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Boast attends Career Develoment Conference
Diamond Butler
The Southern Digest
According to the Southern University website, the mission of the College of Business is “to provide a quality business program that prepares students of diverse backgrounds for global career challenges and make a positive contribution to the public and private sectors through effective instruction, impactful research, and innovative community engagement.” In keeping with this theme, the Finance Club is raising money to travel to New York to visit Wall Street. The Finance Club’s purpose is to increase students’ knowledge about financial literacy, along with saving, management and investment of their money , as well as gaining better understanding of their financial position. The Finance Club’s presence has been infrequent within the last few years. The club was established and prevalent in the 90s and early 2000s, and has since been reestablished within the last few semesters. The club has been affiliated with events such as discussion panels that occurred last semester and the Southern Regional Conference for the National Association of Black Accountants. “It’s our main goal to prepare students with resources and knowledge needed to build wealth and to be financially stable so they can meet current, continuous and unexpected financial obligations. So just because you aren’t accounting, finance, math or economic major you are still welcomed to join. We don’t only talk about stock investments, we do try to focus on saving and investing our money but also talk about interview tips, do resume reviews, just anything to help the student throughout their college career,” said Jada Joseph, the Finance Club’s President. Besides having these types of See FINANCE CLUB page 3
SPORTS
Flamed Up: Jags Top Delta Devils
A&E
Miss Thicker than a Snicker Pageant
OPINION
Sex Crimes
Getting Prepped: Students Jaguar Battalion: see News pg.3
Financing their way to Wall Street: Students saving for NYC Experience
www.southerndigest.com
Volume 74, Issue 4
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
see Sports pg. 4
see A&E pg. 5
prepare for Spring Career Fair Dante Davis
SU ROTC Lealer Sims
The Southern Digest
The Southern Digest
support, that’s what C.S.S. is here for to provide a safe and supportive space for students”. Students who come to the C.S.S. regularly and consistently have improved not only their grades, and test scores. Soft skills like communication and confidence have improved as well. “We’ve found that our students with our issues that they are having, our office is really student centered.” All of the services at C.S.S. are voluntary. C.S.S. is no longer a mandatory program, however CSS offers seminars and programs to students because they are highly beneficial to students who participate. “Students should understand that being a successful student requires more than simply going to class, sometimes the skills that are needed in addition to going to class, like study skills, learning styles, and communication skills our students need assistance with.” That’s where “Keys to Success” seminars come into play for those students. It can help students
Southern University Army ROTC is more than a program for students that want to commission as a second lieutenant in the US Army after they graduate. It is an elective, an extracurricular activity, and a scholarship opportunity all in one. ROTC has a military science lecture course and a leadership lab for each level in the program. They teach leadership skills, land navigation, map reading, and basic skills that a soldier would need during combat. With such extensive resources, ROTC is extremely active on campus. Cadets are on the field during football games, participating as the motivational push-up team and firing the cannon when Southern scores. They do physical training, or Physical Training, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 am. They host various events on campus, and they even do community service around Baton Rouge. Carlon Richardson, a sophomore civil engineering major and MS2 in the program, speaks very highly of the ROTC, “I think ROTC is an unbelievable program to be in. You’re around people who push you to be better and it is a sense of structure. We do not mess around, we get things done, and we lead by example. I’ve learned a lot of new things from the cadre and I am also set to commission as a second lieutenant. This is like a second family.” There are often certain misconceptions about the program, such as it is an automatic military obligation. Sergeant First Class Adams, a military science instructor, clarified, saying “Some people think all we do is run for PT and wake up early.” Richardson agreed saying, “People think that it is easy, and that they don’t have to put in work, but expect to get paid. That is not the case at all.” The requirements of joining this program are pretty clear. It is necessary to “enroll in the military science and leadership laboratory classes, and to be a student at Southern University,” according to SFC Adams. There are also many opportunities to become a
See CSS page 3
See ROTC page 3
The end goal for most college and university students is to get into a job and/or career that is satisfying, enriching, and pays well enough to support a lifestyle. The first step towards that goal starts while students are in school, in the form of internships and co-ops which, courtesy office of Career Services, can be earned at Southern University’s Spring Career Fair, on Wednesday, 19 February. For the past month, campus organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers and the Association for Computing Machinery have held resume workshops, Dos and Don’ts and mock interview sessions all to prepare students. Career Services has also been sponsoring their own sessions, both formal and informal, as well as workshops with professionals to educate students on exactly what See CAREER PREP page 3
Need Help, No Problem:
SU Center for Student Success a mainstay Jalyn Garner
The Southern Digest
As a freshman, coming into your first semester of college can be overwhelming. Assistant Director for the Center for Student Success, Lindsey Butler, helps students go about their freshman year, with much needed tools and guidance to help them succeed. Butler hopes for this semester to be a successful for the growing program. According to Ms. Butler, “We now have three operational tutor centers on campus, with two more on the way.” One is located in Pinchback Hall in the I-Star center the other one is located in the library on the second floor Room 209 and the
see Op. pg. 7
last one, in James Hall in Room 352. “We want tutoring to be as easily accessible to our students as possible, and our tutors are eager to help, we have an amazing group of tutors this year.” For students it takes a lot for them to ask or admit that they need academic help. “The fact that our students, who come in for assistance realize that they need
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The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Campus Briefs
WELCOME 26th Annual Collegiate Black History Quiz Bowl The Southern University Ag Center and the College of Agriculture will host the 26th Annual Collegiate Black History Quiz Bowl at 3 p.m. on Feb. 20 in the 3rd floor auditorium of T.T. Allain Hall. All SU student clubs, organizations, and individual student groups throughout the campus are encouraged to participate. Teams must consist of four members plus an alternate. To register for the quiz bowl, a team member must sign-up either online or in the Dean’s Complex of Fisher Hall, room 102. The competition study guide, rules, and online registration form are available at http://suagcenter.com/ page/quizbowl. For additional information about the 26th annual Black History Quiz Bowl, contact Dr. Owusu Bandele at owusu_bandele@ suagcenter.com. SU 1 Card If you have completed the registration process and have not received your Southern University ID “SU1 Card”, please follow the attached instructions to obtain your card. Only first time students, transfers and returning students who require an ID at this time should complete the SU1 Card ID Form. The ID office is currently located in J.B. Moore Hall. Food Pantry SU students are able to visit the Jaguar Eats food pantry located next to the computer lab in the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union every Mon, Wed, and Fri from 4:00pm-8:00pm to receive free food items. Student IDs must be present. School of Nursing The SUSON will be holding its annual WIC clinic weekly, Mon - Fri from 9am - 3:30pm in the nursing building. For more information or to set up an appointment, contact the clinic at (225) - 771 - 3324.
University Counseling Center Reaccredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS), the UCC offers individual, couples counseling, psychological evaluations, medication management, referrals, and consultation to the greater campus community. For more information, call them at 225-7712480, or visit them at their office M-F from 8am - 5pm (located next to the Student Health Center) Shade Collection Black History Month Quiz John B. Cade Library will be hosting a Shade Collection Black History Month Quiz via the
electronic platform Kahoot on Tues., Feb. 25 at noon in the 1st floor student center. 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place prizes will be awarded. Center for Student Success Free peer tutoring is available in Pinchback Hall, T.T. Allain Hall, and James Hall. For more information, contact Lindsey Butler at lindsey_butler@subr.edu or by calling 225-771-4312. Camphor Memorial UMC Wesley Foundation Bible Study, Fellowship, Food and Fun! Join Pastor Elenora M. Cushenberry and Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church every Wednesday at 5:30 pm at the Wesley Foundation. ALL students are welcome! Please call (225) 7754106 for more information! Jaguar Athletics (as of 2/18) Baseball Tue., Feb. 18 ~ 5pm at #11 LSU Baton Rouge, LA Fri., Feb. 21 ~ Sun., Feb. 23 *SWAC/MEAC Challenge* Jackson, MS Tue., Feb. 25 ~ 6pm Wed., Feb. 26 ~ 3pm at #6 Texas Tech Lubbock, TX Fri., Feb. 28 ~ 3pm Sat., Feb. 29 ~ 2pm Sun., Mar. 1 ~ 1pm at Prairie View A&M Prairie View, TX Tue., Mar. 3 ~ 6pm vs Northwestern St. Lee-Hines Field Fri., Mar. 6 ~ 6pm Sat., Mar. 7 ~ 6pm Sun., Mar. 8 ~ 5pm at Tulane New Orleans, LA Men’s Basketball Sat., Feb. 22 ~ 5:30pm vs. Alabama St. Montgomery, AL Mon., Feb. 24 ~ 7:30pm at Alabama A&M Huntsville, AL Sat., Feb. 29 ~ 5:30pm at Alcorn St. Norman, MS Thu., Mar. 5 ~ 7:30pm vs Texas Southern F.G. Clark Activity Center Sat., Mar. 7 ~ 5:30pm vs Prairie View A&M F.G. Clark Activity Center Tennis *SWAC Pod 1* Jackson, MS
Fri., Feb. 21 ~ 9am vs Alabama State Sat., Feb. 22 ~ 9am vs Alcorn State Sun., Feb. 23 ~ 9am vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff Fri., Feb. 28 ~ 3pm vs Louisiana Tech Ruston, LA Sat., Feb. 29 ~ 12pm vs Grambling St. Grambling, LA Fri., Mar. 6 ~ 11am vs Florida A&M Tallahassee, FL Sun., Mar. 8 ~ 10am vs Bethune Cookman Daytona Beach, FL Softball Tue., Feb. 18 ~ 6pm vs Nicholls St. Thibodaux, LA *Southern Classic* (all games at Jaguar Field) Fri., Feb. 21 ~ 12pm & 2pm Sat., Feb. 22 ~ 11:30am vs. Jarvis Christian Sat., Feb. 22 ~ 9am Sun., Feb. 23 ~ 3pm vs Centenary (LA) HBCU Classic *New Orleans, LA* Sat., Mar. 7 ~ 3pm vs Alabama State Sat., Mar. 7 ~ 7pm vs Jackson State Women’s Basketball Sat., Feb. 22 ~ 3:00pm vs. Alabama St. Montgomery, AL Mon., Feb. 24 ~ 5:30pm at Alabama A&M Huntsville, AL Sat., Feb. 29 ~ 3:00pm at Alcorn St. Norman, MS Thu., Mar. 5 ~ 5:30pm vs Texas Southern F.G. Clark Activity Center Sat., Mar. 7 ~ 3:00pm vs Prairie View A&M F.G. Clark Activity Center Track & Field Fri., Feb. 21 SWAC Indoor Championships Birmingham, AL Sat., Mar. 7 Jett Relays Fort Worth, TX
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Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - Page 3
Student Feature
Boast represents SU at Alcorn State Career Development Conference Te’Yannah Owens
The Southern Digest
(Courtesy/Derrick Boast)
African American men have the highest unemployment rate by race and gender. Much needs to be done to end the “economic depression” black men are facing. They are facing systematic disadvantage on the job market. It’s always great to see young black men gaining opportunities for themselves and furthering their knowledge. The Alcorn State Career Development Conference provided one promising path for improving the employment situation of a black man. Senior, Animal Science major Derrick Boast, a member of the Beta Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. had the chance to represent the Southern University Agricultural Sciences Department at the Alcorn State University Career Development Conference. With a passion for nature, Boast credits his upbringing for instilling a love for the agriculture business, “Where I’m from, I’ve been pretty much doing this all my life. So when it came to college and trying to see what I was going to do, it was a no brainer. I knew what I was
good at. I knew what I like. If you like what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Majority of his experiences with the Southern’s agriculture department have been with his classes. One of which, Beef Cattle Production, allows students to be hands on with the cattle, helping with breeding, feeding, and cleaning. Boast has even taken a poultry class. “Anything you can think of with agriculture, I then probably did it just with the department. Plus, through my everyday life.” Going into the conference, he never had an internship so he wasn’t trying to leave without one or at least some opportunity. His expectations of the conference were exceeded because he got to network with other members of the Divine Nine since the conference was a HBCU event. “Me being a member of the Beta Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., I got in touch with other brothers from other colleges. Just talking to them, I found out that some of them were the general managers over the National Resource Conservation Service.” From the conference, he learned about other classes that
could possibly be incorporated into the curriculum at Southern University in the Agriculture department. At the conference, they helped him critique his resume and get ready for over all interviews on a federal level. His resume was almost perfect except for one small thing but they helped him correct it. Now it’s perfect and he’s ready for any job interview. The senior felt amazing to be a part of something so great. “Not many people get opportunities that I’ve been getting where I’m from since I’ve been here at Southern University. So being out there and getting to represent Southern and my people is unreal.” He wasn’t nervous to represent SU at all! “Never, I rep that gold and blue with pride everywhere I go!” Boast said that we can be expecting great things in the future. “Everyone should be expecting big things coming back to Southern University, the Human Jukebox, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and just a whole lot of stuff.” We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this young Black man, Derrick. CAREER PREP from page 1
employers are looking for in resumes and applicates, “You want your resume to highlight cross functional skills that can be used in any work environment, especially for those who lack relevant work experience,” said Cole Ellis, the president of the National Society of Black Engineers. Career Services also held the “JCPenney Suit Up Event” over the weekend to give students an opportunity to round out their wardrobes in preparation for the career fair. As many students often cite a lack of clothing as the reason for not attending the career fair, Career Services hopes that this event combined with the “Career Clothes Closet” is enough support to give students in need a chance to succeed, “It was great, I was able to get a blue and a black suit for about a hundred dollars,” said sophomore psychology major, Malcolm Henry, when asked about the “JCPenney Suit Up Event.” The career fair is what each
student makes of it. Director of Career Services, Tamara Foster-Montgomery, has often said that students “need to take
ownership of their journey during their matriculation at Southern University” and part of that includes preparing to succeed
professionally. The career fair is often times the only opportunity that students get to talk directly to hiring managers from Fortune 500 companies so a student would be remised to not attend. Students who want to attend the career fair, but feel that they are unprepared should visit subr. edu and search for the career services tab. There, students can find sample resumes, sample business cards, and examples of business professional clothing for men and women as well as interviewing tips. It’s never too late to get ready and a small change can be the difference between getting the interview and not, “I’ve done everything I can to get myself ready, mock interviews, resume critiques, business cards, I’m as prepared as I can be, so I feel confident,” said junior, mechanical engineering major Johnny Lopez. They can also download the Career Services app, available on most mobile devices, for more info. CSS from page 1
become holistically successful students helping them to better understand what’s needed from you to reach your highest potential. If you don’t know how to speak with your instructor, needing help balancing school,
employment, your social and personal life, if you need help understanding how to read your textbook, or avoid waiting until the last minute to complete assignments, there are seminars that speak to those issues that are important to students.
Center for Student Success is always striving to add to the amazing programs, and are excited about launching the Supplemental Instruction program. S.I. is a new program where an upperclassman taking a C.S.S student and they will
hold group study sessions with the students after their classes. Having been in class with the students, the SI leader will be able to give specialize assistance to students who take that class.
ROTC from page 1
leader in this battalion. “There’s moving up in ranks, being in charge of PT, and being a class leader which means putting out information to cadets and gaining knowledge of directing. Your responsibility increases as your roles increase,” said SFC Adams. Dantrey Johnson is a graduate mechanical engineering major that completed all four years in ROTC. He now works for the program. “I’m a graduate recruiter for the Jaguar battalion. I got this job through Lieutenant Colonel Marshall, and I love helping students find jobs in the military,” Johnson said. He also spoke about the unique characteristics of Southern University’s ROTC program and further clarified some common misconceptions. “We are more closely connected and cadre knows us by face and by name. There is a military obligation if you complete the program, yes. The first two years are open to everyone.” Johnson finished by introducing some of the scholarship opportunities that are offered by the program. “Yes, there are scholarships, three different ones. There is a national four year scholarship which you must apply for in high school, the 3/2 scholarship which requires a 19 on the ACT, a 1000 on the SAT, or a 110 GT score on the ASVAB, or the GFRD for those in the National Guard or Army Reserves.” To learn more about ROTC, visit the Southern University ROTC building which is located right across from Mayberry dining hall. FINANCE CLUB from page 1 events, one of the highlights of the Finance Club is their trip to Wall Street in New York, Wall Street is the biggest financial capital in the US. According to an article written by Kimberly Amaded from the website The Balance, Wall Street “is a symbol for the U.S. financial markets, which includes the stock market, bond market, commodities market, futures market, and the foreign exchange market.” With this in mind, this trip to New York is one of the most beneficial and educational experiences for members of the Finance Club. To make this trip financially possible, the Finance Club holds certain fundraisers, such as the “Penny with a Purpose” where the club decorates jugs and places them where students can drop their loose change. Other fundraisers and events can also be expected throughout the semester.
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Sports southerndigest.com
Page 4 - Tuesday, February 18, 2020
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Flamed Up: Jags torch Delta Devils Tiffany Williams
The Southern Digest
The Southern University men’s basketball team took on Mississippi Valley on Monday night, looking to put another check in the win column. The Jags started the game off strong pulling away early with a 21 point lead in the first half. This game showed just how much skill, endurance, and will power the jaguars will have to maintain in order to keep their postseason dreams in sight. Darius Williams, Micah Bradford, and Damiree Burns were the anchors of the night for the Jags. Darius Williams had 12 rebounds with a total of 11 points. Micah Bradford had 6 assists with an overall total of 16 points, and Damiree Burns had 7 rebounds with a total of 19 points scored in the game. The trio brought it home with teamwork and a huge boost from their teammates. Head Coach Sean Woods spoke about his players’ performance after the game saying “Don’t play with them, go ahead and try to put them away early without pressure...” That is exactly what the Jags did, they played hard for the entire 40 minutes with a poker face. The team had 23 turnovers and
Tiffany Williams
The Southern Digest
34 fastbreak points. One of the teams best games on defense this season respectively. Both teams were fighting for the win. Eventually Southern came out
on top with the final score of 95-62. The Jags will remain at home for their next game against Alabama State on February 25
at the minidome. Coach Woods says, “If we can continue to take care of our business, I feel really good about the ending going into the SWAC Tournament.”
Lockdown: Jags Dominate Valley Evan Funchess
The Southern Digest
On February 17, the Lady Jags faced off against Mississippi Valley State. Southern came into the game fresh off a win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff two nights earlier. MVSU came into the game with a loss in their previous contest against Alcorn State. In the first quarter, Southern began the game at a very intense pace. They took a very high volume of shots to control the tempo of the game. Another key of the first quarter was their ability to defend the basket, holding MVSU to just 30.8% from the field. The second quarter was more of the same, as the Lady Jags never took their foot off the pedal. Their offense took a leap, improving their shooting percentage from 35 to a hot 50% for the second quarter. The first half of the game was a runaway for Southern. At one point, they led by as many as 17 points. Offensively, they were led by freshman center Raven White and sophomore forward Amani McWain. They both finished the first half with nine points each. Defensively, they held MVSU to a lackluster 29.6% from the field. Also, Southern was able to score 14 points off of Valley’s 13
Overtime with AD Banks
turnovers. As the third quarter began, the Lady Jags seemed to just continue to light up the scoreboard. At one point they led by as many as 33 points. They shot 60% percent from the field and seemed to show no signs of slowing down. On defense, it was much of the same as they contained Valley’s offense to just 20% shooting. The fourth quarter was much of the same for Southern as they never let up on their opponent. Throughout the game, the Lady Jags just asserted their will from tip-off. Which led them to a resounding win. They were led in scoring by Junior guard Alyric Scott who had 14 points. “Alyric stepped it up” echoed coach Funchess. “We gotta be prepared and ready to play our best basketball,” said Head Coach Carlos Funchess following the game. The next matchup for Southern will be away at Alabama State, the first of two games in Alabama as they will face Alabama A&M the following Monday. Coach Funchess spoke glowingly about his team’s execution in road games. “I feel like they play a little bit better on the road because they can get their homework done early and focus on basketball.”
On February 12, Scoreboards Sports Grill & Catering hosted the “Overtime With Athletic Director Roman Banks” event. This event was for all Southern University students, staff, and fans to come out and meet the athletic coaches, as well as enjoying the restaurants famous seafood and bread pudding. Among those in attendance was Athletic Director Roman Banks, Head Football Coach Dawson Odums, Deputy Athletic Director Dr. Trayvean Scott, and Head Basketball Coach Sean Woods along with other special guests. Assistant Sports Information Director Chris Powers, interviewed Roman Banks and spoke on the future and progress of Southern University’s sports teams and program. “...all our sports have a lot of returning student athletes...in just about all our sports that we’ll be able to reach a lot of championships.”, says Roman Banks when asked about his expectations of his athletic program. During the interview between Chris Powers and Coach Odums, Odums spoke on the gains and losses of his players. He says, “... that’s all you can really ask for, is the head coaches to have a program in place that first of all give your players a chance to be successful and also your assistant coaches.” Both men talked about the new offensive coordinator. “... at the end of the day we got to be on the same page”, says Coach Odums. Dr. Trayvean Scott explains the student athlete development program and the 3.0 or higher club. Student Athlete Development is a program in the process where they prepare the athletes for life after sports. The 3.0 or higher club is a composition of student athletes who excel academically. The special guests of the evening were attorneys Courtney Kretzsinger and Gerard Morgan, both of whom work for Gordon McKernan Office, which is a huge supporter/sponsor of Southern University. This law firm is big on hiring Southern University students that major in law. While only a handful of athletic teams were covered in this week’s edition of Overtime, all sports from volleyball, to track & field, to bowling have already been featured and will continue to be covered on Bank’s weekly show as the different sporting seasons continue. The event was a way for Jaguar fans and family to come together and interact. If you want to be a part of next week’s show, there will be another “Overtime With Roman Banks” event this Wednesday, February 19.
Arts & Entertainment southerndigest.com
A Pageant of Pageants: 2020 Thicker than a Snicker
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Shania Simms
“Anybody who wants to do a pageant, you’re pageant material . . .”
The Southern Digest
While many contestants are judged on the heavy schedule of appearances and speaking engagements, most women who participate are seen as an ideal beauty standard. On Southern University’ s campus however, representation for the women of the Junior and Senior class is a matter that’s settled through pageantry of beauty and breaking stereotypes. The “Ms. Thicker Than A Snicker” is the most anticipated event of the spring semester that takes place as part of Junior and Senior Week, where the Junior and Senior cabinets collaborate and host a week of events for the students of Southern University. The pageant is similar to other pageants that the school hosts, like Mr. Association for Women Students, or Miss Men’s Federation. “Looking at other girls who were society’s version of thick and comparing and thinking to myself, I’m not like that. They would be like, ‘Oh she is not like that, she thinks she is fat.’ But now, I’ve come to realize there are different versions of thick. I’ve come to love my body.” Myah Paige, this year’s winner said. The Pageant was held February 12, 2020 in the Event Center at 6:30pm.
Speed Dating: SU Finds Love Spencer Williams
The Southern Digest
On Friday, February 13, the junior and senior classes partnered with the Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Inc. to spread what the events theme referred to as “ that wonderful feeling of love.” The first event was the Speed Dating event, where junior class president, Kelsey Perine opened the event with an SU welcome and instructions on how the event would go. There would be 1 to 2 females sitting per table. A male counterpart would approach the table and begin a casual conversation for 30 seconds to a minute. This went on until everyone had been acquainted. Many students seemed to be shy at first but once music and conversations started going, many uneasy faces turned into smiles. The event was a nice ice breaker for everyone to become See LOVE page 6
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - Page 5
- Myah Rajhean
Categories included an open showcase, swimwear category, a talent portion and a formal attire. While there was a multitude of participants for this year’s pageant, Myah Paige, a Marketing Major from Hammond, LA, took home the
The Brain Behind The Bowls
crown for the upcoming 20202021 school year. “Not a lot of people know, but this is my third time during this pageant. I got first runner up the last two years and I said this is my time now. Everything I said in my question and answer, I am
about to do those things around campus. Since this is my third time on this journey, I felt like it was my time.” said Paige. The Miss Thicker than a Snicker pageant has been held since 2012, and has been seen by the student body as a way for thick and curvy women around the campus to prove that their confidence and personality isn’t determined by their body types. For those who want to do the pageant, Myah had some encouraging advice, “Anybody who wants to do a pageant, you’re pageant material. It is THE experience. One of your best experiences at Southern. You’re going to learn a lot, meet new people,learn more about yourself. The number one thing people look for on this stage is confidence. This will definitely put you out of your comfort zone and I want every curvy woman on campus to do it. To me, it’s more than a pageant.”
Jayln Garner
The Southern Digest
The Black History Month Quiz Bowl has been an annual event on Southern University’s campus for 26 years with middle and high schoolers participating in trivia focused around music, history, and art. Professor Emeritus, Dr. Owusu Bandele, the Quiz Bowl’s organizer, decided to reachout to middle and high schools in recent years to help students learn more about black American history and culture. According to Dr. Bandele, history classes often only focus on individuals that are consistently mentioned such as Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr. “The history of our people usually gets left out, they normally don’t
DIGEST ART
cover the great African culture of the world, music, etc,” said Dr. Bandele. In the first year of the Quiz Bowl, Bandele described the students participation as “cold”, as there weren’t yet any study guides or other tools to help the students prepare leading up to the quiz bowl. Later on Dr. Brandele found out a professor had given his students study guides to help properly prepare. Starting the second annual Quiz Bowl, there has been study guides which covers music, authors, and other subjects incorporated with current events
going on in the world. Dr. Bandele graduated from the state of Tulsun State where he was part of one of the first integrated classes. He taught middle and high schooler’s U.S. history and African American history. Considering himself the type of teacher to teach more about African American history, emphasizing the knowledge to students to not just learn but know their history. When it came to the driven aspect of the Black History See QUIZBOWL page 6
Come one, Come All: Campus Queen Brunch Shania Simms
The Southern Digest
The phrase is often used, “Every Queen has a purpose”, and when it comes to our own 89th Miss Southern Alacia Brew, she describes her role as “to serve diligently by my code of conduct to help better the lives of her people and community.” According to Brew however, the person in that role cannot properly serve without communicating amongst others who share similar roles and values. On February 13, 2020, Brew, The 89th Ms. Southern University, held a Queen’s Brunch in the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union, located in the Cotillion Ballroom from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. Every year, Miss. Southern invites Campus Royalty and, other fellow students to join her while indulging in a brunch and enjoying entertainment while discussing ways to empower ourselves daily, especially for the women and girls of campus the community. “Every year in the spring semester, Miss. Southern hosts a Queens Brunch where she invites campus royalty and students to come out in fellowship which usually involves an inspirational message. We were [just] carrying on the tradition that Miss. Southern started years ago.” Alacia Brew said. This year, Mckinley High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana was in attendance, along with this school’s royal court, Miss. Junior, Miss. Senior, and Miss. McKinley. The events guest speaker spoke to the women in attendance and gave words of encouragement and in line with things she has “learned to value” at her age. “I feel like it was a great opportunity for them to see what Southern University had to offer from a student’s perspective, as well as getting some one-on-one time with someone that people say is ‘hard to get close to,‘ said Brew when asked what opportunities like these mean to her as the sitting Miss Southern. “To me, what embodies a queen or king is someone who changes the world, whether that’s what they physically do with their hands or how they make people feel. Beauty is skin deep, not just what’s on the surface. Later on, the things that won’t fade away are the memories that you left on this earth. For me, the lives you impacted, the people you made smile and the changes you made in this world.” continued Brew. With the reign of Brew and much of the sitting SGA coming to an end, events like this are a reminder to many of the traditions that the inhabitants of the Bluff can continue to look forward to for years to come.
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Page 6 - Tuesday, February 18, 2020
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
LOVE from page 5
familiar with one another. The Speed Dating event provided complementary bath bombs and facial masks for students. Alaysia Graham was a student who attended the Speed Dating event. Graham, Senior majoring in Marketing from Chicago, Illinois has this to say when asked her opinion on the event, “It was very interactive and was a good social setting to meet new people.” While there was much positivity about the event in general from those in attendance, there were other takes as well speaking to how events like this could be improved. Briana Hall, a sophomore marketing major from Shreveport, Louisiana spoke to what her favorite aspects of the night were, citing, “Being able to form new relationships and friendships and meet a lot of people from different places. Southern should do this again but they just need to promote it better.” Directly after the Speed Dating event was the Date Auction event. The auction was coordinated by the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Inc. Many students came out to be auctioned and bid. Students who came out to be auctioned were classified by their major, hobbies, horoscopes, and quick facts about themselves. The event was filled with nice music and a brightly-decorated venue. Of course, students were able to bid, and the highest bidder won a date, with the highest bid of the night was eighty dollars.. One student in attendance was Alexis Lobe, a freshman majoring in Social Work from Atlanta, Georgia. Not only did she attend but she participated as well.
When asked about her overall experience, Lobe had this to say: “It was a lot of fun. It brought me out of my comfort zone. I’m usually reserved and quiet but I’m happy that I participated.” She added, “I was very nervous but happy for the experience.” I also spoke to Natchez Stanten, a junior majoring in Nursing from New Orleans, Louisiana. According to Stanten, her favorite part was “seeing other people get auctioned and seeing how much people would bid.” When asked about preparation for the event, President of the Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Inc., senior marketing major Albert Sutton III stated, “the hard part was trying to get others to come out and participate.” He added, “A lot of people became fearful to be in front of a crowd and calm others down to just have a real fun and non-hostile time.” When asked what the fraternity would do with the money from the auction, he said, “The money would go to other future events on campus and community service efforts.” He added that the fraternity really just wants to give back to the campus and community and in order to do that they need events like this to raise funds to be able to pay for food to give away to others. Overall, the events were very interactive for the students and was social and good for students to get to know each other. It allowed for students to connect and form new relations. Students were able to find love and friendship this holiday season.
Quiz Bowl, Dr. Bandele says that “lower grades show more enthusiasm than college students do.” For the middle and high schoolers, it’s fun and carefree competing against each other. According to Bandele, “College students aren’t as inspired [and most times] they don’t really show as much interest.” After officially retiring in 2009, Dr. Bandele doesn’t foresee himself retiring from his role in conducting the Quiz Bowls. Describing them as
QUIZ BOWL from page 5
“a labor of love”, Dr.Bandele empathized how the aspect of affecting students lives positively keeps him going year after year. On February 25 the Black History Month Quiz Bowl will be on “the electronic platform Kahoot” from 12pm until 1pm on the first floor of the student center in the J.B. Cade Library. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive prizes.
Opinion southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Lead by Example, Not by Advice
Keenon Glover
The Southern Digest
Many of the most influential figures in history have come from various institutions of higher education. Barack Obama, Larry Page, and Neil Armstrong can be examples of such, with alma maters hailing from Princeton to Stanford to University of Southern California. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have gifted us with more beloved trailblazers: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Toni Morrison, Taraji P. Henson, and Langston Hughes are among these names. With these great legacies left for the youth to follow, it is truly embarrassing that our leaders have disrupted this. It is even more embarrassing that our leaders rather cover these faults up and silence student disgust, than
Keenon Glover
remedy the cause of these issues. “Admissions scandal: Charged parents try to drag USC into the fray”. “Report: USC Medical School Dean’s Secret ‘DrugFueled’ Party Life”. “Jackson State University president resigns following arrest in prostitution sting”. “Another Indictment In Southern University Grades Scandal”. “Long-time UCLA obstetrician charged with sex crimes against students”. “Confederate rally at ‘Ole Miss’ begins with prayer of thanks to plantation owners”. These are not my words, these are the headlines that our universities make. This is what children are setting their dreams on. The legacies of universities all across America read like the rap sheets of violent offenders and drug lords, yet there is such
high expectations put on the students. There is more attention payed to 20-year-olds having sex in a dormitory than university presidents living like Don Corleone on methamphetamine. This is unacceptable. Furthermore, this shows the value for student life. Clearly, Howard University’s students are only worthy of living among roaches and mice. Obviously, LSU cared more for their lovely football games than for students getting called “ching-chong” during said games. In fact, on September 3, 2019, “LSU Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Mari FuentesMartin told the group of freshmen harassed by Foxworth Vidrine [the student who yelled the racist and xenophobic slurs] that his words were not threatening and
were protected by his right to freedom of speech”, according to LSU’s Revielle. Though universities are considered to be temples of education and growth, there have been too many instances of our leaders behaving with complete disregard and irreverence to their positions. From lack of administration of proper justice to lack of administration due to them being tied into drugs and sex crimes, this is what our dreams of college have been turned into. If this insults you, you are entitled to that feeling. I suggest you direct that anger towards your leader, they could use the vitriol for some motivation to change.
The HBCU alumni network has an abundance of opportunities and lifelong friends. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. At an HBCU, you’ll find people who come from similar backgrounds and circumstances and who have had similar cultural experiences. There’s an atmosphere of community and collaboration among the student body, and the professors and faculty will be there to help nurture and guide you throughout your college experience. As previously mentioned, HBCUs were established specifically with the goal of increasing African Americans’ access to a college education, so students attending these schools can and should feel empowered by the fact that they’re actively
defending and taking advantage of their rights. Although the student population at the majority of HBCUs remains predominantly black, the racial diversity of such institutions have undergone tremendous changes over the years. According to a report by the Center of Minority Serving Institutions at the University of Pennsylvania, black students constitute approximately 76 percent of students attending HBCUs. Students from other racial and ethnic groups, on the other hand, comprise the remaining 24 percent. The enrollment at HBCUs is further divided into “13 percent white students, 5 percent students whose race or ethnicity is unknown, 3 percent Latino
and Latina students, 1 percent Asian-American students, 1 percent of students who identify as biracial or multiracial, and 1 percent of students classified as undocumented students,” stated in an article from The University of Pennsylvania. People come to Historically Black Colleges and Universities for multiple reasons. Some go because of family history. Some go for the culture to find themselves, and become a better person. HBCUs also give out minority scholarships, so many of them come because more scholarships, and more opportunities. HBCUs are becoming more diverse, and brings different individuals towards them.
Sex Crimes and Color
The Southern Digest
Historically Black Colleges and Universities have an important role in the African American community as schools that first gave black students the opportunity to obtain higher education when no other colleges would. Today, HBCUs are still an integral part of the black higher education experience in the United States, and this guide takes a look at the importance of these colleges both in the past and present, as well as where they’re headed in the future. If you went to an HBCU, it’s likely you’ll run into fellow graduates from the same school in the real-world; and when you do, you’ll share an immediate bond.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - Page 7
Louisiana Weather and Germs Contara Mayfield
The Southern Digest
It’s that time of the year, again. Where it can rain, be sunny, hot, and cold all in one day. Winter and fall in Louisiana can be very confusing, especially if you’re not from here. During the day it can be very hot, and by the time night falls, you need a thermal jacket to keep warm. With this weather brings different illnesses because we can’t seem to adjust to one season for a while, and I just wanted to give you guys some tips on staying healthy and keeping your germs to yourself. First thing’s first, if you have to sneeze, the best way to do that is sneezing into tissue or Kleenex and discarding it immediately after. In this case, all of the germs will go into the tissue and won’t spread as if you were sneezing into your hands. If you’re not able to get to tissue or Kleenex in time, sneeze into the upper part of your sleeve and remember to always wash your hands or use hand sanitizer afterwards. We don’t sneeze into our hands and we definitely don’t sneeze without covering our noses some kind of way. Another sign that you may be getting sick is the scratchy throat. Not sure about you, but I know that in the beginning stages of me becoming sick I sneeze like crazy and my throat gets super scratchy. When this happens, I like to load up on my vitamin c and I always take Alka Seltzer (the kind that goes in water) twice daily. Once in the morning and once at night just until I am feeling better. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS wash your hands. I can’t stress this one enough. We should always be washing our hands. After using the restroom, before and after cooking, after taking the garbage out, etc. It is very easy for us to spread germs, but by washing our hands properly, we can lessen the chances of us getting sick. To correctly wash your hands: wet them with warm water, use soap and rub your hands together and don’t forget to get under your nails, rinse well, and dry. We can’t miss every sickness that comes our way, but we can lessen our chances of getting sick. If you happen to get sick, you can always visit the health center in the back of campus.
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Career Services Page 8 - Tuesday, February 18, 2020
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
THE CAREER FAIR
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY CAREER SERVICES CENTER WWW.SUBR.EDU/CAREERSERVICES
CAREER DAY TIPS
CAREER SERVICES ********************** CONNECT TO YOUR FUTURE
February 19, 2020 How To Prepare
• Review the list of companies in attendance and determine the companies you want to target. • Prepare your elevator speech and be able to state your interests, skills, strengths, etc. in under three minutes.
What To Bring • Multiple Resumes: You will need a copy of your resume for every company or organization with whom you plan to speak. • Portfolio/Briefcase: To store your resumes, pad, and pen as well as the literature and Business cards you will accumulate.
What To Wear • Professional Dress: If you are going to the career fair from class, take the time to change to professional attire. Remember, you are selling yourself. You also want to make a good impression. • Dress in business attire: A suit is appropriate for both men and women, as is a shirt and tie for men and a blouse and skirt/dress slacks for women. • Pick up the DRESSING FOR THE INTERVIEW tip sheet in the Career Services Center.
What To Do When You Arrive • Survey the layout of the room and locate your target companies. • Quickly walk around and take note of how the company reps are engaging with the students. Know what type of student the company is looking for and pay attention to the questions being asked. • Pick up additional literature for your target companies and review it briefly while waiting to speak to the representatives.
TODAY
What To Do When It’s Your Turn • Smile, shake hands and introduce yourself. Ask the company representative about his/her company to get more information. • Answer questions enthusiastically making eye contact regularly. • Listen carefully, answer clearly and offer your resume if you are interested in the company. • Ask for a business card and thank the company representative for his/ her time.
After Your Career Fair Interview • Capture quick notes about your conversation. • Put the card and literature away and head to your next company. • Follow up on company instructions from Career Fair.
After The Fair • Send thank you letters to the company or organizations you would like to pursue. • Watch for posting on JOBS4JAGS and apply to the posting on time. • Attend company sponsored events on campus and visit the Career Services Center.
Career Services Center T.H. Harris Hall Suite 1100 (225) 771-2200 Office (225) 771-3272 Fax www.subr.edu/careerservices