabama A&M 142 Grambling State 134 Texas Southern 117 Alabama State 108 Alcorn State 88 Mississippi Valley State 70 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 64 Jackson State 31

G G F F C

Second team Kiara Ruffin Alcorn St. Whiquitta Tobar Alabama A&M Secrett Anderson Grambling St. Jasmine Abrams Ark.-Pine Bluff Gabrielle Williams Alabama A&M

Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr.

the preseason All-SWAC first team are Southern’s Hannah Kador, Alabama State’s Tanika Jackson and Texas Southern’s Gabrielle Rosiji. Second team consists of Alcorn State’s Kiara Ruffin, Alabama A&M’s Whiquitta Tobar and Gabrielle Williams, Grambling State’s Secrett Anderson and ArkansasPine Bluff’s Jasmine Abrams.

SPORT SHORTS DIGEST NEWS SERVICE

UAPB blows lead, rallies to beat Alcorn

PHOTO BY APRIL BUFFINGTON/DIGEST FILE Prairie View’s Chris Adingupu (3) and Dalvin Nettles (92) try to close in on Southern’s Juamorris Stewart (88) during last year’s nailbiter.

The Panthers and Jaguars could be in for another tight one this year in Saturday’s Shreveport Football Classic.

“They won it all last year.

They have a great running back (in Donald Babers, the SWAC’s second-leading rusher) that they’re going to look to get the ball to as well. Defensively, I like these guys. They have team speed and they’ll bring the hat.”

Indeed.

Still, the Jaguars struggle to wrap up when engaged against

ball carriers.

Defensive coordinator O’Neill Gilbert emphasized that the defensive unit must tackle for this week’s contest.

“They have a running back that’s extremely talented. I haven’t seen a running back like that this season. We have to tackle, and this will be the game where if we can’t tackle it will all show.”

ALCORN STATe, Miss. — Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-3, 3-2) stormed to a 27-7 lead only to see Alcorn State (3-4, 2-3) come back and take a 35-27 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

The Golden Lions, however, regrouped and scored the game’s final 12 points for a 3935 win on national television.

Stephen Jones scored on a 10-yard touchdown with 7:03 to play to give UAPB a 36-35 lead, which it kept for good. The Golden Lions added a Chris Ewald 42-yard field goal and then held on for the victory.

Griswold earns SWAC special teams honor

Southern freshman kicker William Griswold earned the SWAC’s special teams player of week award for his performance last week at Jackson State.

The Tampa, Fla., native went 3-for-3 on field goals, nailing kicks of 37, 38 and 43 yards.

Griswold also made all four PAT attempts, giving him 13 of Southern’s 45 total points.

Page 6 - Friday, October 22, 2010

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Friday, October 22, 2010 - Page 7

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An open letter to our lawmakers Dear Louisiana Lawmakers, What the hell!?!

What is your deal with taking more money from us? It’s bad enough that we were already living foot-to-mouth before, now Southern University is the one who need to get a loan from Sallie Mae. I understand, as a nation, we are in a financial bind and cuts have to be made.

However, I’m pretty sure that it all doesn’t have to come from higher education.

Over the past two years here at Southern, we have been made to make cuts adding up to over $18 million. These cuts have tremendously dampened our ability to complete our mission which is to give a quality education to all those who want it.

Now down the river, LSU has taken a hit as well. However, as we all know they are much better equipped to survive this kind of attack. One can only speculate that there must be some conspiracy to make LSU the only university of this state, which cannot be allowed to happen. Nothing against them but, SU is a very vital part of this state’s history, and to let it fall to the waste side would be a large disservice to the future generations.

I know SU has problems … a long, mobster-rap-sheet-style list of them. Then again, what family doesn’t?

As a family, SU needs to wake up.

As a family SU needs to stand up. As a

NORMAN DOTSON JR. family, SU needs walk up to Gov. Piyush Jindal and his collective and say that enough is enough. We cannot take anymore of this outright abuse and disrespect that the state is showing what is one of the best historically black colleges in existence.

It seems as we are being treated like the red-headed step child of higher education – or maybe in this case the nappy-headed one (yes, I just said it).

From all of what has happened, one can only draw the conclusion that, as an HBCU, we are deemed less valuable than a predominantly white institution. Now before you go saying that I’m being racist, let me stop you there and dispel that lie before it gets started. I am, by no means, racist. If I were I would be hypocritical of everything this institution stands for.

All I’m saying is that it looks like we are being systematically, but hey I could be wrong. If I am wrong, would someone

please come and correct me. How about instead of sitting all the way down there at the Capitol, you come on down SU and get to know the people you are oppressing with your pocketbook-snatching style of financial handling. Come sit on the Bluff and marvel at the beauty this institution offers this state before you flush us like a used contraceptive; just come get to know the people who will eventually be making the big decisions in this world. Come see how we have to struggle to survive and make ends meet.

For God sakes, if the Human Jukebox is broke, that’s when you know we are in crisis!

If there is something I’m missing please let me know because all I see is state making decisions that undervalues what should be one its greatest attributes, this is the home of the only HBCU system anywhere and one of the largest black institutions around. You can’t appreciate something that you don’t know about, so I’m inviting anyone who reads this to come over Hump and get to know SU. Maybe then we will get the appreciation that we deserve.

Sincerely Yours, Norman J. Dotson Jr., Digest Editorin-Chief P.S. Let’s try sending some funds our way instead … you might be surprised by the results of that investment.

who represents SU? La. House of Representatives

District 63 Rep. Dalton Honoré (District Office) 8776 Scenic Highway Baton Rouge, LA 70807 Phone: 225.771.5674 Fax: 225.771.5673 E-mail: honored@legis.state.la.us

Louisiana State Senate

District 14 Sen. Yvone Dorsey (Capitol Office) P.O. Box 94183 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 Phone: 225.342.2040 (District Office) 1520 Thomas H. Delpit Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Phone: 225.342.9700 E-mail: dorseyy@legis.state.la.us

U.S. House of Representatives

La. 6th Congressional District Rep. Bill Cassidy (Baton Rouge Office) 5555 Hilton Avenue, Suite 100 Baton Rouge, LA 70808 225.929.7711 (Washington, D.C. Office) 506 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202.225.3901 Fax: 202. 225.7313 Web site: cassidy.house.gov

U.S. Senate

Sen. Mary Landrieu (Baton Rouge Office) Federal Building, Room 326 707 Florida Street Baton Rouge, LA 70801 Phone: 225.389.0395 Fax: 225.389.0660 (Washington, D.C. Office) 328 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202.224.5824 Fax: 202.224.9735 Web site: landrieu.senate.gov Sen. David Vitter (Baton Rouge Office) 858 Convention State Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Phone: 225.383.0331 Fax: 225.383.0952 (Washington, D.C. Office) 516 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202.224.4623 Fax: 202.228.5061 Web site: vitter.senate.gov

Read 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.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.

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