Judge Faith Gives Hope:
Fall 2017 Commencement Ceremony
BY JACQUELINE MORGAN
SOUTHERN DIGEST - MANAGING EDITOR
According to their website, the Southern University Law Center (SULC) was officially opened in September of 1947 to provide legal education for African-American students. Since then, the SULC has graduated thousands of students who have gone on to become some of the most prestigious law practitioners Louisiana has to offer. With that in mind, it is fitting that one of SULC’s very own, Judge Faith Jenkins, keynotes the Southern University Baton Rouge fall 2017 commencement ceremony. Faith Jenkins was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she graduated from C.E. Byrd High School. She attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, earning her bachelor’s degree in political science.While there, she became the first AfricanAmerican woman to win the Miss Louisiana Tech title. Jenkins’ pageant endeavors
led her to becoming Miss Louisiana in 2000, and advancing to compete for the Miss America title in 2001, where she was deemed first runner-up. Although she is no longer a participant, Jenkins remains active in the Miss America Organization and judges state preliminaries every year. Leaving her pageant life behind, Faith began to establish a national presence, traveling to speak about important issues facing her community and the nation. During this year of service, she motivationally spoke in some of the most impoverished areas of the nation, specifically targeting young people in juvenile facilities and boot camps. Jenkins then moved on to pursued her Juris Doctorate from SULC, graduating number one in her law class. She began her legal career in New York City at Sidley Austin, one of the most prestigious law firms in the country, where she
BY JACQUELINE MORGAN
SOUTHERN DIGEST - MANAGING EDITOR
Source: faithjenkins.com
spent five years as a litigator Taking her career to the before moving up to Assistant next level, Jenkins began to District Attorney at the appear as a legal analyst on Manhattan District Attorney’s See HOPE page 3 Office.
Cheerleaders Spar to Collect Change: Senate Approves Referendum For Spring
BY BRIA GREMILLION
SOUTHERN DIGEST - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
During last Tuesday’s senate meeting, the Student Government Association (SGA) Senate passed a bill that will become a referendum listed on the spring 2018 election ballot. Coach James Smith, along with the Southern University (SU) Cheerleaders initially presented a bill to the Senate on November 9, proposing a fee increase of $12 for the cheer squad. For the purpose of “purchasing and maintaining equipment, scholarships, travel expenses and any other necessary expenses that affect the functionality of the Southern University cheerleaders,” students will be able to vote yes or no to the increase during the spring 2018 elections. The cheerleading team currently receives a $3 student assessed fee from each student every semester, although the total does not cover all expenses. The squad has had a deficit of funds for several years now. Senior Nursing major from
Student Government Association (SGA) President, Armond Duncan, gives an update during the November 28 Senate meeting in the Mocha Room of the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union. (Bria Gremillion/DIGEST)
Monroe, LA and author of the bill, Alana Stevenson filed a motion asking senators to vote on the bill during the November 28 meeting stating, “Them getting this money still isn’t enough money for them to cover all of the expenses that they’ve had and at the last Senate meeting Coach Smith spoke about him having to come out of pocket to pay for things that the cheerleaders have needed and he’s been here for a long time. . .basically dedicating his life to making sure we have the
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best cheerleading team amongst all the HBCU’s … It’s a serious need they have.” Junior Political science major from Baton Rouge, Kelvin Wells and President Pro-Tempore of the Senate filed a motion to increase the fee to only $7, stating, “I think this is a good referendum but to ensure its passage I think that maybe we can look into a lower number.” In addition to the $3 that the cheer squad already receives, a $7 increase would make their total fee, $10 instead of $15.
After healthy debate, and a roll call vote from the eight senators present, the original motion stood; to present to the student body a referendum that will allow students to vote yes or no to support the cheerleading squad by the fee renewal and increase to $12. A second bill was proposed in an effort to decrease student complaints about the passage of multiple referendums and several fee renewals every See SENATE page 3
Sunday, November 26, masses of students returned to campus from the holiday break to find that the road in front of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union was closed. Unbeknownst to the student body, a new gate was installed, extending from one side of the street to the other, on the prior Friday evening. Student concerns about the new addition were acknowledged and seemingly alleviated Tuesday, November 28 at the final Senate Meeting of the semester. Student Government Association (SGA) President, Armond Duncan rose to the occasion in an attempt rectify any rumors about the gate in question, reading verbatim an email he personally received regarding the gate. “. . . the gates represent security barriers that are currently being installed at/ along the street between the Student Union and T.H. Harris Hall. . .the rationale for the gates reflect yet another opportunity for the administration to improve its’ operations since the road is frequently requested to be barricaded and closed off from vehicular traffic from various union, university, and student organization needs,” Duncan relayed. As more questions arose, students were assured that the gate will only be closed during those requested times to prevent car traffic, and promote student safety. Director of Student Life, Jonas Vanderbilt went on to give an update about how the gates will affect the university as a whole. “When you come back in the Spring, all of those gates by the Minidome are going to be like [those],” he stated. “So, it’s sort of like campus beautification as well as security.” While construction on campus continues to prove to be an inconvenience, many students are concerned about the extended lack of access to the back of campus via E.C. Harrison street, otherwise known as “the strip.” Sophomore Nursing major, See CONSTRUCTION page 3
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA