ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
badu charged for video shoot
STATE & NATION
SPORTS
Also: .Gov’t slaps Toyota with fine. pg. 5
Also: SU drops two to TSU. pg. 9
mayhem in nyc streets
Editor: Treatment unfair. pg. 4
kador named All-louisiana
estABLished in 1928
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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2010
VOL. 55, ISSUE 13
Dyson up next in series
Reforming student loans by normAn J. dotson Jr. DiGesT eDiTor-iN-chieF
As a result of President Obama’s new healthcare overhaul, starting in July 2010 higher educational institutions must move to a Direct Lending Program. This takes out the “middle-man”, which is private lenders such as banks, and allows for students to borrow money directly from the federal government. Private lenders will still be contracted to service some federal loan but this will definitely effect this multibillion dollar industry for banks. Banks and other financial institutions such as Sallie Mae, the biggest student lender, has about 8,500 employees in the student loan program with approximately onethird of them in danger of possibly losing their jobs as a result of this overhaul. Colleges that serve a large population of minority students will share $2.55 billion in additional funding over the next decade. Unfortunately this will not decrease tuition costs in anyway, although, President Obama
DiGesT News service
photo by AleX brAndon/Ap photo president Barack obama talks about jobs during a forum at celgard, inc. in charlotte, N.c. Friday, April 2.
has urged that colleges and universities to “do their part” to hold down costs. The primary beneficiaries of this overhaul are the students, with this change many will be able to borrow and repay on much easier terms. Students who have low incomes or meet certain other eligibility requirements and who take out loans after July 1, 2014,
will see their payments limited to 10% of their income after graduation while the current payments are at about 15%. Also those students who become public service workers (teachers, nurses, police officers See loans page 3
SU officials banking on QEP in April by billy wAshington DiGesT A&e eDiTor
There have been many acronyms floating around this semester and no one knows what they mean. QEP, abbreviated for Quality Enhancement Plan, is the popular acronym for the month of April. The QEP is being promoted across campus because there will be an on campus visit from SACS which is another well known acronym widely discussed across campus. The onsite visit will last from April 26-28. “This visit from SACS will mainly focus on the QEP. We need to have a good a good plan that we can sustain because one of the things they will look at is money, meaning can we fund this,” said professor Kim Chavis, director of the Academy of Assessment, Learning, and Outcomes and Faculty Intern for Academic Affairs. “It’s good to have great ideas but if we can’t fund it, then we are in trouble,” continued Chavis. The SACS review committee will question anyone on campus
about the QEP and will expect a knowledgeable response about the plan. They will also ask questions pertaining to the institutions mission statement. The heavy presence of QEP cards that are being passed out this semester, contain a short summary of SU’s mission statement and the QEP’s slogan is written on the back which reads, “Improving Student Learning through Writing Across the Curriculum: The WRITE Path to Success.” The QEP is a SACS 2.12 core requirement, which means if SU is found to be in non-compliance with a core requirement, the university could lose it’s accreditation; therefore, the QEP is mandatory for all students. There are a few main components the SACS review team looks for and they are: •Resources used •Financial support (which must sustain through a five year period) •The assessment plan setup •The improving of student learning
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“In light of the budget cuts in this state and the confusion of the budget, we will push things back until 2012. In Fall 2012 things should be stable,” said Chavis. The QEP has been in the works since August 2009. Not that many people were aware of the plan because the information was sent via campus email and students and faculty usually don’t check campus emails. The first, second, and third drafts of the QEP was submitted in 2009. The heart of the project is to eventually develop a campuswriting center. The center will be newly developed and the classrooms will be technology enhanced. These classrooms are known as smart classrooms. Students will be able to attend the writing center as if it were a library. Peer tutors and professional staff will also be available to help and assist students with different issues. The faculty is also encouraged to attend the resource center to enhance their teaching writing skills because a teacher
INSIDE S O U T H E R N
may not be equipped to teach students how to write within the curriculum. Alumni and people from the community are welcome to the center as well. “Anybody on campus can enter the writing center. When we say a campus writing center we mean a campus-writing center. Just as the writing center is there for students, it’s there for the faculty and community too,” expressed Chavis. The QEP team is also working on a mascot and a series of video clips with QEP man, who is an unidentified superhero, dressed in SU paraphernalia head to toe. The creation of QEP man episodes is to grasp the attention of students and people in general and educate the Jaguar Nation about the QEP. To check out the episode, visit www.ecubedobjects.net/ eCubed_Studio/ and click on episode 1. “The videos are educational but we want people to laugh. It’s seems like it’s working because the finance and administration people laughed,” chuckled Chavis.
Author, scholar and social commentator Michael Eric Dyson will be the fifth speaker in Southern University’s 20092010 Chancellor’s Lecture Series, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. The lecture is free and open to the public. Dyson, a two-time NAACP Image Award winner, has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans by Ebony magazine. He has written over 15 books on race, politics, religion, philosophical reflection, the African-American experience and gender studies. His works include: “Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur,” Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster” and “Is Bill Cosby Right? Or Has the Black Middle Class Lost Its Mind?” His latest DYsoN books include the New York Times bestseller, “April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Death and How It Changed America” and “Can You Hear Me Now?: The Inspiration, Wisdom and Insight of Michael Eric Dyson.” Dyson’s life story is unlikely for that of a scholar. In his late teens, he was a Detroit gang member and unwed father, but by the age of 21 he had become an ordained Baptist minister. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Carson-Newman College in 1982 and went on to receive a master’s and Ph.D from Princeton University in 1991 and 1993, respectively. The Chancellor’s Lecturer Series, now in its second year, was created by Chancellor Dr. Kofi Lomotey. It has brought speakers such as actor, director Spike Lee, authors Iyanla Vanzant and Cornell West and editor-in-chief emeritus of Essence Magazine Susan L. Taylor to the university. For more information, contact Media Relations at 225.771.4545.
CAMPUS BRIEFS................2 STATE & NATION................5 SPORTS.............................9 NEWS.................................3 CAMPAIGN INFO...........7&8 VIEWPOINTS....................11 U N I V E R S I T Y ,
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THE SOUTHERN DIGEST 4 - DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7
pArtly cloudy HI - 81° / LO - 60° 20% CHANCE OF RAIN
Classifieds ApArtments for rent
Tired of student housing? Free rent specials. 1.866.972.5495.
house for sAle
3143 Kimberly Dr. 3 br, 2 baths. $126,200. Please call 225.505.6232.
Campus Briefs TODAY finAnciAl Aid Alert
The Financial Aid Office is requesting that students apply for financial aid early. Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible for the 2010-11 award year. Students must file a FAFSA annually for eligibility consideration. SUBR’s school code is 002025. Please visit www. fafsa.ed.gov to complete a FAFSA online. Students and parents should apply for PINs at www.pin. ed.gov. Your PIN will serve as your electronic signature to process the FAFSA. The preferred deadline for Summer 2010 and Fall 2010 has passed. The final loan deadline for Summer 2010 is June 11. For more information, contact the financial aid office at 225.771.2790. beep meetings
BEEP Meetings are held every Tuesday at 11 a.m. in T.T. Allain Room 222. These meetings are open to all majors. For more information contact Toni Jackson at 225.771.5640 ext. 222 or at subeep@ subr.edu.
THURSDAY, APRIL 8
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peer tutoring
Peer tutoring is available in the Center for Student Success in Stewart Hall Room 107. Available hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays. Follow the Center for Student Success on Twitter to see exciting upcoming events: www.twitter.com/ jaguar_nation. bAptist student union
Want to become a member of the Baptist Student Union? Want to fellowship with other students during the week? Need a place to worship? Need a place to attend for bible study, special events and trips? Need a quiet place to study? Need a place to relax and watch television? Join the T.J. Jemison Baptist Student Union, located at 724 Harding Blvd., across from LaCumba’s Den and the tennis courts. For more information, call 225.774.8924. los JAguAres lAtinos
Los Jaguares Latinos, Southern University’s Spanish Club, meets Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in Room 320 of T.T. Allain Hall. If you are unable to attend the meetings but still like to participate, please send your name, contact number and valid e-mail address to SouthernUSpanishClub@ gmail.com pi gAmmA mu
Pi Gamma Mu, the international honor society in social sciences, is inviting juniors, seniors
FRIDAY, APRIL 9
SATURDAY, APRIL 10
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and graduate students to material. join. Students must be in the upper 35 percent of What’s the their class, have a gradequickest way to point average of “B” or better and 20 semester get news and hours in social science events to courses. the student body? There is an international initiation fee $40 and an additional local chapter Put it in the... fee of $10. If you are interested in joining Pi Gamma Mu pick up an application from Dr. Shawn Comminey, Louisiana Epsilon Chapter Adviser, in Room 429 of Higgins Hall. APRIL 7 billiArds tournAment
Registration is under way for the Smith-Brown Memorial Union’s billiards tournament, which will be held April 7 from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at LaCumba’s Playpen. Awards and prizes will be presented to first-, secondand third-place winners. The registration fee is $5 per person and the deadline to register is Monday. APRIL 8 css seminArs
The Center for Student Success is offering three seminars at Stewart Hall’s Lawless Auditorium in the upcoming days. CSS’s “Getting the Most out of Your Textbook” seminar is slated for Thursday at 3 p.m. This seminar is designed to teach students how to develop new reading techniques to improve comprehension and reduce the need to re-read subject
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NEWS
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Page 3
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Same-sex couples urged by Census
Evidence ordered released
By david crary ap national writer
NEW YORK — With strong backing from the Census Bureau, gay-rights activists are urging maximum participation by their community in the first U.S. census that will tally samesex couples who say they’re married — even those without a marriage license. The move has drawn fire from conservatives, who complain that it’s another step toward redefining marriage. For the first time, the bureau has deployed a team of professional field workers — about two-dozen strong — to reach out to gays and lesbians. On Monday, the bureau unveiled its first public-service videos encouraging gay Americans to mail in their census forms. “What I tell folks in the bureau is that this is a powerful, important part of American society,” said Tim Olson, a Census Bureau assistant division chief helping to oversee the campaign. “We have to reach out and engage this part of the population. Anything less than that is a failure,” he said. Only the District of Columbia and five states — Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Iowa — have legalized gay marriages, starting with Massachusetts in 2004. But the Census Bureau says same-sex couples in any state who consider themselves spouses should feel free to check the “husband” or “wife” boxes on the census form, rather than “unmarried partner.” The bureau’s willingness to count gay marriages — despite a federal law that denies legal recognition to any of them — has been hailed as a historic milestone by gay-rights leaders. “It’s humongous,” said Jaime Grant, director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Policy Institute. “Our opponents are rightfully concerned, because it does lend an air of legitimacy to our marriages,” Grant said. “It’s
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photo by stephen chernin/AP PHOTO
Actor George Takei, right and his husband Brad Altman speak at a news conference, Monday, April 5, 2010 in New York. For the first time, the census bureau has deployed a team of professional field workers, about two-dozen strong, with the specific task of reaching out to gays and lesbians. At the news conference the bureau unveiled its first public service videos encouraging members of the gay community to mail in their census forms.
another way of weaving us into the fabric instead of continuing to see as outsiders.” Some conservatives have complained that the eventual count of same-sex unions will be legally inaccurate while serving as ammunition for gaymarriage advocates. Gary Randall, president of the Bellevue, Wash.-based Faith and Freedom Network, complained in a blog posting last month that the census “is leaving it to responders to characterize their own relationships, regardless of legal status.” “Will homosexual numbers be inflated by this ‘you decide what you are’ policy? Probably,” Randall wrote. “This policy shift is another attempt to confuse the discussion about marriage by creating a problem of sorts, then providing a solution that advances the homosexual agenda of redefining marriage.” Olson said he was aware of the criticisms, but defended the Census Bureau’s policy of counting people according to how they identify themselves. “We’re treating the gay community the same as other segments of the population,” he said. “There’s a respect factor there. ... We’ve never asked people to show us their marriage licenses. We don’t do that for straight people.” Olson also stressed the confidentiality of the census — insisting, for example, that gay members of the military should have no fear about identifying themselves as part of a samesex union, even though the
“don’t ask, don’t tell” policy forbids gay service members from being open about their sexual orientation. The census forms do not inquire directly about sexual orientation, and some gay-rights activists have complained that this means single gays — as opposed to those with live-in spouses and partners — have no means of gaining collective representation through the census. Olson said an act of Congress would be needed to add a sexual orientation question to the form, and some activists are already planning a campaign to achieve that. In a first step, a campaign called “Queering the Census,” activists are distributing stickers for gays and lesbians to attach to this year’s forms on which they can identify themselves as gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual. In the previous census, in 2000, the Census Bureau tallied 600,000 same-sex couples who were cohabiting across the country. In initial planning for the 2010 census, federal officials indicated that samesex married couples would be tallied as unmarried partners who lived together, not as wedded spouses. But those plans were changed in part because of intensive lobbying by gay-rights groups. “We pushed for that change because we want to be seen and heard and represented as part of our country,” Christine Quinn, the openly gay speaker of the New York City Council, told a news conference Monday.
“It sets the stage for our work over the next 10 years — to get sexual orientation added to the form so all of us can be represented, married or not,” she said. Also at the news conference were actor George Takei, a former member of the TV cast of “Star Trek,” and his husband, Brad Altman, who married in California in 2008 when samesex marriage briefly was legal there. “We pay taxes, we vote, we serve in the military and yet we don’t have equality,” Takei said. “To get that equality, it’s very important for us to be identified. This is what the census is going to do.” The couple were the stars of one of the public-service videos shown at the news conference — in which Takei wore his “Star Trek” uniform, and Altman wore a tinfoil space alien hat. “It doesn’t matter whether you have a legal marriage license or not,” Takei said in the ad. “It only matters if you consider yourself married.” One of the new ads featured Glenn Magpantay, a FilipinoAmerican attorney, along with the African-American son, Malcolm, whom he and his partner have adopted. “I’m papa, my partner is daddy,” Magpantay said in the ad. “We’re really proud to be counted in this census.” The ads were posted on the Census Bureau Web site, and some were scheduled to be aired Monday evening on Logo, a gayoriented cable TV channel.
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NEW YORK (AP) — A judge says lawyers for artist Shepard Fairey must disclose the identities of anyone who deleted or destroyed records related to a copyright dispute over the Barack Obama “HOPE” image. Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled Monday in favor of The Associated Press in most of its requests for evidence, including when Fairey’s lawyers first knew the AP claimed to hold the copyright to a photograph the image was based on. Fairey sued the AP last year. The AP countersued. This year, it was disclosed that Fairey is under criminal investigation after Fairey said he erred about which AP photo he used as a basis for “HOPE.” He said he had submitted false images and deleted other images to conceal his mistake. Attorneys for Fairey didn’t immediately comment Monday.
loans from page 1 and those in the military) will have any remaining debt forgiven after 10 years of repayment while those who choose other fields will see forgiveness in 20 years instead of the current 25 years. Pell grants will expand, increasing the maximum Pell Grants from $5,350 for 200910 to $5,550 for the 2010-11 academic year; the maximum Pell Grant will remain at that level through 2012-13. According to USA Today, “More than $40 billion will go toward the grants, which are targeted toward students from low- and moderate-income families. Between 2013 and 2017, the maximum award will increase to $5,975 from $5,550. The administration also expects more than 820,000 additional awards to be made by the 20202021 academic year because of these changes. Some of the money will address shortfalls in the Pell Grant program that developed because students were qualifying for more and larger grants. More than 6 million students received such grants in the 2008-09 academic year, an increase of about 50% from a decade earlier.” According to the Congressional Budget Office taxpayers will save roughly $68 billion over the course of eleven years due to this new piece of legislation.
arts & entertainment Page 4 - Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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Bashing Badu unfair
Badu charged over video
By billy washington
DALLAS—Neosoul singer Erykah Badu faces a disorderly conduct charge for her nude music video shoot in downtown Dallas’ Dealey Plaza, officials announced Friday. Badu, a Dallas native, performed a walking striptease in front of tourists and pedestrians during the March 13 shoot for Badu’s “Window Seat” music video. The performance ended with a nude Badu acting out receiving a fatal gunshot to the head at the spot where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Sgt. Warren Mitchell said Friday the decision to cite Badu for disorderly conduct — a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 — came after witness Ida Espinosa, 32, of Vernon, offered a sworn statement to police Thursday. Espinosa declined to comment to The Associated Press on Friday. “Having a fact witness that was there is what let us file the charges,” Mitchell said. “After much discussion, we feel that these charges best fit her conduct. She disrobed in a public place without regard to individuals and small children who were close by.” Mitchell said the department has had “people calling from all across the country to express their concern.” Mitchell said Badu can either fight the charge or pay the fine. He said a citation would be mailed to the singer. Carla Sims, a spokeswoman for Badu, had no immediate comment Friday.
by the associated press
digest a&E editor
There is much controversy surrounding veteran neo soul artist, Erykah Badu. Her newly released video for the hit single entitled “Window Seat” has caused many critics across the country to work towards eradicating the video from several outlets. Badu is well known for her artsy taste in physical appearance, which includes the colorful hair wraps, Kemetic jewelry, and unique lusty voice. By being an artist of such stature, I was surprised at the many attacks from critics who analyzed the album as being “tasteless.” I believe the reason many critics came to this conclusion is because they didn’t thoroughly examine the artistic side of the video. If you haven’t had the opportunity to view the video before it was prohibited from YouTube, let me give you a brief synopsis. Badu walks through the streets of Dallas in broad daylight, and strips off an article of clothing until she reaches the location of John F. Kennedy’s assassination near Dealey Plaza. Upon arriving
photo by mike fuentes/AP PHOTO
Singer Erykah Badu signs autographs for her new album “New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh” in Dallas on Saturday.
at this location, she has completely stripped naked and was then shot by an unseen assassin. From the piercing of the bullet, which was lodged into Badu’s head, blue liquid was flowing from the wound. That scene could have been a representation of democratic blood. Now this is what made me upset, how can Matt and Kim, a rock duo who had a hit single entitled “Lessons Learned” (Check out the video on YouTube), run through New York’s Times Square butt naked and not receive the same negative attention as Badu did? I believe that since Badu is a full-figured, strong, black,
beautiful and Nubian/Kemetic sister, critics decided to simply hate on the sister. In my perspective, the video shows how people are conformed into society and the illustration of Badu stripping off her clothes is an allegorical scene of being different and liberal. Now for the assassination portion, I think since JFK was the last real president who believed in a making true change, which is as a revolution (totally opposite of reform), Badu’s assassination reflects upon us making a true change. Also, the title of her newly released album is entitled “New Amrykah Part II: The Return of the Ankh.”
We need to liberate ourselves from the conformity of American society and think outside of the box. America’s agenda is to make us all one, meaning we should all have the same American identity, but how many of us are willing to fight for a change or think differently from others. I believe Erykah’s video should be put back on YouTube. It’s definitely unfair and unjust for Matt and Kim’s lessons learned video to be currently viewable on You Tube while Badu’s video is not permitted to show on YouTube. Badu deserves her artistic right and right as a natural human being to express herself.
70 years of travel, reading, art, history By icess fernandez the (shreveport) Times
SHREVEPORT — Ernest Lampkins has been crowned chief of a town in north Ghana and the first black mayor of Greenwood. He has been a musician, a teacher, a researcher and a world traveler. The clothes he wore to be seated as heir to a retired chieftancy in the West African town of Ho and photographs he took in Ghana and Thailand are among items in 40 to 50 boxes of memorabilia he has given to Southern University-Shreveport. The collection — one of the biggest ever given to the school — also includes about 1,000 books. Lampkins hopes the collection will inspire more African-American students to continue with their education. “I’m an educator, been one all my life,” he said. “I thought that all that would be good for students to learn about the world other than what’s here.”
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He donated the collection in the fall, but it is not yet fully open to the public, said Raegan Stearns, the campus’ archivist. However, parts are on display at the SUSLA campus library until March 31. Lampkins grew up in Shreveport when the town was still segregated. He attended Fisk University. He was supposed to be a doctor, but music enticed him. The major switch started a lifetime of discovery from music to family lineage. He earned degrees from Columbia University and University of Pittsburgh. He also fell in love with education. He was a Caddo Parish School District teacher and administrator, then a college professor. He is also in the African American Educators Hall of Fame at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. His love of learning and teaching led him to earn a fellowship which took him to Thailand to study local music.
All his experiences are shown in the collection, Stearns said. “We are so excited to have it,” she said. “Him and Mrs. Lampkins wanted it to be used. They wanted people to come in and riffle through it and to help them whatever way it can.” Stearns said the collection could be ready as soon as fall 2010. The collection will serve as inspiration for students, Stearns said. “It’s important that they see someone they can relate to,” she said, “and to see how far an education takes you.” Lampkins said he had more memorabilia he is keeping to write a memoir. The items at SUSLA will be used to inspire students to continue their education. “I wanted me, as an African American, in a black school so they can see other things through travel,” he said. “It’s a perfect place to do that kind of thing.”
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Lil Wayne thanks fans NEW YORK (AP) — Lil Wayne wants his fans to know that his spirit and love will “never be confined to prison walls.” The Grammy Awardwinning rapper’s message was posted Friday to his new Web site. He was sentenced in March to a year in jail for having a loaded gun on his tour bus. The 27-year-old says he’s in good spirits and thinks about his four children every day. He says: “I just hope my love and adoration for them provides a temporary bandage on a wound I unknowingly inflicted on them.” Lil Wayne also says he’ll be blogging soon for ESPN. But ESPN the Magazine’s Editorin-Chief Gary Belsky says there are no plans for him to blog at the moment.
STATE & NATION Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Page 5
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4 shot, 33 arrested in NYC mayhem By colleen long associated press writer
NEW YORK — Hundreds of young people spilled into midtown Manhattan near Times Square early Monday, brawling and shooting guns after the New York International Auto Show in an annual night of mayhem the mayor called “wilding.” Four people were shot and 33 were arrested, mostly on charges of disorderly conduct on the streets not far from the Jacob A. Javits Center, where the auto show is held. Three men and a woman were arrested later Monday on gang assault charges related to one of the shootings, police said. It wasn’t clear whether anyone who fired shots was among those arrested. Another 23 were issued summons for disorderly conduct or were given juvenile reports and released. Additional officers were on patrol over the night because similar problems have happened during past auto shows, dating at least to 2003, chief spokesman Paul J. Browne said. Last year, there were 27 arrests on the same night. In earlier years arrest numbers ran in the low 20s, Browne said. A teenager was stabbed in a similar ruckus in 2006, and in 2007, another teen was slashed in the arm. Browne described those arrested Monday as “young men looking for trouble” after the auto show. The fracas rattled businesses near busy districts in Herald Square, as well as nearby Times Square, where an armed street
hustler was shot dead by police after exchanging gunfire on the street in December. “You know it’s the cost of doing business,” said Angus McIndoe, owner of the restaurant bearing his name next to Broadway theaters. “It’s not the first time there has been nutty activity in Times Square.” Auto show spokesman Chris Sams said no one stood out as suspicious Sunday at the show, which runs until April 11 and attracts more than 1 million people. “We had an amazing crowd, a very family-oriented crowd. The type of person who makes an auto show great, people listening to the presenters,” he said. Security at the show is tight, and officials work with police, Sams said. Visitors are checked when they arrive. Most of the people arrested were men in their 20s from boroughs other than Manhattan. At least two were known gang members, Browne said; the four people arrested on gang assault charges — three men ages 17 to 23 and a teenage girl — were not believed to have fired any shots, police said. Mayor Michael Bloomberg described the night’s events as “wilding,” using a word created by the media during the notorious 1989 rape of the woman known as the Central Park jogger. Five men were charged with gangraping her, but their convictions were thrown out in 2002. “We loaded the area up with police, but they can’t be everywhere,” he said. “We’re not going to tolerate it. ... This is just
photo by APTN/AP PHOTO
In this image taken from video, New York city police detain people near Times Square early Monday in New York. Hundreds of young people spilled into midtown Manhattan near Times Square early Monday, brawling and shooting guns after the New York International Auto Show in an annual night of mayhem the mayor called “wilding.” Four people were shot and 33 were arrested, mostly on charges of disorderly conduct on the streets not far from the Jacob A. Javits Center, where the auto show is held.
a bunch of people who shouldn’t be on the streets if they behave this way, and we’re not going to stand for it.” It was the second major instance of gunfire in the area in recent months, where police have worked for years to stop petty crimes and hustlers targeting tourists. Police and a street hustler armed with a machine pistol exchanged shots in December in Times Square — shattering a Broadway theater ticket window and scattering crowds — before police fatally shot the man. Tourists in the area said Monday they weren’t too concerned. “I think compared to other cities, this is a pretty safe place,” said Kai Tienmann, of Berlin, visiting with his son. “Of course anywhere in a safe city, can happen something like this. So
much people here. A lot of police, also a lot of police cameras.” Twenty-eight-year-old Joseph Markey from Dublin said he wasn’t worried. “I’m from Dublin; there are a lot of shootings there,” He said. “All the big cities have that problem.” Overall, crime in the city is still at record lows despite an uptick in murders, felony assaults and rapes in the first quarter of this year. Jittery lawmakers are worried about crime rising, especially as the ranks are decreased at the nation’s largest police department. “We need to get in front of this growing epidemic before we find ourselves reliving the bad old days of the 1970s,” Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said. There were no reports of
tourists or business owners being attacked in the melee. Police weren’t sure how many of those arrested knew each other or what sparked the shootings, which began shortly after midnight. Officers made arrests starting around 10:30 p.m. Sunday and continued into early Monday. A man was shot in the ankle at Eighth Avenue and 40th Street around 12:10 a.m. Shortly after, a woman was hit with a BB gun several blocks northeast at Seventh Avenue and 51st Street. About two hours later, two women, both 19, were shot — one in the elbow and another in the thigh — near Seventh Avenue and 34th Street. The woman hit with the BB gun was treated and released; the others were in stable condition, police said.
Toyota faces $16M fine, accused of hiding defect By ken thomas associated press writer
WASHINGTON—The government is seeking to fine Toyota a record $16.4 million, accusing the Japanese auto giant of hiding a “dangerous defect” in its slow reporting of faulty gas pedals that have been blamed for unintended sudden accelerations and motorists’ deaths. The proposed fine, announced Monday by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, is the most the government could levy for the sticking gas pedals that have led Toyota to recall millions of vehicles. There could be further penalties under continuing federal investigations, and Toyota also faces private lawsuits seeking many millions more.
Toyota Motor Corp. has recalled more than 6 million vehicles in the U.S., and more than 8 million worldwide, because of acceleration problems in multiple models and braking issues in the Prius hybrid. Documents obtained from the Japanese automaker show that Toyota knew of the problem with the sticking gas pedals in late September but did not issue a recall until late January, LaHood said. The sticking pedals involved 2.3 million vehicles. “We now have proof that Toyota failed to live up to its legal obligations,” LaHood said in a statement. “Worse yet, they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families.”
For those reasons, LaHood said, the government is seeking a fine of $16.375 million, the maximum penalty possible. That dwarfs the previous record: In 2004, General Motors paid a $1 million fine for responding too slowly on a recall of nearly 600,000 vehicles over windshield wiper failure. Toyota did not say whether it would pay the fine. The automaker has two weeks to accept or contest the penalty. “While we have not yet received their letter, we understand that NHTSA has taken a position on this recall,” the company said in a statement, a reference to the National Highway Transportation Safe-ty Administration. “We have already taken a number of important steps to improve our communications with regulators
and customers on safety-related matters as part of our strengthened overall commitment to quality assurance.” The company noted that it has appointed a new chief quality officer for North America and has given its North American office a greater role in making safety-related decisions. Under federal law, automakers must notify NHTSA within five days of determining that a safety defect exists and promptly conduct a recall. The Transportation Department said the fine it is seeking is specifically tied to the sticking pedal defect and Toyota could face additional penalties if warranted by investigations. The government has linked 52 deaths to crashes allegedly caused by accelerator problems
in Toyotas. The recalls have led to congressional hearings, a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors, dozens of lawsuits and an intense review by the Transportation Department. Toyota has attributed the problem to sticking gas pedals and accelerators that can become jammed in floor mats. Dealers have fixed 1.7 million vehicles under recall so far. Consumer groups have suggested electronics could be the culprit, and dozens of Toyota owners who had their cars fixed in the recall have complained of more problems with their vehicles surging forward unexpectedly. Toyota says it has found no evidence of an electrical problem. Reviews of some recent highprofile crashes in San Diego and
by
Page 6 - Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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Candidate Profile
sGA ELECTIONS
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Page 7
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Candidates for Student Government Association President Koi lomas senior
Political Science gonzales, la.
lomas
mathematics lake charles
family & consumer sciences opelousas, la.
“To enhance the quality of student life through quality leadership, extraordinary vision and realistic solutions.”
“Upholding an efficient student government.”
“To improve the stay of the average Southern rubin University student. Focus on those issues that truly encourage a comfortable educational environment.”
diane chavis senior
kiara stewart junior
biology lafayette
“Continuation of Little Miss SU, continuation of Up ‘til Dawn, implementation of TNT chavis (The Next Transition) —a mentoring program for high school students in the Baton Rouge area and for students attending Southern University.”
psychology/premedicine baton rouge
stewart and dedication.”
“Symbolizing ultimate STEWARTship by providing Southern University with true service
collins
“Win a Game, Lose a “Change, change, “W” Program; Rhodes change. Rebate”
Candidates for Chief Justice
venese lau- morgan senior ren d.political science san jose, calif. fish“To signify the importance of the judicial
morgan
“Help the of SGA. To utilize the justice branch Student position effectively and actively so that Government determination of student legislation and Association acitivity remains just.” to be productive
kenya warren junior
nona stewart senior history new orleans
stewart
“Working to restore accountability to the legislative branch of the Student Government Association.”
the
at WWW.
southern digest .com
kirt q. thibodeaux II senior electroniics engineering technology st. martinville, la.
thibodeaux
See page 8 for additional candidate profiles
Read
mass communications New Orleans
“Get refund checks allocated through direct deposit, get pavement laid lewis in the back and the Strip, get community discounts restored.”
SGA Election Day Smith-Brown Mem. Union 9a.m.-5 p.m.
“Southern University, I would like to deliver my package through campus beautification, reaching warren out to the community with the adoption of Scotlandville Magnet High School and working to retain our students.”
kye lewis junior
therapeutic Junior recreation criminal justice maringouin, la. kankakee, ill.
NEXT MONDAY
biology new orleans
Candidates for SGA Vice President
brian craig collins senior jr. burrell
Miss Southern Pageant F.G. Clark Activity Center 7:30 p.m.
“R&R: registration and retention, improving on campus parking, williams decreasing shuttle wait times, improving communication and more student activities on campus.”
Candidates for Miss Southern
SGA Debates Cotillion Ballroom Smith-Brown Mem. Union 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY
theatre arts/mass communication baton rouge
political science dallas
“Increase student activities, student involvement in the decision-making process and restoring the promise, pride and legacy of the Jaguar Nation.”
singleton
langston williams senior
demetrius sumner sophomore sumner
julien singleton junior
terrence rubin senior
TONIGHT
“Full judicial branch, impartial decision making, positive leadership.”
Page 8 - Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Senior Class President
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Miss Sophomore
aaron ventress Senior
makala clark freshman
agricultural science opelousas
ventress
mass communications baton rouge
clark
jazmine stephenson freshman
Miss Senior candice cavalier junior
psychology atlanta
stephenson
kiersten victorian freshman
animal science baton rouge
cavalier
Bridgette r. moss junior
biology baton rouge
victorian
marketing houston
moss
Miss Junior alicia davis sophomore
Sophomore Class Senator (5) Teray dyson freshman
political science los angeles
political science franklinton, la.
davis
chisolu isiadinso sophomore
dyson
claudia joseph freshman
political science baton rouge
isiadinso
brittany lyles junior
psychology new orelans
joseph
maurlence
martin freshman
elementary education natchez, miss.
lyles
brig’nette tezeno sophomore
political science dubach, la.
martin
vance mitchell freshman
nursing lafayette
architecture atlanta
tezeno mitchell
alana rhone freshman
Sophomore Class President shaquille dillon freshman history franklinton, la.
agricultural economics texarkana, texas rhone
myeisha webb freshman
dillon
julius j. mfreshman ccray Mccray
business management/ psychology baton rouge
secondary education baton rouge
webb
Lawmakers want to move past Tucker split by the associated press
Lawmakers in the state House said Monday that they want to move past a divisive split over the chamber’s secondranking leader. “As far as I’m concerned, we are putting this behind us,” said House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown. Tucker stripped four lawmakers of their highly prized committee assignments last week after they voted against his choice for House speaker pro tem, Rep. Joel Robideaux. At the time, Tucker said some lawmakers would be punished for their votes against Robideaux because they broke promises about their support. But the lawmakers involved disagree over just who said what to whom. Robideaux was chosen over Rep. Noble Ellington, D-Winnsboro, in a 53-48 vote. Ellington was among House members who lost favored committee seats in the fallout. Ellington again congratulated Robideaux on Monday — but noted he never said he would support Robideaux and so, therefore, couldn’t have lost a seat as punishment for breaking his word. Ellington also defended his colleagues who voted with him and lost committee appointments. “Could we please just as a body begin today to work together to try to do things, and forget punishment, forget heavyhandedness and forget any of those kinds of things as we go aboout doing the business of this state?” Ellington said on the House floor. ___
Gov. Bobby Jindal said he backs a proposal to seize the gambling winnings of parents who haven’t paid their child support. The measure (House Bill 53) by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, would allow the confiscation of casino winnings of $1,200 or more if the winner has backowed child support recorded with the state Department of Social Services. More than $1 billion in child support is owed to thousands of children around Louisiana. DSS said several states, including Mississippi, Indiana, New Jersey, New Mexico and West Virginia have enacted or are considering similar legislation. Colorado collected more than $500,000 in back-owed child support in one year with a similar law, according to DSS. Jindal added the bill Monday to the list of proposals on his official legislative agenda. ___ The state House unanimously voted Monday to do away with the signs describing the cost and scheduled completion date along roadside construction projects. The signs are required under current law for any road project that costs $1 million or more. But the House agreed to a measure (House Bill 764) by Rep. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs, that would remove that requirement as a costcutting move for the state transportation department.
sports Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Page 9
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SU duo earn honors
SPORTS SHORTS digest news service
TSU takes two from SU
digest news service
Two key members of the Southern University women’s basketball team’s run to the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles were recognized for their roles by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Guard Hannah Kador and forward Freda Allen earned spots on the LSWA’s AllLouisiana team. Kador, the SWAC Tournament MVP, earned second-team honors while Allen received honorable mention. Southern finished the season 23-9, winning its fourth SWAC Tournament title — and fourth NCAA Tournament berth — and reaching the postseason for the fifth time under coach Sandy Pugh’s tenure at the helm. The Jaguars’ season ended in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, bowing out to defending national champion Connecticut. Kador and Allen were named to the the SWAC’s second-team All-Conference team. Kador led Southern in scoring (12.8 points per game) while ranking
PhotoS By APRiL BUFFiNGtoN/DiGESt
the southern duo of hannah kador (left) and freda allen (right) were recognized for their play, earning spots on the lswa’s all-louisiana team. kador was a second-team selection while allen received honorable mention for their roles in helping southern reach the ncaa tournament.
third in rebounds (4.8 per game) and second in steals (1.7 per game). Allen finished the season fourth in scoring (7.7 ppg) while ranking second in rebounds (5.7 per game), fourth in steals (1.5 per game) and leading in blocked shots per game (1.1 per game). Meanwhile, LSU’s Allison Hightower was voted as the 2009-10 Louisiana Player of the Year, making her a repeat winner in the category. HightoweredgedoutLouisiana
Tech’s Shanavia Dowdell by four first place votes in ballots submitted by university sports information directors and select members of the state’s media. Ricshanda Bickham and Alisha Allen, both of Nicholls, were named the state’s Newcomer and Freshman of the Year, respectively, while Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton was named Coach of the Year. Hightower averaged 18.2 points per game this season
for the Lady Tigers as they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She was a finalist for the State Farm AllAmerica team, John Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and Lowe’s Senior Class Award. She was also a unanimous All-SEC first team selection. Dowdell joins Hightower on the All-Louisiana first team along with Bickham, Tulane’s Chassidy Brown, and Adrienne Johnson, also of Louisiana Tech.
Tiger Woods thinks he can still win Masters BY DoUg FERgUson ap golf writer
AUGUSTA, Ga.— He looked like the same Tiger Woods, head down as he walked along the first fairway at the Masters, no one suspecting the jangled nerves he felt from taking his golf public for the first time since his private life unraveled. One fan called out, “Welcome back, Tiger.” Instead of ignoring him as he has done so often, Woods turned toward the man with a wave and a smile. “To be out there in front of the people, where I have done some things that are just horrible, and for the fans to really want to see me play golf again ... I mean, that felt great,” Woods said Monday. “That really did.” Then came another tense moment - facing the media for the first time since he was exposed for cheating on his wife. He dodged questions with rehearsed answers, refused to go into details about the therapy he sought or the state of his marriage, except that his wife
Photo By hARRy WoW/AP Photo
tiger woods speaks during his press conference at the masters golf tournament monday. the tournament begins thursday.
won’t be at Augusta National this week. But there was a touch of humility and patience in his voice during a 35-minute press conference. He even tried to call every writer by name.
“I need to be a better man going forward than I was before,” he said. “And just because I’ve gone through treatment doesn’t mean it stops. I’m trying as hard as I possibly can each and
every day to get my life better and better and stronger. And if I win championships along the way, so be it.” One thing hasn’t changed. Woods, a four-time champion who hasn’t hit a shot that mattered since Nov. 15, is not at the Masters simply to make amends. “Going to go out there and try to win this thing,” he said. And so ended a most unusual start to the Masters, which might be as tough as any round Woods plays this week. It was a solid start in the process of restoring his image. Woods clearly was intent on mingling more with the fans than he did before the sex scandal. First, he putted a couple of balls to some kids watching alongside the 18th green. Then, a real surprise: he stopped to sign autographs while heading to the practice range. He had not played to the crowd since winning the Australian Masters in Melbourne, where fans saw him only as golf’s best player with 82 victories and 14 majors and no rival except history.
The Southern University baseball team dropped two games in a key three-game series against Texas Southern last weekend at Lee-Hines Field. In Saturday action, the Tigers took game one 6-4, but Southern won the late game 9-3. Texas Southern blew the rubber game open Sunday, erasing a 2-0 SU lead in the sixth and running away with an 8-2 win. The losses dropped SU (811, 6-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) into a tie for first in the Western Division with TSU (16-15, 6-3). Both teams have a one-game lead on Grambling State (9-15, 5-4), who visits Southern in a key weekend series. Southern returns to action tonight with a nonconference game against New Orleans at 6:30 p.m.
SU softball sweeps GSU
The Southern University softball team swept rival Grambling State over the weekend, taking all three games. SU (8-22, 6-5 SWAC) defeated GSU 9-1 and 9-2 in a Friday doubleheader and completed the broom job with a 13-2 pasting of the Lady Tigers Saturday. The Lady Jaguars return to action today as they play host to McNeese State at 1 p.m. at Lady Jaguar Field.
Cooper-Dyke named to Hall of Fame Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, head women’s basketball coach at Prairie View A&M, has been named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, according to multiple national news sources. Cooper-Dyke has had amazing success at every level of competition. As a collegiate player, she led the University of Southern California to back-to-back national championships. Upon graduation, CooperDyke embarked on a standout career as a professional player in Europe. When the WNBA was formed, she returned and led the Houston Comets to the first four championships in league history. During that incredible run, Cooper-Dyke was named the WNBA Finals MVP in each of those four seasons. In May 2005, Cooper-Dyke took over a Prairie View team that had never had a winning season and immediately turned the program around. She has lead the Panthers to three regular season SWAC titles and two SWAC tournament championships.
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VIEWPOINTS Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Page 11
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Stop blaming the police I’M JUST ASKING STATEMENT
I’M JUST ASKING is for entertainment purposes only. These remarks do not represent the opinions of the DIGEST staff, Southern University or the Office of Student Media Services.
1. Is this really campaign week? 2. No really, is it? 3. Are the budget cuts effecting campaign week? 4. Where are the T-shirts and GOOD snacks? 5. Is that why some people have HAND-WRITTEN signs with glitter on them? 6. Is that why they put up more than one hand-made poster? 7. Did their little 5-year old sister help with the glitter process? 8. So Lady Gaga is running for SGA President? 9. Who is the Kappa running for Chief of Staff? 10. Do we really want shimmying in the SGA office? 11. Better yet who is he? 12. Why are there so many people running for SGA President? 13. Is Kenya really stuck in that box? 14. Can someone help her get out of that package? 15. Do we really want her package? 16. How come there are no people campaigning for any junior offices? 17. Who saw Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat” video? 18. Who told her it was okay to strip down in the middle of the street? 19. Did Tiger Woods write Jesse James a letter? 20. Did it say, “Dear Jesse, Thank you! Sincerely, Tiger?”
Whatcha gonna do when they come you? How many times have you heard or you yourself said, “Man, I hate police!” I have one question for you – why? Think about it. They are here to “protect and serve.” I think they do a good job with what they have, and I’m not being biased because my father is a police officer. When I meet people and the topic of what our parents do for a living comes up, I have no problem saying that my father is a policeman. Most of the time the response I get is, “Oh damn!” Again, I have one question – why? Why are people so hostile towards police officers? Is it because they do their job when they pull people over and they get caught with guns, drugs and/or drug paraphernalia in their car? Then to top it off, the person being pulled over probably has a felony? I’m no criminal justice major, but isn’t that a crime? So why are you mad because they did
“Experience is the one thing you can get for nothing.” Oscar Wilde was very astute in his assessment of the importance of experience. It is undeniably the single most important teacher that exists within society for free. It is with that sentiment that after my thorough review of the candidates for student office, at a school that I am a proud alumnus of, that I am confused. I watched as students placed their signs on the walls of the greatest historically black college in existence, and was saddened
BREANNA PAUL their job? Or is it because your taillight was really busted? Inquiring minds want to know. Some of you may be thinking, “mayne, she just don’t know what they did to my patna.” Granted, there may have been some cases of police brutality. However, those cases come nowhere close to outnumbering the cases where police officers have performed acts of valor. The Baton Rouge Police Department has an awards banquet each year where they honor police officers who have performed acts of valor during the year. My father received such an award a few years back for eventually convincing a man not to kill some of his family members or commit suicide.
I suppose most of the people who complain about police officers are dumb criminals. I am in no way advocating or condoning acts of crime, but if you are going to commit a crime, go all out. One should be like the Cleo and Frankie from “Set it Off” and drive through buildings and have a smoke before you are about to be shot, caught or killed. I remember someone who worked in a building on a college campus that someone stole their CPU … but not the monitor. Okay now, why in the hell would you steal the CPU and not just take the monitor? I mean it’s right there! Even if you didn’t need it, can’t you pawn things like that? Stop snitching!?! (looks around in awe) Stop what? I don’t know about you all, but if someone killed my brother or cousin out of the blue and someone knew who did it, I would want to know who thought they can pick and choose who gets to live and who doesn’t. Doesn’t CrimeStoppers give rewards to people who “snitch” and
Letter to the editor
by the quality of candidates in the race. It is quite evident that EXPERIENCE has been tossed out of the window for popularity. It is evident that EXPERIENCE has been pushed aside in lieu of selfish ambitions and it is absolutely clear that EXPERIENCE has been forgotten in order for some of our Greek organizations to help with their regional ratings. Prudence would dictate that I wouldn’t speak my mind; however, I cannot watch as the institution I love is broken and our student
leaders don’t have the ability to properly represent the students. Some might believe that if they sit in the office of the coordinator of student programs that would qualify them to properly service the students of Southern University. I would say that this ideology is FLAWED AND WRONG. It perpetuates the idea that in one year a person can learn and effectively perform the duties of office. I charge the students to question the candidates especially your President, Vice
tell who killed whom? Well, I like money, purses and shoes so I would definitely snitch on someone if I knew they were involved in some kind of crime. I don’t understand why people hold it in? Like that’s not cool to let someone commit a crime and go scot-free! Let police officers have a life. They have families and friends also. When my father came to visit me at my dorm a couple of weeks ago, we were having a conversation outside. If I had a dollar for each person that almost broke their neck trying to see why a policeman was talking to me, I could pay all of my parking tickets. Stop — what’s the word I’m looking for – ear-hustling! The point of this editorial was to let people know that police officers are not the bad guys. They are here to help us and protect us from the dumb criminals who steal CPUs and have guns and kill people for stupid reasons. So be smart and maybe the police won’t come and “harass” you. Hope I changed someone’s opinion.
President, Chief Justice, and Miss Southern candidates to see what they have done for you lately. Contrary to popular belief being in a fraternity or sorority DOES NOT QUALIFY you for office. This is to show the students that you are not running for the purpose of making yourself or a particular group look good but rather SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. Yours in Blue and Gold, Jamal Anthony Taylor Former SGA President
SUBMISSIONS POLICY
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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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Apple’s iPad makes impact by darryl edwards digest staff writer
Apple’s highly anticipated iPad was released to the public Saturday, April 3, 2010. The iPad is the first tablet device produced by Apple since the early 1990s. Tablet PCs aren’t and haven’t been as popular as other mobile devices such as PDAs, smartphones, and lightweight laptops. Hopefully, Apple’s iPad will become the sought-after electronic gadget. Within the one day the iPad was released, it sold 300,000 copies. Obviously, of the 300,000 sold, “MacHeads” bought many of them. A survey in New York and Minneapolis (which was issued, as reported by Fortune’s Apple 2.0 blogger Philip ElmerDeWitt, by Piper Jaffray’s Munster) found that about three-quarters of them were Mac users, and two-thirds owned an iPhone. Also interesting: Only 4 percent planned to replace their desktops and/or laptops with
the iPad. After the iPad was announced, Wall Street predicted Apple might sell roughly around a million copies in 12 months. Predictions began to grow along with the hype of the iPad. Estimates now (according to the Journal) range from 3 million to 5 million in a year. Apple seems to be off to a solid start. So what exactly is the iPad? The iPad is an electronic tablet that simulates the features of an iPhone. It will feature the same “home” screen display and various applications as the iPhone does. In a nutshell, it’s a large iPhone. The iPad features a large, high-resolution LED-backlit IPS display. It has a responsive MultiTouch screen and an amazingly powerful Apple-designed chip. The 9.7-inch LED backlit IPS display makes web browsing, watching movies, and viewing photos a wonderful experience. The iPad is designed to show your content in portrait or landscape
get online @
photo by Jacquelyn martin/AP PHOTO
After arriving at Best Buy at 5:30am to buy the iPad, Harry Crosland, of Upper Marlboro, Md., looks at his purchase before buying a case at the Apple Store in the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington, Va., on Saturday. Eager customers have been lining up outside Apple Stores and some Best Buys to be among the first to buy an iPad as sales started at 9 a.m. Saturday in each time zone.
orientation which means there is no up or down. And because of the IPS (in-plane switching), it has a wide, 178 degree viewing angle. The Multi-Touch screen on the iPad is based on the same technology as the iPhone, but the technology has been reengineered to compensate for the large surface.
The iPad is slightly smaller than a magazine and weighs in at just 1.5 pounds and 0.5 inches thick. As used in the Mac notebook, the iPad uses the same lithiumpolymer battery which gives iPad users up to 10 hours of battery life. This includes surfing the web, watching videos, or listening to music.
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Inside of the iPad is the custom-designed A4 chip. The Apple engineers created this chip to be very powerful while being extremely power efficient. The A4 chip is the main reason why the iPad is able to last for 10 hours on a single full charge. The iPad is available in three sizes; 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of flash storage.