VOLUME 80 - ISSUE 4

A Time to Remember: Founders’ Day Convocation

All classes ceased last Thursday as hundreds gathered in the F.G. Clark Activity Center for Southern University’s Founder’s Day Convocation with a sense of dignity.

Introducing Angelique Roché: Marvel Consulting Editor

Women’s History

A multitude of Southern University alumni, faculty, staff, laboratory school and current university students were in attendance for this esteemed celebration of Jaguar pride, history, and culture. In an effort to express the importance of this event, all university classes scheduled between 9:30 a.m.

and noon on March 9, were suspended to allow all system members to participate in this historic event.

Success, dedication, and gratitude, which stem from graduates of the university and African Americans altogether, were the highlighted topics from the keynote speaker, John

Wilson Jr., the executive director of the Millennium Leadership Initiative and former president of Morehouse College. Wilson helped “highlight our successes, and envision our future as a renowned higher

Calling all Gamers: New Esports Innovation Gaming Lab Grand Opening

Southern University is always looking for new innovations that can be implemented on campus. Recently, their sights have been set on a new Esports Innovation Lab gaming room in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union which came to fruition earlier this week.

Roche’

Month is a time to celebrate women, past and present, who have made history and a mark on the world today. Mass Communications Department professor Angelique Roché is one of the many women on Southern University’s campus who has made a mark, not just on campus, but on the world today.

Angelique Roché is a Mass Communication Department Professor here at Southern

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The Southern University Law Center launches a new Esports Innovation Lab in the Brown-Smith Memorial Union with a ribbon cutting to unveil the long awaited room.

ESports, a short term for electronic sports, is a form of competition where players can compete in multiplayer video games individually or as teams. The virtual competition has been around since the late 1970’s, but it has gained traction over the years as technology progresses.

The idea of this room has been discussed for the past 2

years, and finally, in the last spring semester, the school decided to move out the old game room equipment, such as the pool tables, ping pong tables, and TV’s, to make

room for the new esports equipment. Upon clearing this room out, Southern University Law Center partnered with the Union to begin designing a new, modern room students

could enjoy. The room has about 25 state-of-the-art gaming computers, and high

Silvanus

President-Chancellor Dennis J. Shields (center), poses for a picture with a few members of the Board of Supervisors at the Founders’ Day Convocation held in the F.G. Clark Activity Center on Thursday, March 9. ( Taylor Haywood/ DIGEST)

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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 editorials, commentaries, ans speakouts. 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 e-mailed to digest@subr.edu.

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Roché is the child of Southern University alumni and former employees. “SUBR has always had a strong presence in my life. I also know first-hand the power that professors can have in helping students engage in education and how significant it is to find creative ways to teach and digest the material,» Roché stated.

When Roché was asked to consider teaching Communications law in the Mass Communications Department, where she earned her bachelor’s degree, she was not only flattered but excited to pay forward all the energy and effort that her professors put into her matriculation.

While attending Southern University, Roché was involved in many activities and clubs. Roché graduated from Southern University Honors College, earned her bachelor’s in arts in Mass Communications, Print Journalism (2003), she earned her Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center (2006), and her Legal Letters master’s

education institution,” here at Southern University.In addition to Wilson’s speech, words from the Southern University System head, PresidentChancellor Dennis J. Shields, preached of elevation across all Southern University’s campuses. “The people invested in this institution; the alumni, the staff, the family… the lives of this community, this city, and this state know the impact of Southern graduates. The history of this state knows the passion that we (Southern alum) bring,” stated President-Chancellor Shields. President-Chancellor Shields took time to recognize the laboratory students in attendance, speaking of the importance of building on the foundation of the institution’s future. He spoke of “helping young people along the path” towards

in international and Comparative Law from The George Washington University Law School (2006).

Although Roché is a professor here at Southern, she has an outstanding career at home. In 2017, she was the vice president of external affairs at the Ms. Foundation for Women.

“I was also lucky to have a CEO who allowed me to continue writing for outlets like NBCBLK, RewireNews, and Black Girl Nerds. I was also taking improv classes/performing sporadically and was a part-time host/imaging artist for SiriusXM progress,” Roché stated.

During that time, Marvel Entertainment was expanding and creating new podcasts. Her work was submitted by a trusted friend and colleague to be considered as a host.

While in Bahrain, she got an email from Marvel and scheduled a call for a day off they had in Abu Dhabi. When she returned stateside, she met with Marvel, followed by a voice test in 2018 for a brand-new show spotlighting artists and fans of color. A couple of

success through education, which has been a strong emphasis of his work throughout the system thus far since being inducted last summer.

In addition to the speakers, the Southern University concert band and gospel choir provided a light soundtrack to the warm atmosphere of the gathering.

After all speeches had concluded, a benediction pledging the Southern University alma mater resonated throughout the building with a heartfelt rendition by the university choir, which was met by a warm round of applause. Mr. Winton Anderson, Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Engagement, led the closing prayer that formally concluded the convocation.

days later, she received a call from the producers about being the host of what is now “Marvel’s Voices”.

Since then, her role and work at Marvel have expanded, as has Marvel’s Voices. She has also worked with NBC, Disney+, Marvel Studios, Syfy Wire, Harper’s Bazar, BBC/AMC, CBS/ Paramount, Warner Bros., HBO, Vox Creative, New York Public Radio, and Nerdist, among others.

Roché is currently working as the consulting editor for Marvel’s Voices Anthology series and Women of Marvel anthology books. In that role, she works with the editing team on content but also has the privilege of writing pieces for each issue. This includes editing interviews, crafting character profiles, and analyzing comics’ history.

In 2002 she wrote a speculative fiction/afro futuristic graphic novel called “Trinity City” for a non-profit organization in New Orleans called the Black and Blue Story Project in conjunction with Yaya, Inc. That book will be available in 2023 and will be

Attendees were then welcomed to a jazz reception performed by the concert band which immediately preceded the benediction. Guests were encouraged to mingle and connect afterward.

The impact of the Founder’s Day celebration resonated with students and staff alike with Destenee Woodard, a sophomore majoring in social work from Menden, Louisiana, stating, “I’m excited to see our university progress as we move towards more opportunities, especially for incoming students.” Woodard expresses that her favorite part of the ceremony was the rendition of the alma mater, which she proclaimed was very moving.

Similarly, Charles M. Green, Director of the Wesley Foundation at Southern University, expressed, “This founder’s

CONVOCATION from page 1

free to the public online. She is also working on three separate comic/graphic novel projects in various stages of development that are not currently public.

And, while not a comic writer, she is the co-author of the forthcoming book My Super Hero is Black with Eisner Award-winning writer/artist John Ira Jennings. You can read more about those works on her website, AngeliqueRoche.com

In closing the interview, Roché shared her thoughts on women’s history month as a whole. “Much like Black History Month, Women’s History Month should not just be a chance to reflect on the accomplishments of the past but to ensure that we are continuing to create paths forward toward a future that not only ensures equality but equity.” During this month we would like to continue honoring our women here at Southern University and acknowledging their accomplishments and achievements on and off campus.

FOUNDERS’ DAY from page 1

day was truly getting back to the nature of Southern—being the flagship, being the standard, recognizing that it’s truly a team.” To Green, the meaning of founder’s day is more than merely an onslaught of speeches but, “a collected, unified effort to come together and truly be the standard that Southern University is, and that’s carrying out the good old mantra: pride, excellence, and tradition.”

In a communication issued by the Office of Academic Affairs, officials encouraged the Jaguar Nation to participate in all Founders’ Month events that “highlight the legacy and future of our university,” which can be found at www.subr.edu/ foundersmonth.

ESPORTS from page 1

definition monitors that is applicable for an amazing gaming experience. Currently, the room is located in the Smith Brown Memorial Union next to prime grill and the I.D. office.

Khristopher Harmon, a graduating senior majoring in computer science from Shreveport, Louisiana, expresses his thoughts on the gaming room. “Right when I want to leave Southern wants to start renovating new things for students.” He then goes on to say, “I feel Southern is trying to appeal to its students with the generational trend of video games.”

The school even allowed some students to test the new equipment on opening day. When sat down at one of the computers, the computer requests individuals to create a gamer account to initially login to the computer. Upon successful login, people are able to choose between 2 games at the moment: Fortnite or Rocket League. Once haven chosen which game they want to play, they have one of 2 options. They can connect their game saved info to the computer through their Epic or Google account. Once

connected, they are able to enjoy quality and entertaining gameplay to their hearts content.

A freshmen tester, Bruce Greene Jr. a psychology major from Plaquemine, Louisiana, says, “I find it very cool how you don’t have to start anything from scratch, if you’re already a serious gamer. I can finally enjoy and progress through my games in between classes.”

The introduction of this lab has been a process but many are excited to finally release it. “It’s been a labor of love, but yeah we can’t wait to celebrate.” stated by Chris Turner, the coordinator of S.U.LC.’s Mixed Reality Virtual Innovation Gaming and Esports Institute.

Turner mentions that there will be more events down the line and students can get involved soon. “At some point we’re going to develop a membership…we got some activations down the pipeline that I cannot let out right now but, it’s going to be an exciting time.”

Students and staff enjoying the new ESports Innovation Lab during the grand opening on March 10. (Corey Quinn / DIGEST)

How Bout Dem’ Lady Jags: SWAC Champs

Jag Nation, the time has come to celebrate. All eyes were glued to the ESPN App and ESPN+ for the pertinent SWAC Championship Game. This was going to be the perfect opportunity for Lady Jags to get revenge on the Lady Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas PineBluff. The last time these two teams faced, the Lady Golden Lions won 5370. However, a championship is on the line, a ticket to March Madness is up for grabs, and somebody has to fill in and represent the SWAC. Redemption was on the Lady Jags’ mind as they took the court, but would they fulfill it?

After upsetting a SWAC favorite, Jackson State, on a game-winning shot by sophomore guard Aaliyah Fontenot, the jags advanced and ended the night on a high note. The whole game was competitive, and it came down to a crucial fourth-quarter battle with a score of 41-38 with the Lady Jags on the losing end. The Jags didn’t shoot the ball extremely well, shooting only 37.5% for the entire game. However, that does not tell the story of the fourth. The Lady Jags

caught fire immediately, making 8 of 11 shots in the fourth quarter, which included three three-pointers.

On the other hand, the Lady Jags’ defense undeniably kept them within striking distance. The famous line, “Defense wins Championships,” came to play as the Lady Jags held the Lady Golden Lions to 12 points. A key factor coming into the game was stopping the Lady Golden Lions’ success in the paint. Furthermore, the Lady Golden Lions’ two elite centers, junior Maya Peat and junior Maori Davenport, were held to a combined two points in the fourth quarter. With the combination of offense and defense, the Lady Jags outscored the Lady Golden Lions 24-12. This led to the Lady Jags bringing a championship back home to the bluff for the first time since 2019, as they would win 6253. The Lady Jags, the SWAC champs, now await their seeding for the March Madness Women’s Tournament.

Southern’s Women’s Basketball Coach, Carlos Funchess, is excited and confident in his team. As he was interviewed, he elaborated on the game by saying, “The Young Ladies stepped up. They did what they do. They kept taking good shots, and I

knew eventually some of them would fall. We got hot at the right time.”

Southern will be going to the NCAA tournament for the 6th time in school history and the second for Carlos Funchess. However, the downside is that Southern will be part of a pickup

game to undeniably face the numberone seed of their section of the bracket, which typically leads to an early exit. Coach Funchess spoke, “We know we’re going to have a tough matchup, but we’re going to go out and represent Southern University as well as we can.” The Lady Jags’ will remember this season forever, and the school will be represented on a national stage. Senior forward Genovea Johnson led the team in scoring, with 18 points on 8 of 18 shooting. In addition, this was followed by senior guard Amani McWain, with 12 of 15 points being scored in the second half.

After Selection Sunday, The Lady Jags will face Sacred Heart University Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California. These two teams will compete to represent the #16 seed before facing the number-one-seeded University of Stanford. Make sure to support the Lady Jags on their journey.

erIC WhIte, Jr. THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Courtesy: SUBR Athletics

“We know we’re going to have a tough matchup, but we’re going to go out and represent Southern University as well as we can.”

- Coach Carlos Funchess

Change The Rules: SWAC/MEAC No Representation In FCS Playoffs

syDney CuIllIer THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

With only 1.2% of collegiate athletes that get drafted, the NCAA tournament is the end all be all in the sport of basketball. There is 32 division I conferences that send the best of their best to hopefully, bring home the national championship. However, this does not hold the same for football. Division 1 football is categorized into two different subdivisions; The Football Bowl Subdivision and the Football Championship Subdivision. In the FBS, you see the likes of schools such as most of your SWAC and MEAC conferences. They are offered fewer scholarships, have fewer resources, and are allowed to compete in the FCS national championship, but it has to be through an overall at-large conference bid, not automatic qualification. FBS Schools should automatically be allowed to compete in the FCS if their record is good

enough and not have to choose a bowl game due to the financial incentives. The SEC and Big10 conferences, bring in more than hundreds of millions of dollars to their institutions which is largely due to the football season. Due to this continuous influx of money, their athletes in turn get better practice facilities, athletic stipends, and NIL versus that of FBS schools. Since FBS schools are automatically at a disadvantage financially, they have to take into consideration what is best for the overall program as a whole that can help achieve longevity versus in-the-moment fame. For instance, Jackson State, an HBCU that is in the FCS division but plays in the SWAC Conference, was ranked #5 overall in college football due to its 11-0 record. However, due to the 1 million dollar monopoly, ESPN has with the legacy bowl Head Coach Deion Sanders opted out of playing in the FCS national

championship to play in the celebration bowl. In this instance, the team with the 2nd best record would’ve gone on to play in Jackson State’s place, which was Florida A&M, with their 9-2 season. But since the SWAC is split up into two of their divisions, SWAC west and SWAC east, Florida A&M would not have been able to get an at-large conference bid. The whole game of football is wrapped around the basic principle of whoever is best wins and moves on, and this should hold the same regardless of what division your team plays in. Florida A&M and Jackson State both had better records and ranks than FCS schools, and due to formalities couldn’t continue their season in the national championship playoffs. All in all, although not all division I sports are played at the same caliber of athleticism, the NCAA should not split up talent when talent is there, regardless of the sport.

Heading in the Right Direction

Lady Jaguar field was the place to be as the Southern University Lady Jaguars hosted the University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks in a fierce doubleheader that lasted a total of twelve innings. With the sun shining and an ideal temperature of 84 degrees, the weather was perfect for a softball game! Going into the matchup, the Lady Jaguar’s record sat at 3-14 with a onegame win streak.

Offensively, the Lady Jags are led by sophomore infielder Alana Mark, junior pitcher Anabella Valadez, and junior infielder Sydney Wesley. Mark had a .326 batting average, along with three doubles, two home runs, and a total of thirteen runs batted in (RBIs); Mark also reached base safely in eleven straight games. Valadez has earned two doubles, one triple, one home run, and two RBIs in twenty at-bats. Wesley has been producing offensive stats as well, with her lone triple and three RBIs.

Before facing the River Hawks, the Lady Jags were on the heels of a threegame home stretch in which they only lost one game. Despite looking to carry that momentum into the doubleheader, the task would be easier said than done. After being asked what the most daunting aspect of the objective was, Head Coach Brittney Williams explained, “We had a lot of injuries. Four out of five of those are our starters.” The amount of starting players that were injured indubitably affected the outcome of both games.

Trouble for the Lady Jags appeared very early into the start of the first game. As the second inning of game one began, the River Hawks already had managed to put one run on the board, which was accompanied by two hits. The game would start to take a downward spiral for Southern after the start of the third inning. River Hawks batter, graduate student Mya Case, crushed a homerun into left field. This run would spark an onslaught of offensive production that UMass Lowell would

Gone Too Soon: SU Men’s Basketball Out in 1st Round

erIC WhIte, Jr./reggIe allen THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

The famous line says “Third Time’s A Charm,” but would that be the case? The Southern Men’s basketball team would face Alabama A&M for a third time. In the previous two matchups, the Jags have lost. In the most recent matchup, the Jags lost 68-65 for their last game of the regular season. Alabama A&M is not a great offensive team, but when it comes to Southern, they have shot the ball astronomically well against them all year. Southern was the fourth seed, but the expectation was a deep run or a championship. Could the Jags live up to the expectation?

The Southern Jaguars were off to a slow start to begin the game, with eight minutes into the game the Jags made just 1 basket. At halftime, the Jags’ trailed 36-23. The Bulldogs jumped out to an enormous 54-34 lead in the game. The Jags did claw their way back into the game getting within eight points of the Bulldogs with the score being 57-49. However, the Jags couldn’t get it going and the slow start couldn’t be overcome.

maintain throughout both games. The River Hawks would ultimately win the first game, with the final score being 9-0. Most noticeably, UMass Lowell accumulated fourteen hits, while the Lady Jags earned only two hits.

After winning the first game, the River Hawks would continue their ferocious campaign into the second and final match of the day. Starting strongly with three runs, UMass Lowell did not let off the gas until the game was over. The final score of the second match was also 9-0. In addition to the overwhelming offensive effort put forth by the River Hawks, the number of errors Southern committed affected the outcome of both games. According to Coach Williams, “as far as errors, they’re better than where they have been and not quite where I want them to be.”

Heading into the next series against Prairie View A&M, the Lady Jags must produce more hits and runs to achieve victory. Coach Williams elaborated, “I believe that you can hit anybody if your focus is there.” Another key factor to the successful progression of the season is the return of all injured players. Coach Williams also stated, “If it’s not

working, then maybe it’s the bat.” The Jags will not have another home game at Lady Jaguar Field until Friday, March 17th, at 5 P.M against Alcorn State. In addition, this will be a warm-up before the double-header against Alcorn State. Saturday, March 18th, the first game is set for noon, and the second game is for 2 P.M.

The Jags were beaten by the Bulldogs in every category besides turnovers. Southern shot 37.7% from the field compared to Alabama A&M 46.8 percent. In addition, Southern got destroyed in rebounding with Alabama A&M having 39 compared to Southern’s 25. Furthermore, Southern never lead in the game, so Alabama A&M dictated the pace. Senior guard Brion Whitley led the game in scoring with 18 points on 6 of 13 shooting. Senior forward Terell Williams Jr. had 5 rebounds as well as junior forward Festus Ndumanya.

This season was confusing for basketball fans because the season started off gunsblazing, including a 7-1 record in the first eight conference games. However, in the second half of the season the Jags became almost unrecognizable and wasn’t playing their best basketball down the stretch. Due to the loss the Jaguars faced this week (65-68), the Jaguar’s Conference Championship Quest will be held off another year and another early exit will be the result of the season.

Junior, pitcher, Anabella Valadez, throws a pitch during the Jaguars game against University of Massachusetts Lowell player. (Reginald Allen/DIGEST)

Lady Jags huddle together to have a quick pep talk to discuss game strategy. (Reginald Allen/DIGEST)

PHOTOS

Students enjoying girl talk and hair care at the Women Empowerment Salon event hosted on March 8. (Taylor Haywood/ DIGEST)

The Southern University Concert Choir performing at the Founders’ Day Convocation and President- Chancellor Investiture on March 9. (Taylor Haywood/ DIGEST)

Contestant #4, James Robinson and his background dancer (black) showing off his talent at the Mr. King $ize Pageant. (Terae Collins/ DIGEST)

Students take a bow after recieving a standing ovation, at their performance at the Speech and Theater Showcase in Hayden Hall on Wednesday, March 9. (Ramon Johnson/ DIGEST)

The Southern University Jazz band serenades the audience with a beautiful ensemble during the Founders’ Day Convocation. (Taylor Haywood/ DIGEST)

Students Karah Rainwater and Kennedy Jones pose for a picture at their stand repping Nars at the Women Empowerment Salon on Wednesday, March 8. ( Taylor Haywood/ DIGEST)

President-Chancellor, Dennis J. Sheilds receives his medallion at the Founders’ Day Convocation President- Chancellor Investiture on March 9. ( Taylor Haywood/ DIGEST)

1st place Winner of the first annual Mr. King $ize Pageant, contestant #6, Cherlson Paul. (Terae Collins/ DIGEST)

Students and staff check out the new ESports Innovation Lab during the grand opening on March 10. (Corey Quinn / DIGEST)

Contestant #3, Edward Chapman Jr. performing at the Speech and Theater Showcase hosted in Hayden Hall on March 9. ( Ramon Johnson/ DIGEST

One For The History Books: Southern’s First Mr. King Size Pageant

tanIya nIChols THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

A luminous red light set the stage as Jags quickly began to fill the Event Center with anticipation. This wasn’t any ordinary pageant. Some may compare it to the well-known Miss Thicker than a Snicker Pageant, but it allowed the spotlight for plus-size men on campus to reset the standard.

As host, Kelvin Powell emphasized, the show is to empower plus-size men and build their platform, so the crowd was enthusiastic with cheers as the show began.

The contestants performed a group dance to the famous New Edition songs: “Can You Stand the Rain” & “If It Isn’t Love.” The crowd filled the room with shouts and cheers watching them dance.

As the lights dimmed, each contestant, one by one, introduced themselves.

Contestant 1, Jaden

Cheatham, announced himself as a Donaldsonville native majoring in Culinary Arts.

Contestant 2, Nicholas Brown, presented himself as

a Pre-Nursing student from Society Hill, South Carolina. Contestant 3, Richard Johnson, greeted the crowd and introduced himself as a Music Performance major

Road to Springfest: JagaPalooza

tanIya nIChols THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Springfest is approaching and the entire student body is wondering what this year’s lineup of activities will be. Many students, including myself, experienced Springfest once, but previous years have left students with high hopes for something different.

Kamani Cannon, a junior criminal justice major from Los Angeles, CA. gave her views on what she expected for Springfest.

“Based on that video, I’m guessing an activity day,» she said. Cannon continued stating that she expected the same events as last year. Not knowing who was in charge of Springfest did not stop her from having low expectations.

Despite this, Kamani hopes to see unique events at this year’s Springfest. «I want to see a concert, but I know they probably won’t do it,” she stated. Cannon has already gone to two Springfests and they were the same, so that’s the main reason she doesn’t have high hopes.

Eden Palmer, a freshman accounting major from Atlanta, GA. described her views about Springfest after seeing the promo video.

“I’m excited for SpringFest,» she said, but, just like Cannon, she said she is also looking forward to a concert. Eden also doesn’t know who plans Springfest so she feels that is part of the reason she believes they might recycle activities from last year.

The events last year were very fun such as a game night at Quarters. Students were given a balance to play games and provided transportation. The Pop-up shop and the Aux Cord Wars were the next day and both events

had tons of student engagement and allowed everyone to support local black businesses. The infamous Silent Night Party was that following Wednesday and it truly was an event for the books. There were food trucks out and tons of dancing and music since you can switch channels on headphones. SGA also introduced the Spring Choice awards, which was a cute way to give students some recognition. It was a red carpet event with cocktail attire that many students looked amazing in. Both the Zydeco Fest and movie night were well attended that Friday. Free crawfish is never turned down in Louisiana and Soul Plane was played that night on the Mayberry lawn. Since so many students have experienced these

from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Contestant 4, James Robinson, New Orleans native, presented himself as a Mass Communication major.

Contestant 5, Traveon Newsome, described himself as a junior Criminal Justice major from Houston, Texas. He is also a part of Southern’s football team student-athlete. Last but certainly not least, Contestant 6, Cherson Paul, also known as CP, represented Haiti as a first-generation immigrant majoring in Sociology from Golden Gate, Florida.

Afterward, all the contestants exit the stage and prepare for the following three categories: Date Night, Late Night, and Talent. During the brief intermissions, Jags showed their dance moves by doing line dances and participating in the trending TikTok dances.

Social Media Influencers and Entrepreneurs Give Advice for Future Entrepreneurs and Influencers

kara Porter THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

“Stay motivated through any challenge you face” was one of the central points given to the audience at the Content Creator X Entrepreneurship Workshop held by On This Bluff and the College of Entrepreneurs last Thursday in the auditorium of Stewart Hall.

This event gave upcoming student content creators and entrepreneurs tips and tricks on making their businesses successful in various ways. The event included a guest speaker, a panel discussion, networking, and a pop-up shop.

The Content Creator X Entrepreneurship Workshop opened up with words from their guest speaker Nicholas Harris, a Southern University alumni, and owner of Humble Takeover. Humble Takeover is a lifestyle apparel brand and media platform that focuses on obtaining success and conquering failure.

In Harris’s speech, he gave about 15 powerful words that helped him through his journey in entrepreneurship and will hopefully help the student’s entrepreneurship journey as well. These words included timeliness, business relationships, consistency, innovation, focusing, sacrifice, and most importantly, never giving up.

Harris’s central point was, «You will experience a type of failure in your business. It is meant to happen, but it is not about if but when. Your job is not to quit your business. You might stop your business but never quit. You want to see the fruits of your labor that you put in.»

events at least once they want something new. However, she said, “I know who I don’t want at the concert if they do have one, Rob 49.»

Bringing back an overplayed artist makes a concert not worth it. On social media, students are hoping for a concert this year.

Jag Activity Board member, Jada Jackson, a senior psychology major from Homer, LA., gave insight into what to expect at Springfest.

“The students can expect something different because that is what we focused on during planning,” Jada stated.

The next part of the workshop was a panel discussion with eight panelists altogether: four panelists for content creators and the other four, entrepreneurs. The four panelists that discussed the content creators were Macy Vessel of Macy V TV, Karah Rainwater, owner of Black College Culture and a student ambassador for Coach and Nars, Mia Moore of Miamorsbeautybar, and Jazmon Derousselle of TheJLorisShow.

These panelists spoke about what inspired them to start creating content,

All of the contestants at the very first Mr. King $ize Pageant, held in the Activity Center on Wednesday, March 9 ( Terae Collins/ DIGEST)

Poster fo r the upcoming SUBR Springfest - Graphic, Courtesy JAB

All

terren thomas THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Fashion is such a big thing in HBCU culture, most students would say it’s like a fashion show. You can catch some of our students’ best outfits on a Wednesday or even on a random day in the week just because they felt like getting up and getting pretty and won’t be judged for it.

Personally, I enjoy the styles from 1960-1970. Back then, ladies would wear big and baggy clothes just like the men and still be considered and looked upon as grown and fine. Short, shapeless shift dresses in bright colors and color-block patterns became a staple of the Mod look and the real star of the show was the dresses with the platform sandals combo.

Platform sandals have really had us in an immediate chokehold in the early years but they are still so popular now. We see them all the time here on-campus, especially on Pretty Wednesday. They are paired with mini skirts and a nice trendy crop top or a very colorful bodycon dress.

Fashionis beautiful

However there are plenty of ways to style them. You can definitely pair them with plenty of other things and still make it your own, very cute & trendy. At Southern, they are styled this way.

Jhakobe Johnson, a freshman from Gulfport, Mississippi, said that he really gravitates towards the early 2000’s fashion. “It was something cool and laid back about the styling choices in that decade. It had hints of 90’s fashion with the baggy clothes but also very futuristic with the y2k aesthetic going on, I definitely pull a lot of inspo from that time period for my fits,” Johnson stated. Johnson also gave the

inside scoop about his fashion details. “Honestly, I just wear what I like. I don’t really have a certain kind of style. And I know this is a cliche answer but it’s honestly true in my case, I’m not really the type of dude to on brand names and prices. As long as I feel good in it and I feel like it fly, it gets my stamp of approval,” he concluded.

Dominque Brown, a freshman from Los Angeles, California, says her favorite decade style is the early 2000’s as well, she really enjoyed the low rise jeans and a good crop top era. She shared the person she admired style-wise.

“Megan Good was one of the IT girls back then, she always wore low rise jeans and a crop top so I really idolized her style” Dominique stated that her style is definitely more of the newer generation style, “I like to wear anything that is cute and comfortable. I am a croc type

“But She Started It!”: Rock responds to the Slap in New Netflix special

Almost a year following the highly publicized ‘Slap Heard ‘Round the World’ where world renowned actor and artist Will Smith confronted comedian Chris Rock on the Oscar stage, the comedian unleashed on the actor and his wife in his latest standup routine that aired on Netflix previously this month. Touching on many topics relating to modern popular culture such as the black and trans community, the highlight of the special in the eyes of many was the words that Rock reserved for the Rock family.

In the midst of controversy centered around Jada Pinkett Smith’s alleged affair with R&B star August Alsina, the comedian made a bevy of jokes at last years Oscar’s at the expense of the Smith family matriarch. Rock had previously made similar comments denigrating black women in regards to their hair in specials such as Good Hair in which he critiqued the popularization of non-Eurocentric beauty standards. Pinkett-Smith has suffered from alopecia, a disease that causes hair loss in both men and women.

Following the initial slap at last

years Oscar’s, Rock had opted in large part to stay silent as the world reacted to the controversy surrounding him. During the special however, Rock made the case that of all the people that the Smith patriarch should be mad at, it should be the ones associated with the initial swearing of his name, namely Alsina and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Referring to the Smith matriarch as a “b****” in multiple instances,

source : tvline

the standup special saw the comic attacking Smith for addressing their bad blood in public forums. The comment that sparked outrage amongst many within the black community however was when Rock said that they shouldn’t fight “in front of white people.”

“How can you talk about fighting in front of white people when you’re cussing out a black woman in front

of person but when I dress up I definitely pop out.”

People think fashion can only go in one way, but in reality, It can go in many different directions and still be equally beautiful. In this generation we are so stuck on the clothes and designers we see on Instagram celebrities like Jayda Cheves, Ariana Fletcher, Dess Dior, and etc. which is all fine and great but it’s time we start having a little more diversity.

of white people,” said Morgan Taly, a sophomore from Houma, Louisiana in critique of Rock’s comments.

Additionally, Rock made comparisons between currently Incarcerated R&B star R. Kelly and Michael Jackson, evoking the namesake of the show by labeling the dynamic as ‘Selective Outrage’. The one important differentiator in the aforementioned case was that Jackson was never convicted of any crime, yet alone that of the caliber of Kelly’s documented pedophillia. “Same crime, one of them just has better songs,” said Rock in regard to his take on the comparison between the two during their standup.

While public opinion is still split between whether Rock or Smith was justified in the initial controversy, this month’s standup by Rock saw many of his supporters in previous instances become critics in their own right. Regardless of who was right in the situation between two men however, the general consensus is that calling a black woman out of her name in front of the same majority white audience that he claimed shouldn’t witness us fight is nothing short of ironic. “She started it. I finished it,” said the comic during the standup.

DeBranDIn BroWn THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

INFLUENCE from page 8

KINGSIZED from page 8

The pageant was described by Alyssa Nunn, a junior, majoring in nursing from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. “I felt the pageant was very cute and gave our big boys a chance to hold the spotlight. Things got a little crazy, but overall I think this trend should definitely keep going. Our big boys need love too,” Nunn stated.

process, their timing of when to post content, and if they met any goals they had set. Overall the panelists said that they were primarily interested in creating content because it was fun and a way to put themselves out there. They also said that when it comes to timing and setting goals, it is all in God’s hands.

Macy Vessel, said, «I never really set any goals for myself to begin with because I would

be stressed out trying to make my goal, so I just walk in faith and give it to God.»

Shortly after a brief intermission, each contestant dressed in style and charm for the first category date night. Contestants strutted across the stage with their escorts showing off their fashion taste. Next was late-night, where the guys could grab the audience’s attention by displaying their sex appeal. The crowd went wild from the frenetic cheers and screams; everyone was astonished by the contestants’ charisma.

As the contestants prepared for their Talent category, the audience was overjoyed to have Code Blue perform a stomp-and-shake routine. The atmosphere was euphoric as the crowd cheered them on. Soon, each contestant came out and displayed different talents, from dancing to singing.

The pageant was illustrated by Gabrielle Anderson, a freshman majoring in Business Administration from Dallas,Texas.“The pageant was very interesting to watch. Throughout the show, it was nice to see everyone so hyped and coming together for one event. I loved how for intermission we got to dance line dances while we waited. The show itself was a lot to take in but at the same time I liked it,” Anderson stated. The lights slowly dimmed, and all six contestants appeared on stage. Judges asked each contestant specific questions based on individuality during the final category of the pageant. After the judges contemplated hearing the contestants’ answers, the crowd screamed about who they thought should win. The judges return the verdict as a tie between Contestnat 3, Rick Johnson, and Contestnat 6, Cherson Paul. To break the deadlock, judges ask one more final question to each contestant. When the judges determined a winner, the crowd was still in uproar between both contestants. Finally, the hosts announced contestant number 6, Cherson Paul, as the winner. He shouted joyfully as he was crowned the first ever 20232024 Mr. King Size.

It was a night to remember for those who attended the first ever Mr. King Size pageant presented by the Southern University’s Residential Life & Housing department.

Oprah Lowe owner of Nolia Shorty’s closet, Shemiah Neblett owner of Miahs Beauty, Aaron Leblanc, founder of Ace Productions, and Candice Periloux (Printing Source) were the panelists for the entrepreneurs.

The panelists at the Content Creator X Entreprenuer Workshop on March 7th, 2023 at Stewart Hall. (Kara Porter/

SpeakOut!

(by: Carl Nix, Jr.)

How are you preparing for midterms?

What is A Woman?

tanIya nIChols THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

If you ask people the question, “What is a woman?” you’d get multiple answers because a woman is so much encompassed into one package. You may hear a woman is nurturing, kind, or beautiful, but I truly believe there is so much more to a woman.

ENGINEERING

“I WILL HAVE MULTIPLE TUTORS FOR EACH CLASS. I WILL TALK TO EACH OF MY TEACHERS FOR ADVICE AND INSIGHT ON MY MIDTERMS. I WILL ALSO HAVE MANY ALL NIGHTERS STUDYING FOR EACH TEST AND CLASS.”

A woman has to take on every challenge the world throws at her and keep it cute. As a woman, everything you do is “wrong.” When you cry it’s deemed as being “too emotional,” or

you having a menstrual cycle. However, do not walk around without smiling because then you’re “mean” and unapproachable. Being a woman brings on the responsibility of needing to be able to keep your head held high while the world is trying to push it down. Being a woman is not showing your womanhood in the workplace so your employers will take you seriously. Being a woman is also to teach every man you’re with how to treat a woman. Being a woman is tiring;

I’m crying because I’m exhausted, and I’ve reached my limit. Yes, you need to be strong to be able to handle being a woman in society, but this strength does not negate the fact that I can buckle under pressure.

“Strong” is such a loaded word that I truly feel does more harm than good. See my femininity and nurture me sometimes.

As a woman, you are immediately pushed into this mature role that you did not even get a choice in picking. Always being told by your elders to “act like

Save. Our. Student Body.

Jenna BernarD THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

shared.

KYLE WHEELER CHESAPEAKE, VA MUSIC EDUCATION

“TO PREPARE FOR MIDTERMS, I WILL BE GOING TO THE LIBRARY AND STUDYING. I WILL ALSO BE GETTING WITH MY CLASSMATES TO STUDY TOGETHER.”

The well-being of a school’s student body lies in the face and strength of its student leaders-- the ones who have an 8 a.m. and three meetings back to back on a Monday morning. The ones who tirelessly aim for perfection to ensure the image of the school is the mission statement that’s reiterated many times.

In that manner, student leaders should be the ones advocating and supporting students; making sure their needs are heard as the experiences we face can be

Whether it’s a long line in the admissions office or an idea to have better air conditioning in certain buildings, student leaders are in a position to make sure that our voices haven’t fallen on deaf ears.

Many get into leadership positions to fill a criteria; to allow their résumés to widen in expertise. I feel those people should be tested, along with the extensive test of knowledge on our constitution, by their integrity, morals, and accountability as well. How

Surviving University

Who do we run to?

are you going to be for the people and never abide BY the people? Who will students be able to turn to if not you?

As the experiences we face should be met with honesty, understanding, and compassion, the burdens we carry on a day-to-day basis can be draining, and student leaders should be the ones to assist.

Yes, we want events and flashy activities for the school year and fun moments that allow us to reminisce on our college

a lady” and “be mature” whilst your male peers can hang upside down from the ceiling and be praised for “being a boy.” Walking, getting gas, taking a night class, etcetera, are just some of the few things that women have to face every day as a challenge. Next time you see a woman, tell her to have a good day, say her outfit looks nice, or tell her that you like her hair. Bring a smile to a woman’s face, and wish her a Happy Women’s History Month.

years when we graduate. Yes, we would like a social media presence that’s trendy and cute, but do not forget about the real business at hand. You are not our saviors, and we are not your children or vice versa. Equity for all!

Know that we got your back just as much as you got ours. We’re all students at the end of the day, just one has a title. And that’s what we need for upcoming student leaders as elections approach.

CORI MONAE BAY

HOUSTON, TX

MASS COMMUNICATION

“I PLAN TO PREPARE FOR MY MIDTERMS BY ENSURING I’M GETTING AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF SLEEP…ALSO EATING FOOD FOR FUEL, PRACTICING EFFECTIVE STUDYING HABITS.”

AMBER FLEMING DONALDSONVILLE, LA CRIMINAL JUSTICE

“I PLAN TO PREPARE FOR MIDTERMS BY GETTING AT LEAST 8 HOURS OF SLEEP OR MORE FOR MY BODY TO REST WELL. I PLAN ON EATING PROPER MEALS PER DAY OR AT LEAST MAKING SURE I EAT BREAKFAST SINCE IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY. LASTLY, I PLAN ON STUDYING FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS, SO I CAN BE PREPARED FOR MY EXAMS.”

College students go through many trials and tribulations. College alone can be a lot for students to handle. Throughout high school, students have guidance from their teachers, deans, coaches, etcetera. College is different. Everything is done on your own. When college students first go to college, they no longer have someone guiding them, making sure they have their classes scheduled, making sure they go to classes and making sure they turn in their work on time. I had to find this out for myself, the hard way—which is why I am sharing the solutions I learned to maintain peace

while thriving in college. When I feel like I am overwhelmed with school and work, I find ways that will balance my exhaustion. My number one solution that helps balance my exhaustion is going to the gym. The gym is my home away from home. When I am in the gym, it is almost as if I have entered another world. Going to the gym benefits me both physically and mentally. It clears my mind from everything I have going on in the real world, and it gives me time to work on my body and build up muscle. After I leave the gym, my body feels so relaxed and energetic for the rest of the day. I recommend going to the gym in the morning because you will feel great

for the whole day, but you must have a strong mindset and be very committed to go to the gym, especially in the morning. If going to the gym is not your thing, then the second-best option I recommend is interacting with different students and organizations around the campus. Having the right connections in today’s world can take you far in life, but most importantly your fellow peers will be a second ear for you. When students go through certain situations, they tend to hold in all the pain and anger the situation brought to them which is not healthy for the mind. It is better to have someone you can talk to and take advice from to help you throughout the

situation than to be alone. Many students think that their life is too hard which causes them to take their lives. Students who take their life are often so young and intelligent and have never truly seen the world, and they throw it all away for something that could have been resolved. Life is not easy, and nobody is perfect. There are other options people can take other than suffering from their situation. If my solutions did not help, I recommend finding something positive that will take you away from reality. It can be playing video games, writing a story, going for a walk, or anything.

ZAVANTE JACKSON GULFPORT, MS ELECTRICAL

STUDENT MEDIA