STATE & NATION
ebenezer Baptist reopens
SPORTS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ALSO: Jags head to ‘Reservation’. Pg. 5
Gates explores cultures. Pg. 6
Blacks in latin america
tennis wins sWac again
Restoration complete at church. Pg. 4
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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2011
VOL. 57, ISSUE 16
Chancellor candidates interview Bagayoko, Sorrell lead off sessions with SU groups By norman j. dotson jr. & evan taylor soUthern digest staff
In the final stretch of the chancellor search six finalists have been selected for interviews with various groups of Southern Photos By norman j. dotson/digest (left) and evan taylor/digest files (right) University constituents here on the Baton Rouge campus. paul Quinn college preisdent Michael sorrell, left, and southern physics department chairman diola The interview process began Bagayoko were the first two of six candidates to go through a series of interviews with different university groups Monday. the other four candidates will interview tuesday and Wednesday. yesterday with the interviews of candidates and will end Other points included “The university is an university president at Paul tomorrow in the same fashion. open system consisting developing appropriate strategy One of the two candidates Quinn College in Dallas. In an exclusive interview with of core elements that are planning, seek resources needed interviewed yesterday was Dr. Diola Bagayoko, chairman of The Digest Bagayoko outlined indispensable,” said Bagayoko for implementation, design the Physics department here on some points that he felt were on his vision for the chancellor evaluation process to make campus. The second candidate important for anyone in the position. “One has to manage adjustments, create incentives, and engage all the constituents.” and run scenario practical was Michael Sorrell, current chancellor’s position.
experiences. “The chancellor should the cheerleader for the system,” Bagayoko said. When asked what could he bring to university and its students Bagayoko asserted fund raising. He is well known for his capabilities in fundraising for the physics department through grants. “I have 27 years of service at SU,” said Bagayoko. “I understand the realities we are facing.” Michael Sorrell who has been in the president position at Paul Quinn College since March 2007, in that time his administration has demolished 13 abandoned buildings, partnered with PepsiCo to transform the unused football field, and successfully reacquired accreditation that was lost before he became president. “I consider myself to be a president that has an extraordinary relationship with his students, his staff, and I am constantly accessible,” said Sorrell in his opening statements during the interview process with the search committee. When asked after all that he has achieved at Paul Quinn and just recently obtaining accreditation why he would leave and come to Southern See interviews page 3
Jazz brunch showcases cultures By norman j. dotson jr. digest editor-in-chief
Photo By norman j. dotson jr./digest
the herman Jackson Jazz ensemble perform jazz renditions of classic hits by various artists at the 7th annual Jazz Brunch and silent auction presented by the center for international education.
Soothing jazz selections with a taste of various cultures from all over the world was the feeling for the 7th Annual Jazz Brunch and Silent auction presented by the Southern University Center for International Education. The brunch was held Saturday morning in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom in the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union. The dean of the center for international education, Barbara W. Carpenter, delivered the greeting that was followed by a presentation of the work done by students in the study abroad program. Jazz Brunch
committee chairmen and director of the study abroad program, Warner Anderson presented the slideshow containing pictures from the students’ visits to other countries and them interacting with the local citizens there. Afterwards brunch was served to all of those in attendance during which the crowd was graced with jazz selections from The Herman Jackson Jazz Ensemble. The department of computer science as well as a hand full of other Southern University students showcased a variety of different clothing worn in various different cultures. The whole showcase was
choreographed, designed, and modeled by the students themselves. Countries such as India, China, and Senegal were included in this showcase. Throughout the whole event a silent auction was held outside of the ballroom consisting of many African and African American artwork and apparel to have bids placed on by anyone in attendance. Door prizes were also given out and one lucky student won one free night stay at the Microtel Hotel located off of Harding Blvd. Various departments and groups on campus as well as outside constituents of the SU community sponsored the brunch.
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Looking to move? Call now about our great movein specials. 1.866.972.5495.
Campus Briefs TODAY maymester
Maymester courses will be completely online at SUBR from May 16-June 4. Preregistration is under way and space is limited. Maymester courses are open to all students across the country and the course commitment is six days a week. Students must have a desktop or laptop computer with Microsoft Office 2007 or higher. Webcams may be required depending on professor. Blackboard 9.1 is the learning management system and Maymester requires Internet Explorer 8 or 9 with up-to-date Java. on camPus students: ease your Burden for easter BreaK
On campus students, Residential Life is recommending that you ease the burden of moving at the end of the semester by taking some of your belongings home for Easter holiday. This can help to make your move out process smoother. Start getting your housing in order for the Summer and Fall 2011 semesters and Get your financial aid paperwork completed. Any questions or concerns regarding the process can be directed to Residential Life at 225.771.3590 or visit www.housing.subr. edu. fresh camPus
Please join Southern University and A&M
THURSDAY, APRIL 21
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College System; Agricultural Research and Extension Center in creating a Fresh campus. Find out the details of the Tobacco education initiative at www. myfreshcampus.com. For more information on how to get involved please contact Linda Brown or Fatemah Malekian at 225.771.2242. visual arts eXhiBition 2011
The Visual Arts Gallery in Frank Hayden Hall will host works from the Seniors in Visual Arts in their Senior Student Visual Arts Exhibition. The exhibit will be in the gallery until April 27. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. choices eXhiBition in suma
The Southern University Museum of Art along with Curator Randell Henry is featuring the art of influential African American artists in the Choices exhibit until May 30th. This exhibit features such artists as John Thomas Biggers, Artis Lane, and Sam Gilliam. The exhibit marks the 10-year anniversary celebration on SUMA. For more information call 225.771.4513. cafÉ lacumBa
Come join your colleagues and faculty for a delicious and healthy lunch! All items are made fresh and can be enjoyed as dine-in or on-the-go. Café Lacumba will be serving up sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads, snacks, and beverages every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Café Lacumba is located in 161 Pinkie E. Thrift Hall (between Tourgee A. DeBose Hall and James Blaine Moore Hall). For more information, please call 225.771.4660.
FRIDAY, APRIL 22
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
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APRIL 20
changing temPos
John B. Cade Library will host Tiffany Samuel, Esq. in a book discussion about Changing Tempos today at 11 a.m. The book discussion will feature a jazz quartet. The discussion is sponsored by John B. Cade Library; students will be able to enjoy the discussion and the entertaining sounds of a jazz quartet. seXual aWareness event
SU Student Health Center in collaboration with Sophisticated L.A.I.D.I.E.S. is hosting a sexual awareness event Wednesday, April 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will feature Planned Parenthood, Metro Health, and The Baton Rouge Rape Crisis Center and will be in the Lakefront Room of SmithBrown Memorial Union. Come out sign up for free contraception, Gardasil injections, and get more information about staying protected every time.
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
ProsPective su mBa student info sessions
Any students who are interested in the SU MBA program have an opportunity to attend the information session held by the program, The session will be a source of information and place to get your questions answered about the SU MBA program. The last session will be held on April 21. The session will be held in T.T. Allain Room 313 from 6-7 p.m. retool southern university
Student Orientation Leaders and Ambassadors encourage all students, faculty, staff, and Southern University community members to vote to retool our school. Visit www. retoolyourschool.com and vote for Southern University and A&M College. The last day to vote is April 22. APRIL 25 Behavioral studies Poster session
The Alvin Batiste Jazz Institute present the Morehouse College Jazz Ensemble. Southern University Jazzy Jags and McKinley High Jazz Band in concert on April 20 at 7 p.m. The concert will be in the Recital hall in Tourgee Debose Music Hall. Admission is free, For more information call 225.771.3310. APRIL 21
The Department of Behavioral Studies would you like the Southern University community to support our graduate students with media coverage as they participate in a poster session exercise. These students are preparing for the world of counseling and as part of becoming a counselor, they have been asked to develop a topic of interest and deliver their findings in a form of a “Poster Session”. The session will be held on April 25 at 6 p.m. in Seymour Gym.
oPeration camPus cleanuP
APRIL 26
morehouse college jaZZ ensemBle
Student orientation leaders, Ambassadors, and The Office of Ombuds will host their end of the semester Operation campus cleanup, Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 a.m. in the Residential Life circle. Come help SU stay beautiful and clean for the Summer semester.
s.o.s day at the caPitol
Join the Southern University System for Support Our Southern Day at the Louisiana State Capitol, Tuesday, April 26. Displays open in the Capitol’s Rotunda at 9 a.m. and the Rally on the Capitol steps begins at 10 a.m. Come join the system in the fight to preserve out history and protect our future. aids online course in school of nursing
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The School of Nursing will offer the online course, “AIDS: A Nation in Crisis” during the University’s Summer 2011 session. The course will be taught by Dr. Leah S. Cullins, APRN, MSN, FNP-BC, and Assistant Professor in the Southern University School of Nursing. Includes discussion and analysis of history and epidemiology of HIV, Explore the HIV testing process including private and governmental influences, and importance of health education in maintaining prevention.
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 5,000 copies per issue during the southern University - Baton rouge campus fall, spring semesters. the paper is free to students, staff, faculty and general public every tuesday & friday morning on the sUBr campus. the southern digest student offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - friday. the offices are located on the first floor of t.h. harris hall, suite 1064. the southern digest is the official student newspaper of southern University and a&M college located in Baton rouge, Louisiana. articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body. 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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SPRING 2011 DIGEST STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF norman J. dotson Jr.
CULTURE EDITOR patrick galloway
MANAGING EDITOR evan taylor
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DIGEST STAFF WRITERS samantha smith Kalisha Black
PHOTO EDITOR david clark iii SPORTS EDITOR Morris dillard
DIGEST PHOTOGRAPHERS robert florida Jr. polite stewart
A&E EDITOR Billy Washington
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NEWS Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - Page 3
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interviews from page 1 University Sorrell said that the opportunity to work in this institution at this critical juncture in its history is very attractive to him. “I love my job at Paul Quinn. I think we are doing amazing things there and will continue to do amazing things there,” Sorrell stated. “I am not an individual who is out searching for a job if the Southern opportunity does not come through I will stay at Paul Quinn and be very happy.” Sorrell asserted that a large problem at SUBR is morale. He stated that this is an important time for the university to rally around itself and function as one unit and as one team. Also he made mention that the university is faced with a number of public relations issues that need to be addressed. “In my background I have dealt with public affairs and communications so there had to be a disciplined message and there has to an agreement on that message,” said Sorrell. “I don’t believe quite frankly that there has been an agreement on what that message is, I think that here at Southern individuals need to know what that message is.” Enrollment at Paul Quinn is significantly lower than the enrollment at SUBR. According to Sorrell there are approximately 200 student enrolled at Paul Quinn, where as SUBR has an estimated 6,000 students enrolled which is more than 20 times that of what Sorrell is commanding. While SUBR has a larger enrollment it is still quite low
chancellor interview schedule TUESDAY
Belinda Anderson Time Group Location 8 a.m.-9 a.m. Staff Senate President’s Conference Room 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Faculty Senate Mocha Room-Union 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. SGA Henton Room-Union 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. Search Committee BOS Conference Room 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Deans President’s Conference Room Robert Jennings Time Group Location 8 a.m.-9 a.m. SGA Henton Room-Union 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Staff Senate President’s Conference Room 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Faculty Senate Mocha Room-Union 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. Deans President’s Conference Room 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Search Committee BOS Conference Room
WEDNESDAY
James Llorens Time Group Location 8 a.m.-9 a.m. Staff Senate President’s Conference Room 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Faculty Senate Mocha Room-Union 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. SGA Henton Room-Union 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. Search Committee BOS Conference Room 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Deans President’s Conference Room Earl Yarbrough Sr. Time Group Location 8 a.m.-9 a.m. SGA Henton Room 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Staff Senate President’s Conference Room 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Faculty Senate Mocha Room-Union 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. Deans President’s Conference Room 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Search Committee BOS Conference Room for the size of the institution and is a large problem faced by the campus and increasing this would no doubt be an obstacle for the new chancellor to face. “Students don’t come to a school that they don’t feel good about and the inability to put forth a consistent message in the public arena has damaged the ability to increase enrollment,”
Sorrell stated when asked how he could increase enrollment. “Southern University has some extraordinary academic programs but they become lost in the background noise of all the other issues facing the institution…I would focus on the things that are successful. We have to stop the negative perception in the media we
are serious about increasing enrollment.” All candidate interviews before the search committee are open to the public and are held in the board of supervisors’ conference room on the second floor of the J.S. Clark Administration Building.
Calif. GOP official apologizes for chimp email By gillian flaccus the associated press
IRVINE, Calif. — A Southern California GOP official who sent out an e-mail picturing President Barack Obama’s face on the body of a baby chimpanzee issued an apology late Monday after a weekend of criticism that ended with a strongly worded public rebuke from the local Republican Party chairman, who also called for an ethics investigation into the incident. Marilyn Davenport, a 74-year-old Fullerton resident and elected member of the Orange County Republican Central Committee, sent an email Monday afternoon asking for forgiveness for her “unwise behavior,” just before the GOP committee met for its monthly summit at a hotel in Irvine, where the fallout from the incident was the hot topic. The email sent on Friday by
Davenport to a small group of GOP committee members shows an image posed like a family portrait, of chimpanzee parents and child, with Obama’s face superimposed on the young chimp. Text beneath the picture reads, “Now you know why no birth certificate.” Some voters have maintained since the last presidential election that Obama is ineligible to hold the nation’s highest elected office because, they argue, he was actually born in Kenya, his father’s homeland. Obama’s mother was an American citizen. Hawaii officials have repeatedly confirmed Obama’s citizenship, and his Hawaiian birth certificate has been made public. Courts have rebuffed lawsuits challenging Obama’s eligibility. “To my fellow Americans and to everyone else who has seen this email I forwarded and was offended by my action, I humbly apologize and ask for
your forgiveness of my unwise behavior. I say unwise because at the time I received and forwarded the email, I didn’t stop to think about the historic implications and other examples of how this could be offensive,” Davenport’s apology read. “I am an imperfect Christian lady who tries her best to live a Christ-like honoring life. I would never do anything to intentionally harm or berate others regardless of ethnicity. Everyone who knows me knows that to be true.” Davenport, who was not present at the meeting, represents the 72nd Assembly District in Orange County on the committee, which is made up of volunteer officials elected for two-year terms. The group is tasked with fundraising, campaigning and debating policy for the Republican Party. The county’s GOP chairman, Scott Baugh, told about 75 GOP members that despite
Davenport’s “sincere apology,” he still condemned her actions and believed she should resign because her presence on the committee would remain controversial and provide a distraction. “The eyes of the nation are focused on us tonight because of the actions of a member of this committee. I do not know what was in the heart of Marilyn Davenport when she sent that email, only she does. I want to accept and do accept that Marilyn is not a racist,” Baugh said. “The email is without question extremely racist. Depicting African-Americans as monkey is a longtime, well-known and particularly offensive slur because it denies them their basic humanity.” The body’s ethics committee would investigate the incident, interview Davenport and make a report back to the executive committee within a week, Baugh said.
SGA unhappy with additions Bynorman j. dotson jr. digest editor-in-chief
Unrest in student leadership occurred Monday when two chancellor search candidates were added to the interviewing line-up after the committee approved of only four finalists resulting in six total. The addition of Diola Bagayoko and Michael Sorrell did not sit easy with Student Government Association president Demetrius Sumner, who is also a member of the search committee. With the addition of these two candidates Sumner made the decision not to have student leadership meet the two latecomers. “The Student Government Association does not think its proper the way his [Sorrell] candidacy was introduced to the committee,” said Sumner. “He came in the ninth hour, the committee never met or approved him and then we were obligated to show up to interview him and that’s just not how the process was outlined from the beginning.” Sumner said its for that reason and that he didn’t meet minimal qualifications such as having a terminal degree i.e. a doctorate were the reason that they declined to meet with him and will continue to decline meeting with him. Sumner also stated that SGA would not meet with Bagayoko either although his candidacy is more legitimate. “We will meet with the fairly confirmed candidates as plan,” Sumner stated. Chairman of the committee Pat McGee was the one responsible for adding the two candidates at the recommendations of president Mason and faculty senate president Trivedi. McGee stated that Bagayoko’s candidacy was at the recommendation of the faculty senate to show what the faculty here at SUBR had to offer. “I feel that the students have a right to plan their own future and how their going to handle situations however I would have certainly done it differently,” said McGee. “They missed an opportunity to interact with one of the possible next chancellors.”
state & nation Page 4 - Tuesday, April 19, 2011
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Ebenezer Baptist reopening By errin haines the associated press
ATLANTA — The voice of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. again filled the halls of Ebenezer Baptist Church and a pipe organ triumphantly announced the reopening of the sacred sanctuary regarded as the birthplace of the civil rights icon’s vision of justice, equality and a nonviolent society. The King family was joined by members of the civil rights movement and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in celebrating the reopening of Ebenezer, called the cornerstone of King’s legacy. Salazar said the church is “hallowed ground for a nation still very much in progress.” “To be here this afternoon is to feel that history and remember out personal connection,” Salazar told the crowd gathered in the building, which was closed to visitors in 2007. Ebenezer’s Heritage Sanctuary has been restored to its original appearance from 1960 to 1968, when King co-pastored there with his father. Work began on
the $8 million project in 2000, and includes a return of the original pulpit furniture and furnishings, architectural and paint finishes, the baptismal pool and choir loft seating. It also restored King’s most important title: preacher, said his youngest daughter, Bernice King, who delivered the keynote address at the ceremony. “I’m happy that so many people will come to this place ... that will stand as a reckoning point for millions of people all around the world,” she said. “You must remember always the pastor and the pastor’s mission: To redeem the soul of America. He loved God. He obeyed God and he loved God’s people.” Excerpts of King’s most famed sermons were piped into the sanctuary before the ceremony began. “Much comes to my mind as I stand here this afternoon, because I grew up in Ebenezer,” a smiling Martin Luther King III, president and chief executive officer of The King Center, told the audience. His daughter, Yolanda Renee King, opened the ceremony by
PHOTO BY david goldman/ap photo
Rev. Bernice King, the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., left, steps down after speaking at a ceremony to mark the restoration of the sanctuary of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where her father preached Friday in Atlanta.
ringing a liberty bell near the pulpit. The Rev. Joseph Lowery attended the ceremony and said he had many fond memories of the church, where he often met to discuss strategy for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which he cofounded with King in 1957. “I can’t tell you how it feels
Coalition pushes $940M in taxes to plug budget gap By melinda deslatte the associated press
A coalition of nonprofit organizations, unions and advocacy groups is pushing lawmakers to pass $940 million in tax hikes to help close next year’s budget gap, an agenda unveiled Monday that faces strong opposition from the governor and Republicans. The group, calling itself Better Choices for A Better Louisiana, wants lawmakers to increase so-called “sin taxes” on cigarettes, gambling and alcohol, while also reversing income tax cuts passed in 2007 and 2008. Most of the proposals would require a two-thirds vote in the legislative session that begins next week. Eddie Ashworth, a co-founder of the Better Choices organization, said officials must consider boosting state revenue rather than a third year of deep cuts to close a budget shortfall of $1.6 billion in the new fiscal year that begins July 1. Gov. Bobby Jindal, House leaders and Republican leaders oppose any attempts to raise taxes, and Ashworth acknowledged it would be difficult to win passage of the bills. “I think we’re definitely pushing a rock up the hill,” said Ashworth, who heads the Louisiana Budget Project, which looks at how government spending affects lowto moderate-income families. The Better Choices coalition also is asking for a review of all 441 tax exemptions on Louisiana’s books, tax breaks that cost the state $7 billion in lost
revenue each year, and for a moratorium on all new tax breaks until the current ones are reviewed to determine their worth to the state. “There are probably a few good exemptions that are shielding a lot of bad exemptions out there,” Ashworth said. Among the proposals: —A $1-per-pack increase on the state cigarette tax, to raise $301 million a year. The tax would grow from 36 cents to $1.36. —A 5 percent increase in the state tax on riverboat casinos and a 4 percent tax hike on video poker, to raise more than $100 million a year. —A $2.50-per-barrel increase in the beer tax, an 86-cent per liter increase in the wine tax and a 24-cent per liter increase in the liquor tax to generate $38.5 million a year. —The suspension of tax breaks enacted in 2007 and 2008 that cut income taxes on middle- and upper-income workers. The rollback reversed provisions of the so-called Stelly Plan that had been approved by voters only a few years earlier. Jindal won’t support the ideas, his spokesman reiterated Monday. “We are opposed to tax increases and repeals of tax exemptions and tax credits, strongly opposed. We’ll veto it,” said Kyle Plotkin, a spokesman for the governor. Jindal proposes a series of cuts, onetime patches and use of new federal financing to balance next year’s budget.
to me to be standing here in this spot, in this place, at this hour,” Lowery said from the pulpit where King delivered his sermons more than four decades ago. “This church and this ministry have been significant in the history of this country for a long time. I thank God that it remains here to be seen.” King was born just blocks
from Ebenezer on Auburn Avenue in downtown Atlanta, and grew up in the church. His father, the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. — known as “Daddy King” preached there and was a local civil rights activist. His grandfather, A.D. Williams, preceded him and also fought segregation during the early 20th century.
SPORTS
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - Page 5
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Twice as nice ...
Johnson, SU track not ready to panic
SU women repeat as SWAC champs
By mOrris diLLard diGest sports editor
By sPencer THOmas diGest sports writer
The Southern University women’s tennis team won their second straight Southwestern Athletic Conference title Sunday by beating Alcorn State 4-3 at the Alexandria City Park Tennis Complex. The top-seeded Jaguars won for the sixth time in the past nine years. “It feels really great to win back to back championships,” head coach Jeffery Conyers said. “It’s always a tough task because you start the season and go into the championships with a target on your back.” The Jaguars were determined to extend its streak with a win. As a result, the girls accomplished just that. Southern put the match away with singles wins from Demetria Woods at No. 3, Jo’Vonna Gaines at No. 5 and Lois Alexis at No. 6. Doubles Competition 1. Carlista Mohammed/Jo’Vonna Gaines (SU) def. Daria Rudd/ Chan Rutherford (ALCN) 8-6 2. Kathryn Curtis/Lois Alexis (SU) def. Kersten Vanem/Merilin Tipp (ALCN) 8-2 3. Arielle Buchmann/ Katherine Hoepelman (ALCN) vs. Demetria Woods/Lisbeth Castaneda (SU) 6-4 DNF.
PHOTO cOurTesy Of jOHn POsey
southern’s carlista mohammed smacks a forehand shot during last weekend’s swac tennis championships in alexandria, La. the Lady Jaguars repeated as swac champions while mohammed was named the conference’s women’s player of the year.
“Winning the doubles point was huge,” said Conyers. “It was a major factor in us repeating. Again it helps ease you a great deal. I feel that the opponents want to do their best to prevent you from accomplishing your goal of repeating. Unfortunately for them, that plan didn’t work this year.” The Jaguars were in top shape from the beginning to the end of the match. They played their hearts out on every serve in an attempt to capture their second consecutive title. At times their conditioning along with determination decided the win. “The ladies worked hard all year round. We were short in numbers this season and
we were really blessed to be able to start and finish the season injury free. That says a lot about each of them going the extra mile in conditioning and working out so that they achieve winning the conference championship,” said Conyers. Not to mention, Conyers was named 2011 SWAC Women’s Tennis Head Coach of the Year. “It always feels great to get that honor. There’s a lot that goes into coaching and to gain this honor makes you feel great and motivates you to try and better your self even more the next year.” Other notable awards include senior Jo’Vonna Gaines who was named SWAC Championship MVP and 2011 All-SWAC First
Team (Doubles) while junior Carlista Mohammed was named SWAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year as well as 2011 All-SWAC First Team (Singles) and (Doubles). Sophomore Lois Alexis was named to the 2011 All-SWAC First Team (Singles) while junior Kathryn Curtis was named to the 2011 AllSWAC First Team (Doubles). Southern will now await its seeding for the NCAA Tournament when pairings are announced May 3. “We will take a couple of days off before we head back to the courts so we can concentrate on our academics and keep the GPAs up,” Conyers said. “Once we do that we will go back at it hard.”
Jags look to keep rolling against Alcorn By mOrris diLLard diGest sports editor
Barret Rey is no stranger to the game-day scene at Southern University. The New Orleans native was a four-year letterman and two-time ALLSWAC pitcher for Southern under 27-year head coach Roger Cador. However on Tuesday, Rey and Cador will not be in the same dugout. They’ll face one another across the diamond at the Willie “Rat” McGowan Baseball Stadium and Dean William “Bill” Foster Baseball Field in Lorman, Miss. Rey, whose team is the East Division leader of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, is in his second season as head baseball coach of Alcorn State. “I think we have a lot of the
same ways,” said Rey. “I was around coach 14 years and it was nothing I didn’t learn from him. I always decided to be a head coach and when the opportunity came I had to take advantage of it.” Rey joined Cador’s staff in 1998 where he served as pitching coach. “We understand at the end of the day you have to play good in the tournament and that’s what matter,” Rey said. “Another thing I learned from him.” But how comfortable will Cador feel in his dugout Tuesday, his teams’ first game against the Braves this season? Cador, a former studentathlete at Southern who was an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves from 1973-77, became the first coach to lead a HBCU to a victory in the NCAA Tournament- Southern
defeated no. 2 ranked Cal-State Fullerton, 1-0 in South Region play in 1987. “Rey was one of my players and I know they’ll play us real hard and aggressive,” said Cador, whose team went 25-22 last year (17-6 SWAC), then lost in the conference semifinals. “They’re a good team so I expect a really tough game over there. We’ll see what we can do with it.” Southern (21-13, 13-5) will look to continue their dominance by beating the Braves (15-20, 11-4). They defeated Alcorn 12-10 for the 2009 SWAC championshipits 26th conference baseball championship and first since 2005. The Jaguars’ have had little trouble putting things together against the Braves in the past. They went 1-2 last season under
Rey, had 10 errors and allowed 31 runs. “It’s always up to execution so hopefully we can take it into Tuesday,” said Cador. Things are starting to look relatively positive for the Jaguars, who have four games in five days this week. The Jaguars’ are 8-7 overall on the road, won five of its last six, which include wins at Texas Southern and Nicholls early this month. Southern now turns to Joshua Rochelle (1-0), who hasn’t started in a game this season. He’s appeared in nine games, allowed eight runs, 21 hits, and has 17 strikeouts. After opening 0-5, the Braves, who are ninth in the SWAC in team batting average with .258, have gone 2-8 after their series against Alabama State in March.
Brian Johnson knows it’s early in the season, so the head coach of the Southern University track and field isn’t ready to panic over his team’s performance at the Pelican Relays last Saturday. “We’ve got to go there and capitalize on our strength, which is consistency and depth,” Johnson said. “On the women’s side, our strength is we’ve got some stars.” The Jaguars finished third with 10 points in the three-team competition. Grambling won with 19 points. “We did OK, but it wasn’t one of our finest performances,” said Johnson, in his first season leading the program. “There is a lot of room for improvement.” In the finals, Southern women performed well in distance events. Freshman Shaniece Pinkston was fifth (2 minutes, 34 seconds) in the 800 meters. In the 4x200 meter relay, they finished second (1:40.48). The 400 Long Hurdles, Janessa Doucett and Maya Anderson finished first and second. We have some great athletes that became great through hard work,” Johnson said. “Our areas of strength will be in the jumps, sprints, and distances for the women’s; and the long sprints, hurdles, and distances for the men’s.” The 4x400-meter relay of Kayante Parker, Mary Newton, Maya Anderson and Melanie Gilbert won in the finals (3:53.70). Lachell Rush won the High Jump. “We’re searching for leaders to step up right now,” said Johnson. “We have a lot of young athletes who are new to track and field.” Southern will compete again, April 24, at Rice University. On the men’s side, Anthony Collins finished seventh in the 100-meter dash in 11.1 seconds. Victor Nichols finished seventh in 22.5 seconds in the 200. Benjamin Edmondson and Cody Collins had remarkable finishes for the Jaguars in the 400 meters-both placed third and fourth.
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Series explores black culture in Latin America By jennifer kay the associated press
MIAMI — On a street in a seaside city in Brazil, four men describe themselves to Henry Louis Gates Jr. as black. Flabbergasted, the Harvard scholar insists they compare their skin tones with his. In a jumble, their forearms form a mocha spectrum. Oh, the men say: We’re all black, but we’re all different colors. Others in the marketplace describe Gates, who is black and renowned for his African American studies, with a variety of terms for someone of mixed race — more of an indication of his social status as a U.S. college professor than of his skin color. “Here, my color is in the eye of the beholder,” Gates says, narrating over a scene filmed last year for his new series for PBS, “Black in Latin America.” The first of four episodes filmed in six Caribbean and Latin American countries begins airing Tuesday. A book expanding on Gates’ research for the series is set for publication in July. Throughout the series, Gates finds himself in conversations about race that don’t really happen in the U.S., where the slavery-era “one-drop” concept — that anyone with even just one drop of black blood was black — is still widely accepted.
The idea for the series stems from a surprising number: Of the roughly 11 million Africans who survived the trans-Atlantic slave trade, only about 450,000 came to the U.S. By contrast, about 5 million slaves went to Brazil alone, and roughly 700,000 went to Mexico and Peru. And they all brought their music and religion with them. “We thought the prime black experience in the New World was in America. It wasn’t. By the numbers alone, the prime experience was south of our borders,” said Gates by phone last week. “I wanted to unveil this world to the American people.” Gates’ journey begins in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola but have little else in common. In Haiti, Gates focused on the country’s history as the world’s first black republic, born in 1804 from a slave rebellion, rather than on its stigma as the disaster-prone, poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Notably, independence day in the neighboring Dominican Republic marks the Spanishspeaking country’s independence from Haiti, instead of Spain. On the streets of its capital, Santo Domingo, an anthropologist describes himself to Gates with a word that developed to highlight American Indian instead of
PHOTO By graham smith/AP PHOTO
This undated photo released by PBS shows Harvard scholar, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in Cuba, as he explores black culture in Latin America for a series titled “Black in Latin America.” The first of four episodes filmed in six Caribbean and Latin American countries begins airing on PBS Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
African ancestry. Dominicans couldn’t consider themselves black, he tells Gates, because the blacks in his country are Haitian. Meanwhile, in Brazil, which prides itself on being a multiracial society where segregation was never institutionalized, Gates heard around 130 commonly used words to describe varying degrees of skin color. For black Americans, Gates said, using similar terms would indicate some shame about being black. “For most of us, race is black and white, there’s nothing in between. But it’s more complicated than that,” he said. New U.S. census figures are revealing how complicated and surprising conversations about race can be. For example, the number of Puerto Ricans identifying themselves solely as black or American Indian jumped about 50 percent in the last 10
years, suggesting a shift in how residents of the racially mixed U.S. territory see themselves. Gates is no stranger to the complications of race. He was arrested at his Cambridge, Mass., home in 2009 by a white police officer investigating a possible burglary. Gates alleged he was the victim of racial profiling. The charges were dropped, but the conflict sparked a national debate on race relations, and President Barack Obama invited both Gates and the officer to the White House for a “beer summit.” In Brazil, many people interviewed for the series knew about the arrest, but they didn’t necessarily connect it to his skin color, said Ricardo Pollack, one of the series’ producers and director of the episodes filmed in Brazil and Haiti and the Dominican Republic. “People saw him as educated
Film fans head for ‘Rio’ By david germain ap movie writer
LOS ANGELES — Movie fans are going to “Rio” in big numbers, but they’re not quite screaming over the latest installment of a horror-comedy franchise. The 20th Century Fox animated family flick “Rio,” featuring the voices of Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg, led the weekend box office with a healthy $40 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday. It was the best debut so far this year, topping another animated comedy, “Rango,” by about $2 million. The slasher comedy “Scream 4,” released by the Weinstein Co. banner Dimension Films, opened at No. 2 with just $19.3 million. That’s a fraction of the business for the previous two sequels, which both debuted at over $30 million more than a decade ago. Business finally climbed for Hollywood, which has been in a prolonged slide.
PHOTO By 20th century fox/AP PHOTO
In this publicity image released by 20th Century Fox, animated characters, from left, Raphael, voiced by George Lopez, Blu, voiced by Jesse Eisenberg, and Jewel, voiced by Anne Hathaway, are shown in a scene from “Rio.” The 20th Century Fox animated family flick “Rio,” featuring the voices of Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg, led the weekend box office with a healthy $40 million debut, according to studio estimates.
Revenues rose for only the second time since last November, coming in at $134 million, up 12 percent compared to the same weekend last year, when “Kick-Ass” led with $19.8 million. “I’m going to be so bold as to say this may be the beginning of the turnaround,” said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office
analyst for Hollywood.com. “Summer’s almost here and it’s the most important movie-going season. It couldn’t be coming at a better time.” After two weekends in the No. 1 spot, Russell Brand’s Easter bunny tale “Hop” slipped to third-place with $11.2 million. Released by Universal, “Hop” raised its
and upper middle class. Very few would call him black,” because that would have indicated a lower social class, Pollack said. “He loved it. It’s a very visceral way of showing that race is coded in different ways.” For all the variety of ways to describe skin color throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, Gates did not find color blindness. A beachside magazine stand in Brazil only shows white, blond women on the covers. Each of the countries he visited at some point sought European immigrants to “whiten” the population — except for Haiti, but even there, lightskinned people rose to the top of society. “In each of these countries, the poorest people were the people with the kinkiest hair, the thickest lips and the darkest skin,” Gates said. “That is sad.”
total to $82.6 million. The weekend’s other new wider release, director Robert Redford’s Lincolnassassination drama “The Conspirator,” premiered at No. 9 with $3.9 million. The movie stars Robin Wright and James McAvoy in a courtroom tale of a woman accused of aiding Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth. Released by Roadside Attractions, “The Conspirator” played in narrower release of 707 theaters, roughly one-fifth the cinema count for the weekend’s top three movies. “Rio” opened well above Fox studio expectations. A tale of romance and smuggling involving rare birds, “Rio” opened overseas a week earlier and has climbed to a $168 million total worldwide. “It’s working in every country on the planet,” said Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston. “It’s G-rated, which means it’s for everybody.” With many children out of school over the next week leading into Easter, “Rio” has solid playing time ahead of it, Livingston said. Receipts for “Scream 4” came in a bit under industry expectations and well below the $30-million-plus openings for “Scream 2” and “Scream 3.”
VIEWPOINTS
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Let’s get it together people There are big changes in store for SU in the immediate future. From the comings and goings of administrative personnel, the Jindal regime on a warpath to take down our system, and the newly-elected SGA representatives. But are we prepared for what’s coming? In my honest opinion, I have to say no. Through my observations this year it seems as though we do not act as a family, hell we barely act as anything. We have these marches and rallies to fight for our school yet we have minimal attendance which is truly sad, what’s even sadder is that a majority of these events happen less than 15 minutes away from the Baton Rouge campus at the state Capitol. Its pathetic and highly embarrassing when Grambling State University has a bigger turnout at the rally for higher education and we are literally down the street. I know I’ve said this before, but I remember there were no “I’m just asking” questions so
NORMAN DOTSON JR. half of you didn’t read The Digest that time, I’m sure. What else embarrasses me is that there was so little turn out to the court hearing against the Board of Regents. Yeah I know there was over 200 or so students there from SUBR but there are far more students than that enrolled. Now what I’ve been hearing is that most of the students didn’t want to miss class, but that’s a lame excuse at best. We all have ditched class for less important things. Why not miss it for something as monumental as this? Perhaps if you didn’t miss class so much throughout the semester cause
you missed the bus from the back of campus or because you were hungry, maybe you would be able to miss that day. But it’s not the students’ fault for this completely, you professors are just as wrong. I understand that your class is important but I think showing support for your sister campus is a little more important. But hey, I don’t have Ph.D in anything (yet) so maybe that’s why I can see past myself (I’m just saying). It seems that most of these professors feel that just because they have doctoral degrees that they are untouchable and that attitude is apart of our problem as well. As long as we have professors that care more about being a chancellor someday than a student taking their class for the umpteenth time actually learning something, then that person needs to go. People like that only cripple our institution and further deteriorate our image in the public eye. But back to the matter at hand, we are severely unprepared for what lies
ahead for us simply because of our own ignorance and unwillingness to take some sort of action. We lack accountability and therefore lack the ability to make others accountable as well. Our own apathetic nature is what keeps us from moving forward. If we put as much effort into finding a way to protect our institution as we do to find something witty to say on our Facebook statuses maybe people would take us more seriously. Maybe if we took ourselves more seriously people would start to care. However we can’t do this if we constantly embarrass ourselves through media outlets that really could care less about you thinking that they can solve your problem. They are only profiting off of your strife, so its just best to keep your mouth shut and try to fix the problem at home first. For our sake, please get it together before we are torn apart.
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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.
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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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