The March 1 Issue of The Southern Digest

Page 1

STATE & NATION

SPORTS

VIEWPOINTS

Gov. urges Dems to return to work. pg. 4

Also: SU men face long odds. pg. 5

Knowing what’s going on. pg. 7

protests continue in Wis.

a dose of reality

su’s winning streak snapped

estABLished in 1928

WWW.SOUTHERNDIGEST.COM

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2011

VOL. 57, ISSUE 10

Clayton mum on Jindal meeting By norman J. dotson Jr. diGest editor-iN-chieF

“We must do better,” according to Board of Supervisors board member Tony Clayton at Friday’s Southern University System Board meeting in regards to Southern-New Orleans. During the public comment portion of the meeting Clayton spoke about his meeting with Gov. Bobby Jindal in recent weeks. Without apologizing for his actions, he gave little insight on what he and the governor met about. The major issue was the study involving SUNO. “First of all I offer up no apologies for meeting with the governor of Louisiana, he’s a friend of mine. If he calls me tomorrow I would meet with him again; as I expect any of you would,” said Clayton. “Now inside that meeting there was never a conversation between the governor and myself that said close SUNO, not one time. The governor spoke of his study of SUNO.” Clayton went on to say that he

spoke in defense of SUNO and always will. He also gave out a few statistics on graduation rates at other institutions as well to show that many other campuses have low graduation rates across the state and not just SUNO. “I tell you that SUNO is a part of my family and I continue to fight for SUNO. I say that to say this SUNO has to do better Dr. Ukpolo, SUNO has to increase its graduation rates,” Clayton said to Ukpolo. “I say that and I know SUNO will do better.” Clayton also stated that during his talk with Jindal he proposed a few things such as an ROTC program ran by Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré at SUNO or offering night classes from Baton Rouge on the campus. He also warned that when “you point the finger at SUNO you have three more pointing back at you” and that there has to be some changes at SUNO. “SUNO should be here today, it should be here tomorrow, and I know that we will make the necessary changes at SUNO,”

Debate continues for guns By charles haWkins diGest coNtribUtiNG Writer

photo By norman J. dotson Jr./digest

southern University board of supervisors member tony clayton gave few details about his meeting with Louisiana Gov. bobby Jindal during Friday’s board meeting.

Clayton said, he went on to challenge the board to run their own study at SUNO and show how SUNO impacts the area. Also during the public comment section Jason Hughes gave his input on the situation surrounding SUNO and what

the leadership of the university must do in these dire times. “My love for Southern runs deep in my heart, but Mr. Chairman my heart troubles See clayton page 3

Goodwin discusses education with students By samantha smith diGest staFF Writer

Forum featuring speaker Dr. Susan Goodwin focused on creating a learner centered environment and campus accountability. The forum was sponsored and hosted by Southern University’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. The CTLE is Southern University’s hub of retention services. Its key purpose is to increase the percentage of students who are retained and ultimately complete their program of study on time. Dr. Susan Goodwin’s presentation is the first to be sponsored by CTLE.

Dr. Goodwin facilitated a group discussion with students about their role as African American students at a Historically Black College/ University. She opened the discussion by posing the question: What is education and what is the purpose of education? After several students had given their interpretations of education and its purpose, Goodwin said, “To establish your place in your own mind and to remain connected to your best self is the purpose of education.” Goodwin provided her own purpose to education. She continued, “Education is our ancestors and elders having

conversations with the current generation” In our tradition teachers are elders, family, and community builders. In order to create a learner centered environment teachers should use question driven practices for acquiring new knowledge and making meaning of new material. She emphasized that becoming educated is acquiring cultural knowledge; information, skills, attitudes, conceptions, beliefs, values, and other mental components of culture that people socially learn, as it relates to our education. She stressed that in order for students to think and act in the best interest of themselves and their community they must

learn how to think critically to produce knowledge that counteracts the socio-historical patterns of race, class, and gender restrictions. “Culture is learned. In this atmosphere we have to learn to counteract what is being taught to us by being able to out think it, in order to keep our spirit intact and whole,” said Goodwin Dr. Goodwin also discussed the relationship between professionalism and moral leadership. “When we talk about, how I got over in our tradition, it meant how I got over morally See goodwin page 3

In the wake of highly publicized college murders, handguns on campuses are being considered for legalization. For now though, Southern University is not one of those campuses. As far as Southern is concerned that’s not even in consideration. Utah’s state House of Representatives has already passed House Bill 75 in midFebruary, and many other states such as Texas are looking into passing it as well. Students and teachers have responded with mixed reactions on this issue; no matter the decision it will have a serious impact on college campuses this fall. This could have a serious impact on college campuses this fall. However, the last “guns on campus” bill in Louisiana failed to pass the state House in 2008. “The law is what matters,” said Interim Southern University Police Chief Terry Landry. Referring to the current law on Southern University’s campus that is considered a gun free zone. He continued, “ Education, tolerance, and respect is key; not guns.” Under the current weapons policy, guns are prohibited by state law and departmental regulation. Southern University’s crime statistics display that in the last three years there have been zero homicides on the campus. “We are here to learn, not shoot at cows,” says Don Batiste, a junior marketing major from Baton Rouge. He also went onto say that stricter gun laws would not change much because if people are willing to kill than they obviously do not care about the See campus guns page 3

THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE DIGEST WILL BE FRIDAY, MARCH 18. SUNNY HIGH

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INSIDE S O U T H E R N

CAMPUS BRIEFS...............2 STATE & NATION................4  A & E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 NEWS.............................3  SPORTS....................6 VIEWPOINTS......................7 U N I V E R S I T Y ,

B A T O N

R O U G E ,

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