The Complete October 27 issue of the Southern Digest

STATE & NATION

SPORTS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Coloring book’ spoofs mayor. PG. 4

SWAC hopes dashed by PV. PG. 5

NY gun charges bench Weezy. PG. 6

Nagin lampooned in book

Lil Wayne pleads guilty

SU dealt heartbreaker

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009

VOL. 54, ISSUE 13

More cuts expected at SU

SU may face at least $5 million in cuts as state slashes higher ed

BY NORMAN J. DOTSON JR. DIGEST INTERIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHOTO BY APRIL BUFFINGTON/DIGEST

Southern University Chancellor Kofi Lomotey said Southern could be facing additional budget cuts next year as the state continues to slash funding.

Across the state budget cuts to higher education have been approximately $119 million dollars this year and more are expected for next year. According to Chancellor Kofi Lomotey, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced an estimated amount of $146 million to be cut in education across the state and out of that estimate Southern University’s cut on this campus would be between $5 to $8 million.

Lomotey made mention of a possibility of filing for financial exigency which is where a university will consider a range of appropriate operational and budgetary measures, which may include reduction of expenses related to goods, services, staff and faculty.

“Most of our budget, around 80 percent is employees and to ask us to cut $8 million there would be no way we could do that without losing

members of our faculty and staff. Everywhere you look our campus all of the offices are at a bare minimum, we have offices operating with just two people, which, is actually below the minimum. We just built the new extension to the stadium and we don’t have anybody to provide custodial services for it. We are understaffed in every area so to cut $8 million would necessitate our elimination of employees.”

Lomotey added.

When asked about the major effects this will have on students Lomotey said that the university will have to ask for an increase in tuition. According to the chancellor that would help in the university cuts seeing as how it would be impossible to find that amount of money without doing so. Some degree programs might also be lost if Southern is asked to make this $8 million cut which would be very detrimental to the university.

“I think we are OK for this year, but if we are asked to cut $8 million we would definitely lose

some degree programs.” said Lomotey. “I would like to make and absurd illustration, lets say we have a basket weaving major and we decide to eliminate this major, it would have to be a phased elimination. This way we can allow students who are already in enrolled in this major to have a chance to graduate in it.

There would still be a problem with this method, seeing as this process would have to be stretched out over the course of two or three years we would still need to keep to faculty in that department. So if we are asked to make a cut in the budget for next year we wouldn’t get the cut we need and just can’t imagine how we could come with that $8 million.”

Many rumors have also surfaced about decisions made to reduce the budget such as having only one graduation ceremony and the merging of See LOMOTEY page 3

SU reaches out to attract potential students

BY TREMAINE SANDERS DIGEST STAFF WRITER

It is a well-documented fact that in recent years enrollment has been down.

The exact reason for this is unknown and it is virtually impossible to pinpoint any one reason for this decline. This can be attributed to any number of reasons ranging from the economical crunch felt by the majority of families and households in this country. This topic could lead to endless theories but there is one speculation that can now be removed from the list of possibilities, enrollment is not down because of a lack of effort on the part of the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

The recruitment process encompasses many different facets. Planning is a huge component of this process. Each year recruiters from Southern University attend articulation workshops. Each of the six recruiting zones as established by the Louisiana Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (LACRAO) are represented and all the colleges that encompass those zones.

These colleges and universities bring literature about their schools in the forms of brochures and admissions packets. One such brochure is the Choose SU brochure that can also be See REACHES OUT page 3

PHOTO BY WIL NORWOOD/DIGEST

A student ambassador explains the surrounding of the SU campus to high school students from Minnesota as part of a campus tour.

THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE DIGEST WILL BE FRIDAY, NOV. 6.

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THE SOUTHERN DIGEST 4 - DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28

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THURSDAY, OCT. 29

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Classifieds

SU’s Division of Continuing Education and College of Business will sponsor insurance licensing courses on the Baton Rouge campus.

The courses, which are open to anyone interested in becoming a licensed insurance agent, will include continuing learning classes for those who are already licensed.

Registration is ongoing for the classes. The starting date for the class will be determined at the end of registration. For more information about the courses or registration, call 225.771.2613.

EMPLOYMENT

Airport Texaco hiring cashiers for evening, weekdays & weekends shifts full-time. Excellent customer service skills req’d. Very competitive pay. Apply in person to Baton Rouge Metro Airport Texaco.

Campus Briefs TODAY SU KARATE CLUB

The Southern University Karate Club welcomes all persons interested in training Shotokan Karate.

Training is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon at the J.B. Moore Hall Auditorium. For more information, call Edwin Walker at 771.3721 or e-mail edwin_walker@ subr.edu.

BEEP MEETINGS

The Southern University chapter of the Black Executive Exchange Program meets Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in Room 222 of T.T. Allain Hall. BEEP is open to all majors campuswide.

CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

Students peer tutoring is available at the Center for Student Success in Room 107 of W.W. Stewart Hall.

Follow the Center for Student Success on twitter to see exciting upcoming events.

Twitter.com/ Jaguar_Nation INSURANCE LICENSING COURSES

FREE PROGRAM FOR FATHERS

The SU Full Time Fathers Program offers free fatherhood sessions, job training and job placement assistance to non-custodial fathers.

Other services include legal assistance, life skills, financial literacy and much more. For more information, contact the staff at 225.771.3054 or www.facebook.com/ fulltimefathersprogram.

CLOTHING DRIVE

The Full Time Fathers Program needs your help! Donations are being accepted for new and used men’s clothing and accessories. All sizes of business/casual attire are needed. Drop off donations in Room 307A Higgins Hall on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 p.m.- 5 p.m. Donations will be accepted from Oct. 26 until Nov. 18. Contact the staff at 225.771.3054 for more details.

FRIDAY, OCT. 30

SATURDAY, OCT. 31

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MOSTLY SUNNY

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BILLIARDS TOURNAMENT

Registration is underway for a billiards tournament at Lacumba’s Playpen in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union Nov. 4 from 6-9 p.m. The registration fee is $5, and the deadline for registering is Friday, Oct. 30.

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE

The Department of Psychology is sponsoring the 11th Annual Social and Behavioral Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference Friday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. Students in the departments of criminal justice, economics, history, political science, psychology, rehabilitation and disability studies, sociology social work and speech pathology are encouraged to submit abstracts.

For more information, contact Dr. Reginald Rackley at 225.771.2990 or e-mail cozetrichard@ yahoo.com.

HONDA CAMPUS ALL-STAR CHALLENGE

Student applications for the 2009 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge’s campus competition are being accepted now until Monday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m.

The campus tournament has been postponed until Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. Participants in the campus competition are eligible to be selected to represent SU in the 2010 Honda Campus AllStar Challenge National

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Championship Tournament.

For more information, contact the Honors College at 771.4845 or go to www. hcasc.com.

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Campus BRIEFS

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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 bi-weekly (Tuesday & Friday) with a run count of 6,000 copies per issue during the Southern University - Baton Rouge campus fall, spring semesters.

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2009 FALL DIGEST STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Norman J. Dotson Jr. COPY EDITORS Kenyetta M. Collins Erica S. Johnson

Fax your campus event to The Southern DIGEST at 771-3253 Deadline for announcements are three days prior to the publication date.

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DIGEST STAFF WRITERS Mary Davis Morris Dillard Briana Brownlee Candace Edwards Breanna Paul Tremaine Sanders Billy Washington DIGEST PHOTOGRAPHERS April Buffington Trevor James Justin Wooten Robert W. Florida Jr. CARTOONIST Wil Norwood

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NEWS

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 - Page 3

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‘Black Girl’ draws laughs, tears

BY BREANNA PAUL DIGEST STAFF WRITER

The Upstage Theatre Company celebrated its fifth anniversary season by producing the play “Black Girl,” the weekend of October 23-25.

“Black Girl” was directed by Dr. Ava Brewster-Turner, a professor in the Visual Arts Department at Southern University.

This production was originally presented by the Henry Street Settlement’s New Federal Theatre at the Theatre de Lys, in New York City on June 16, 1971. The play is set in the summer of 1971 in a small town in Texas. The entire play takes place in the home of Rosie Mason, the mother of the “Black Girl,” Billie Jean.

Before the curtain dropped, Turner gave a brief synopsis of the play. “This is a modern-day version of a ‘Cinderella Story.’ So applaud, laugh and enjoy the play.”

The main character, Billie Jean played by Tia Early has dropped out of school and taken a job as a dancer at the local bar. She has no support from her mother or two sisters in her efforts to become a famous dancer.

Early is a senior broadcasting major at Southern University.

Billie Jean’s two sisters, Norma and Ruth Ann played by Takenya

Banks and Heather Ellis, respectively, do not approve of their sister’s aspirations to become a dancer. They even manipulate Billie Jean into doing things she wouldn’t otherwise do so she won’t leave home and become a better person. Banks is a theatre major from Dallas, Texas at Southern University. Ellis is from St. Louis, Missouri and teaches Biology at Central High School.

“I really enjoyed participating this play. It was my first time acting in a play and I can’t wait to do more.”

Eliis said.

Billie Jean’s mother, Mama Rosie, does not agree with her daughter’s dreams. Mama Rosie is played by LaNea Wilkinson who is a Field Coordinator with Gulf Coast Teaching Family Services. Mama Rosie takes in girls across the streets that have troubled homes and treats them as her own. Her three daughters feel that their mother loves the foster children more than themselves.

Billie Jean’s father, Earl, is played

by Dominique Martez who appeared in the UpStage production of “Mahalia! A Gospel Musical.” Earl has returned from being away for six years. He also does not support Billie Jean. “Ain’t no ‘Black Girl’ gonna make money dancing,” Earl said.

One of Mama Rosie’s foster daughters, Netta, is played by Ashley

Millender. This is Millender’s stage play debut. Netta encourages Billie Jean to pursue her dancing dreams.

While Netta is away at college, she sends Billie Jean an application to dance school. When Netta comes to Mama Rosie’s house to visit for Mother’s Day, Ruth Ann and Norma convince Billie Jean to help them make Netta so mad that she will leave the house without seeing Mama Rosie.

Another one of Billie Jean’s supporters is Mama Dessie, who is Billie Jean’s grandmother. Mama Dessie is the only person who lives in the house that supports Billie Jean.

Mama Dessie is played by Naomi Collier who is senior Public Relations major at Southern University. Mama Dessie tries to convince her daughter, Mama Rosie, to let Billie Jean attend dance school with Netta.

Evenutally, Mama Dessie is successful in her attempts to get Mama Rosie to let Billie Jean attend dance school.

Jasmine McDonald, a freshman majoring in Criminal Justice from Houston really enjoyed the play. “It was fun seeing my fellow students act in a play. I never knew some of them could act. I enjoyed this play and would like to see more of the UpStage Theatre Company plays.”

LOMOTEY from page 1 departments.

“I personally haven’t entertained discussions about this in any meeting but I did mention, however that commencement are very expensive but for this year there will still be three commencement ceremonies,” Lomotey said. “Also the merging of departments came up, which would only be a minimum way to save money because the staff of each department would still be needed. In the end we might save a secretary or two but it still wouldn’t give us the cut that we need.”

Lomotey also commented on what he feels the SU System president should do once elected.

“I think that first and foremost the newly elected president needs to be an academic leader because I think that a person in that position needs to be a role model. Secondly the new president needs to be able to hit the ground running in terms of raising funds for the system and each institution because funds from the state are declining, we have to become much more creative in terms finding ways to produce money for the university. Even, for example, if we don’t get this anticipated $146 million budget cut it is still a necessity for us to raise funds because the cost of things are going up. For example the traveling expenses for the football team are more expensive and other services we receive the prices are going up. So if we are receiving the

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same amount of money and these prices are increasing our budget is actually being reduced, and so if that’s true I feel that it’s the president’s responsibility to provide leadership in terms of seeking money for the system. Thirdly the president needs to be politically astute, he or she must be able to articulate the goals, the values, and the needs of the system,” commented Lomotey.

According to Lomotey, one of the challenges with many HBCUs is that their endowments are very low. Endowed funds are funds that are put away and only the interest collect on it is spent, these funds do not come from the state but from the system foundation that allows for the use of the interest collected each year so that the principal of the actual funds are not bothered.

The topic of alumni involvement was also discussed. “ I think that Southern is challenged, like many other HBCU’s with the level of alumni giving which is relatively low as well as the involvement. There is a desire by a number of alumni to be involved on campus, and this campus in particular needs to work more closely with alumni, which we plan to do. I think there are two major issues, the first I don’t think that we have articulated well enough to alumni what the university needs from them. The second thing is that the alumni are very much involved in their personal lives.”

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REACH OUT from page 1 obtained through the university website. At the conclusion of the workshop all interested high schools sign up to have recruitment fairs at their campuses. These recruitment fairs are scheduled one year in advance.

These recruitment fairs are designed to pique the curiosity of students and plant seeds of interest about Southern University. If students are interested in the University they can call the Office of Recruitment and Admission and schedule a tour.

When asked about the campus tours Robert Rene’, Senior Recruiter and Associate Director of the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, stated that, “The number one recruiting tool is to have these students on your campus to see what you have.”

There are other programs, aside from the tours, that are designed to bring students to this campus.

Family day was created to bring prospective students to Southern University to have the jaguar experience. Flyers and push cards were sent out to every high school in Louisiana inviting students to Family Day. Students also came from Georgia, Texas, and Florida. Every department on campus is represented at Family Day. Students were flooded with information about all facets of the collegiate pursuit here at Southern. After being given a wealth of academic knowledge the program shifts and students are given the opportunity to have some fun. The band performs for the high school students and then the tailgating begins.

Students and their parents can then attend the football game.

Another of these programs is Night on the Bluff, where students come to campus to experience university life. This program, however, unlike Family Day is scholarship driven and a number of scholarships are given out to qualified students.

state & nation Page 4 - Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Nagin skewered in c‘ oloring book’

BY BECKY BOHRER ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

NEW ORLEANS—New Orleans’ controversial mayor is now officially a character.

The scathingly satirical Ray Nagin Coloring Book pairs the mayor’s at-times baffling comments with illustrations that creator Karen Ocker hopes will do more than make people chuckle. “I hope people think carefully about the last eight years,” she said, “and what they want for the future of the city.”

The 24-page work touches on a swath of controversies, especially post-Hurricane Katrina. Its cover, with a chocolate milk drink, recalls Nagin’s declaration that postKatrina New Orleans would be a “chocolate” city. His plea to federal officials after the 2005 storm, to help fix “the biggest g--damn crisis in the history of this country,” is juxtaposed with a drawing of a brass band and the date of winter elections and Nagin’s exit from office next year. Term limits prevent him from running again.

Crime scene images accompany his statement that violent crime “keeps the New Orleans brand out there,” to help keep the city’s struggling recovery in the nation’s mindset.

“I think people are fatigued, they’re sick of hearing about problems at City Hall,” said Ocker, a former New Yorker

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who moved to New Orleans in 2002. She said she supported Nagin’s 2006 re-election but later became disillusioned with him. She illustrated a similarly satirical 2004 book about former President George W. Bush. “My hope is that people, through laughter, will pay attention to politics more,” she said.

A Nagin spokeswoman didn’t respond to whether the mayor had seen Ocker’s book. Nagin has brushed off past criticisms.

“I think when the dust settles and people look at the entire picture of what we’ve been able to do over the past eight years, especially after Katrina, I think they’ll settle down,” he said recently.

Nagin was little-known outside the region when Katrina and the levee breaches left 80 PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER/AP PHOTO percent of the city under water in August 2005. He instantly Artist Karen Ocker poses with her “Ray Nagin Coloring Book,” a on New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s controversial term, in New became the public face of an satire Orleans Friday. angry, suffering, can’t-keep-usdown New Orleans.

It was only a matter of time the online marketplace heavy Uptown, Ocker’s book has been before merchandising began, in political memorabilia. While a big hit.

“It’s timely and well needed,” though the tone has changed, she wouldn’t discuss sales over time, from solidarity to figures, Maniatis said Nagin he said. Nagin “is an easy person to poke at, and a person remains a “big seller.” skewering.

His 2006 chocolate city who needs poking.”

Nearly 4,000 Nagin-related The level of mayoral T-shirt and gift designs are pronouncement — for which available at the Web site Nagin later apologized — made lampooning is unheard of even CafePress.com, a figure that him a “cultural icon,” she said. in a city not known for restraint, At David Gordin’s French said longtime local political puts Nagin on par with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Quarter specialty shop, key analyst Clancy DuBos. “The indicted former Illinois Gov. chains that play Nagin quotes man has become a caricature of Rod Blagojevich, said Amy have long been reliable sellers. himself,” he said.

Maniatis, spokeswoman for At Britton Trice’s bookstore

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State Briefs THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DHH proposes $232M Medicaid rate cut

The state health department is proposing millions of dollars in cuts to the rates paid to private health care providers for taking care of Medicaid patients.

Charles Castille, undersecretary for the state Department of Health and Hospitals, said Monday the cuts would save more than $232 million annually. The cuts would take Medicaid spending for the private providers to what was paid in the 2005-06 budget year.

The hospitals, nursing homes and others whose payments would be slashed say the reductions could jeopardize patient care and might shrink the number of providers willing to care for Medicaid patients.

Castille described the rate cut proposal to an advisory panel to the Commission on Streamlining Government, which is considering ways to reduce government spending. The advisory panel didn’t vote on whether to support the idea.

LSU, UL chiefs suggest tuition hike

LSU System President John Lombardi says college management boards should have the authority to decide when and how to raise tuition, as a way to offset budget cuts.

Lombardi and University of Louisiana System President Randy Moffett told a college cost-cutting panel Monday that there should be changes in the current requirement that tuition increases for public colleges need a two-thirds vote of the state Legislature.

Moffett suggested the Postsecondary Education Review Commission look at tying tuition to the levels of other Southern colleges or charging per credit hour, rather than having a flat full-time tuition cost.

The 13-member commission is combing through the details of the state’s university systems, looking for cost-cutting moves and restructuring ideas.

SPORTS

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 - Page 5

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SU sees title hopes dashed in heartbreaking loss By morris dillard DiGest spORts WRiteR

Southern used and needed every last second and possession of the ball to maintain a chance at the Southwestern Athletic Conference title Thursday against Prairie View A&M. In the last second attempt, Bryant Lee connected with Juamorris Stewart for a potential game winning touchdown or perhaps a SU game winning field goal.

Prairie View defensive end Quinton Spears stripped Stewart of the ball and PV linebacker Renoldo Revuelta recovered the ball at the 6-yard line with 17.6 seconds remaining in the game.

The fumble recovery spoiled Southern’s hunt for a conference title as the Panthers escaped Mumford Stadium with a 16-14 win. PV (5-1, 4-0) now rests comfortably atop of the SWAC’s Western Division while the only chance the Jaguars (4-3, 1-2) have at a division title is to win all four of their final games and hope for the Panthers to implode down the stretch.

The Jaguars travel to take on ArkansasPine Bluff (4-2, 2-1) Saturday.

“We lost as a team,” said head coach Pete Richardson. “Now we just got to fight and make sure those players understand that we have to improve as a football team.”

The win — the third in four years over SU — is the first since 1963 where PV has walked away from Mumford as the winner, along with the first time since 1963-64 that the Panthers notched backto-back wins over Southern. The win also marked the first time Prairie View defeated SU and Grambling State in the same season since 1964.

Each of the Panthers’ recent wins over SU have been of the come-from-behind variety. In 2006, PV scored 14 unanswered points to win in overtime. In 2008, they

photo by apRIL bUFFInGton/DIGESt

southern offensive lineman Adrian Banks tries to run interference for wide receiver Juamorris stewart as prairie view’s chris Adingupu (3) and Dalvin Nettles (92) try to close in on stewart during thursday’s key sWAc game.

came back from 13 points behind in the fourth quarter to win by one point. This time, they trailed SU by four points, 14-10, heading into the fourth quarter.

Field goals for SU have had little to none effectiveness thus far this season.

In fact, SU has yet to place one in between the cross bars this season.

“They played well and our players understood the magnitude of what this

game meant,” said Richardson. “We had an opportunity. Every time you blow that many opportunities, you’re not going to beat a good football team.”

Josh Duran missed a 34-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, giving PV time to put together an 80-yard drive that ended with a three-yard Donald Babers run to give the Panthers a 16-14 lead with 8:05 left in regulation.

The SU defense played against a challenging and physical offense the entire night. They gave up a huge sack on third-and-five giving the offense the ball and momentum with 2:59 remaining.

Bryant Lee, who finished the night completing 25 of 36 passes for 285 yards with two total touchdowns, led SU from their own 41-yard line to the PV 23 yard line after a 13-yard scramble and 15-yard pass to Curry Allen. All of the 6,463 fans stood up in anticipation of a miracle win.

Stewart, who finished with 12 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown, caught a pass along side the SU sideline, and began to fight for extra yards. Unfortunately, a hit

by PV defensive end jarred the ball loose and several players scrambled to recover the fumble.

Both offenses struggled throughout the wet, muddy and windy conditions of the game, but PV jumped out to an early first quarter lead. PV quarterback K.J. Black dropped back, avoided the immediate rush of SU defenders, and threw a screen pass to Babers for 49-yard touchdown.

PV led SU 7-0 with 12:15 left to play in the first quarter.

The “jaguar package,” which put on display for homecoming last week, did not have much success, yielding SU two penalties and a fumbled snap.

The SU offense came together for a 10-play, 68-yard drive which ended in a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Lee to tie the game with 2:20 remaining in the first half. PV answered with a 29-yard field goal by Brady Faggard to end the half.

Stewart’s remarkable 25-yard score in the third quarter gave SU a 14-10 lead and perhaps a top ten highlight on ESPN. From there, SU looked to be in control as Jason House picked off Black for his nation-leading sixth interception, giving SU momentum heading into the fourth.

PV proudly wears ‘team of destiny’ hat By larry young

DiGest spORts eDitOR

Prairie View knew what was at stake. They knew what to expect, heading into the games most critical seconds that Southern would try to get the ball in the hands of Juamorris Stewart. And they closed it out.

Facing a desperate, hungry Southern team (4-3, 1-2) with its back against the wall driving deep into Prairie View territory, threatening to score, the Panther defense stepped up and made a play.

Before it happened, however, defensive coordinator Heishma Northern, a former Southern player offered a bit of advice.

“I told them champions make plays,” Northern said, sobbing in joy. “I told them big players make plays in situations like this.”

Indeed.

After it went down, Prairie View’s bench cleared and

jumped in celebration as the final seconds dripped off the clock Thursday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Across the field, Southern’s Leslie Davis slammed his helmet at the 15-yard line, turned and shouted at a group of Jaguars jostling for receiver Juamorris Stewart’s fumble at the Prairie View six yard line. His scream was the culmination of Prairie View’s 16-14 come-from-behind behind win, the schools third in four years, and first in Mumford since 1963.

On the play, Panther defenders held up Southern receiver Juamorris Stewart, who spun and turned up field fighting for extra yardage, long enough for Chris Adingupu to move in for the strip.

“We’re in the driver’s seat in the West now and it’s ours to win,” Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III said. “That’s what’s special about championship seasons, things fall into place.

“The stars are aligned for success for this team. Things are falling into place for it and we’re going to take advantage of it.”

Though the Panthers led 10-7 at the break, they had too many slip ups. Too many near misses.

All totaled, the Panthers were three-of-eight on third down, failing to capitalize on good field position. Of the Panthers’ six first half drives, the SU 42-yard line was their average starting field position.

Driving down the field, Black was intercepted at the SU 40 by defensive back Jason House. The interception was Black’s second of the season, and House’s conference leading sixth.

Entering the game, Prairie View had not allowed a fourth down conversion. SU had two fourth down conversions, with one keeping alive a TD drive.

Then, in the second half, things changed. Prairie View went back to playing old-

fashioned football. Fighting rainy conditions, Prairie View hit Southern with a heavy dose of tailback Donald Babers, the SWAC’s only 1,000-yard rusher last year.

Babers responded with 111 yards on 20 carries and a TD. He also had four receptions for 63 yards and a TD—Babers took the Panthers’ first play 49 yards for a score.

“This was a great opportunity,” Babers said. “I wanted the rock because I wanted to win this game. If we would have lost, we would have opened it up for other teams. We had to have it so we can be in the driver’s seat.”

Prairie View played with the lead the majority of the game, but the pressure was on when Southern went ahead 14-10 with 8:02 left in the third quarter.

From there, the Panthers had three more scoring chances and went scoreless.

As usual, the Prairie View

defense stepped up long enough for quarterback K.J. Black and the offense to orchestrate a 10-play, 80-yard drive which tailback Donald Babers capped with a three-yard TD to put PV ahead 16-14 with 8:05 to play.

“We thought if we scored there we could lock it up,” Black said. “The front and our running backs got it done. We just leaned on them.”

That they are. And Babers is largely responsible. He scored the games first points taking a pass 49 yards to pay dirt, finishing with 20 carries for 111 yards and one TD. He also had four receptions for 63 yards and a TD. “Babers is our little big man,” Frazier said. “He makes us go.”

From here, if Prairie View wins out, the Panthers will make their first appearance in the SWAC Championship game.

If so, maybe then, the Panthers will have another chance to close it out.

Arts & ENTERTAINMent Page 6 - Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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Lil’ Wayne pleads to attempted gun possession By jennifer peltz & nekesa mumbi moody associated press writers

NEW YORK—In the midst of a career surge that has made him one of rap’s biggest stars, Lil’’’ Wayne is bracing for a year behind bars after pleading guilty Thursday in a two-year-old gun case.

A glum Lil’ Wayne said little as he admitted illegally having a loaded gun on his tour bus in 2007, moving to end a case that had churned along as he collected Grammys and gold records. He’s expected to get a year in jail at his sentencing, set for February.

The plea, which came as he boasted the country’s No. 1 pop song, makes Lil’ Wayne the latest in a long line of rappers to face incarceration after topping the charts.

Arguably rap’s most popular artist, Lil’ Wayne somberly answered his judge’s questions with “yes, sir” and “no, sir” as he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

He acknowledged he had a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic gun when the bus was stopped shortly after a Manhattan concert on July 22, 2007. His lawyer had previously disputed the gun was the rapper’s, in part by questioning the reliability of a highly sensitive DNA test that prosecutors said tied him to the weapon.

State Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon warned Lil’ Wayne that he wouldn’t be able later to withdraw the plea, as some people try to do.

“I’m not one of those people,” said the

photo by LOUIS lanzano/ap photo

Rapper Lil’ Wayne enters Manhattan criminal court, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, in New York. A hearing on a DNA profiling technique used in the rapper’s 2007 gun-possession case was due to start Wednesday.

rapper, who sat in court in jeans and a hooded parka. He pulled up the hood and didn’t speak as he left the courthouse with members of his entourage, who piled into four black SUVs. He’s due back in court Dec. 15 before his sentencing date, which has yet to be set.

He had faced at least 3 1/2 years in prison if convicted of the original weapons-possession charges against him.

Lil’ Wayne, 27, also is scheduled for trial in Arizona in March on felony

Michelle Obama’s gripe: President’s tennis game BURBANK, Calif. (AP)— What’s President Barack Obama’s most annoying habit?

Practicing his speeches for hours in front of the bathroom mirror? Talking too much foreign policy at the dinner table?

No — first lady Michelle Obama said Friday it’s his tennis game. When they play, the president usually wins.

“He beats me quite often,” she said on NBC’s “The Jay Leno Show,” appearing via satellite hookup from the White House. “That gets to be pretty annoying.”

The show was taped for airing later Friday evening.

In a brief skit, Leno pushed her to talk about her husband’s flaws. At first, she sarcastically said he has none.

“He’s perfect,” she quipped.

Then she let it out: It’s their battles on the tennis court that get her peeved.

It also looks like Bo — the Obamas’ dog — is living like a king. The first lady said the presidential pooch celebrated his first birthday earlier this month with a Rose Garden party.

Bo, a Portuguese water dog, feasted on a cake shaped like a dog house that was made out of veal.

“We had a really sweet celebration,” the first lady told Leno. “We had party hats.”

The first lady told Leno there are White House secrets she will never reveal — she refused to divulge what daughters Malia and Sasha are wearing for Halloween.

“You need security clearance for that,” she said.

Leno also wanted to know what she whispers to her husband after his speeches.

“I usually ask him did he take out the garbage,” she said.

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drug possession and weapons charges stemming from a January 2008 arrest at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint. He has pleaded not guilty in that case.

In March, an Atlanta judge dismissed felony drug charges against Lil’ Wayne.

His lawyer had said the rapper wasn’t staying in the hotel room where police said the drugs were found in 2006.

Over the past two years, Lil’ Wayne — born Dwayne Carter — has emerged as the best-selling figure in music. His “Tha Carter III” topped all album sales in

2008 with 2.8 million copies sold off of such hits as the No. 1 smash “Lollipop.”

His Grammys include last year’s best rap solo performance award, for “A Milli.”

A rapper since he was a teen, Lil’ Wayne exploded in popularity thanks to his voluminous output on the mixtape circuit and collaborations with other artists. He currently has the No. 1 song in the country with Jay Sean, “Down.”

While his lyrics sometimes are laced with violence, he’s more known for clever wordplay and risque material.

The relationship between chronicling crime and living it has long been an issue in rap. Some of the genre’s big names — including Tupac Shakur, Lil’ Kim, Beanie Sigel, Shyne, Mystikal and C-Murder — have done a few months to several years behind bars for crimes committed after they became famous.

T.I., another of rap’s top sellers, reported to a federal prison in May for his conviction on weapons charges. He’s expected to serve a year and a day.

While some rappers haven’t regained their chart status after prison or jail, Shakur became even more popular, and T.I. remains popular on the radio.

Police pulled over Lil’ Wayne’s tour bus shortly after it left a concert venue, saying they had seen and smelled marijuana smoke wafting out the door when it was parked.

After ordering roughly a dozen or so other people off the bus, police found a freshly showered Lil’ Wayne in his boxer shorts in a bedroom at the back of the bus.

Police said that as an officer approached, the rapper tossed away a Louis Vuitton bag containing the gun.

VIEWPOINTS

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 - Page 7

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Letter to the Editor While many of us were taking advantage of the long awaited fall break last week, many more of us stayed behind to support our Jaguars as they played the Prairie View Panthers. As you all well know, students have been moved from Section 9 to accommodate the sale of its “prime seats” to the public.

Please bear in mind that those seats have only managed to sell out for one game, and that was Homecoming. At any rate, the turnout to Thursday’s game was significantly low and many of the rules for student seating were relaxed.

The East Baton Rouge Sherriff’s Office secures the entrance to that section and is well known for being overly aggressive and downright rude to the students who pay their salary when working such details. However, on this day their aggression reached entirely new lows.

According to numerous eyewitness accounts, a 21 year- old female student who is a VISIBLY EXPECTING mother-to-be was allegedly attempting to re-access her seating in Section 9 after producing proof that she had the clearance to sit in her seat (a wristband).

A disagreement between her and the deputies ensued, allegedly ending with her being physically accosted, dragged through the mud, grabbed by the neck by a male officer and handcuffed. What would have happened if this student would have lost her child as a result of these officers brutal treatment?

Where does the accountability fall when our institution hires individuals who are unprofessional, incompetent,

uncompassionate, and unable to respect the very people whose presence at the game make the detail that they are working and earning a paycheck possible?

This is not the first time that nonuniversity employees who have been hired by our institution have shown to be imbecilic at best when it comes to performing their jobs. When will it end?

Instead of getting angry with students who see no other alternative but to call the news media when things go wrong, why not seek to find what is wrong with the university administration that long condones and turns a blind eye when things go wrong and attempts to pacify us with a few seats in the section of A.W. Mumford stadium that is rightfully OURS? At the same time, when are WE as students going to stand up and let those who are spending OUR money know that we are more than just a paycheck for them? We are the ones who suffer for their lack of planning, inefficiency, and lackadaisical attitudes. We suffer because the administration fails to take into account how leaving an Executive Assistant in a position paying in excess of FIFTY THOUSAND dollars but removing an English instructor who teaches a class only one time an academic year affects us. We suffer because when no one in a position of power listens. It makes us no longer care. We have resorted to just going with the flow and anticipating our graduation date so we can run away from Southern,

never looking back.

As the President of the Association for Women Students, I now come before you asking you to stand with your Student Government Association to fight against the injustices that occur at our institution on a daily basis. No longer do you have to complain and let your complaints fall on deaf ears. You have elected us to do a job for you, and we are here to do that job but we cannot do it alone. I for one keep an open door not just for women students but for anyone who has an issue that needs to be resolved. When asked to stand with us make yourselves available, because the next six months aren’t going to get any better for our institution. The powers that be within the state legislature are looking for ways to close Southern, and that time is not as far away as you may think. We, the Jaguar Nation, cannot afford to sit idly by while what our predecessors worked for, lived, bled and died for, and fought so hard to preserve fall by the wayside.

I ask you, Jaguar Nation, what are you going to do? If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.

Just know that this Student Government Association is going to do whatever it can in the best interest of you, and whatever can be done, will be done.

SPEAK OUT What are your plans for Halloween?

BY justin wooten Digest Photographer

toi armstead new orleans senior electrical engineer

“Going to Bourbon and Carlotta Street.” armstead

shikinley mitchell vidalia, la. senior mass communication

“Going to Grambling’s mitchell homecoming Friday, the LSU block party and then to the KAOS party in New Orleans.”

prentice garrett

Yours in Gold and Blue, Nona M. Louis-Stewart President, Association for Women Students

atlanta freshman biology

garrett

“Trick-or-Treating around the area, then going to see a scary movie, after that I’m going to The 13th Gate.”

amanda higgins new orleans sophomore nursing

higgins

“I’m going to the KAOS party in the Superdome.”

SUBMISSIONS POLICY

The Southern DIGEST welcomes letters from readers commenting on current issues and other matters of general interest to the SU family and public. We set aside this space to publish these letters for others to enjoy. This newspaper is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on its editorial and opinion pages. The Southern DIGEST reserves the right to edit any contributions and or reject them without notification. Authors are encouraged to limit the length of submissions to 300 words. Letters should not include libelous statements. Offensive and personal attacks will not be permitted. The DIGEST will not print “open letters” addressed to someone else. All contributions must be type written, signed and must include the author’s address and phone number. Unsigned letters will not be printed.

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When referring to specific DIGEST articles, please include the date and title. All materials should be directed to the editor in chief of The Southern DIGEST, P.O. Box 10180, Baton Rouge, La. 70813.

Materials may be delivered by hand to the DIGEST office located in Suite 1064 Harris Hall or can be e-mail to digest@subr.com.

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Editorial policy

Staff editorials represent the opinions of the author and the majority opinion of the Southern DIGEST Student Editorial Board, which is comprised of the student staff of editors and columnists. The Southern DIGEST provides an open forum to educate, inform and enlighten the students, faculty and staff at Southern University, Baton Rouge, La.

HBCU NEWS Page 8 - Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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Grambling State president to step down this week By imani jackson black college wire

Grambling State University has announced the resignation of University President Horace Judson, effective Oct. 31, the day of Grambling State’s homecoming game.

Though many question the timing of the decision -- the announcement came exactly 10 days before the effective date --Judson’s administration is noted for increased academic standards, improved studenthousing, creation of Grambling’s Center for Mathematical Achievement in Science and Technology, the Tiger Fund scholarship and beginning construction of a Performing Arts Center.

“Undeniably, President Judson has left his footprint on our Grambling campus. Under his tenure the university has built state-of-the-art dormitories, a student union, assembly center, and many other improvements,” said University of Louisiana System Board Member Mildred Gallot in a press release announcing the resignation.

“When I began as president at GSU, I made a commitment to serve for five years,” said Judson in the press release. “I am proud of all that has been accomplished, and I consider it a privilege to have served as President of GSU.” Judson, who received his A.B. in chemistry from Lincoln University and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Cornell University, upped the university admission criteria.

“For me, excellence is not some absolute standard; it is not perfection. It is a measure of the difference between potential

Resignation could affect Grambling’s accreditation GRAMBLING—University of Louisiana System President Randy Moffett said it’s too early to tell how Wednesday’s resignation by Grambling State University President Horace Judson will affect the university’s ongoing accreditation process.

After five years at GSU, Judson departed soon after the university had submitted reports for its reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

The SACS process, which Moffett said is “interactive,” is scheduled to culminate in a site visit in spring 2010. In the meantime, SACS and GSU will work together to answer questions and clarify statements in the reports already submitted.

Board of Regents President Sally Clausen said she believes Judson left the university in good shape for the reaccreditation process.

—by the Associated Press and performance. It is a measure of the narrowness of the gap,” Judson said in his Grambling State inaugural address in 2004.

“The challenge for individuals and institutions is to avoid overestimating performance and underestimating potential.”

University of Louisiana System representatives had kind words about Judson.

Grambling students had varied reactions to Judson’s departure.” Did Jesus come back?” asked Quantreus Hayes, a sociology senior from West Monroe.

“How are we not going to have a president?” asked Sequoia Diggs, a social work junior from Las Vegas. “Who’s stepping up?

People are happy that Judson is gone … Grambling is slowly deteriorating.”

“Let’s make the best of this.

Right now we’re in a pool of opportunity,” said Jonathan Allen, a management freshman from New Iberia.

“I’m interested in how this is going to affect the reaffirmation of our accreditation,” said Keith Brown, a criminal justice senior

from Richmond, Calif.

“I’m not saying I’m happy that he’s gone but if the best thing for Grambling is for him to leave, then I’m happy,” said Dujuan Lockett, a biology senior from Shreveport.

“Judson’s the face of the business, Grambling State University. So it’s easy to blame him, but people need to understand it isn’t solely his plans,” said Benjamin Gray, a drafting design junior from Prince George’s County, Maryland. “He has to take into consideration other people’s ideas before making rules and regulations, such as parking.”

“I’m glad he’s gone and hope we get a better person than him,” said Joy Butler, a child development senior from New Orleans.

“Presidents have come and gone,” said Helen Richard Smith, a 1944 graduate of Grambling State, who still resides in Grambling. “Grambling is going to stand after Judson leaves. It stood before he came.”

“If you look at the landscape of campus now compared with 2004 you clearly see

transformation in the overall appearance of the campus,” said state representative Rick Gallot.

“I think that has been good for the university.”

“I would like to stress that there have been challenges, but I appreciate those positive results of his presidency. I want to wish him well.”

Some challenges Judson faced included the Faculty Senate and Student Government Association, who were slated to present symbolic votes of confidence or no confidence in the Judson administration.

Judson experienced similar issues as president of Plattsburgh State University in New York, where he also resigned. He left Plattsburgh State in 2003 and was appointed to the Grambling State presidency in 2004.

Students and faculty there expressed concerns regarding his hiring practices and what they believed to be isolation from the community, according to a news source near Plattsburgh State.

The same concerns were cited in the Grambling community.

Many wonder if Judson has

a pattern of resignation and controversy.

A hot-button Grambling issue is construction of a $158,000 fence in front of the president’s house. More than 500 students opposed the fence’s construction in a Facebook group. Judson defended construction of the fence.

“There have been real security and safety issues with that property and that house,” said Judson in an impromptu meeting with students on Aug. 31.

He said that there were specific funds allocated for adjustments to the house.

“It was there when I came.

It will be there when I leave,” Judson said of the residence.

Many hope Judson left the Grambling house in order before resigning.

“Indicative of his leadership, President Judson ensured all pending accreditation reports were completed prior to any public announcement. Grambling is a thriving institution thanks to his service,” said UL System President Randy Moffett in an announcement from the Grambling State Public Relations office.

“I believe that this is a good juncture for me to complete my tenure and focus on my family,” Judson said in a press release.

Students want to see how the leadership change will affect them.

“My only concern is our accreditation,” said Arsenio Wilborn, a psychology junior from Long Beach, Calif. “I just want my degree to count.”

——— Imani Jackson is editor of The Gramblingite, the Grambling State University student newspaper, which originally published this article.

CAU tightens security after student death By anastasia semien black college wire

Since the tragic shooting death of Spelman student Jasmine Lynn on the campus of Clark Atlanta University, many have been wondering what the university is doing to increase student safety.

To many students’ delight, James P. Brawley Drive — the place where Lynn’s life was taken — has been closed. Orange barricades now sit at each entrance of the road. CAU president Dr. Carlton Brown said that the physical barriers are temporary but the plan to officially close the road is permanent.

“We have no intention of re-opening JP Brawley to auto traffic. We are currently awaiting a city emergency decision to abandon the road and several side roads to CAU,” Brown said. He also previously stated at several of the town hall meetings that took place immediately following the incident that this legal process could take

some time.

Brown informed students that the closing down of these roads is only the beginning of the safety measures that must be introduced to the campus in order to ensure protection.

“We are asking all students, faculty and staff to keep their university ID’s with them at all times, to display them visibly on their persons and to allow review by public safety personnel, administrative team members, student affairs staff, and housing personnel,” he said.

Brown also said that there has been a collaborative effort within Atlanta University Center to combat this issue.

“All of our institutions have been engaged in more intense patrols. Additionally, we have designed overlapping external patrols between our institutions and APD (the Atlanta Police Department),” he said.

“We are seeking to more fully integrate our safety systems, communications and

alert systems across the AUC.” He also said that the AUC has been working on developing its surrounding community for some time now. “For nearly a year, CAU along with the leadership at Spelman, Morehouse and Morehouse School of Medicine have been in meetings with city officials and others about the development of a plan for the economic, physical and safety development of the AUC community from I-20 to MLK, Northside to Lowery.”

Many have been curious of the fate of the land that was once occupied by University Homes, a low-income housing project that sat in the almost center of the AUC. Although Brown could not confirm whether the rumors of it becoming a mixed-income apartment complex or shopping center were true, he did say that the AUC has been in constant contact with the Atlanta Housing Authority to ensure that whatever that is built there will be beneficial to students.

“We have been in a collaborative relationship with the Atlanta Housing Authority to plan the future use of these grounds with the understanding that AUC institutions constitute the economic anchor of the community. We want to develop a community that serves the needs of the university, our college partners and the other residents and businesses in this part of the city,” he said.

Brown also said that AUC leadership met with church and police leadership Monday to increase community awareness and involvement.

Although the administration has increased its safety efforts, Brown urged students that they too must do their part.

“Students need to comply with the safety measures that we are pursuing — particularly those relative ID display, non congregation in the streets in the evenings and exercising safer movement outside of our campuses — where the vast majority of all area crimes do occur,” he said.