The October 16, 2012 Issue of The Southern Digest

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Today

79/59

Wednesday

84/68

Thursday

Friday

79/53

79/51

Exclusive content @

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

www.southerndigest.com

Volume 58, Issue 12

The Digest will return October 25 check southerndigest.com for updates

Homecoming 2012 in pictures see Photo Essay, page 4

Jags overwhelm TSU; Pugh talks SU hoops see Sports, page 8

FYE aims to give back to freshmen Brittany Patterson The Southern Digest

Every freshman upon entering their first year wants to feel accepted and meet new people; ‘The First Year Experience’ is a way for freshman to obtain a better sense of unity and togetherness. This program was started by a desire to reach high school students in the city of Baton Rouge. At the time, Ja’el Gordon, who now serves as the Coordinator of Student organizations, was the President of Association of Women Students, along with other members of AWS, initiated high school outreach effort for the freshman class of 2016. “The purpose of the First -Year Experience (FYE) is to help inbreed a culture into the incoming freshman. So, they could have wonderful experiences,” Gordon said. The students of First Year Experience have participated in various activities since they have arrived at Southern University. “They learn different initiatives, whether it’s politics, health, social, and every genre,

full every spectrum. We don’t want to leave them out or think they have been forgotten,” Gordon said. One activity they were involved in was for voter’s registration. “We went to various classrooms, asked students if photo by marian horace/digest they were registered to vote, registered those who weren’t First Year Experience students share their experiences in a roundtable discussion. The FYE program is registered and answered designed to help new freshman students adjust to college life, along with providing activities to help them questions for those who had become productive students. questions,” Nicholas Harris, fashion merchandising major on the high school students’ is not the same, but everyone High school, a possible trip to has something they wants New Orleans, Shreveport and a from Shreveport said. After presentations. First Year Experience have to do… that really taught me Big Buddy Program. the voter registration efforts, “It’s about finding their place. FYE students participated affected the students that are something.” In FYE, the students get to The class of 2016 will be different in dormitory and university apart of the organization in experience aspect of college life. then any other freshman class,” various ways. apartment raids. For example, travel to the JSU Gordon said. For some students, it has For Mentor Academy, FYE At the moment, there are only students participated in a panel helped them be more social, football game and participating 22 students involved in the FYE. for 11 grade high school students have more opportunities and in various college activities. If you would like more Upon completion of their at Mentorship Academy. make long lasting friendships. “Being in the FYE, actually freshman year, the FYE students information, you can contact The students of FYE want to encourage high school students helped me by being in a group will become mentors for the Ja’el Gordon in 205 on the 2nd floor of the Union. in going to college as well as with different people who all next incoming freshman class. You can also find them on FYE aims to encourage the share the same experience: mentor them. “I loved the panel,” stated its our first year of college,” freshman class to be more www.org.sync.com. You will Mar’Lesha L. Hollins, freshman, Shukara Edwards, social work involved in the activities on- have to make an account using your college email. You can biology major from Jackson, La. major from Shreveport, La., campus. For the students a part of also find them on twitter and At Mentorship Academy said. Edwards was able to FYE, it is not an organization; it instagram at @FYE_at_SU. they gave introductions Freshman and upperclassmen on entrepreneurship and differentiate similarities and is a family. The future plans of FYE are welcomed to join. community service ideas. As differences between her peers. “It showed me that everyone includes; a visit to McKinley a panel, they gave feedback

Open house celebrates 65 years of SU Alumni Charles Hawkins II The Southern Digest

Alumni focused on memories, successes of alumni, and the improvement around Southern at Alumni Open House Thursday. Southern University’s Alumni gathered at the Alumni House to open up their celebration for homecoming. Alumnus checked in and picked up registration materials during the annual Homecoming Open House. Robin Merrick, Director of Alumni said this year was the 65th year of the alumni. “ We were founded 1947 and we are one of the oldest alumni associations of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” Merrick said. Dennis Brown, National Alumni President said the alumni open house

event has been going on for a while. “ This event has been going on for over 30 years,” Brown said. He said it gives alumni a chance to mix and mingle as well as a proper welcome back to Southern University. Merrick said the alumni association was recently honored as the 2012 HBCU national association of the year. “We won 2012 HBCU National Association,” Merrick said. She said this is the second consecutive year this award has been awarded to them. Merrick said the award was given based on criteria such as support of university, and amount of activity on campus. “The Alumnus had overwhelming support of the system when there was a possibility of Southern University in New Orleans merging,” Merrick said. She advocated for the system by rallying on

the capital, letter writing campaigns, and a telephoning campaign. Brown added on winning the award. “ Its about alumni as a whole making Southern University better,” Brown said. He said there is a lot more work to do to make Southern University better. Despite winning this award two years consecutively, Brown said he is looking to increase membership and activity in the alumni association. “We are asking more, providing more information,” Brown said. He said he believes that full transparency on big and small issues will assist in bringing more alumni into the association. Brown said they must tap into the potential pool of unpaid alumnus around the country to better the association. “ We need to do a better job of bringing

the official student newspaper of southern university and A&m college, baton rouge, louisiana

in younger members who bring energy to take it farther,” Brown said. Nikki G. Bannister, Southern University Mass Communication major, said more alumni should be involved. “I feel that more Southernites should get involved and it doesn’t stop when you get the sheep skin,” Bannister said. Bannister said she manages to help out in a myriad of ways to the association. “ I give fiscially, help in recruitment efforts, and participate in workshops,” Bannister said. Bannister said she has seen younger members getting involved with the organization. “ The older alumni are grooming the younger generation while younger See SU Alumni page 3


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