Volume 70 - ISSUE 1

Tuesday . January 23, 2018

Volume 70 . Issue 1

www.southerndigest.com

Let It Sneaux: Inclement Weather Causes Campus Shutdown

BY CONTARA MAYFIELD

SOUTHERN DIGEST - STAFF WRITER

At around 7:30 Tuesday morning, Southern University (SU) announced that its Baton Rouge campus would remain closed until Wednesday due to inclement weather conditions.

The university sent an emergency message via email and text message stating the Harding Boulevard overpass would be closed due to ice on the road.

An alternate route on Swan Street was announced as the only entrance and exit to the campus until further notice.

The Baton Rouge campus was initially intended to be closed for one day, but worsening weather conditions drove the university to confirm that the campus would in fact be closed on Wednesday and Thursday as well.

In addition to SU, LSU, BRCC, East Baton Rouge Parish schools, and West Baton Rouge Parish schools, to name a few, were announced to be closed as well.

WAFB reported, “A record low was set as the temperature dropped to a chilling 15 degrees at Metro Airport.”

A few of the main roads were also closed in Baton Rouge due to the icy

road conditions.

According to The Advocate, those roads included “. . . Interstate 10 from Kenner to Lafayette. Interstate 55 from LaPlace to the Mississippi state line, and Interstate 12 from LA 12 to Baton Rouge will remain closed until further notice.”

On Wednesday morning, Governor John Bel Edwards’ office tweeted that a state of emergency was declared for the state of Louisiana. He also reported that more than 1.5 million pounds of salt was distributed throughout the state and 1,200 Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development employees were working around the clock.

Despite the necessary precautions being taken by the state, there were many accidents reported in Louisiana.

According to nola.com, “At least four people died in Louisiana, including a man who was knocked off an elevated portion of Interstate 10 in New Orleans when a pickup truck spun out of control on ice, and an 8-month-old baby who was in a car that slid into a canal in suburban New Orleans. The baby’s mother was reported in critical condition.”

Despite the frigid air, a few students celebrated the snowfall and campus

Courtesy/DON GREEN

closure with an old-fashioned snowball fight on Tuesday night.

The snowball fight took place in front of Shade Hall and Totty Hall, and carried over into the intramural complex field.

AMMONS AIMS HIGH:

SU Welcomes New Executive Administrator Dr. James H. Ammons

BY BRIA GREMILLION

SOUTHERN DIGEST - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Southern University System (SUS) welcomed newly appointed Executive Vice President, Dr. James H. Ammons Jr. during the January 5 Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting.

Ammons will also serve as the Executive Vice Chancellor of the Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR) campus.

As the former President of Florida A&M University (FAMU), and a native of Winter Haven, FL, Ammons speaks of plans to restore the SUS, with a vision of increasing enrollment across the 5 campuses to 20,000 students.

System President, Dr. Ray Belton, expressed his excitement about Ammons joining the Jaguar Nation.

“Dr. Ammons has distinguished himself in a number of roles at various universities and increased enrollment,” Belton said. “We anticipate much from him.”

Interim Dean of the Honors College and SUS Distinguished Professor of Physics, Dr. Diola Bagayoko echoed similar

sentiments, welcoming Dr. Ammons to the SU community.

“I was absolutely delighted to hear him state how crucial recruitment and retention are for the university. These are the two things that will lead us to [an increase in enrollment].”

Having served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at FAMU for six years, Chancellor of North Carolina Central University for six years, then returning to FAMU to serve as President for another five years, in addition to serving as a faculty member at FAMU, Ammons is confident that his extensive background will assist in adequately fulfilling the position.

Ammons obtained a Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 1974 from FAMU, a Master’s in Public Administration in 1975, and a Doctorate in Government in 1977 both from Florida State University.

Upon speaking of his intentions at Southern University, Ammons revealed that his number one priority is student success.

“My plan is to visit all of the academic and administrative

Southern University Police Department (SUPD) remained close by to ensure student safety and partake in a bit of the fun themselves.

See INCLEMENT WEATHER page 3

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: John B. Cade Floods

AMMONS

units to meet with the Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, deans, department chairs, directors and faculty so that I will have a foundation upon which to build a system or to enhance the systems that are already in place to address issues that faculty and students have at the institution,” Ammons affirmed.

One of those issues is the warning that was issued by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to the university in June 2017.

According to the disclosure statement published by SACS regarding the status of SUBR, “the institution was placed on warning for twelve months after review of a Referral Report from the submission of See AMMONS page 3

The first floor of John B. Cade Library after a ruptured pipe caused all four floors to flood. (Jeffrey Owensby/DIGEST)

BY JACQUELINE MORGAN

SOUTHERN DIGEST - MANAGING EDITOR

A water pipe ruptured on the rooftop of John B. Cade Library led to water pouring onto each of the floors just before 3 p.m.

Thursday afternoon.

The Southern University Police Department (SUPD) was called to the library for reports of a fire alarm, only to find inches of water instead.

A circulating Facebook post made by SUPD Officer, Michael Mitchell, revealed that the library was in fact undergoing

renovations when the flood began, ruining any chances of having a fully functioning library in the near future. “[The school] was in the process of renovations when this happened. Imagine getting called out for a fire alarm then BOOM the whole building is flooding,” Mitchell’s post read.

Mitchell declined further comment with the Digest.

Inclement weather throughout the week leading up to the pipe rupturing caused Governor John

THEOFFICIAL OFFICIALSTUDENT STUDENTNEWSPAPER NEWSPAPEROF OFSOUTHERN SOUTHERNUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITYAND ANDA&M A&MCOLLEGE, COLLEGE,BATON BATONROUGE, ROUGE,LOUISIANA LOUISIANA THE

See CADE page 3

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Page 2 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

The Southern Digest SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

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DIGEST 4-Day Weather Outlook

SUITE 1064 – T.H.HARRIS HALL – P.O. BOX 10180 – BATON ROUGE, LA 70813 225.771.2231 PHONE / 225.771.5840 FAX WWW.SOUTHERNDIGEST.COM The Southern DIGEST is written, edited and published by members of the student body at Southern University and A&M College.

The Southern DIGEST is published once weekly (Tuesday with a run count of 4,000 copies per issue during the Southern University - Baton Rouge campus fall, spring semesters.

The paper is free to students, staff, faculty and general public every Tuesday on the SUBR campus. The Southern DIGEST student offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. The offices are located on the first floor of T.H. Harris Hall, Suite 1064.

articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body.

PUBLICATION ASSOCIATIONS

The Southern DIGEST is a member of the Black College Communications Association (BCCA), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), College Media Association (CMA), Society of Professional Journalist (SPJ), Full member of the Associated Press (AP) and the Louisiana Press Association (LPA).

STUDENT MEDIA OFFICE

Director Heather Freeman ISSN: 1540-7276. Copyright 2017

by The Southern University Office of Publications/Graphics Manager Student Media Services.

Jermaine Proshee All articles, photographs and graphics Advertising/Sales Manager are property of The Southern DIGEST Camela Jackson and its contents may not be reproduced or republished without the written permission from the Editor in Chief and CONTACTS (Area Code 225) Advertising/Sales Office- 771.5833 Director of Student Media Services.

DIGEST Newsroom - 771.2231 The Southern DIGEST is the official The Jaguar Yearbook - 771.5812 student newspaper of Southern University and A&M College located Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Articles, at Baton Rouge is accredited by features, opinions, speak out and the Commission on Colleges of the editorials do not necessarily reflect Southern Association of Colleges and the views and opinions of the Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, administration and its policies. Signed Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, Website: www.sacscoc.org.

Spring 2018 Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bria Gremillion MANAGING EDITOR Jacqueline Morgan COPY EDITORS -------------NEWS EDITOR Gabrielle Hutchinson MULTIMEDIA EDITOR -------------A&E EDITOR Najeri Evans SPORTS EDITOR James Eaglin, Jr. PHOTO EDITOR Arnita Dove

DIGEST STAFF WRITERS Devon Fedrick James Eaglin, Jr. Rocelyn Hamilton Debrandin Brown Contara Mayfield Stephanie Mbaya Caleb Penn Yasmere Rashada DeJohn Richardson Jordan Victorian Ace Wheeler Kerry Wilson Devin Hadrick DIGEST PHOTOGRAPHERS Olivia Brock Devonte Landry Camryn Hawkins Shomari Moore Julian Alvarez D’Aryn Thomas Jeffrey Owensby Kyndall Jones

CAMPUS BRIEFS All submissions must be received by 3p.m. each Friday for Tuesday’s Issue.

PAGE 2 is only available to officially registered campus organizations, Southern University Departments. All briefs should include a date, time, contact name & number.

Submit announcements to: The Southern DIGEST - Suite 1064 Harris Hall, Attn: PAGE 2 You my also email: digest@subr.edu

CORRECTIONS Fact and accuracy is our goal and our job. As the voice of the Southern University student body we are committed to ensuring to most fair, truthful and accurate accounts of our work. In the event of an error we will make all corrections on Page 2.

Bring corrections to The Southern DIGEST office located in Suite 1064, Harris Hall.

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JANUARY 23

JANUARY 24

JANUARY 25

JANUARY 26

MOSTLY SUNNY High: 62 Lo:w 37 Rain: 0%

MOSTLY SUNNY High: 61 Low: 34 Rain: 0%

MOSTLY SUNNY High: 61 Low: 39 Rain: 0%

AM SHOWERS High: 63 Low: 55 Rain: 40%

SPEAKOUT

BY: JULIAN ALVAREZ

Question: Do you think the extended break due to inclement weather was beneficial, if not why?

WHAT’S HAPPENING INTRAMURAL COMPLEX The intramural complex presents “5-on-Five” in the recreational center. Register until February 2 at 5PM. Males and females allowed.

For more information contact Coach Tanner.

SU TRACK AND FIELD Friday, January 26 the Jaguar Track and Field team will be racing up to Lake Charles, LA to partake in the McNeese Indoor II. JAGUAR BASKETBALL The Jaguars will be facing the Alcorn State Braves in a double header at the F.G. Clark Activity Center on Saturday, January 27 at 3PM and 5:30PM. WOMEN’S TENNIS Saturday, January 27 the SU women’s tennis team will be heading to Lafayette, LA to match off against the UL Ragin Cajuns.

MY SISTER’S KEEPER MSK is currently accepting online applications. Apply by clicking the link in MSK’s Instagram account (@msk_subr) or email msksouthernu@gmail.com for more information.

SU SYSTEM SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES The SUS Foundation invites all current and prospective students to apply for scholarship awards

JUSTIN LARRY

through Feb. 1, 2018. Contact Robert Easly at robert_easly@sus.edu for more information.

MUSIC EDUCATION SOPHOMORE CHICAGO, IL

ENGLISH CLUB There will be an English Club organizational meeting at 11AM on January 25 in Harris Hall RM 244.

See Dr. Toadvine in the English Department for more information.

JOHN B. CADE LIBRARY SERVICES Students will be able to utilize computer labs and copiers in the student union, T.T. Allain, and the SU Law Library. A quick reference library section in the Student Center on the first floor of the library will also be available for student use.

WOMEN’S BOWLING Friday, January 26, the SU women’s bowling team will head to face Florida A&M in the FAMU Rattler Invitational in Pensacola, FL. RESIDENTIAL LIFE & HOUSING The room swap and consolidation period is from January 24-25, 2018.

Students must see current director to swap. See your hall director for more details.

LARRY

“No, because we no longer have a library and we missed out on 3 academic days.”

NAVE DUNCAN NURSING FRESHMAN NEW ORLEANS

“

I do think that the break was safer but not DUNCAN beneficial. There are people who still haven’t net their proffessors. Also, there are so many things we missed out on.

I thought that it was a bit extreme, but we probably saved lives by cancelling school.”

JORDAN DAVIS URBAN FORESTRY SOPHOMORE JACKSON,LA

“Yes, only due to the fact the roadways are DAVIS extremely unsafe for commuters. Also, the fact that students have to get financial clearance for school.”

MERCEDES CAMPBELL NURSING FRESHMAN NEW ORLEANS

“Yes, I think it was beneficial. I think CAMPBELL it was safer staying inside due to the snow and the cold. Driving in the snow would have been dangerous and could put lives in danger.”

DEVANTE CHARLES COMPUTER SCIENCE SENIOR PARKS,LA

“No. Due to the extended break, it caused the CHARLES school to be behind with events, classes and financial aid processes” The Southern DIGEST is the official student newspaper of Southern University and A&M College located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. Signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body.

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OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

J. S. Clark Administration Building, Third Floor Baton Rouge, LA 70813 Phone: (225) 771-4582

Dear Jaguar Nation,

Welcome back and we hope that you had a great holiday. As we embark on this semester, I am confident that you will fully engage in the teaching and learning process. While the start of this semester has been challenged by unprecedented winter conditions, I believe that we, as a University community, will move forward with a renewed spirit of excellence, determination and excitement. Southern University and A&M College (SU) stands ready to provide our students with diverse opportunities for growth and learning to ensure that they are career ready. Our efforts are strengthened by the addition of our new upper level administrator, Dr. James Ammons.

I am delighted that Dr. James Ammons has been appointed to serve as the new Executive Vice President of the Southern University System and Executive Vice Chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus. Dr. Ammons brings a breadth and depth of knowledge and experiences that will greatly benefit our campus and system. Please join me in warmly welcoming Dr. Ammons into the Jaguar Nation family and supporting his vision and efforts to strengthen SU. The Office of Academic Affairs will set a time this semester for students, faculty and staff to meet and interact with Dr. Ammons.

I express my sincerest gratitude to the new students who are beginning their pursuit of higher education. Thank you for choosing SU. You have chosen an institution that cares about you, will encourage you to think critically and reason analytically and will hold you accountable for your success.

You will have the necessary resources and support to help you succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. Our goal at Southern University is to provide you with a comprehensive and exceptional learning experience to ensure that you are career ready.

To our returning students, I hope that this new year will be an opportunity for you to deepen your knowledge, strengthen your skills, enhance your professional dispositions, set new goals and achieve greater academic success. Continue to work hard and strive to be the best that you can be.

To our distinguished faculty, your commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service is truly remarkable. You dedicate your lives to helping others and unselfishly go beyond the call of duty to meet the diverse needs of our student body. Thank you for making our students a priority and ensuring that they receive high quality instruction. To our staff, thank you for your tireless efforts to service our students. We realize that most of you go above and beyond daily and Southern University is a better institution because of your service. To our administrators, thank you for your leadership and efforts to maintain and strengthen our great university. We appreciate you!

Finally, I want to thank every member of the Jaguar Nation for continuing to support Southern University and A&M College. This new year will bring new collaboration, creativity and innovation.

Southern University will continue to strive to be a world class university.

Best wishes for a productive and successful semester. Together We are Stronger! We are Southern!

Yours in Gold and Blue,

Luria Young, Ph.D. Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Join the Student Media Today!

INCLEMENT WEATHER from page 1

When asked about how he felt about the recent weather conditions, senior Music Education major, Keith Lewis, responded saying, “I have mixed feelings, the weather allowed much needed rest time but it increased how anxious I am to start this semester. It’s like a winter break after winter break.”

By Wednesday morning, the sun began to shine again, causing the ice and snow to melt from

the ground. Although the ice was disappearing, road conditions were still deemed to be unsafe and the advisory to stay off of roadways remained. Not only did the weather hit Louisiana hard, it also affected Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia as well.

What began as a 3-day weekend in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day became an extended 6-day vacation for SU students.

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Bel Edwards to declare Louisiana to be in a state of emergency.

Over the course of three days, meteorologists predicted overnight temperatures to be dipping into the lower 20s with daytime highs barely surpassing the mid 40s, a weather report nearly foreign to the likes of the southern state.

According to the Dean of Libraries, Emma Bradford-Perry, a pipe in the mechanical room on the fourth floor of the building could not withstand the test of the unexpected weather.

The pipe was a major water line carrying cold water to the rooftop “. . as a result of that pipe bursting, water subsequently came to all the four floors in the library from the top down,” she reflected.

Prior to the flooding, all floors except the fourth were fully functioning with resources at the disposal of students. Perry was able to confirm that the resources in the library made it out seemingly unharmed for the most part.

“Fortunately very few of the books were impacted because most of the water is on the floor, so we should be able to save most of the books,” she reassured.

According to Guarantee Restoration Services, a total of 2-4 inches of water fell between all four floors of the library, initially causing concern about the technology on the first and second floors.

Business major, Elijah Scott, conveyed concerns about the technology being ruined, as he frequents the second floor computer lab to complete various assignments for school.

“I depend on that computer lab to just be a quiet place for me to get my work done and print. It’s really the institution’s Fifth-Year Interim Report in June 2016.”

The statement details that SUBR failed to comply with the core requirements ensuring that the institution had an appropriate number of full-time faculty members, provide evidence of the improvement of educational programs and student learning, along with having proper procedures in place to address written student complaints.

Ammons has already begun to meet with the BOS, President, Dr. Ray Belton, the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Dr. Luria Young as well as the consultants that have been working with the institution over the last few months to get a status of where the university stands with the warning.

“My plan is to support the staff members who are currently working on the response so that we will have not only a timely response but a substantive response that will bring us into compliance and remove the warning sanction,” stated Ammons.

Having served as the President of FAMU, Ammons is confident that he can lend his expertise to revive the current state of the university and points out that FAMU and SU share many similarities.

Both universities are 1890 land grant institutions, which are historically black universities that were established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890. Both universities are agricultural and mechanical institutions, both colleges have a

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - Page 3 CADE from page 1

the printing I’m worried about, I can use my phone for the rest,” Scott expressed.

The university’s Librarian for Technology, Dawn Kight could not speak on the exact condition of the technology at the moment, but offered an alternative for students.

Kight reassured, “A lot of our resources are available online through the web. Students will still have access to a great amount of information.”

Dean Perry has committed to assuring that students have tools for a successful semester.

“We’re going to make every effort to provide resources and services from the library,” she acclaimed.

An official statement from the university entailed updates about the current state of the library, and upcoming plans that the administration and faculty have in place for students.

Per the university’s official press release sent to students January 19, “. . . it will take 2 weeks to dry and remove damaged carpet and sheet rock. A third party company has been secured to test the water throughout the library to rule out any airborne issues. . .since the top priority is students, staff is working to finalize options for students to continue to access library and technology resources.”

Students will be able to utilize computer labs and copiers in the student union, T.T. Allain Hall, and the SU Law Library until further notice. There will also be a quick reference library section in the Student Center on the first floor of the library, which will also be the entrance to the library during the remodeling process.

AMMONS from page 1

similar academic profile, student body and athletics program.

“I think we have a chance to do some great things together and it’s going to take the team; the board, the president, the administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the Baton Rouge community. It’s going to take all of us to get this job done and I think we’re all up to doing it.”

In efforts of improving the relationships with the administration, faculty, staff and students, Ammons has also begun to meet with student leaders to better understand the needs of students.

He details that his ultimate goal is to develop a line of communication with students, faculty and administration to understand and address student issues and concerns as well as increase student retention and graduation rates.

As the product of a single parent household, Ammons explains that he wants his journey to become a testament for those facing similar situations.

Ammons expresses his excitement in joining the Southern family and the Baton Rouge community.

Junior Mass Communications major from Baton Rouge, Deboarh Coleman shared her excitement in Ammons’ plans to improve the campus culture.

“I will like to welcome Dr. Ammons to the Southern University.

It should be a great improvement since he has a phenomenal resume and background. I believe his plans shall work,” she finished.

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Page 4 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

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Lady Jags Sting ASU in a Tale of Two Halfs

BY DEVIN HADRICK

SOUTHERN DIGEST - SPORTS WRITER

Riding high on a four-game winning streak, especially after knocking off Mississippi Valley 70-54 Monday in Ita Bena, Mississippi, the top ranked Lady Jags returned to Baton Rouge last Saturday to compete in SWAC play against the Alabama State Lady Hornets.

Going into Saturday’s conference competition, the Lady Jags were the favorite to win based on their demoralizing defense that averages over 20 turnovers a game.

Senior forward Brianna Green led the team in virtually every aspect of Saturday’s game.

The return of Junior post player Sarai Blisset also boosted the Lady Jags’ confidence throughout the game.

The Lady Jags had their way against Alabama State on defense midway through the first half with 3 steals, compliments of Green. Even with the turnovers, the 5-7 Lady Hornets were productive on offense at first, shooting over 70 percent from the field. With phenomenal ball movement, the Lady Jags produced just as well on offense going 60 percent from the field and adding a pair of three pointers. The Lady Jags’ only struggle was their free throw percentage (50%).

Late in the first half, both teams seemed to be identical with Southern 10-29 (34.5 percent) in field goals, with majority of points coming from the bench. Alabama State was 11-28 (39.3 percent) with 12 bench points. On defense, both teams were again evenly matched. Southern had 18 defensive rebounds, 5 steals and 13 turnovers. The Hornets had 15 defensive rebounds, 4 steals, and 12 turnovers. At the end of the half, the Lady Jags trailed the Lady Hornets of Alabama State 25-27.

After halftime, the Lady Jags slowed down offensively, going only 7-17 (41.2 percent), 1-6(16.7 percent) from the three point line.

Midway through the second half, the score was tied at 47.

A clutch 7-8 (87.5 percent) from the free throw line helped the Lady Jags secure the

Senior forward, Briana Green, goes up for a layup to expand the Lady Jags’ lead against Alabama State at the minidome on January 20. (Arnita Dove/DIGEST)

win.

Alabama State was 10-18 (55.6 percent) and went 0-1 in three pointers as well as the free throw line during the second half.

At the end of regulation Southern was 23-56 in field goals (41.1 percent), 6-17 (29.4 percent) behind the three point line, and 15-24 (62.5 percent) in free throws. The Lady Jags finished the game off with 47 total rebounds, 15 on offense and 32 on defense.

Lady Jags’ sealed a victory with the Final score of 66-58.

Green finished out the night with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals, just one rebound away from a double-double. “Down the stretch it was just us being patient and staying calm and playing our game of basketball,” Green

Junior Guard, Skylar O’Bear, takes on a double team while facing the Alabama State Lady Hornets on January 20 in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

(Arnita Dove/DIGEST)

explained when asked about staying in tune after a sloppy first half. She then went on to say that, “Coach always gets on us for playing down to the level of our competition. She expects a lot more from us and that was our main priority in the second half, just stay focus, boxing out, making shots, and getting rebounds. We did ok, it wasn’t great but we get better every game.”

When Head Coach Sandy Pugh was asked why the game was so close until the closing seconds of competition her response was that, “We kind of changed our whole philosophy up and stick to strictly guard play and thought that was more effective for us. Then we were able to get some stops

on defense, make some baskets, and finally make some free throws.”

When asked about Briana Green’s performance, Coach Pugh then went on to say, “She had it on her mind tonight. After the game, I told her that she stepped her game up, but [Assistant Coach Jeremy Ponin] was in her ear the whole time telling her to be that one. He helped keep her motivated and focused even when she got a little tired down the stretch. All in all I thought the kids fought and showed a lot of character and determination.”

After Saturday’s victory, Southern’s Women’s Basketball should feel confident in the SWAC knowing even through injury and adversity, they were still able to pull out

BACK-TO-BACK:

Jags Win 2nd Straight, Top Alabama State

BY DEBRANDIN BROWN

SOUTHERN DIGEST - STAFF WRITER

Looking for their second straight victory after a thrilling win over Mississippi Valley State on the 15th, the Jaguars men’s basketball team took on Alabama State Hornets in what was a physical, defensivelyoriented affair. Led by junior guard Eddie Reese, the Jags never trailed the entire game against a very strong defensively coached team in Alabama State.

In a first half where both teams combined to shoot for 11-40 from the field, including 2-17 from the three-point line, defense was the emphasis for the Jaguars as they lead the game the entire first half. The Jags tempo was dictated by defensive hustle, free-throw shooting, and the occasional fast break leading to easy baskets.

While the offense was struggling as a whole for both squads, the difference maker for the Jaguars in the first half was senior big man Jared Sam from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Whether it be from the free throw

line or from the field, Sam produced most of the Jags scoring in the first half, going 2-4 from the field and 3-4 from the free throw line. Sam led the Jags to a 30-22 lead at the half as he finished the game with 9 points and 12 boards.

While Sam provided most of the offensive output for the Jags in the first half, the second half was a story of fastbreak points and lengthy runs primarily led by Reese and his clutch three-point and free-throw shooting. Reese led the Jags in scoring with 14 points, with 9 coming from behind the arc in the second half.

While the second half was an undoubtedly weaker defensive performance by the Jaguars, their defense was what won them the game. Despite the Hornets attempting to come back late in the second half, the Jaguars defense came together once again to make stops and force bad shots from Alabama State down the stretch. To the Hornets credit, some of those bad shots managed to fall and they gave themselves a chance to win after

Junior guard, Eddie Reese, drives to the goal past two Alabama State defenders on Saturday, January 20 in the F.G. Activity center (Caleb Penn/DIGEST)

pulling within 1 point late in the second half after the Jags led by as many as 15 points earlier in the 2nd. However, it was Reese who ultimately sealed the game for the Jags with 2 late free throws to give Southern a 63-61 victory over Alabama State.

It is also noteworthy how far the Jaguars

defense has progressed since the start of the season to this point. What was only seen in flashes earlier in the season for the Jaguars, their suffocating defense has become the norm more and more as this Jaguars team See BACK2BACK page 5

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Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - Page 5

Five Jaguars represent Southern in Gridiron Showcases

DIGEST ART

BY JAMES EAGLIN, JR

SOUTHERN DIGEST - SPORTS EDITOR

January 2018 will have seen five members of the Southern University football team showcase their skills in hopes of advancing their football careers.

All-SWAC senior quarterback, Austin Howard, and senior tight end Dillion Beard, along with senior defensive back, Jamar Mitchell participated in the HBCU Spirit of America Bowl last Sunday, January 14 at the Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia.

The HBCU Spirit of America Bowl, launched in 2017, brings over 100 of the best student athletes from all HBCU football programs together during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend.

Howard finished this past regular season completing nearly 61 percent of his passes for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns. Beard was the team leader in receiving yards and touchdown receptions.

Mitchell was tied for second on the team in interceptions.

All-SWAC senior defensive

lineman, Aaron Tiller, played in the seventh annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Rose Bowl Stadium located in Pasadena, CA. Sponsored by the National Football League Players Association, hundreds of scouts and representatives from all 32 NFL teams were expected to be in attendance to watch the postseason all-star competition.

Tiller led the Southern defense in sacks and tackles for loss last season.

All-SWAC defensive back,

STAY UPDATED!

Danny Johnson, is the sole conference representative to play in this year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl. The game will be played January 27, 2018 at Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, and will be televised ON ALL JAGUAR on NFL Network.

The Reese’s Senior Bowl invites potential professional football draft prospects to participate in North and South GOJAGSPORTS.COM regional teams, coached by National Football League coaching staffs. During his final BACK2BACK from page 4 campaign as a Jaguar, Johson was second on the team in continues to progress through

SPORTS

2017- 2018 SCHEDULE

GO JAGS! PHOTOS: DEVONTE LANDRY

the season. While growing pains thwarted the Jaguars start to the season after an 0-5 start, this team has finally learned to play together, and as a result, wins have started to accumulate. Should they continue to play how they have been these past few games and fix their shooting woes, this Jags team has the potential to win any game on any given night against any opponent.

After the game, when asked about his team’s close finishes in their last three contests, Head Coach Morris Scott had this to say: “This lineup (we felt) had been the best group to close out games.” He also elaborated on how the coaching staff is still looking for the perfect lineup to close games out, and while the current lineup has produced up to this point, it is not out of the realm of imagination that future changes could come should the need occur.

Additionally, Reese was perhaps the best player on the court for the Jaguars vs Alabama State. Despite his hot shooting in the second half, Reese struggled mightily in the first half and had trouble getting his shot to fall. When asked about this, Reese agreed and had this to say: “I couldn’t hit anything (in the first half), but my teammates and coaches kept picking me up, so I came out ready to shoot”. Behind Reese and his terrific second half, the Jaguars now sit at 7-13, ready to make a push to turn this season into something special. And with players like Jared Sam and Eddie Reese leading the way, the odds just may be turning in their favor.

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Page 6 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

SOUTHERN DIGEST

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SOUTHERN DIGEST

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - Page 7

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Page 8 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

SOUTHERN DIGEST

The Sentinel of an Enlightened Student Body since 1926

Day of Service

BY STEPHANIE MBAYA

SOUTHERN DIGEST - STAFF WRITER

“A day on, not a day off.” These were the words Congress used to describe the intentions of Martin Luther King Jr. day after it passed the King Holiday and Service Act. The act designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort.

Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as not only a national day of service but also as a public holiday.

Southern University (SU) was buzzing with activity early Monday morning as nearly 350 people gathered to engage in various beautification activities near campus.

Despite the wintry weather, the turnout was impressive, and many people had made it a point to rise early to serve their community.

Southern University was very well represented with its students and professors taking part, as well as members of the Student Government Organization, sororities, fraternities, and varsity sports teams showing up to give a hand.

Other groups included students from local high schools, LSU and corporations such as AmeriCorps and Big Buddy.

There were numerous activities to choose from, but the central focus was mural painting.

Dilapidated buildings and sidewalks were transformed into beautiful works of art by the various artists and volunteers that came together to work on the walls. It was a tremendous sight to watch people of all ages and walks of life be brought together by the

project, joyfully sharing ideas and swapping paint brushes, even in the freezing weather.

The teamwork eventually resulted in remarkable murals the area will have for a long time to come.

Besides the mural painting, other volunteer opportunities that were available included trash cleanup, blight & construction, tree planting or simply donating non perishables and clothing.

The day ended with a block party that even drew the attendance of Governor John Bel Edwards.

At the center of the MLK project is the Walls group, a 501c nonprofit organization that started as a grassroots art organization that draws murals.

Since 2012, the group has drawn around 100 murals around Baton Rouge, a part of their project that they call “Reactivation.”

Reactivation is part of the MLK service day which included rehabilitating neighborhoods and communities to build strong relationships with the hope that the art will spur economic development.

Their other initiatives involve an art space cultural-economic solution for Baton Rouge, and cultivating youth and adults in Louisiana to become creative entrepreneurs to develop the creative economic industry.

The non-profit facilitates this project through a program that teaches coding and photography to middle and high school students. The courses pave a way for learning about creating websites, graphic design, and even music production to expand the creative industry.

The Marketing Director at the Walls Group, Helena Williams, stated, “The process is long-term and seems slow in completion but definitely worthwhile. It’s a matter of establishing relationships and

Community members and artist,Kirsten Downing, painted a mural to commemorate the Baton Rouge bus boycotts on a building near Scenic & 68th on MLK Day, Janurary 15,2018.

(Shomari Moore/DIGEST)

A group of students from Louisiana State University, volunteer during the Annual MLK Day of Service on January 15. (Devonte Landry/DIGEST)

cultivating the youth.”

The event didn’t have an impact on just the community, but the people who took part in it as well.

“I felt great because I was helping my community and I could see the change firsthand. Seeing the result is also encouraging, as I drive down Scenic

highway and see a mural that I helped paint-it has quite the effect on me. My hope is that this will turn from being just an annual occurrence to something that happens more often,” said junior finance major, Rufaro Chirewa.

Nike BHM Collection: Fly Kicks or Corporate Manipulation?

BY NAJERI EVANS

SOUTHERN DIGEST - A&E EDITOR

Nike recently presented its 2018 Black History Month (BHM) collection marked with the theme of equality, featuring footwear honorary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and inspiring athletes of today.

Each of the shoes in the collection is characterized with a date where both a moment in sports and black history coincide.

Examples provided by Sneaker News include, “Kevin Durant’s moving MVP speech, Lebron James’ poignant remarks on the impact of sports society, Carmelo Anthony’s vocal activity in the equal rights conversation, and more.”

Red, gold, and green colors used in the collection are inspired by the Pan-African flag. Pan-Africanism is a worldwide intellectual movement meant to promote

solidarity between all people of African descent.

The 2018 BHM collection is inclusive of Jordan apparel and footwear, which will be available to the public February 1.

According to Nike, “In February, all NBA teams will wear BHM NBA warm-up tees featuring the following words that were chosen by the players: compassion, dream, empower, engage, equality, hope, inspire, justice, lead, listen, love, motivate, organize and unify.”

Although Nike is promotional of the newly decorated “Equality” merchandise, the authenticity of the movement is somewhat questionable.

The initial contract Nike signed with now retired professional basketball player, Michael Jordan, set wheels in motion for the role the company plays in black culture

(Courtesy/Nike.com)

today.

During Jordan’s career, Nike gave the young athlete involvement in the design of his shoe brand, and even paid some of his fines for breaking the NBA’s strict uniform policy. With time, Jordan’s brand became representative of breaking the status quo.

Because of Jordan’s involvement, the design of the shoe was more appealing to young black people, especially athletes who were inspired by Jordan’s success.

Having developed a new marketing

strategy, Nike was able to then capitalize off of other athletes by monopolizing talent within the brand and staying ahead of its competitors.

While much of its marketing is directed at people of color who respect Nike for its contracting with reputable athletes of color, much of the company’s merchandise is considerably overpriced.

Footwear News cites, “... the Air Jordan 1 See BHM page 10

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The Sentinel of an Enlightened Student Body since 1926

BY DEBRANDIN BROWN

SOUTHERN DIGEST

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - Page 9

The Year of the Panther: The Pinnacle of Black Greatness in Cinema

SOUTHERN DIGEST - STAFF WRITER

Since the birth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2008 featuring notable characters like Iron Man, the MCU has quickly and efficiently put Hollywood in a choke hold with record-breaking ticket sales and Rotten-Tomato ratings, fresh enough to make pasta.

Everyone in America has seemingly become a comic-book fan.

The past decade has granted black movies and actors their own spot as A-List, must-see acts as well.

Looking as far back to 2009 with Notorious, black actors and actresses have seen an abundance of opportunities and success in box office hits such as Taraji P. Henson in Hidden Figures, Michael B Jordan in Creed, and Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out. On February 16th, 2018, Black Panther will offer fans of all backgrounds a stunning mixture of both black and comic culture in one dazzling cinematic experience.

Since its creation became public knowledge, there has been no other movie this decade that has been as anticipated and decorated to this extent.

By all accounts, this will possibly be the best movie of this year, if the hype is to be believed.

Beating out Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther has broken the MCU record for presale ticket sales, only two days after the official trailer was released on January 8th.

When asked about the accomplishment, Michael B. Jordan gave a small smile and said, “It sounds about right.” While it isn’t anything new for actors to be fans of their movies, you could see from Jordan’s expression that he holds this movie to a

Courtesy: facebook.com/BlackPantherMovie

very high standard and expected greatness to await it. This, on its own, speaks to how strong the wave for this movie is.

In many ways, it can be predicted that this movie could very likely be the highest grossing Marvel film of all time, even with the impending arrival of Avengers: Infinity Wars this year as well.

Detailing his latest project, Ryan Coogler spoke about formally introducing the movie at Comic Con early last year,“As a black comic book fan, I couldn’t help but to be excited about that”, in regards to seeing fans’ reaction to the film for the first time.

Coogler also stated that he was, “really excited about us opening up the world a little more”.

Seeing what the film has become culturally and hearing this response from Coogler, a black man, is a breath of fresh air.

Talking to some Southern University students around campus, the general consensus was overwhelmingly positive.

A Welcome Message from The 87th Miss Southern University Greetings Jaguar Nation, Happy New Year, I hope you all are having a great one so far. I just want to welcome you back to the bluff. This semester, we are gearing up for an electric ending, the final shock. Last semester I started off strong with the Little Miss Southern Pageant where the contestants and I raised over $5,000 for The St. Jude Foundation. The winner, Miss Kayleigh Harris experienced my reign with me at Homecoming and Bayou Classic. As Miss Southern University, my main goal is to inspire my fellow jaguars by being a queen for the people.

Throughout the year I have been showing my appreciation for the students and this semester will be no different. Over the course of this semester I will be offering many opportunities for my students to take advantage of. I will be renewing The Electric Book Scholarship and awarding four deserving students $250 to use towards necessities for school. My Royal Court and I will be hosting Project Queen Week a week to uplift, educate and empower the queens of our university and the young queens of our community because I believe empowered women should empower women. I also need your help in making sure that I can continue to represent our beloved institution by reigning as an Ebony Magazine Top 10 HBCU Campus Queen. This has been a well-lived tradition for the past three SU queens and I strive to continue the tradition.

Please help me by visiting www.ebony.com/campus-queen-2017/contestant/southernuniversity-am-college and voting every day until January 31, 2018 at 11:59pm. Stay tuned because the Electric Queen and her court are serving 87 volts of electricity, love, and appreciation. I wish you all a successful and prosperous semester, and remember we were all born kings and queens, it doesn’t take a physical crown to make us a queen.

Have a great Semester, The 87th Miss Southern University Felise Thompson-Doyle

Freshman nursing major, Alexis Evans, believes that the Black Panther will be a “great movie [that will be] full of action.”

Similarly, freshman nursing major, Natchez Stanton, believes that this movie will be one for the books. When asked about what she hopes the movie will achieve, she stated. “I think it’s a great way to show how talented and magical black actors and actresses can be.”

Whether you are walking into theaters looking for classic comic book action scenes, or seeking to appreciate the melaninated feel of the movie, there is a shared belief going around as to how great this movie will be.

To put what Black Panther has to offer in context, this movie will have appearances from Forest Whitaker, Chadwick Boseman, and Michael B. Jordan, as well as the likes of Angela Bassett and Lupita Nyong’o serving as strong female leads.

To be frank, there has never been such a high profile film with this many A-List black

actors in a long time, maybe ever.

As far as impact, the Black Panther movie could very well be one of the greatest superhero movies of this generation. That being said, the tempering of expectation should be recommended.

What should be celebrated is what this movie represents; black cinematic excellence finally getting it’s due.

Time and time again, black actors and actresses have been given the blind eye in the movie industry.

In order to be given proper respect, it would have to claw from the scraps that Mission Impossible and Need For Speed offered in secondary roles and unneeded plot devices.

Black Panther, however, is plainly, and unapologetically black. It is for the people, it is for the culture, and if it’s done right, it could be the dawn of a brave, new age of black cinematography.

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SOUTHERN DIGEST

Page 10 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

The Sentinel of an Enlightened Student Body since 1926

Dream Heard Around the : World The

BHM from page 8

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy

BY YASMERE RASHADA

SOUTHERN DIGEST - A&E EDITOR

Racism, colorism, and white supremacy are so tightly woven into the fabric of American society that at this point, racial tension and American culture are practically inextricable.

As long as these problems have existed in this country, brave men and women have risen on behalf of oppressed people of color.

These pioneers demanded socioeconomic and political equality, representation in the media, and otherwise basic human rights that were guaranteed to Caucasian people.

At the head of the civil rights movement for African-American people was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a reverend and speaker from Atlanta, Georgia.

By 1960, Dr. King had gained notoriety for recognizing the need for African-Americans to organize nationally in order to combat racism.

With this goal in mind, King helped to organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which harnessed the moral influence and organizational prowess of the black churches across the South. Once this structure was established, King began to turn his focus to gaining access for African-Americans into politics. He chose to do so by fighting for black voting rights; ultimately, his fight led to the ratification of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which finally granted all American citizens the right to participate at the polls.

Besides this monumental achievement, Dr. Martin Luther King is also credited with being a frontrunner in the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott.

After two incidents in which teenager ,Claudette Colvin and seamstress, Rosa Parks refused to give up their Alabama public bus

seats for capable white males, Dr. King and other prominent civil rights leaders decided to take action, with the help of black churches.

Their collective efforts led to a public boycott of black patronage on Montgomery’s public bus system. After 382 days, the federal court system ruled to integrate the public transportation systems.

While the reverend was known for his skilled rhetoric and passionate speeches across the country, he was unique in his approach to changing racial tensions in the country: he insisted on nonviolent tactics of resistance.

After traveling to India to walk in the footsteps of pacifist visionary Mahatma Gandhi, King began to believe strongly in the power of nonviolence and civil disobedience in order to reach social goals. Due to the use of nonviolent tactics, the African-American stereotypes perpetuating violence could not be used against the cause of the black people seeking equality.

As this nonviolent movement began in the wake of strong-handed tactics under Malcolm X, the Black Power Movement, and the Black Panther Party, many viewed King’s nonviolent ways as weak, and even suicidal, considering the public hostility that they were facing.

Despite these criticisms, King was steadfast in his beliefs. His perseverance earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

In his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech, the pastor spoke of his vision: a world in which all of his children could be judged according to their inward character, as opposed to their skin color.

As the “Father of the Civil Rights Movement,” Dr. King has been rightly lauded and praised for his exemplary social work. In fact, his work has created a legacy so commendable that nothing, not even his private flaws, could detract from it.

Nursing major Alexis Jones noted that King’s personal battles merely made him more relatable and inspirational as a role model. “While Dr. King had problems, he was a good example of how much a person could achieve,” she said.

Freshman mechanical engineering major, Myrin Williams, echoed this sentiment. “Dr. Martin Luther King was the embodiment of everything a young black man would aspire to be—he was truly inspirational.”

Though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 without seeing his dream fully realized, his vision continues to resonate around a country currently embroiled in the same struggles of King’s era.

Today, we continue to fight adamantly against racism a n d white

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Melo, Air Force 1 Low and Kyrie 4 have all sold out at retail. However, the KD 10 ($150) and Lebron 15 ($185) are still available now.”

The price tag and the quantity of shoes Nike is willing to place on the market, especially those flaunting the Air Jordan logo is often responsible for violence in low income black communities.

Commenting on the shoe release, Mehki Singleton, Freshman finance major of North Tulsa, Oklahoma had this to say, “They tell us what the trends are and basically control that aspect of culture. I also don’t believe it’s just a coincidence that Nike shoes on average cost the same amount of money that the average teenager gets paid every couple weeks.”

Several advertising strategies created around newly released shoes can often falsely convey certain kinds of lifestyles in connection with the individual who owns them.

Singleton further went on to say, “Nike has one of the best marketing teams. They use psychology and manipulation in everything they do and that’s just how business is.”

The more the footwear is sought after, the more someone is willing to do in order to attain them, and in turn attain the lifestyle the shoes seemingly provide. In fact, a documentary which examined what motivates sneaker violence, Sneakerheadz, estimated 1,200 deaths over sneakers each year.

The 2018 BHM collection embellished with patterns of gold, black, and white appears to be more fashionable than commemorative.

The small sentiment the shoes do convey is undermined by what seems like Nike’s newest marketing strategy, where it emotionally targets the same black audience it exploits for capitalistic gain.

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SOUTHERN DIGEST

New Year, Same Darn Drama: Obscenities from the Oval Office

BY DEBRANDIN BROWN

SOUTHERN DIGEST - STAFF WRITER

Since Donald Trump assumed the office of President of the United States this time last year, the former host of The Apprentice has found himself in controversy after controversy in what many label as perhaps, the most chaotic presidency the United States has ever seen.

The latest scandal to grace front pages everywhere is a concerning one, Stormy Daniels and a steamy encounter she had with our Head of State in 2006, just after First Lady, Melania Trump, gave birth to their youngest son, Baron.

According to Daniels, she met Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in 2006 in the state of Nevada,where she agreed to come back with Trump to his hotel.

In an interview with InTouch Magazine in 2011, Daniels described the encounter with the POTUS as “textbook generic” and “what you would expect someone his age to do”.

Prior to Trump winning the presidency in November of 2016, he and his lawyer met Daniels and hers to compose a nondisclosure agreement that would pay Daniels an excess of $130,000 not to tell anyone of their encounter years prior.

When this story first surfaced, the most shocking thing about it

was that no one in the media or the public seemed to care, at least enough to say anything about it.

The reason behind this overwhelming sense of indifference left me bewildered for the most part, until I thought about how I felt about it personally. Personally, I didn’t care anymore that the president does these wacky things that would have slandered any other sitting president into isolation.

That is when I realized a startling truth to this story, and that truth is that we have become numb to the shortcomings of Donald Trump.

This realization brought other startling thoughts to mind, namely what this means for the future of his term and the future of the office of President.

In the past, when a president did something unpresidential, they were publicly shamed, and if the actions were heinous enough, maybe he would be impeached.

The thing with Trump is that he feels no shame for his actions or what he says, and the same could be said about his still-loyal followers.

Similarly, the idea of impeachment is laughable from the perspective that the majority of the Senate are Republicans who refuse to call out Trump on his policies and character.

I have always been one to put my faith in the kingdom, not its tyrannical leaders. The same

BY CALEB PENN

SOUTHERN DIGEST - STAFF WRITER

How often can a person say they were able to witness change right before their eyes?

On Saturday I noticed that Scenic Highway. near Southern University has begun what some would call a makeover and it’s honestly looking great so far.

There’s just has one thing that I guess you can say is “off”. Somebody, not sure from which school or organization, decided it was a great idea to use LSU’s colors on the main strip that Southern uses to display our culture, our pride, and our spirit! The same damn strip that LSU students deemed “too ghetto” or “too ratchet” to ever compare to their “superior” roads full of LSU flags, Mike the Tiger murals, and drunken college kids trying to find their way home from Tigerland.

So, let’s rewind for a second, I left campus, came over the hump and made a right onto Scenic.

I began to see new paintings, unbelievable paintings; paintings with culture, murals with historic heroes, and even bright and colorful chalk up and down the sidewalks.

applies with Americans and Donald Trump.

I understand the fear in the hearts of many that we are tumbling into oblivion at a record pace under the leadership we have had up to this point. But that reality shouldn’t force us to abandon the principles that have come to define us as a people.

As citizens, it is our responsibility to hold our leaders accountable and to a higher standard than we would anyone else. As citizens, it is our responsibility to stand by the principles of morality that our founders believed could stand the test of time.

The United States is perhaps the greatest empire the world has ever seen, but it is still, in fact, one of the many empires to grace the face of the Earth, and it will not be the last. So it is up to us, as a morally sound people, to show the world that having morals and holding ourselves accountable for our actions mean more than being a “loser,” as our president has grown fond of labeling his adversaries.

It is up to us keep integrity alive, and to keep the spirit of democracy alive so that the future of our people will be brighter than the darkness we have allowed ourselves to be swallowed up in.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - Page 11

S.O.S. #Save Our Southern

BY NAJERI EVANS

SOUTHERN DIGEST - A&E EDITOR

Forget about new year, new me. How about new year, new Southern?

All we want administration to do in 2018, is BETTER. There are several things Southern should and could have left in 2017.

First and foremost, visitation.

Let’s be real, its second semester.

If throwing in an extra 2 dollar visitation fee makes the boat sail, then I wanna be sea sick.

Just throw it in with the “other general fee” and my tuition doesn’t change, everybody wins.

NEXT! Bad planning and communication skills. Yuck!

Two weeks into the semester and a week of no class robbed me a week’s worth of my expensive education.

Three days of bad weather and one holiday equals four excusable days beyond the administration’s control.

So, picture day five, the first and last day of class of the week. You wake up early, turn off the alarm and just walk to the bathroom.

Oh but wait, you can’t get ready for class; the toilet doesn’t flush, the water doesn’t come on. You find out the water is off all over campus and nobody knew. “Shake my head” Southern.

Can we please clean up Southern in 2018? Brown water, when the faucets cut back on, can stay all the way in 2017.

We get it, the water be off, the pipes or whatever. Like maybe we just need new pipes, idk. Call

LSU: On Our Side Of Town

I honestly could not believe what I was seeing; I was, for a lack of better words, shellshocked. What had me even more shook, I even began to see cars pulling over to the side of the road and stopping at gas stations just to get a better look at a few pieces of artwork.

The entire time, all I can think to myself was “is Scenic making a comeback”, after so many years of driving off campus, turning on Scenic and just staring straight ahead at the road just so you can’t notice the depressing and decaying buildings up the highway and after so many years of being roasted

by LSU and even some BRCC students for Southern being “in the middle of nowhere”.

Even though we’re in the middle of nowhere, we’re starting to look good while being here.

It has been so long since you could drive off campus and still feel like you’re really in the vicinity of a college campus.

Back to the story, I continue driving up Scenic, enjoying the new improvements and I see this area approaching, in this area there is a long and grey, Hunger Games looking wall with just a break in the middle which I guess is an entrance.

As I get closer I’m just thinking to myself, “oh yeah we got murals and all kinds of art, this wall is definitely going to be apart of this makeover” but what I saw next had me at a loss for words.

I get to the wall and as I expected, the wall is almost all Southern colors and it is honestly a great sight to see, right up to that break for the entrance.

After passing the first half, one would just assume it would be more Jag colors along the other half, right? Wrong. Now I don’t know if you caught it but earlier I said “almost” all Southern colors.

Honestly that’s a huge overstatement, the wall is about 40 percent Southern and 60 percent LSU. Yes, that’s right the LSU side of the wall is longer than the Jaguar side and even more disgusting, the LSU colors are the first thing you see when you get off the interstate! That’s right, the highway that is connected directly to Southern, is only partially our colors and partially LSU’s colors.

Now listen, I’m not writing this to disrespect any of the ideas or actions taken

whoever fixed that one (single) road, and get Bob the Builder on the phone, they can fix it, I know they can.

While y’all at it, can somebody do some bidding on a contractor for some (odd request) trash cans.

I’m saying this because I care and there aren’t enough, it’s that simple.

More trash cans means less litter, and hopefully a better looking campus which may or may not increase school spirit.

But I’m not 100 percent sure, I don’t have my degree yet.

Last but most definitely not least, can Southern stop playing with our money?! From dealing with financial aid to unpaid IOU’s, compliments of the University, all the way to being scammed into buying useless textbooks.

Southern will give you an eviction notice, a parking ticket, purge your classes, send you back and forth across campus six times all in one day. Just to find out your scholarship has been processed and it’s all fixed, then expect you to wanna pay for another semester… lol.

All jokes aside, (sort of) Southern is exactly where I want to be. We all complain and joke about all its faults, but at the end of the day, this school has a lot of potential that can be better taken advantage of.

At the very least, please, no more sex scandals in the New Year! Cause if we lose accreditation, I’m suing.

to make Scenic Highway more appealing or any less of an eye sore, nor am I bashing LSU for no reason.

I just want to know who thought it would be a good idea to paint LSU colors on this Hunger Games looking wall literally right next to our Colombian Blue and Gold, on OUR Highway.

Was it shots fired or was it just a student trying to be fair and equal?

There’s nothing wrong with equal but out of all places they go to be fair and equal, they decide to skip going down College Drive or up Highland Road; where all you see is LSU this, Tiger that.

Hell, when you first get into Baton Rouge you’re greeted by a huge LSU flag! So where was this person who is just trying to be fair to put up a Jaguar flag or even a paw print in the window?

My takeaway from this whole thing is what does LSU’s colors have to do with “The Yard”, “The Human Jukebox” or “The Bluff” ? Not a d@#n thing!

EDITORIAL POLICY The Southern DIGEST is the official student newspaper of Southern University and A&M College located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. Signed articles, feedback, opinions and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body. The Southern DIGEST welcomes letters from readers commenting on current issues and other matters of general interest to the SU family and public. We set aside this space to publish these letters for others to enjoy. This newspaper is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on its Editorial and Opinion pages (Including Sports Commentaries) The Southern DIGEST reserves the right to edit any contributions and or reject them without notification. Authors are encouraged to limit the length of submissions to 300 words. Letters should not include libelous statements. Offensive and personal attacks will not be permitted. The DIGEST will not print “open letters” addressed to someone else. All contributions must be type written, signed and must include the author’s address and phone number. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Southern University students should include their majors, hometowns and year in school. When referring to specific DIGEST articles, please include the date and title. All materials should be directed to the editor in chief of The Southern DIGEST, P.O. Box 10180, Baton Rouge, La. 70813. Materials may be delivered by hand to the DIGEST office located in Suite 1064 Harris Hall or can be emailed to digest@subr.edu

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Page 12 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

SOUTHERN DIGEST

The Sentinel of an Enlightened Student Body since 1926

The Professional Development and Leadership Institute is a conference intended to develop students’ professional and leadership skills. The two-day event is organized by the Career Services Center in partnership with local and national companies. Students who attend this event will have an experience that will empower them to reach their full potential.

Conference Activities • Panel discussions with corporate recruiters, human resource managers, alumni, and senior leaders • Professional development workshops on career related topics • Seminar sessions on dining etiquette, resume writing, attire, credit, and banking • Networking opportunities • Interview preparation for summer internship opportunities To register for this special 2 day event, complete the online registration at www.subr.edu/careerservices and click on the Professional Development and Leadership Institute tab.

Contact the Career Services Center for additional information at 225-771-2200.

Registration is Mandatory Participating students must attend Both Days (Friday and Saturday).

No Exceptions Space is Limited.

12:00 PM-6:00 PM, Friday, February 2nd (Dress: Business Attire-Suit Up for Success) 8:00 AM-12:00 PM, Saturday, February 3rd (Dress: Business Casual Attire) Registration Deadline: January 29, 2018 “Preparing Students for the Workforce”