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SU track coach to see familiar face at meet see Sports, Page 5
Financial Aid seeks to upgrade Southern University’s Financial Aid office is planning an upcoming relocation to better suit students needs after relocating to A.W. Mumford’s field house due to a campus blackout. They will relocate the office near other student service outlets for a shorter stop to correct the customer service problems. Ursula Shorty, Director of Financial Aid for six years, told of their recent return to the right office. “It feels great, we were only out of office one day at the field house,” Shorty said. She mentioned the reason for movement was because of a loss of electricity. Darian Singleton, sophomore, nursing major from Baton Rouge, spoke on the new planned Financial Aid facility. “It will be kind of better,” Singleton said. He said it would be a good
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move. Meoni Amaya, a sophomore, business administration major from Los Angeles, acknowledged the location change of Financial Aid office. “I think it will be awesome,” Amaya said. Cache’ Carry-DeCuir, a sophomore, apparel merchandising major, thought the new facility would benefit the freshmen most. “That’s going to make everything a lot easier for Freshmen,” Carry-DeCuir said. She said it would avoid the run around that normally takes place for student services. Shorty is looking forward to the new facility. “We’re excited, and we have looked at and participated in planning of the structure,” Shorty said. She told of how it will be closer to other student service offices and Admissions as well as how they are eager for move. Singleton spoke of some improvements he would want
What happened to real music? see Commentary, Page 7
photo by Ariana Triggs/digest
Students wait in line in A.W. Mumford Field House on the third floor after the Financial Aid Office was moved to the field house due to power outages. Financial Aid looks to a relocation of their office to better serve Southern University students.
to see inside the new facility. “Just somebody there to answer a few more questions,” said Singleton. He said he would like to see more tips and pamphlets on how to manage money as well inside of the new facility. Amaya told of new physical aspects she would want to see in the new facility. “Better waiting areas,”
Amaya said. She said her past experiences sitting in rooms with random material in them was uncomfortable.. Carry-DeCuir said the new facility should provide better communication because of technology. “My last problem was not being notified early enough when there were issues,”
Carry-DeCuir said. She said she hopes new technology in the facility will provide immediate assistance in communication. Shorty expressed her appreciation for the student patience in old facility. “I want to thank students for cooperation and making a smooth transition during the blackout time,” Shorty said.
Southern systems ready for threats Marcus Green
The Southern Digest
With recent bomb threats plaguing universities all across the country, Southern University addresses its plans when it comes to dealing with such threats. “Of course the University will release info to students and staff before we start making statements to the public.” Edward Pratt, Assistant to the Chancellor for Media Relations said. According to the Southern University Emergency Response Plan, in the event that a bomb threat is received during normal business hours, University police will be immediately notified in which an immediate evacuation of the campus would ensue. Ronald Stevens, chief of the Southern University Police Department, said “Within five minutes of receiving news of a bomb threat, a first call alert will be issued followed by officers going to classes to alert faculty all around campus.”
Launched back in 2008, the FIRSTCALL system is 24-hour telephone warning system that will alert the Southern University family about critical information, warnings
In regards to evacuation procedures the campus Emergency Response Plan includes routes with the primary route being Harding Boulevard, the secondary route being Swan Street
“Within five minutes of receiving news of a bomb threat, a first call alert will be issued followed by officers going to classes to alert faculty all around campus.”
Ronald Stevens Chief, Southern University Police Department
and advisories concerning emergencies on campus. “As soon as a threat is received, the info would go out immediately through all the campus media we use, text, email, etc…” SUBR Chancellor James Llorens said.
North of Harding, and the alternate route being Mills Avenue, which is the only street on the North side of campus. “For students that live off campus, they would be evacuated through the campus buses, Llorens said.
the official student newspaper of southern university and A&m college, baton rouge, louisiana
With LSU having to perform a campus-wide evacuation for a bomb threat they received on the seventeenth of this month, many students on campus wonder if Southern could be next. Justin Thompson, a freshman Business major from Baton Rouge said, “The only emergencies I’m used to on campus is hurricanes, I don’t know what would happen if the University received a bomb threat.” LSU wasn’t the only university targeted as three other institutions; Hiram College, North Dakota State University and the University of Texas at Austin were also forced to evacuate their campuses due to bomb threats recently. Tasha Henderson, a junior Accounting major from Baton Rouge said, “I’ve heard about bomb threats at places that are really close to Southern, I just pray that we don’t get any because we missed enough class See Bomb Threat page 3