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Thursday, January 26, 2012
www.southerndigest.com
Volume 58, Issue 1
Pilots, action high points for ‘Red Tails’
SU hoops continue winning ways
Obama challenges Republicans see State & Nation, Page 4
see Culture, page 8
see Sports, Page 5
Official: Tripped breaker caused blackout James Teague
The Southern Digest
An unexpected blackout caught Southern University students off guard last Thursday when the entire campus including the campus living areas at the back of campus lost power. Rumors circulated whether construction knocked out power or whether inclement weather was in the area that would have caused the outage. Voice and data lines were lost due to a construction error just days before. Richard Trollier, Superintendent of the Central Plant and Electrical Systems, said that there was an energy breaker that was triggered and that it came from the Swan Street substation. When asked about if the blackout was done intentionally,
said Trollier, “No. It was a circuit breaker that tripped”. The timing of the blackout on campus was said to have
are three circuits that control the power in the whole campus. “Circuit one feeds the central plant. Circuit two feeds the main
world literature class at the time of the blackout. “While we were in our class, the power went out and the
“Soon as we got word of the outage, we went over the substation north of T.T. Allain and found that there was no power.”
Richard Trollier Supt. of Central Plant and Electrical Systems occurred between 2:50 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Before it occurred, there were numerous students that were either in their dorm rooms, classes, in the library, or in the union killing some time before their next class. Students were at awe as to how and why the power just all of a sudden went off. According to Trollier, there
campus, and circuit three feeds areas north of the ravine, mainly the dormitory area,” Trollier said. He explained that the plant had no control over Entergy and that they are responsible once the power on the campus goes out. Senior history major Darryl Waker said that he was in his
classroom got dark. We were forced to evacuate from the building the minute after,” Waker said. Senior History major Henry Maiden said that once the power went out that he took it upon himself to look for his teacher and once he found her, they officially cancelled class and he headed out to his next class. He
described the incident as a “mass confusion” for students. Even though the power went out on the entire campus, the power in the dorms and apartments didn’t go off immediately after the front campus power went out. Sophomore History major Imani Robinson said that she wasn’t aware of the power outage on campus at first because the power where she was didn’t go off until later. “Soon as we got word of the outage, we went over to the substation north of T.T. Allain and found that there was no power,” said Trollier. “We contacted Entergy to reset the breaker and the power came back one. Once the power was back on, we made sure that the breakers at the substation didn’t go off.”
Service Learning helps CSS to offer students free students get foot in the door paper review service Christie Carral
The Southern Digest
Over 20 years ago, the Southern University Board of Supervisors mandated service learning as a requirement for all undergraduate students to graduate. Southern University was one of the first public schools in the country to implement the service learning program. The program was designed to provide an integrated service learning program into the academic curricula of all students. Over 250 community, governmental, civic agencies and non-profit organizations are a part of the service learning opportunities that students get to choose to serve in. Kristin Gordon, coordinator and instructor of service learning, stated that she has been a part of the program for over 8 years. “We try to accommodate all students,” said Gordon, “students with jobs, families, etc. We help them with their schedules and time management.” With this program implemented into the curricula, it gives students a sense of profession said Lori Hitchens, adjunct service learning instructor The requirements of the service learning program is to reach a minimum of 60 clock hours of volunteer service before graduation. Dr. Barbara Carpenter, director of service learning, has been with the program since it’s initiation and has witnessed many students’ success in the
program. According to Carpenter the program does not only offer service, but also it gives to the community. “It’s just not good for a degree,” exclaimed Carpenter. “It gives students opportunities.” According to Carpenter when students are finished with their service hours, if they are offered a job at their agencies, they can happily accept. Carpenter stated that the service learning program hosts 2 food drives a year and an annual school supplies drive. “Students must understand there are many more people less fortunate than them,” Carpenter said. The agencies that have provided for the students range from educational sites, such as schools, health sites, human services and youth development. Due to the thriving excellence of the Service Learning program at SU, it has been nationally recognized for the President of the United State’s honor roll for more than five years. With volunteering of the students, the Greater Baton Rouge community has experienced a dynamic economic impact. According the Center for Service Learning, The economic impact to Baton Rouge is invaluable... Contributing hours in jobs of positions such as assistant teachers, assistant coaches, data entry clerks, tutors, recreational therapists, hospice care, and clerical work. Service learning led a drive to provide See Service page 3
Marcus Green
The Southern Digest
The Southern University Center For Student Success is looking to assist students this year with their writing and improve their overall English skills by offering a free paper review service. Both undergraduates and graduates are encouraged to stop by room 107 in Stewart Hall with their papers, where they will be reviewed by English tutors for things such as; clarity, grammatical errors, sentence structure, and thesis statements. Students should be aware that their paper must be submitted at least 24 hours before it is assigned to be turned in to their instructor. Jewell L. Ricard, Administrative Assistant in the Center For Student Success said, “We are working in conjunction with the English Department and they will help out in any way they can.” Ricard mentioned the qualifications that tutors have to read and review essay assignments. “Our English tutors all have at least a 3.0 and read and write very well,” Ricard said. The mission of the Center for Student Success is to provide students with the support that will strengthen their academic performance and promote student success and retention. “This is our first time doing this paper review service but we hope it turns out to be a great success,” Ricard said. To improve even more of students
the official student newspaper of southern university and A&m college, baton rouge, louisiana
writing skills, The Center For Student Success will be hosting English workshops every Friday at 10a.m. beginning on Jan. 27 in Stewart Hall Auditorium. These workshops will educate students on descriptive, illustration, process, definition, classification, comparison, cause/effect, and argumentation essays as well as a workshop on research papers. Students currently taking English 110 and 111 will find these workshops the most beneficial as these essays will be covered in their classes. Students are required to take a writing proficiency examination at the end of 110 and 111 that measures the basic writing skills of students. Students currently taking English courses gave their thoughts on the free paper review service and whether or not they’d use it. Mike Phillips, mass communications major said, “I feel this can be very beneficial for anyone in need of improving their writing skills. I would definitely use it.” Some students are undecided about the review service said that while it sounds like a good idea, there are certain online services that will do the same thing in a more timely fashion. Taylor Johnson, English major said, “I used a website called www.paperrater. com to check my papers for errors. It was quick, easy, and free.” While it is unclear how successful this Free Paper Review Service will be, it is comforting to know that Southern students have these resources available to them during their collegiate journey.