Exclusive content @
Tuesday, February 24 2015
Volume 64, Issue 4
www.southerndigest.com
SU students cited for trespassing BY LAUREN JOHNSON DIGEST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ALLIYAH MOORE/DIGEST FILE Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright speaks to Southern University students, faculty, and members of the community in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom on Thursday, February 19, 2015.
Let the Church Say,”Amen.”
BY LAQUENCIA PARKER DIGEST NEWS EDITOR
On Thursday, February 19, Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright Jr. brought his controversial message to the Southern University community, his topic: “Injustice, the Poor, and the Continuing Exclusion of Minority Populations in America”. Wright’s invitation to speak at SU sparked contentious remarks from some, specifically contributing editor for the National Review Quin Hillyer, who stated in an article for The Acadiana Advocate, “Why a black university would want to invite somebody with such prototypically racist views-idiocies that for years were used to brutalize black people-should be beyond all reasonable people’s understanding.” Wright’s message to those in attendance was “Our help doesn’t come from the government, our help comes from God”. Wright compared
the plight of African Americans from the days of slavery until present time to that of biblical stories and characters, quoting specifically Lamentations 4:17, “We looked until we could look no longer, for help that never came. We kept waiting for help from a nation that had none to give.” Wright chose to speak at Southern because of his love for HBCUs and members of his former congregation who were SU graduates. “I sat on the board of trustees for Virginia Union, so I love HBCUs and I love what they are doing,” said Wright. “They are performing a task that cannot be done at any non-minority university.” Wright finished. Although he was promoted and introduced as the former minister of President Barack Obama, Wright remarked that it wasn’t a defining quality of his ministry. “I had 10 thousand members, he was one,” said Wright. “Nobody talks about all the members who
work hard to make our church.” As for injustice in America, Wright said he finds it occurring more often with African Americans. “Every year there’s something new,” said Wright. “Last year it was Trayvon, this year it was Eric. Every year, we still suffer under the injustices of this country.” Finished Wright, referencing the controversial deaths of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner. Ultimately, Wright’s hope for his appearance and speech was a reevaluation of where African Americans place their faith. “Our story is tied to the biblical story, and our hope and our help is in God.” said Wright. “Governments come and go, politicians are voted in and out of office, don’t put your faith in those things. Put your hope in things that are unseen; God is unseen.” Wright finished.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSIT Y AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
Seventeen Southern University students, including a prominent Student Government Association official were charged with misdemeanors for trespassing, of an off campus location on Sunday Feb 22, 2015. According to Dean of Students Marcus Coleman, the incident is currently under investigation. Coleman went on to state that the investigation is not being done by SUPD, but by the university’s Department of Student Affairs, along with the East Baton Rouge Parish Police Department. “We are currently looking into it, and individually of each student,” said Coleman. When asked were the students all a part of or aspiring members to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Coleman responded saying, “ They are all SU students.” In regards to the SGA official involved, Coleman claimed SGA president was on the scene, but “the extent of his involvement is unknown.” According to Coleman no one was arrested but issued felony charges that were later dropped to misdemeanors. “No one has been suspended, due to lack of evidence at the moment,” said Coleman. When asked what will happen now in regards to the SGA President position Coleman responded, ”Nothing, nothing has been proven at this point.” There is currently no official police
see TRESPASSING page 3