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Exclusive content @
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
FAMU emails detail hazing warnings
Today
www.southerndigest.com
Volume 58, Issue 12
Southern overpowers Selma in 3-game sweep see Sports, Page 5
For a century, underground railroad ran south see Culture, Page 6
SGA activities criticized
Non-La. students frustrated James Teague
The Southern Digest
Jessica Sarpy
The Southern Digest
Despite the candidates campaign runs, Romney and Santorum have been the frontrunners for the Republican nomination leading Paul and Gingrich with every passing primary. Gingrich came in third Saturday behind Romney and Santorum, with 29, 665 votes and managed to beat Paul who had only 11,460 votes. Since statehood, Louisiana has been a traditionally conservative state full of middleclass whites and African Americans. According to a CNN poll, about 40 percent of Louisiana voters are still politically conservative. Santorum expected the win, with his campaign driven largely by conservative religious voters who have propelled him to previous victories.
College life hasn’t been an easy adjustment for students; especially for those whom have traveled from outside the comfort of their state to get an education elsewhere in a new state. The outcry coming from students at Southern University is being heard as the subject of improving life on campus for out-of-state students is up for discussion. It’s not easy for out-of-state students dealing with the ongoing problems of school; from dealing with financial aid, finding out that they owe the school money for funds that they have already paid for, the everyday problems at school, worrying about financial stability, and dealing with being homesick. Sean Lawrence, a junior from Carson, Calif., said, “Southern University doesn’t go out of their way to understand certain problems an out-of-state student may have. I don’t have the luxury of living in the area so if I have a problem with something like housing, it may affect me more that someone who is isn’t from here.” Out-of-state students feel as though that the administration is not putting in the time and effort to help make semesters away from home more comfortable. “In regards to out-of-state students, more attention and services should be provided to communication channels,” said Reginald Brown, a senior from Tacoma, Wash. He said administrators could move some departments such as the Registrar’s Office, Residential Life, and the Bursar’s Office into one central area in order to help students who have to go back and forth for campus signatures and paperwork. Some students think that a lot of the staff aside from professors do not possess the proper social skills when it comes to dealing with people. Khalid Washington, a junior from Bloomington, Ill., said, “I am mildly dissatisfied with how outof-state students are treated.” In-state students always have questioned out-of-state students
See La. Primary page 3
See Out-of-State page 3
Members of the Student Government Association are trying to get more students involved in SGA activities by connecting with students through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, but are failing to reach students who do not use these sites. “We’ve had a couple of students complain photo by trevor james/DIGEST over the promotional aspect of our events. We have a couple of people over that and SGA president Demetrius Sumner discusses upcoming student events to occur in the they trying to do better,” said Don Batiste, remainder of the spring semester. SGA stressed their use of social websites and fliers to a junior mass communications major from push their events despite some not so good turn outs. Baton Rouge. For students who actually have the time The SGA has been busy this semester issue of the SGA, “I haven’t attended one. producing programs like the Little Miss SU I never know when they are,” Provost said. to attend events like Melissa McKenzie, a SGA has noticed some of the advertising senior nursing major from New York, they pageant, The Mr. Sophomore pageant, and enjoy them and want more students to I love SU Friday. Some students seemed failures and are addressing them. “We had an event during the fall that had attend. to be bothered by the lack of black history “I like to go to the pageants, they are a bad turn out but for the most part a lot programs last month. Daniel Smith, a freshman from White of stuff turned out well; other things could always entertaining, and it’s more fun Castle, La., said “Southern University is an have been a lot better. I think it was due to when students attend,” McKenzie said. Some of the upcoming SGA events in HBCU. I don’t understand why we didn’t bad promotion,” Batiste said. Aside from advertising issues, another April are: the Mr. Junior pageant will celebrate that more last month.” Other than social networking sites the reason students are not attending SGA be on the fourth of April, the SpringFest SGA has been trying to reach even more events is that they simply don’t have the Greek show will be on the April 27 and the Concert on April 28. time. students through flyers. When asked who will be preforming at Denzel Starks a sophomore music education “A lot of students complained that there weren’t enough flyers out so we are trying major from New Orleans said, “I haven’t the spring fest concert Batiste said, “Right now I can’t really say. We’re still trying to to get more of those circulating around attended one. I never have the time to.” Amethyst Armstrong a senior criminal book people. We tried to get J. Cole but he campus,” said SGA event board member justice major from Bastrop, La. expressed is too expensive.” Don Batiste. “It’s all a working progress. There are Some students like senior child that her time has become more precious. “Due to the fact the I’ve been focused on only four members on the activities team development major from Plaquemine, La., Sylvia Provost have not attended an event graduating in May I haven’t been able to and we all are doing the best we can,” Batiste said. yet this semester due to the advertising attend an event,” Armstrong said.
Santorum takes Louisiana Marcus Green
The Southern Digest
Grand Old Party (GOP) candidate Rick Santorum continued his journey to the Republican nomination with his victory Saturday in the Bayou State’s Republican presidential primary. The win granted Santorum his 11th victory in the primary, and his sixth conservative Southern state win over frontrunner Mitt Romney. According to recent polls, Santorum toppled Romney Saturday with an amount of 91, 305 votes to Romney’s 49, 749 votes. All four GOP candidates made campaign stops in Louisiana before the primary, Santorum in New Orleans, Newt Gingrich in Lake Charles, Pineville and New Orleans, Mitt Romney in Shreveport, and Ron Paul in Pineville and Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.
the official student newspaper of southern university and A&m college, baton rouge, louisiana
Campus Life southerndigest.com
Page 2 - Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Classifieds
Res Life applications available
The department of Residence Life and Housing announces Summer and Fall 2012 housing applications are available. Go to www.housing.subr.edu; type it, print it, and bring it in by May 1.
PETS
Two American Kennel Club registered male and female English Bulldog puppies for a single family home. Contact victor at victorpotter58@ yahoo.com.
Career Services CDs and DVDs
Southern University office of Career Services invites you to come pick up “What can I do with this degree” or “Suit up for Success” DVDs. Both discs will be available while supplies last. Contact Career Services at 225.771.2200 for more information.
Campus Briefs today Campus Access
Harding Boulevard will be the sole entrance/exit between the hours of 10 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 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. the following Monday morning. Please contact Lt. Floyd Williams at 771-2770 for more details.
College of Education Job Fair
College of Education will sponsor it’s Spring Teacher job fair today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in F.G. Clark Activity Center. Please contact the college for more information at 225.771.3944. Grad Fair
Critical University Dates
Students receiving their degrees during the Spring Commencement need order their Cap and Gown, Invitations, Rings, Stoles, and Diploma Frames on Wednesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 29 at the Southern University Bookstore from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. A late/rush fee of $20 will be applied to all Cap and Gown orders after April 9th. Faculty members participating in the Fall Commencement are also encouraged to order or rent their Regalia during the Graduation Preparation Days. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/ southernuniversitybookstore, or call the SU Bookstore at 225.771.4330.
The last day to withdraw from a course this semester and from the university this semester is March 30. Contact the Registrars office for more information. Spring Break is April 6-15. Registration for online maymester, summer 2012 and Fall 2012 begins April 9. Bookstore new hours
The SU Bookstore has new hours. The bookstore will be open from 8a.m. until 5p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 9a.m. until 2p.m. on Fridays. It will be closed good Friday but will be open during Spring Break from 8am-3pm. Parking Appeals Committee
Revival Concert
The university is compiling members to serve on the University Parking Appeals Committee. Each member serves a one-year term. Representatives will be comprised of representatives from SGA, The Faculty and Staff Senates, the Law Center, and SU Ag Center.
The Charles Lloyd vocal ensemble will present “Revival” on March 28 at 7 p.m. in Debose recital hall. The concert is a part of the SU Music department’s concert series, “The Black Composer speaks: The African American ‘classical’ tradition.” This concert is free and open to the public.
School of Nursing Applications
Applications to the School of Nursing for the fall 2012 semester are now available online at www.subr.edu. Click on Academic Affairs and follow the School of Nursing Undergraduate Program link. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2012. All students must meet the following criteria: have been admitted to Southern University-B.R., have a cumulative grade point average of 2.6 or above, submission of ACT/SAT scores and Writing Proficiency and completion of all courses listed in the first three semesters of the nursing curriculum plan with a minimum grade of “C”. Ronald McNair Scholars
The Ronald E. McNair scholars program invites students with an interest in a Ph. D, 3.0 or higher GPA, first generation college students and students who will have at least 60 hours at the completion of Spring 2012; to apply for the scholar program. Contact Janeal Banks, coordinator in Higgins Hall room 208D.
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Who’s Speaking Out? What was your response to the Trayvon Martin killing?
Chiza Onyenekwu
Tyrell Fairley
Nigeria senior Nursing
Baton Rouge senior Mechanical engineering
“I think it was totally wrong for the police to not Onyenekwu have pressed charges on the guy that shot and killed him.”
“I feel Zimmerman should have Fairley at least been incarcerated even if it was only for a moment’s time.”
James Eaglin
Desmond Ford
Opelousas, La. Junior pre-med/ chemistry
Newellton, La. Junior criminal justice
“The murder was a racial act towards racism. Eaglin Lots of questions need to be answered in a non-violent manner.”
“This is another case in America that shows how corrupt the legal system is.”
Ford
Student Choice Awards
You have until April 1 to submit nominations for the 2012 student choice awards. Catergories includes who’s who among each class, best car, best fraternity, best sorority, favorite staff, best kicks, best heels, best figure, best physique, best sports team, favorite student leader, Mr. Fresh, Ms. Fancy and best auxiliary. Send your nominations to subr.sga@ gmail.com with names and recent photos. Full body shots are needed for best figure/ physique categories. Writing Proficiency Retake
The writing proficiency retake for graduating seniors only is scheduled for Tuesday April 17 in Harris Hall Room 2024 from 9am-11am. Students must bring a letter from their college dean to prove their status as a Spring 2012 graduate candidate.
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
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - Page 3
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Who exactly is Joseph Kony? Jessica Sarpy
The Southern Digest
Recently, the Kony 2012 campaign has swept the Internet. The Kony 2012 video went viral in a matter of hours after being posted. The purpose of this video is supposed to expose Kony and his rebel group. Joseph Kony is a wanted war criminal. He is also the leader of a rebel group named The Lords Resistance Army (LRA). Other wanted members of the LRA include: Vincent Otti Alleged Vice-Chairman and Okot Odhiambo Secondin-Command of the LRA, Okot Odhiambo Alleged Deputy Army Commander, and Dominic Ongwen Alleged Brigade Commander. The LRA has been known for their cruel and inhumane tactics that range from abducting children from their homes, forcing little boys to kill and girls into becoming sex slaves, to brutal mutilating torture. According to The International Criminal Court (ICC) Kony, Otti, Odhiambo and Ongwen are wanted for: crimes against humanity, pillaging, enslavement, sexual enslavement, rape,
BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity,” according to the BBB’s website. According to the Better Business Bureau criteria, the charity Invisible Children does not meet the requirements to be declared a charity. Some American people do not agree with the Stop Kony movement in fear that it will provoke a new war. “We just suffered for years due to the war in Iraq, I don’t want to see anymore war stuff on the news,” Jennifer Williams a sophomore English major from Monroe said. Another incident effecting the Stop Kony movement is the Russell’s recent outburst. According to abcnews. go.com, “Russell, 33, was photo by stuart price/ap photo taken to a mental health In this Nov. 12, 2006 file photo the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, left, and his deputy facility for observation after Vincent Otti sit inside a tent at Ri-Kwamba in Southern Sudan. A video by the advocacy group Invisible reported him Children about the atrocities carried out by jungle militia leader Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army onlookers roaming naked through the is rocketing into viral video territory and is racking up millions of page views seemingly by the hour. streets of San Diego’s Pacific inducing rape, cruel treatment making Kony famous world because of ‘Invisible Children’ Beach neighborhood, possibly of civilians, inhumane acts wide, but mainly in the charity set up in order to help masturbating, and pounding of inflicting serious bodily United States will show our displaced Ugandans. his fists on the sidewalk. ‘Invisible Children’ has injury and suffering, forced government that we the people “I think he might have too enlistment of children and of America are concerned about declined to show the ways they much on his mind. Maybe the people of Uganda and want allocate their funds, and refuse handling a charity is too much murder. to disclose basic information to for him right now,” Brittany The International Criminal to help. There are already a few the public. Court (ICC), is the first James a freshman general Organizations that comply studies major from Houston permanent, treaty based, dozen American ‘Military international criminal court Advisors’ in place in Uganda, with these accountability said. have provided established to help end but in order for them to stay or standards After his break down Jason impunity for the perpetrators send reinforcements to actually documentation meeting the Russell has not been seen in of the most serious crimes of find Kony and stop the LRA we basic standards including: how the media. they govern their organization, concern to the international have to Make Kony famous. According to abcnews. While the intentions of the ways they spend their go.com, community. The ICC is an Danica Russell, independent international the video Kony 2012 were to money, the truthfulness of Jack Russell’s wife said in a organization, and is not part of produce positive results, there their representations, and their statement. has been an influx of Youtube willingness to disclose basic the United Nations system. “Because of how personal The goal of this video is to videos posted in favor or against information to the public. the film is, many of the attacks “If the report is about a against it were also very the Kony 2012 movement. “Make Kony famous.” Russell’s the stop Kony charity and states the charity personal, and Jason took them According to the video’s creator, Jason Russell by campaign has been criticized meets or does not meet the very hard.”
Out-of-State from page 1
La. Primary from page 1 According to the Associated Press, Santorum said, “I’m not running as a conservative candidate for president. I am the conservative candidate for president.” Even with Santorum’s win over Romney, he still is behind in the race to the 1, 144 delegates needed to win the republican nomination with only 221 delegates to Romney’s 500 delegates. With three months left in primaries, Santorum looks to a sure victory, has managed to stay competitive against Romney and continuously slights president Obama’s campaign. Romney’s well on his way to getting the Republican nomination, already having half the delegates needed and has cast himself as the only GOP candidate with an organization hefty enough to take on President Barack Obama’s campaign. According to the Boston Herald, the former Massachusetts governor has
spent $68 million so far on his campaign; $25.4 million went to fundraising and media ads in primary elections in states. “The other guys are nice folks, but they haven’t organized a campaign with a staff, the organization, the fundraising capacity to actually beat Barack Obama, Romney said on Fox News this month. “I have.” Seemingly without a primary opponent, Obama’s re-election campaign pumped nearly $79 million last month toward laying the groundwork for the general election, and deploying staff to corners of the country such as Laramie, Wyo., and Lebanon, N.H. One of Obama’s leading concerns besides his republican competition is the fate of his health care law. According to the Washington Post, Monday the Supreme Court has begun ruling on the constitutionality of the law, and will be hearing arguments on the
photo by jae c. hong/ap photo
Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum pumps his fist while talking to reporters during a news conference in Green Bay, Wis., Saturday. Santorum won the Louisiana Republican presidential primary Saturday, beating front-runner Mitt Romney in the race to challenge President Barack Obama.
issue through Wednesday. The main dispute over the law is a provision in it that requires individuals to have health insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty. Obama’s healthcare law has
been under constant scrutiny from the GOP presidential candidates and with his reelection holding priority, his campaign has begun highlighting the benefits of the law, hoping to counter it.
about what had made them decide to leave their home state and come to school out in Louisiana. “There was a HBCU convention in my area and I thought that SU would be a good choice for me. I also realized that I had family not far from the school’s location so that helped shape my choice,” Lawrence said. Some out-of-state students may have received a scholarship in either academics or sports. There are also out-of-state students who felt that they needed a change of scenery towards where they would attend school. Most out-of-state students have had family members or relatives that attended Southern in the past that explained to them their HBCU experiences. Different reasons such as culture shock, bad grades, feelings as if needs aren’t being met; contribute to the reasons why outof-state student populations are dropping slowly but surely in the last couple of years.
State & Nation southerndigest.com
Page 4 - Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Emails detail warnings Gary Fineout
The Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The father of a freshman in Florida A&M University’s famed marching band emailed the school’s president in 2007 after getting a series of panicstricken phone calls. The son never described exactly what was happening, but he made it clear he feared getting beaten. “I feel that my son’s future could be in jeopardy,” Donovan Crosby wrote to James Ammons in the email, which is part of public records obtained jointly by The Associated Press and Tallahassee Democrat. Hundreds of pages of records show years of repeated warnings about brutal hazing passed without any serious response from the school’s leadership until last November’s beating death of drum major Robert Champion. A staff member replied to the email, so Crosby called the next day to talk to Ammons directly. Crosby said at first the president reassured him, then repeated the standard line that the school doesn’t condone hazing. Crosby said his son left FAMU after two years and has since struggled with personal problems. He only recently re-enrolled at another college in Florida. “It was the worst decision in his life to go to FAMU,” Crosby said. Police files show that since 2007 nearly two dozen incidents involving the band, fraternities and other student groups have been investigated. But it wasn’t until Champion’s death that the band director was initially fired, the band was suspended, student clubs were halted from recruiting new members and an anti-hazing task force was assembled. Crosby and numerous other
parents over the last several years wrote or called university administrators, band officials or police begging someone at FAMU to keep their son or daughter safe. “After 1 month at FAMU he is broken, indecisive, sad, confused and he wants to come home,” parent Cheryl Walker emailed Ammons. “ ... My son will not quit school, you will not break him, I will see to that but FAMU has lost a hell of a young man and after this semester he will not be back. I pray that GOD will give the administration wisdom and courage to stand up against the stupid idiotic practices that go on (at) this FAMU campus.” Emails show that the hazing was clearly known as a problem to various school officials. William Hudson, a FAMU administrator, wrote to thenvice president for student affairs Roland Gaines in 2009 and asked “Do you think we can have the police talk to the band and put the fear of GOD in them? Even ride by the field during practice?” Gaines replied that the school’s main attorney “met with the band and placed the fear of his office in them. He does this every year. A lot of this alleged activity may not be occurring during the organized practices; but again, it may.” The school held mandatory sessions with students each fall, warning them that hazing is a felony in Florida and requiring students to sign a form acknowledging the consequences. The warnings appeared to do little to change the culture. Many police investigations into hazing went nowhere because students stonewalled and refused to cooperate. Crosby’s own son refused to talk to police. Even sometimes when arrests were made, the charges would eventually get dropped.
One band member told a police investigator in 2006 that “I don’t want to prosecute because I know that it will get worse. This is what I want to do so it doesn’t matter because I can defend myself.” Police investigations into hazing were so commonplace that FAMU police even had a “band hazing questionnaire” that it submitted to students. And it appears that hazing wasn’t just limited to current band members. Julian White — band director at the time of Champion’s death — wrote an email to band alumni asking them to refrain from hazing current students. Champion’s death was the latest chapter of violent hazing involving the Marching 100. In 1998, Ivery Luckey, a clarinet player from Ocala was hospitalized with kidney damage after being paddled in the initiation to join a group known as “The Clones.” Three years later, band member Marcus Parker was hospitalized with kidney damage after being paddled. A few weeks before Champion’s death, band member Bria Hunter was hospitalized with a broken leg and blood clots in what authorities say was another act of hazing. Three band members have been charged. In September, more aspiring “Clones” members were punched and paddled, leading to charges in January against four band members. Even after those serious incidents, the emails and records show, the band hazing continued and the school couldn’t — or wouldn’t — stop it. At the same time, some professors insisted that hazing had been eradicated. Music professor Lindsay Sarjeant boasted to a professor at the University of Southern California in the fall of 2010 that “I’m happy to tell you that we
photo by PHILE COALE/AP PHOTO
In a Thursday, June 26, 2008 file photo, James Ammons, President of Florida A & M University, announces that the school has had it’s accreditation restored by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, in Tallahassee, Fla. Hundreds of pages of public records show an apparent disconnect between years of repeated warnings about brutal hazing at FAMU and any serious response from FAMU’s leadership until the November 2011 beating death of drum major Robert Champion.
were very successful in completely eradicating hazing from the Florida A&M University Band. It was hard and took several years to change the mind set of the non significance of hazing in any form ... At FAMU, the consequences are too severe to engage in any form of hazing, mental and physical.” Ammons and other FAMU officials refused to answer questions for this story, citing the advice of attorneys as the
university awaits the outcome of ongoing investigations. The panel that oversees the state university system has also launched its own investigation The Board of Governors wants to know whether FAMU officials ignored past warnings about hazing. Champion’s death remains under investigation by state and Orange County law-enforcement authorities and no arrests have been made.
Fight claims, pot put Martin’s side on defense Curt Anderson & Mike Schneider
The Associated Press
Photo by julie fletcher/ap photo
Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton listens during a community forum on slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, 17, at the Macedonia Baptist Church in Eatonville, Fla., Monday.
SANFORD, Fla. — The family and supporters of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin found themselves on the defensive Monday following revelations he had been suspended for marijuana before he was shot to death by a neighborhood watch volunteer. Police also confirmed a report that the watchman claimed Martin was the aggressor, punching him in the nose and smacking his head on a sidewalk. Martin, 17, was suspended by MiamiDade County schools because traces of marijuana were found in a plastic baggie in his book bag, family spokesman Ryan Julison said. Martin was serving the suspension when he was shot Feb. 26 by George Zimmerman, who was patrolling the neighborhood that Martin was visiting with his father. Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, and family attorneys blamed police for leaking
the information about the marijuana and Zimmerman’s claim about the attack to the news media in an effort to demonize the teenager. “They killed my son and now they’re trying to kill his reputation,” Fulton told reporters. The Sanford Police Department insisted there was no authorized release of the new information but acknowledged there may have been a leak. City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. said it would be investigated and the person responsible could be fired. Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump said the link between the youth and marijuana should have no bearing on the probe into his shooting death. State and federal agencies are investigating, with a grand jury set to convene April 10. “If he and his friends experimented with marijuana, that is completely irrelevant,” Crump said. “What does it have to do with killing their son?” The state Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed Monday that Martin does
not have a juvenile offender record. The information came after a public records request by The Associated Press. Zimmerman, 28, claimed he shot Martin in self-defense and has not been arrested. Because Martin was black and Zimmerman has a white father and Hispanic mother, the case has become a racial flashpoint that has civil rights leaders and others leading a series of protests in Sanford and around the country. Meanwhile, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Zimmerman told police he lost Martin in the neighborhood he regularly patrolled and was walking back to his vehicle when the youth approached him from behind. The two exchanged words, Zimmerman said, and Martin then punched him in the nose, jumped on top of him and began banging his head on a sidewalk. Zimmerman said he began crying for help; Martin’s family thinks it was their son who was crying out. Witness accounts differ and 911 tapes in which the voices are heard are not clear.
sPOrts southerndigest.com
the sentinel Of an enlightened student BOdy sinCe 1926
tuesday, MarCh 27, 2012 - Page 5
Jaguars show improvement AriStiDe PhiLLiPS
The Southern Digest
It was all about improvement this past weekend as the Southern Jaguar track team spent the weekend at a fair weather Bernie Moore Stadium on LSU’s campus to compete in the 2012 Tiger Relays. The Jags competed Saturday and Sunday, and were looking to improve from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette meet. Men’s and women’s hurdles had a good weekend having two athletes finishing in the top nine. Maya Anderson finished made it into the finals Saturday finishing ninth with a time of 1:05.55 in the prelims and on Sunday finished in eighth with a lower time of 1:06.50. Erich Seals avoided the distractions of falling hurdles to take first place with in the Men’s 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.40. “I’m pretty proud about what Erich did, said men’s and women’s hurdle coach Beau Walker, “he’s probably one of the hardest guys we have out there he’s really consistent, in that
race in particular there were so some distractions some hit hurdles and I think that he held his composure nicely.” Seals also won first place in the ULL meet with a time of 14.56. “We have expectations that are even greater than what we saw today,” said Walker, “we’re getting ready for New Orleans in our conference meet, and I would like to see them run at regionals following that meet so we are still in a training mode we’re not peaking that won’t come until the end of April.” In the men’s 1600-meter medley finished fourth with a time of 3:26.80, and Terrance Clayton was the fastest among the Jaguars in the 100-meter dash at the meet with a time of 10.95. In the men’s 4x400-meter relay SU finished in sixth place with a time of 3:14.15, and the women finish in eight place with 4x400 with at time of 3:52.54. “I think we did pretty good we did well yester day in the sprint melody for the guys,” said head coach Brian Johnson, “the girls did well in the 4x400 so did the guys, but we got a little work to do to get over this injury bug but we’re moving in the right direction.”
PHOTO by eVaN TayLOr/DiGesT
Southern sprinter Kayante’ Parker picks up the pace in the 4 by 400 relay finals at the 2012 LSU Relays at Bernie Moore Stadium Saturday.
The throwers seen much improvement and will seem to be really competitive come time for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championships. “I feel that my group at southern university is the best throwers group in the whole SWAC,” said throwers coach Teremine White, “we are going to compete every weekend and try to put it all on the line for the SWAC Championships.” Hansoni Alfred marked a Personal Record in Javelin throwing 190 feet, what is more
impressive is that he hasn’t picked up a javelin in four years. The last time Alfred picked up a javelin was in high school and then his best was a 179 feet, in the four-year absence Alfred was on the football team. When asked about improving his throwing technique Alfred said, “of course I expect more, especially after your first track meet you just want to do better after your done, I want to at least get to around the 210 220 mark and continue to reach.” Among the other throwers
notching personal bests were Demetrius Boone in the men’s hammer, Melissa Stephenson in women’s shot put and Kashmia Weary and Brittany Lacy in women’s hammer. When asked about which athlete stood out Johnson stayed away from personal accolades saying, “We’re a team just one big team, so not one person stood out more than the other, they all did an ok job, not the best they can do, but we’re coming and we’re trying to make a little noise, and I think we’re on that right track to do that.”
Southern dominates Selma in 3-game sweep AriStiDe PhiLLiPS
The Southern Digest
PHOTO by TreVOr James/DiGesT
Southern’s Caleb Hatcher congratulates Derrick Hopkins at home plate after Hopkins belted a 2-run home run Sunday against Selma University.
The Jaguar baseball team was able to bounce back this past weekend sweeping Selma University 13-3 in five innings and 9-2 in seven innings on Saturday and 8-3 on Sunday. SU (10-11) came out Saturday and Sunday doing something that they have been struggling to do all season which was scoring runners in scoring position. In game one of the Saturday double hitter the Jaguars started out earning seven runs through at the end off two and finished off the game in the fifth adding in five more runs. In game two the game was relatively close until the bottom of the sixth when Dennis Colon, David Wright, Wilmy Marrero and Cameron McGriff all had single RBI’s bring in a total of five runs off of five hits. In day one of the weekend series Southern hit the ball a total of 22 times and were able
to bring in 22 runs. In day two of the series the Jaguars were looking to continue their success from yesterday, in all of their eight runs six of them came from by players at bat. In the third inning, first baseman Derrick Hopkins mashed a home run out the right field wall batting in two. “The pitcher threw the ball right down the middle, I was trying to hit the ball left field, the pitcher went up on me and I reacted and got every bit of it,” said Hopkins. McGriff had a great weekend hitting eight out of 11 at bats and six RBI’s giving him a series average of .727. “It was a good weekend for us because we got to try and refocus on the things we haven’t been doing well,” said head coach Roger Cador, “we did set anything on fire but we got some hits when we wanted to, we stayed with the basic fundamental of trying to play baseball we bunted when we had a man on first with no one
out and we did that to try to establish that this is what we want to do.” On Saturday Jose DeLeon (1-3) Jesse Holliday (3-1) each pitch a combine 10 innings and only allowed six hits. On Sunday Brian “Doc” Foster (4-1) pitch seven innings and only allowed four hits and retired 13 of the 14 final at bats. “He pitched like a doctor,” said Cador referring to Fosters performance, “he was very strategic in the way he cut up that team with his change up mixing it in staying ahead in the count I thought he was very good at that, and that’s the way he has been pitching all year to be successful.” The Jaguars will hope to have better success hosting Nicholls State tonight at 6 p.m. at Lee-Hines Field, in their last meeting the Jaguars lost 10-3. Southern returns to Southwestern Athletic Conference play this weekend as the Jaguars travel to Pine Bluff, Ark., to take on UAPB in a SWAC Western Division series.
Culture southerndigest.com
Page 6 - Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Undeground railroad also ran south to Fla. Bruce Smith
The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C. — While most Americans are familiar with the Underground Railroad that helped Southern slaves escape north before the Civil War, the nation’s first clandestine path to freedom ran for more than a century in the opposite direction. Stories of that lesser-known “railroad” will be shared June 20-24 at the National Underground Railroad Conference in St. Augustine, Fla. The network of sympathizers gave refuge to those fleeing their masters, including many American Indians who helped slaves escape to what was then the Spanish territory of Florida. That lasted from shortly after the founding of Carolina Colony in 1670 to after the American Revolution. They escaped not only to the South but to Mexico, the Caribbean and the American West. And the “railroad” helps to explain at least in part why the lasting culture of slave descendants — known as Gullah in South Carolina and Geechee in Florida and Georgia — exists along the northeastern Florida coast. “It’s a fascinating story and most people in America are stuck — they are either stuck on 1964 and the Civil Rights Act or they are stuck on the Civil War,” said Derek
Hankerson, who is a Gullah descendant and a small business owner in St. Augustine, Fla. “We have been hankering to share these stories.” Because there are few records, it’s unknown how many African slaves may have escaped along the railroad. But the dream of freedom in Florida did play a role in the 1739 Stono Rebellion outside Charleston, the largest slave revolt in British North America. Slaves likely started fleeing toward Florida when South Carolina was established in 1670, said Jane Landers, a Vanderbilt University historian who has researched the subject extensively. The first mention of escaped slaves in Spanish records was in 1687 when eight slaves, including a nursing baby, showed up in St. Augustine. Spain refuses to return them and instead gives them religious sanctuary, and that policy is formalized in 1693. The only condition is that those seeking sanctuary convert to Catholicism. “It was a total shift in the geopolitics of the Caribbean and after that anyone who leaves a Protestant area to request sanctuary gets it,” Landers said. That promise of freedom played an important role in the Stono Rebellion, when a group of about 20 slaves raided a store, collecting guns and other weapons, in September 1739.
PHOTO by bruce smith/ap photo
A roadside marker stands along U.S. 17 west of Charleston, S.C. The marker is near the site of where the Stono Rebellion, the largest slave insurrection in British North America, took place in 1739.
Mark Smith, a historian at the University of South Carolina, said the slave leaders were from what is now Angola in Africa. They were Catholic, because their homeland was at the time a Portuguese outpost. And they are thought to have been soldiers in their native land. They would have known about the rumor of freedom in Spanish Florida and decide to start the revolt on Sept. 9, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “They have a white flag, which is not a flag of surrender. It’s a flag of celebrating
Mary, and they shout ‘Liberty.’ They are not revolting just as slaves, but as Catholic slaves,” Smith said. At least 20 whites were killed in the rebellion. The militia later caught up with the slaves and 34 of them were killed. Some who escaped were found and executed later, although some apparently made it to safety in Florida because there are reports of more slaves arriving in St. Augustine in the ensuing days, Landers said. Gullah creole is still spoken in churches in northeastern Florida, Landers said.
Commentary southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - Page 7
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As the Louisiana primary comes to a close and other states weigh in on Republican and Democratic candidates … I am still questioning the format and foundations of change. President Barack Obama ran his campaign for president on change and the change that America needed. Is the change of 2008, the same change we need in 2012? According to CNN’s issue tracker in 2008, the economy was the biggest issue in America followed by the war in Iraq and healthcare. Among a “recession” people were concerned about the life of every American coupled with high unemployment rates. According to CNN’s election center 2012, the economy is still a big issue along with healthcare and foreign policy. After the war in Iraq is over, foreign policy still remains a concern with unrest in some of America’s allies homeland. America was founded and with progression it has become what is today. As we move into the election season, we face critical and serious concerns about American life as we know it. In reference to the economy, Unemployment is decreasing nationally but, some areas are still
Evan Taylor being hit hard by unemployment and underemployment. The gap between the rich and poor is still present and not decreasing. In Healthcare, reform is starting to affect those who need it most but, some still do not have healthcare within their reach. Amidst problems in access, there are concerns amongst the quality of service already acquired. In Foreign policy from Egypt to Syria, to Uganda; America finds itself taking action to assist democracy in other countries. As unrest and revolt continues America lends a hand as they see fit. Beyond the top three, humanity has concerns about human rights, civil rights and equality. Women still are compensated less for the same work as men in America. Race, gender and sexual orientation
are still factors in employment, compensation, legal and medical benefits in America. Cases are still being filed against government entities and corporations concerning equal treatment of employees, citizens and the community at large. Socio-economic status and educational attainment are still determining factors in statistical data and correlations. While we discuss change and making change, we must address the issues concerning Americans. Americans must tell their stories. Discuss their perspectives. Share their insight. And most importantly be agents of change. Any president can dictate policy and advocate for his own beliefs but, the country, city and community must support and facilitate that change. Being an agent of change, you support what you believe and protest against what you don’t. Use your voice. The time is now. Pick your issue(s) and make your change. Whether Obama, Santorum, Romney, Paul or Gingrich is your presidential candidate, voice your opinions and issues to make the government represent you and your country.
Page 8 - Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926