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Thursday, September 10, 2013
www.southerndigest.com
Volume 61, Issue 3
Freshman take oath at ceremony Marchandrea Seals The Southern Digest
Southern University held its annual Freshman Convocation ceremony in the Felton G. Clark Activity Center to take the “Oath of Induction” of the 1100 freshmen enrolled for the fall 2013 semester. It is considered a day of commitment and celebration of the freshman’s first step into college life and they were expected to wear the traditional black and white attire. Shartia Glover freshmen electrical engineering major from Monroe, La., said she learned some interesting facts from the guest speaker’s message. “I learned to make sure I know what my priorities are, to make sure I know what to put first, to make sure I don’t party as much and if I do, do it on the weekends and study,” Glover stated. “It was nice. Mr. Cobb gave a great speech,” Glover said. Kenneth Cobb, owner of a non-profit mentoring organization, “Mentors on Wheels” was the guest speaker for the ceremony. His encouragement to the freshmen class included getting involved on campus, finding a mentor, studying and utilizing resources on campus. “It was a great experience because whenever I have an opportunity to plan, see or
photo by Kayla Foster/digest
Guest speaker and founder of “Mentor on Wheels” Mr. Kenneth Cobb explains the importance of being a hard working student at the Freshman Convocation Wednesday in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
support something, it blesses me at the end,” Cobb said. Verjanis Peoples, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs led the ‘Oath of Inductions’ to the large freshman crowd. “I was not nervous at all,” said Peoples. “But I thought reading ‘I pledge to study
diligently’ was very important to be successful.” Cythnia Bryant, director and coordinator of the Freshman Convocation ceremony was in attendance for the first time. “I think that we gave them some good advice on how to perceive and be successful in college. I like the messages
they’re sending to our freshman class, calling them the class of SU17,” she said. “I thought it was a wonderful experience for all freshmen,” said Dr. Bryant. Chancellor James L. Llorens was also took part in the induction of the freshmen clas. “I want to tell you
congratulations, thanks for choosing Southern University, thank you to the class of 2017, God bless your future,” said Llorens.
Raises OK’d for 4 of 5 Southern U campuses The Associated Press
SHREVEPORT, LA. — Southern University’s Board of Supervisors has approved raises for all of its campuses except the flagship campus in Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge employees could get some increase once the campus budget is clearer, The Advocate reported. Baton Rouge Chancellor James Llorens says he will decide after final enrollment numbers are in. The raises approved Friday are generally 2 percent at Southern University New Orleans, 3 percent at the law school in Baton Rouge, and 4 percent at the Southern Agricultural Center, also in Baton Rouge. At the Shreveport campus, instructors asked to teach extra “overload” sections will get $300 for adjunct professors and $500 for full-time faculty, The Times reported. Faculty overload pay policies
at the campus “have historically been low, comparing our overload policy with other institutions in this area,” SUSLA Chancellor Ray Belton said. “The new budget allows for a $500 pay increase in the overload pay for full-time faculty and a $300 increase in overload pay for part-time adjunct professors.” The board also approved day-care centers for students in Shreveport and New Orleans. Money for the raises and other projects is from one-time funding, partly from the state Legislature. “Because we got some help from the Legislature this year, we were not only able to balance the budget, but we were able to build for the future by increasing some salaries and making some other adjustments that I think will work well for Southern in the long run,” system President Ronald Mason said. Southern system President Ronald Mason called the pay
increases for the other units part of his plan to streamline the five campuses, making them more efficient and better equipped to compete for students at a time when state governments around the country are slashing funding for higher education. Southern has been hit hard by funding reductions, particularly the Baton Rouge campus, as tuition has risen and statemandated higher admission standards have kicked in. As a consequence, Southern has become vulnerable to losing staff as employees leave in pursuit of more competitive wages. Southern University at New Orleans pays moving expenses to get faculty to Louisiana from other states only to lose them to nearby schools, Chancellor Victor Ukpolo said. “It’s very painful to lose faculty when they go across the street to Xavier or Dillard,” he
said. Southern Agricultural Center Chancellor Leodrey Williams said some of his longtime employees are training newer hires who make more money. The Law Center’s enrollment is stable but wages have lagged behind peer schools. Additionally, employees who have taken on extra duties have not received higher pay.
the official student newspaper of southern university and A&m college, baton rouge, louisiana
Chancellor Freddie Pitcher Jr. said his campus is under orders from the state to increase out-of-state tuition enough to resemble the prices charged by peer institutions. Out-of-state tuition has more than doubled over the years from the $4,000 law students were paying several years ago, he said.
“I will decide when the final numbers are in.” -James Llorens
Chancellor, SUBR