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Thursday, Febraury 23, 2012
www.southerndigest.com
Volume 58, Issue 6
High court to review racial preferences see State & Nation, Page 4
Panel urges action against bullying
Today
Questions swirl around SU football see Sports, Page 5
Where do you see yourself in the gumbo? see Commentary, Page 7
A call to action
CATS service may end Jessica Sarpy
The Southern Digest
Evan Taylor
people involved,” Cerullo said. The presentation even shared best practices to handle a child bullying other children. “It is just as important to address the child doing the bullying as it is to address the child being bullied. Spend time with child daily, know where your children are and with whom, make it clear the behavior is not tolerated, arrange for non violent consequence, reward good behavior and teach positive ways of problem solving,” Cerullo said. Tools to prevent bullying in the school system and among school age children include: Creating a definition of understanding about bullying, initiating a anti-bullying pact and a school wide antibullying board (consisting of community, parents, teachers and law enforcement). “When people intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds, 57 percent of the time,” Cerullo said. The mission of Teach Anti-Bullying Inc is to raise awareness and support families and children who are being impacted by bullyrelated issues in their school or community.
The Southern Shuttle may no longer be in service to students if an upcoming vote does not pass to keep Capitol Area Transit System operating. Almost every city in the country has a dedicated revenue source for their transit system, which is a source of money that you can count on, and Baton Rouge does not. It is the largest city in the country without one. The upcoming election would create such a source. The reason for this $2.1 million deficit is due to neither Mayor Kip Holden or the Metro Council did not supply the necessary funds to cover it. “If the election does not pass then the entire system in the city parish shuts down in July including the Southern Shuttle. There will be no more transit system,” said Broderick Bagert, the lead organizer for Together Baton Rouge Together Baton Rouge is part of the Industrial Areas Foundation, the nation’s oldest and largest broad-based organizing network. There are more than 65 IAF organizations around the country, including projects in New Orleans, Monroe, Shreveport-Bossier, Alexandria and the Louisiana Delta. Southern University is having a Voter Registration Contest from March 1-15 where The Greek and Student Organizations are the constants. To get points they have to register at least 300 people. The winning organization will get naming rights to the Southern Shuttle for the next year. “A lot of students rely on the CATS system to get to and from work or school. That’s why Willie E. McCorkle, Ebony Yarbrough and I are getting our student body involved,” said Joseph Sam. When informed that CATS might no longer run on campus, student are already voicing their opinions. Christopher Sanchez a freshman English major says, “I’m definitely voting, this is ridiculous.” Southern could play a huge
See Cerullo page 3
See CATS Service page 3
The Southern Digest
During a panel discussion at “Bullying: A Call for Action Cconference,” community members discussed the action the community must take against bullying. The panel included Southern photo by norman j. dotson jr./digest University student and parent During the “Stakeholders Speak” portion of the “Bullying: A Call for Action Conference” hosted by the Daniel Banguel, McKinley Southern University Division of Continuing Education, panel guests were given a chance to retell a Middle Magnet School dean story of bullying or give statistics on bullying that effect a certain group. of students Sean Joffrion, him. I don’t want him to have esteem for those bullying and Baton Rouge family court fear,” Merrick said. Banguel a reformed bully the same experience as me. I those being bullied,” Joffrion judge Pamela Taylor Johnson, former city council member discussed his childhood of had to climb a lot of mountains. said. While reflecting on his W.T. Winnfield, director of SU bullying and how people had I have reformed and hope to make a great progression in my childhood, Joffrion described Counseling Center ValaRay faith in his potential. how he addresses those being “In 12th grade I realized years to come,” Banguel said. Irvin and director of Southern Joffrion explained the bullied and those that are being University Alumni Affairs bullying was a problem. People Robyn Merrick served as gave me chance after chance,” types of encounters regarding bullies. “I was lucky enough to have bullying in his work as dean of Banguel said. moderator. parents that assured me that I Banguel a former bully students. “It seems that bullying rules “One thing in my school that I had everything that I needed with a sense of fear. We have pursued his education and as a adults who are afraid and father now, he has realized the see is bullying centered around to succeed. I had parents who young people afraid to go to impact of the bullying he was the j word (jealousy). Of the inspired me to be the best at visits to my office 95 percent of adults to tell. No one wants involved with. “I want my son to know, I am them are for bullying. It tends to be a witness. Bullying is See Call to Action page 3 creating a dangerous circle of an active parent and support to boild down to lack of self
Cerullo shares statistics Evan Taylor
The Southern Digest
photo by norman j. dotson jr./digest
Keynote speaker and Teach Anti-Bullying, Inc. founder, Claudio Curello, speaks about ways to defend against different types of bullying. Curello demonstrates an application by Google that allows him to monitor and control the content his daughter can access on the internet from her phone.
Guest Speaker Claudio Cerullo shared startling statistics concerning the lives of bullies, those affected by bullying and the community addressing bullying. Statistics included the amount of teens that witness bullying, when bullying behavior tends to start, the likelihood of bullying ceasing when someone intervenes and the amount of kids who have committed suicide as a result of bullying since 1999. “Between 1999 and 2010, 342 children and teens have committed suicide as a direct result of bullying,” Cerullo said. Cerullo, anti-bullying expert, speaker, educator and founder of Teach Anti-Bullying Inc. shared statistics of teens witnessing bullying. “More than 50 percent of teens witness bullying, that’s according to the Center for Disease control,” said Cerullo. Cerullo addressed how to handle a child who tells an adult they are impacted by a bully or constant bullying. “Take complaints of bullying seriously, reassure your child they have the right to talk to you about the problem and make teachers and caregivers aware of the situation and the
the official student newspaper of southern university and A&m college, baton rouge, louisiana
Campus Life southerndigest.com
Page 2 - Thursday, February 23, 2012
Campus Briefs
noon.
today
Café Lacumba
Construction
Come join your colleagues and faculty for a delicious and healthy lunch! All items are made fresh and can be enjoyed as you dine in or on the go. Café Lacumba will be serving sandwiches, wraps, salads, snacks and beverages every Wednesday from 11 am- 1:30 pm. Café Lacumba is located in 161 Pinkie Thrift Hall. For more information call 225.771.4660.
Construction is still underway at SU. Check the Digest and www.southerndigest.com for more information. If you have any safety questions or concerns contact Chris Spurlock at 225.771.7286 or Robert Nissen at 225.771.3101. Campus Access
Harding Boulevard will be the sole entrance/exit between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. Vehicles entering the campus during those hours must stop at the Checkpoint prior to entering the campus. On weekends the Mills Avenue entrance will remain closed from 6 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. the following Monday morning. Please contact Lt. Floyd Williams at 771-2770 for more details.
Union Fun Fridays
LaCumba’s playpen, Union Bowling Alley and Burger King will be open Fridays until 3pm. LaCumba’s playpen and the bowling alley will offer half price Fridays. Center for Student Success
The SU CSS offers a free paper service. You can have your paper reviewed for clarity, grammatical errors, sentence structure, etc. CSS will also be offering English workshops every Friday at 10 am. CSS will be offering seminars to assist students with topics such as discovering their learning styles, study skills, to stress management. Contact CSS for more information on any of these programs and for tutoring questions at 225.771.4312 or stop by 107 in Stewart Hall.
Live Text codes for first time freshmen and first time transfers
LiveText Subscription Codes for First-Time Freshmen and First-Time Transfer Students are available until March 1 from 10am-12noon and 2-4p.m. Monday-Thursday in Room 155 of W.W. Stewart Hall. Intramural Basketball League
League Play has begun for Intramural Basketball. All games are played on Fridays in Seymour Gym. For more information contact Coach Robinson at 225.771.3212.
How your money works
CTLE & Financial Aid invite all students to come understand how your money works at their seminar today from 11-12:20 am in the Cotillion Ballroom of Smith-Brown Memorial Union.
MLK Catholic Student Center
The St. Joseph Chapel/ MLK Catholic Student Center offers Sunday mass service at 11 am and daily mass at 12:10 Monday thru Friday. Confessions are by appointment.
Table Tennis Tournament
Smith Brown Memorial Union presents a table tennis tournament on March 14 from 6-9pm in Lacumba’s Playpen. Register for the tournament between February 22-March 9 for only $5. Awards and Prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place. Come out and show off your skills.
S.U. Wesley Foundation
The Southern University Wesley Foundation is accepting donations of non-perishable and canned foods for their food drive. They will be accepting donations until April. Worship services are on Wednesdays at
The Department of social work Movie Night
Please join us as we view and discuss a series of movies that have changed the way we think about life… “Old School Throwback” Movie: School Daze. The topic of the discussion will be Diversity at HBCUs on today at 6 pm in Higgins Hall Room 319. Refreshments will be served and 2 CEU’s available for Social Workers. Financial Aid Nights
Get the latest information on Financial Aid rules and regulations at ‘Financial Aid Nights w/Residential Life’ Tonight. The night will begin in Reed Hall lobby at 6pm (Reed, Grandison, and White Hall residents), University Apartments Building 100 and 200 at 7 pm in building 300 lobby (UAP 100&200 residents) and University Apartments Building 300 and 400 at 8 pm in building 300 lobby. In our own skin
The Association for Women Students Presents… In Our Own Skin: Color Complex. An open discussion of prejudices within the African American community stemming from the variations of skin color, author Ronald Maloney will be a speaker for the night. Today at 7pm in the Cotillion Ballroom. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Who’s Speaking Out? Have you learned anything new during Black History Month?
Rashundra Miller
Aviva Green
Shreveport, La. senior criminal justice
Shreveport, La. senior Biology
“A black navigator, Pedro Alonso Miller Niño, traveled with Christoper Columbus on his expedition to the New World.”
“I learned that a African American invented the mailbox and cellphone chip.”
Green
Alexis Newton
Phylea Williams
Shreveport, La. senior nursing
denham springs Junior Mass communication
“Mae Jemison was the first African-American Newton woman to travel to space and the first astronaut to appear on the tv show StarTrek.”
“Madame C.J. Walker was the first African Williams American female to develop beauty and hair care products for black women.”
february 26 Soiree Musicale: Tribute to African American music
The Southern University department of Music presents Soiree Musicale on February 26 in The Royal Cotillion Ballroom of Smith-Brown Memorial Union at 5pm. february 28 Union Activity Board
A Mid-day Movie will be shown February 28 at noon in the Lakefront room of the Union. Upcoming Market Days in the union will be February 28 and 29.
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 & Thursday) 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. Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, Website: www.sacscoc.org. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Southern University and A&M College, an Historically Black, 1890 landgrant institution, is to provide opportunities for a diverse student population to achieve a high-quality, global educational experience, to engage in scholarly, research, and creative activities, and to give meaningful public service to the community, the state, the nation, and the world so that Southern University graduates are competent, informed, and productive citizens. Website: www.subr.edu.
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News southerndigest.com
Thursday, February 23, 2012 - Page 3
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Cerullo from page 1
BLACK HISTORY MONTH Today in History 1869 — Louisiana Gov. Henry Clay Warmoth signed public accommodations legislation, prohibiting excluding passengers from railroads, streetcars, steamboats, coaches or other vehicles based on race. 1895 — AME minister and educator William H. Heard appointed to the position of minister resident/counsul general to Liberia. 1915 — Reconstruction congressman Robert Smalls died in Beaufort, S.C. He was 75. 1925 — Former Detroit mayor and congressman Louis Stokes was born in Cleveland. Stokes was the first African-American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio. 1929 — Baseball catcher Elston Gene Howard was born in St. Louis. The first African-American to play for the New York Yankees and first to win American League MVP honors, Howard signed a $70,000 contract with the Yankees on this date in 1965, becoming the highestpaid player in the history of baseball at the time. 1950 — Julius “Dr. J.” Erving was born in Roosevelt, N.Y. 1965 — Constance Baker Motley was elected Manhattan Borough president in New York City, the highest elective office held by an African-American woman in a major American city at the time. 1967 — Adam Clayton Powell Jr. denied his congressional seat. 1979 — Frank E. Peterson named the first AfricanAmerican general in the United States Marine Corps. 1995 — Melvin “Blue” Franklin of The Temptations died of complications following a seizure in Los Angeles. He was 53.
photo by Michael democker/The Times Picayune/ap photo
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, right, rides an police dept. horse down Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, as he joins the police sweep just after midnight on Wednesday a traditional march that proclaims an end to Mardi Gras.
With Mardi Gras a memory, New Orleans sobers up Mary Foster & Stacey Plaisance
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — By dawn on Wednesday, stately St. Charles Avenue, where tens of thousands spent Mardi Gras feasting, drinking and scrambling for beads, was cleared of mountains of trash left behind by revelers. New Orleans’ iconic green streetcars again clacked along the tracks, and in the French Quarter stragglers mustered what energy they could as the exodus of visitors began. Later, churches in the heavily Catholic city filled with the faithful as Ash Wednesday ushered in the season of Lent.
At the international airport, officials reported a steady outflow of visitors, many draped in beads they’d snatched at the stream of parades that reached its peak on Fat Tuesday. Airport spokeswoman Michelle Wilcut said the trinkets were a headache for TSA security officers but passengers were moving along nicely to waiting aircraft. Traffic on streets around hotels was backed up Wednesday as cabs picked up departing tourists. Bourbon Street was immaculate with debris removed and streets washed down. It was mostly deserted except for a long line of beer and liquor delivery trucks restocking depleted bars.
“To put it simply, Mardi Gras 2012 rocked,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who entered Wednesday’s news conference singing “Iko Iko,” a traditional Mardi Gras song. The event was expected to exceed the $300 million economic impact of Mardi Gras 2010, Landrieu said. Although arrests were up over last year, Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said that was because of a crackdown on both curfew violations by teenagers, and activity that infringed on the rights of others. There were two shootings near parade routes, including one Mardi Gras night, but they resulted in only minor injuries, police said.
do something, we must do it soon, and we must do it well,” Johnson said. Winnfield described the need for action in a story about his grandson whose life was changed as a result of being the victim of bullying. “Let’s save our children. Bullying hurts. Bullying destroys,” Winnfield said. Irvin described the psychological perspective of bullying on both sides of the action. “We have to pay close attention. You have to be willing to discuss the discrepancies. We have to be willing to understand what is awful and alarming. We pretend something isn’t happening or hope that it would go away,” Irvin said. Irvin urged conference
participants to consider the ways that bullying is impacting the community and be willing to face it head on. “We have to become more comfortable with coming to help and seeking help,” Irvin said. Merrick concluded the panel opening the floor to questions from participants. Questions ranged from policy to addressing bullying from varying perspectives and levels. Panelists were selected by Barbara Carpenter, dean of Southern University International and Continuing Education. Following the panel discussion participants were given the opportunity to discuss and write down things to be addressed in the community to fight against bullying.
Call to Action from page 1 what I was good at doing. We work at building up those that are being bullied, for those doing the bullying we have group. To show the positives within themselves, and turn it around as if they were getting bullied,” Joffrion said. Johnson addressed where bullying becomes a crime and the legal repercussions of bully behavior. “Bullying doesn’t always happen in school. Kids get put out of school and are struggling to move on. While hard bullying in the community crimes are being committed,” Johnson said. Johnson shared audio of a plea she heard from a teen who was the victim of bullying and retaliated against the bully. “It’s not a crisis it’s past a crisis or an issue. We must
“Children who get bullied often stand out due to physical appearance, gender orientation, intellect, socioeconomic background, religious background and are profiled as non-threatening,” Cerullo said. Cerullo engaged and encouraged parents, teachers, and conference participants in effective strategies and plans for handling bullying. “Every organization has to have a clear and specific policy for bullying. Fighting back is not an effective strategy,” Cerullo said. Girls tend to be social bullies while boys are likely to be verbal or physical bullies. “Kids aren’t born bad, they are victims of society, and their external variables. No child comes out of the womb bad,” Cerullo said. Signs of children being bullied include; Cuts, bruises, scratches, lacerations, headaches, stomach aches, damaged or missing belongings, withdrawal/shyness, anxiety, depression and even aggression. “Children who bully, come from any economic, cultural or religious backgrounds. It often starts in late elementary or middle school,” Cerullo said.
CATS Service from page 1 role in this election, and could be the decisive proof of voters who make this thing successful. “I’ve been an organizer for 10 years and I don’t know if I’ve seen such a deep and interesting voting registration effort on a campus anywhere,” said Bagert. “I think the students are doing something extraordinary.” If it does pass, then there will be really significant improvements to the system including Southern. Wait times will be decreased, there will be express lines straight from Southern to downtown. “The shuttle is my only means of transportation when I’m in Baton Rouge,” said Kathrine Taylor, an English major from Dallas. “I work, and without the CATS system I will have to quit my job.” To register to vote please contact Joseph Sam, Willie E. McCorkle, III or Ebony Yarbrough. Voting will take place at the F.G. Clark Activity Center. “I think the big story is Southern University and its students and how the are trying to shed light on how massive the threat is,” said Bagert. It all hangs in this election … if its successful we’ll have an entirely new level of transit and much better service to Southern. If it fails then everything shuts down including the Southern shuttle. March 20 is the last day to register to vote and main voting is April 21.
State & Nation southerndigest.com
Page 4 - Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Supreme Court to review racial preference Mark Sherman
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is setting an election-season review of racial preference in college admissions, agreeing Tuesday to consider new limits on the contentious issue of affirmative action programs. A challenge from a white student who was denied admission to the University of Texas flagship campus will be the high court’s first look at affirmative action in higher education since its 2003 decision endorsing the use of race as a factor. This time around, a more conservative court could jettison that earlier ruling or at least limit when colleges may take account of race in admissions. In a term already filled with health care, immigration and political redistricting, the justices won’t hear the affirmative action case until the fall. But the political calendar
will still add drama. Arguments probably will take place in the final days of the presidential election campaign. A broad ruling in favor of the student, Abigail Fisher, could threaten affirmative action programs at many of the nation’s public and private universities, said Vanderbilt University law professor Brian Fitzpatrick. A federal appeals court upheld the Texas program at issue, saying it was allowed under the high court’s decision in Grutter vs. Bollinger in 2003 that upheld racial considerations in university admissions at the University of Michigan Law School. But there have been changes in the Supreme Court since then. For one thing, Justice Samuel Alito appears more hostile to affirmative action than his predecessor, Sandra Day O’Connor. For another, Justice Elena Kagan, who might be expected to vote with the court’s liberal-leaning justices in
PHOTO BY J. Scott applewhite/ap file photo
The U.S. Supreme Court is setting an election-season review of racial preference in college admissions, agreeing Tuesday to consider new limits on the contentious issue of affirmative action programs.
support of it, is not taking part in the case. Kagan’s absence probably is a result of the Justice Department’s participation in the Texas case in the lower courts at a time when she served as the Obama administration’s solicitor general. Fisher, of Sugar Land, Texas, filed a lawsuit along with another woman when they were denied admission at the university’s
U.S. stocks fall as Europe frets over Greece Samantha Bomkamp The Associated Press
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks fell Wednesday as investors worried over the details of a new bailout plan for Greece. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 44 points to 12,921 just after noon Eastern. The day before, it briefly touched 13,000 for the first time since May 2008. The Dow has been trading at or near fouryear highs for three weeks. “The market has done well in the face of some pretty low expectations,” said Todd Salamone of Schaeffer’s Investment Research. “Right now we’re just seeing a few speed bumps.” Salamone said he believes investors will continue to focus more on negative news overseas despite a slew of better news on the U.S. economy. Last week Congress extended the payroll tax cut and the government reported that claims for unemployment benefits dropped to their lowest level since the financial crisis. In other trading, the Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 6 points to 1,356. Energy and health care were the only sectors gaining ground. Financial stocks lost the most. The Nasdaq composite index lost 15 points to 2,933. European markets were broadly lower. Earlier in Asia, stocks mostly rose even after a fairly weak Chinese manufacturing survey. Investors are worrying that Greece’s new $172 billion deal may not be enough to keep the debt-laden from eventually
defaulting and possibly exiting the euro. The Greek debt deal also requires private sector bondholders to forgive $141 billion in Greek debt by taking a loss on the face value of their bonds and accepting longer repayment periods and lower interest rates. Among the concerns are that the bailout package does not include measures to boost economic growth. The Greek economy is entering its fifth year of recession. Fitch ratings agency downgraded Greece further into junk status Wednesday morning following the bailout deal. Among U.S. stocks making big moves: — Computer maker Dell Inc. fell 6 percent after reporting an 18 percent drop in first-quarter profit late Tuesday, hurt by slow sales to government agencies, tough competition from Apple Inc. and flooding in Thailand that disrupted its supply chain. — Toll Brothers Inc. fell 3 percent after the luxury homebuilder posted a firstquarter loss, but reported an increased number of signed contracts and backlog, important measures for coming months. — GPS maker Garmin Ltd. jumped 9 percent after its fourth-quarter net income rose 25 percent on higher prices and sales. The company’s results and 2012 revenue forecast beat Wall Street’s expectations. — Gannett Co. rose 6 percent, among the most in the S&P, after the media company unveiled a plan to grow revenue and buy back $1.3 billion shares over the next three years.
Austin campus. They contended the school’s race-conscious policy violated their civil and constitutional rights. By then, the two had enrolled elsewhere. The other woman has since dropped out of the case. The state has said that Fisher is a Louisiana State University senior whose impending graduation should bring an end to the lawsuit. But the Supreme Court appeared not to buy that argument Tuesday.
The Project on Fair Representation, which opposes the use of race in public policy, has helped pay Fisher’s legal bills. “This case presents the Court with an opportunity to clarify the boundaries of race preferences in higher education or even reconsider whether race should be permitted at all under the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection,” said Edward Blum, the group’s director.
sPOrts southerndigest.com
the sentinel OF an enlightened student bOdy sinCe 1926
thursday, February 23, 2012 - Page 5
Questions swirl around Jaguars arISTIDE PHIllIPS
The Southern Digest
Southern started spring drills Wednesday with several questions — most of them pointed in the direction of head coach Stump Mitchell. Speculation surfaced that Mitchell, entering his third season at the helm, might leave Southern to go to the NFL to take the running backs coach job for the St. Louis Rams. “I’m only going to answer questions regarding me being here at Southern,” Mitchell said after practice to members of the local media. “This is day one of 15. We’ve got 14 more to go. I’m excited about them. We’ll be here Friday at 10 o’clock to practice. We’ll be back out here Saturday at 10 o’clock to practice.” A media member asked Mitchell whether he will be around for the remaining 14 practices. “Absolutely,” Mitchell replied. According to the St. Louis PostDispatch, Mitchell interviewed with Rams coach Jeff Fisher and visited with members of the coaching staff Monday. In his two seasons on the bluff, Mitchell compiled a 6-16 record — infuriating Jaguars
fans in the process. “It’s got to be huge, we got to win a lot of games … I mean a lot of games and I understand that that’s what I was brought here to do,” Mitchell said. Last year, the Jaguars lost five games last year by seven points or less. Southern finished the 2011 season 4-7. “I was brought here to help the APR, to help enrollment, to help put people in the seats, we haven’t quite done that but hopefully this will be the year,” Mitchell said. Players on the team didn’t seem to take this controversy to heart, possibly because they are out to prove that they are the Jaguars that fans are used to. “It’s easy to focus, everybody just doing their jobs and trying to get better as a whole,” said quarterback J.P. Douglas. Douglas was backing up Dray Joseph, but was promoted to starter when Southern lost backto-back close games to rivals Jackson State and Florida A&M. “The hard work and dedication during the offseason … finally get to showcase our skills with our team and hopefully show the nation what we’re made of,” Douglas said. Interim athletics director, and
PHOTO By TREVOR JaMEs/DIGEsT
Southern head coach Stump Mitchell trails the 20-yard line after passing the play to quarterback J.P. Douglas Wednesday. The Jaguars opened spring drills amid questions of whether Mitchell would bolt for the NFL.
women’s basketball head coach, Sandy Pugh said the fact that an NFL team would be interested in Mitchell speaks volumes. At this moment, however, preparing for the 2012 season — with Mitchell as head coach — is the focus of the football program. “We are real excited about him being back and ready to go everybody is real excited about football and excited about the new recruits he has coming in,” said interim athletics director Sandy Pugh addressing the media about the upcoming season. With new recruits coming in
the summer and fall changing the face of the football team, the coaching staff will also have a change in faces. Defensive coordinator O’Neill Gilbert and assistant coach Ricky Diggs will not be on the Jaguars staff next year. Defensive line coach Tayrone Odums has been promoted to the defensive coordinator position while former kicker Breck Ackley has taken on Diggs’ role. Manny Martin has taken over as defensive backs coach, Mitchell said. Martin, who left a head coaching position at Dillard
SU takes two at MLB Invitational arISTIDE PHIllIPS
The Southern Digest
HOUSTON — The Southern baseball team opened the season at sixth annual MLB Urban Invitational, which was supposed to be held at Sylvester Turner Park, the site of Major League Baseball’s local Urban Youth Academy. However, inclement weather forced the three-day event to Minute Maid Park, the site of the Houston Astros. PHOTO By TREVOR JaMEs/DIGEsT The Jaguars spent the weekend playing Southern catcher Clint Ourso slides safely at home plate during MLB Urban Southwestern Athletic Conferences foes Invitational game against Alabama State. The Jags took two of theSunday’s three games played Prairie View A&M and Alabama State at Minute Maid Park. along with the University of California at “Wilmy said he wanted to be a leader only one hit. Irvine. In day two, the Jaguars faced UCThe Jaguars (2-2) blanked Prairie View in his senior year and I think he proved 6-0 Friday, lost 5-1 to UC-Irvine and that with two big hits with two strikes Irvine, were they hung with UCI through knocked off Alabama State 10-2 in the in the first inning and that big bomb in three innings keeping the score tied at the ninth inning,” Cador said regarding zero, but fell apart in the fourth falling to Sunday getaway game. the Anteaters 5-1. On Friday, the Southern came out Marrero’s performance against PV. The Jaguars actually took the lead “He may have a special year because strong defensively, not allowing any runs and only allowing four hits and he’s focus and he wants to do well and we in the bottom of the first when Steven committed zero errors shutting out the put him in center field that is something Wallace hit a double to the left-center wall, scoring Taylor Roy and taking a 1-0 else he wanted to do as well”. Panthers. Junior Jessie Holiday pitched for five lead. But the highlight of the game and In the fourth inning, the Jaguars gave probably the first day was Wilmy innings gave up only three hits with 17 at Marrero, the Houston native hit a 315- bats, Josh Powell pitch for the remainder up two runs and three hits and committed of the game striking out six and giving up an error in the process. foot homerun to the left wall.
High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., coached New York Giants defensive end Jason PierrePaul and Michigan quarterback Dennard Robinson earlier in his prep coaching career. “Coach Manny Martin, he was a coach in high school in Miami he played at Alabama State, so he’s familiar with the SWAC,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got some guys coming in from Miami so I wanted them to have a coach that they can relate to hopefully they can relate to all of us but to have someone from that area I thought would benefit those guys.”
The Jaguars ended the game giving up eight combined hits with three pitchers (Jose DeLeon, Daniel Garcia, and Santos Saldivar) and committing three errors. “Our pitching didn’t fall apart we made a couple of mistakes and we just didn’t hit the ball,” Cador said after the game. “We didn’t do it today so hopefully we’ll chalk it up as a learning experience.” And learned the Jaguar did in their final day at Minute Maid Park. With an open roof, Southern was hitting on all cylinders against Alabama State. The Hornets had a total of 20 freshmen on the roster and the argument can be made that due to a lack of experience the SU team was able to cruise to victory. The Jaguars took advantage of the inexperience Hornet pitchers getting 13 hits. The majority of the Jaguars runs came in the third inning, where Southern scored five runs. Roy was the first to score off Marrero’s double off the left field wall, which was came close to being his second home run of the season. “That’s really what baseball is about hitting pitching and defending,” Cador said. “So we did all of it well today and you know I told my players after yesterday they faced three of the better arms in college baseball.” The Jaguars finished the Mardi Gras break Tuesday in Thibodaux, La., taking on Nicholls State. Errors, which cost Southern dearly against UC-Irvine, did so again against the homestanding Colonels. Southern committed three errors, and stranded nine batters in a 10-3 loss to Nicholls State.
Culture southerndigest.com
Page 6 - Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
New black history museum rising on National Mall Brett Zongker
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Frederick Douglass was black and that was enough for the Smithsonian Institution to bar the famed abolitionist from speaking at a lecture series intended to convince President Abraham Lincoln that he should end slavery as war divided the nation in February 1862. A century and a half later, the country’s first black president helped break ground on a National Mall museum meant to give voice to the AfricanAmerican experience long ignored by the chief repository of U.S. history and heritage. The 19th Smithsonian museum, set to open in 2015, will rise on ground where “lives were once traded, where hundreds of thousands once marched for jobs and for freedom,” President Barack Obama said. “It was here that the pillars of democracy were built often by black hands.” The Smithsonian’s silencing of Douglass, who had escaped from slavery and rose to national
prominence, was just one example of the museum’s long neglect of black culture and contributions. “Well into the 20th century, curators purposefully excluded African-American history,” said Richard Kurin, the undersecretary for history, art and culture at the museum complex. Obama said the National Museum of African American History and Culture would ensure that the sometimes difficult, often inspirational role that blacks have played will not be forgotten. The museum, a seven-level structure with much of its exhibit space below ground, will rise between the Washington Monument and the National Museum of American History. A bronze-coated “corona,” a crown that rises as an inverse pyramid, will be its most distinctive feature. Organizers said the bronze plates are inspired by African-American metalwork from New Orleans and Charleston, S.C., and that the design evokes African roots.
The museum will showcase Harriet Tubman’s shawl, a Jim Crow-era segregated railroad car and Emmett Till’s casket, as well as galleries devoted to military, sports and entertainment history. “We will have stories that will make you smile and stories that will make you cry,” the museum’s director, Lonnie Bunch , told The Associated Press. Congress has pledged to provide half the $500 million cost. The museum already has a gallery at the Smithsonian’s American history museum with rotating exhibits to showcase its new collection and test different approaches with visitors. The newest exhibit explores Thomas Jefferson’s ownership of slaves and his advocacy against slavery, while also looking at the lives of six slave families who lived on his Monticello plantation in Virginia. Such stories have been missing from the National Mall, and Bunch said that by presenting a fuller view of history and dealing directly with difficult issues such as race, the Smithsonian can
Black College Quiz Show a learning experience Evan Taylor
The Southern Digest
The Black College Quiz Show taught more than just black history knowledge for host GregAlan Williams, Southern University participant Mario Johnson and coach William Moore. Williams, Johnson and Moore benefited from a professional and competitive relationship between coaches and students. “The most memorable moments for me were the relationships between the students and the faculty mentors who prepared for the quiz show. The mentors travel and support their students up until the very moment they start answering questions,” Williams said. Mario Johnson, a senior physics major from Kansas City, Kan., described the relationship between him and coach Moore that trained him up to win fourth place in the 2012 Ford Black College Quiz competition. “We’ve built up a decent relationship. He knows my learning style and when to challenge me. I’ve known him since joining the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge quiz team. He recommended me for the quiz competition,” Johnson said. William Moore, a Southern University chemistry professor has served as a coach for the Honors College since 2001. “The most gratifying part of the experience is to show the students the importance of being broadly educated. I hope I am helping prepare them for a world that expects a person to be knowledgeable
and not one-dimensional,” Moore said. Johnson recalled his experience in the quiz bowl and how he felt representing Southern at the competition at Howard University in Washington, D.C. “It was exhilarating. I was grateful for the opportunity. The best thing was learning more about black history and culture,” Johnson said. Moore described the relationship formed between him and Johnson through the coaching process for quiz bowls. “I have coached Mario Johnson for the past three years. This is the fourth year. We have established a good working relationship and a relationship built on mutual respect. Because of our competitive nature I believe we got along well,” Moore said. Moore called Johnson’s performance commendable out of the 12 schools invited Johnson placed fourth and was awarded a $750 scholarship. “When we reviewed we wanted the students to learn about the conditions. Learning beyond a single answer. We discussed answers; I didn’t just accept an answer. That can establish a sense of chronology; what events happened and in what time frame,” Moore said. Williams discussed the format of the show, categories and preparations. “It is an interesting and exciting ‘Jeopardy’-style format show. All the questions are comprised of black history, pop culture, music and entertainment. The questions are made up by Ph.Ds. and students spend quite a bit of time studying,” Williams said.
PHOTO By susan walsh/ap photo
First lady Michelle Obama meets Piper Shillingford, 4, from Stuyvesant Heights Montessori Academy in Brooklyn, N.Y., with President Barack Obama, right, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington Wednesday.
present a fuller view of what it means to be an American. “What this museum can do is if we tell the unvarnished truth in a way that’s engaging and not preachy, what I think will happen is that by illuminating all the dark corners of the American
experience, we will help people find reconciliation and healing,” he said. Curators estimate that 15,000 to 20,000 artifacts are in hand. Bunch estimates they will need about 35,000 to choose from to create permanent galleries.
Commentary southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Thursday, February 23, 2012 - Page 7
Add something to the gumbo SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SUITE 1064 T.H. HARRIS HALL POST OFFICE BOX 10180 BATON ROUGE, LA 70813 PHONE: 225.771.2231 FAX: 225.771.5840 ONLINE @ www.southerndigest.com
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Louisiana markets and publicizes itself on its unique culture. A mixture of hues, colors, backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, educations, philosophies, rituals, practices, religions and more similar to the popular food gumbo. In the gumbo, every flavor and part is unique. Without one another the gumbo would not be the same. Without the roux it would the consistency of chicken noodle soup. Without the meat and seafood it would be a vegetable soup. Without the trinity it would be a mess of protein in a bowl. The trinity; onions, celery, and bell peppers, sets the tone and serves as a seasoning foundation for the gumbo. Without it the gumbo would not be so dynamic it would resemble any common broth based soup. The roux, the thickener. Consists of only butter/lard and flour but, makes the gumbo different. It creates a hybrid between a soup and a stew. The okra can be crisp and floating or it can cook down until the slime has expelled and the seeds are spread throughout the gumbo. No matter which way it adds a distinct and unique flavor to every spoonful. The sausage — whether andouille or Manda — is distinct, charred on the outside and juicy on the inside. The chicken, on the bone or off, adds a special texture as the gumbo cooks down shredding and tenderizing the poultry. The shrimp, crawfish and crab
Evan Taylor are just a little lagniappe, something extra. All this represents some of the heritage of Louisiana, the food cultivated here. Whether you eat it with rice or not, the bowl of gumbo cannot be made of just anything, it must contain the best and freshest ingredients. It time for us to start making our own gumbo. We can’t invite someone over to our house and let them use our kitchen. You wouldn’t have company over with a dirty house or want someone to show up unexpected and catch you off guard. We have to start with the freshest ingredients. Ripe, young, experienced people with fresh ideas and perspective in the Legislature. It’s time to choose people for the change they can make and not to keep things the same. Not their namesake but for their plan and knowledge of the game. We must be willing to stir the roux. Not just until we can add some
liquid or until our hands get tired but until it’s right. If it gets burnt we must be willing to start over. Everyone makes mistakes but when the mistakes hinder progress it’s time to re-evaluate their position and effectiveness. Sometimes it’s not the person it’s the plan that need reevaluating. We must be willing to make our gumbo unique. The governor, mayors, city councils, boards and cabinets must represent us. We are different hues, backgrounds, educations, cultures and philosophies. Our government should represent that not contradict it. We must be willing to throw in some lagniappe. Volunteer, mentor, reach back, donate (time and money) and do deeds because you can. Our communities, cities, towns and state are what we make it. If we put in the time to make them better others will be willing to invest in our prosperous future. We need to be willing to fight when necessary, be diplomatic and cordial and make the system work for us not against us. So, I’m offering you the gumbo baby! Take it or leave it. The gumbo was not cheaply made, didn’t skimp on the seafood, and is fully loaded. That’s because I made it that way. (Lady from Popeye’s commercial’s voice) How will you contribute to the Southern University, Baton Rouge, or Louisiana gumbo?
What happened to ‘on demand?’ What follows Generation X, the “lost generation,” the people who don’t trust institutions but hold to an “It’s my money and I want it now” instinct/ attitude? The answer is … Generation Y, also referred to as the millennials. Generation Y is supposedly the more educated and sophisticated generation that lacks social action but understands the irrelevance and political corruption of institutions, in other words those who “occupy” certain places without true action being forced. We, Generation Y, need to get back to the “on demand” attitude that our predecessors had. What’s so wrong with presenting a list of demands to a presiding committee informing them of how we feel towards a certain issue? It’s obvious that we may acquire a limited vision to a certain agenda but we are absolutely aware of issues we don’t want to happen or occur. For instance, in reference to SU, the faculty and some students didn’t want to declare financial exigency for the Baton Rouge campus. When the declaration was set forth in public for the first time, community members, students, and faculty came out in unison to vocalize their feelings on the matter. Due to the overwhelming crowd in appearance, who adamantly opposed the
Billy Washington declaration, the declaration wasn’t passed. It wasn’t until the following board meeting, when all the energy from the brief victory withered down, the declaration was passed with a 14-0 vote. According to a study conducted by USA Today, the millennial generation “rewrote the rules” but compared to Generation X, in my opinion we haven’t done that much to live up to that label. Using the prior example, why aren’t those who attended the first board meeting still fighting against the declaration of financial exigency? Why do we gain a lot of energy and become mad for a moment at a particular unjust situation, but all of a sudden forget about the whole problem? That’s the main difference I observe between Generation X and Y.
If we look back through the annals of SU history, the Smith and Brown incident was a pure example of having an “on demand” attitude. According to the Advocate, Denver Smith, Leonard Brown and a group of faculty members and students simply presented a list of demands to the administrators, which included better housing conditions, better classroom settings and a bold voice in policymaking decisions. Smith, Brown and others of that generation made their imprint in history, by making sure their demands were taken seriously. Unfortunately, Smith and Brown lost their lives for the cause of a better and competitive SU, which is a risk Generation Y is apparently afraid of. In our claim of being sophisticated and supposedly better educated, our senators, board committee members, and congressmen offices should be bombarded with letters, emails, and phone calls voicing our concerns, our input, and our disapproval of certain unjust conditions, in this case SU financial management, operations and procedures. We, Generation Y, need to challenge ourselves and become more involved with what’s going on around us within our communities and our everyday settings for it’s every human beings obligation to make a difference for the next generation to appreciate.
Page 8 - Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926