Thursday, November 8, 2012
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Exclusive content @ Volume 58, Issue 15
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America votes to move forward
Photo By Matt Rourke/AP Photo the official student newspaper of southern university and A&m college, baton rouge, louisiana
Campus Life southerndigest.com
Page 2 - Thursday, November 8, 2012
Campus Briefs
Annual Social and Behavioral Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference from 9:00am to 1:00pm on November 15, 2012 in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union Cotillion Ballroom. The conference will feature oral presentations of students’ empirical and theoretical research papers. For more information please contact Reginald Rackley (7712990).
today FEED A FAMILY, BE A SECRET SANTA
The Department of Social Work is organizing a food drive to benefit the Greater Baton Rouge Area Food Bank. Help feed a family one meal at a time by donating nonperishables and canned goods on the 3rd floor of Higgins Hall. Contact Denise with any questions at 225.302.4729. The Department will also be collecting toys and donations until Nov. 20 for children’s Secret Santa. Donations will benefit Cancer services of Greater Baton Rouge.
SU HIV/AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM
The Center for Social Research has a HIV/AIDS prevention program and you can get involved. Did you know Baton Rouge is #1 in the nation in AIDS case rates? Do you want to make a difference? Do you want to educate your peers about HIV/AIDS Prevention? Then join us as a Peer Educator Today. Contact Darnell Pledger at 225.771.3010 or via e-mail at Darnell_Pledger@subr.edu. Follow them on Twitter @SU_ Stoppin_HIV and like them on Facebook SU HIV/AIDS Prevention Program. You can also obtain more info at subr. edu/socialresearch/hiv
PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is looking for students to participate in their two year developmental fellowships. Fellows are paid with benefits accumulating 80 hours a year. Graduates from Fall 2010 to Summer 2013 are encouraged to apply. The informational session will be held on October 29 in Higgins Hall room 411. For more information contact Professor Smith at Blanche_Smith@subr. edu.
CSS PAPER SERVICE
The Center for student Success is excited to announce our paper review service! free service 24 hour turn-around period feedback provided we check: sentence structure, clarity, thesis statements, spelling, etc. call or stop by the center for student success for more info. Stewart hall Rm 107 Call for more info (225)7714312.
WRITING PROFICIENCY RETAKE
The Writing Proficiency Retake exam will be for graduating seniors ONLY. The test will be on November 13 from 9-11 a.m. in Harris Hall Room 2024. BLACK HISTORY CLUB
The Southern University Black History Club will hold meetings every Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Higgins Hall Room 117. Come out and join us for the next meeting.
BOOKSTORE DONATES SCHOLARSHIPS
The Southern University Bookstore operator Follet Higher Education Group donated $10,000 in textbook scholarships. The Southern University athletic department and SU Human Jukebox received $5,000 in the form of textbook scholarships. The scholarships will apply to books purchased from January to December 2013.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE CLUB
The Southern University Criminal Justice Club invites you to their weekly meetings. Every Tuesday at 6pm in Higgins Hall Room 226. BIBLE CLASS
The Way of Holiness Ministries will be hosting an Enrichment Bible class in the Lakefront room of SmithBrown Memorial Union on November 14 from 7-9 p.m.
SU-RACETRAC PARTNERSHIP
Good day all you Southern Fans, We have an exciting partnership with RaceTrac that extends beyond the field this season. From today until the end of the calendar year RaceTrac will be partnering with Southern University to help provide funds for the university. The RaceTrac location down the
SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES CONFERENCE
The Southern University Psychology department is pleased to sponsor the 14th
street across from the airport at 3730 Harding Blvd. will give five percent back to Southern University on all (non-fuel) inside sales. Just let the store associates know that you want your purchase to go towards Southern. They will take care of the rest. Let’s help fuel Southern Programs. STUDENT UNION ACTIVITIES
The Smith-Brown Memorial Union is open on Friday in the game room with bowling alley and Burger King. Note: half price game room and bowling alley. NCAA POST GRADUATE INTERNSHIPS
The NCAA is offering post graduate internships in the following areas; academic and membership affairs, administrative services, communications (digital, image management, media strategy, public relation and media relations), championships and alliances, enforcement, governance, student-athlete affairs and NCAA eligibility. The application is available online at https://www.ncaa. org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ ncaa/academics/resources/ scholarships+and+internships/ ncaa+postgraduate+internship+ program the deadline to apply is December 7.
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Who’s Speaking Out? How do you feel about the upcoming basketball season?
Kristen Ambeau
Andre Washington
baton rouge sophomore business management
atlanta Freshman Music Education
“The basketball teams are going to do well this year!”
“They did good last season so they should do better this season.”
Ambeau
Quindon Robinson
La’Shondra Lotts
opelousas, la. senior rehabilitation services
Bogalusa, La. sophomore nursing
“I’m excited to see what all the bignamed players will bring this season.”
“I feel that this year will be a successful year and I hope our team goes Hard!! TeamSU!
Robinson
Washington
Lotts
Do you have an oncampus event or announcement you need to get out to the SU community?
Well, put it in our Campus Briefs. Just e-mail your material to digest@subr.edu or fax it to
225.771.5840 C’Mon! You can do it!
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 & Thursday 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, November 8, 2012 - Page 3
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Bid awarded for sinkhole repairs Charles Hawkins II The Southern Digest
Grady Crawford Construction, Inc. secured the lowest bid for the emergency underground sewer lines at lift station causing the sinkholes at the intersection of Elton C. Harrison Drive and Jesse Stone Avenue next to Southern University’s Clifford T. Seymour Gym. After the sinkholes appeared, the Harrison and Jesse Stone Intersect Project was budgeted at $200,000. Linda Antoine, director of the purchasing department, explained the process after the winning of the bid. “It is our intent to award to the lowest and responsive bidder: Grady Crawford Construction company, Inc.,” Antoine said. Grady Crawford Construction, Inc. won the lowest bid at $168,867.00, Plumbing and Maintenance, Inc. coming in second at $188,540.00. Other bidders included Honore’ Companies, LLC had a bid of $282,600.00, Louis Mechanical contractors bid at $251,000.000, and Wescorp, Inc bid at $203,900.00. She said she received information from Grady Crawford Construction, Inc. on accepting the project. Eli G. Guillory III, executive director of facility services, said the projected date has been estimated. “The job will take approximately 120 days to complete,” Guillory said. He said the repairs will most likely get started next week, to reduce the interruptions to fans
photo by Ariana triggs/digest
Southern officials awarded Grady Crawford Construction the bid to repair the emergency underground sewer lines that have caused sinkholes at the intersection of Elton C. Harrison Drive and Jesse Stone Avenue near to Seymour Gymnasium. The project is expected to take approximately four months to complete.
during Saturday’s home game against Alabama State. Louis Hightower, director of health physical and recreation education, wants the project to be finished to make the area safer. “One reason is it creates a safety problem and needs to be fixed right away,” Hightower said. He said there is a great need for the work to be complete on the so-called sinkholes.
Hightower said he has not been getting any information about the project. “No this is the first. I know one has said anything about it,” Hightower said. He said he is in favor of the university fixing it as soon as possible. Greg Pittman, a freshman criminal justice major from New Orleans, lives in Grandison Hall
and said you could smell the sewage. “You can smell a little bit of the sewage,” Pittman said. The piping system is two to three feet below street level, which is why the smell is pervasive near the holes. Pittman did not have many complaints except for the smell on the situation. Due to the street closure, people
drive on the sidewalk trying to get into the parking lot. “It makes people cut through grass, through the restricted lot or around the stadium,” Pittman said. Guillory previously stated that the high volume of traffic through the intersection of Elton C. Harrison Drive and Jesse Stone Avenue caused the failure of the 50-year-old piping system.
La. voters on both sides lament political divide Cain Burdeau & Kevin McGill The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — Turnout was brisk across Louisiana on Tuesday as voters decided on the presidential race, a halfdozen seats in the U.S. House and a basket of proposed amendments to the state constitution. “We’re hearing that it’s busy everywhere, especially in the metropolitan areas,” said Med Casper, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state. And while polling places were busy, the problems appeared to be routine. “It’s been a very, very good day,” Casper said. “There have been long lines and occasional, routine problems with machines, but no major problems.” The secretary of state’s office had projected as much as 70 percent of registered voters might turn out in Louisiana, where Republican John McCain got 58.6 percent of the vote against President Barack Obama in 2008. Louisiana was expected to go for
Obama’s Republican challenger, Mitt Romney. The state has been solidly Republican in recent presidential cycles. As they made up their minds about who should guide the nation for the next four years in the White House, many voters said political cooperation is much needed between the two major parties. “We need to work more closely together,” said Democrat Rebecca Stilling, 57, of Metairie, after voting for Obama. Perry Kleyle, a 66-year-old registered independent who owns a battery supply business, said someone like former President Ronald Reagan is needed to bridge the political divide. He wasn’t expecting more cooperation any time soon. “I don’t think if you had 10 parties you would get better cooperation,” he said. “Nobody wants to listen to the other guy. Everybody just wants to shout.” Kleyle said he voted for Romney because “there’s been a complete vacuum of leadership” under Obama. “Nothing he said in ‘08 that was going to happen has happened to the degree
that anybody expected,” Kleyle said. In New Orleans’ Central City neighborhood, Kenneth Rhodes, a 53-year-old forklift operator, said he was voting for Obama. An Obama loss, he said, would be a “crushing blow to this country.” He said the Republicans’ stymying of Obama has hurt the nation: “This country would be in a better position if the Republicans had at least been with him. They know the bills are right, but they want their bills. Cut this program, cut this program. No taxes. You can’t bring the deficit down if you don’t get taxes. You got to get rid of loopholes they have for the rich oil companies, the rich people, the well-off, who don’t even need it.” He hoped Obama would push for an infrastructure bill to put people to work. “Something that at least put people to work,” he said. And he hoped that Democrats seize control of both chambers of Congress, too. William Lee, a 28-year-old software developer and registered Republican who voted for John McCain in 2008, said he
was not persuaded by either of the major parties and voted for Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson. He was voting in suburban Metairie, a Republican stronghold. Young people like him are not devoted to one party exclusively, he said. “As far as the circle of people I know, it’s not like that,” he said. “My parents are pretty polarized.” He hopes the Libertarian Party gets enough of the vote to be taken seriously as a “real political party.” “I just think the two-party system needs to be broken up,” he said. “More diversity in choices.” Gloria K. Smith, a Democrat, said she voted for Obama again this year in the hope that the president would continue to work on universal health care, giving everyone a chance to go to college and rebuilding the economy. “It was a long haul when he first took office,” the 62-year-old parish government clerk said. “There were a lot of things out of place and he had a lot of things on his plate. It’s going to take more than four years.”
America Votes 2012 southerndigest.com
Page 4 - Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
US now faces challenge of partisan split Steven R. Hurst The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — With the bitter election campaign that put President Barack Obama back into the White House now history, the U.S. faces the challenge of whether Republicans and Democrats can set aside deep partisan divisions and legislative gridlock. The challenge is to overcome the self-imposed “fiscal cliff,” dramatic and automatic tax increases and spending cuts that could well slam the nation back in to recession. In day-after-election remarks, Republicans on Wednesday signaled no readiness to give up on their ideological opposition to raising taxes on high-income Americans — as Obama has insisted — but instead were continuing to push for lower rates across the board. That theory, known as trickle-down economics and dating to the era of President Ronald Reagan, holds that cutting taxes will vastly increase the size of the income and profit pie, thereby producing more revenue even at lower tax rates.
Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner laid down that position yet again as the condition for working for any increase in government revenue in return for Obama’s stated — but undefined — willingness to cut spending on crucial social programs. Republicans maintained control of the House. The opening gambits did not argue for a quick solution to the country’s skyrocketing debt and stubbornly high deficit that has the government now spending more than $1 trillion a year more than it collects in taxes. In the face of those challenges, Obama had told Americans on Election Day that he had never been more optimistic. “The best is yet to come,” he said at his early Wednesday morning victory rally in Chicago, ticking off his legislative goals of reforming the tax system, working to ease climate change and overhauling the nation’s immigration laws. Now the immediate test is whether the country’s deep partisan divide can be narrowed, as Democrats under Obama’s leadership try to work out a
PHOTO BY PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AP PHOTO
President Barack Obama kisses his wife Michelle as he walks out to the stage with his daughters Malia and Sasha at his election night party Wednesday in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
compromise with Republicans to avoid the “fiscal cliff,” that could force spending cuts totaling $800 billion next year alone. Obama’s victory and exit polling of voters showed a majority of Americans supported or were resigned to higher taxes to begin cutting national red ink. That was shown in Obama’s victory even though he had led the country through a period in which the economy suffered its biggest downturn since the 1930s Great Depression and stubbornly high unemployment that dipped only slightly below 8 percent in the final two months of the campaign. He campaigned on a pledge to raise taxes on
American households earning more than $250,000 a year. Republicans could still moderate. That’s because voter rejection of Republican challenger Mitt Romney and his party’s drift to the far right of the political spectrum will surely bring a deep reassessment of strategy. The Republican base — dominated by diminishing numbers of white men — is shrinking, while the country moves toward a day when minorities — blacks, Hispanics and Asians — become the majority. Obama’s secondterm victory was sealed by massive minority support. Obama’s re-election
guarantees the full implementation of his signature legislative achievement, the overhaul of the nation’s health care system, which Republicans had vowed to overturn. Likely, too, will be a continued U.S. foreign policy that depends on multinational partnerships in dealing with issues like Syria’s civil war and Iran’s nuclear program. Romney said those tactics were a sign of American weakness. And China, facing its own leadership transition, should be relieved. Romney had pledged to declare it a currency manipulator, potentially leading to sanctions and escalating trade tensions.
Most Louisiana congressmen win re-election Melinda Deslatte The Associated Press
Most of Louisiana’s Republican congressmen had an easy time of things in their re-election bids, but that couldn’t be the case for U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany and Jeff Landry, who will face each other in a December runoff to decide who returns to Washington for another term. The two men were forced into the same 3rd District when Louisiana lost a congressional seat after the latest federal census. Three other contenders were in the race, and neither congressman was able to win outright in Tuesday’s election. In other congressional contests, Republican U.S. Reps. Steve Scalise of Metairie, John Fleming of Minden, Rodney Alexander of Quitman and Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge coasted to victory against little-financed opponents. Democratic incumbent Cedric Richmond, who faced four opponents in the New Orleans-based 2nd District, won with 53 percent of the vote. Richmond, who spent a decade in the Louisiana House of Representatives before moving to Washington, is a member of the House committees on small business and homeland security. He also is an assistant House minority whip.
PHOTO BY chris granger/the times-picayune/AP PHOTO
U. S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La 2nd District, center, stands alongside State Representative Randal Gaines, right, as they stand over the shoulder of Peggy Joseph, a state representative assistant, looking at election night returns on a computer at the office of Randal Gaines on Tuesday in LaPlace, La.
Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney overwhelmingly took Louisiana, though he lost his White House bid. An open seat on the state’s utility
regulatory agency, the Public Service Commission, went to Scott Angelle, a former official in Gov., Bobby Jindal’s administration. He easily bested four competitors.
The contest for a vacant Louisiana Supreme Court seat representing the Baton Rouge area won’t be decided until Dec. 8. Turnout was brisk across Louisiana. The outcome of most of the state’s U.S. House races seemed to have been decided in August, when few well-financed challengers signed up to oppose incumbent congressmen. Boustany and Landry weren’t so lucky since they were pushed into a fight for one seat, representing southwest Louisiana and Acadiana. Boustany led the field of candidates Tuesday and quickly declared himself the front-runner for the runoff election. “Emerging with highest total of votes shows south Louisiana’s clear choice for Congress. In a five-way race, this campaign finished on top. My campaign will continue to build on today’s momentum, and I look forward to finishing the job,” he said in a statement. Landry claimed he has the advantage in a runoff, noting that more than 50 percent of the people in the district voted against Boustany though the district’s design was supposed to favor him. “This was Charles Boustany’s district. He’s been saying that the entire time. The majority of people voted against Charles Boustany,” Landry said.
Election 2012 southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Thursday, November 8, 2012 - Page 5
Holden wins; Guidry in runoff The Associated Press
Kip Holden secured a thirdterm as East Baton Rouge MayorPresident Tuesday while U.S. Reps Cedric Richmond and Bill Cassidy won their re-election bids in their Baton Rouge-area congressional races. Meanwhile, John Michael Guidry and Jeff Hughes have advanced to a Dec. 8 runoff in the race to fill Chief Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball’s seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court. In other local races, Tara Wicker defeated Larry Selders 6,047-4,696 to retain her seat in Metro Council District 10, which now includes Southern University. In another nearby Metro Council race, however, Chauna Banks-Daniel and former Baker mayor Leroy Davis are set to square off in the Dec. 8 runoff for the District 2 seat. District 2 consists of Scotlandville and a portion of Baker. Banks-Daniel led the eighthperson race, garnering 4,947 votes. Davis was second with 2,393 votes. Holden celebrated his Tuesday victory just moments after his
most well-financed opponent, Councilman Mike Walker, could be seen conceding the race on TVs in the room. With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Holden had 60 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office. The Advocate reports Walker took second place with 34 percent of the vote. Businessman Gordon Mese came in third with 3 percent and attorney Steve Myers finished with 2 percent. Holden was elected as the parish’s first black mayorpresident in 2004, when he defeated incumbent Bobby Simpson with 54 percent of the vote. He made history again in 2008, winning re-election with 71 percent of the vote. In the Second Congressional District race, final unofficial results show Richmond won 53 percent of the vote. Also on the ballot were Republicans Dwayne Bailey and Josue Larose, Libertarian Caleb Trotter and Democrat Gary Landrieu. Landrieu finished second. Richmond is the only Democrat in Louisiana’s House delegation. The geography of his district had
photo courtesy of john oubre
Judge Michael Guidry ended Tuesday’s general election as one of the top two vote-getters for the Fifth District seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court. Guidry will square off with Jeff Hughes in the Dec. 8 runoff election.
changed a bit after boundary lines were redrawn following the 2010 census. In addition to large sections of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, it now stretches northwest along the Mississippi River into the Baton Rouge area. However, it remained the state’s only predominantly black congressional district, with a strong majority of voters registered as Democrats. In the Sixth Congressional District race, Cassidy, a Republican from Baton Rouge, coasted to re-election after
attracting no well-financed opposition to his bid to hold onto the seat. The incumbent congressman did little advertising in his race against Rufus Craig, a Libertarian, and Richard “RPT” Torregano, an independent. Both opponents reported no fundraising to the Federal Election Commission during their campaigns. Cassidy, a doctor and former state senator, was first elected to the congressional seat in 2008. He’s considered to be a likely opponent for Democratic U.S.
Sen. Mary Landrieu when she runs for re-election in 2014. In the Supreme Court race, Guidry and Hughes were the leading vote-getters among eight candidates for the 5th Supreme Court District seat in Tuesday’s election. The victor will serve out the rest of Kimball’s term, which expires in 2018. Kimball, who suffered a stroke in January 2010, is retiring in January. She will be replaced as chief justice by Justice Bernette Johnson.
Gun rights amendment, most others approved The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana voters have approved a constitutional amendment to strengthen already strong gun possession rights in the state. The amendment eliminates language in the Louisiana Constitution that allows passage of laws prohibiting concealed weapons. It also includes a requirement that any gun restriction laws be held to a tough judicial standard. It was among eight constitutional amendments approved Tuesday. Among them was one that allows the state Board of Commerce and Industry to grant 10-year local property tax breaks — such as those currently given to manufacturers — to certain digital media businesses, data centers, corporate headquarters, and research and development firms. An amendment that would have allowed New Iberia to grant city property tax exemptions to any property owner annexed into the city after Jan. 1was defeated. Other amendments on the ballot: — Voters approved an amendment allowing a judge to strip a public official’s retirement benefits if the person was convicted
of a felony related to his office. The forfeiture would apply only to someone employed or elected after Jan. 1, 2013, and to benefits earned after that time. Current elected officials would not be covered by the law unless they are re-elected after that date, according to the research council. — An amendment prohibiting the Legislature or governor from taking money from the Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly to help balance the state operating budget was approved. An analysis by the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana said the trust fund was established with federal money in 2000 to provide a permanent source of support for health care. Backers of the amendment, including the Louisiana Nursing Home Association, said it was needed to safeguard care for the elderly when the state has a hard time balancing its budget. Opponents included CARE Inc., a provider of in-home care, which argued that too much of the money in the fund goes to nursing homes. — A change was approved requiring that bills affecting the state’s public retirement systems be filed a month earlier than other types of legislation submitted before a legislative session. — Voters approved an
amendment that affecting the value of homestead property tax exemptions that the spouses of some deceased veterans can claim. The constitution already allows the $75,000 homestead exemption to be doubled for veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability. The amendment was proposed to let spouses of qualified deceased veterans claim such an exemption even if the exemption was not in effect when the veteran died. — Voters approved a change allowing adjustments in the membership selection process for constitutionally created boards and commissions that have members selected based on the state’s congressional districts. The amendment was proposed to address the state’s loss of a congressional district, dropping from seven to six, after the 2010 census. — Voters approved an amendment to increase the number of times that bills to create crime prevention and security districts must be advertised and require that the notices of intent state whether a property fee would be imposed and collected; whether the fee could be imposed or increased without an election; and the maximum amount of the fee.
No. 1: Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly Yes: 1,283,545 (71 percent)
No: 528,476 (29 percent)
No. 2: Strict Scrutiny Review for Gun Laws Yes: 1,332,893 (73 percent)
No: 481,646 (27 percent)
No. 3: Earlier Notice of Public Retirement Bills Yes: 1,101,317 (64 percent)
No: 607,198 (36 percent)
No. 4: Homestead Exemption for Veterans’ Spouses Yes: 1,265,724 (74 percent)
No: 456,155 (26 percent)
No. 5: Forfeiture of Public Retirement Benefits Yes: 1,228,793 (70 percent)
No: 519,936 (30 percent)
No. 6: Property Tax Exemption Authority for New Iberia
Yes: 694,927 (42 percent)
No: 941,781 (58 percent)
No. 7: Membership of Certain Boards and Commissions Yes: 1,003,295 (61 percent)
No: 641,882 (39 percent)
No. 8: Non-Manufacturing Tax Exemption Program Yes: 849,253 (52 percent)
No: 794,176 (48 percent)
No. 9: More Notice for Crime Prevention District Bills Yes: 924,560 (56 percent)
No: 713,739 (44 percent)
—Source: The Associated Press
AMERICA VOTES 2012 southerndigest.com
PAGE 6 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2012
THE SENTINEL OF AN ENLIGHTENED STUDENT BODY SINCE 1926
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o be elected President of the United States, a candidate must earn 270 electoral votes. Southern University voters gathered to watch Barack Obama’s ‘road to 270’ in the Cotillion Ballroom, Tuesday. First time voters joined experienced voters to watch as polls came to a close and NBC analysts made predictions state by state. State Reps. Regina Barrow and Ted James made an appearance at the event reflecting on the 2012 election. While watching the NBC Political coverage on the big screen, students shared their election experiences and why it was important to vote to them. Ariel Pierra, a sophomore, music education major from Edgard, La., said she voted for Obama. “I voted for Obama because he won’t only make a difference in HBCU’s but all colleges nationwide. He’s faced many challenges , but we’re making improvements,” Pierra said. Reed Stanley, a senior biology major from Thibodeaux, La., voted for Obama for his views. “He has better views on healthcare and he looks out for the people of the middle class,” Stanley said. Kayla Bobo, a junior nursing major from Flint, Mich., voted for the first time and was excited to see Obama president again. “This is an amazing experience! I am extremely excited because this is my first time voting and tomorrow I will wake up another year older with Obama as my president,” Bobo said. Tashaneka Coleman, a freshman psychology major from New Orleans said voting made her feel independent. “I enjoyed the experience of voting for the first time, I felt independent. I feel that I voted for the right person for our country,” Coleman said.
“Awesome + An historical experience vote with all my family.” -Jean Etta Marshall,(First time voter) Senior, Social Science major from Baton Rouge. “Excited with the outcome of the electionthe best man truly won.” -Donecia J. Wilson(First time voter) Senior, Political Science major from Franklin, La. “It was early, short and simple.” -Temple Washington,(First time voter)Junior, Political Science from Lake Charles, La. Alexis Smith(First time voter), Junior, Political Science major from Bastrop, La. “This time around I felt the pressure of voting even more seeing as I grew mentally and emotionally over the 4 years and actually understood what was at stake for not only African-American itself.” -Randolph Holly, Senior, Political Science major from Alexandria, La. “The first time I voted I was living in VA. So I did an absentee ballot. My second time was an exciting moment to stand in the line for a purpose that could help shape the future for myself as well as my family.”-Mijarelle Issac, senior Political Science and English major from New Orleans. “The election on experience was of, but once race was included it stopped being fun for Obama.”-Megan M. Edwards, Senior, Political Science major from Plaquemine, La. “It was a breeze. I thought it would be a hassle but it was quick and easy.”-Briana Jernigan(First time voter), Sophomore, Public Relations major form Little Rock, Ark.“It has an awesome experience.”Breshatta Davis(First time Voter), Senior Political Science major from Monroe. “This is an amazing experience! I am extremely excited because this is my first time voting and tomorrow I will wake up another year older with Obama as my president!!”-Kayla Bobo(First time voter), Junior, Nursing major from Flint, Mich. “Great! I was excited because it’s my first time!”-Charmique Morris(First time voter), Junior, Mass Communication major from Morgan City, La. Nayo Andrea(First time voter), Senior, Finance major from Baton Rouge. Kyron Davis, Senior, music education major from Baton Rouge. Carlton Jones, senior, finance major from Gramray, La. “I enjoyed the experience of voting for the first time I felt independent, I feel that voted for the right person for our country.”-Tashaneka Coleman(First time voter), freshman, psychology major from New Orleans. Courtney Walker, junior, political science major from Baton Rouge. Marcus Taylor, senior, computer science major from New Orleans. “Fast, easy, no long lines”-Michelle Johnson, senior, Political Science major from Baton Rouge. “I’m really nervous, but I hope everything turns out well.”-Shanice Mosby(First time voter), sophomore, biology major from Baton Rouge. “I voted! I want President Barack Obama to stay in office.”-Tonyea McCaleb, junior social work major from Baton Rouge. “This is my second time voting, it was very exciting.”-Willie Smith, senior computer science major from New Orleans. Jeremy Jones, senior, business marketing major from Long Beach, Calif. Jamal Belle(First time voter), junior, sociology major from Lake Charles. Gregory Harris(First time voter), freshman, secondary education major from Houston. Terah Gibson, senior, marketing major from New Orleans. Ariel Pierre(First time voter), sophomore, music education major from Edgard, La. Desmond Banks(First time voter), freshman, secondary education major from Baton Rouge. “Crazy, I’ve, been trying so hard to get people to vote for Obama.”-Simone Bray(First time voter), junior, mass communications major from Baton Rouge. “It felt like 2008’s election all over again, speeding to the polls and now sitting here excited to see the results.”-Gaylord Bell, sophomore, Fashion and Merchandising major from Donaldsonville, La. Chandler Taylor(First time voter), freshman, political science major from Franklinton, La. “It was mind blowing! I was so excited to vote for the first time.”-Darlisa Riche(First time voter), Sophomore, Rehabilitation Counseling major from San Antonio. “First time voting in a presidential election but I have voted before.”-Lawayla Golden(First time voter), junior, visual arts major from Minden, La. “My election experience has been very exciting.”-KeyandraHall, junior, performing arts major from Shreveport. “It was an amazing feeling to hit that cost ballot button if you want change it has to start with you first!-Y’mine McClanahan(First time voter), senior, nursing major from New Orleans. Ashleigh Payne(First time voter), sophomore, psychology major from Los Angeles. “My election experience has been great. I’ve followed both candidates and I’ve made my mind up on who I was supporting months ago.”-Randale Scott, senior, accounting major from Shreveport. Floyd A. Johns Jr., junior, political science major from Houston. Kiarra Wells, senior, mass communication major from Hammond.
Election 2012 southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Thursday, November 8, 2012 - Page 7
Sports southerndigest.com
You looking for more info on SU athletics? All you have to do is scan the QR code or go to sdjaguarnation.blogspot.com.
Page 8 - Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Game on for Southern basketball
Southern opens season against ULL Morris Dillard III The Southern Digest
photo by trevor james/Digest
Members of the Southern women’s basketball team run during practice Wednesday, preparing for Friday’s season opener at home against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Friday marks the start of the 2012-13 college women’s hoops. As the story goes, Southern will look to defend their home court against Louisiana-Lafayette at 6 p.m. But the Ragin’ Cajuns put their opponents’ campus on alert after their exhibition thrashing over a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent. They defeated Centenary College 108-38. The Jaguars, however, posted a 75-43 victory over Dillard University, whom they opened their schedule against last year
with a 21-point win. Junior transfer Yasmin Fuller led Southern with 14 points in their exhibition game. She shot 5-of-7 from the floor, including three 3-pointers and seven rebounds. “I’m coming in to prove a point,” Fuller said. “Being at a winning program, I want to be with a coach that doesn’t like to lose.” Fuller, who was signed during the off-season to help the jaguars’ front line, played 12 minutes against the Bleu Devils. “Its that time of the year,” 13 See Southern-ULL page 9
Iowa State first stop for Jags Aristide Phillips
The Southern Digest
Picked to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Southern’s men’s Basketball team will open up the 2012 season traveling to Ames, Iowa, to face the Iowa State Cyclones Friday at 7 p.m. The Jaguars are coming off a surprising 17-14 record that propelled the Jaguars to a first place finish in the western division and are only returning four players from last year’s squad. But that was last year, and Southern will not surprise anyone this upcoming season including Iowa State and their head coach Fred Hoiberg. “I’m expecting a great challenge, those guards are really good. One of them scores
the heck out of it and that point guard is extremely solid and pressures well defensively,” Hoiberg said during a Cyclones TV press conference. The guards that Hoiberg was talking about were seniors Jameel Grace and Derick Beltran. Both were responsible for over half of SU’s points last year. Grace is the most experienced player on the team putting in four years and Beltran is next in line with two years of experience. Grace feels that the road games will be very important for the team. “This road trip will be a good test for us,” Grace said. “We have to start somewhere so why not start at a so called big stage and I feel that coach Banks and his staff will get us ready and
prepared.” Iowa State is very familiar with the SWAC. The Cyclones escaped a major upset last season squeaking by with the victory over Mississippi Valley State 67-65, and the Delta Devils went on to win the SWAC conference. That doesn’t mean that Iowa State is a push over, the Cyclones had a 23-11 record last season making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in seven years. Iowa State also has a perfect 18-0 record against the other SWAC schools in their entire history, and this isn’t the first time these two teams have met. In 2000, the Jaguars faced the Cyclones and fell 94-62. See Jags Road Trip page 9
photo by norman j. dotson jr./Digest
Southern men’s basketball head coach Roman Banks, far right, puts forward Aaron Alston (30) through drills during Wednesday’s practice.
Thursday, November 8, 2012 - Page 9
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
SU seeks to sting Hornets’ hopes Jaguars in spoiler role for secondstraight game Morris Dillard III The Southern Digest
From the moment that the 24-23 loss to Alabama A&M last weekend came to an end, the Southern Jaguars (3-6, 2-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) started thinking about getting another crack at spoiling their next opponents’ title hopes. Historically, SU has been the conqueror of a league title, but for a change, the Alabama State Hornets (6-3, 6-2 SWAC) will have more to lose. The Hornets are the team with the win streak, the team that recruited the 2011 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year running back Isaiah Crowell, and the team who is now one victory from capturing a SWAC East Division title. “This is a team (Southern) that’s playing with confidence,” ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. “I tell our guys and the coaches, if we had taken care of our business then we wouldn’t have to be in this situation. Our game is a late game, so maybe around that time we may have an idea of what has happened in other games.” There are three weeks left in the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season. The Eastern title race could be decided this weekend. A&M can still win the title by winning out and having the Hornets lose in Mumford
photo by ariana triggs/Digest
Southern defensive line coach Myron Jackson demonstrates technique to his players during Wednesday’s practice. The Jaguars take on the SWAC’s top scoring offense in Alabama State Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
Saturday. Jackson State can’t because of probation, but can upset A&M in Jackson, Miss. ASU is still alive, though the Hornets need to win out and get some help elsewhere. For SU, it’s been a while since they tasted victory. SU’s wild loss against A&M extended their losing streak to three games, which began against Arkansas Pine Bluff, who clinched the West title with a 49-3 victory over Texas Southern. SU interim head coach Dawson Odums said that it would be exciting to see his team walk off the field Saturday victorious. “You’ll love to go into your bye week with a win,” Odums
said. “It makes the bye week a little bit longer. It’s going to be exciting for the young men getting ready for their finale.” Odums emphasized the importance of slowing down Barlow’s explosive offense, which is first in scoring (32.9). “Collectively we have to do a great job on defense to stop Alabama State,” Odums said. The high scoring Hornets’ offense has outscored opponents 199-85 in the last five games, which include a 37-34 home loss against Jackson State. “It will be hard not to wonder what’s going on,” Barlow said, whose team won two in a row, defeating Prairie
View 35-21 last weekend. “Those are the things we talk about. It’s mental clutter. We won’t mention anything about it so our guys can focus on Southern.” The Hornets finished 8-3 last season with key league losses to A&M and Southern. SU won 26-23 and the Hornets shared east title as co-champions at 7-2, along with Jackson State and A&M. Odums added that the Hornets probably would know of their fate before kickoff and that his guys will be fired up. “It’s our last home game here,” said Odums. “We expect to get a great effort from them and we also expect to give a great effort.”
Grambling’s Williams: ‘You can’t run me away’ The Associated Press
GRAMBLING, La. — With the historically dominant Grambling team in its worst season ever (1-8, 0-7 SWAC) coach Doug Williams says coaching and playing must improve. But he made it clear Monday that neither he nor his players will hang their heads, the News-Star reported. Williams said Monday that he’s not affected by talk among some alumni about finding a new coach. “You probably got some folks that say ‘We don’t want you around,’ but I’ve got more footsteps on Grambling’s campus than they probably do, so you can’t run me away,” Williams said. “I don’t think it’s about the alumni, it’s about
Grambling State University and the young people that play.” Such talk may have gotten louder after Saturday’s 53-17 loss to Jackson State in front of 7,000 fans, the fewest this year at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium. Williams said some of the negative outlook from fans does affect his team, which is mostly freshmen and sophomores — including most starters. “What they do say does affect the young guys,” Williams said. “That’s the most important thing. I tell them that adversity starts when you leave here and go talk to people.” Grambling ends its home schedule against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-2, 6-1). The Lions have already wrapped up the West Division title and earned a spot in the SWAC championship game. “Nobody is less happy than I
photo by tony valentino/gsu athletics
Grambling State head coach Doug Williams and his Tigers ball club are dealing with adversity, trudging through the worst season in the history of the football program.
am ... and I don’t go home and lay down with a smile thinking we are in a great position,” Williams said. “But I also don’t
think that just because what they say outside or what have you, that it’s going to affect me as an individual.”
Jags Road Trip from page 8 The Jaguars bring in seven new faces, replacing an accumulation of seniors and transfers. With the new players, although talented, the reinvented team will encounter growing pains. “They are coming along each and every day. The longer we are in practice, the more time they have to get to know the things that we’re doing as far as a team and what coach wants us to run,” Grace said. Head coach Roman Banks said in a press conference Wednesday that he is interested in seeing his players perform under the lights Friday. There’s a lot of inexperience out there on the court, said Banks. “I feel that if we can be a consistent unit every day and that we will have a chance to win some ball games and compete to the end.” The Jaguars will have a 10day road trip traveling. They will be playing teams like Nebraska in Lincoln, and then traveling to Laramie, Wyo., to partake in the Global Sports Hoops Showcase at Wyoming and then finishing their road trip in New Orleans to face Tulane. “It will be a great experience for us, it’s going to prepare us for conference play,” Banks said. “I hope to go in and win basketball games and try to get better as a team.”
Southern-ULL from page 8 year head coach Sandy Pugh said at practice Wednesday. “All the coaches look forward to it. We’re tired of beating up on each other. It’s time for us to get out there and scratch somebody else.” The Jaguars have clawed several victories over the Ragin’ Cajuns. More memorable than others was their win at Earl K. Long Gym in 2009. SU went 23-9, won the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles that season. The Ragin’ Cajuns returned last year with a 60-49 upset win at home. Pugh emphasized that her squad was more athletic than ever and consisted of players that she hope can carry the team before playing in the A&M Classic at Texas A&M Nov 23. “I’m happy with this team,” she said. “I think they have all the ingredients to be outstanding.” SU went 12-6 in the conference a year ago, tying Alabama A&M for second in regular season. As a result, a No. 2 seed in the SWAC tourney, which deflated a third straight regular season title. In that season, the Ragin’ Cajuns ended their schedule with a 74-53 loss in the opening round of the 2012 Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Ragin’ Cajuns enter this season selected to finish the fifth in the Western Division of the Sun Belt, finishing 1-15 in the conference and 7-23 overall.
Culture southerndigest.com
Page 10 - Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Fox has no problems with Rove a day later David Bauder
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The on-air spectacle of Fox News analyst Karl Rove publicly questioning his network’s call of the election for Barack Obama happened because Rove and Fox’s decision desk both had pieces to a puzzle that the other wasn’t aware of, a network executive said Wednesday. Far from an embarrassment, the incident proved Rove’s value to the network as more than an analyst, said Michael Clemente, Fox News Channel executive vice president of news editorial. Rove, former top advisor to President George W. Bush and a prominent fundraiser for Republican Mitt Romney, suggested Fox had prematurely declared Obama the winner in Ohio and thus for the election as a whole. “I’d be very cautious about intruding in this process,” Rove said. It led to Fox anchor Megyn Kelly getting up from her desk and marching down a hallway to question the off-air analysts responsible for the network’s election calls. The incident was “an odd civil war,” noted Tampa Bay Times news analyst Eric Deggans. Rove “finally had to concede to the arithmetic, but not before creating a defining image of a partisan, and a network, at war with the very reality it could not avoid reporting,” wrote Time magazine critic James Poniewozik. Fox declared Ohio for Obama because its decision desk knew that the uncounted vote at that time in the evening was in areas with overwhelming Obama support. Rove didn’t know that, Clemente said. Through his own reporting, Rove saw the actual vote count narrowing to a margin below 1,000 — information the decision desk didn’t know at the time. “It all came out at once,” Clemente said. “It would have been easier if it had all come out in some linear fashion, but it didn’t.” Rove’s information explains why it took the Romney campaign some time after
PHOTO BY tony gutierrez/ap photo
Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor to President George W. Bush, leads a panel discussion, The Politics And Policy Of Growth, at The 4% Project, Driving Economic Growth conference at SMU, in Dallas. The on-air spectacle of Fox News analyst Karl Rove publicly questioning his network’s call of the election for Barack Obama happened because Rove and Fox’s decision desk both had pieces to a puzzle that the other wasn’t aware of, a network executive said Wednesday.
the network declarations to eventually concede the race, he said. The day after the election resulted in the usual round of post-mortems, reevaluations and recriminations. NBC was also in an awkward spot with a feud between its top news anchor, Brian Williams, and Donald Trump, star of its longtime reality series “The Apprentice.” Trump sent out a series of angry tweets Tuesday night after it became apparent that Obama had earned enough electoral votes to win the presidency, but before it became clear that he would also win the popular vote. “We should have a revolution in this country!” the real estate mogul tweeted. He called for a march on Washington, said the country was in serious trouble and said Congress “shouldn’t give anything to Obama unless he terminates
Obamacare.” Williams, during NBC’s election night coverage, noted the comments and said Trump had “driven well past the last exit to relevance and veered into something close to irresponsible.” Trump retaliated with tweets on Wednesday, bragging about his television ratings. “The only thing more boring than (at)bwilliams’ newscast is his show Rock Center, which is totally dying in the ratings. A disaster,” he wrote. Trump is filming a new season of “The Apprentice” due to air in the spring. The sting of defeat was apparent on Wednesday within media that appealed to conservatives and Romney supporters. After Steve Doocy on “Fox & Friends” praised Obama for saying nice things about Romney, his broadcast partner, Brian Kilmeade, said, “it took awhile.”
With ‘Skyfall,’ Craig puts his stamp on Bond Jake Coyle
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — If you just looked at the cast and crew of “Skyfall,” you could easily confuse the assembled talent for a prestige costume drama. Director Sam Mendes, actors Judi Dench, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes, and cinematographer Roger Deakins might just as easily be mounting a Shakespeare adaptation. But “Skyfall” is, of course, a James Bond film, and not only that, it’s the 23rd installment in a blockbuster franchise marking its 50th anniversary with only slightly less fanfare than the Queen’s Jubilee. “Skyfall” is a touch more highminded than those previous 22 films, but it’s also arguably the best crafted movie in Bond history. Those involved in the 007 empire
PHOTO BY francois duhamel/ap photo
This film image released by Columbia Pictures shows Daniel Craig as James Bond in the action adventure film, “Skyfall.”
overwhelmingly credit the higher trajectory for Bond to one man: Daniel Craig. “Daniel was like, ‘Everyone said yes! Look at this incredible cast!’” says Mendes. “I’m like, ‘Mate, it’s because of you.’” Now in his third film as 007, “Skyfall” is Craig’s most emphatic statement yet
on how he’ll define his stewardship of the beloved British spy. What’s clearest on “Skyfall” is that Craig has taken full ownership of Bond, not only filling out a tux, but molding the entire production. “That was an ambition of mine,” says Craig.
Commentary southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Thursday, November 8, 2012 - Page 11
SGA, it’s time to move forward 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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The ballots have been cast and counted and after a long, strenuous hard fight to the top, President Barack Obama won his second term Tuesday night. Now that the presidential election is over and President Barack Obama is re-elected for a second term, we can focus our attention on other things. We get so caught up in what’s going on around the world that we hardly ever stop and take a look around to evaluate what’s going on here on our own campus. We stressed the importance of voting for our country, but we never stress the importance of voting for our school and who represents it. Universities may organize their Student Government Associations differently; however, the roles of the officers are fixed. A SGA consists of executive officers, chair people, committee members, and most importantly, the student body. Every time the SGA presidential election comes around, I see students hop on the bandwagon of those people who give out the most paraphernalia. Students get so caught up in popularity and free items that they are not paying attention to the platforms of the candidates. The students may not realize their
Jessica Sarpy acceptance of these items is an assumed promised vote! After the most popular contestant wins, what’s next? Months later, after they are all cozy in their new positions, it seems that the elected forgets about all those fancy promises that he or she made during the campaign trail. Take our current SGA President Willie E. McCorkle III for example. What has he really done for you? Two or three random rallies in front of the Union does what for you? While Mr. McCorkle is an intelligent young black man, he isn’t really doing anything to better the student body. He always has a positive response, but hardly ever a plan of action. If in some case he does actually have a plan of action, it will be underway in a near future that
doesn’t really exist. Did you know that SGA officials and Miss Southern travel all over the country on your dime? Of course these travels are supposedly for conferences, conventions and other leadership training roles, but I ask you this: Do they ever talk about their enlightened journeys? Do they ever utilize their newfound knowledge here on campus? You, the students are paying for them to look pretty and travel luxuriously while they spend your money. I have been expecting to see some kind of change on campus regarding the student body. So far I have not seen much. SGA was made to enlighten and protect the student body, not supply it with makeshift parties and selfindulging leaders. Obama got re-elected because we saw change in our country and because he made a difference in the outcome of the entire country. If Mr. McCorkle’s goal is to get reelected as SGA President, then the university needs to see some kind of change. Or, perhaps we will be fooled with empty promises and snazzy t-shirts once again! It’s up to us to demand change or accept unproductivity.
Page 12 - Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
New storm bears down on Sandybattered NYC, NJ Colleen Long & Frank Eltman The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A nor’easter blustered into New York and New Jersey on Wednesday with rain and wet snow, plunging homes right back into darkness, stopping commuter trains again and inflicting another round of misery on thousands of people still reeling from Superstorm Sandy’s blow more than a week ago. Under ordinary circumstances, a storm of this sort wouldn’t be a big deal, but large swaths of the landscape were still an open wound, with the electrical system highly fragile and many of Sandy’s victims still mucking out their homes and cars and shivering in the deepening cold. Exactly as authorities feared, the nor’easter brought down tree limbs and electrical wires, and utilities in New York and New Jersey reported that nearly 60,000 customers who lost power because of Sandy lost it all over again as a result of the nor’easter. Mark L. Fendrick, of Staten
Island, tweeted Wednesday night: “My son had just got his power back 2 days ago now along comes this nor’easter and it’s out again.” John Miksad, senior vice president of electric operations at Consolidated Edison, the chief utility in New York City, said, “I know everyone’s patience is wearing thin.” As the nor’easter closed in, thousands of people in lowlying neighborhoods staggered by the superstorm just over a week ago were urged to clear out. Authorities warned that rain and 60 mph gusts in the evening and overnight could topple trees wrenched loose by Sandy and erase some of the hardwon progress made in restoring power to millions of customers. “I am waiting for the locusts and pestilence next,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said. “We may take a setback in the next 24 hours.” Ahead of the storm, public works crews in New Jersey built up dunes to protect the stripped and battered coast, and new evacuations were ordered in a
photo by seth wenig/ap photo
Joe Graham delivers some gas in the snow to a neighbor for use in her generator in the New Dorp section of Staten Island, N.Y. Wednesday. A nor’easter blustered into New York and New Jersey on Wednesday, threatening to swamp homes all over again, plunge neighborhoods back into darkness and inflict more misery on tens of thousands of people still reeling from Superstorm Sandy.
number of communities already emptied by Sandy. New shelters opened. In New York City, police went to low-lying neighborhoods with loudspeakers, urging residents to leave. But Mayor Michael Bloomberg didn’t issue mandatory evacuations, and many people stayed behind, some because they feared looting, others because they figured whatever happens couldn’t be any worse than what they have
gone through already. “We’re petrified,” said James Alexander, a resident of the hardhit Rockaways section of Queens. “It’s like a sequel to a horror movie.” It’s insane at this point — snow with the nor’easter right after the hurricane,” 26-year-old Amanda Feluccio of Brooklyn told the New York Daily News. All construction in New York City was halted — a precaution that needed no explanation after
a crane collapsed last week in Sandy’s high winds and dangled menacingly over the streets of Manhattan. Parks were closed because of the danger of falling trees. A section of the Long Island Expressway was closed in both directions because of icy conditions. Airlines canceled at least 1,300 U.S. flights in and out of the New York metropolitan area, causing a new round of disruptions that rippled across the country.